Why Did It Have to Be Like This?! The Ice Empress Descends

Jiang Chen ignored Ma Xiaotao. He turned and handed the first grilled fish to Ling Luochеn, saying gently, "Senior Ling, you eat first. The fish is a little hot. I'll feed you in a moment."

Ling Luochеn's eyes curved into crescents. "Thank you."

He gave the remaining fish to Ning Tian and the others.

Jiang Chen had not wanted to give Ma Xiaotao the last fish, but given how he conducted himself, even if he had no intention of keeping in touch with her, he could not slight her in front of everyone.

So he had Xie Huanyue hand it to her.

Ma Xiaotao received her fish last, and Jiang Chen had not even given it to her himself.

She felt so wronged that her eyes filled with tears. She was almost crying.

She had not done anything wrong. Did Jiang Chen really have to treat her differently?

Could they not break up and then get back together?

She had approached him so warmly, so many times, from the academy all the way here. Each time, all she got was Jiang Chen ignoring her or rolling his eyes, as though she had committed some terrible wrong.

Ma Xiaotao could only swallow her hurt in silence. Eating Jiang Chen's grilled fish finally brought a little warmth back to her heart.

But then Jiang Chen was blowing on a piece of fish before unhurriedly bringing it to Ling Luochеn's lips.

Ling Luochеn ate, savoring this brief happiness.

Ma Xiaotao watched in silence, furious.

She was not angry with Jiang Chen. She resented Ling Luochеn.

Usually you act like no one's allowed near you. You won't even let male students approach, but now you're enjoying Jiang Chen feeding you? You have no shame. I hope it burns your mouth.

I was here first! Why don't I get treated like that? That hateful Ling Luochеn stole the life that should've been mine. I should be the one enjoying that happiness. Waaa...

The more Ma Xiaotao thought about it, the angrier she became. She bit viciously into her fish, but it tasted bland.

How could something that smelled so good have no flavor? Jiang Chen must have known she did not like salty food and quietly left out the seasoning.

Jiang Chen really was a thoughtful man.

Ma Xiaotao swore to win him back before he and Ling Luochеn made their relationship official.

Meanwhile, Ning Tian and the others in the ice cave had witnessed quite a spectacle between the two women.

Ning Tian saw straight through Xiaotao's thoughts and lowered her head with a smile.

One could be forgiven for disasters sent by heaven, but not for those one brought upon oneself.

If Xiaotao could not seize this chance, Ning Tian would have to do it herself.

Before long, once everyone had recovered, Elder Song led the group out again to search for a Thousand-Year Ice Jade Scorpion.

At present, the oldest Soul Ring Jiang Chen could absorb was a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring could easily make his body burst apart.

Soon, the Soul Hunting party entered the heart of the Ice Silkworm Clan's territory.

Everyone knew Ice Jade Scorpions loved eating ice silkworms.

As fodder for most Soul Beasts in the Far North, the Ice Silkworm Clan had given its all.

Ice silkworms had no fighting ability, were tasty and easy to digest, had plenty of meat, and laid thousands of eggs at a time. Those were their defining traits.

Before long, the group spotted several Thousand-Year Ice Jade Scorpions hunting ice silkworms amid the snow and ice.

Jiang Chen's eyes lit up. "What luck. We actually found some."

"Children, make your move," Elder Song called.

As soon as she spoke, Elder Song activated her Martial Soul Avatar. Transforming into the Azure Shadow Divine Eagle, she cut off the scorpions' escape routes.

Zhang Lexuan struck without hesitation.

Ning Tian immediately bestowed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boosts on her senior sister.

They had all enjoyed Jiang Chen's grilled fish, so naturally they threw themselves into the fight.

Ling Luochеn chose to stay beside Jiang Chen and protect him.

The Ice Jade Scorpions, who had been eating moments ago, sensed disaster bearing down on them. Several flew into a rage. Though Zhang Lexuan had eight Soul Rings, they showed no fear and charged straight into battle.

Their enormous tails lashed at Zhang Lexuan again and again, setting off a terrifying avalanche.

As top predators of the Far North, the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan was even prouder than Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears. They believed their Ice God Bloodline made them the strongest, even against a Soul Douluo.

And for a short time, they proved it: they actually kept Zhang Lexuan at bay.

Just then, one Ice Jade Scorpion roared and unleashed its innate Ice Explosion Technique. It drew on the ice for several kilometers around, then dug downward with its pincers.

Boom!

A violent explosion rang out. Everyone in the Shrek party went pale.

The Ice Explosion Technique!

This was bad!

"Stay behind me."

Ling Luochеn stepped in front of Jiang Chen without hesitation and released her Soul Power to shield him.

Seeing Ling Luochеn steal the spotlight, Ma Xiaotao blurted, "I'll fly you out."

Jiang Chen's mouth twitched. He immediately activated Martial Soul Possession, grabbed the others, and flew into the air, ignoring Ma Xiaotao entirely.

He could fly too. It was not as if he needed her.

Once the Ice Explosion Technique ended, Zhang Lexuan dragged back the Ice Jade Scorpion that had caused it and dropped the creature before Jiang Chen. It was barely alive.

"They almost escaped," Zhang Lexuan said calmly. "Luckily, I caught the one that can use the Ice Explosion Technique. It should give you a good Soul Skill."

Elder Song returned at the same moment.

But her expression was grim. "We leave now. Forget this Soul Beast. Something far stronger is coming toward us, and even I'm not certain I can defeat it."

Everyone's expression changed.

Something stronger, something even Elder Song was not sure she could beat... Could it be one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North?

They were in Ice Jade Scorpion territory. It took no thought at all to guess who was coming.

The Ice Empress!

One of the legendary rulers of the Far North: the three-hundred-and-ninety-nine-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor.

Everyone from Shrek climbed onto Elder Song's Martial Soul Avatar, and they fled the Extreme North Core Circle at full speed.

At that moment, a dazzling jade-green light flashed across the sky. A gigantic scorpion's silhouette appeared. It was the Ice Empress, one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North.

She had arrived.

She had sensed her clan members' plea for help and rushed into the heart of the Ice Silkworm Clan's territory. Sure enough, the damned humans were there.

The Ice Empress flew into a rage and rebuked them coldly:

"Wretched humans! You dare lay hands on the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan? I will kill you."

"In the Far North, even the fastest Agility Attack System Super Douluo cannot escape my grasp. Die!"

In an instant, an immense force of heaven and earth descended, slowing Elder Song's flight. A boundless Ice and Snow Storm rose from the ground.

Even Jiang Chen's expression changed.

Why is the Ice Empress here now? Shouldn't she be in seclusion?

Damn it. I don't have Tian Meng's shed skin on me.

Am I going to die here today?

The others looked just as frightened. They felt the crushing pressure of a super Soul Beast.

The jade-green scorpion silhouette on the ground was still drawing closer.

Then, with a thunderous boom, an enormous scorpion tail burst from the ground and blocked Elder Song's path. The Ice Empress appeared before them.

She was a perfect scorpion, with a jade-green imperial marking on her back and a sapphire gleam across her body.

Elder Song moved in front of the others to protect them. "Ice Empress. I never expected to draw the attention of one of the Far North's mightiest beings."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am one of Shrek's Elders, a level-ninety-seven Super Douluo. It has been a while."

"Humans, you have crossed the line!" the Ice Empress said coldly. "You entered my territory and killed my clan members. Today, I will cut you down where you stand."

Jiang Chen and the others turned a shade paler.

Apart from Elder Song, none of them could stand against the Ice Empress. Their chances of survival were vanishingly small.

An idea flashed through Jiang Chen's mind. He whispered, "Elder Song, threaten her. The Ice Empress is afraid of threats."

Elder Song gave the Ice Empress a wary look. "Ice Empress, here in your home territory, I may not be your match. But if you mean to kill the children behind me, our academy will not stand for it."

"If you dare kill them, not a single creature in the Far North will be spared. That includes your clan. These children are Shrek's future, and our Dragon God Douluo is still alive."

"Why don't we leave the matter here?"

The Ice Empress narrowed her eyes and considered Elder Song's words.

She had not expected these humans to be from Shrek. Some of her anger faded.

Shrek's Dragon God Douluo was indeed one of the Far North's greatest enemies. Apart from the Snow Empress, no Soul Beast could match Mu En.

But letting them go just like that would be too humiliating.

The more the Ice Empress thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She decided to teach the Shrek party a lesson. "Enough talk. Whatever you say, I will fight you today!"

Her massive jade-green tail shot toward Elder Song.

Elder Song did not flinch. She activated her Martial Soul Avatar and engaged the Ice Empress, keeping the children behind her.

Ning Tian held up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and chanted, "Seven Treasures Have Names: First, Speed! Third, Strength!"

Two boosts settled over Elder Song, briefly closing the gap between them.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had a heaven-defying property: it granted its boosts equally, regardless of the recipient's cultivation level.

With Ning Tian's current Soul Power, the upper limit of those boosts was thirty percent.

In other words, Elder Song's speed rose by thirty percent. Her strength did too.

Rumble!

The battle between the two supreme experts erupted. The Azure Shadow Divine Eagle and the Ice Empress clashed fiercely, shattering several icebergs.

Aerial Martial Souls had an innate advantage over ground-bound Soul Beasts, and Elder Song gained the upper hand.

But the Ice Empress had the advantage of fighting on her home ground in the Far North. Neither side gave an inch, and they battled until heaven and earth seemed to darken.

"What do we do? Should we help Elder Song?"

Ma Xiaotao watched anxiously, her voice full of worry.

Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "Even with eight rings, I can't help her. If I rush in, I could be killed in an instant. This is a battle between Super Douluo."

Then Jiang Chen spoke. "Maybe I have a way."

You have a way? What could you possibly do? You're only a level-thirty Soul Master... The women all turned to look at Jiang Chen, unable to understand.

Jiang Chen extended his right hand. A drop of Phoenix Bloodline essence blood formed above his palm, and the faint cry of a phoenix echoed around them.

Ever since awakening his Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, he had gained full control of his bloodline power. When necessary, he could even use it in battle.

But Jiang Chen had no intention of fighting. He meant to offer the Ice Empress an opportunity.

Phoenix Bloodline essence blood was an opportunity in itself. What would happen if the Ice Empress, less than a thousand years from her three-hundred-thousand-year limit, swallowed it?

It would certainly trigger a Heavenly Tribulation.

Destruction or compromise—the Ice Empress could choose for herself.

While the women looked on in confusion, Jiang Chen raised his hand and hurled the essence blood toward the Ice Empress's enormous body. He shouted:

"Ice Empress, I'm offering you an opportunity. You'd better catch it!"

The Ice Empress faltered mid-battle. Before she could work out what trick that weak human brat was playing, she saw a jewel-like sphere of blood flying toward her.

Without hesitation, the Ice Empress opened her mouth and swallowed it.