Past Dust

Aromatic Silk Beauty looked even more bewildered. Unable to hold back any longer, Huo Yuhao coughed twice to suppress his smile and countered:

"Youyou, if not for your protection, could you immortal herbs survive here in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Furthermore, besides you, could any of the other immortal herbs here pass through the poisonous miasma outside?"

In his previous life, a major reason the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was willing to become his soul spirit was that they were all restricted by this poisonous miasma and had no way to leave.

One must know that plant-type soul beasts are far lonelier than animal-type soul beasts. Before gaining sentience, they cannot move at all.

At the same time, even after these immortal herbs reach a hundred thousand years of cultivation, they are unwilling to leave due to their excessive reliance on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

With the poisonous miasma laid down by the Jade Phosphorus Seven-Absolute Flower and the Jade Phosphorus Nine-Absolute Flower outside, even if the other immortal herbs wanted to leave, they could not. This is one of the important reasons why Aromatic Silk Beauty is able to act as the decision-maker here.

"Even if the facts are indeed as you say."

Aromatic Silk Beauty's tone became somewhat hesitant.

"Then we would merely be changing from being kept by that person to being kept by you."

Although they had decided to follow the human before them after consulting with the other immortal herbs—after all, this human had taken the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and they could not afford to be separated from him if they wished to continue increasing their cultivation—they did not want to sell themselves so easily. At the very least, they wanted to fetch a good price and secure more benefits.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhao immediately pulled the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, who was preparing to take a nap in his spiritual sea, out as an example, while simultaneously explaining the effects of the Soul Spirit Contract to the immortal herbs present.

"Youyou, you must understand that once you plant-type soul beasts become soul spirits, you can exist as the purest form of energy."

"This means that even if a soul master dies, you can be reborn and regrow on the spot by relying on this pure energy form. Moreover, your cultivation will only be more powerful than it is now."

After hearing Huo Yuhao's explanation, the atmosphere throughout the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was no longer calm. Every sentient being, especially those hundred-thousand-year-level plant-type soul beasts, felt a violent agitation in their hearts.

"Of course, I am not asking for your answer right now."

Huo Yuhao looked at the restless immortal herbs and said in a gentle tone, "When I come here next time, if any of you are willing to leave with me and become soul spirits, I will do my utmost to help you find the most suitable hosts."

Having said this, Huo Yuhao stopped paying attention to the heated discussions of the plant-type soul beasts and took Snow Empress's hand.

"Xue'er, let's go."

Integrating a soul bone was not unfamiliar to Huo Yuhao.

However, even though his physical constitution had reached the strength of a Soul Ancestor after the Ice and Fire Golden Body Refinement, the process of integrating Ice Empress's nearly four-hundred-thousand-year-old torso bone would still be accompanied by immense pain.

As the jade-green Scorpion Tail Hook of the Ice Empress suddenly arched and pierced fiercely into Huo Yuhao's tailbone, his body shuddered violently. Subsequently, a sharp pain originating from the depths of his nerves surged out from his bone marrow, rapidly spreading to his flesh, fascia, and every inch of his skin.

The pain felt as if he were trapped in an icy cavern; every inch of his skin and every bone was frozen stiff and numb, only to be snapped apart by someone.

Yet, despite this inhuman agony, Huo Yuhao showed no other reaction after the initial shudder, not even letting out a single scream.

Seeing this from the outside, Tian Meng felt even more heartbroken. She bit her lower lip tightly, wishing she could bear this inhuman torture for Huo Yuhao.

Tian Meng subconsciously glanced at the Snow Empress beside her, only to see a look of worry on her usually cold face, though it was unclear whether she was worried about Huo Yuhao or the Ice Empress.

As time passed, a touch of jade green quietly emerged, covering Huo Yuhao's spine, sternum, and ribs like strands of jade-green silk.

This green hue gradually grew, completely outlining the bones as if draping them in a layer of crystalline armor.

At the same time, the crystal-like particles on the Ice Empress's body began to melt quietly, turning into wisps of ice mist that surged into Huo Yuhao's body through his skin.

As the ice mist permeated the air, Huo Yuhao's figure gradually blurred, and the Ice Empress beneath him also vanished in silence.

Inside Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, a cold and proud girl with a jade-green body was surveying everything.

The girl had long jade-green hair tied into twin tails, with a pair of scorpion-pincer-shaped ornaments adorning the tips, and a crown on her head that shimmered with a cold luster.

With orange-gold pupils and dressed in a white and green dress, the hem of her skirt was light and elegant, yet playfully revealed her navel. Behind her, a long jade-green scorpion tail swayed slowly.

The Ice Empress's gaze fell upon the golden vertical eye suspended in the void. Compared to the previous phantom, the pressure emitted by this vertical eye was now even more powerful, making one dare not look directly at it.

As the Ice Empress flicked her scorpion tail, she gently wrapped it around Huo Yuhao's spiritual body and pulled him in front of her.

Looking at Huo Yuhao, who was extremely close to her face, she stared into those clear, ice-blue eyes and spoke in a huff:

"Yuhao, is there nothing you have to give me?"

The Ice Empress had naturally gleaned some hints from the Snow Empress and knew what those ice crystals truly signified.

Although the Ice Empress found it incredible, what she cared about more was whether her previous life had left anything behind for her.

Huo Yuhao gave a bitter smile upon hearing this. As one of Tang San's backup plans, the Universe Asking Love Valley had affected far more than just him.

Since some things were already part of the past, there was no need to bring them up again.

Seeing that Huo Yuhao remained silent for a long time, the Ice Empress could not help but pull him closer, pressing her forehead against his, and questioned him with a hint of suspicion:

"Yuhao, was our relationship in the past very bad?"

"Ice Empress, it's just that some things... since they have already changed, it is better not to dwell on them too much."

Huo Yuhao's words were somewhat hesitant; he clearly did not want the Ice Empress to get too hung up on this point.

It seemed that Tian Meng and the Snow Empress had no great interest in the memories of their past lives. After all, through the memories provided by Huo Yuhao, it was merely like being a bystander for them—without any emotional input, it was more like watching a film.

"Yuhao, I am not satisfied with this answer."

The Ice Empress crossed her arms over her chest, her tone filled with displeasure.