Ice Empress Joins Forces

Hearing Yao Shi's words, the Ice Empress finally came to her senses.

That was right. This space seemed completely cut off from the outside world. When she had first entered, she had been so drawn in by the laws of life here that she had failed to notice that, after entering, even her fear of facing the lightning tribulation in the future 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 about my current situation and even have a way to resolve it, I don't believe you came to help me for nothing. I also don't believe there's such a thing as a free lunch."

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

Standing just over five feet 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 a trace of excitement in her voice.

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

Yao Shi lowered his head to look at her and answered seriously.

With his Martial Soul, becoming a god in the future was practically a certainty. But he needed to stay alive to have that chance. His current abilities could heal any injury or illness in the world, and he himself possessed an undying trait. So long as he still had a breath left in him, he could recover instantly.

However, he was only a three-ring Soul Elder. The Ice Empress had failed to kill him earlier only because she had released her pressure in advance, giving him the chance to enter the Glazed Pure Land. But if he offended a Title Douluo or an even stronger expert in the future, then with the speed and power of their attacks, if they struck without warning, he might be instantly killed before he could even react.

Therefore, before he had fully grown, 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 shelter her when she underwent 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 ridiculous wishful thinking."

"Do you know that in all my years of life, I have only seen someone become a god once, ten thousand years ago? There has only been that one instance in tens of thousands of years. Yet you, a Soul Elder, are asking me to protect you until you become a god. Do you really think I would believe that?"

"Don't rush to refuse, Ice Empress."

Yao Shi naturally did not think he could make the Ice Empress 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 aura and energy here are both incredibly dense. Even while staying here now, I can feel my strength slowly increasing. If I cultivated here constantly, 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 abruptly stopped speaking.

"With humanity's current experts, it's simply impossible to create a place like this. Not even a Limit Douluo could do it, unless..."

As she said this, the Ice Empress slowly shifted her gaze toward Yao Shi and stared at him blankly. "Unless it was a god. Could there be a god backing you?"

"Congratulations. Wrong answer."

"Huh? Isn't that it?"

"Of course not. This is merely my third soul skill. So, surprised? Didn't see that coming?"

"W-What? A soul skill?"

The Ice Empress was stunned. In disbelief, she stepped forward and began shaking Yao Shi repeatedly.

"You're saying that this space, which can isolate all danger from the outside world and is filled with dense life aura and energy, making it extremely suitable for humans and Soul Beasts to live in, is merely your soul skill?"

At that moment, the Ice Empress felt as though her entire worldview had collapsed. Heavens, what peerless Soul Beast had provided this soul ring? It had actually granted such a 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 on their own once my Soul Power Level is high enough."

Yao Shi did not hide it. Since he had come to seek cooperation from the Ice Empress, revealing this much was not a problem. Besides, he was not afraid that she would leak this information. So long as Yao Shi did not agree, the Ice Empress would remain trapped within the Glazed Pure Land.

"You can form soul rings by yourself? Are you a Soul Beast that took human form to cultivate again?"

The Ice Empress blurted it out, then immediately added, "No, that's not right. Your aura is clearly that of 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 by myself is because my Martial Soul is special."

"Martial Soul?"

"That's right. I dare say that I will definitely 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 much more. As long as you agree to what I said earlier, I may even be able to lead you to become a god in the future."

"Oh? Become a god?" The Ice Empress was immediately interested. The moment she heard about becoming a god, she wavered.

Her lifespan would end in less than a hundred years, and that had left her deeply anxious. Now, not only was someone able to help her survive her great calamity, but he was even claiming that he could help her become a god. Any Soul Beast would find it difficult not to waver after hearing that.

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

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

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

"Hmph~"

God Realm, Sea God Temple.

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

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

"That's not right. When Wutong returned to the Clear Sky Sect just now, I asked Da Ming and the others to confirm that she was safe. She's fine 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 a God Level threat, there shouldn't be any major problem."

"Could I really just be worrying too much?"

Heaven Dou City, former Tang Sect grounds, now Ironblood Sect.

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

A disciple on patrol saw Tang Ya's actions and immediately cursed in anger.

"What are you doing? Do you know this is Ironblood Sect territory? You dare cause trouble here? You really have a death—"

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."