Sunlight

"Hoo~"

Xu Lanqing lay flat on the ice, gasping for air, his clothes already soaked through with sweat.

After all, he had just stripped away his martial soul, and he now felt an immense sense of physical weakness.

Beside him, an oval-shaped, ice-blue crystal about three meters tall stood upright. The surface of the crystal shimmered with a pale blue halo as it refracted the light, a strange radiance that felt both dazzling and mesmerizing.

When the ritual was completed, he felt an invisible connection form between himself and the Ice Empress in the depths of his consciousness.

His own body had also undergone some changes.

He couldn't help but touch it with his finger, and a sensation that was both cool and warm seeped into his body and soul.

"Hahaha~"

Xu Lanqing couldn't help but grin, feeling incredibly satisfied.

Although it appeared he had lost his Ultimate Ice Ice Phoenix martial soul, the gains were far greater; he would never engage in a losing business deal.

Xu Lanqing closed his eyes, his soul power circulating slowly through his body.

Then, a strange scene unfolded.

His jet-black hair began to transform into white at a speed visible to the naked eye, starting from the roots. His already fair skin became even paler, emitting a lustrous, jade-like glow that was dazzlingly white.

Even his pure black clothes were stained with a layer of white mist.

His originally handsome face now carried a touch of coldness and ethereal beauty.

When he opened his eyes again, his clear pupils had turned sky-blue, and unlike the Snow Maiden, there was a pure white snowflake within each pupil.

His martial soul had truly transformed into the Ice Empress.

Xu Lanqing raised his right hand above his head. Under the light, his jade-white skin almost blinded him.

This is too white; even a dead person isn't as white as me.

Xu Lanqing felt a bit depressed.

Forget it, at least I still have a martial soul.

As soul power flowed through his palm, he flicked his hand, and an irregular, needle-shaped ice crystal shot out.

This wasn't a soul skill, but merely ice-attribute control. He had known since the martial soul possessed him that this martial soul could not have soul rings attached to it.

As for soul skills, once the Ice Empress woke up, he should be able to use her soul skills—all of them. He wouldn't have to worry about lacking soul skills in the early stages.

Not only that, he could feel that his soul power had increased, though he didn't know by how much without a soul ring attached.

If that were all, it wouldn't be much—it was still Ultimate Ice, just a different martial soul.

His gaze fell back onto the ice-blue crystal, a smile playing on his lips.

The most important thing was the Ice Empress. Although she had been reborn, the contract and the Ice Phoenix within him meant she couldn't stray too far, or both would be affected and their power would spiral out of control.

After all, she was his martial soul; even if she had been stripped away via the ritual, she couldn't leave the original host too far behind, and the Ice Empress needed time to fully integrate.

With that much time, it would be enough for him to persuade the Ice Empress.

After a while.

Xu Lanqing felt his body recover somewhat, so he stood up.

Looking at the crystal before him, he frowned. This thing should be able to be stored in a storage soul tool, right?

He raised his storage ring, and with a flash of light, the gorgeous crystal remained standing there quietly, without the slightest reaction.

He scratched his head:

"What do I do? How am I supposed to take you back? Don't tell me I have to throw you into the Undead Plane? No, what if something goes wrong?"

His current strength only allowed him to open the Undead Gate; he couldn't control the Undead Plane.

He didn't know how hard this crystal was; if it were broken by the undead, that would be a disaster.

Moreover, speaking of leaving, he suddenly realized a grave problem.

He looked at the sky outside, covered by terrifying white gale winds without a single gap, and recalled the hole that the Title Douluo had made.

That is, it seems I can't get out now!

(｀皿′)!!!

Xu Lanqing sighed helplessly:

"A miscalculation. Now even I can't get out."

He stroked the crystal with his palm, the surface feeling cool and warm to the touch.

"I just hope you wake up soon, otherwise I'm going to be trapped here to death."

In the quiet, monotonous ice crystal palace, there was no decoration, making it appear extremely empty.

Time passed slowly.

He simply sat cross-legged, wanting to meditate to pass the time, but with his mind full of worries, he couldn't calm down at all.

Looking at the white world all around him, devoid of any life, he wondered how the Ice Empress had managed to survive for so many years.

Truly boring.

Xu Lanqing stared blankly at the ice-blue crystal, his mind once again drifting back to his current predicament.

A moment later, he spoke to the crystal, as if talking to himself:

"So be it if it's despicable; right now, I'm just a 'three-no' boy with no people, no money, and no power.

Money and power are out of reach, and if I don't pull a few more people in to help, how can I possibly contend with Xu Tianran? Forget about revenge; I wouldn't even know how I died when the time comes.

I'm only a six-year-old child right now, while Xu Tianran has been operating for so many years. The forces standing behind him in the open are countless, not to mention that he is now colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult in the shadows.

The Emperor had Elder Kong become my teacher, but his original intention was likely just to ensure my survival.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have had me take him as a master in private without holding a public apprenticeship ceremony.

The Emperor dotes on me, but it feels more like he is compensating for the love he had for my mother.

More than a father, he is a qualified emperor who draws a very clear line when it comes to state affairs. If nothing unexpected happens, I have no chance of ascending to the throne.

Although Elder Kong has become my teacher, he only provides me with the guidance of a mentor and cannot stand in the open to support me. At most, he can only protect my life in his capacity as a teacher.

But there is no such thing as guarding against a thief for a thousand days, especially when it's a thief within the family.

The time is just too short; otherwise, I wouldn't be in such a passive position."

The more he thought about it, the more miserable Xu Lanqing felt his situation was, with the hope of a comeback looking slim.

"I might be sorry to you, but this is the only way I have.

Besides, a man who flaunts his wealth in public invites trouble. Without a powerful force and strength, trying to promote the Soul Spirit Method is nothing but a joke.

Therefore, if you want to change the current situation of the Far North, this is something you must face."

He didn't care whether the Ice Empress could hear him or not, just pouring his thoughts out all at once.

It was right at this moment that he felt a trace of warmth spreading in from outside, as golden light passed through the palace doors and fell upon him, just like sunlight.

Wait, where did this sunlight come from?

Xu Lanqing was startled, then his face lit up with joy as he turned his head to look at the sky outside.

And just as he turned his head, the ice-blue crystal, which had been calm all along, flickered a few times.