For Ning Tian, Xu Zihuang naturally had to pay even more attention.
He used the life aura of the Life Gold to meticulously wash every part of Ning Tian's body. Ning Tian's meridians throughout her body clearly became even tougher, and her fair, delicate skin became even more lustrous, faintly enveloped in a layer of vibrant emerald-green light full of vitality.
This entire process took Xu Zihuang nearly an entire hour.
Accompanied by rustling sounds, Ning Tian was putting her long dress back on, her face flushed red as she turned her back to Xu Zihuang and softly called out.
"Tianhuang—"
Xu Zihuang instantly understood Ning Tian's meaning. His movements were natural as he helped tie the silk waistband of her long dress. With the waistband cinched, it perfectly outlined the graceful curves of her figure.
During this, he did not do anything improper, only showing a gentle smile as he reminded her: "You should meditate and cultivate first, fully absorbing the life aura that has merged into your body. There's plenty of time anyway; it's still about half a day until we reach Dragon City."
"Mm." Ning Tian turned around and softly acknowledged, the shy flush on her pretty face fading considerably. In truth, she and Yu Tianhuang often did things far more intimate than this in private, but those were moments of passion driven by instinct.
Now that they were doing something serious and she had to maintain proper decorum, she actually felt a little unaccustomed to it.
Ning Tian sat cross-legged beside Xu Zihuang, barefoot, entering a state of meditative cultivation.
Xu Zihuang smiled faintly and also closed his eyes to rest. Earlier, he had continuously used his spiritual power to meticulously guide the life aura, which had caused some mental fatigue.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop. The two Crimson Scaled Horses showed no fear of the harsh cold of the northern Heavenly Soul Empire. Hot breath puffed from their nostrils as they galloped forward with all their might. The dense crimson scales covering their bodies flickered with faint light. Each time the light flashed, the surrounding temperature rose noticeably.
In this vast expanse of white heaven and earth, it was as if two abrupt red dots were speeding northward.
In the autumn and winter seasons, the days in the northern part of the continent were exceptionally short. After several more hours passed, the sky had completely darkened.
Xu Zihuang leaned against the window and gazed into the distance. Far off, he could faintly make out the outline of a majestic and familiar city. Adorned with lights, it appeared even more imposing.
This was precisely Dragon City, the largest city in the northeastern frontier of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
At that moment, guided by a shift in aura, Xu Zihuang turned his head to look at Ning Tian beside him.
The nine-colored precious light enveloping Ning Tian gradually receded as she slowly opened her eyes. A trace of noble and magnificent nine-colored radiance also flashed through her water-blue pupils. Her entire aura had become incomparably rounded and natural.
All the signs indicated that she had very smoothly broken through the bottleneck of level 60 with this opportunity.
"Tianhuang." Ning Tian stood up with some excitement, her exquisite bare feet stepping onto the fluffy carpet. There were still a few days until her eighteenth birthday, and to possess level 60 soul power at this age had already set a new record in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's history of tens of thousands of years.
Even that ancestor Ning Rongrong from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who ascended to godhood ten thousand years ago, had only advanced to Soul Emperor around the age of twenty.
Xu Zihuang smiled as he wrapped his arm around Ning Tian's soft, boneless, slender waist.
"Since you've broken through to level 60, let's first head to the Extreme North to obtain your soul ring."
"Mm." Ning Tian naturally sat on Xu Zihuang's thigh, nodding with a beaming smile. She then instructed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple driving the carriage: "Ning Jiang, change course to the Extreme North."
As an inner disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Jiang naturally obeyed Ning Tian's orders absolutely. However, upon hearing that they were going to the Extreme North, known as a forbidden zone for humans, he couldn't help but be stunned.
"Miss, you're going to the Extreme North?"
"I just broke through the level 60 bottleneck. Tianhuang will take me to hunt soul beasts in the Extreme North to advance. You just need to take us to the edge of the Extreme North. After that, return directly to the sect and truthfully report the situation to my father."
"As for anything else, you don't need to worry about it."
"Yes, Miss." Ning Jiang asked no further questions and redirected the carriage northward.
Ning Tian had spoken very clearly, and regarding matters involving Yu Tianhuang, he knew a little as well. Since the sect master was willing to let Yu Tianhuang accompany Ning Tian, it meant some things were not for him to worry about or interfere in.
In fact, autumn and winter were not suitable times to enter the Extreme North. First, the environment there was at its harshest during this period, with temperatures even lower than usual. Some soul beasts lacking food would wander to the outer regions, greatly increasing the chance of encountering powerful soul beasts near the periphery. Unless a soul master had sufficient confidence in their own or their team's strength, they generally would not take the risk.
The other reason was that during this time, the core area of the Extreme North would experience polar night, which could last for several months. During the polar night, it was extremely difficult to discern direction, and one could easily become lost.
Of course, that presupposed someone could safely reach the core area of the Extreme North in the first place.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian had Ning Jiang turn back when they were still some distance from the Extreme North. The two of them switched to riding the Demon Whale toward the core area of the Extreme North.
By this point, the snow on the ground was already very deep and solid. They were using the Demon Whale as an unconventional snowboard.
The only regret was that the wind direction in the Extreme North was almost always from north to south, so they could not take advantage of the wind.
However, Xu Zihuang used his four level-6 soul tool thrusters as propulsion for the Demon Whale, which posed no burden to him. The rate of soul power consumption was still slower than his natural recovery.
Xu Zihuang, now wearing a luxurious purple sable fur coat, sat at the front of the Demon Whale and channeled soul power through the grooves under his feet. Four brilliant deep-blue tail flames instantly burst from the rear of the Demon Whale, turning it into an afterimage that vanished into the darkness.
At the same time, he also activated that special soul tool protective shield. It blocked light, aura, and the biting wind. However, they still had to endure the low temperatures themselves.
Ning Tian, dressed in a snow fox fur coat, curled up entirely in Xu Zihuang's embrace. Her arms tightly wrapped around his waist and back, her delicate body completely enveloped within Xu Zihuang's fur coat.
Although Ning Tian's figure was considered tall among female soul masters, she still couldn't compare to Xu Zihuang. This created a strong contrast before them.
Xu Zihuang lowered his head and asked Ning Tian with concern.
"How is it? Are you okay? If you're feeling cold, I can have Tianmeng use its shed husk ability."
"No need, Tianhuang. This is just fine." Ning Tian smiled sweetly and gently rested her head against Xu Zihuang's chest.
Without the invasion of the biting cold wind, with her soul power cultivation, resisting this level of low temperature was naturally no problem. Moreover, the harsher the external environment, the more peaceful and warm she felt being pressed so closely against Yu Tianhuang.
"Speaking of which, this is my first time entering the Extreme North. If I hadn't met you at Shrek Academy, if I'd just stayed in the sect cultivating step by step, I'm afraid I might never have had the chance to come here in my lifetime."
As she spoke, Ning Tian burrowed even deeper into Xu Zihuang's embrace.
"What's with you? If someone didn't know better, they'd think you were my daughter." Xu Zihuang chuckled and teased casually. Ever since their mindsets had shifted, their daily interactions had become no different from those of an ordinary couple.
After all, they were both still young. The earlier years had been different from their peers' because they had carried too many burdens.
Ning Tian raised her head thoughtfully to look at Xu Zihuang and said very seriously: "Then Tianhuang, do you like daughters?"
"Hm?" Their eyes met, and Xu Zihuang's expression instantly became strange. He didn't recall ever having this kind of talk with Ning Tian.
Ning Tian realized the ambiguity in her words. Her pretty face flushed like cherry blossoms as she lightly bumped her head against Xu Zihuang's chest.
"I mean, if we have our own children in the future, would you prefer boys or girls?"
"As long as it's the continuation of our bloodline, I like them both." Xu Zihuang fondly combed through Ning Tian's smooth platinum-blonde hair while extending his spiritual power to sense the surroundings.
"Alright, we've already entered the Extreme North."
Out of trust in Yu Tianhuang, Ning Tian paid no attention to this. Instead, her eyes filled with affection as she leaned closer, her red lips slightly parted.
"Daddy."
Amid the warm breath by his ear came a barely audible voice.
But with Xu Zihuang's cultivation, how could he possibly not hear it? His body instinctively stiffened.
At that moment, Ning Tian had just straightened up slightly.
What Xu Zihuang saw was Ning Tian's half-smiling, half-teasing expression. Faced with this situation, he could only mentally apologize to that person far away in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
...
The Extreme North was even more vast than the Star Dou Great Forest. However, due to its barrenness, the number of soul beasts was not very high.
What made the Extreme North truly terrifying was its overall strength, especially the number of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. After all, the environment here was too harsh, and few human soul masters dared venture deep to hunt soul beasts. This allowed the powerful soul beast races in the Extreme North to smoothly cultivate to the hundred-thousand-year level.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian rode the Demon Whale for who knows how long. The surroundings remained pitch black, with only the sound of howling wind filling their ears.
However, through the changes in soul beast strength detected by his spiritual power, Xu Zihuang could confirm that they had entered the core area of the Extreme North and were affected by the polar night environment.
In any other place, it should have been daytime by now.
Not long after continuing deeper into the core area of the Extreme North, streaks of brilliant emerald-green light continuously flashed in the night sky, changing shapes and blooming with beautiful, dazzling radiance. If one ignored the extreme climate here, it was truly a dreamlike, immortal realm.
"So beautiful." Ning Tian stood side by side with Xu Zihuang, her eyes like stars reflecting the aurora in the night sky.
"I never imagined such a scene still existed on the continent."
Everything before them confirmed Xu Zihuang's judgment was correct. They had indeed reached the core region of the Extreme North.
Without waiting for Ning Tian to say anything, Xu Zihuang lowered his head, bringing their faces close, their breaths mingling. Since Ning Tian wanted to build more memories between them, he was naturally willing to do so.
Ning Tian pursed her lips, her eyes filled with sweet satisfaction at Yu Tianhuang's initiative.
Unfortunately, something spoiled the mood: the temperature in the core area of the Extreme North was truly too low. Xu Zihuang was fine, but Ning Tian's lips had lost some of their usual warmth.
"Tianmeng, stop pretending to sleep. Get to work." Xu Zihuang used his left index finger to flick the golden sun earring hanging from his left ear, exposing the certain lazy bug that had clearly woken up long ago but was deliberately continuing to pretend.
The ten strange golden patterns on the golden sun earring flashed once. A layer of faint golden membrane quietly adhered to the Demon Whale's soul tool protective shield. This time, even the terrifying low temperature of the Extreme North was blocked.
This faint golden light membrane was precisely Tianmeng Iceworm's shed husk.
"Bro wasn't trying to disturb you guys, right? Do you really want me to be your third wheel here?"
Tianmeng Iceworm's aggrieved voice suddenly rang out, but then his tone shifted as he spoke seriously: "Tianhuang, that method of yours is feasible. My ice-attribute origin is still here, and it can indeed assist Ning Tian in absorbing an Ice Jade Scorpion soul ring with ultimate ice attributes. However, Ice Empress spends most of her time with her clan. If you want to hunt an Ice Jade Scorpion above a hundred-thousand-year cultivation for a soul ring, there's a high chance you'll face the entire Ice Jade Scorpion clan led by Ice Empress."
Xu Zihuang and Tianmeng Iceworm were of one mind. He smiled faintly and said:
"Tianmeng, just say your thoughts and suggestions directly. With our relationship, there's no need to beat around the bush."
Tianmeng Iceworm chuckled slyly and transformed into a golden iceworm the thickness of a little finger, landing on Xu Zihuang's left shoulder and swaying its head.
"Didn't bro tell you before? My ice-attribute origin can grant any soul master an ice-attribute second martial soul. Although you don't need it, Tianhuang, you can give it to Ning Tian. Ice Empress has almost no chance of surviving her next heavenly tribulation. We can go negotiate with the Ice Empress. And that's not the only method."
"Tianmeng, Tianhuang has actually told me about this before. But with my physical strength, fusing the Ice Empress Scorpion Emperor into a martial soul might be quite difficult," Ning Tian said with slightly furrowed brows. She still had a clear understanding of her own condition.
Tianmeng Iceworm was ultimately just Yu Tianhuang's soul spirit. Even if it could help her seal the energy of the Ice Empress's soul ring and soul bone, it would still have to bear a certain amount of risk.
There was also another reason: she had been trained as an auxiliary tool soul master since childhood. Suddenly gaining a combat-oriented second martial soul would undoubtedly require diverting a lot of effort.
Moreover, Ning Tian had her own plans, and adding an ice-attribute martial soul would completely ruin that plan.
Thus, these matters had been temporarily set aside.
Xu Zihuang seemed to understand Tianmeng Iceworm's intention and continued: "Tianmeng, what you're saying is that negotiating with the Ice Empress doesn't necessarily require turning her into Ning Tian's second martial soul. She could also become a soul spirit for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul. That way, there would be almost no risk."
The fusion of a soul spirit was based on voluntary consent, essentially the soul beast voluntarily offering sacrifice. The fusion of soul rings and soul bones would then follow naturally. The only prerequisite was that the soul master's spiritual power could bear the soul spirit.
Coincidentally, Ning Tian's head soul bone skill could connect to Xu Zihuang's spiritual power. With Xu Zihuang's spiritual power approaching the peak of the tangible and qualitative stage, providing assistance, as long as the Ice Empress agreed, Ning Tian could smoothly form the contract and complete the fusion.
"Yes, that's exactly what bro means." Tianmeng Iceworm nodded excitedly.
"Although that ice-attribute second martial soul isn't useful now, it can be passed on to your children later."
"Let's talk about those things later." Xu Zihuang said seriously.
"Tianmeng, it's not just for your sake; this is indeed an opportunity for Ning Tian as well. Let's go negotiate. With the Ice Empress."
After saying this, Xu Zihuang took Ning Tian's hand again.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Ning Tian nodded slightly. She would naturally support Yu Tianhuang's decision. A hint of excitement also appeared in her eyes.
The Demon Whale started up again. Xu Zihuang and Tianmeng Iceworm both extended their spiritual power to search for the Ice Empress's aura.
However, they hadn't traveled far before Xu Zihuang suddenly raised his head to look at the high altitude where the gale raged. A girl in human form was quietly hovering there, with the brilliant and dazzling emerald-green aurora curtain behind her.
The girl appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old. Her pure white long hair cascaded from the back of her head all the way down to her feet. Her flawless features seemed to embody the spiritual essence of this white world. Her sky-blue eyes were ethereal and transparent, as if they could see through everything in the world. Her slender, delicate figure was exquisitely carved, like the finest jade in existence. She wore a plain white long dress with no decorations at all, yet it made her appear so peerlessly beautiful and pure.
The snowflakes that had been dancing rapidly in midair would slow dramatically the moment they approached the girl's body, as if embedded in this space.
The girl gently raised her jade hand, and ice-blue snowflakes condensed into shape, drifting and pouring toward the Demon Whale's direction. Strange and complex patterns were engraved on the snowflakes. Soul power flowed through them, making them crystal clear and translucent.
Each high-speed spinning snowflake carried immense power.
The girl's eyes were filled with coldness and disgust. Her clear, cold voice resounded through the area.
"Those who trespass into the Extreme North shall die."
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master 40 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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