Action

A few more days passed, and Xu Yang arrived in the Far North.

"Tian Meng, you said there was a Soul Beast in the Far North that suited me perfectly. Do you have a way to find it?" Xu Yang asked Tian Meng with a broad smile.

For a moment, Tian Meng's stomach churned like a raging sea.

"Yes, there's a kind of Soul Beast called the Titan Snow Demon. They have a trace of the Ice God's bloodline within them. It's a Soul Beast I carefully selected for you."

Tian Meng had indeed selected it carefully. He couldn't bring disaster upon Bingbing's kin, nor could he choose a Soul Beast that was too weak, lest Xu Yang spot something amiss. The Titan Snow Demon was just right.

Why not the Ice Empress? Xu Yang wondered. Why was this different from the novel's plot? Xu Yang had never suspected that Tian Meng would betray him. After all, who else could he choose besides him?

"A Titan Snow Demon? That's certainly a good choice, but can its ice compare to my light?"

"Haha, it falls a little short, but not by much." Tian Meng laughed evasively.

"Isn't there anything better?"

"It's not that there isn't. Would you want a Snow Woman? She has ultimate ice. But you'd have to accept turning into a woman during Martial Soul Possession."

Xu Yang froze. What kind of joke was that? Turning into a woman?

"Absolutely not!" Xu Yang stopped concealing his intentions. "I read in the records about a Soul Beast called the Ice Jade Scorpion. It also has ultimate ice."

So you really did come for Bingbing, you little bastard! Tian Meng thought, though he showed nothing on his face.

"You're right, but Ice Jade Scorpions live in groups. If you see one, that means there's a whole group nearby. You won't get away."

Xu Yang pressed him further. "Don't you know any Ice Jade Scorpions? Just have one sacrifice itself while retaining its consciousness, like you did. I promised I'd bring you all to godhood."

"Are you joking? Ice Jade Scorpions are the natural enemies of Ice Silkworms. Know one? Of course I'd run if I met an Ice Jade Scorpion."

That made sense, but why was this different from the original again? Tian Meng didn't have a crush on the Ice Empress anymore? They didn't know each other? Well, that was good too. I originally felt a little guilty about taking the Ice Empress.

"When it comes to my Martial Soul, of course I want the best. An Ice Jade Scorpion it is!" Xu Yang said firmly. "Let's find one on its own."

It didn't have to be the Ice Empress this time. Once I saved the Snow Empress, I could still get the Ice Empress to sacrifice herself.

But an ultimate ice Martial Soul was essential! Otherwise, how could I approach Ma Xiaotao and the resources behind her? And that Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone at the Starlight Auction could only be absorbed with ultimate ice.

Seeing Xu Yang's expression, Tian Meng could only sigh helplessly. "All right, let's look."

Thank goodness, Bingbing was safe! I did feel a little sorry for her kin, though. Please don't let us find an Ice Jade Scorpion on its own!

For the next dozen or so days, Xu Yang kept searching for a lone Ice Jade Scorpion. He constantly overtaxed his Soul Power during those days, and his efforts weren't entirely fruitless. But just as Tian Meng had said, Ice Jade Scorpions were group-dwelling Soul Beasts. There was simply no opportunity to strike.

Now, Xu Yang was curled up in an ice cave. Over a dozen days of expenditure had exhausted all the supplies he had brought. He had originally purchased enough to last about a month, but his excessive use had depleted them early.

"How about choosing a Titan Blood Demon or an Ice Bear instead? There'll still be chances to upgrade it to ultimate ice later," Tian Meng urged.

He certainly didn't want Xu Yang dying here. Xu Yang was the only person around; if he died, how would Tian Meng switch hosts?

"No!" Xu Yang's eyes were bloodshot, and he looked deranged. "It's all your fault, you useless piece of trash! You won't even help me!"

A trace of contempt flashed through Tian Meng's eyes at the sight of him. Still, he urged, "You've used up all your supplies. There's no point staying here. Besides, didn't you only ask for a month's leave?"

Xu Yang didn't care about leave at all. As long as he displayed ultimate ice, would Shrek dare expel him?

"No!" Xu Yang slammed a fist into the ice behind him.

There was a crack. The ice wall seemed very thin.

"Hm?" Both Xu Yang and Tian Meng noticed something unusual.

Xu Yang began hacking frantically at the ice wall, soon opening a hole just large enough to crawl through.

Once inside, he saw a circular hall with a round dome overhead. The interior was empty except for a nest in the center, with an egg resting on it.

Xu Yang moved closer to look. The egg was ice-blue and fairly large, about twenty centimeters tall, with feather-like patterns on its surface.

Xu Yang asked Tian Meng, "What kind of egg is this?"

"It looks like an Ice Phoenix egg, though it's somewhat mutated. Besides, it's a dead egg."

A mutated Ice Phoenix! If Xu Yang remembered correctly, the Ice Phoenix was a Soul Beast extremely close to ultimate ice. Then what about this mutated one?

"Does it have ultimate ice?" Xu Yang asked eagerly.

"Yes, but I don't recommend absorbing it. If I'm not mistaken, the mutation was precisely why it failed to hatch, so it accumulated a great deal of resentment. Absorbing it forcibly will affect your Martial Soul."

Tian Meng certainly didn't want Xu Yang branded an Evil Soul Master and hounded by everyone-at least not until he had slipped away first.

"It's fine!" Xu Yang didn't care. Get ultimate ice first and worry about the rest later. It was only resentment. Electrolux was here anyway.

And so, without further ado, Xu Yang sat cross-legged and began absorbing the essence of the Ice Phoenix egg.

Two days later, Xu Yang finished absorbing it. He stood up and activated Martial Soul Possession. An Ice Phoenix appeared over his body, but this ice-blue phoenix was threaded with many black lines. Xu Yang himself had also become exceedingly gloomy.

"Hahahaha! I did it! Ultimate ice!" Xu Yang laughed maniacally. Even Tian Meng, who was observing his condition, felt a chill of fear.

Only after a long while did he finally return to normal. He noticed the black lines but paid them no mind.

Looks like I need to wake Electrolux as soon as possible! Xu Yang thought.

After tidying things up, Xu Yang imitated Huo Yuhao from the original story, taking off his heavy clothes and walking through the ice and snow in nothing but a light, thin garment.

A few more days passed, and Xu Yang finally made it back to Shrek Academy before his approved leave ended. He didn't dare reveal his Ice Phoenix Martial Soul before resolving its problems, so he could only hurry back on time. It wasn't as though he had the dean of the Martial Soul Institute as his teacher!

Despite the many setbacks, Xu Yang was satisfied with his gains overall. He had obtained both the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife and an ultimate ice Martial Soul.

Tian Meng, that useless piece of trash! Then something occurred to Xu Yang. That useless worm can't help with anything! Just you wait. You think I'll still bring you to godhood? Dream on.

After reporting his return from leave, Xu Yang went back to his dormitory and fell asleep. He had barely rested while traveling these past days. It was still early, and Tang Yin had yet to return.

"Old man, we're back." Seeing that Xu Yang was sound asleep, Tian Meng hurriedly called out to Electrolux.

"Mm. Take out that knife."

"Sure thing." With that, Tian Meng manipulated his spiritual power, opened Xu Yang's storage device, and took out the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.

"Lend me your spiritual origin."

Electrolux slowly recited an obscure incantation. The black aura on the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife was gradually purged, revealing its original emerald-green luster.

"So this knife was this beautiful!" Tian Meng couldn't help marveling.

"Big worm, have you chosen a new host?" Electrolux asked.

Tian Meng grinned. "Isn't there a very suitable one living downstairs? Besides, every time I see him, I feel a real kinship with him."

Electrolux had naturally met that young man and had a favorable impression of him.

"It's just a pity that I only have eight spiritual origins left, and I can't grant a second Martial Soul anymore.

"Oh, right, old man, can you cripple this little bastard's Ice Phoenix?"

Now that he had made up his mind, Tian Meng no longer wanted this person to possess the Martial Soul he had bestowed. It would be too revolting otherwise. Unfortunately, he couldn't kill him outright. This little bastard seemed to have someone protecting him.

"Yes." Electrolux was no softhearted man either. Since they were doing this, they would go all the way!

Electrolux raised the carving knife in his hand and stabbed it toward Xu Yang while chanting.

"How did it go, old man?"

"It wasn't that easy. But that Martial Soul had a flaw, and I widened the crack. In a few months, this Martial Soul will disappear.

"At the same time, I directed that resentment toward his Sun Martial Soul. This will inevitably lower the Sun Martial Soul's quality. Hmph, he isn't worthy of being a Child of Light anyway!"

"Tsk, tsk. You really are ruthless, old man. Found him!"

Tian Meng finally detected Huo Yuhao walking toward the dormitory with the two girls.

"Let's go."