Snow Empress: Go, Walk Your Own Path!

The other students gathered around as well.

They had already begun discussing where to arrange for Qian Chen to stay.

Shui Xinlian stood outside the crowd, her heart filled with joy as well.

Shui Bing'er's trip into the Far North had not only uncovered clues about the Extreme Cold Nether Lotus, but also brought a level fifty-eight Soul King back to the academy.

Most importantly, Qian Chen was only twelve years old.

There was simply no telling what realm he might reach in the future.

Shui Xinlian could already imagine the headmaster's reaction upon learning of this.

Skywater Academy making an exception to admit a male student would certainly stir up plenty of discussion.

But in the face of absolute talent, so-called rules were not unchangeable.

Qian Chen looked at the people before him.

"I need to go back first."

Shui Yue'er's expression tightened.

"You're not changing your mind, are you?"

"I'm not."

Qian Chen turned toward the core region of the Far North.

"I need to say goodbye to my two sisters."

"Wait for me here."

Shui Bing'er nodded gently.

"Alright."

"We'll wait for you to return."

Qian Chen pushed off the ground.

His white brocade robe swept over the snow.

Within a few breaths, his figure vanished into the distant wind and snow.

Shui Yue'er continued staring in that direction.

Only when Qian Chen was completely out of sight did she withdraw her gaze.

"So he has two sisters as well."

Shui Bing'er tidied her long hair, which had been ruffled by the cold wind.

"Any sisters capable of raising such a younger brother must be formidable too."

On a distant Snow Ridge.

Two graceful figures stood quietly behind an enormous block of ice.

The Ice Empress wore a dark green short dress.

The close-fitting fabric tapered along her slender waist, accentuating her exquisite figure.

The hem of her dress swayed softly in the frigid wind. Her fair, long legs were straight and well-proportioned, their delicate skin gleaming softly amid the endless snow.

A crystalline ice ornament rested against her waist.

Her emerald-green hair draped over her shoulders, falling all the way to her slender waist.

The Snow Empress stood beside her.

A pure white gown covered her tall figure.

The waist of the dress clung to her slender curves before flowing down over her long legs, its hem trailing lightly across the snow.

Her silver-white hair danced in the wind.

Several strands brushed across her snow-white neck before falling along her delicate collarbones and into her collar.

They had arrived here long ago.

When the Ice Red-Chain Snake appeared, the Ice Empress had been ready to act.

But Qian Chen arrived before she could, so they did not reveal themselves.

From Qian Chen saving the people from Skywater Academy to Shui Bing'er extending her invitation, they had witnessed everything.

The Ice Empress puffed out her cheeks.

"We raised him for twelve years."

"That Shui Bing'er only needed to invite him once, and he agreed."

"He didn't even come back to ask what we thought."

The more she thought about it, the more upset she became.

The ice ornament at her waist swayed lightly with her steps.

"What's so good about some academy outside?"

"There are so many Soul Beasts in the Far North to accompany him in training."

"And he has us here, too."

The Snow Empress looked in the direction Qian Chen had gone.

Her clear eyes held an undisguisable reluctance to part with him.

"Chen'er is human."

"He cannot remain in the Far North forever."

The Ice Empress immediately retorted.

"So what if he's human?"

"We can take care of him forever."

"As long as you and I are here, no one can bully him."

The Snow Empress shook her head gently.

"We can protect him for a time, but we cannot walk every road ahead for him."

"He needs to experience the human world."

"He also needs experiences that truly belong to him."

The Ice Empress understood all of this.

Yet she still could not accept it.

For twelve years, Qian Chen had never been away from them for a long time.

When he was little, Qian Chen loved clutching her fingers and refusing to let go.

When he grew older, he would follow behind her, calling her Bing'er Sister and asking her to take him out to play.

Later, after Qian Chen became able to cultivate on his own, he often ran all over the core region.

No matter how far he went, he always returned to the ice cave before nightfall.

But now, he was truly leaving the Far North.

The Ice Empress lowered her head.

"Then are we just supposed to let him go alone?"

"He has never been outside before."

"What if he encounters someone with malicious intentions?"

The Snow Empress withdrew her gaze.

She turned and walked toward the depths of Snow Ridge.

Her white gown swept over the snow, leaving only a faint trail behind.

"You should leave with Chen'er."

The Ice Empress abruptly raised her head.

"Me?"

The white figure ahead did not stop.

"Chen'er cannot go without anyone to protect him."

"The human world is far more complicated than the Far North."

"Though he is not weak, he has far too little experience."

The Ice Empress looked at the Snow Empress's back.

She could not bear to part with Qian Chen, nor could she bear to part with the Snow Empress.

"What about you?"

"Aren't you coming with us?"

The Snow Empress fell silent for a moment.

"I'll stay here."

"The Far North needs me."

The Ice Empress parted her red lips.

She wanted to say something more, but could not find the right words.

The wind and snow ahead suddenly grew thicker.

When she raised her head again, the Snow Empress had already disappeared.

The Ice Empress stood where she was.

She looked toward where the Snow Empress had departed, then thought of Qian Chen, who was about to enter the human world.

"You two are both so troublesome."

A white figure swept up from below Snow Ridge.

Qian Chen landed lightly beside the ice boulder.

He looked around, but only saw the Ice Empress.

"Bing'er Sister."

"Where is Snow Sister?"

The Ice Empress turned around.

She crossed her arms before her chest, reproach filling her emerald-green eyes.

"She left because you made her angry!"

Qian Chen's expression paused slightly.

"Snow Sister already knows?"

The Ice Empress walked over to him.

She raised a hand and pinched Qian Chen's cheek.

"What do you think?"

"You saw a few pretty girls, and the moment they invited you, you were ready to leave."

"Do you still remember who raised you?"

Qian Chen grasped her wrist and freed his face.

"Of course I remember."

"Bing'er Sister, Skywater Academy is merely an opportunity."

"Even if I hadn't encountered them today, I was planning to leave the Far North after some time."

Over the years, his Soul Power had improved rapidly.

But the Far North had less and less training to offer him.

The ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the core region ran the moment they saw him.

As for the Soul Beasts with even greater cultivation, most of them knew the Snow Empress.

If he wanted to keep growing, he had to venture into the outside world.

The Ice Empress understood what he meant.

She released him and brushed the snow from Qian Chen's shoulders.

"Let's go."

"I'll go with you."

Qian Chen looked at her.

"Bing'er Sister, are you leaving the Far North too?"

The Ice Empress shot him an annoyed glare.

"If I don't go with you, who knows which girl will trick you away?"

"The way those girls you saved looked at you was all wrong."

Qian Chen did not argue.

He looked once more toward the direction in which the Snow Empress had left.

Only falling snow filled the depths of Snow Ridge.

The Snow Empress did not appear.

Qian Chen knew she was not truly angry.

She simply could not bear to watch him leave with her own eyes.

He could not bear to leave the Snow Empress either.

But he could not remain under his two sisters' protection forever.

Once he possessed enough strength, he could free the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress from the limits imposed by Soul Beast lifespans and heavenly tribulations.

When that day came, he would return in person.

"Snow Sister."

"Wait for me."

Qian Chen withdrew his gaze.

"Bing'er Sister, let's go."

The Ice Empress nodded gently.

The two quickly left Snow Ridge along the path they had come from.