"An escape route?" She chuckled, her laughter full of contempt for the fate of Soul Beasts and a frank acceptance of her own choice. "I, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, never turn back. Now that I've tied my life to yours, I won't leave myself the slightest way out."
She raised a hand and pushed the lustrous Ice Jade Torso Bone toward Jiang Che. Her tone was calm, yet every word rang clear. "Do you think keeping this body will really give you a chance to turn things around someday? I've already survived the 300,000-year heavenly tribulation, and my old injuries are deeply rooted. Even if something unexpected happens, I still won't escape the 400,000- or 500,000-year tribulations. In the end, my soul will still scatter. Rather than let this shell be buried in the Far North Ice Plains, I'd rather become your strength completely."
"The stronger you are, the greater your hope of becoming a god. Only then can I truly escape the fate of Soul Beasts enduring heavenly tribulations and gain a new, eternal life." The Ice Empress lifted her eyes, her gaze cold yet sincere as she looked straight into Jiang Che's. "Since I've chosen to trust you, I'll hold nothing back. This Torso Soul Bone can strengthen your foundation and raise your power another level. It's good for both of us."
Looking at the Torso Soul Bone before him, its surface shimmering with a gentle Ice Jade glow, Jiang Che felt warmth well up in his heart. By doing this, the Ice Empress was entrusting her entire future to him. Her unreserved trust left him with no reason to refuse.
"Fine. I'll accept it."
Jiang Che agreed solemnly and reached out to take the Torso Soul Bone, condensed from the Ice Empress's 400,000 years of cultivation. It was cool to the touch, but not painfully cold. The Ultimate Ice aura flowing within it matched the source power of the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul in his body perfectly. There was no resistance at all; instead, the powers seemed to share the same origin, reunited after a long separation, and answered each other with a faint shimmer.
He found a level ice platform and sat cross-legged. The Ice Empress stood beside him, her yellow-diamond eyes fixed quietly on him. Pale Ice Jade Soul Power curled around her, ready to steady his aura and intervene if anything went wrong.
Jiang Che drew a deep breath and slowly pressed the Ice Jade Torso Bone against his chest. He stilled his mind and immediately activated the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul within him. Pale blue Ice Dragon Soul Power flowed slowly along his meridians, gently enveloping the Torso Soul Bone. He made no attempt to force it, guiding it only with the power of his source.
Unlike Huo Yuhao, who had endured excruciating pain when absorbing a Soul Bone, Jiang Che had a perfect match with its attributes. On top of that, the Ice Empress had willingly detached the bone and erased all resistance, so the absorption went remarkably smoothly.
Ice Jade light burst from the Soul Bone, intertwining with the pale blue radiance of the Ice Dragon around Jiang Che to form a dazzling, two-toned shield that enclosed him completely. The purest Ultimate Ice power seeped gently through his limbs and bones like snow melting in spring, nourishing his meridians, bones, and flesh.
There was no agony, no tearing sensation—only a comfort and warmth he had never felt before. The immense power slowly merged into his torso, tempering every bone and making them stronger. His already resilient meridians grew wider, and the flow of his Soul Power instantly accelerated several times over.
The Ice Empress's 400,000-year Ferocious Beast source power gradually fused with his body. It was as if invisible Ice Jade Dragon scales had covered his torso. His defenses surged, while the purity of his Ultimate Ice Soul Power rose rapidly.
Jiang Che kept his eyes closed as light flowed around him without pause. Not a trace of pain showed on his face; instead, he looked peaceful and at ease.
He could clearly feel his physical strength and Soul Power reserves improving at a visible pace. The Ice Dragon King Martial Soul had completely merged with the Soul Bone, as if it had always belonged to him.
Standing to one side, the Ice Empress watched. A look of relief flashed through her yellow-diamond eyes. She could feel the Soul Bone blending perfectly with Jiang Che and his strength steadily rising. The last of her worries vanished. She knew she had made the right choice: this human would surely lead her into a whole new future.
Time passed, and the cold winds of the Far North Ice Plains continued to howl, yet they could not shake the shield around Jiang Che. After an unknown length of time, the two-toned light enclosing him suddenly drew inward and poured into his body.
Jiang Che slowly opened his eyes. A glint of intertwined ice blue and Ice Jade flashed across them and vanished. His aura rose steadily, and his Soul Power, which had been at level 93, was now completely stabilized.
He stood up and gently rolled his shoulders. His bones gave a crisp, pleasant series of cracks. Every muscle and bone brimmed with warm, surging power, no longer the least bit stiff.
He looked down at his torso. Intertwined Ice Jade and ice-blue patterns flickered faintly across it—the sign that the Soul Bone had fully fused with him.
Jiang Che raised a hand to his chest. He could clearly feel the aura connecting him to the Ice Empress within the Soul Bone, along with the Ultimate Ice power that far surpassed what he had possessed before.
"Thank you." Jiang Che looked at the Ice Empress, his voice earnest and sincere.
The Ice Empress gave a soft snort, though she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She turned her head away with an air of pride. "You don't need to thank me. Your growing stronger is good for me too. From now on, don't let this power down."
Jiang Che smiled and nodded. Feeling the surge in his strength and the bond of shared life that now tied him closely to the Ice Empress, he was filled with certainty.
With two Ultimate Martial Souls, the Ice Empress as his Soul Spirit, and a 400,000-year Ice Jade Torso Bone, and with the God King's watchful gaze gone, his path across the Douluo Continent would surely grow ever smoother.
"Let's go. We'll leave the Far North first!" Jiang Che looked into the distance, his tone leaving no room for argument.
As soon as Jiang Che finished speaking, Soul Power stirred around him. Pure ice-blue Soul Power lifted him straight into the air, without a trace of wasted motion, and carried him toward the outer reaches of the Far North.
The Ice Empress followed close behind, Ice Jade Soul Power wrapping around her as she glided through the air. The two controlled their flight with their own Soul Power alone, speeding off through the sky.
Jiang Che kept a steady posture and an even flow of Soul Power as he guided their flight. The Ice Empress raced alongside him, their auras blending. Before long, they had left the core region and reached the skies above the outer Far North.
Jiang Che abruptly drew in some of his Soul Power and stopped in midair. His spiritual power swept across the ground below.
A moment later, his gaze darkened. He slowly urged his Soul Power and descended at an even pace, touching down on the ice without a sound.
The Ice Empress landed at the same time beside him, concealing her Soul Power as she followed Jiang Che's gaze.
Their eyes pierced through the swirling snow and settled on the far side of a low ice mound.
Beside the mound, a thin, slight boy was crouched with his arms around himself, wrapped in thick animal-hide clothes. His Soul Power was weak but tenacious as he carefully circulated it to fend off the Far North's bitter cold.
The boy had a youthful face and a slight furrow between his brows. He kept his head lowered, intently searching for traces of Soul Beasts on the ground. His Spirit Eye Martial Soul was not active, and he was so absorbed in his search that he had no idea two powerful auras were so close by.
"Huo Yuhao! What are you doing here?" Jiang Che had recognized the boy the moment he saw him. He even knew why he had come here, but he still asked.
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