Far North

Deep within the Far North.

Atop the tallest snow mountain stood a palace of ice crystals.

The entire palace had been carved from ten-thousand-year ice, crystal-clear and translucent, reflecting the faint glow of the polar eternal day.

As the exclusive cultivation ground of the ruler of the Far North, not a single soul beast dared approach within a hundred li.

The next instant, an enormous jade-green figure tore through the snowstorm and descended with imposing force.

It was over ten meters long, its shell resembling the finest carved jade.

Its jointed limbs were sharp as blades, especially the tail hook raised high above it. Crystal-clear like a diamond, its tip flickered with a faint blue glint, emanating a terrifying aura that seemed capable of freezing space itself.

It was one of the Far North's Three Great Kings, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion—the Ice Empress.

"Snow Maiden, I'm back. I have no idea where that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is hiding. I searched the entire Far North and still couldn't find him."

"If I run into him again, I'll skin him alive and tear out his tendons!"

A melodious, lilting voice rang out through the entire palace.

After a long while, silence was the only response the Ice Empress received.

"Huh?"

The Ice Empress came to her senses. Her enormous crystalline compound eyes swept across the empty, silent palace, a trace of human-like confusion flashing within them.

The throne was empty.

Normally, the Snow Empress should have been seated upon it at this time.

Either cultivating in quiet seclusion or handling the affairs of the Far North.

The Ice Empress carefully sensed her surroundings once more.

The air still held the Snow Empress's pure, vast aura of Ultimate Ice, but it was faint, with no signs of recent activity.

This meant the Snow Empress had been gone for some time.

"Strange. Where did she go?"

She muttered to herself as jade light flowed around her body. Her massive scorpion form rapidly shrank and transformed.

In the blink of an eye, a tall, coldly beautiful woman in a long jade-green dress appeared where she had stood.

Her hair was translucent like ice crystals, her eyes jade-green, the corners slightly raised with a touch of spoiled haughtiness and sharpness.

The Ice Empress stepped across the gleaming ice floor, clicking toward the towering ice crystal throne at the depths of the hall.

The throne had been carved from ten-thousand-year ice, delicate snowflake patterns winding along its armrests, while its seat was covered in soft white fur.

"This spot... doesn't look all that comfortable."

Though the Ice Empress sounded disdainful, she did not stop moving.

She walked before the throne, lightly poked an armrest with a finger, then looked around to either side.

Only after confirming that the Snow Empress truly was not there did the corners of her lips curl up. She turned and dropped onto the throne.

"Mm..."

The Ice Empress leaned back and adjusted her posture, resting both arms on the armrests and lifting her chin slightly.

Looking down upon the entire great hall from this angle really did feel different.

Her view was broad, cold air rushing toward her, and she carried a fair bit of imperial bearing.

"No wonder Snow Maiden always sits here."

The Ice Empress crossed her long, beautiful legs and tapped a finger against the throne's armrest. "It does feel rather impressive."

As she spoke, she even imitated the Snow Empress's usual aloof sitting posture.

She straightened her back, put on a stern face, and tried her best to make her gaze indifferent.

But she lasted less than three seconds before bursting into laughter.

"Forget it, forget it. I can't imitate her."

The Ice Empress relaxed and sprawled into the throne, letting out a comfortable sigh.

"Anyway, no one's here. What's wrong with me sitting here for a while?"

She swung her calves, jade-green eyes gazing at the blizzard beyond the hall, and muttered:

"Where exactly did Snow Maiden go... She didn't even say anything. Could she have secretly gone to the human world to have fun?"

"With her personality, that doesn't seem likely..."

Two months later.

Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Deep beneath the spring.

A dark-green figure sat cross-legged, a skull bone glowing with eerie green light floating before his forehead.

"Condense!"

Dugu Bo shouted softly. Dark-green poison mist surged around him, converging upon the skull bone like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

Soft cracking sounds came from his spine. His face alternated between green and white, sweat pouring down like rain, yet he clenched his teeth without uttering a sound.

Ye Feng stood at the spring's edge with his arms folded, his eyes reflecting the eerie green glow below.

Two months had passed, and he had grown a little taller, now reaching Dugu Bo's shoulder.

The childishness between his brows had faded somewhat, replaced by greater steadiness.

Over these past two months, Ye Feng had focused most of his efforts on refining Soul Power and controlling his martial soul.

Although he had not spent much time meditating, the remaining medicinal power of the immortal herbs had still pushed his Soul Power to level twenty-five.

"Glug, glug, glug..."

At that moment, the spring water suddenly began to boil.

"Hahaha... I did it!"

Immediately afterward, a dark-green figure shot into the sky. The powerful aura of a Titled Douluo spread outward, sending the surrounding Poison Barrier rolling violently.

Dugu Bo now seemed like an entirely different person.

His formerly purplish complexion had regained its rosy color, his dark-green hair had turned black-green, and he looked more than ten years younger.

Ye Feng congratulated him, "Congratulations, Senior, on freeing yourself from the snake venom."

Dugu Bo slowly descended before Ye Feng, rubbing the mark of the skull bone that had already sunk into his skin. His green eyes were filled with deep emotion.

"If not for the Young Master's guidance, this old man would probably have died without even knowing how."

After a pause, he solemnly cupped his fists. "I, Dugu Bo, will remember this kindness. From now on, this old life of mine is at the Young Master's disposal!"

"We're on the same side. No need to be so polite." Ye Feng waved a hand.

The stronger Dugu Bo became, the more beneficial it was to him.

"Young Master, this old man has an unreasonable request."

"Please speak, Senior Dugu." Ye Feng raised a hand in invitation.

Dugu Bo rubbed his hands together, a rare hint of unease appearing in his green eyes. "This old man wishes to leave for a time and find a suitable Soul Bone for my granddaughter."

Having personally proven that Ye Feng's method worked, he could no longer wait to remove the toxins from his granddaughter's body.

Ye Feng waved generously. "It's fine. Go take care of your business, Senior Dugu. I happen to be preparing to head out as well."

Now that his Ice and Fire Golden Body had been completed and he had obtained the immortal herbs, it was time to find a way to suppress the Karma Fire.

Besides, with the Snow Empress by his side, Dugu Bo would not be of much use anyway.

Dugu Bo's green eyes narrowed as he took a token engraved with snake patterns from his robes.

"In that case, this old man shall take his leave first. If the Young Master needs to find me, simply pour Soul Power into this token. I will come at once."

Ye Feng accepted the token and weighed it in his hand. "I'll keep the token. Senior Dugu, hurry and attend to your matters. Don't miss the best time to detoxify your granddaughter."

At this point in time, Dugu Yan seemed to be only eight or nine years old. The poisoning was not severe, so resolving it should not be difficult.

After Dugu Bo left, Ye Feng simply packed his belongings, added several shovelfuls of black soil to the Blue Silver Emperor, then turned and headed out.

Several days later, Skywater City.

As the location of the continent's renowned water-element Soul Master Academy, the entire city seemed steeped in moisture.

Most buildings were blue and white, waterways wound along the streets, and the air carried a refreshing chill.

Ye Feng put away his Phoenix Wings outside the city and entered on foot.

"Just as expected of a place packed with water-element soul masters. Even the snack stalls come with their own chilling effect..."

Ye Feng muttered as he followed the main street toward the academy district.

From afar, he saw an imposing complex of blue-and-white buildings. Above its gates hung a plaque carved from ice crystals, inscribed with four large characters.

Skywater Academy.