Bone Douluo Following Behind

So many, so many, Void Mysterious Ice!

Deep in the Far North, Ice Emperor stared at the ice-blue crystals beside Beiming Lieyang, her eyes wide as saucers and crystal-clear saliva already pooling at the corners of her mouth.

Not just her; Atai and Xiaobai nearby likewise stared dead at that pile of Void Mysterious Ice, their throats bobbing as they desperately wanted to pounce forward and take a bite.

The massive energy fluctuations caused the surrounding air to slightly tremor, every single piece emanating a breathtaking chill.

These were all masterpieces that Beiming Lieyang had drained of his entire spirit power, spending a full hour to compress and condense one by one.

With Beiming Lieyang plus five Apollo Puppets, six of them concentrating at full strength simultaneously, they had piled up over a hundred pieces of Void Mysterious Ice.

Beiming Lieyang rolled his slightly stiff shoulder armor, just about to raise his hand to continue condensing the next one when Snow Emperor's voice came from the side.

Xiaoyang, that's enough.

Snow Emperor walked forward, a trace of heartache in her ice-blue eyes: You've been at it day and night without sleep; these hundred-plus pieces are already enough.

Snow Emperor watched his slightly slowed movements beneath his armor, then looked at the puppets whose condensation rhythm was half a beat slower than before.

Although this child possessed formidable strength and staying awake for days and nights without rest posed no problem, constantly exhausting his entire spirit power like this while intensely focusing on compression and condensation took a heavy toll on his mental force.

Mental force was not like spirit power; it recovered far more slowly.

Right, right, right, get some good rest.

Ice Emperor hastily wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth, nodding with rare seriousness: There's still plenty of time, no need to be in such a rush.

Atai and Xiaobai nodded along, though their eyes remained glued to that pile of Void Mysterious Ice, they snapped back to their senses once Snow Emperor spoke.

For the young master's sake of condensing these things, they had driven themselves hard for a whole day; naturally, they could not press him to keep going.

The movements beneath Beiming Lieyang's armor paused for a moment, and he promptly nodded: Fine then.

Accompanied by a series of clanging metallic impacts, the layer of crimson-gold Solar Star God Armor on his body receded like a tide, revealing his true visage.

With a casual sweep of his hand, the Void Mysterious Ice gathered together alongside the fruits of the five puppets' condensation:

Mother Xue, you handle the distribution then. With these, the strength of the Far North should rise to another level.

Snow Emperor nodded slightly: Good.

She divided the hundred-plus Void Mysterious Ice pieces into seven portions: Two portions remain with me as reserves for unexpected needs.

She raised her hand to deposit two of those portions into her storage soul tool, then pushed the remaining five portions respectively toward the directions of Ice Emperor, Atai, and Xiaobai.

Binger's clan has the largest base population, with the most at eight to ninety thousand years and fifty to sixty thousand years, so you take a double portion. Atai's clan has fewer, a single portion will suffice for a breakthrough. Xiaobai's clan has a moderate scale of high-age-level individuals stuck at the threshold, and a single portion is enough for them too.

Ice Emperor took the double portion, clutching it to her chest, her golden eyes shining brilliantly:

Don't worry, Xue'er! With these, our clan can produce a dozen more hundred-thousand-year ones!

Atai dropped to one knee, respectfully receiving his share: Many thanks to the young master and Lord Snow Emperor! With this batch, those few clansmen with insufficient foundations will surely cross the lightning tribulation safely. The fifty to sixty thousand year ones can also be pushed up a notch.

Xiaobai took the final portion, patting his bear palm against his chest and smiling foolishly:

Don't worry, Mother! I've waited for this day for so long! With little brother's Void Mysterious Ice, those few clansmen of mine will definitely pull through!

Additionally,

Snow Emperor's gaze swept over the three of them,

*The Far North is vast and boundless. Besides your three major tribes, there are also some scattered high-age-level soul beasts.

Their foundations are lacking, and they dare not undergo tribulation alone, but if they can share in the Void Mysterious Ice, they will likewise have a chance to assault the hundred-thousand-year rank.

Atai, Xiaobai, leave this matter to you two. Scour the outer regions of the Far North, find those scattered soul beasts that meet the conditions, and distribute the Void Mysterious Ice to them so they can safely weather the heavenly tribulation.

When the time comes, after they survive their tribulations, they can be arranged to garrison the outer perimeter of the Far North to prevent human spirit masters from trespassing at will.*

Atai and Xiaobai exchanged glances, simultaneously bowing in acknowledgment: Understood!

Hearing the distribution plan, Ice Emperor hugged that pile of Void Mysterious Ice with undisguised excitement, turning around hurriedly as she prepared to leave:

Then I'm heading back to my territory first! Xue'er, Xiaoyang, you guys rest up, I'm going to go sort out those brats in the clan!

With that, she tapped her foot and transformed into a streak of emerald light, speeding away in the direction of the Ice Jade Scorpion tribe's territory.

Atai and Xiaobai likewise each put away their Void Mysterious Ice, bowed respectfully to Snow Emperor and Beiming Lieyang, and turned to leave.

Only Snow Emperor and Beiming Lieyang remained in place.

The wind and snow filled the sky as before, but the residual warmth emitted by that pile of Void Mysterious Ice still drifted gently in the air.

Snow Emperor raised her hand, gently straightening Beiming Lieyang's hair, her ice-blue eyes filled with tenderness:

You've been tired for a day too, go back and eat something, and get some good rest.

Beiming Lieyang nodded, but did not move immediately, his gaze sweeping toward the five silent, towering Apollo Puppets.

Two of you, follow the established plan to bury Void Mysterious Ice across the continent, one patrol the outer perimeter of the Far North, and two continue condensing Void Mysterious Ice.

Understood, Master!

As his words fell, three black streams of light soared into the sky, transforming into planetary forms as they streaked beyond the Far North, while the final two puppets sat cross-legged on the spot, beginning a new round of condensation.

Having arranged everything, Beiming Lieyang turned his head to look at Snow Emperor: Let's go, Mother Xue, time to head back.

Snow Emperor watched the way he arranged the puppets, a trace of gratification emerging in her gaze.

This child no longer needed her to look after everything; he had his own ideas and his own plans.

She took Beiming Lieyang's hand: Mm, let's head back.

The two figures walked side by side toward the Ice Crystal Palace, the swirling snow parting automatically on either side of them as if even this ice plain was clearing a path for them.

Inside the Ice Crystal Palace, Snow Emperor retrieved a food box she had prepared in advance from her storage soul tool. Upon opening it, a rich aroma diffused outward.

She had meticulously cooked a hot meal using ingredients unique to the Far North; the ice plain yak meat was stewed until tender and flavorful, the snow lotus soup was clear, sweet, and comforting.

There were also several home-style dishes Beiming Lieyang had previously mentioned liking, neatly arrayed on the ice table.

Mother Xue, when did you prepare this? Beiming Lieyang looked at the table of steaming dishes, raising his eyebrows in some surprise.

When you were condensing the Void Mysterious Ice, I took a moment to make it.

Have a taste and see how the flavor is.

Snow Emperor picked up a piece of beef with one hand lightly cupped beneath it and brought it to his lips, and Beiming Lieyang opened his mouth to eat.

The meat, stewed to absolute perfection, dispersed in his mouth, the warmth sliding all the way down his throat into his stomach, warming his entire body along with it.

Mother Xue's culinary skills are truly the best.

Watching the way he ate, the gentle smile at the corners of Snow Emperor's lips could not be suppressed no matter what.

Then try something else too.

Just as Beiming Lieyang was enjoying Snow Emperor's tenderness, at the outermost periphery of the Far North, a figure draped in a black robe looked around.

Chasing that ice crystal carriage all the way here, I've tracked it to this place.

Could it be that they entered the Far North? Could they be trying to find ice-type soul beasts to obtain spirit rings?