Qian Lingche, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress quietly slipped into the depths of Star Dou Forest. They had only one target: Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
This million-year Soul Beast contained immense spiritual power and ice-attribute energy. As long as Qian Lingche absorbed it as his Seventh Soul Ring, everything that came after would be much easier.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had originally lived in the Extreme North Ice Plains, but it refused to be a blood bag for Snow Empress and Ice Empress, so it ran away.
As a result, Di Tian and the others caught it and made it their blood bag... But now Di Tian and the others were asleep. They only needed to lure Da Ming and Er Ming, who were guarding Lake of Life, away.
To draw away these two powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, Qian Lingche had already devised a meticulous plan.
He summoned A-Tai and Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly and sent them to attract Da Ming and Er Ming's attention.
"A-Tai, Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly, follow the plan," Qian Lingche said quietly.
A-Tai nodded, a hint of battle intent flashing in his eyes. "Don't worry. We'll keep them occupied."
Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly gently beat its wings, and an icy-blue glow swirled through the air, beautiful and dangerous.
A moment later, A-Tai and Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly flew toward Da Ming and Er Ming respectively.
A-Tai released powerful ice-attribute Soul Power, instantly dropping the temperature around him to freezing and drawing Er Ming's attention.
Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly, meanwhile, charged toward Da Ming at incredible speed, unleashing dazzling ice-attribute attacks and successfully luring Da Ming in another direction.
"How dare you!" Da Ming and Er Ming roared in unison, their enormous bodies leaping into the air as they chased after A-Tai and Extreme Ice Phantom Butterfly.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qian Lingche, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress quickly slipped into the depths of Lake of Life.
The water was smooth as a mirror, yet it contained a powerful vitality.
The three of them dived to the bottom and entered another space. Carefully avoiding the sleeping Soul Beasts nearby, they finally found Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in a secluded cave, its entire body crystalline and translucent.
"We finally found it," Qian Lingche said softly, delight flashing in his eyes.
He picked up the plump, jiggly worm, then turned and left the space.
Just then, Da Ming and Er Ming's roars rang out in the distance. Clearly, they had noticed something was wrong.
Qian Lingche didn't dare waste time and quickly regrouped with A-Tai and the others.
"We got it. Let's go!" Qian Lingche said quietly.
Just as they were about to leave, a deep, imperious voice rang out behind them.
"Humans, do you think you can leave so easily?"
The three of them whipped around. A massive black silhouette was slowly emerging from Lake of Life.
It was a gigantic black dragon, radiating a terrifying aura—the Beast God, ranked first among the Ten Ferocious Beasts: Di Tian.
"Damn it, Di Tian's awake!" Ice Empress said quietly, a grave look in her eyes.
But before Di Tian could say anything, a bone-chilling cold swept down from the sky.
A colossal ice sword plummeted from above.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the ice sword slammed into Di Tian, its enormous force sending him straight back into Lake of Life.
The lake's surface froze in an instant, a thick layer of ice completely concealing Di Tian.
Qian Lingche, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress were stunned by the sudden turn of events, but quickly recovered.
Qian Lingche hurriedly said to Snow Empress and Ice Empress, "Go!"
The three of them didn't hesitate, quickly retreating toward the forest's edge.
Back at Snow God Hall, Qian Lingche, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ice Empress plopped down on an ice-crystal chair and complained, thoroughly displeased. "What bad luck. Why did Di Tian suddenly wake up? He was supposed to be asleep."
Snow Empress shook her head and said helplessly, "Maybe our actions disturbed him. After all, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is extremely important to them too."
Qian Lingche sighed. "Luckily, Snow God arrived in time. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for us to get out of there unscathed."
Snow Empress nodded. "That's true. Di Tian's strength, in particular, is no weaker than that of a god-level powerhouse."
"The fact that we succeeded this time means we were already pretty lucky."
As the three of them were talking, a helpless voice suddenly came from Qian Lingche's arms:
"Ahem, um, kid, could you put me down first? You're holding me way too tight. I'm about to suffocate."
Qian Lingche froze and looked down at Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his arms. Only then did he see it wriggling its round body and glaring at him in displeasure.
He hurriedly loosened his grip. Sky Dream Ice Silkworm slipped free and floated in the air, stretching its body.
"Ah, finally free!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm let out a long breath, then complained, "You humans are so rough. My delicate body can't take all that tossing around."
The next moment, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's gaze fell on Snow Empress and Ice Empress.
Its round body stiffened slightly, and its feelers trembled involuntarily. Surprise and wariness colored its voice. "Good grief! Aren't you Snow Empress and Ice Empress? What are you two doing here?"
Snow Empress smiled faintly, her tone teasing. "What, surprised to see us?"
Ice Empress folded her arms, a playful smile curling her lips. "Sky Dream, weren't you talking so boldly just now? Go on, keep talking."
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm laughed awkwardly, unconsciously drawing back. "Well... I just didn't expect you two to be hanging out with this kid."
Who would've thought that after nearly being drained to death by Di Tian and the others, it would wake up free only to run into Snow Empress and Ice Empress again?
What were they planning to do? No way... Was it really this unlucky?
Ice Empress looked at Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and said, "It's obvious. We've agreed to your God Creation Plan."
She pointed at Qian Lingche. "There. This is Snow God's successor, Qian Lingche."
Hearing this, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's round body stiffened instantly, its voice filled with shock. "What? Snow God's successor? The God Creation Plan? Are you serious?"
Qian Lingche smiled faintly and released his Martial Soul.
In an instant, dazzling light burst from him, and the phantom image of a Six-Winged Angel slowly unfurled behind his back.
Next, six Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet: black, black, black, black, red, red.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm fell silent for a moment after seeing this. "A mutated Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul... You have two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings even without me... You're really a monster, kid."
Di Tian watched as the thick layer of ice reflected the sunlight in dazzling flashes, as though mocking his miscalculation.
"They actually dared to act so brazenly on my territory." Di Tian's voice was full of fury.
Yet for all his anger, Di Tian didn't immediately break through the ice.
His divine sense swept across the surroundings. When he discovered that Qian Lingche and the others had already left, he fell briefly silent.
"Everyone's gone now. Should I get out... or stay here?" Di Tian weighed his options.
If he went out, he would have to pursue those audacious humans himself.
But they had clearly already left Star Dou Forest, making pursuit both difficult and risky.
If he stayed put, he was still unwilling to accept it.
The loss of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was a huge blow to them.
Just as Di Tian was hesitating, a puzzled voice came from beside him. "Di Tian, what happened?"
Di Tian turned to see Bi Ji flying toward him.
"Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was taken," Di Tian said in a low voice.
Damn Snow God. If she hadn't meddled...
Bi Ji fell silent for a moment before saying, "Since they've already left, let it go."