The Road Ahead is Long, But We Will Arrive

Snow Emperor watched this scene, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes: "Not bad. A wide-range area-of-effect soul skill, and it appears to have a control effect as well."

Qian Lingche nodded, explaining softly: "This is my fifth soul skill—Ice Explosion."

"Each time, I can condense six ice energy orbs, each containing an incredibly potent force of extreme cold."

"Once they detonate, they not only generate a powerful shockwave but can also freeze any target directly struck."

"With my current strength, anyone below the level of a Soul Saint will be thoroughly frozen if hit directly, making it difficult to break free."

After absorbing the soul ring of the Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly, his soul power had reached level 55, even with him suppressing it with all his might.

Qian Lingche flicked his right hand gently, and the six ice energy orbs hovering beside him instantly flew toward Snow Emperor.

Snow Emperor's expression remained indifferent. Facing the incoming ice energy orbs, she merely raised her hand slightly, and an ice-blue shield condensed before her.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ice energy orbs struck the shield one after another, erupting with a deafening roar.

However, Snow Emperor's shield did not budge, nor did even a single crack appear.

Qian Lingche looked at her with a solemn gaze: "Truly formidable..."

Then, his right hand clenched sharply.

"Rumble—"

As his voice fell, the remaining energy orbs exploded simultaneously, and the force of extreme cold instantly swept across the surroundings.

The shockwave from the explosion blasted a massive, deep crater into the ground, sending the surrounding ice and snow scattering in all directions.

As the dust settled, Snow Emperor stood where she was, her shield still completely intact.

She looked at Qian Lingche and nodded slightly: "Not bad. The power of this strike is already sufficient to inflict damage upon a Soul Saint."

Qian Lingche shook his head: "That is not all."

Before his words had even faded, two pairs of ice-blue wings suddenly emerged from his back. With a gentle flap, Qian Lingche's body rose into the air, hovering mid-flight.

The fifth soul ring beneath his feet lit up once more: "Fifth soul skill—Extreme Ice Phantom Slash!"

The surrounding ice and snow energy gathered frantically, condensing in his hands.

Following his low shout, the energy in his hands erupted suddenly, transforming into a massive ice-blue blade of light that swept toward a small mountain peak in the distance.

"Boom—"

The blade of light descended, erupting with a deafening roar.

Everyone followed Qian Lingche's gaze and looked up; the top of that distant small mountain peak had already vanished.

The once-lofty peak was now reduced to a flat, level cross-section, covered in a thick layer of frost that shimmered with a blinding radiance under the sunlight.

Guang Ling's eyes were filled with shock, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "Xiao Che, the power of this fifth soul skill of yours is already comparable to a strike from a Soul Saint."

Qian Lingche looked at the distant mountain, then turned to Guang Ling and said speechlessly: "Brother Ling, are you trying to kill me with praise?"

The heavy doors of the Snow God Hall slowly creaked open, emitting a deep, resonant rumble as if welcoming their arrival.

Inside the hall, an ice-blue radiance enveloped the entire space.

The walls, the floor, and the vaulted ceiling, permeated by the presence of the Snow God Statue, all radiated a biting chill.

Ice Emperor looked around, unable to help but sigh: "Is this the Snow God Hall? Such intense cold."

The three of them walked slowly to the front of the Snow God Statue, looking up to gaze at the towering deity.

A complex emotion flickered in Snow Emperor's eyes—a mix of reverence and a faint, lingering melancholy.

She murmured softly, her voice as cold as ice and snow, yet carrying a trace of imperceptible sentiment: "In the blink of an eye, you have been a god for tens of thousands of years, while I am nearing my end."

"Time is both a gift and a curse for us; I have no certainty of surviving the next heavenly tribulation."

She paused, her gaze lowering slightly: "Shang Yi, I hope you can bless us and allow Qian Lingche to successfully ascend to godhood."

"This is our final chance, and our only hope."

She had known the Snow God since before she ascended, and back then, the deity had asked if she wanted to go with her.

It was just that, at the time, she had no such worries, so she had refused.

Who would have thought that after tens of thousands of years, she would still have to rely on her and her descendants.

Ice Emperor stood to the side, her expression losing some of its usual arrogance and gaining a touch of solemnity.

She looked at the Snow God Statue, her tone low: "We will surely succeed."

Qian Lingche stood behind the two of them, his heart trembling as he heard their words.

Rest assured, I will walk toward the godhood step by step—for your sakes, and for those I cherish.

Sister, Brother Ling, Brother Yi, Ling Yuan—if he could become a god, he would naturally grant his protection to them all.

Snow Emperor turned her head to look at Qian Lingche, watching him with gratification: "I believe in you. From the moment I left the Far North, our fates have been bound together."

Ice Emperor also nodded, her tone carrying a rare gentleness: "Kid, remember your promise. We have placed all our hopes upon you."

Shi Yi lay on his chair, speaking to Guang Ling in a leisurely tone, "Fifth Brother, Xiao Che is truly impressive. When I was his age, I was only a Spirit Ancestor."

Guang Ling cast a sidelong glance at Shi Yi. "That's just because you're lazy. Your talent isn't bad at all; if you had even half of Xiao Che's diligence, you wouldn't have been stuck at the Spirit Ancestor level at that age."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yi scratched his head in embarrassment and gave a sheepish laugh. "Fifth Brother, isn't that a bit too blunt? It's just that... well, my Martial Soul is rather unique."

Guang Ling let out a soft huff and shook his head. "Unique? I see it as nothing more than an excuse to slack off."

"Xiao Che begins his cultivation before the crack of dawn every single day, often staying up late into the night, while you—you'd rather lie down than sit, and sit rather than stand."

His eighth brother also possessed a god-level Martial Soul and was a genius with innate full spirit power of level 20, yet he lacked even a shred of ambition and was even more playful than he was.

Shi Yi felt a bit sheepish under the reprimand and hurriedly waved his hands. "Oh, Fifth Brother, please, say no more. I am working hard, just in a different way."

Shi Yi spread his hands, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Fifth Brother, I'm already at level 99; there's no room for improvement even if I continue to cultivate."

"You can't expect me to just ascend to godhood, can you? But is that even possible? It's not something one can rush."

Guang Ling glanced at him and shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of resignation. "You, you always find a reason to be lazy. Stay here and rot then; I'm going to find Xiao Che."

Guang Ling curled his lip, clearly disdainful of Shi Yi's laid-back attitude.

He turned and strode out of Shi Yi's palace, and as he reached the entrance, he unceremoniously kicked the heavy doors shut.

The thick doors let out a deafening "BANG," causing the entire palace to tremble slightly.

Standing inside the hall, Shi Yi couldn't help but offer a wry smile at the loud crash. "Fifth Brother's temper, it really is the same as ever."