The Guardian Wasn't Human?

Through the water's surface, Ye Feng saw a young boy with fiery red hair.

His little face was fair, his features well-defined, his eyes crimson-gold, and there was even a crimson-gold marking between his brows, like the eye of a phoenix.

"Damn, Martial Soul Evolution even came with plastic surgery?"

Although Ye Feng could still see traces of his former self on this face, the changes were still enormous.

He was already this handsome before he had even grown up. Ye Feng did not dare imagine what he would look like once he matured.

In terms from his previous life, little Ye Feng probably would not get a single day off once he became an adult.

Sigh, he wondered which woman would get lucky in the future.

"Come to think of it, that white figure from earlier was probably my guardian."

Ye Feng was certain that someone had helped him just now.

If it had not been for that icy-cold power, forget Martial Soul Evolution—he would already have been a pile of ashes.

But why had his guardian vanished after helping him?

Could she be observing him from the shadows?

Five days later, early morning.

Ye Feng sat cross-legged atop a hill. The surrounding air warped, and the faint light of the rising sun fell over him, coating him in a thin radiance.

For five consecutive days, Ye Feng had spent all his time cultivating.

Although meditation still granted him Soul Power, his level remained at twelve, without the slightest improvement.

"Just as expected, my level still can't increase before I obtain a Soul Ring."

Ye Feng had thought he could exploit a loophole with the [Upgrade Refund] card and try to reach a higher level, laying the foundation for obtaining a first Soul Ring with a higher cultivation age later on.

It seemed he had been overthinking things.

The Soul Power restriction was probably akin to the heavenly laws of the Douluo world. Only divine power could break it.

"I still have to obtain a Soul Ring properly."

Ye Feng stretched lazily, his bones crackling.

Over the past five days, neither Flender nor Ma Hongjun had appeared again. They presumably believed he had already died from the Evil Fire Backlash.

As for his guardian, she had not appeared again either.

That was not right. Shouldn't she at least come out and introduce herself first?

Thinking of this, Ye Feng instinctively tested the air around him. "You've been watching me for so long. Isn't it time you came out and said hello?"

After he spoke, the surroundings remained silent.

Was I overthinking it?

Just as Ye Feng rose to return home, an icy snowflake suddenly drifted past his eyes.

Then, more and more snowflakes appeared, as though they had formed from nothing. They whirled through the air and fluttered down, covering the entire hilltop in the blink of an eye.

The temperature plummeted. The air that had been warm beneath the morning sunlight instantly condensed into tiny ice crystals.

Ye Feng shuddered and looked up.

At some point, a snow-white figure had appeared, standing quietly not far away.

She was a tall woman.

Her white clothes were fairer than snow, and silver hair cascaded down to her waist. Her beauty was cold and peerless, while her azure eyes resembled ten-thousand-year ice, as though they could see through everything in the world.

Looking down, he saw a pair of delicate, fair jade feet hovering above the ground. Her skirt swayed in the breeze, faintly revealing a pair of slender, perfectly proportioned legs.

Looking up, there was a magnificent fullness that could not be grasped in one hand, along with a flawless, perfect face.

Snow-white robes, silver hair, flawless beauty, ice and snow attributes...

Ye Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously asked, "Excuse me, are you the Snow Empress?"

"You know me?"

The Snow Empress's gaze shifted slightly as her ethereal, pleasant voice rang out.

As a Seven-Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and the ruler of the Far North, she had not appeared in the human world for ten thousand years. How could anyone still remember her?

Ye Feng was stunned as well.

After waiting so long for his guardian, he had never expected her to be the Snow Empress.

He did not know whether he should be happy or unhappy.

The Snow Empress was a Seven-Hundred-Thousand-Year Heavenly Snow Woman, ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.

Her strength was at least on par with a level ninety-nine Titled Douluo, and at this stage, she did not need to worry about heavenly tribulations.

From the standpoint of strength, Ye Feng had definitely struck it rich.

But at her core, the Snow Empress was a Soul Beast, and the ruler of the Far North besides.

Would she truly stay at the side of a human boy as his guardian?

The Snow Empress seemed to sense Ye Feng's thoughts, and her ethereal voice sounded once more.

"You need not worry. Since I have appeared, I shall naturally fulfill the agreement and protect you."

Not long ago, she had been cultivating in seclusion in the Far North when an immense power suddenly transported her here.

Furthermore, a voice had echoed in her mind, informing her that this person was her hope of becoming a god.

Becoming a god!

For Soul Beasts, those two words were absolutely a fantasy.

She had endured many heavenly tribulations and knew just how strongly this world rejected Soul Beasts.

As for the coming seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation, she did not even have a thirty percent chance of surviving it.

If this human boy before her truly could help her become a god, then protecting him would not be impossible.

Even if he was human.

Moreover, she had sensed the aura of the Ancient Divine Phoenix within this human boy.

Perhaps this person truly could help her become a god.

"But, Sister Snow Empress, if you follow me like this, won't people discover that you're a Soul Beast?"

"I'm afraid someone might harbor ill intentions toward you."

Ye Feng was somewhat worried.

After all, in this era, the highest-cultivation Soul Beast known to Soul Masters was only one hundred thousand years old.

If a Seven-Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast suddenly appeared, it would likely stir up a tremendous storm.

Hearing Ye Feng's concern for her, a strange glint flashed through the Snow Empress's eyes. Her voice softened somewhat. "There is no need to worry. I have my own method of concealing my aura. Even human Titled Douluo cannot see through it."

"Then I'm relieved."

Ye Feng scratched his fiery red hair, smiled, and extended a fair little hand toward the Snow Empress. "Then I'll be relying on you to take good care of me from now on, Sister Snow Empress!"

The Snow Empress watched the boy's sunny, cheerful smile, then noticed that fair little hand.

After a moment of silence, she copied his movement and extended a slender hand that looked as though it had been carved from ice and jade, gently shaking his hand.

Her touch was icy, yet unexpectedly soft, not as cold as he had imagined.

"Huh? It has this effect too?"

Ye Feng's eyes lit up. "Sister Snow Empress, with your physique, you'd definitely sell like crazy as an air conditioner in the summer!"

He felt the heat generated by cultivation dissipate by more than half the moment he touched the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress tilted her head slightly, a trace of confusion appearing in her azure eyes. "Air conditioner... what is that?"

"It's... uh, a kind of Soul Tool that creates cool air!" Ye Feng said without changing expression.

The Snow Empress nodded thoughtfully and did not pursue the matter.

It seemed she would need to pay more attention to the human world in the future.

Noon.

Ye Feng packed his belongings, took out a map, and headed along a country path toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He had originally wanted to say goodbye to the nearby villagers. After all, he had grown up eating meals provided by many households.

But when he considered his current appearance, they probably would not recognize him even if they met, so he abandoned the idea.

As for why he did not ask the Snow Empress to carry him on the journey.

All he could say was that if he had to trouble her over even such a trivial matter, what would make him any different from a man living off a woman?

What would the Snow Empress think of him?

After all, they were not very familiar with each other yet. It was better for him to handle some things personally.