Liu Yueming's Problem, Snow Empress's Thoughts

Yan Hongchen gathered his thoughts and sorted through the surging power within him. Gradually, he came to an understanding. Everything seemed unexpected, yet it was also perfectly reasonable.

The Mystic Water Pill could raise soul power by at least one rank. Then there was the hundred-thousand-year head soul bone. Though it focused more on boosting spiritual power, its improvements to soul power and physical constitution could not be underestimated. Finally, there was the energy brought by the sacrifice of the ten-thousand-year Gathering Source Crystal Crab soul ring.

Most of this energy had fused into his martial soul and soul ring. With all those effects layered together, his soul power had leaped to Rank 20. It was not all that outrageous.

He turned his gaze toward Yi Hongchen. Yi Hongchen had long since finished absorbing his gains and was standing nearby, holding an Ice Bear right arm bone in his hand without absorbing it.

The soul bone gleamed with a lustrous icy blue light, with a faint chill flowing across its surface. Its quality was clearly exceptional, but Yi Hongchen evidently had some reservations and kept it in hand.

Yet Snow Empress's gaze remained fixed on Yan Hongchen, never shifting even slightly. "That Gathering Source Crystal Crab matched the two attributes of your martial soul one by one. Its compatibility was quite high."

A trace of inquiry entered her voice. "What sort of ability did you gain?"

Yan Hongchen did not hide it. With a thought, the Phantom Water Spirit Toad's first black soul ring slowly rose and hovered above his head.

The soul ring was black as ink, faintly circulating in the frigid wind as though it possessed life.

The next moment, the power of heaven and earth around him was stirred. Invisible force, as if drawn by an unseen hand, gathered from all directions and poured ceaselessly into Yan Hongchen's body.

At the same time, the soul power within him began to circulate at an accelerated rate. It was not a smooth surge, but as though it had encountered an invisible vortex that drew and churned it, sending it racing through his meridians at an unprecedented speed.

"First soul skill, Source Gathering Reflux." Yan Hongchen's voice was steady, every word clear. "A support skill. Though it is only one soul skill, it has two effects."

He raised a hand, gathering a wisp of pale blue soul power at his fingertip. It slowly swirled amid the wind and snow. "Using spiritual power to sense the soul power between heaven and earth and gather it into oneself—this is Source Gathering."

The soul power at his fingertip flickered faintly, as if responding to his words. "The effect of Source Gathering primarily depends on the compatibility between spiritual power and the power of heaven and earth. The stronger the spiritual power, the wider the range of perception and the faster the gathering speed. In essence, it borrows strength from heaven and earth to replenish one's own soul power."

The soul power at Yan Hongchen's fingertip suddenly withdrew, silently flowing back into his body like receding seawater. "Reflux means that when a soul master uses other abilities, only half of the soul power they would normally consume is needed."

Normally, once a soul master called upon their soul power to use a soul skill or similar ability, that soul power was like water thrown out—it was gone for good.

But this soul skill was different. It could forcibly reclaim half the expenditure without affecting the resulting soul skill in the slightest. Even spilled water could be gathered again.

After hearing this, a strange light flashed through Snow Empress's eyes. "Can this soul skill only be used on yourself, or can it be used on others?"

"Either is possible," Yan Hongchen answered truthfully. "It is simply used differently. 'Source Gathering' relies on spiritual power, while 'Reflux' relies on soul power. I will need some time to fully figure it out."

Yan Hongchen knew perfectly well that this ten-thousand-year soul skill was somewhat beyond the norm. His spiritual power was currently stronger than his soul power, and the effect of Source Gathering happened to accelerate his cultivation. Even if he did not actively meditate, the Phantom Water Spirit Toad could use this soul skill to passively accumulate soul power for him. Over time, his soul power rank would naturally rise.

Furthermore, he felt that Reflux's effect resembled the operation of a soul core. Although he did not yet possess the ability to condense a soul core and could not use the space formed by one to store more soul power, being able to halve the soul power consumption of other abilities was already enough for now. He could develop it further in the future.

After listening, Snow Empress remained silent for a long while. The icy wind howled around her, stirring her silver-white hair. Her gaze never left Yan Hongchen, and something slowly settled within those ice-blue eyes.

"Good. I can take care of all the future soul rings for your martial soul."

She paused, her tone growing increasingly solemn. "Even if you want anything else, as long as I possess it, I can give it to you."

A deathly silence descended over the ice plains.

Jing Hongchen was stunned. Yi Hongchen was stunned. Liu Yueming was stunned as well.

They instinctively looked at one another, each seeing the same confusion in the others' eyes. Had they heard correctly?

The ruler of the Extreme North, Snow Empress, ranked third among the Ten Great Savage Beasts, had actually said something like that?

Yan Hongchen was not overjoyed. There was no such thing as a free lunch. He understood that better than anyone. Only by giving could one receive.

Snow Empress looked at his face and spoke unhurriedly. "I do indeed have a matter to request of you. Actually..." She paused. "It is somewhat similar to your mother's condition."

At these words, everyone's eyes turned to Liu Yueming.

Before Liu Yueming could react, Snow Empress had already shifted her gaze from Yan Hongchen to her.

A slender finger lightly pointed at her. The gesture was casual, yet it carried an irresistible pressure.

"You, come here. I have something to discuss with you."

Liu Yueming did not know what the ruler of the Extreme North wanted, but she still stepped forward as instructed. Stopping before Snow Empress, she lowered her head slightly. "What does Senior wish to speak to me about?"

Snow Empress did not immediately answer. She quietly examined the woman before her, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment before gradually moving downward, as though she could see through flesh and blood to the soul power and bloodline flowing within her.

A complicated emotion flashed through those ice-blue eyes—scrutiny, approval, and what seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible sigh.

"Humans truly are blessed."

She finally spoke, her voice cold and clear as an ice spring, yet carrying a faint note of emotion. "How difficult it is to obtain the power of an ultimate attribute. To possess such potential is already to have one foot across that threshold."

Yan Hongchen was taken aback. Snow Empress had said the same thing when she captured him before. Was Liu Yueming's potential really so high? If it were not, she truly would not have been able to give birth to the three of them.

"You are very special," Snow Empress said slowly. "I sensed an aura from you similar to that of the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad soul beast. Are you a human who lived on the frontier of the Extreme North?"

Liu Yueming nodded, her voice calm. "Yes. My family's inherited martial soul is the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad. However, some mutation occurred when it was passed down to me. This mutation was not passed on to my daughter."

"The purity of the ice-and-snow elemental bloodline within you is not low," Snow Empress said bluntly. "I do not know how you came to earn the recognition of the soul beasts of the Extreme North. But now, you possess the possibility of achieving an ultimate attribute. That is your fortune."

Yan Hongchen's heart stirred at this. This was similar to Bei Bei's situation in the original work—an ice-and-snow bloodline, a martial soul mutation; then at the seventh soul ring, a martial soul transformation.

But Snow Empress abruptly changed the subject, her tone suddenly darkening. "But you have burned your spiritual power."

"If the soul ring and soul bone you absorbed at the time had not both been ice-attributed, preserving a sliver of vitality in your Sea of Spirit..."

She paused, her gaze cutting through Liu Yueming's calm expression like an ice blade. "Your Sea of Spirit is currently in a state of self-sealing through ice. Otherwise, you would likely already be dead here."

Jing Hongchen and Yi Hongchen's expressions changed at once. Jing Hongchen's hand trembled faintly, while Yi Hongchen had already clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

She had burned her spiritual power. Liu Yueming had actually concealed something so fatal from them.

When ordinary soul masters faced desperate circumstances, they might occasionally burn their soul power for a chance at survival. But once ignited, it was like water thrown out—impossible to take back.

Even if it was stopped by sheer luck, their cultivation would suffer severe damage, often leaving wounds that could never heal in a lifetime. If it could not be stopped, they could only watch helplessly as their last wisp of soul power burned away, dying from exhaustion.

For that very reason, even when driven into desperate straits, very few soul masters were willing to choose this path.

Especially when it came to spiritual power.

Liu Yueming met the Snow Empress's scrutiny. The corners of her lips even lifted slightly. Her smile was faint, yet exceptionally resolute.

"I don't regret it." Every word of her voice was clear. "If I had to do it again, I would still make the same choice."

She paused, her gaze unconsciously shifting toward Yan Hongchen, Yi Hongchen, and Jing Hongchen. "At worst, I'll just progress a little more slowly. I've already come this far. How could I stop now?"

Absorbing the Ice Soul Mystic Hoof Beast's soul ring that day had been a gamble to begin with. She had won the gamble, so she accepted the price. What was more, that gamble had given her the possibility of attaining an ultimate attribute.

Yan Hongchen knew that while Liu Yueming's actions had been decisive, they were not unprecedented. In his memories, Huo Yuhao had once done the same thing. He had only survived later because the Emperor Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion sacrificed itself for him.

But Liu Yueming had received only the approval of a fifty-thousand-year Ice Soul Mystic Hoof Beast. She did indeed possess the potential for an ultimate attribute, but her spiritual sea would likely be beyond help. Coming up with the idea of self-freezing her spiritual sea had already been the limit.

But that also meant Liu Yueming's spiritual power had reached a barrier. Beyond that... he did not dare think any further.

Yan Hongchen abruptly turned to the Snow Empress, his eyes filled with unprecedented earnestness. "Senior Snow Empress, what must I do to help my mother? If it's something I can do, I'll definitely do it."

The Snow Empress looked at him. Reflected in her eyes was the youth's urgency and sincerity, an utterly undisguised devotion.

"Even I am powerless in this regard." Her voice softened. "The only one who might be able to heal her is you."

Her gaze became profound, as though she were looking into a bottomless abyss. "The opening of your spiritual sea, and your first soul ring... what did you comprehend?"

Countless fragments began spinning rapidly through Yan Hongchen's mind.

The opening of his spiritual sea... the effect of his first soul ring... healing... and details he had previously overlooked... A hazy thread gradually took shape in his mind, as though something was about to emerge.

He cautiously spoke, his voice carrying a trace of uncertainty. "Senior Snow Empress, are you saying... that my martial soul's attributes are unusual, that their effects can connect with one another, allowing me to... heal the spirit?"

He thought so because battles in this era did not rely solely on soul skills. There were also combat techniques.

He remembered that, in the original novel, the earliest combat technique was Mu En's Sovereign's Descent. It was a terrifying ability that perfectly combined physical and spiritual attacks. It was not a soul skill, yet surpassed one, and could be applied to any soul skill.

His current abilities leaned toward the gentle side and could not deliver overwhelming attacks. But soul beasts capable of healing the spirit were exceedingly rare—perhaps they did not exist at all! In contrast, there were quite a few water-attributed soul beasts skilled in healing.

If he first acquired a water-attributed healing soul skill, then found a way to achieve this... he might truly be able to develop a method of spiritual healing.

The Snow Empress nodded slightly, the approval in her eyes undisguised. "That is why I sought you out. I have more or less the same problem."

Both Yan Hongchen and Liu Yueming froze, and Jing Hongchen and Yi Hongchen had likewise never expected to hear such a secret.

"The failure to form complementary yin-yang twin soul cores led me to make an initial move similar to your mother's, thereby stabilizing my soul core. It is only that I have already undone most of it. What remains is difficult to deal with."

Her voice was calm, as though she were discussing something unrelated to herself. "If my spiritual sea and first soul core cannot both be adjusted to their optimal state, then even with what you gave me, I would merely force my way through the heavenly tribulation. I would be unable to fully recover. Something would always be lacking."

The wind swept past her, lifting her long hair. "Your martial soul and abilities are the most unusual I have ever seen." There was a rare candor in her voice.

"For the sake of the far north, and for my own sake, I am willing to take responsibility for every soul ring of your first martial soul. Even I have never encountered a soul beast capable of spiritual healing, and Bi Ji cannot do such a thing either. But there are quite a few water-attributed healing soul beasts. You can find another path."

Her gaze fell upon Liu Yueming before slowly withdrawing. "As for your mother's situation..."

A trace of complexity entered the Snow Empress's voice. "Her cultivation has yet to catch up to mine. Her mastery over the methods of ice control is nowhere near my level, nor does she have as much time as I do to make adjustments."

"Moreover, she is at a sensitive stage. Trying to adapt to this new power while resolving the issue with her spiritual sea by herself would be even more difficult."

"Only with your assistance might it be possible to completely resolve the problem and enter the legendary period of rapid growth for ultimate attributes."

Yan Hongchen naturally knew that even the greatest Limit Douluo of this era only lived around three hundred years.

Liu Yueming was merely a Soul Sage now. How much time did she have left? Ten years? Twenty? Fifty? That would depend on the circumstances.

And when it came to mastery of ice control, if the Snow Empress dared call herself second, few would dare claim first.

She could wear away the influence on her spiritual sea through her own control and long lifespan. She was only willing to deal with him now because she was running out of time.

The wind howled across the ice plains, stirring up snow mist that filled the sky.

Yan Hongchen stood there in silence. One was his mother; the other was the ruler of the far north.

One had only an unknown amount of time remaining, while the other faced an approaching heavenly tribulation.

Their circumstances were similar. Perhaps the only one who could save them was him—if he gave it a try.

He slowly exhaled. His breath turned into a cloud of white mist in the freezing wind, quickly dispersing amid the snowstorm. Yet his gaze was clearer than ever.

"I understand. Senior Snow Empress, please first help me find a water-attributed healing soul beast for my second soul ring, and let me try. If I succeed, I can treat you afterward as well," he said.

This deal was not merely to help the Snow Empress. It was also for Liu Yueming—and even more so, for Electrolux from the original novel... He had to try.

Having received Yan Hongchen's answer, the Snow Empress knew he would certainly agree. She said, "Mm. It's a deal. Take that right arm bone and everything in the ice with you. Some of the soul beasts frozen in the ice can be eaten to nourish spiritual power and ease her condition. The soul bone may be given to anyone, or she can absorb it once she is able to mobilize her spiritual power. That would also be one way to increase her strength."

After everyone had finished dealing with matters here, the Snow Empress said, "Let's go. We're heading to the Frost Forest beyond the far north. There, you will find the healing soul beast you seek."

The Snow Empress led the way. Jing Hongchen and Yi Hongchen quickly packed up, unfolded their flying soul tools, and each carried Yan Hongchen and Liu Yueming as they swiftly followed her back to the Frost Forest.