The Snow Empress did not think Di Tian was lying to her.
Unless Di Tian had a death wish.
"Snow Empress, you and the Ice Empress should count yourselves fortunate."
Di Tian's words carried a deeper meaning.
The Ice Empress was somewhat puzzled, but the Snow Empress knew what he meant.
By choosing a ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion of relatively superior bloodline rather than her or the Ice Empress, the Soul Beast Sovereign was already showing them consideration.
If they still dared refuse, the consequences would be unpredictable.
"Snow Empress, your answer?"
Di Tian withdrew his dark power and looked calmly at the Snow Empress.
He did not believe she would dare defy his lord.
If the Snow Empress dared utter a single "no," catastrophe would descend upon the Far North at once.
Whether among Soul Beasts or human factions, no "leader" would tolerate disobedient subjects.
"Snow Empress..." Sensing something was wrong, the Ice Empress instinctively looked at the Snow Empress beside her, already prepared to stand or fall with her.
The Snow Empress remained silent for a long time before finally relaxing her delicate hand and withdrawing her power of ice and snow.
Di Tian nodded slightly, reasonably satisfied.
"Di Tian, this child doesn't necessarily need to obtain an Ultimate Ice Martial Soul from a Soul Beast," the Snow Empress suddenly said.
"Hmm?"
Di Tian frowned slightly, but rather than interrupting, he motioned for her to continue.
"The Far North is where the Ancient Ice God fell. Most Soul Beasts here are inextricably linked to the Ice God."
"We honor that one's will, but we also worship the Ice God."
"Deep within the Far North lies a place where one can receive the Ice God's Blessing. Any living being connected to the ice attribute can benefit from it."
"You could let this child receive the blessing. He might obtain a Martial Soul better suited to him than the Ice Jade Scorpion."
The Snow Empress had a feeling that Gu Yunxiao was far more than he appeared.
For the Soul Beast Sovereign to place such importance on him, there had to be something special about Gu Yunxiao.
That was why she wanted to make an "investment" in him.
"The Ancient Ice God..."
Di Tian knew of this deity, too.
Before the dragon race and the Divine Realm openly broke with one another, she had already fallen, and the Ice God's God Position had shattered along with her.
Come to think of it, this Ice God had served under the Dragon God.
She possessed half-human and half-Soul Beast blood. Having been raised by Soul Beasts, she had been closer to them.
"The Ice God's Blessing depends on the recipient's talent. The greater their talent, the greater the benefits," the Snow Empress continued.
"Yunxiao, what do you think?" Rather than refusing, Di Tian asked Gu Yunxiao.
"Uncle Tian, I'd like to try."
A glimmer of curiosity appeared in Gu Yunxiao's eyes.
Talent?
He possessed both the Power of Heavenly Tribulation and the Dragon God's Power. Calling him an heir to Dual Godhood would be no exaggeration.
With talent like that, why would I fear a mere blessing?
Di Tian nodded and looked at the Snow Empress. "In that case, lead the way."
"...Follow me."
The Snow Empress had intended to take Gu Yunxiao there alone, but considering how much importance Di Tian placed on him, she abandoned the idea.
The Ice Empress wanted to say something, but the Snow Empress stopped her beforehand with a telepathic message. "Bing'er, this child's identity is far from ordinary."
"Far from ordinary?"
The Ice Empress froze for a moment. Although she did not know exactly what the Snow Empress meant, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.
She glanced at Gu Yunxiao as he passed her, gave a soft huff, and followed the Snow Empress.
Holding Gu Yunxiao, Di Tian followed the two empresses of ice and snow into the depths of the Far North.
Before long, the group reached the deepest part of the Far North, stopping before an ice mountain that towered into the clouds.
Ordinary as the ice mountain appeared, it contained an unfathomably mysterious power.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
Suddenly, Gu Yunxiao's heart began to race, as though something inside the ice mountain was drawing him toward it.
The feeling grew stronger and stronger.
Gu Yunxiao could not help taking a step forward.
"Hmm?"
Di Tian frowned and instinctively stepped in front of Gu Yunxiao.
"Di Tian, this is the Ice God's call."
"This child has a deep connection with our Far North. He has already prompted the Ice God to respond of her own accord before even entering the ice mountain."
A trace of surprise crossed the Snow Empress's face as well, her sky-blue eyes fixed on Gu Yunxiao.
Apart from her, Gu Yunxiao was the second being to sense the Ancient Ice God's call before entering the ice mountain.
Even the Ice Empress had only received a response from the Ice God after deliberately releasing her aura back then.
"To receive the Ice God's Blessing, this child must enter alone. Outsiders cannot interfere," the Snow Empress continued explaining.
Di Tian did not immediately agree. Instead, he looked down at Gu Yunxiao. "Yunxiao, what are you feeling right now?"
"Uncle Tian, it's just like this big sister said."
"Something inside the ice mountain is calling me. I want to go in and take a look."
Gu Yunxiao nodded, his gaze remaining on the ice mountain ahead.
"Big sister?"
The Snow Empress was taken aback by the way he addressed her.
Then the corners of her lips curved into a breathtaking smile. "Child, follow your heart. The Ice God will guide you to receive her blessing."
"Uncle Tian..."
Gu Yunxiao glanced at Di Tian.
Di Tian considered it for a moment before finally letting go of Gu Yunxiao. "Yunxiao, if you sense anything wrong, come back immediately."
"Okay."
Gu Yunxiao nodded and walked toward the ice mountain.
Under the gazes of Di Tian, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress, Gu Yunxiao took a deep breath, slowly raised his small hand, and pressed it against the ice mountain.
"Hum!"
Light flashed, and Gu Yunxiao's little hand actually passed through the ice mountain.
Gu Yunxiao hesitated for a moment, then chose to follow the silent guidance in his heart. He continued forward, plunging his entire body inside.
In the blink of an eye, Gu Yunxiao vanished from the three onlookers' sight.
A cold gleam flashed through Di Tian's eyes. Only after sensing that Gu Yunxiao's aura remained lively did it subside somewhat.
The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress were relatively calm, as both had experienced this before.
Gu Yunxiao had begun receiving the Ice God's Blessing!
The world was a boundless expanse of white.
It was quiet here, without even a trace of living activity. Only snowflakes and ice existed, making it utterly monotonous.
Gu Yunxiao surveyed his surroundings, somewhat puzzled. "Why isn't there anything here?"
"Gu Yunxiao..."
Just then, a cool, clear voice came from above.
Gu Yunxiao instinctively looked up. A face formed from ice-blue light was barely a fist's breadth from his own.
On closer inspection, her body was also formed from ice-blue light.
Her features were indistinct. Only her golden eyes shone brilliantly, now holding a hint of curiosity.
"You aren't entirely human either?" The woman seemed to have seen through Gu Yunxiao's identity.
"Are you the Ice God?"
"Yes."
"You're not dead?"
"Smack!" The woman raised her hand and slapped Gu Yunxiao on the head, her voice indifferent. "If you really don't know how to speak, keep your mouth shut."
"The mouth's on my body..."
Gu Yunxiao muttered.
"Smack!"
The Ice God slapped the back of Gu Yunxiao's head again, with just enough force to daze him without damaging his brain.
The corner of Gu Yunxiao's mouth twitched as he committed this grudge to memory. This woman-if I get the chance someday, I'll teach her a lesson she won't forget!
Before you continue