Ice Empress: Follow Zhang Yang? If You Go, I'll Go Too!

The Ice Empress was taken aback, her expression shifting slightly.

Was the mysterious human before her really that important?

Every hundred thousand years of cultivation, a Ferocious Beast faced a tribulation. The higher its realm, the harder it was to survive.

At the heights the Snow Empress currently stood, hers would arrive before long, and her chances of success were worrying.

There had to be a deeper meaning behind her words. The Ice Empress, who had been deeply resistant, immediately changed her attitude upon hearing them.

"All right! I'll go now!"

She did not even want to waste a second.

Before her words had finished ringing out, she headed straight off behind them.

Her Soul Beast form vanished from sight in a blink, leaving the Snow Empress to sigh softly.

Her gaze returned to Zhang Yang. Having just finished sparring, his charm seemed to have increased rather than diminished.

Little by little, it subtly altered her perceptions and attitude. The Snow Empress noticed, but did not understand what was happening.

She mistakenly assumed that a human blessed with auspicious fortune would naturally draw Soul Beasts to him. With no precedent, Max-Level Charm never even crossed her mind.

[Snow Empress's favorability +5. Current: 35 (check-in unavailable)]

It was as inexplicable as ever, but Zhang Yang had finally grown accustomed to it and remained unruffled.

Once they were done, he held the beauty in his arms and went straight to sleep. The warmth of their bodies pressed together completely dispelled the Far North's chill.

Before long, as he and Zhang Lexuan drifted off, the Ice Empress returned from her errand with several suitable Soul Beasts.

"These all have the Mental Attribute, and some connection to charm. I'm not sure which is better." The Ice Empress had conscientiously selected several different types.

"Don't go over yet. We can't reveal ourselves for now. Wait until they're asleep, then leave them at the cave entrance." The Snow Empress nodded lightly and offered a casual word of thanks.

In truth, she did not know his exact requirements either.

Every clue she had came from eavesdropping along the way.

They waited well over an hour, until they were absolutely certain the two were asleep, before she mobilized the primal force of heaven and earth.

As a cold wind swept past the cave entrance melted open by the campfire, several Soul Beasts of different forms appeared out of thin air, immobilized.

Early the next morning, Zhang Lexuan woke first. Disciplined as she was, she was about to put out the campfire when she noticed those figures, and an indescribably strange expression crossed her face.

"Why is there another delivery to our door...?"

She was speechless, unable to wrap her head around it at all.

Back in the Star Dou Great Forest, some unknown existence had helped them hunt suitable Soul Beasts.

Now that they had come to the Far North, the same thing was happening again. Who exactly was helping them in secret?

Could that mysterious fellow have secretly followed them all the way here from the Star Dou Great Forest? Surely not?

How could Zhang Lexuan have imagined that the two parties making deliveries did not even know each other, yet had happened to do the same thing because of her boyfriend, Zhang Yang?

"This world is too fantastical!"

Complaints aside, she certainly would not turn down free benefits.

She turned and woke Zhang Yang, summing up the situation in a few words. He was not surprised in the slightest.

He understood immediately. It had to be the Ice and Snow Empresses' doing. He simply could not be bothered to think further and chalked it up to Max-Level Charm taking effect.

At the same time, adhering to the principle of "accept whatever comes your way," he began choosing without hesitation and soon settled on a target.

An ice-attribute fox Soul Beast.

This species naturally suited the Charm Attribute.

Zhang Yang did not slaughter indiscriminately. He casually released the others, then began acquiring his third Soul Ring.

The Ice Empress and Snow Empress watched this. Though they were not particularly moved, they nodded with considerable satisfaction.

A little later, a pale pink glow lit up the cave. He acquired a new Soul Skill called [Touch of Charm], another ability that enhanced his physique.

This "touch" referred specifically to "touching" and "collision." It strengthened the skin of his Charm God's Body, producing its effects through contact, making it highly suited to taking the offensive.

"Uh, this... Kato Taka's..."

"Pfft, pfft, pfft. What am I thinking?"

"This skill's mechanics clearly let me inflict mental toxins by touching enemies!"

"If things keep developing like this, by the time I actually reach Titled Douluo, won't I become a walking...?"

Zhang Yang felt that this was just as expected.

A little thought was enough for him to easily understand the abilities involved.

As for its practical effects? He would have to wait until evening and have his eldest senior sister help assess them.

"Uh, this is a little sudden. Should we... head back?" Zhang Yang looked rather strange as he sank into thought.

"Then let's go. Maybe heaven doesn't want us to stay." Zhang Lexuan smiled wryly, feeling all the more that her plans had been thrown into disarray.

I only just made up my mind to use finding a Soul Ring as an excuse to spend a few more days cuddling with my boyfriend. How did it fall apart already?

She grumbled inwardly, but there was nothing she could do now. Outwardly, she still retained a measure of reserve, so she could only agree helplessly.

And so, not long after arriving in the Far North, the two set off again, retracing their route.

As for the Ice Empress and Snow Empress? Watching Zhang Yang's retreating figure, each had her own thoughts.

"To prepare for my next breakthrough, I've decided to follow them. Take good care of our home." The Snow Empress spoke first.

"Huh? You're leaving? No! It's too risky!" The Ice Empress's eyes immediately widened, and she firmly opposed the plan.

Ferocious Beasts were certainly strong, but humans were not weak either.

Once they left the Far North, heaven only knew what might happen.

Seeing how agitated the Ice Empress was, the Snow Empress shook her head gently and revealed a tender smile.

"However great the risk, could it be greater than my next heavenly tribulation? An opportunity has appeared before me. I have to seize it."

Her words left the Ice Empress with no answer.

Indeed, the role of auspicious fortune was crucial.

Setting aside why the target was a human, there was genuine hope in any case.

Once their strength reached a realm like theirs, no feeling or perception would arise without cause.

Making the Snow Empress stay in the Far North-would that not be the same as making her abandon an excellent opportunity, possibly leaving her to perish, body and cultivation alike, in the future?

"Sorry, I didn't think that far..."

The Ice Empress spoke instinctively, an unusual gleam flickering in her eyes.

Then, seemingly having made up her mind, she raised her head and gazed intently at the Snow Empress.

"In that case, I'll go with you! My next heavenly tribulation isn't far off either!"

"If this mysterious human can let you see hope, then in theory, the same should hold true for me!"

The Ice Empress had thought far ahead.

If she could not persuade her otherwise, why not go take a look together?

First, she could spend more time close to the Snow Empress.

Second, Zhang Yang's Auspicious Aura really was connected to the fate of Soul Beasts, and the likelihood was quite high.

But at that moment, she was completely unaware that there was actually a third reason behind her decision.

Max-Level Charm was extraordinarily effective. Even Ferocious Beasts as powerful as these two were still being silently influenced without realizing it.

It simply was not obvious yet.

Only once their favorability rose would it erupt in full.

The Snow Empress's face twitched slightly at her words. Her intuition told her that the Ice Empress's motives were not entirely pure, yet she could find no reason to object.

Noticing Zhang Yang's figure growing ever more distant, she had no time to waste and simply smiled and nodded.

"Then let's go together..."

"But let's be clear: you have to listen to me on this trip."

With the Snow Empress's approval, the Ice Empress revealed a knowing smile and agreed without another word.

"Of course! If you say east, I'll go east. If you say west, I'll go west. Just don't leave me behind..."