Ice Empress Joins Forces

Hearing Yao Shi's words, the Ice Empress finally realized it.

That was right. This space seemed to be completely isolated from the outside world. When she had first entered, she had been so drawn in by the laws of life here that she had completely failed to notice that, after entering this place, even her fear of facing the future lightning tribulation had vanished.

Perhaps this place really could help her safely survive the four-hundred-thousand-year calamity!

"Speak, human. What is the price? Since you know my current situation and have a way to resolve it, I don't believe you would help me for nothing. I also don't believe there is such a thing as a free lunch."

Having sorted everything out, the Ice Empress put away the wariness she had displayed earlier and walked closer to Yao Shi.

Standing just over one and a half meters tall, the Ice Empress tilted her head up at Yao Shi, who was a head taller than her, and spoke calmly. If one listened carefully, there was still a trace of excitement in her voice.

"It's simple. I need you to protect me until I become a god."

Yao Shi lowered his head and looked at her seriously as well.

With his martial soul, becoming a god in the future was practically certain. But he needed to stay alive to have that hope. His current abilities could heal any injury or illness in the world, and he himself possessed an immortal trait—as long as he still had a breath left in him, he could recover instantly.

However, he was only a three-ring Soul Elder for now. The reason the Ice Empress had failed to kill him earlier was because she had released her pressure beforehand, giving him the chance to enter the Glazed Pure Land. But if he provoked a Titled Douluo or an even stronger expert in the future, then given the speed and power of their attacks, if they struck silently, he might be instantly killed before he could even react.

Therefore, before he fully matured, he needed a guardian to protect him. The Ice Empress, who was about to face her four-hundred-thousand-year calamity, was undoubtedly the best candidate. The Ice Empress would protect Yao Shi as he grew, while Yao Shi would provide her shelter during her tribulation.

"Become a god?" The Ice Empress froze, then mocked him slightly. "Human, do you know what you're saying? Become a god? You're only a tiny Soul Elder, yet you dare speak of reaching godhood. What a wild fantasy."

"Do you know that in all my years of life, I have only ever seen someone become a god once, ten thousand years ago? In tens of thousands of years, there has only been that one instance. And now, a mere Soul Elder like you is asking me to protect you until you become a god. Do you think I would believe that?"

"Don't be so quick to refuse, Ice Empress."

Yao Shi naturally did not think he could convince the Ice Empress to help him with only a few words, so he continued, "What do you think of the space we're currently in?"

The Ice Empress thought for a moment and said, "It's miraculous. The life force and energy here are both extremely dense. Even staying here now, I can feel my strength slowly improving. If I kept cultivating here, even my four-hundred-thousand-year calamity might arrive early."

"Then do you know how this space came to be?"

Yao Shi continued asking.

"Of course, it was created by the family or faction behind you—"

"No!"

The Ice Empress suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

"With humanity's current experts, it would be impossible to create such a place. Not even Ultimate Douluo could do it, unless..."

As she said this, the Ice Empress's gaze slowly shifted toward Yao Shi. She stared blankly at him. "Unless it was a god. Could it be that a god is helping you from behind the scenes?"

"Congratulations. Wrong answer."

"Huh? Isn't that it?"

"Of course not. This is merely my third soul skill. How about it? Surprised? Didn't expect that, did you?"

"W-what? A soul skill!"

The Ice Empress froze upon hearing this, then stepped forward in disbelief and began shaking Yao Shi repeatedly.

"You're saying that this space, which can isolate all killing intent from the outside world and possesses dense life force and energy within, making it exceptionally suited for humans and soul beasts to live in, is merely one of your soul skills?"

"Exactly."

At that moment, the Ice Empress felt as though her worldview had collapsed. Heavens, what kind of peerless soul beast had provided this soul ring? It had actually granted such an outrageously heaven-defying spatial soul skill.

The Ice Empress pressed on, "What soul beast did you absorb to obtain a soul skill like this?"

Yao Shi shook his head.

Seeing him shake his head, the Ice Empress said, "You mean you don't know either?"

"No. I mean I never absorbed soul rings. My soul rings form naturally once my soul power reaches the required level."

Yao Shi did not hide it. Since he had come to seek cooperation with the Ice Empress, revealing this much was no great issue. Besides, he was not afraid that she would leak this information, because as long as Yao Shi did not agree, the Ice Empress would remain trapped within the Glazed Pure Land.

"You form soul rings naturally? Are you a soul beast that took human form and started cultivating again?"

The Ice Empress blurted it out, but immediately added, "No, that's not right. Your aura should belong to an ordinary human."

Only then did Yao Shi begin explaining. "You don't need to keep guessing. I'm a pure human. The reason I can form soul rings naturally is because my martial soul is special."

"Martial soul?"

"That's right. I dare say that I will certainly become a god in the future because I have the confidence to back it up. Or rather, my martial soul itself is a god."

Yao Shi put on a mysterious air. "I won't say more than that. As long as you agree to what I proposed earlier, then in the future, I may even be able to lead you to godhood."

"Oh? Become a god?" The Ice Empress was immediately interested. Hearing about godhood had shaken her resolve.

Her lifespan would end in less than a hundred years, and this had left her deeply anxious. Now, not only was someone able to help her survive the great calamity, but he was even saying that he could help her become a god. Any soul beast would find it difficult not to be swayed after hearing that.

Thus, the Ice Empress stopped overthinking and hesitating. She decisively said, "Fine, human. I agree to the conditions you mentioned earlier. But remember this: if you dare deceive me, then even if I have to stake my life on it, I will perish together with you."

"Don't worry. I always keep my word."

"My name is Yao Shi. Ice Empress, please take care of me from now on."

"Hmph~"

God Realm, Sea God Temple.

"How strange. Why has my right eyelid been twitching lately? Something's wrong. Very wrong."

Tang San sat upon his divine throne, gently rubbing his constantly twitching right eyelid.

"That's not right. When Wutong returned to the Clear Sky Sect earlier, I asked Da Ming and the others to confirm Wutong's safety. She's fine right now, so why do I keep feeling so uneasy?"

"Could something have happened to the Douluo Plane? That shouldn't be possible. With Father and Mother there, as long as it isn't something at the god level, there shouldn't be any major problems."

"Could I really just be worrying too much?"

Heaven Dou City, former site of the Tang Sect, now the Ironblood Sect.

Tang Ya used Blue Silver Grass to shatter several plaques bearing the words "Ironblood Sect."

A disciple on patrol saw Tang Ya's actions and could not help but curse angrily.

"What are you doing? Do you know this is Ironblood Sect territory? You dare cause trouble here? You're practically asking—"

Before the disciple could finish speaking, Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass shot forward and pierced straight through his head.

"Ironblood Sect, I, Tang Ya, have returned. It is time to repay the debt of my parents' murder."