Far North, Ice Field

Academy gates.

Early morning.

Sun just came out.

Five people's luggage.

Quan Batian waited.

Behind him sat a huge flying Soul Tool—the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc.

Silver-white, streamlined, wingspan exceeding twenty meters.

Quan Cangtian walked over.

"Grandfather."

Quan Batian nodded.

"Get in."

Everyone boarded.

The inside of the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc was very spacious, able to seat ten people.

Quan Batian sat in the very front.

Quan Cangtian sat beside him.

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Zixiao, and Xiao Xiao sat in the back.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc took off.

Fast.

Tianhun City grew smaller and smaller.

Quan Cangtian looked out the window.

In his heart, he thought of the Extreme North.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.

Four hundred thousand years.

Huo Yuhao's third martial soul.

Grandfather personally leading the team.

It was in the bag.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc flew.

The sky outside the window turned from blue to white.

The clouds grew thicker and thicker.

The temperature grew lower and lower.

Huo Yuhao shivered.

"So cold."

Wang Dong glanced at him.

"The Extreme North is like this. The further north, the colder it gets."

Zixiao didn't speak.

She only looked out the window.

Xiao Xiao wrapped her clothes tightly around herself.

Suddenly—

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc shook violently.

Everyone cried out in surprise.

Quan Batian opened his eyes.

"We've arrived."

Everyone looked down.

Vast and white.

Boundless.

Ice field.

No end in sight.

A terrifying chill surged up from below.

Huo Yuhao's face turned pale.

"Th-This is the Extreme North?"

Quan Batian: "Mhm. The Far North Ice Field."

"Ice Emperor is right down below."

Everyone fell silent.

A sense of oppression rose from the bottom of their hearts.

Huo Yuhao suddenly clutched his head.

His face was pale.

Quan Cangtian noticed him.

"What's wrong?"

Huo Yuhao: "N-Nothing."

Yet his gaze was dazed.

Then—

A voice rang out in his mind.

"Little guy, finally going to look for her?"

Huo Yuhao froze.

"Who?"

"It's me. Tianmeng."

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.

"Brother Tianmeng? You're awake?"

"Sleeping for over a month, I've finally recovered."

"Little guy, you're all heading to the Extreme North, aren't you?"

Huo Yuhao: "How do you know?"

"I'm your Wise Soul Ring, I can sense your thoughts."

"The Extreme North... Ice Emperor..."

Tianmeng's voice grew complex.

"That woman..."

Huo Yuhao: "You know Ice Emperor?"

"Know her? Heh..."

"I love her."

Huo Yuhao froze.

"Love?"

"Yes. I love her. I've loved her since a long time ago."

"She doesn't know. She never even glances at me."

"But I don't care. It's enough just for me to love her."

"Little guy, remember, Ice Emperor is strong. Extremely strong."

"She's not an ordinary soul beast."

"She is the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North."

"You all... be careful."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"I understand."

He looked at Quan Cangtian.

"Big brother, Brother Tianmeng is awake."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Awake? Good."

"Have him guide the way."

Tianmeng's voice sounded once more.

"Head northeast. Ice Emperor's territory is in the Deep Extreme North."

"But be careful, there are Ice Plain Wolves along the way."

"And... Ice Jade Scorpions."

"The Ice Jade Scorpions are Ice Emperor's kin, do not kill them."

"Kill them, and Ice Emperor will be angry."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"Understood."

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc landed on the edge of the Extreme North.

Everyone disembarked.

The cold wind bit like bone.

The snow was very deep.

Every step walked was arduous.

Quan Batian walked in the very front.

Everyone followed.

Suddenly—

Tianmeng's voice rang out in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"Wait. There's the aura of Ice Jade Scorpions here."

Huo Yuhao stopped.

"Big brother, Brother Tianmeng says there's the aura of Ice Jade Scorpions here."

Quan Batian stopped.

He observed carefully.

"Look."

Everyone followed the direction of his finger.

On the ground was a trail of huge footprints.

Each footprint was the size of a washbasin.

Half a meter deep.

The shape... a scorpion?

Quan Batian: "Ice Jade Scorpion footprints."

"Ice Emperor's kin."

"They're nearby."

Everyone grew nervous.

Quan Cangtian: "Grandfather, should we pursue?"

Quan Batian shook his head.

"No rush."

"They won't actively attack us."

"We shouldn't go provoke them either."

"Ice Emperor will come find us."

Everyone continued forward.

The sky grew dark.

Everyone continued walking deeper into the ice field.

Suddenly—

A group of ice-blue soul beasts swarmed from all directions.

Ice Plain Wolves!

At least fifty of them!

Leading them was a massive Ice Plain Wolf King.

Ten-thousand-year soul beast!

Quan Batian didn't move.

He only watched.

"Grandfather?"

"These are Ice Plain Wolves, not Ice Jade Scorpions."

"Handle them yourselves. Consider it exercise."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"Alright."

He looked toward the others.

"Charge!"

Zixiao rushed out first.

Lightning burst forth.

Purple Emperor Heavenly Punishment -- Judgment!

A few ice plain wolves were struck by lightning.

They wailed and collapsed to the ground.

Huo Yuhao followed closely behind.

Spirit Eye activated.

Mental Detection locked onto the position of the ice plain wolf king.

Wang Dong took flight with her Goddess of Light Butterfly.

A Light Blade slashed out.

Xiao Xiao summoned the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.

She suppressed the soul power of the ice plain wolves.

Quan Cangtian pulled out the Destruction Dragon Spear.

It was Quan Batian's weapon, borrowed temporarily.

He rushed toward the ice plain wolf king.

The Destruction Lightning Element erupted.

He pierced the skull of the ice plain wolf king with a single thrust.

The ice plain wolf king wailed and collapsed.

The other ice plain wolves saw this.

They retreated in succession.

The battle ended.

Quan Batian nodded.

"Not bad."

The group rested.

Quan Batian looked at the flames.

His gaze was complex.

Quan Cangtian noticed him.

"Grandpa?"

Quan Batian was silent for a moment.

"Little Cangtian, do you know why I came in person?"

"Why?"

"Because Ice Emperor... knows me."

Everyone froze.

"Fifty years ago, I came to the Extreme North."

"At that time, I was still at rank 95."

"I came here to look for the opportunity to break through."

"I met Ice Emperor."

"We had a fight."

"We fought for three days and three nights."

"In the end... we became friends."

Huo Yuhao widened his eyes.

"Fri... friends?"

Quan Batian smiled.

"Right. Friends."

"Although Ice Emperor is cruel, she also has emotions."

"She... is a female."

Everyone: "..."

"So, if I go to see her, she will give me face."

"But if we can't talk it out..."

His gaze turned cold.

"First suppress, then reason."

The group finished resting.

They prepared to continue moving forward.

Suddenly --

A terrifying soul power fluctuation came from afar.

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Quan Batian's gaze condensed.

"She's here."

A cold voice echoed in everyone's minds.

"Quan Batian... you've come."

Quan Batian smiled.

"Ice Emperor, long time no see."

"Fifty years. You've aged."

"You haven't changed either."

"Why did you come here?"

Quan Batian: "For him."

그 pointed at Huo Yuhao.

Ice Emperor's voice looked toward Huo Yuhao.

"Him?"

Huo Yuhao felt a terrifying pressure envelop his whole body.

"Skydream Ice Worm... you swallowed Skydream?"

Huo Yuhao's face turned pale.

"I..."

Ice Emperor: "Interesting. That traitor Skydream..."

"You want me to become his soul ring?"

"Right."

Ice Emperor was silent for a moment.

"Fine."

Everyone froze.

"But there are conditions."

"What conditions?"

"He... must pass through my test."

"If he fails to pass..."

"Then die here."

Huo Yuhao's face turned pale.

The test...

Death...

Quan Cangtian patted his shoulder.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Huo Yuhao looked toward him.

His gaze was complex.

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Grandpa said it, if we can't talk it out, we suppress."

"No matter how strong Ice Emperor is, she can't beat Grandpa."

Quan Batian nodded.

"Right."

"But it's best to talk it out."

"Suppression... is too troublesome."

Ice Emperor's voice sounded again.

"Quan Batian, you're still as arrogant as ever."

"You said these words fifty years ago."

"Fifty years ago I couldn't beat you."

"Now..."

"I might not necessarily lose either."

Quan Batian smiled.

"Then shall we try?"

Ice Emperor was silent.

"...Forget it."

"The test is still needed."

"But I will go easy on him."

Quan Batian: "Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"That traitor Skydream..."

"I've wanted to deal with him for a long time."

"Letting him become my soul ring..."

"Is also not bad."

Skydream's voice echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"Ice Emperor... she's still as fierce as ever."

"But I love her."

"Little fellow, remember, during the test..."

"Don't use your full strength."

"Ice Emperor doesn't like weaklings, but she also doesn't like people who are too arrogant."

"Moderate."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"I understand."

Ice Emperor's voice faded away.

Everyone was silent.

Quan Batian stood up.

"Let's go."

"To Ice Emperor's territory."

"The test... begins tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

They continued moving forward.

Deep Extreme North.

It became colder and colder.

The snow became deeper and deeper.

Every step walked was extremely difficult.

Quan Batian walked at the very front.

His pace was steady.

The others followed behind.

[Joy Envoy Bullet Screen]: Skydream: I love Ice Emperor! Ice Emperor: Traitor, I'm going to deal with you! You call this love?

Late at night.

The group stopped.

Quan Batian: "Rest here tonight."

"Continue tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

They set up tents.

They lit a fire.

Quan Cangtian sat by the fire.

He looked at the flames.

Thinking about tomorrow's matters.

The trial.

Ice Emperor.

Huo Yuhao.

Third Martial Soul.

He looked at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao looked back at him too.

"Big Brother... I'm scared."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"What is there to be scared of?"

"With me here."

"With Grandpa here."

"Ice Emperor won't dare to kill you."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

But his heart was still nervous.

Quan Batian sat at the very outside.

Looking toward the Deep Extreme North.

Ice Emperor...

Fifty years.

He spoke in a low voice.

"Old friend..."

"See you tomorrow."

Deep Extreme North.

Inside a certain ice cave.

A figure opened her eyes.

Ice-blue pupils.

She looked in Quan Batian's direction.

The corners of her lips curved up slightly.

"Quan Batian..."

"You've come."

"Fifty years..."

"You're still just as arrogant."

"But..."

"I like it."