Relying on Angel Wings, Ye Fan skillfully dodged the Ice Bear King's fatal strike.
At the same time, he noticed that the Ice Bear King was covered in wounds, instantly reminding him of the familiar voice outside Ice God's Palace a month ago.
"So it was the Ice Bear King a month ago, drawing Zhongli Wu and the others' attention."
Realizing this, Ye Fan had no intention of getting too entangled with the Ice Bear King.
Thus, while using Angel Wings to pull away from the Ice Bear King, he questioned it.
"Ice Bear King, is there some misunderstanding between us?"
After missing its attack, the Ice Bear King also got a clear look at Ye Fan and the others. They did not seem to be the evil soul masters it had encountered not long ago.
Moreover, it had some impression of Ye Fan. "You're the kid the Ice Empress sacrificed herself for not long ago."
"Why are you at Ice God's Palace?"
"What did you do to Mother Snow Empress?"
Once the Ice Bear King saw Ye Fan clearly, it calmed down and questioned him.
"Ice Bear King, I think you've mistaken me for the Holy Spirit Cult's evil soul masters."
"A month ago, I came to Ice God's Palace at the Ice Empress's invitation to check on Snow Empress!"
Ye Fan told the Ice Bear King everything that had happened when he came to Ice God's Palace a month ago, including how he had saved Snow Empress's embryo.
Afraid that the Ice Bear King would not believe him, he summoned the Ice Empress from the Undead Demiplane.
"Ice Bear King, long time no see."
"Ye Fan wasn't the one who harmed Snow Empress."
"On the contrary, he saved her."
As she spoke, the Ice Empress looked at Ye Fan and asked, "Ye Fan, could you let the Ice Bear King enter the Undead Demiplane so it can see Snow Empress?"
Ye Fan did not mind.
With a wave of his hand, the Spatial Gate to the Undead Demiplane appeared once more.
"Ice Bear King, for some reason, Snow Empress was refined into a Soul Beast Embryo by evil soul masters. She is currently in my Undead Demiplane."
"If you don't believe me, you can enter and see for yourself."
Hearing this, the Ice Bear King hesitated for a moment. In the end, it sensed a familiar aura through the Spatial Gate.
It entered without looking back.
Immediately afterward, Ye Fan, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Dark Demon Ape, and the Ice Empress could only follow it into the Undead Demiplane once again.
The moment the Ice Bear King entered the Undead Demiplane and saw Snow Empress's Soul Beast Embryo within the God-Sealing Platform, its eyes reddened as it softly called out, "Mother!"
"Were those evil soul masters the ones who turned you into this neither-beast-nor-ghost state?"
"Ahhh!"
"I'll go avenge you right now!"
As it spoke, the Ice Bear King was about to move its bulky body out of the Undead Demiplane when the Ice Empress stopped it.
"Ice Bear King, where are you going?"
"To take revenge on the evil soul masters!" the Ice Bear King said.
"Can you even defeat the evil soul masters?" the Ice Empress mocked.
"I can't!" Hearing that, the Ice Bear King looked dejected, its raised foot left hanging in midair.
Seeing that she had convinced the Ice Bear King, the Ice Empress continued, "Ice Bear King, I'm more heartbroken over Snow Empress's plight than you are. But the most important thing now is reviving Snow Empress."
"Revive Mother!" As if it had grasped onto something, the Ice Bear King hurriedly turned and stepped closer, demanding excitedly.
"Yes. Ye Fan said he would revive Snow Empress. My advice to you is to stay by Ye Fan's side."
The Ice Empress added.
Hearing this, the Ice Bear King raised its crimson eyes and stared straight at Ye Fan. Then it dropped to its knees and heavily kowtowed three times. "Human, please save my mother."
"I, the Ice Bear King, can serve you like an ox or horse."
Hearing the Ice Bear King's words, Ye Fan was slightly moved as well. "Ice Bear King, get up first."
"Reviving Snow Empress will require my teacher's help."
"But my teacher is temporarily in a deep slumber."
"So I have no way to revive Snow Empress anytime soon."
Upon hearing this, the Ice Bear King hesitated for a while before replying to Ye Fan, "Is that so?"
"Then I must still thank you, benefactor, for saving Mother's Soul Beast Embryo! From this day onward, I, the Ice Bear King, will follow your lead."
Ye Fan did not refuse.
After all, he had now officially provoked the great trouble known as the Holy Spirit Cult. Having another Ferocious Beast bodyguard meant another layer of security.
Afterward, Ye Fan arranged for the Ice Bear King and Snow Empress to remain in the Undead Demiplane. He then returned to the real world with Tian Meng and the Dark Demon Ape, heading for Mingde Hall in Bright City of the Sun Moon Empire.
Along the way, Ye Fan piloted a flying Soul Tool, passing through Heaven Dou City in the Heaven Dou Empire before crossing the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Sun Moon Empire and officially entering Sun Moon Empire territory.
With stops and starts along the way, the journey took roughly seven days.
In the end, it took a full ten days to reach Bright City.
After nearly two months of travel and hardship, Ye Fan finally set foot in Bright City of the Sun Moon Empire once again.
Returning after so long, the thought of seeing his teacher, whom he had not seen for ages, as well as the older brothers and sisters he knew, swept away all exhaustion from the journey. His heart was filled with excitement and anticipation.
He walked through the streets of Bright City at an unhurried pace, his heart full of joy at the coming reunion, completely unaware that danger was quietly approaching.
The moment he slowly neared the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, three black figures concealing their auras had already locked onto him from the dark corners surrounding the academy.
One of them spoke in a low voice. It was none other than Myriad Souls Douluo. "Minglei, Fourth Worshipper, I've sensed the kid who stole our Soul Beast Embryo."
The leading Fourth Worshipper asked in a deep voice, "Myriad Souls, are you sure you didn't sense wrongly?"
Myriad Souls Douluo immediately guaranteed, "Fourth Worshipper, that Soul Elder brat carries the aura of the undead I refined. There's no way I could be mistaken."
Minglei Douluo, standing nearby, immediately requested orders. "Fourth Worshipper, should we make our move and capture that brat now?"
After a brief moment of contemplation, the Fourth Worshipper said coldly, "It's broad daylight. Acting now would cause unnecessary trouble. Myriad Souls, keep a close watch on that brat. We'll act tonight!"
Myriad Souls Douluo bowed. "Yes!"
Then the Fourth Worshipper ordered Minglei Douluo, "Minglei, you're fast. Contact the Cult Leader immediately and have him send people to support us."
Hearing this, Minglei Douluo asked in confusion, "Fourth Worshipper, with three Titled Douluo acting together, surely we can't let this kid escape?"
Minglei Douluo did not understand why the Fourth Worshipper was being so cautious.
The Fourth Worshipper glanced at Minglei, then at the equally confused Myriad Souls Douluo.
Patiently, he explained, "The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is not as simple as you think."
"There is someone inside whom even the Supreme Cult Leader fears."
"Ah!"
At those words, Myriad Souls Douluo and Minglei Douluo exchanged looks. They both knew that without the Fourth Worshipper's reminder, the two of them might have met their end at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
"No wonder he can be a Worshipper while I can only be an elder."
"That's the difference."
"The gap between people really is impossible to deny."
Both Myriad Souls Douluo and Minglei Douluo thought so.
Very soon, Minglei Douluo reported to the Fourth Worshipper and vanished from the spot.
Myriad Souls Douluo concealed himself and kept Ye Fan's trail firmly locked on.
By then, Ye Fan had already passed through the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and entered Mingde Hall.
"Xiao Fan, it's you! You're alive—this is wonderful."
The moment Ye Fan stepped into Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen sensed his aura.
Without any hesitation, he flew out to greet Ye Fan before he even had time to put on his clothes.
"Teacher!" Seeing his benefactor and teacher Jing Hongchen again, Ye Fan's eyes had also turned red.
Watching from the shadows, Myriad Souls Douluo was inwardly shocked. The Fourth Worshipper truly is farsighted.
This kid's teacher is actually the master of Mingde Hall. No wonder this brat dared to steal the Holy Spirit Cult's Soul Beast Embryo.
Thankfully, the Fourth Worshipper prepared in advance. Brat, even if your teacher is the master of Mingde Hall, the Holy Spirit Cult will capture you tonight!
From the shadows, Myriad Souls Douluo secretly swore.
Before you continue