"Innate Domain?"
Qian Xunji was not surprised, though he had not quite expected it.
"Yes, Your Holiness.
"My Innate Domain is called the Darkness Domain.
"If it's daytime, I can turn an area dark, and all my attributes increase by 50% while I'm in the darkness.
"If it's nighttime, I can merge directly into the darkness, and all my attributes increase by 100%.
"Also, I feel that the Darkness Domain has many more uses, but my cultivation is too low right now for me to use or comprehend them."
A domain was a Soul Skill that even Titled Douluo coveted.
After Zhu Zhuqing took the Immortal Herb, she awakened one on her own, without even using up a Soul Ring slot.
Such an innate ability had more varied uses, and when explored in depth, its practical value far surpassed the Soul Skills brought by Soul Rings and Soul Bones.
"Good. My efforts in nurturing you haven't been wasted.
"But I don't like being betrayed."
Qian Xunji was very satisfied with Zhu Zhuqing's growth. Even a top-tier Martial Soul might not have a domain.
Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly knelt. "Everything I have gained today was bestowed by Your Holiness. I would never dare betray you."
"Whether or not you'll betray me, words alone aren't enough to put my mind at ease."
Qian Xunji's expression turned cold. He raised a hand and grasped at the air, and a fingernail-sized sliver of ice formed at his fingertips.
"This is the Yin-Yang Life-Death Talisman.
"Once it is planted, you must seek relief at regular intervals.
"Otherwise, you'll suffer the agony of ten thousand ants gnawing at your bones."
Without giving Zhu Zhuqing a chance to react, Qian Xunji sent the Yin-Yang Life-Death Talisman straight into her body.
The sliver of ice melted on contact, turning into a force of yin and yang that attached itself throughout Zhu Zhuqing's meridians.
"Ah~"
As soon as the Life-Death Talisman was planted, Zhu Zhuqing felt as though countless ants were gnawing at her flesh, bones, and internal organs.
She instinctively wanted to scratch herself, but forced herself to hold back.
"Your Holiness, I... I won't betray you."
Her voice held a plea, but Qian Xunji paid it no heed. With a raise of his hand, he used his abundant Soul Power to hold Zhu Zhuqing suspended in midair.
She could not make any large movements, but her delicate body twisted restlessly.
"Bing'er, come here. I'll teach you the Yin-Yang Life-Death Talisman.
"When you return to the future, you can relieve her when the Life-Death Talisman acts up.
"Remember, you must never remove the Life-Death Talisman out of pity.
"She has taken an immortal-grade herb, and with my guidance, becoming a god in the future will be no problem for her.
"She is the help I'm giving you, not a hidden danger to be left at your side.
"Remember, you may know a person's face, but not their heart!
"You can treat her well, but you must never give up your last means of keeping her in check."
Qian Xunji gave his warning, and Shui Bing'er nodded firmly. "I won't let Your Holiness down."
Shui Bing'er was quick to understand. With her gifts and talent, even without Qian Xunji's guidance, she might have been able to become a god if she encountered a divine inheritance.
Unfortunately, she did not have the fortune to become a god.
But now, she no longer needed that fortune.
Two hours later, Zhu Zhuqing was utterly drained. Even after Qian Xunji released his hold on her, she remained sprawled on the grass like a puddle of mud. Only after a long while did she slowly rise.
"Thank you, Your Holiness."
Zhu Zhuqing kept her head lowered, not daring to look up at Qian Xunji.
If Zhu Zhuqing had felt gratitude and admiration for Qian Xunji before the Life-Death Talisman was planted,
now only fear remained.
She did not want to endure the sensation of the Yin-Yang Life-Death Talisman acting up a second time.
"There's no need to thank me. We're each getting what we need, that's all.
"As long as you don't betray Spirit Hall or Bing'er, you'll still be one of the most distinguished people on the entire continent when you return."
Qian Xunji's expression was calm. Such an exquisite beauty had been made to suffer such hardship.
But that was no reason for Qian Xunji to have to pity her.
He had already been betrayed once, and he never wanted to be betrayed a second time.
The reason he would not accept Zhu Zhuqing was that her family was the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire.
She could bring herself to kill Dai Mubai, but could she do the same to her own parents and sisters?
No!
She might even do things that harmed Spirit Hall's interests for the sake of her family.
So he planted the Life-Death Talisman in Zhu Zhuqing, lowered her status, and left her unable to guarantee her own safety.
If she betrayed them, he would kill her outright!
The Azure Plume Eagle Emperor answered the summons and landed on the grass.
Qian Xunji led the three women onto the Azure Plume Eagle Emperor's back.
Bo Saixi's figure was barely visible in the distance, but she still gave a cold snort. "A divine inheritor must not leave Sea God Island without reason."
"I'm planning to take them to have a look at the Far North Ice Plains.
"Do you want to come?"
"No."
As the high priestess, Bo Saixi naturally could not leave for long.
There was no telling how long it would take Qian Xunji to return from this trip.
"Then help me find two hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the ocean.
"Agility-attack types or those with the dark attribute will do.
"Ones suitable for Zhu Zhuqing.
"When I return, I'll persuade them to sacrifice themselves."
Bo Saixi fell silent for quite a while, then looked at Qian Xunji with a quiet sigh. "There are indeed many hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the ocean.
"But there aren't enough for you to keep wasting them like this."
"It's fine. There's only one Qian Xunji in the world. It won't make much difference if I kill a few more.
"Besides, being chosen by me is their good fortune. They can all become gods in the future."
Bo Saixi had not expected Qian Xunji to... actually make quite a bit of sense.
But he was taking several women to the Far North, leaving her alone on Sea God Island again, and even making her work?
"Hmph!"
Bo Saixi voiced her displeasure and turned to leave.
Meanwhile, the Azure Plume Eagle Emperor soared into the clouds and headed north toward the Douluo Continent.
"Your Holiness, what's on the Far North Ice Plains?"
"Snow."
Qian Xunji answered Ye Qingxian's question with a perfectly serious expression. Ye Qingxian blinked blankly. "I... I know that."
"The Far North Ice Plains have the largest concentration of ice-attribute Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent, and the highest-quality ones.
"The ice and snow never melt there.
"Four Ferocious Beasts with over two hundred thousand years of cultivation live on the Far North Ice Plains.
"The one with the highest cultivation has nearly reached seven hundred thousand years."
"Seven hundred thousand years?"
Ah Yin's eyes widened too. Even she, cultivating with the Blue Silver Emperor's endlessly renewing, undying and indestructible nature,
had no confidence in cultivating to such a high level.
Any Soul Beast that could cultivate to such a level was itself extremely powerful.
"Your Holiness, tell us about them.
"Are we going to get Bing'er her fourth Soul Ring this time?
"Which one are we going to choose?"
Ah Yin grew increasingly curious.
Qian Xunji had nothing else to do on the Azure Plume Eagle Emperor's back, so he said, "The Far North Ice Plains have three great overlords.
"The strongest among them is the Snow Empress, who has six hundred and ninety thousand years of cultivation.
"Her true form is a Heavenly Snow Woman. She is a darling of heaven and earth, a living being born of nature, with unlimited potential for growth.
"If the laws of heaven and earth did not forbid it, becoming a god would be as easy for the Snow Empress as a child growing into an adult."
There were no beings born and nurtured by heaven and earth that were not formidable.
They were nature's darlings, born close to the Dao.
Unfortunately, to keep his divine position from being taken by other Soul Beasts, the Dragon God had established the rule that Soul Beasts could not become gods.
He had also slaughtered the divine beasts.