Far North · Ice Field

At the academy gates.

Early morning.

The sun had just risen.

The five of them had their luggage.

Quan Batian was waiting.

Behind him was a massive flying Soul Tool—the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc.

It was silver-white and streamlined, with a wingspan exceeding twenty meters.

Quan Cangtian walked over.

"Grandfather."

Quan Batian nodded.

"Get on."

Everyone boarded.

The interior of the Nine Heavens Thunder Roc was spacious enough to seat ten people.

Quan Batian sat in the 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.

He thought about the Extreme North.

The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.

Four hundred thousand years.

Huo Yuhao's Third Martial Soul.

His grandfather was personally leading the team.

This was a sure thing.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc flew onward.

Outside, the sky turned from blue to white.

The clouds grew thicker and thicker.

The temperature fell lower and lower.

Huo Yuhao shivered.

"So cold."

Wang Dong glanced at him.

"The Extreme North is like this. The farther north you go, the colder it gets."

Zixiao said nothing.

She merely looked out the window.

Xiao Xiao wrapped her clothes tighter around herself.

Suddenly—

The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc shook violently.

Everyone cried out.

Quan Batian opened his eyes.

"We're here."

Everyone looked down.

A vast expanse of white.

Boundless.

An ice field.

There was 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 said, "Yes. The Far North Ice Field."

"The Ice Empress is down there."

Everyone fell silent.

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

Huo Yuhao suddenly clutched his head.

His face turned pale.

Quan Cangtian noticed him.

"What's wrong?"

Huo Yuhao said, "N-nothing."

But his eyes were unfocused.

Then—

A voice rang out in his mind.

"Kid, you're finally going to find her?"

Huo Yuhao froze.

"Who?"

"It's me. Tian Meng."

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.

"Brother Sky Dream? You're awake?"

"I slept for over a month and finally recovered."

"Kid, you're heading to the Extreme North, right?"

Huo Yuhao asked, "How did you know?"

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

"The Extreme North... the Ice Empress..."

Tian Meng's voice became complicated.

"That woman..."

Huo Yuhao asked, "You know the Ice Empress?"

"Know her? Hehe..."

"I love her."

Huo Yuhao was stunned.

"Love?"

"Yes. I love her. I've loved her for a very long time."

"She doesn't know. She never even gave me a glance."

"But I don't care. It's enough that I love her."

"Kid, remember this: the Ice Empress is strong. Extremely strong."

"She isn't an ordinary Soul Beast."

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

"You... be careful."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"I understand."

He looked at Quan Cangtian.

"Big Brother, Brother Sky Dream is awake."

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Awake? Good."

"Have him lead the way."

Tian Meng's voice rang out again.

"Head northeast. The Ice Empress's territory lies 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 the Ice Empress's kin. Don't kill them."

"If you kill them, the Ice Empress will get angry."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"Understood."

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

Everyone got off.

The cold wind cut to the bone.

The snow was deep.

Every step was difficult.

Quan Batian walked at the front.

Everyone followed him.

Suddenly—

Tian Meng's voice sounded in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"Wait. There's an Ice Jade Scorpion's aura here."

Huo Yuhao stopped.

"Big Brother, Brother Sky Dream says there's an Ice Jade Scorpion's aura here."

Quan Batian stopped.

He examined the surroundings carefully.

"Look."

Everyone followed his pointing finger.

There was a string of enormous footprints on the ground.

Each print was as large as a washbasin.

They were half a meter deep.

The shape... a scorpion's?

Quan Batian said, "Ice Jade Scorpion footprints."

"The Ice Empress's kin."

"They're nearby."

Everyone grew tense.

Quan Cangtian asked, "Grandfather, should we pursue them?"

Quan Batian shook his head.

"No rush."

"They won't attack us on their own."

"And we shouldn't provoke them."

"The Ice Empress will come find us."

Everyone continued onward.

The sky gradually darkened.

Everyone continued deeper into the ice field.

Suddenly—

A group of ice-blue Soul Beasts surged toward them from all directions.

Ice Plain Wolves!

At least fifty of them!

Leading them was a massive Ice Plain Wolf King.

A ten-thousand-year Soul Beast!

Quan Batian did not move.

He merely watched.

"Grandfather?"

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

"Handle them yourselves. Take it as training."

Quan Cangtian nodded.

"Okay."

He looked at the others.

"Attack!"

Zixiao was the first to charge out.

Lightning erupted.

Purple Emperor Heavenly Punishment—Judgment!

Several Ice Plain Wolves were struck by lightning.

They screamed and fell.

Huo Yuhao followed close behind.

His Spirit Eye activated.

Mental Detection locked onto the Ice Plain Wolf King's location.

Wang Dong took flight with her Light Goddess Butterfly.

She slashed out with Light Blades.

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

It suppressed the Ice Plain Wolves' Soul Power.

Quan Cangtian drew the Destruction Dragon Spear.

It was Quan Batian's weapon, borrowed for the moment.

He charged toward the Ice Plain Wolf King.

The Destruction Lightning Element erupted.

One thrust pierced through the Ice Plain Wolf King's skull.

The Ice Plain Wolf King screamed and collapsed.

The other Ice Plain Wolves saw this.

They retreated one after another.

The battle was over.

Quan Batian nodded.

"Not bad."

Everyone rested.

Quan Batian looked at the flames.

His gaze was complicated.

Quan Cangtian noticed him.

"Grandpa?"

Quan Batian was silent for a moment.

"Little Cangtian, do you know why I came personally?"

"Why?"

"Because the Ice Empress... knows me."

Everyone froze.

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

"At the time, I was still Rank 95."

"I came here to seek an opportunity to break through."

"I met the Ice Empress."

"We fought."

"For three days and three nights."

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

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.

"F-Friends?"

Quan Batian smiled.

"Yes. Friends."

"Though the Ice Empress is cruel, she has feelings too."

"She... is female."

Everyone: "..."

"So if I go see her, she'll give me some face."

"But if we can't reach an agreement..."

His eyes turned cold.

"Suppress her first, then reason with her."

Everyone finished resting.

They prepared to continue onward.

Suddenly—

A terrifying fluctuation of Soul Power came from the distance.

Everyone stopped.

Quan Batian's gaze sharpened.

"She's here."

An icy voice rang in everyone's minds.

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

Quan Batian smiled.

"Ice Empress, long time no see."

"It's been fifty years. You've grown old."

"You haven't changed either."

"Why have you come here?"

Quan Batian said, "For him."

He pointed at Huo Yuhao.

The Ice Empress's voice turned toward Huo Yuhao.

"Him?"

Huo Yuhao felt a terrifying pressure envelop his entire body.

"Sky Dream Ice Silkworm... you absorbed Tian Meng?"

Huo Yuhao's face went pale.

"I..."

The Ice Empress said, "Interesting. Tian Meng, that traitor..."

"You want me to become his Soul Ring?"

"Yes."

The Ice Empress fell silent for a moment.

"Fine."

Everyone was stunned.

"But there is a condition."

"What condition?"

"He... must pass my trial."

"If he fails..."

"Then he will die here."

Huo Yuhao's face went pale.

A trial...

Death...

Quan Cangtian patted his shoulder.

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

Huo Yuhao looked at him.

His gaze was complicated.

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Grandpa already said it. If we can't reach an agreement, we'll suppress her."

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

Quan Batian nodded.

"Right."

"But it would be best if we can reach an agreement."

"Suppressing her... would be too troublesome."

The Ice Empress's voice rang out again.

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

"You said the same thing fifty years ago."

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

"Now..."

"I might not be able to beat you either."

Quan Batian smiled.

"Then shall we try?"

The Ice Empress fell silent.

"...Forget it."

"The trial is still necessary."

"But I'll go easy on him."

Quan Batian said, "Thanks."

"No need."

"Tian Meng, that traitor..."

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

"Making him my Soul Ring..."

"Wouldn't be bad either."

Tian Meng's voice sounded in Huo Yuhao's mind.

"Ice Empress... she's still so fierce."

"But I love her."

"Kid, remember, during the trial..."

"Don't use your full strength."

"The Ice Empress doesn't like weaklings, but she doesn't like people who are too arrogant either."

"Keep it moderate."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"I understand."

The Ice Empress's voice faded away.

Everyone fell silent.

Quan Batian stood up.

"Let's go."

"To the Ice Empress's territory."

"The trial... begins tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

They continued onward.

The Deep Extreme North.

It grew colder and colder.

The snow grew deeper and deeper.

Every step was difficult.

Quan Batian walked at the very front.

His steps were steady.

Everyone followed.

[Joy Envoy Bullet Screen]: Tian Meng: I love the Ice Empress! Ice Empress: Traitor, I'm going to deal with you! Is this what they call love?

Late at night.

Everyone stopped.

Quan Batian said, "We'll rest here tonight."

"We'll continue tomorrow."

Everyone nodded.

They set up tents.

They lit a fire.

Quan Cangtian sat by the fire.

He watched the flames.

Thinking about tomorrow.

The test.

Ice Empress.

Huo Yuhao.

Third Martial Soul.

He looked at Huo Yuhao.

Huo Yuhao looked back at him.

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

Quan Cangtian smiled.

"Scared of what?"

"I'm here."

"Grandpa's here."

"Ice Empress wouldn't dare kill you."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

But he was still nervous.

Quan Batian sat at the very edge.

Looking toward the Deep Extreme North.

Ice Empress...

Fifty years.

He spoke softly.

"Old friend..."

"See you tomorrow."

Deep Extreme North.

Inside an ice cave.

A figure opened her eyes.

Ice-blue pupils.

She looked in Quan Batian's direction.

The corners of her lips curled up slightly.

"Quan Batian..."

"You came."

"Fifty years..."

"You're still so arrogant."

"But..."

"I like it."