So it's just a food-type soul master who can't even wring a chicken.

"BOOM--!"

The timing was captured with exquisite precision, striking perfectly against Xu Qing's abdomen!

Should one expect anything less from a ferocious beast that has cultivated for tens of thousands of years?

The motion of that punch, the grasp of that fleeting moment.

It was entirely natural.

Yet, Xu Qing did not retreat a single step!!

He looked at the Ice Empress with some surprise, seemingly not expecting this 'prisoner' to dare bite back at him even while having lost all her strength.

Xu Qing felt no pain at all; it just felt like training at night, shirtless, only to be brushed by a gust of cold wind.

"Resistance is useless. Ice Empress, can you still not see the situation clearly?"

"Huu..."

The Ice Empress retracted her fist, looked at the reddened area, then took a few steps back and slumped against the wall.

So painful...

"Human..."

She looked as if she wanted to resist but lacked any means to do so, appearing truly miserable.

How arrogant!! Hmph, hmph, hmph! By utilizing those 'Mystic Ice Marrows' from earlier, a small portion of soul power has returned to this Emperor's body.

Hiss... it is truly strange. Even though the ice-attribute elemental energy contained within is quite scarce, yet... what is up with this taste!

How is it even more delicious than the hundred-thousand-year ice-attribute fruits I have eaten before!

Are you trying to lower my guard? Hehehe, what a whimsical thought.

Just wait until I find an opportunity to take you hostage and escape this hellhole!

"Rest assured, before I can bear your power, you will be fine. Hmm... don't get any crooked ideas about trying to leave or anything."

Xu Qing ate the Mystic Ice Marrow he had prepared to restore his soul power, watching the little girl whose expressions kept shifting, and said slowly:

"I know it's hard, but there's no help for it. This is an order."

"?????"

The Ice Empress could no longer endure it. What is wrong with this human!! What is he rambling on about to himself?

"Huu... do you think this Emperor has no way out? Hehehehe, I might as well tell you, the moment I awakened..."

"I used a secret technique to transmit the message that I had been..."

"Captured?"

"...that I had been taken hostage by a villain, to the true ruler of the Far North, the Snow Empress."

Her face was filled with irrepressible anger, looking as if she didn't take Xu Qing seriously in the slightest.

She certainly made it sound convincing.

Tsk, why has this human stopped talking? Hehehe, is he scared?

"Let me add one more thing: the Snow Empress's cultivation is at the legendary seven hundred thousand years!"

"Do you even know what seven hundred thousand years of soul beast cultivation means? You, a mere level 40 Soul Ancestor!"

The soul power fluctuations haven't changed at all. It seems he hasn't found A-Tai's clansmen... or perhaps my own clansmen.

Did I really not find them?

Your Uncle Xu Qing is a master of the game!

How could he not know about the Ice Empress's bluffing?

Furthermore, he had long known that the Snow Empress's transformation had failed, turning her into an embryo.

She was even sealed by the God Sealing Platform, a level-9 soul tool refined by a level-9 soul master of the Sun Moon Hawk Faction.

This was the most critical factor in why Xu Qing dared to act so recklessly!

What a brave and resourceful genius he is.

"Sigh..."

Xu Qing let out a long breath, delivering a question that caused the latter's pupils to dilate in shock and her mind to tremble!

"Tell me, Ice Empress, what if this Snow Empress never received it?"

"To put it another way, what if the Snow Empress isn't in the Far North?"

"Without the Snow Empress, how will you oppose me?"

Impossible!!

How do you know that!!

Only A-Tai and I knew the news of the Snow Empress's disappearance!

"But I just know."

Evil Xu Qing continued to emit laughter that would stop a child from crying and make a tough man weep!

It was hair-raising!

"Hehehehehehe..."

"Not having Snow Empress feels... just like... not having Snow Empress."

The oppressive atmosphere was shattered by this nonsensical remark, and the scene became 'cheerful' once again.

Ice Empress had been on the verge of hissing in a stress response, preparing a self-destruct combo to threaten this shameless scoundrel who looked like he might pounce at any second.

But... what on earth was this... this extremely abstract statement supposed to mean?

In front of this person, it felt as if everything was being seen through.

It felt like being toyed with!!

Xu Qing put away his playful mindset.

He had teased the little scorpion enough for today; if he kept going, he feared he might end up becoming an old man.

He extended his left hand, his soul power having been restored by consuming the Mystic Ice Marrow, and deep blue soul power surged forth.

Four soul rings rose in succession—the complete Titan Snow Demon family bucket!!

Purple, purple, black, black!

The fourth soul ring had been taken from a selfless Titan Snow Demon who had rushed over to deliver the goods.

In order to protect the King of the Titan Snow Demon Clan, who was being suppressed by the Green Demon God, it had willingly sacrificed its life.

Yet, after absorbing the soul ring, Xu Qing had looked at the soul bone, which flowed with black mist of resentment so deep it was immeasurable, and realized that this guy hadn't been honest either.

Titan Snow Demon: Am I not even allowed to have emotions?

Xu Qing: Correct.

[Fourth Soul Ring: 34,800 years!]
[From the Heavenly King species of the Far North! The Titan Snow Demon Clan!]
[Soul Skill Effect: Host's energy density increases by 350%, purity increases.]

"I'm done playing with you, Great King Scorpion."

With a thought, Xu Qing performed the soul ring fusion maneuver with a proficiency that was hair-raising to behold!

Boom-boom-boom-boom--!!!

Four muffled sounds echoed, and a piece of Mystic Ice Marrow radiating a dim blue light rapidly grew from his left hand.

Its quality reached a tenth of a Ten-Thousand-Year Mystic Ice Marrow!

That was Xu Qing's estimate. After all, he had never seen the real thing.

Perhaps when he felt like it later, He would personally carry the Extreme Dao Little Soldier—Du Busi!—and head to that place of great terror and forbidden ground—the Earth Dragon Sect!—to get to the bottom of it!

To test its depth.

Crackle, crackle...

And just like that, this piece of Mystic Ice Marrow, which had consumed most of Xu Qing's soul power and mental energy, was created.

"Are you a Food-type Soul Master?"

Ice Empress watched Xu Qing, who made no attempt to hide his actions, her gaze fixed on that piece of Mystic Ice Marrow.

But... she didn't seem to be affected by it?

"Correct, I am merely an auxiliary-type Soul Master with no strength to truss a chicken."

Xu Qing tossed the Mystic Ice Marrow directly to Ice Empress, who caught it out of thin air with quick reflexes.

He clapped his hands to brush off the ice shards, turned around, and left, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

Of course, there was also a warm reminder from Lord Xu Qing.

"Great King Scorpion, this is the Body Sect. There are some books in your room that can help you understand things and supplement your knowledge."

"By the way, that piece of Mystic Ice Marrow is your meal for today. Once you're full, you can move around the sect, but be careful not to interfere with others' training."

"Your identity is an orphan I picked up, eleven years old, martial soul: Ice Cube."

"Blah blah blah..."

Xu Qing left.

The room was empty.

Ice Empress held the popsicle-sized Mystic Ice Marrow in one hand, her small pink tongue lightly sweeping across it, curling it up and bringing it back into her mouth.