(The protagonist was six years old, Tang San had been born, and the Pope was indeed Bibi Dong~)
Meanwhile.
Spirit City, Heaven Dou Empire.
In Pope's Palace, not long after Qian Xunji had been wounded by Tang Hao and the transfer of papal authority had been completed,
Pope Bibi Dong, seated upon the throne symbolizing the continent's highest authority, suddenly opened her deep, imposing eyes.
She abruptly clenched the Pope's Scepter studded with countless gems, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
Bibi Dong shot to her feet. Her incomparably luxurious papal robes stirred without wind, while her stunning face was now filled with undisguised shock and gravity.
She strode to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window of Pope's Palace, her gaze fixed firmly upon the distant north.
Even from thousands of miles away, she could clearly sense an ultimate chill in that direction, one so intense that even the two top-tier spider martial souls within her trembled faintly. It was shooting straight into the heavens.
"What terrifying fluctuations of ice-element laws... This aura is pure to the extreme, even surpassing the level of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
Uncertainty flickered in Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes as she murmured:
"That direction... is the human forbidden zone, the Far North! Could some slumbering super overlord of the Far North have broken through its bottleneck? Or perhaps... some peerless ice-element treasure capable of changing the continent's balance has emerged?"
"Pass down my orders!"
Bibi Dong suddenly turned around, her voice echoing through the great hall:
"Immediately dispatch additional personnel to investigate the outskirts of the Far North! We must uncover the source of this heavenly phenomenon!"
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Heaven Dou Empire.
Ning Fengzhi, the sect master, had been drinking tea and discussing the Dao with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong in the main hall when the teacup in his hand suddenly halted.
With a crack, the precious white jade teacup was actually squeezed open by a fissure in his hand.
A trace of horror appeared on Ning Fengzhi's refined face as he abruptly rose and looked northward.
Beside him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong had already become alert as if facing a great enemy.
The Seven Kill Sword behind Sword Douluo emitted restless sword cries, while Bone Douluo's massive body tensed as well.
"Fengzhi, something has happened in the Far North."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin's expression was as dark as water, and a hint of wariness flashed through his sharp eyes.
"What a domineering chill! Even if I used my seventh soul skill at my peak, I fear I would struggle to withstand its edge. What kind of monster has the Far North bred?"
Ning Fengzhi drew a deep breath, suppressing his shock as he said solemnly:
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, the continent's situation may soon be thrown into turmoil because of the changes in the Far North. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must make preparations early."
The reclusive Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Star Luo Empire's imperial family...
Even in the depths of the distant Star Dou Great Forest, at the Lake of Life, a pair of enormous golden eyes like the sun and moon slowly opened a slit under the stimulation of that ultimate chill.
"That old woman from the Far North... has grown stronger again? No... that's not right. Although this aura shares the same origin, it carries a vigorous newborn vitality... Interesting. Truly interesting..."
A low murmur like rolling thunder sounded from beneath the lake. Then, those golden eyes closed once more, and the Lake of Life returned to calm.
All the top forces and powerful beings across Douluo Continent were startled at that moment by the pillar of light rising from the Far North.
They all speculated whether a soul beast had broken through or some exotic treasure had descended, yet no one could have imagined that this grand spectacle, enough to alarm the entire continent, was merely caused by a six-year-old human child awakening his martial soul!
Core region of the Far North, atop a snowy mountain.
The pillar of light that pierced the sky gradually dissipated, and the blizzard covering the heavens returned to calm.
The phantom of the Heavenly Snow Woman above Xue Bingchen's head also turned into specks of ice-blue starlight and merged back into his body.
He slowly opened his eyes, and stars seemed to flow within his ice-blue pupils.
He lowered his head, looking at his hands and sensing the vast, endless power within his body, as though it were connected to heaven and earth. The corners of his mouth could not help but curl wildly upward.
So this is... the Heavenly Snow Woman martial soul? It's too strong! I feel like I could punch a cow to death now... No, a ten-thousand-year soul beast! Xue Bingchen roared excitedly in his heart.
Before he could fully experience the changes brought by his martial soul, a fragrant breeze rushed toward him.
"Ahhh! Little Bingchen! You're amazing! You're a genius!"
Ice Empress transformed into a streak of green lightning and rushed over, scooping Xue Bingchen up from the ground and spinning him around excitedly.
"Even though you didn't awaken this Empress's Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, so I can't be your official mother, but... but considering you made such a huge commotion, this aunt forgives you! Hahaha, you've brought us so much glory! Let's see who still dares say humans are all useless!"
Ice Empress spun in circles while babbling incoherently with excitement. Her emerald eyes brimmed with wild joy and pride, as if she herself had awakened a top-tier martial soul.
Xue Bingchen was spun so dizzy that the world blurred around him, but seeing Ice Empress's heartfelt delight, he could not help giggling too.
"Enough, Bing'er. Put Chen'er down before you make him dizzy."
Snow Empress's gentle voice sounded at just the right time.
She walked gracefully to the pair, gazing at Xue Bingchen with incomparable tenderness and even a glimmer of tears in her eyes.
She extended her jade-like hand, gently took Xue Bingchen from Ice Empress's arms, and pulled him into her warm embrace.
"Chen'er, you did it. You didn't disappoint Mother. You awakened the most beautiful martial soul in this world."
Snow Empress lowered her head and gently pressed a cool kiss to Xue Bingchen's smooth forehead, her tone filled with unconcealed pride and joy.
Snow Empress interrupted Ice Empress, who was still dancing about excitedly nearby.
"Bing'er, we can celebrate later. There is still one most important thing we haven't done. We haven't tested Chen'er's Innate Soul Power yet."
"Right, right, right! Test his Soul Power! Test his Soul Power!" Ice Empress snapped back to her senses and nodded repeatedly.
She stretched out her little hand, patted Xue Bingchen's head in approval, and declared with absolute confidence:
"Snow Empress, just put your mind at ease! Don't you and I know how monstrously powerful this little monster's physique is? How many heavenly treasures from the Far North has he eaten over the past three years? And not only is he unafraid of Ultimate Ice, he actually enjoys the Far North's environment immensely. The commotion from his martial soul awakening nearly pierced the sky just now. His Innate Soul Power absolutely can't be low! I'd wager it's at least Innate Full Soul Power!"
Hearing Ice Empress's words strike directly at her heart, Snow Empress could not help covering her mouth and laughing softly.
She clearly remembered taking Xue Bingchen to human society last year to watch martial soul awakenings in a remote town.
Those human children the same age as Xue Bingchen had all been sallow and skinny. The martial souls they awakened were either rusty hoes or Blue Silver Grass that snapped with a tug, and their Innate Soul Power had not even reached half a rank.
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