Nirvana

"You can tell me what that cultivation method is now, can't you?"

The Snow Empress's voice was utterly calm.

She hovered above the ice. Even though her condition was critical, her sky-blue eyes remained as still as a deep well, without a trace of panic.

Her long, slender figure was wrapped in a white gown that traced her graceful curves, lending her a pure, icy beauty.

She was like a white snow lotus blooming in midair.

"It's actually quite simple. My teacher and I call it the Soul Spirit Method."

Because of the height difference—and because the Snow Empress was hovering—Xu Lanqing's view was filled with the woman's delicate, shapely, naturally beautiful bare feet.

Above them were her smooth, shapely calves, revealed beneath her white gown...

So whenever Xu Lanqing spoke to her, he had to keep his little face tilted upward.

"It works by using a special ritual to separate a Soul Beast's spirit from its body, then forming an equal contract with a human.

That way, when humans reach a bottleneck, they can obtain a Soul Ring directly through their Soul Spirit and break through, without having to hunt Soul Beasts.

Don't worry. After signing the contract, the Soul Beast's spirit can retain its memories. It can also leave the body and fight alongside its Soul Master—in effect, it simply changes its living environment.

Of course, both parties must be willing. There can be no coercion whatsoever, and mental control is out of the question...

Moreover, this method is actually most beneficial to Soul Beasts that are on the brink of death for one reason or another. The existence of a Soul Spirit can let them live a little longer and experience the human world. Even if it's only for several decades or a century, that might seem short to a Soul Beast..."

As Xu Lanqing continued speaking, light flickered in the Snow Empress's eyes. Excitement and elation stirred within her.

She was now somewhat glad she hadn't killed Xu Lanqing earlier. Otherwise, she would have missed out on a treasure capable of changing the plight of Soul Beasts.

"Unfortunately..."

Xu Lanqing's tone shifted, and he sighed regretfully.

"The Soul Spirit Method can only ease the conflict between humans and Soul Beasts for now. It can't resolve it at its root; it's only a half-finished method.

But my teacher and I will definitely perfect it someday and find a way for Soul Beasts and humans to coexist."

There was still plenty of time.

Xu Lanqing was confident that as his strength and experience grew, he would surely succeed.

Looking at the boy's handsome, spirited face, the Snow Empress's icy, peerlessly beautiful features softened almost imperceptibly.

"This is already very good."

For Soul Beasts in their current situation, even this was more than they dared hope for.

"But this method isn't suitable for me."

The Snow Empress's deep sky-blue eyes gazed across the distance, glimmering faintly.

The moment she heard Xu Lanqing's first sentence, she knew she couldn't become a Soul Spirit.

Her circumstances were different from those of other Soul Beasts.

When she had reincarnated as a human, she had used a Hundred-Thousand-Year Snow Lotus as a catalyst to seal away all her power. That way, once her transformation succeeded, she could absorb her former strength directly, beginning at the Titled Douluo level.

But now that the process had been interrupted, the seal had naturally shattered. Her power was completely beyond her control, and she could only suppress it by force with her spiritual power.

If her spirit were separated, the body she was desperately suppressing would flare up instantly. There was no need to explain what would happen then.

But she wasn't impatient now.

Xu Lanqing surely understood her situation. Yet he had still sworn to help her, which meant he had another method.

"That's true. It isn't suitable for you."

Xu Lanqing rolled his neck. He had been looking up for so long that it was aching.

He gazed up at the Snow Empress's unruffled demeanor and marveled inwardly. As expected of the foremost of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North.

Someday, he'd make her try looking up at him, too.

He was just about to continue when his expression suddenly changed. He turned to look beside him.

"Teacher, why are you..."

Electrolux's figure materialized out of thin air. His golden robe was adorned with ornate patterns; his white hair and beard lent him an air of age, simplicity, and profound wisdom.

The moment the Snow Empress first saw him, the power raging within her unexpectedly steadied somewhat.

Electrolux smiled calmly and said to Xu Lanqing, "Leave the rest to me. This is the only way to give us the best chance. Don't worry. I'll be fine; I'll just fall into a deep slumber afterward."

At that, Xu Lanqing clenched his fists and fell silent.

Only a fragment of Electrolux's divine sense had come to this world, and he was far too weak. If he wanted to use his power, he could only borrow Xu Lanqing's body.

But now he had manifested outside it. Clearly, he intended to use his own fragment of divine sense.

In the end, Xu Lanqing was simply too weak. He was constrained at every turn, which was why things had come to this.

At least if Electrolux only fell asleep, there was still a chance to wake him.

Ordinary pills and medicines certainly wouldn't work, but Immortal Herbs might. And there was Gold of Life...

"Can you tell me what the method is now?"

The Snow Empress's cool voice rang out. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the silent Xu Lanqing before turning to Electrolux.

It seemed the price would be considerable.

"What pure spiritual consciousness. No wonder you are the Heavenly Snow Woman, born of heaven and earth and endowed with the world's finest essence. It would be such a waste for you to die like this."

Electrolux looked at the Snow Empress, his aged face lined with wrinkles.

"Lan Qing's Martial Soul can save you. His Martial Soul isn't just Ultimate Ice—it's also the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul."

"Ice Phoenix?"

The Snow Empress's brows lifted slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

Her gaze fell on Xu Lanqing. Suddenly, she thought of a possibility.

"Exactly. Just as you suspect."

Electrolux continued.

"All phoenixes, whether Soul Beasts or Martial Souls, possess an innate talent as long as their bloodline is pure. This talent can even defy the laws of heaven.

"That is—Nirvana."

With the answer confirmed, the Snow Empress finally showed her astonishment. Her dormant heart blazed with hope.

Just when she had thought there was no way to reincarnate, a new path had opened up before her.

"If I separate Lan Qing's Martial Soul and have him form a contract with you, then fuse the Ice Phoenix into your body, you can use the power of Nirvana within the Ice Phoenix to complete your transformation.

"However, this is my first time using this contract, so there may be some imperfections."

Electrolux said gravely, "All right, time is short. Let's begin now. Snow Empress, you'll need to open your mind and offer no resistance during the process."

The Snow Empress wasn't one to hesitate. She nodded, anticipation in her eyes.

Electrolux reached out with his right hand, drawing countless brilliant golden points of light toward him from the air.

A long golden staff slowly took shape, extending two meters beyond his height.

At the top of the staff was a massive crystal carved into the shape of a skull, white from end to end.

As soon as Electrolux took up the staff, his bearing changed. An indescribable holiness and nobility made him seem like a god descending upon the world.

A low chant began. One mysterious word after another emerged from Electrolux's lips. His voice was very soft at first, then gradually echoed through the Ice Crystal Palace.

The golden staff began to move in Electrolux's hands. A crystal-clear golden light bloomed at its tip, dazzling the eye as strange runes began to take shape.

Each mysterious rune that appeared immediately drifted toward the Snow Empress and was branded onto her forehead.

As the previous rune gradually faded and fully merged into the Snow Empress's forehead, the next one formed and flew over, merging with her. The entire process flowed as smoothly as water.

Electrolux reached toward Xu Lanqing's left hand with his own left hand. One rune after another appeared beside the boy from nowhere and merged into his body.

Then flecks of icy blue emerged from him, gathering in front of him at last into an ice-blue crystal phoenix. The phoenix spread its wings and cried out, lifelike.

Electrolux swept his left hand, and the crystal phoenix crashed straight into the Snow Empress's body. The two became one.

The Snow Empress closed her eyes. More and more crystalline snowflakes suddenly appeared around her, encircling her to form an oval, ice-blue crystal.

When the ritual ended, Electrolux's figure had become so indistinct that he was barely visible.

Suddenly, he paused, his eyes sweeping over the space. A hint of surprise appeared in them. Then he turned into a small gray orb and returned to Xu Lanqing's Sea of Consciousness, sinking into silence.

An unseen ripple spread through the space not far away, then vanished the next instant. No one had noticed it except Electrolux.

A figure in the void murmured to himself.

"As expected of divine sense..."