The Ice Empress refined every last drop of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Empress Scorpion's source power.
Waves of extreme cold surged through Lin Qing's Sea of Consciousness, battering the boundaries of his mind.
Outside, his body reacted just as violently.
On the surface of his fifth Soul Ring, four lifelike scorpion markings shone at their brightest.
As the final trace of source power merged with it, a fifth scorpion marking—intricate, ancient, and brimming with boundless dominance—took shape on the ring!
The fifth scorpion marking was complete!
Five hundred thousand years!
"Hmph. Lucky you, brat. My absorption went smoothly enough."
"That hundred-thousand-year foundation was quite good."
Lin Qing heard her affected restraint, when she sounded ready to raise her tail to the heavens, and could not help laughing.
"Five hundred thousand years is enough to satisfy you?"
"Set your sights higher. One day, I'll get you a million-year tonic to try."
"Anyone can paint a feast in the air. Do you think Million-Year Soul Beasts grow like cabbages?"
The Ice Empress gave a soft snort, but she could not hide the joy in her voice.
"But I'll hold you to that."
Lin Qing ended his Seclusion and arrived at the square in Slaughter City.
A thick road of bones paved the vast underground square, stretching beyond sight.
Thousands of his undead followers had already formed ranks to await him.
Not one of them bore the breath of the living, yet together they formed the finest army on the continent.
In the formation to the left, Undead Knights sat astride towering skeletal warhorses.
Battered but sturdy armor covered their dry bones. Spears rose like a forest toward the vault above, while ghostly green soul flames flickered steadily through the gaps in their helmets.
In the formation to the right,
Skeleton Mages