Grasping a Thread of the Emperor Sword!

In the days that followed, the atmosphere in the Extreme North Core Zone changed completely.

Every morning, when the first rays of aurora light appeared, two figures—one large and one small—would appear on the peak of the snow mountain.

The Snow Empress transformed into an extremely strict dance instructor, providing one-on-one coaching to Xue Bingchen.

From every gaze and every gesture to every twist of the waist, the Snow Empress demanded perfection from Xue Bingchen; the slightest mistake would be met with her merciless "Ice and Snow Teaching Whip."

The Ice Empress became the most loyal spectator, moving a small ice stool to sit nearby every day, munching on a Millennium Snow Lotus while watching Xue Bingchen being "tortured" by the Snow Empress with great relish, occasionally letting out a few gloating laughs.

Under the Snow Empress's near-draconian training, coupled with Xue Bingchen's extraordinary comprehension and formidable physical control, his "Dance of Snow" progressed rapidly.

In just half a month, the Dance of the Heavenly Snow Woman he performed had shed its initial stiffness and clumsiness, beginning to display a unique, strange beauty of his own that carried a hint of masculine vigor.

As his understanding of the dance deepened, his control over the Ultimate Ice element surged geometrically!

His cultivation speed reached a terrifying level that was nothing short of breathtaking!

Nourished by the countless heavenly treasures of the Far North, bolstered by the solid foundation laid by his first millennium soul ring, and layered with various energy-boosting buffs accumulated within his body...

In less than three short months!

Xue Bingchen's soul power skyrocketed like a rocket, surging all the way from level 15 to the peak of level 19!

He was only one step away from breaking through the level 20 barrier and obtaining his second soul ring!

If this cultivation speed were to reach the outside world, it would absolutely make those so-called geniuses of Martial Soul Hall collectively jump off a cliff in shame!

On this day, at the peak of the snow mountain.

Having just finished a round of meditation, Xue Bingchen slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surging soul power within him that was nearly overflowing, and a confident smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

"Mother, Aunt Ice Empress."

Xue Bingchen stood up and looked at the two rulers of the Far North beside him, his eyes shimmering with an eager light.

"My soul power has reached a bottleneck; I am ready to absorb my second soul ring and break through to level 20 at any time."

He paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant human world to the south, thinking:

Since my cultivation speed is so fast, can I just stay in the Far North and go into secluded cultivation for a few years?

I could wait until I reach the level of a Soul Emperor or even a Soul Saint, solidify the foundation of my Body Martial Soul, and then emerge to meet the various heroes of the Douluo Continent!

Anyway, according to what I learned when I visited the human world before, it's hard to say if Tang San is even a tadpole yet.

A trace of appreciation flashed in the Snow Empress's cold, ice-blue eyes.

She nodded slightly and asked softly, "Chen'er, since you have reached the bottleneck of level 19, do you intend to go and obtain your second soul ring now?"

Xue Bingchen nodded without hesitation, his eyes filled with a longing for higher levels of power.

Before the Snow Empress could continue, the Ice Empress jumped out impatiently, speaking first:

"Hehe, little Bingchen, Ice and I have already discussed this! As for this second soul ring... we intend for you to hunt it yourself! What level and what type of ice-attribute soul beast you manage to hunt depends entirely on your own ability!"

The Ice Empress crossed her arms, lifted her delicate chin, and a teasing smile played on her lips:

"How about it? Do you dare to accept this challenge?"

"Hunt it myself?"

Hearing this requirement, Xue Bingchen was slightly stunned for a moment, then a wild, arrogant arc suddenly appeared on his lips as he readily replied:

"Why wouldn't I dare?!"

He was not the type of person who would only beg the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress to be "spoon-fed"!

Although he appeared to be a six-year-old human child, his true combat power was absolutely not something that those so-called "geniuses" of the same level could compare to!

He possessed a special physique tempered by countless heavenly treasures; not only was he completely unafraid of the freezing environment of the Far North that could shatter steel, but he actually felt a sense of belonging in this snowy world, like a fish in water.

He had awakened the Ultimate Ice Heavenly Snow Woman martial soul, as well as the Body Martial Soul that could infinitely strengthen his physical body!

More importantly...

During this period of "strict training" by the Snow Empress, while observing and practicing the Dance of the Heavenly Snow Woman day and night, he had successfully touched the threshold of the supreme art of the Far North thanks to his powerful comprehension and some memories of the Douluo Continent!

He had grasped a trace of the mysteries behind one of the Three Ultimates of the Snow Empress—"Emperor Sword: Ice Extreme Peerless"!

Although it was only a glimpse, as the signature technique that made the Snow Empress famous throughout the Douluo Continent—a move capable of slaying even a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—how terrifying was the power of the "Emperor Sword"?

Even if he only had a mere level 19 soul power, and even if he could only unleash one ten-thousandth of the "Emperor Sword's" might, Xue Bingchen had absolute confidence that he could face the millennium soul beasts of the Far North all by himself!

Looking at Xue Bingchen's straight back and the burning fighting spirit and absolute confidence in his eyes, the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress exchanged a glance and nodded in great satisfaction.

Possessing a heart of victory, fearless and undaunted—this was the first step to becoming a true powerhouse!

"Very good."

A peerless, soul-stirring smile bloomed on the Snow Empress's beautiful face.

She stepped forward and reached out with her jade hand to gently pat Xue Bingchen on the shoulder.

"Hum—"

The next moment, a flurry of snow, soft yet containing vast spatial power, instantly swirled around and enveloped Xue Bingchen's small body.

Xue Bingchen felt a flash of white light before his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the scenery around him had undergone a world-shaking transformation.

The peaceful and serene peak of the snowy mountain had vanished, replaced by a dim, vast, and boundless ice field filled with howling winds and blizzards!

The biting cold wind whistled through the air like blades, carrying massive clumps of snowflakes that blotted out the sky and covered the sun.

At the same time, the Snow Empress's gentle yet slightly solemn voice crossed the distance of space, ringing clearly in his ears:

"Little Chen, I have sent you to the outer perimeter of the Far North. Most of the creatures wandering here are century-level or early millennium-level ice-attribute spirit beasts."

"Remember, they do not recognize you, nor do they understand the significance of the Heavenly Snow Woman spirit you possess."

"Their intelligence has not yet awakened; upon encountering a human spirit master, they will only follow their wild instincts and launch frantic attacks."

"So... you must be extremely careful!"

Listening to the Snow Empress's instructions, Xue Bingchen took a deep breath of the cold air mixed with ice shards, his gaze instantly becoming incredibly sharp.

He understood the meaning behind the Snow Empress's words very clearly.