The Odds of a Ruler Appearing Here Seemed Rather High

"Speaking of which, why did it turn out to be this Martial Soul?"

His face bruised and swollen, Tian Meng looked at Huo Yuhao, who was still studying his skills, and couldn't help asking.

"I don't know. And this Martial Soul can even use the Ice Empress's moves."

"Ice Empress's Pincer, Ice Emperor's Protection!"

At a thought from Huo Yuhao, ice armor formed around his body, and his hands instantly crystallized into ice, their shape exactly like the Ice Empress's scorpion pincers back then.

"Not only that, I can also control the ice element at will."

He gathered Soul Power in his palm and aimed it ahead. Just as Huo Yuhao intended, the Soul Power turned straight into ice and snow, blanketing the area before him.

"With that kind of performance, you could call it a very powerful Martial Soul! Speaking of which, Yuhao, what are you planning to name it?"

"Let's call it 'Heart of Ice and Snow' for now."

"This 'Simulation' Soul Skill really is interesting."

Huo Yuhao tried using the second Soul Skill Sister Tian Meng had prepared for him. With this, he wouldn't have to worry about revealing his real Soul Rings too early.

But honestly, even if he revealed his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring right now, probably no one would believe it, right? If he could scare his opponent away with it in every fight, it would deserve to be called a divine skill.

Of course, if someone stubborn enough insisted on testing it, they would discover that Huo Yuhao's really was genuine.

Just as Huo Yuhao was about to leave the core region of the Far North, silence suddenly fell over heaven and earth. A white figure strode through the wind and snow, appearing right before him.

"Huo Yuhao, this is bad! The one standing in front of you is the Snow Empress!"

"What?"

Weren't the odds of a ruler of the Far North appearing here a little too high?

The Snow Empress had long, silvery-white hair, each strand carrying the soft glow of ice and snow. Her eyes and brows were cold and narrow, her skin a chilly white, and she seemed to possess an innate arrogance that looked down upon all living beings.

"You carry the auras of Bing'er and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm."

The Ice Empress naturally sensed what was happening outside as well and said directly, "Yuhao, let me take over your body."

The Snow Empress had originally only wanted to see the Ice Empress and ask her for a favor while she was at it.

Feeling that she would be unable to survive her heavenly tribulation, the Snow Empress had found an unconscious hundred-thousand-year snow lotus, intending to use it to take human form and cultivate anew.

Since that would be when she was at her weakest, she intended to ask the Ice Empress to stand guard outside.

Given their friendship, such a small favor would naturally be no trouble.

Yet on her way there, she had suddenly sensed the auras of that Sky Dream Ice Silkworm from ten thousand years ago and the Ice Empress appearing simultaneously, then vanishing together.

Afraid something had happened to the Ice Empress, the Snow Empress had searched everywhere, only to encounter Huo Yuhao, who was still using his skills.

In the blink of an eye, Huo Yuhao's eyes turned emerald green, and his bearing instantly became cold and proud.

"Xue'er, this was my choice..."

"So that's how it is. You chose another path too?"

For some reason, the Snow Empress let out a long sigh.

Although the Far North's environment seemed favorable to its native soul beasts, their attributes made it very difficult for them to survive heavenly tribulations.

She herself had chosen to cultivate anew, while the Titan Snow Demon King would probably reach the end of his path before three hundred thousand years.

Yet the Ice Empress was actually willing to choose to invest everything she had in a human.

Looking at the somewhat dejected Snow Empress, the Ice Empress suddenly wanted very much to bring her aboard as well. But she knew the Snow Empress had her own unique pride, and speaking up now would seem more like pitying her.

As for relying on a snow lotus to take human form, it seemed feasible, but this was not, after all, a soul beast's transformation at the hundred-thousand-year mark.

Leaving aside whether the transformation could succeed, even if it did, the Snow Empress would probably retain less than a tenth of her power, and the Ice Empress couldn't stand guard beside her either.

Could this be the last time they saw each other?

"Xue'er, if there's really no other way, could you let this child stay beside you when the time comes?"

"If he's willing, of course."

In her urgency, the Ice Empress directly voiced what she was thinking.

"Huo Yuhao, consider this a request from me. Of course, if you're unwilling-"

"Of course I will. You're my friend, Ice Empress. There's no way I'd just turn a blind eye."

Hearing Huo Yuhao cut her request short, the Ice Empress smiled in relief. "Thank you, Yuhao."

"All right. In that case, let's come back to the Far North in a few months."

Rong Nianbing's residence lay deep within a secret realm in the Divine Realm.

The entire secret realm was enveloped in a gentle seven-colored elemental barrier. From outside, it looked like nothing more than a floating valley suspended amid the Divine Realm's sea of clouds, its entrance concealed within a vast forest of pink-and-white peach blossoms.

Tang San and Rong Nianbing were strolling through the peach blossom forest.

"Nianbing, you can see me off here. The God of Destruction has been far too aggressive lately. I really must thank you for lending me a hand. You know how things have been between me and the God of Destruction over this matter. Ah..."

Tang San sighed softly, a trace of a wry smile appearing on his face.

"It's nothing. Expanding the Divine Realm would have its benefits, but there are too many unknowns, after all. We still need to consider it carefully."

"Yes. Watching those talented people in the lower realm unable to become gods naturally fills me with regret too, but the risks are simply too great... Let's leave that for now. We'll get together another day."

With that, Tang San turned into a streak of blue light and vanished instantly.

Rong Nianbing watched Tang San fly away into the distance. Only when he could no longer sense him at all did he let out a long sigh.

"What, have you already run out of patience?"

"Ah! Feng Nu, it's you."

Imitating Tang San's voice, Feng Nu had suddenly popped up behind Rong Nianbing.

Rong Nianbing complained, "You have no idea. I really don't want to get mixed up in this mess. If I hadn't yet to find a good successor, why would I still be here? Just look at how many places Xi Yun has already visited!"

"Then what did the Sea God want with you?"

"Nothing more than to ask me to help out again. He was originally quite firm about refusing the expansion, but something happened not long ago, and he actually made some concessions to the God of Destruction. My guess is that something has gone wrong in the lower realm he came from. Otherwise, he wouldn't be acting like this."

Hearing Rong Nianbing say this, Feng Nu also sensed something was wrong. "According to your guess, something might happen before long, then?"

"Probably. Forget it, let's take things one step at a time. Rather than worrying here, we might as well think about what to eat tonight."

"Yes, what should we eat?"

Tang San was also feeling very frustrated. Ever since the spacetime fluctuation had erupted over on the Douluo Continent, he hadn't tried contacting the lower realm again.

What if I stepped up my efforts, only to get caught in the God of Destruction's sting operation?

What troubled him even more was that he didn't even know whether the God of Destruction was responsible. During those few meetings, the other party had acted as though nothing had happened, revealing not the slightest opening.

Could I actually be playing a game against thin air? No, impossible.

I, Tang San, am a man of great wisdom. In this contest with the God of Destruction, all I need to do is keep my composure...

Even so, Tang San now constantly felt a sense of impending danger, as though everything was slipping out of his control. What should he do now?

"Forget it. I'll make some soup for Xiao Wu first."