Ice Empress (4)

The enormous Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, its forehead pressed down by a tiny human, appeared sacred, magnificent, and mysterious in the afterglow of the setting sun, defying any suitable adjective. It seemed destined to be sealed away in history books and given a meaningful name.

For example, the ultimate combat power of Four Ring Soul Grandmaster.

For example, an emperor who was subdued by divine power.

"You win..." Feeling the warmth on her forehead, Ice Empress gave a bitter smile. Of course, she had considered denying it. Faced with life and death, any creature would have the thought of retreating. However, she was Ice Empress, the patriarch of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion clan, one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the North. How could she be such a sore loser? "Rest assured, I will keep my promise, but please allow me to make some arrangements for my affairs afterward. This is also my responsibility as the patriarch of my clan."

"A reasonable request." Ye Qingcang waved his hand from afar, and the broken pincer stuck in the ground seemed to receive a signal, trembling as it detached from the ground. Accompanied by a whistling gust of wind, it landed in Ye Qingcang's palm with a snap. Ye Qingcang grasped it and, to Ice Empress's puzzled gaze, placed it on Ice Empress's severed limb, as if repairing a model, instantly restoring it to its original state. "Alright, it looks much better now."

Ice Empress paused, then moved his pincers slightly.

If it weren't for the waves of phantom pain reminding her that what had just happened wasn't an illusion, she might have even suspected that she was under some kind of illusion spell.

Is it really that easy to connect?

A lake that doesn't need the water of the Life Lake?

She doesn't even need to cooperate?

Ice Empress, lost in thought, subconsciously scratched the ground with her pliers. After a couple of seconds, she tilted her head back haughtily and said defiantly, "I said I would keep my promise, which means I would sincerely offer myself to you... You don't need to go to such lengths to win people over!"

Ye Qingcang chuckled to himself.

While others might see Ice Empress's statement as arrogant and unruly—a prisoner who, instead of showing loyalty after receiving a favor, contradicts them and is ungrateful, and should be executed— Ye Qingcang saw it as pure tsundere behavior.

It's even kind of cute.

Despite her pride, she repeatedly reminded everyone about the sacrifice.

If I were to guess what it means, it would be something like this: I am offering myself to you only to keep the promise between us. Don't overthink it. I don't need your kindness, including your pity.

Therefore, when dealing with a haughty and aloof person, a sincere and direct approach is more likely to break their defenses.

"It's not about winning people's hearts, but rather saying that you are more beautiful when you are intact." Ye Qingcang touched the Bingbing carapace, his smile gentle and his tone mild, which calmed Ice Empress down considerably. "Of course, people's hearts are unpredictable, and no one knows what I'm really thinking. It's reasonable for you to suspect that I'm lying to you... But I really don't need to win people's hearts, nor do I need to win yours, because people's hearts are inherently uncontrollable. I'm just betting my sincerity on yours."

"Aren't you afraid of losing the bet?" Ice Empress retorted stubbornly as usual, but having learned her lesson from being blunt once, she clearly wouldn't make the same mistake again. She quickly changed the subject, essentially admitting defeat, and said, "I never bet with anyone, much less with such trivial things... Considering I lost, I'll just consider this bet a win for you."

The Emerald- green scorpion tail gently tapped the ground.

After a long while, the sound of ice breaking came from afar.

A 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion struggled to break through the ice layer above its head and crawled out of the ground. The full force of the nearly 400,000-year-old Ice Empress's attack, even the aftershocks, was something that ordinary 100,000 Year Soul Beast could not withstand. If it weren't for its ice resistance, this 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion would have been dead long ago. Therefore, even after breaking through the ice and shattering the ice layer, this 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion was still exhausted and collapsed on the ground, slowly recovering its strength.

Beneath the broken opening.

One after another, countless Ice Jade Scorpion emerged, ranging in age but all over a hundred years old.

For the next hundred years or so, they are all wild beasts.

They still act on instinct.

They have not yet awakened their wisdom.

Even the Ice Empress can only instill fear in those Ice Jade Scorpion Ice Jade Scorpion a hundred years old, but cannot make them understand commands.

Therefore, among the surviving Ice Jade Scorpion Ice Jade Scorpion, only a handful were under a hundred years old, and the vast majority died in the aftershocks.

"Your Majesty!" After resting for a moment, the 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion dragged its weary body slowly to the Ice Empress's Ice Empress and bowed its head. "Why have you summoned us here?"

Of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the North, apart from the Snow Empress, the other two have different races.

This 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion holds a position within the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan roughly equivalent to that of the Great Elder, similar to Yu Luomian's second-in-command position in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family. It was also the person Ice Empress chose to entrust with the care of his son before leaving the clan. "That Tai Tan guy is tough and thick-skinned. With your 130,000 years of cultivation, it would be difficult for you to contend with him, let alone suppress him like I have... After I leave, you will be the new clan leader of the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan. I built the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan with my own hands, and you must not allow it to split apart."

"What?" Upon hearing Ice Empress's words, the 100,000-year-old Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was greatly surprised and said in a panic, "You're leaving us?"

"Yes." The Ice Empress slightly pursed his lips, not wanting to lose face in front of his subordinates, and stubbornly said, "Don't look so sad. My eyes aren't blind yet. After I ascend to godhood with Ye Qingcang, I will still be watching over you from heaven. In short, it's not a bad thing!"

100,000 Year Soul Beast can speak human language.

But Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beast possess the intelligence of normal humans.

Instantly, the surrounding Ice Jade Scorpion knelt down.

Although they cannot speak, nor dare to speak, otherwise it would be considered questioning Ice Empress, it does not prevent them from expressing their desire to retain Hyotei through this action.

"What are you doing?" Ice Empress roared, slamming her jewel-like pincers against the ground, creating several large, uneven craters in the hard ice. "Are you trying to force me to break my promise?"

"Alright, alright, they're just being loyal."

"I do have a compromise solution."

"I just don't know if you want to hear it."

Ye Qingcang patted Ice Empress's forehead and sat comfortably on Ice Empress back. He agreed to Ice Empress request not only because she was sensible, but also because the Ice Empress Ice Jade Scorpion Clan was useful. Seeing Ice Empress's silence, he immediately understood the truth behind her pride. Ice Empress casually tolerated Ice Empress arrogance and said with a smile, "Alright, I won't keep you in suspense any longer: In the agreement we made before, I promised to preserve your soul. Now, seeing such a poignant scene of parting, I'm also somewhat moved and want to cooperate with you more deeply. The Ice Jade Scorpion Clan will still be under your control, and you will pledge allegiance to me... The sacrifice will still be necessary, but at least you'll have a guarantee; believe me, I won't let my own people suffer!"