Changes and Gains

Darkness blanketed the world, with only scattered starlight illuminating the ground. The ice crystals scattered across it refracted dazzling colors, giving them a crisp, glasslike appearance. A wider view revealed something shocking: these weren't ordinary ice crystals, but crystals formed from the body of the Far North's ruler. Her jade-green shell had once lent her a majestic, imposing figure, but now she was lifeless.

The body had lost all its energy, leaving only an empty shell. With time and the covering snow, it would soon disappear into the land. Ice Empress gazed at her former body, her eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't quite name. Perhaps it was the uncertainty that came with the unknown. But this was the only path left to her.

She would have to follow it to the end. Ice Empress lowered her head and looked at her current host, frowning. He was far too weak, and his talent wasn't much to speak of. At least his disposition had some promise. Everything was over now; all that remained was to wait for Huo Yuhao to wake. No Spirit Beasts would come here, and her presence would keep them away for a while yet.

Ice Empress only wanted to wait until Huo Yuhao woke. Tian Meng had already gone into a deep sleep. Ice Empress had also sensed an exceptionally powerful soul in his mind, but neither of them had said anything about it, so she hadn't asked. She remained vigilant, though. Once Huo Yuhao woke, her task would be complete. A new life would begin.

As Ice Empress brooded, the ice pillar that had merged with the ground around Huo Yuhao suddenly began to crack. The brittle sound of breaking ice stood out in the utter silence, and more cracks followed, spreading across the pillar until it finally shattered. Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and burst out of the ice, sending crystals scattering across the ground.

These crystals weren't ordinary ice. They were remnants of Ice Empress's core energy, which had leaked out as it transformed Huo Yuhao's body. Compared with the energy in his torso Spirit Bone, they were only a tiny fraction, but they were still priceless. They were like a cocoon: creatures born here were supposed to eat them. Huo Yuhao, however, couldn't quite bring himself to do it.

He still couldn't get over his pride. Ice Empress wouldn't let him eat them anyway. They were just scraps; the core energy was already in his body, so why reach for what was farther away? Huo Yuhao instinctively gathered up the crystals. Who didn't want to keep something useful? As long as he ignored Ice Empress's disdainful look, what was the harm? She hadn't seen what Wang Yi and Tian Meng had done.

Huo Yuhao hadn't expected that to come back around on him, too. Those two could really leave him speechless. That would have to wait, though; for now, he was taking stock of what he'd gained. He discovered that he could move freely through the ice and snow without feeling the slightest chill. And this was a place forbidden to humans.

He could survive without a Silkworm Slough now. Was that the benefit of Ultimate Ice? Would this mean he could play snowball fights all he wanted? The moment the thought crossed his mind, Huo Yuhao mentally smacked himself. How petty could he be? Even now, he couldn't put into words all the benefits Ultimate Ice had brought him.

Ice Empress had held on this long, and she didn't mind staying awake a little longer to explain things to Huo Yuhao. "I'm about to fall asleep. Don't disturb me unless you have to. At your current stage, I doubt you'll face any real danger. Don't use the Soul Ring I gave you yet; you can't withstand it. If you absolutely have to use it, let me take control. Otherwise, it'll drain you dry."

"At this stage, focus on getting a feel for Ultimate Ice. It's the absolute attribute that lets us Ice Jade Empress Scorpions rule the Far North." Ice Empress's pride shone through in her voice. "You're too weak right now, so work hard to improve your Soul Power. Ultimate Ice requires an enormous foundation. Really, all Ultimate Attributes demand a foundation far beyond the ordinary."

"That foundation gives you power that surpasses your peers, even letting you fight above your level. The price is slower cultivation. I recommend cultivating here. This is the best environment for you to grow in, not Shrek Academy. But you lot won't listen anyway. That's all."

Huo Yuhao felt dejected the moment he heard that cultivation would be slower. His Soul Power had always been a thorn in his side, leaving him a little insecure from childhood. Even after he entered Shrek Academy, that feeling hadn't gone away—only eased a little. Whenever he met someone new, he instinctively paid attention to their Soul Power Level, even when he could beat them.

He'd thought his Second Martial Soul might change things, but Ice Empress had crushed that hope. He'd just have to cultivate slowly. Huo Yuhao drew a deep breath, then let out a loud shout. The process had seemed to last a little longer this time, and only now did he notice how much his body had changed. He stretched, and his joints cracked all over.

As soon as he stretched, he realized he'd grown much taller. His body had become stronger, though he hadn't absorbed the power of his Spirit Bone fully, so the improvement wasn't all that obvious. If he'd absorbed all of it, beating Bei Bei with his fists and kicking Xu Sanshi around would have been child's play. But for now, that could only happen in his dreams.

Huo Yuhao needed to find his Second Soul Ring. He'd successfully advanced to the second ring, so he definitely wouldn't have to start cultivating again from Level 21. He could clearly feel that his Soul Power had increased considerably.

He activated Spiritual Detection, and its range startled him. Maintaining it also put far less strain on him. His two days of training hadn't been for nothing: his previously unstable spiritual power had been tempered and refined, and he could control more of it. He still couldn't command it completely, but he'd made great progress. Even the stars seemed much closer from where he stood.

As for why Martial Soul Fusion required him to reach the second ring, Tian Meng had explained that it was simply how the rules worked—or, rather, that this was the loophole they could exploit. Tian Meng had risked his life to figure that out. The transition from one ring to two was the easiest point to slip through. By using Simulation to pass off the acquisition of a Second Soul Ring as the acquisition of a Second Martial Soul, they could fool the rules.

That insight was precious, and Huo Yuhao would surely make use of it someday. For now, his task was to get used to his body and wait for Tian Meng to wake up and help him find a suitable Second Soul Ring. It was time to experience the Far North's local customs. Huo Yuhao picked up the Silkworm Slough and draped it over himself. He no longer feared the cold, but it was still useful for hiding his presence. It was easy to imagine that he'd get plenty of use out of this skin.

He planned to record what he learned about the Far North. Shrek's records were sparse, consisting of little more than scattered fragments. This was a job only Huo Yuhao could do. Once he'd steeled himself, he set out. First, he had to leave this area. Ice Empress's authority kept every Spirit Beast away. As for her body, he'd leave it here. She hadn't said anything, so he couldn't just make that decision on his own.