The moment Ice Empress finished speaking, an icy blue halo flared around her, and waves of cold air radiated outward.
Following the method Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had planned in advance, she slowly closed her eyes. Her enormous Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion body gradually faded into nothingness, transforming into a mass of energy infused with Ultimate Ice. It drifted slowly toward Cao Longyan's brow.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had already opened up a space for another Martial Soul within Cao Longyan, waiting for Ice Empress to become his third Martial Soul.
With Electrolux's help, Ice Empress's soul became an icy blue orb of light and entered Cao Longyan's Spiritual Sea of Consciousness, descending beside Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in her beast-form as a Guardian Spirit.
"Bingbing, we can actually take human form too."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm immediately changed into human form and prepared to cling to Ice Empress, who still hadn't figured out what was going on.
"Tian Meng, keep your distance. We're not that close! Don't think I don't know what that big worm of yours is thinking!"
Ice Empress remained in her Ice Jade Empress Scorpion form and lashed her tail at Sky Dream Ice Silkworm again. Caught off guard once more, he went flying, landing headfirst in a thoroughly wretched heap. Stars swam before his eyes, and he was left dizzy and disoriented.
At the same time, the forty-thousand-year Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion torso bone that had appeared after Ice Empress sacrificed her body slowly floated in front of Cao Longyan.
Cao Longyan had by now recovered from his exhaustion. He felt the changes in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness and saw Ice Empress's torso bone before him, realizing that they had succeeded.
This was a Soul Bone containing the power of a forty-thousand-year Ferocious Beast. For an ordinary person like him, with not a trace of Soul Power, absorbing it would be immensely difficult. But there wasn't a hint of fear in his eyes, only unshakable resolve.
He would rise from the ashes!
"My lord, don't worry. We'll help you!"
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice rang out as he used his spiritual power to guide Ice Empress's Soul Bone into Cao Longyan's body.
Electrolux's Undead Aura followed close behind, untangling Cao Longyan's disordered mental pathways.
Ice Empress guided the Soul Power within the bone as it slowly seeped through his limbs and bones.
With the three of them working together to help, Cao Longyan gritted his teeth and relied on a will far stronger than an ordinary person's to endure the forty-thousand-year Soul Bone's torrent of Soul Power. Every inch of his meridians was nourished by Ultimate Ice, then stretched by the surging energy. Agony and relief mingled, making his entire body tremble, but he never gave up.
After what seemed like an eternity, the forty-thousand-year Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion torso bone finally fused with him!
Cao Longyan slowly opened his eyes. A faint glimmer flashed in them. He raised his hands and looked down as pale blue light danced across his palms.
This was... Soul Power!
He... he had Soul Power again!
He took a closer look. His Soul Power Level was probably just over thirty. It was nowhere near his former peak of level forty-nine, yet he was far more excited than he had been when he reached that peak.
While Cao Longyan was still basking in the joy of regaining his Soul Power, a flash of light suddenly appeared in his right hand, and an ordinary, dull-looking staff materialized.
The golden dragon patterns that had vanished from the staff reappeared. Though it still looked somewhat dim and couldn't be properly activated or used, it had shed its former appearance as an ordinary staff, and a trace of its domineering aura had returned.
Was the Ten Halls of Yama Martial Soul recovering?!
Even if he still couldn't do anything with it, this was a good start...
The other Guardian Spirits, Xu Chu and Dian Wei, still showed no sign of awakening. The fireball in his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness had merely begun to give off a faint glow again.
However, a faint white flame broke away from it, unnoticed by everyone.
The next second, the Fire Dragon King bloodline within Cao Longyan gradually awakened as the dragon patterns reappeared on the Ten Halls of Yama!
Blazing golden dragon power erupted, colliding and mingling with the newly awakened Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul. There was no rejection at all. Instead, the two formed a wondrous balance.
Ultimate Ice and blazing dragon power intertwined and coiled around the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul. Its phantom form began to ripple violently. Faint golden dragon patterns gradually appeared amid its icy blue sheen, and its shape quietly began to change.
Its scorpion tail became a long, slender dragon tail; its pincers transformed into sharp dragon claws; and two proud horns sprouted from its head.
At last, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul completed its evolution, becoming an Ice Dragon King Martial Soul, icy blue from head to tail and wreathed in golden dragon patterns. Its dragon might soared, and its chill pierced to the bone!
At the same time, Ice Empress within the Spiritual Sea of Consciousness underwent a transformation of her own. Her original Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion form became that of an Ice Jade Empress Dragon.
"This... this is..."
Ice Empress's voice was full of shock. She stared at the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul inside Cao Longyan, then felt the power surging through her own body and looked at her evolved form, eyes wide.
He could fuse Ultimate Ice with the Dragon King bloodline and evolve it into an Ice Dragon King Martial Soul—and she had evolved into an Ice Jade Empress Dragon along with it... She really hadn't chosen wrong!
Ice Empress felt increasingly glad that she had made that decision. This seemingly ordinary human had such terrifying potential hidden within him. Even at just over level thirty, his future achievements were almost impossible to fathom.
What was more, she could sense that his original power had been much stronger. If he recovered it, then...
As she thought about it, Snow Empress's image involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
How was Xue'er doing...? Would she survive the next tribulation?
If Xue'er learned of his existence, would she make the same choice Ice Empress had...?
"Bingbing, what are you thinking about?"
With nothing better to do, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm sidled up to Ice Empress again. He looked at her knitted brows and vacant expression and asked.
"Nothing."
Ice Empress sighed, shook her head, and put the thought aside.
"Bingbing, don't be so standoffish. Just tell me! Given our relationship, you can tell me, can't you..."
Before Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could finish, Ice Empress lashed out with her tail and sent him flying again. This time, though, it was a dragon tail.
"Tian Meng!"
At that moment, Cao Longyan finally couldn't hold on any longer.
Absorbing a forty-thousand-year Soul Bone, awakening a third Martial Soul, restoring the Ten Halls of Yama Martial Soul, and rousing the Fire Dragon King bloodline—one feat after another had completely drained his spiritual power. His vision went black, and he collapsed straight to the ground, falling into a deep slumber.
Fortunately, Ice Empress, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and Electrolux were all safe inside his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness. They concealed every trace of his presence and maintained his vital signs, ensuring that nothing outside could sense him.
A day and a night slipped by. When the first rays of dawn shone through a crack in the ice and fell on Cao Longyan, his eyelashes quivered a few times before he slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he woke, a familiar sense of strength welled up within him. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was real and steady.
So yesterday's events hadn't been a dream!
The feeling of Soul Power returning, that familiar strength—it felt wonderful!
Cao Longyan slowly stood and flexed his limbs, feeling the unfamiliar Soul Power flowing through him. It carried the aura of Ultimate Ice.
He looked at the Ice Dragon King totem faintly showing on his left hand and activated his newly awakened third Martial Soul.
Ice Dragon King Martial Soul, possess me!
In an instant, icy blue light surged. Dragon might swept across the land, and frigid air flooded in every direction. The snow within dozens of meters froze solid, and even the air turned to ice crystals.
But the Dragon Transformation he had imagined never came.
Even so, Cao Longyan's appearance underwent a complete transformation.
His short, fiery red hair turned long and icy blue. His blazing red eyes became deep blue, and even the breath he exhaled carried a bone-piercing chill. Faint ice mist swirled around him. He seemed like an emperor who had emerged from the frozen wastes, cold and domineering.
"So this is the power of the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul..."
Cao Longyan murmured softly. He raised a hand and swept it outward. A stream of icy blue dragon breath surged forth and struck an Ice Rock in the distance, instantly freezing it into powder.
Just then, a strange power welled up from the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul and enveloped him. Centered on him, the temperature within a hundred meters plunged. A thick layer of ice formed across the ground, intricate ice patterns appearing on its surface as the oppressive power of a domain quietly spread.
Extreme Cold Domain, awakened!
Before you continue