Snow Empress Joyfully Acquires a 190,000-Year Spirit Ring
The Far North.
A vast expanse of ice, with howling winds and temperatures so low that even your breath freezes into ice crystals in front of you.
Dai Huabin stood atop an ice peak, enveloped in the icy protective shield provided by the Ice Empress, with an endless white wasteland stretching out below.
They've been here for ten days.
For the first seven days, Ice Empress took Snow Empress to travel all over most of the Core Area of Far North.
All living beings fear death, and Soul Beast are no exception.
Ice Empress couldn't find a suitable Soul Ring. Snow Empress didn't speak, but you could tell she was also somewhat anxious.
Of course, the main reason was that the two of them did not want to cause bloodshed, which is why they had not absorbed the Seventh Soul Ring.
Dai Huabin squatted by the fire, grilling meat skewers for Di Lingxi, and said without turning his head:
"Don't worry, it will happen eventually. The pressure of tribulation faced by Soul Beast over 100,000 years old is real, and not everyone can be confident of surviving it. Let's wait a couple more days."
Zhu Lu squatted down next to him, helping to flip the skewers, and whispered:
"Sister Bing'er has been running around for seven days. She doesn't say it, but she's actually tired."
Dai Huabin nodded.
Although Ice Empress possessed terrifying strength, this human body was not her true form. The continuous travel and the extreme environment of the Far North had taken their toll.
"Let her rest today. Xue'er and I will make another trip to the Ice Rift Valley in the east." Dai Huabin handed the grilled meat skewers to Di Lingxi.
Di Lingxi took it and took a big bite, her cheeks bulging.
"Huabin, I want to go too."
What are you going there for? To cheer on the crowd?
"I can help persuade those Soul Beasts," Di Lingxi said matter-of-factly. "I'm Auspicious Beast; the Soul Beast will be happy to see me."
Dai Huabin thought about it and realized it made sense. Auspicious Beast hold an extremely special position in the Soul Beast Realm; many Soul Beast never see Auspicious Beast in their entire lives.
Di Lingxi's intervention might have unexpected positive effects.
"Okay, you follow me."
That afternoon, Dai Huabin led Snow Empress Di Lingxi to the Ice Rift Valley on the east side.
The Ice Rift Valley is the deepest fissure in the Far North, reaching a depth of thousands of meters. The valley floor is perpetually shrouded in darkness, with temperatures tens of degrees lower than the surface.
According to Ice Empress, there are several ancient ice-attribute Soul Beast that are over 100,000 years old and live in seclusion deep in the valley.
The three of them descended along the ice wall.
Upon reaching the bottom of the valley, the temperature had dropped to an unbelievable level. Dai Huabin had just completed the Ice and Fire Body Tempering, and his physique was far superior to that of ordinary people, but he could still feel the cold air emanating from the cracks in his bones.
Snow Empress walked at the front, her white hair almost blending into the dim valley.
"There's a presence ahead." The Snow Empress stopped in her tracks. "Around 190,000 years old, it's an Ice Crystal Unicorn."
Dai Huabin tensed up. 190,000 years was a pretty good number, and there was also the pressure of a 200,000-year tribulation.
The Snow Empress continued, "The Ice Crystal Unicorn one of the top ten races in the Far North. If you wish, its quality is definitely sufficient."
The three continued deeper into the area.
After walking about half a mile, a huge ice crystal cave appeared before them. The entrance was covered with millennia-old ice, emitting a pale blue glow.
Snow Empress stepped forward and said in a clear voice, "Senior from Ice Rift Valley, this junior, Snow Empress, has come to pay her respects."
Silence filled the cave for a long time.
Then an aged voice came from deep within.
"Lord Snow Empress? Didn't you go to the human world?"
"That's true." Snow Empress said calmly, "I've come here today to discuss something."
Another silence fell.
A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed from the depths of the cave.
A massive, ice-blue unicorn slowly emerged. Its body was five meters long, covered entirely in hexagonal ice crystal scales, and its horn on its forehead was crystal clear.
However, Dai Huabin noticed that the aura of this Ice Crystal Unicorn was unstable. There were several cracks on its ice crystal scales, and the unicorn's luster had dimmed considerably.
"Your body..." Snow Empress frowned slightly.
The Ice Crystal Unicorn chuckled softly:
"I'm getting old. 193,000 years have passed, and the 200,000-year tribulation is fast approaching. My body is already declining."
It looked up at Dai Huabin Di Lingxi behind Snow Empress, a hint of surprise flashing in its turbid beast eyes.
"Humans? And Auspicious Beast?"
Di Lingxi peeked out from behind Dai Huabin, her golden pupils meeting the gaze of the Ice Crystal Unicorn.
"Hello."
Her voice was clear and melodious, and she naturally exuded a faint aura of Auspicious Beast.
The Ice Crystal Unicorn's body trembled slightly.
The aura of the Auspicious Beast made it feel much more comfortable all over, and even the cracks on its scales showed faint signs of repair.
"The aura of Auspicious Beast..." it murmured, "In all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen a living Auspicious Beast."
Dai Huabin spoke up at the opportune moment:
"Senior, our purpose in coming here is simple. Xue'er needs a high-quality ice-attribute Soul Ring."
The Ice Crystal Unicorn fell silent.
"You want my life?"
"I'll give you a new path." Dai Huabin stepped forward. "Senior should know better than anyone that in your current state, you won't survive the 200,000-year tribulation."
The Ice Crystal Unicorn did not refute this.
Dai Huabin continued:
"By becoming the Snow Empress's Soul Ring, your consciousness will not dissipate. The Snow Empress cultivates the Ultimate Ice, and once she becomes a god, you can also ascend with her. Isn't that better than waiting to die here?"
The Ice Crystal Unicorn stared at Dai Huabin for a long time.
Then it turned its gaze to Snow Empress.
"You can really become a god?"
The Snow Empress said frankly, "I can't guarantee it. But I was once the emperor of the Far North, and my goal has always been the highest."
The Ice Crystal Unicorn closed its eyes and remained silent for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
The cold wind howled through the valley, and no one urged them on.
Finally, it opened its eyes again.
"Let me think about it for a day. I'll give you an answer by this time tomorrow."
The next day.
The Ice Crystal Unicorn gave a reply.
It agreed.
There were no sentimental farewells, nor any retreat at the last minute. Since they couldn't withstand the heavenly tribulation, they would simply choose another path.
Snow Empress completed the absorption of her Soul Ring at the Ice Rift Valley.
The whole process lasted a full day.
The 190,000-year-old Ice Crystal Unicorn Soul Ring was of extremely high quality, containing an astonishingly profound amount of ice attribute essence. Snow Empress sat cross-legged at the bottom of the valley, her body enveloped in a dense, icy blue light. The light was so strong that even Dai Huabin had to retreat twenty meters.
Ice Empress stood guard the entire time, ready to intervene and suppress the disturbance if the Soul Ring went berserk.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
As evening fell, the light faded. The Snow Empress slowly stood up, her aura becoming a whole level more refined than before.
"It's done." She exhaled a puff of white air, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Dai Huabin went over to check on her condition.
The Seventh Soul Ring hovered steadily above her Martial Soul, its color deep black, radiating an extreme chill.
How are you feeling?
"Very good."
The Snow Empress stretched out her palm, a delicate snowflake condensing at her fingertips. The power of the Ice Crystal Unicorn had been perfectly integrated into her system.
"It fits even better than expected."
Ice Empress leaned over for a look, then snorted, "Not bad, the quality of a 190,000-year-old is indeed not bad."
She said it was alright, but the satisfaction in her tone was unmistakable.
Di Lingxi ran over from a distance, carrying a piece of ten-thousand-year-old ice crystal that she had somehow acquired.
She's never still while she's eating.
"Sister Xue'er has become stronger!"