Xu Tianran: Su Qingxue, once I become an emperor for the ages, I will sentence you to death in the cold palace
The great elder's mouth twitched. He was just about to say something when he heard Su Yun continue:
"I know where there is enough ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow for you and the Ice Empress to safely survive your heavenly tribulations. You need only protect my Su Clan for a hundred years, and our clan will offer its location with both hands."
The great elder: "..."
"So, Young Clan Leader, you know the location of the ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow and plan to exchange it for our Su Clan's safety?"
"Of course."
Su Yun nodded, then looked at the great elder with some suspicion. "You didn't think I was going to face the Snow Empress with nothing but empty words and paint her a pie in the sky, did you? Never mind the relationship between humans and Soul Beasts-even between people, who would do anything for you without something to gain?"
At this, the great elder's face flushed red. "Ahem, Young Clan Leader, as you know, I haven't managed things in far too long. And I'm getting on in years, so my mind isn't that nimble anymore."
"All right, go. Just find some high-level Soul Beasts in the Far North and tell them. Don't venture deep into the Far North yet. Also, make it clear to them that I'm the only person who knows where the ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow is."
Hearing Su Yun say that he alone knew the location of the ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow, the great elder frowned.
"Young Clan Leader, negotiating with the Snow Empress is too dangerous. Why not let me do it instead? If the clan loses me, it will need time to recover. If it loses you, I'm afraid it will struggle to recover at all."
Hearing the great elder's warning, Su Yun shook his head. "You won't do. We're already within the Far North, and there's snow all around us. When it comes to negotiating with the Snow Empress, I'm afraid there isn't much difference between your strength and mine in her eyes."
"Once you've passed the message to the Soul Beasts, leave first. Don't stay anywhere with snow. I'll wait here for the Snow Empress."
"Young Master, wouldn't this be too much of a risk?"
Su Yun fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No. For the Snow Empress as she is now, the ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow is far too important. Without it, she only has a few years left to live."
"And as long as she doesn't kill me immediately, I have a special means of getting away right in front of her."
Su Yun weighed things up briefly before speaking.
The Snow Empress could slap him dead with one strike, but the price would be that she, too, would have to wait for death afterward.
The Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament two years from now would be Zhang Lexuan's tournament. The one after that would be Ma Xiaotao's, and by the time of that Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, the Snow Empress had already been sealed inside the God Sealing Altar.
If she hadn't been driven into a corner with no other options, who would have been willing to gamble on that chance at rebirth, only to be unlucky enough to get captured?
As long as the message reached the Snow Empress's ears, she would have only two choices: first, kill Su Yun and wait for death together with the Ice Empress; second, cooperate with Su Yun.
As long as the Snow Empress wasn't a complete lunatic devoid of logic, she would at least have to give Su Yun a chance to speak.
And as long as she gave Su Yun that chance, if they couldn't reach an agreement, he could simply go lie low in the Battle Through the Heavens World and not return for a while.
It was just that doing so would carry some risk.
Su Yun's talents lay, first, in the cultivation speed granted by the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and second, in the fact that, as a Soul Master, he could break through realms by absorbing Soul Rings. With every realm he gained, his soul power would soar.
That additional surge in soul power gave him an extraordinarily terrifying talent for alchemy. If he couldn't return to the Douluo Continent to absorb mental-type Soul Rings, his advantage would be greatly diminished.
Moreover, when things went wrong in the Battle Through the Heavens World, returning to the Douluo side wouldn't be particularly convenient either. After all, the Snow Empress might be waiting here to block him.
But overall, the risks were still manageable.
Even if the Snow Empress really did try to force Su Yun to hand over the ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow, leaving him with no choice but to remain on the Dou Qi Continent.
Someone who became a First-Grade Alchemist at only eight years old was enough to make everyone prioritize befriending him. After all, not only did Su Yun have no conflict of interest whatsoever with either Medusa or Yun Shan, he was also an alchemist registered with the Alchemist Guild.
Although being an alchemist registered with the Alchemist Guild was actually of little use, and Fa Ma wouldn't dare do anything for a genius alchemist, other people didn't know that!
A genius registered under your name had to receive some protection, at least. Otherwise, why would a genius register under your name? Wouldn't it be better to register somewhere else and bring someone else glory?
As long as Yun Shan and the others didn't try squeezing Fa Ma, they would never know that he was actually a soft persimmon who didn't dare make a sound.
"Go. Find a high-level Soul Beast and explain everything. Once you're done, head to nearby Dragon City and wait for me. If I haven't come after two months, it means the talks fell apart. Return to the clan. I'll probably need a few years before I can go back. Hopefully, it won't come to that."
"I understand."
Meanwhile, at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
"Miss Qingxue, a pleasure to meet you. I am Xu Tianran."
After Su Qingxue finished training, Xu Tianran came to see her and greeted her politely.
"Xu Tianran?" Su Qingxue froze for a moment, then recalled the crown prince's name. "You're Crown Prince Xu Tianran?"
"Indeed. I heard that Hall Master Hongchen had accepted you as his disciple, Miss Qingxue, so I came expressly to offer my congratulations."
As Xu Tianran spoke, a eunuch serving under him lifted a jade box and presented it to Su Qingxue.
"Inside is a lightning-attribute Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. Although it is only ten thousand years old, it came from a Thunderclap Nether Vine and is an exceptionally good match for the Su Clan's cloud Martial Soul. A small token of my regard. Please accept it, Miss Qingxue."
Xu Tianran spoke very amiably. At that moment, he looked like a refined, courteous gentleman, showing none of the gloom or psychological perversion he had in the original story.
"Thank you, Your Highness, but I cannot accept a reward without merit. I truly wouldn't dare accept such a precious Soul Bone."
Su Qingxue bowed to Crown Prince Xu Tianran, then refused his gift without hesitation.
After she had demonstrated sufficient talent, Jing Hongchen had accepted her as his disciple. Now, she represented not only herself but also Jing Hongchen's stance.
At present, Jing Hongchen thought highly of the current crown prince. However, Jing Hongchen was now at the height of his power and had no need to take sides to maintain his position. Thus, even though he favored the crown prince, he had chosen to remain neutral and observe for now.
And since Jing Hongchen was watching from the sidelines, Su Qingxue, whom he had accepted as his final disciple, naturally couldn't get too close to any prince either. It would be bad if that became taking sides.
Thus, when Crown Prince Xu Tianran offered the Soul Bone, Su Qingxue refused without another word. She had no intention of even speaking much with him. After observing only the most basic courtesies, she excused herself and left, giving the crown prince no opportunity whatsoever to take things further.
"Your Highness, that woman really doesn't know how to appreciate a favor! So what if she has a little talent? She actually dared refuse you!"
As soon as Su Qingxue left, the attendant beside Xu Tianran spoke indignantly.
At this, Xu Tianran smiled. "It's fine. Geniuses ought to have a little pride."
"Your Highness is magnanimous. This humble servant admires you!"
Xu Tianran smiled without speaking, but his gaze gradually grew cold as Su Qingxue departed.
Su Qingxue, go ahead and be as proud as you like. Once I destroy the Douluo Three Kingdoms and become an emperor for the ages, I will sentence you to death in the cold palace!