Inside the cave, Ning Tian held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her right hand, steadily absorbing her sixth soul ring in life. Her entire body was enveloped in nine-colored treasure light, now mingled with an additional rich jade-green hue.
The cultivation of that Ice Jade Scorpion had just barely broken through the two-thousand-year bottleneck. With Ning Tian's body having been cleansed and tempered by the life aura of the Gold of Life, she could completely withstand the energy impact of a soul ring at this level.
Moreover, with the million-year cultivation remnant shell of the Skydream Iceworm serving to filter and guide the ultimate ice attribute energy within the soul ring, there was practically no risk during the absorption process.
After a brief exchange with Xu Zihuang, the Skydream Iceworm lost interest and burrowed back into Xu Zihuang's body, falling into silence.
A plan that had been meticulously arranged for so long had ultimately fallen through; anyone would feel somewhat depressed about it.
However, the Skydream Iceworm had never truly been close to the Ice Empress. His affection for her remained limited to that so-called love at first sight from twenty thousand years ago when they first met.
Whether human or soul beast, all have a selfish side.
To follow Xu Zihuang and possibly gain eternal life, or to abandon everything to be with the Ice Empress, who would never look favorably upon him, the Skydream Iceworm undoubtedly leaned toward the former.
"Hm?"
At that moment, Xu Zihuang, who had been leaning against the cave wall with his eyes closed in rest, suddenly opened them. His gaze fell upon the left pincer of the Ice Jade Scorpion's corpse.
With a shift of his mind, a tangible, substantial purple-gold spiritual power instantly shattered the left pincer. A small, exquisite jade-green bone, carried upward by dense soul power, slowly floated into the air.
Without a doubt, this was a soul bone, and it was the left arm soul bone dropped by a ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion. A jade-green halo flowed and rippled across its surface, resembling liquid jade-green in motion.
Tiny diamond-like crystals densely covered it, refracting light magnificently and strangely. Faint white mist emanated from it, bone-chilling and filled with piercing cold.
Xu Zihuang hadn't expected this ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion to drop such a soul bone. This could be considered an unexpected delight from their journey to the Far North.
However, unlike the seven-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone from his memories of his previous life, Xu Zihuang could sense that, because this soul bone's age was relatively low, although its quality was excellent, the attached soul skill had not solidified.
This meant that if a soul master successfully fused with this soul bone, the skill granted by it would vary depending on the soul master's martial soul.
If Ning Tian absorbed it, this ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone would naturally produce a suitable soul skill in accordance with her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile martial soul, most likely a defensive one or a skill meant for self-preservation. Moreover, absorbing the soul ring and soul bone from the same soul beast would stack their amplifications.
But what Xu Zihuang needed to consider now was whether Ning Tian, who lacked an ultimate ice attribute martial soul, could successfully absorb this ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone.
Sensing something, he asked the Skydream Iceworm in his spiritual sea: "Skydream, can your remnant shell and ice attribute origin power help Ning Tian fuse with this soul bone?"
The Skydream Iceworm reacted, noticing the ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion's left arm soul bone hovering in front of Xu Zihuang, like a gem carved from jade-green. Seemingly regaining his usual bold and unrestrained demeanor, he said proudly,
"Of course, there's no problem. No matter what, this bro is an unprecedented million-year soul beast on the continent. The reason Ice Jade Scorpion soul bones are so difficult to absorb is that ordinary soul masters can hardly withstand that overbearing ultimate ice attribute energy. But with this bro's million-year cultivated ice attribute origin and remnant shell, it's enough to filter and decompose the ultimate ice attribute energy inside, turning it into gentler and purer energy for Ning Tian to absorb."
"Then I'll have to trouble you again afterward." Xu Zihuang naturally knew that the Skydream Iceworm wasn't as carefree on the surface as he appeared. If merely being unable to obtain the one he liked was enough to let go, there wouldn't be so many simps in the world.
But on certain matters, he was destined never to compromise. Because what the Snow Empress and Ice Empress had done had already touched his bottom line.
…
Far North core region. Following the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, the Ice Bear clan, and the Titan Snow Demon clan had also arrived one after another.
Compared to the Ice Jade Scorpions, the Ice Bears and Titan Snow Demons were far larger in size. When these two major clans charged over, the ground seemed to tremble, emitting low, muffled sounds.
Especially the kings of these two clans, Ice Bear King Xiaobai and Titan Snow Demon King Atai.
Ice Bear King Xiaobai's enormous body was like a small mountain. Even when walking on all fours, its height exceeded fifteen meters. If it stood upright, it would likely surpass forty meters. In terms of size, it was not inferior to the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear King Bear Lord in the Star Dou Forest.
Its massive frame was covered in thick fur that shimmered with a faint, bright silver metallic sheen.
Following behind it were more than two hundred Ice Bears with at least ten-thousand-year cultivation.
Although the Titan Snow Demon clan numbered fewer than the Ice Bears, only over a hundred, everyone was an adult Titan Snow Demon with at least ten-thousand-year cultivation. Each stood nearly a hundred meters tall, their majestic bodies seeming as though they could prop up the sky.
Leading them, Titan Snow Demon King Atai stood over one hundred and twenty meters tall. Even in the deep sea, few soul beasts could compare to its size.
Even more peculiarly, the Titan Snow Demon clan's appearance greatly resembled humans. They had long arms, bodies covered in long, snow-white fur, and even faces similar to humans. Only the numerous wrinkles on their foreheads, dark greenish-black skin, and two massive fangs revealed their soul beast nature.
"Roar—"
Seeing the clusters of deep purple dragon flames condensed within pale blue crystal cubes, and the Snow Empress and Ice Empress struggling to hold on at the center of this space, Titan Snow Demon King hammered its sturdy chest twice with both hands and let out a roar filled with shock and fury.
"Who is it?!"
In the Far North, the Snow Empress was the ruler, the sole sovereign. No soul beast dared challenge her authority in this place.
It was no exception. Toward the Snow Empress, Titan Snow Demon King felt not only awe but genuine respect from the heart.
Even though the Snow Empress had now re-cultivated into human form, they firmly believed she could return to her peak and continue to protect the peace and stability of the Far North.
"Snow Empress!"
Ice Bear King Xiaobai also roared continuously, anxiously charging into the pale blue Absolute Zero barrier.
The time-stop effect of Snow Empress's Absolute Zero only applied to Xu Zihuang's released soul skill, Huanglong Mieshi Yan, and did not affect Ice Bear King Xiaobai's movement. Each time its extremely plump body landed, it left deep marks on the Far North ice plain.
A relieved smile appeared on Snow Empress's beautiful face, but it quickly faded as she spoke gravely: "Atai, Xiaobai, the reason I summoned you this time is to gather everyone's strength to resist these dragon flames. The Far North is a pure land; we absolutely cannot allow these dragon flames to fall and destroy it. You and your clans, along with Ice's clansmen, take your positions."
"Yes!" With the safety of the Far North at stake, Titan Snow Demon King did not dare delay and immediately directed his clan to spread out.
Although the Titan Snow Demon clan did not possess ultimate ice like Snow Empress and Ice Empress, their physical strength stood at the pinnacle of the soul beast pyramid, making them the most suitable for facing the assault head-on.
It was believed Snow Empress had summoned them precisely for this frontal role.
Meanwhile, Ice Bear King Xiaobai's eyes were filled with rage.
"Snow Empress, is it Ditian?!"
On the continent, true dragons with pure dragon bloodline were extremely rare. Among those capable of unleashing such powerful area-of-effect dragon flame attacks, after thinking it over, only that one known as the Beast God Ditian came to mind.
It had been raised by Snow Empress since childhood. She nurtured it and allowed it to become the king of the Ice Bear clan. In its heart, Snow Empress held a supreme, untouchable position.
Even if it were the Beast God Ditian himself, if he harmed Snow Empress, it would unhesitatingly fight him to the death.
On the other side, Titan Snow Demon King glanced over upon hearing its old rival's furious roar.
Although it had never personally witnessed Ditian in action, the legendary battle between Beast God Ditian and the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Ruler Evil Emperor had spread throughout almost the entire soul beast world.
It was said that Beast God Ditian had once used a talent soul skill called Ten Thousand Dragon Blaze, forcing the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Ruler into a sorry state. And that Ten Thousand Dragon Blaze did bear some resemblance to these massive dragon flames descending from the sky.
"It's not Ditian. It's a human soul master who intruded into the core region of our Far North." Ice Empress's gorgeous face was covered in cold killing intent.
"A human soul master?!"
Both Ice Bear King Xiaobai and Titan Snow Demon King wore expressions of astonishment.
A human soul master in the human world actually existed who could force Snow Empress and Ice Empress into such a desperate situation?!
Looking at Ice Bear King Xiaobai's deep attachment and concern for her, Snow Empress's gaze softened considerably. Then, somewhat urgently, she reminded them: "Everyone, prepare yourselves immediately. These dragon flames are not fire-attribute soul skills; they are destruction-attribute. Do not use your bodies to meet them head-on!"
As she spoke, Snow Empress shattered the Absolute Zero barrier she controlled. The terrifying destruction dragon flames instantly pressed in. It was truly a calamity descending upon the world.
The dozen or so clusters of dragon flames falling toward Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Titan Snow Demon King Atai, and Ice Bear King Xiaobai carried the greatest power and arrived first. Each one resembled a deep purple sun, sinister and domineering. Deep, profound destruction flames flickered and rose upon them, bringing an overwhelming sense of heart-palpitating oppression.
Having forcibly activated her origin power for so long, Snow Empress's condition had long since reached its limit. It was Ice Empress who promptly embraced her as she lost consciousness.
"Xue'er!"
Though Ice Bear King Xiaobai and Titan Snow Demon King Atai were also deeply worried about Snow Empress's state, the most urgent task for them now was to block these dragon flames.
The two beast kings, who usually refused to yield to each other, surprisingly cooperated with extreme tacit understanding.
Ice Bear King Xiaobai stood upright in its true form, its entire body bursting with intense ice-blue radiance. Accompanying a furious roar, a massive ice-blue light sphere shot skyward with its body at the center.
Ice Meteor. The Ice Bear clan's most destructive innate soul skill.
When first released, the Ice Meteor was merely a one-meter-diameter ice ball, but in the blink of an eye, its volume rapidly expanded beyond a hundred meters, its momentum astonishing. The violent ice attribute aura within it also surged dramatically.
This Ice Meteor imitated a comet's fall. Its characteristics were extreme speed and explosive power.
The Ice Meteor instantly erupted with terrifying velocity, turning into a meteor that streaked toward the high sky. It directly collided with four or five clusters of dragon flames.
A dazzling ice-blue tail flame left a clear trail of light before vanishing into the horizon.
"Boom, boom, boom—"
Explosions rang out one after another. Several clusters of deep purple dragon flames along the ice-blue trajectory were reduced to countless specks of light scattering across the sky.
Not to be outdone, Titan Snow Demon King raised its arms, its massive hands grasping at empty air.
Two enormous cyan-black palm phantoms appeared out of nowhere, blotting out the sky, shimmering with dense white radiance.
With a single strike, these two giant palm phantoms forcibly crushed four clusters of dragon flames.
Titan's Grasp!
In terms of control over ice attributes, Titan Snow Demon King was indeed inferior to Ice Bear King Xiaobai, but that did not mean its race was weaker than the Ice Bears.
On the contrary, the Titan Snow Demon clan were descendants left behind after the ancient Ice God favored the Titan Giants. In terms of potential, they still surpassed Ice Bear King Xiaobai.
The most direct proof lay in the vast difference in their cultivations. Ice Bear King Xiaobai had less than a thirty percent chance of surviving its third heavenly tribulation, while Titan Snow Demon King had at least fifty percent.
This was the disparity born from bloodline and foundation.
It must be admitted that, at his current stage, there was still a certain gap between Xu Zihuang's soul power cultivation and that of Titan Snow Demon King and Ice Bear King Xiaobai. But in the not-too-distant future, the situation would completely reverse.
If Xu Zihuang, at the Title Douluo level, were to unleash Huanglong Mieshi Yan, it would be enough to erase Titan Snow Demon King, Ice Bear King Xiaobai, and the vast region of the Far North together.
The Ice Jade Scorpions, Titan Snow Demons, and Ice Bears elsewhere were also cooperating to resist the dragon flames. The sky above this space was filled with all kinds of brilliant soul power.
Aside from Ice Empress, Ice Bear King Xiaobai, and Titan Snow Demon King, each clan also possessed four or five powerhouses at the hundred-thousand-year level. From this alone, one could see the profound foundation of the Far North.
By uniting the strength of the three major clans, the crisis brought by these destruction-attribute dragon flames was finally resolved.
While Snow Empress was unconscious, Ice Empress took charge of the overall situation, restoring calm to the previously chaotic Far North.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
During this time, Ning Tian successfully fused with the ten-thousand-year Ice Jade Scorpion's soul ring and soul bone. Though it took quite a while, the rewards were equally abundant.
The most direct manifestation was that Ning Tian's soul power cultivation directly leaped to rank sixty-three. This was not only due to the effects of the soul ring and soul bone but also the life aura within her body that had not yet been fully absorbed.
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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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