God King!

As these lines of text appeared, the image on the Sky Screen changed accordingly.

It was a boundless snowfield, with howling winds and heavy snow falling thickly from the heavens.

At the very heart of the blizzard, atop a massive glacier, stood a peerlessly elegant figure.

She was a woman. Her long, snow-white hair spread out like a blanket of snow, gently fluttering amid the wind and frost.

She wore a pure white gown. Her features were breathtakingly beautiful, yet they carried an aloofness that kept others at a thousand miles' distance.

Standing there, she seemed to be the sovereign of the entire blizzard—noble, holy, and inviolable.

Immediately afterward, the Sky Screen announced her reward.

[Rank 8 Reward: Clue to the Ice God's divine inheritance, one portion of Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin, three Extreme Ice Divine Crystals!]

The divine voice of the Gold Ranking echoed over the entire continent, shaking every heart.

"Snow Empress? The foremost of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North?"

"She's actually a terrifying seven-hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

"My god, the rewards actually include a clue to a divine inheritance!"

"That Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin and those Extreme Ice Divine Crystals—they sound like ice-attribute supreme treasures just from their names!"

Across the continent, countless soul masters cried out in shock.

Especially the powerful soul masters—upon hearing the words "clue to a divine inheritance," even their breathing became heavy.

That was a divine position!

The ultimate goal countless soul masters pursued their entire lives!

Yet now, it had been bestowed upon a soul beast as a reward.

Far North, core region.

Amid the raging snowstorm, Snow Empress stood quietly atop the glacier, gazing at the enormous golden curtain in the sky.

When she saw her name appear at Rank 8, a ripple finally surfaced on her face, which had remained unchanged for countless years.

"Rank 8, huh..."

Snow Empress murmured softly. Her voice was cool and clear, like icy pearls falling onto a jade plate—pleasant to the ear, yet carrying a faint chill.

Just then, a streak of green light burst through the storm.

Right afterward, a petite figure appeared beside Snow Empress.

She was a girl who looked only around her teens, with long dark-green hair and strange emerald-green eyes.

She was Ice Empress, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, ranked second among the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North.

"Big Sister! You made the ranking!"

Ice Empress's voice brimmed with excitement. She grabbed Snow Empress's arm and bounced slightly in agitation.

"And you're Rank 8! The rewards even include a clue to a divine inheritance, along with the Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin!"

"Now you'll be even more certain to break through the seven-hundred-thousand-year bottleneck, Big Sister!"

Snow Empress looked at the excited Ice Empress beside her. A hint of gentleness flashed through her eyes as she lightly stroked her hair.

"Bing'er, don't get excited just yet."

"Although the Gold Ranking's rewards are indeed generous, they have also exposed us to the world."

Hearing this, Ice Empress gave a disdainful snort.

"So what if we've been exposed?"

"Who would dare cause trouble for us here in the Far North?"

"If those human Titled Douluo dare come, I'll freeze them straight into ice sculptures!"

Snow Empress shook her head slightly, her gaze deep as she looked at the Sky Screen.

"A million-year soul beast..."

Ice Empress bit her lip and spoke reluctantly.

"Big Sister, can something as weak as Blue Silver Grass really cultivate to a million years?"

"And he even has some Supreme Blue Silver Emperor bloodline. Does such a bloodline truly exist in this world?"

Snow Empress fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Since the Gold Ranking has announced it, it cannot be false."

"This world is vast, and all manner of wonders exist."

"Blue Silver Grass may be insignificant by nature, but if it can break through its shackles, the tenacity of its life force would surpass imagination."

"That Lord Tang Xiao has likely already reached a realm beyond our grasp."

As she said this, a mass of dark-blue liquid suddenly appeared out of thin air in Snow Empress's hand, along with three regular octahedral crystals radiating an extreme icy glow.

At the same time, a profound stream of information flooded into her mind.

It was precisely the reward bestowed upon her by the Gold Ranking.

Feeling the terrifying icy power contained within the Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin, a trace of shock flashed through Snow Empress's eyes.

"What pure Origin power. With this, I may not even need to undergo a heavenly tribulation before transforming directly."

Ice Empress watched from the side, practically drooling.

"Wow, Sister, this Nine Nether Cold Spring Origin smells so good. I can feel the Soul Power inside my body stirring already."

Snow Empress smiled faintly and handed one of the Extreme Ice Divine Crystals to Ice Empress.

"This divine crystal is for you. It will be immensely beneficial to your ice-attribute Soul Power."

"Thank you, Sister!"

Ice Empress happily accepted the divine crystal and hugged it to her chest like a child who had received her favorite toy.

Snow Empress put away the remaining rewards, then raised her head to look at the sky, an unusual light flickering in her eyes.

"Tang Xiao... a million-year Supreme Blue Silver Emperor."

"I truly want to see what kind of bearing this mighty expert standing at the pinnacle of the world possesses."

Inside the manor.

Qian Renxue looked at Snow Empress's image on the Sky Screen and sighed somewhat.

"Seventy thousand years of cultivation. Snow Empress truly deserves her title as the uncrowned queen of the Far North."

"Back when I was in the Heaven Dou Empire, I had heard of the terror of the Far North. Now that I have seen it, its reputation is indeed well deserved."

"If Spirit Hall had once tried to forcefully invade the Far North, the losses would likely have been devastating."

Tang Xiao sat beside her, looking at her with amusement.

"What, is Xue'er boosting others' prestige while diminishing her own?"

"Spirit Hall had a deep foundation back then. If Qian Daoliu had acted personally, along with several worshippers, Snow Empress might not necessarily have gained the upper hand."

Qian Renxue turned her head and looked at him with a slightly coquettish glare.

"Husband, you only know how to tease me."

"I was merely sighing with emotion."

"Still, although Snow Empress is formidable, she is far inferior to you, Husband."

As she said this, a proud expression appeared on Qian Renxue's face.

In her heart, Tang Xiao was the most perfect man in the world. No one could compare to him.

Tang Xiao took her small hand into his and gently stroked it.

"She was born with an ice physique. Among soul beasts, her talent can indeed be considered exceptional."

"However, as I said before, restricted by the laws of this continent, taking that final step will be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"Even with clues to the Ice God's divine position, without sufficient opportunities, it will ultimately amount to nothing."

Qian Renxue looked at him curiously.

"Then do you think she can succeed, Husband?"

Tang Xiao shook his head slightly.

"Hard to say."

"But what does that have to do with us?"

"If she is smart, she should know that guarding her own little territory in the Far North is the wisest choice."

"If she dares entertain any improper thoughts, I do not mind leaving this world with one fewer seventy-thousand-year soul beast."

His voice was calm, yet the domineering intent within it made Qian Renxue's heart tremble slightly.

This was her husband.

Usually gentle as jade, but once someone touched his bottom line, he became a demon god capable of making the entire continent tremble.

At the same time, atop the walls of Jialing Pass.

Bibi Dong stood silently, her purple gown fluttering loudly in the wind.

As she watched Snow Empress's peerlessly beautiful figure on the Sky Screen, as well as those generous rewards, her hands involuntarily clenched into fists.

"Clues to a divine position inheritance..."

Bibi Dong murmured softly, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes.

Only she herself knew how much she had paid and how much pain she had endured in order to inherit the Rakshasa God's divine position.

Yet now, the Gold Ranking had so easily bestowed clues to a divine position upon a soul beast.

How could she possibly find peace with that?

"Your Holiness, the Pope."

At her side, Hu Liena looked at Bibi Dong with some concern.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath and slowly unclenched her trembling hands. The unwillingness in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by profound helplessness.

"Nana, I'm fine."

"I was merely reflecting on how wondrous the workings of fate truly are."

"Though this Snow Empress is powerful, she is ultimately only ranked eighth."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong's gaze involuntarily turned toward the Sun Moon Continent.

Even across the boundless ocean, she seemed able to sense what a terrifying behemoth lay dormant upon that continent.

"If even eighth place has clues to a divine position, then first place..."

Bibi Dong did not continue, but Hu Liena understood what she meant.

Tang Xiao, ranked first, was a Million-Year Soul Beast—the Supreme Blue Silver Emperor.

His strength had likely long surpassed the realm of gods.

"Your Holiness, the Blue Silver Empire has now taken over Jialing Pass. We..."

Hu Liena spoke with some hesitation.

Bibi Dong let out a faint sigh and gently patted her shoulder.

"Nana, don't worry."

"Since Tang Xiao promised to spare Xue'er and preserve Spirit Hall's legacy, he will not go back on his word."

"With his status and standing, he would disdain breaking his promises to us."

"Now, all we can do is submit."

"Before such absolute power, any scheme or struggle is nothing more than a joke."

Bitterness tinged Bibi Dong's voice.

Once, she had been so proud, so utterly unrivaled.

Yet ever since witnessing Tang Xiao's world-destroying strike, all her pride had been shattered in an instant.

Now, she only wished to peacefully protect Spirit Hall's legacy and protect Qian Renxue.

So long as Qian Renxue could live well, she would be content.

Deep within Slaughter City.

The dark, damp ancient castle was permeated with a dense stench of blood.

Tang San sat upon a throne of bones, his face somewhat pale and violent red light flickering in his eyes.

He stared fixedly at the Snow Empress on the Sky Screen, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Snow Empress... a Seven-Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast..."

"Why? Why do all these Soul Beasts receive such generous rewards?"

"I, Tang San, possess Twin Martial Souls. I am a once-in-ten-thousand genius—why can't I even make it into the top ten?"

Tang San roared, nearly hysterical.

His voice echoed through the empty castle, sounding exceptionally sinister and terrifying.

After being severely wounded and forced to flee by Tang Xiao, he had come to Slaughter City, attempting to improve his strength through the slaughter here.

Yet whenever he saw those Soul Beasts on the Gold Ranking receive such generous rewards, his heart filled with jealousy and hatred.

Especially Tang Xiao, who stood in first place.

"Tang Xiao... Blue Silver Supreme..."

"Just wait. Once I inherit the Asura God's divine position, I will tear you to pieces!"

"And the Blue Silver Empire you founded—I will destroy it completely as well!"

Tang San's eyes brimmed with frenzied killing intent.

He had placed all his hopes on inheriting the Asura God's divine position.

As long as he could become a god, he believed he would surely be able to defeat Tang Xiao.

However, he did not know that the divine position he pursued was, in Tang Xiao's eyes, nothing more than a toy that could be crushed at will.

Within the estate, amid the sea of flowers.

The light of the Sky Screen gradually receded, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated along with it.

Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze, looked at Tang Xiao beside her, and blinked mischievously.

"Hubby, eighth place has already been announced. Who do you think seventh place will be?"

Tang Xiao reached out and pulled her into his arms, letting her sit on his lap.

"Whoever it is, it won't be us."

"Xue'er, rather than worrying about the Gold Ranking, you should care more about your husband."

Qian Renxue wrapped her arms around his neck somewhat bashfully, her pretty face lightly flushed.

"Where have I failed to care about my husband?"

"Is that so? Then why does your husband feel that Xue'er's attention has been entirely on the Gold Ranking today?"

Tang Xiao looked at her teasingly, his fingertips gently brushing across her cheek.

"Alright, husband, I was wrong. Isn't that enough?"

The morning breeze drifted through the sea of flowers, carrying wave after wave of refreshing fragrance.

Qian Renxue leaned against Tang Xiao's chest, feeling the warmth from his broad embrace, her beautiful eyes filled with attachment.

"Husband, the rewards from the Gold Ranking are so tempting. I'm afraid they'll stir up the greed of many people."

She spoke softly, her fingers lightly tracing circles over Tang Xiao's lapel.

Tang Xiao held her soft, warm hand, his tone calm.

"So what if they get greedy? Without strength, greed will only hasten their deaths."

"The Ice God clues in the Snow Empress's possession won't be so easy to obtain."

Qian Renxue nodded slightly. Naturally, she understood that.

"Still, Tang San is in Slaughter City now. I always feel that he won't stay quiet."

Tang Xiao chuckled, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes.

"Whether he behaves himself or not won't change the outcome. He's just an ant struggling in the mud—let him do as he pleases."

Tang Xiao had long since reached the realm of a God King. With a million years of cultivation, all things in the world were no more than a drop in the ocean in his eyes.

Slaughter City, underground blood pool.

The dense stench of blood had nearly solidified, while crimson mist churned violently through the air.

Tang San sat cross-legged at the center of the blood pool. Countless vengeful spirits wailed around him, yet the divine radiance emanating from his body forcibly purified them.

On his forehead, a blood-red demonic sword mark flickered with an eerie glow.

"HAHAHAHA! I finally succeeded!"

Tang San abruptly opened his eyes, two beams of bloody light shooting forth and directly melting the stone wall before him.

He rose to his feet, feeling the vast, ocean-like divine power within his body. His face was filled with wild joy and twisted excitement.

"Divine power! This is the power of a god!"

"Tang Xiao, you bastard, do you think your million years of cultivation make you invincible?"

"Before a true deity, you're still nothing but a soul beast—a lowly animal!"