Ch. 41So Fired Up You're Going to Become a Venerable, Huh?
Chapter Summary: “So Fired Up You’re Going to Become a Venerable, Huh?”
Key Plot Points and Events
- The Ice Empress and Beiming Lieyang persuade the Hundred-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Scorpion, Xiaobi, to accept a soul sacrifice by promising that she will eventually be revived and become a god.
- Their main incentive is Beiming Lieyang’s Void Mysterious Ice, whose purity and flavor have been greatly enhanced by his five soul rings. Xiaobi considers it far superior to any ice she has tasted before.
- Ice Empress convinces Xiaobi that sacrificing herself now will allow her to return in the future and enjoy even more powerful, “God-tier” Void Mysterious Ice.
- Xiaobi eagerly consumes all the Void Mysterious Ice and discovers that it also increases her cultivation.
- Inspired by Xiaobi’s enthusiasm, Ice Bear King Xiaobai and the Titan Snow Demon King Atai jokingly—or at least partly seriously—offer themselves as sacrifices as well. Beiming Lieyang refuses, explaining that they must remain alive to protect their clan and that he has other methods of helping them become gods.
- Xiaobi then performs an extreme soul sacrifice, burning not only her body but also her Spiritual Sea and soul to provide Beiming Lieyang with the greatest possible boost.
- During the sacrifice, she praises the Void Mysterious Ice in extravagant, poetic language, declaring that even legendary Ten-thousand-year Mysterious Ice Marrow is inferior to it.
- Her sacrifice transforms her body and soul into pure energy, which flows into Beiming Lieyang.
Character Developments
- Beiming Lieyang demonstrates confidence in his future, believing he can reach godhood and revive the sacrificed soul beasts. He also reveals that his path may involve becoming a Star God rather than inheriting a conventional divine position.
- Ice Empress shows her manipulative but caring side. She skillfully tempts Xiaobi with promises of future immortality and superior ice, though she becomes offended when Xiaobi’s final chant seems to imply that she could surpass the Ice Empress.
- Xiaobi is portrayed as fanatically devoted, gluttonous, and comically obsessed with Void Mysterious Ice. Her desire to taste its God-tier version completely overcomes her fear of sacrifice.
- Xiaobai and Atai reveal their envy and curiosity toward Beiming Lieyang’s ice. Although disappointed when denied the chance to sacrifice themselves, they are encouraged by the promise that they may eventually become gods through other means.
- Snow Empress and Ice Empress display pride and affection toward Beiming Lieyang, seeing his confidence and growing power as the result of the child they raised.
Significant Themes
- Sacrifice and loyalty: Xiaobi’s willingness to burn her entire soul represents extreme loyalty to Beiming Lieyang, though the scene is deliberately exaggerated for comedy.
- Immortality and transcendence: The promise of godhood and revival gives the soul beasts hope of escaping the dangers of their hundred-thousand-year tribulations.
- Power and cultivation: The Void Mysterious Ice is not merely delicious; it also strengthens cultivation, emphasizing the connection between pleasure, energy, and advancement.
- Comedic fanaticism: Xiaobi treats a deadly sacrifice as though she is enthusiastically ascending to greatness, parodying heroic speeches and religious devotion.
- Found family and protection: Beiming Lieyang refuses to sacrifice Xiaobai and Atai because their survival is necessary for the clan, showing that he values their lives beyond their immediate usefulness.
- Human cultural influence: Xiaobi’s poetic final declaration suggests that Soul Beasts have absorbed human ideas and language, creating an amusing contrast between her animal identity and dramatic literary style.
Character Interactions
- Ice Empress acts as Xiaobi’s persuasive “leader,” using carefully timed pieces of Void Mysterious Ice as bait.
- Beiming Lieyang reinforces Ice Empress’s promises and presents himself as someone capable of granting future godhood and resurrection.
- Xiaobi’s enthusiasm influences Xiaobai and Atai, who briefly consider sacrificing themselves for a taste of the ice.
- Ice Empress and Snow Empress silently admire Beiming Lieyang, while he remains embarrassed and bewildered by Xiaobi’s increasingly theatrical behavior.
- Ice Empress becomes angry when Xiaobi’s final words appear to claim that she will eventually surpass the clan leader.
- Beiming Lieyang privately jokes that, once he becomes a god, he will revive Xiaobi and give her the title “Ice-Devouring Demonic Venerable,” mocking the grandiose, poem-like way she describes her sacrifice.