If You Won't Come Find Me, Then I Can Only Come Find You

The Far North was swept by biting winds and blanketed in snow.

It was one of the continent's harshest environments, covered in ice and snow year-round, with temperatures low enough to freeze an ordinary person's blood.

Other than a handful of ice-attributed soul beasts and Soul Masters, almost no normal person was willing to set foot on this desolate ice field.

Yet at this moment, a thin figure was struggling across the vast frozen plains.

Wrapped in Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's shed skin, Huo Yuhao was shielded from most of the bitter cold by that thin, cicada-like husk, allowing him to persist through this land of extreme frost.

Each breath he exhaled condensed into white mist, while the snow beneath his feet crunched and squeaked.

As he walked, he spoke with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm in his mind. "Brother Sky Dream, can we really succeed this time?"

When he heard that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wanted to give him a great gift—including a ferocious beast's soul ring and soul bone, and even the chance to gain a second martial soul—he had been utterly stunned at first.

Any one of those three things was a supreme treasure that could drive countless people in the world of Soul Masters mad.

Yet Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was going to give him all of them at once, solely to help him increase his strength.

He was so moved that he could barely speak.

In response to Huo Yuhao's question, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, residing in his Spiritual Sea, spoke with a hint of laziness and disdain. "When has Brother Sky Dream ever lied to you? Don't worry. Brother Sky Dream cherishes his life even more than you do. I definitely won't lead you to your death."

Huo Yuhao thought about it and found that quite reasonable.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could be unreliable at times, but when it came to matters of life and death, he had indeed never been careless.

Reassured, Huo Yuhao could not help asking another question. "Then, Brother Sky Dream, when I get back, will I be able to surpass Senior Changqing?"

The moment that question came up, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm fell silent.

Second by second, time passed. Just when Huo Yuhao thought Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did not want to answer, or had already fallen asleep, he finally spoke slowly, his voice carrying a rare gravity and sincerity. "It will be difficult."

Huo Yuhao halted, and the smile on his face froze.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm continued, "That human called Li Changqing is extremely mysterious, and extremely powerful. Especially his Heaven-Earth Black-Yellow Exquisite Pagoda—the pure power contained within it is something I have never encountered in my life. It is hard to imagine that anyone on this continent could possess such a powerful martial soul. I even suspect that the quality of his martial soul may already have reached God Rank."

Huo Yuhao could not help asking curiously, "Are God Rank martial souls really that powerful? How do they compare with the one you are planning to get for me, Brother Sky Dream?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did not hide anything and patiently explained, "A God Rank martial soul, as its name suggests, is a martial soul that does not belong to the mortal world. For example, ten thousand years ago, the Six-Winged Angel martial soul possessed by that Angel God was a God Rank martial soul. Martial souls born on the Douluo Continent, no matter how strong or weak, are mortal martial souls. In terms of quality and potential, they cannot be mentioned in the same breath as God Rank martial souls."

Huo Yuhao seemed to understand something and asked tentatively, "You mean... Senior Changqing is connected to a god?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did not answer directly. Only after a moment of silence did he slowly say, "All I can say is that he is definitely connected to a god, and not superficially so. Although I do not know which god stands behind him, one thing is certain: it is definitely no ordinary god."

Huo Yuhao sucked in a cold breath.

A god.

The last people to become gods had been the Shrek Seven Monsters led by Tang San ten thousand years ago.

Since then, no one had been heard of reaching that legendary realm for ten thousand years.

And now, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was telling him that Li Changqing might be connected to a god?

How could he not be shocked?

Sensing the turmoil in his heart, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's tone grew more serious. "That is why I told you to avoid becoming his enemy if possible. Because even with my help, even if you could win, it would be an extremely difficult victory. You might even have to pay a price you cannot bear."

Huo Yuhao was silent for a long time before nodding heavily. "I understand, Brother Sky Dream."

Seeing how obedient and sensible he was, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could not help feeling pleased.

Although Huo Yuhao was weak and his talent was terrible, at least he was obedient and sensible. He knew what he should and should not do.

In that regard, he was far better than those self-righteous geniuses.

All that remained was to raise his cultivation with everything he had and complete his God-Making Project.

And the first step was to talk Ice Empress into joining in, so that Huo Yuhao could obtain everything Ice Empress had.

The following evening, a richly decorated restaurant in Mingdu was brightly lit and bustling with voices.

Li Changqing, Jiang Nannan, and Ye Guyi sat by a window on the second floor.

Outside lay Mingdu's prosperous nightscape, with neon lights flashing and traffic streaming by.

The table was covered with exquisite dishes, complete in color, aroma, and flavor.

Yet none of the three had picked up their chopsticks. They were chatting about what they had seen while shopping that day.

"Today, I went to Heavenly Craft Street. There was a Soul Tool shop there, and the things inside were really exquisite! But the prices were ridiculously high. A tiny Soul Tool wristguard cost three thousand Gold Soul Coins." Ye Guyi gestured as she spoke, clicking her tongue in amazement.

Jiang Nannan nodded as well and softly agreed. "I saw a particularly beautiful necklace too. They said it had a constant-temperature array engraved on it. It could keep you warm in winter and cool in summer... but it cost five thousand Gold Soul Coins. Far too expensive."

Li Changqing lifted his teacup and took a sip. Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of a white figure approaching gracefully from nearby.

His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

That figure walked straight to their table and stopped.

Then she spoke as naturally as though she belonged there, her gentle, pleasant voice carrying a lazy smile. "Oh? You're eating quite lavishly."

Li Changqing raised his head and looked at the stunning woman before him, dressed in a white gown, her black hair cascading like a waterfall and her face lightly made up. His frown deepened. "Why are you here?"

Ju Zi smiled faintly. A teasing glint flashed through her lively eyes as she answered as if it were only natural, "If you won't come find me, then I can only come find you."

As soon as those words fell, the atmosphere around the table instantly became delicate.

Ye Guyi's chopsticks stopped in midair, and the smile on her face slowly stiffened.

Jiang Nannan lowered her head slightly as well, her gaze moving back and forth between Ju Zi and Li Changqing.

Although nothing showed on her face, the hand holding her teacup unconsciously tightened.

Ju Zi seemed utterly unaware of the shift in atmosphere. She naturally sat in the empty seat beside Li Changqing, even leaning a little closer to him. Then, tilting her head, she smiled at the two young women across from her, her tone curious and playful. "Little Qing, are these two pretty girls your friends? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Little Qing?

Ye Guyi's eyebrow twitched.