A ball of golden light emerged from Huo Yuhao's forehead, slowly floating into the air and transforming into a golden disc about one meter in diameter. From within it, the figure of the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor, Ice Empress, was drawn out.
The remains of the Tianmeng Iceworm represented the crystallization of its million-year cultivation. Even Yaolao was extremely envious of it, considering it a unique and top-tier treasure on the Douluo Continent.
Despite the terrifying power and soul energy of Ice Empress, she couldn't break free, showcasing the extraordinary resilience of the remains.
"Ice Empress, stop resisting. You've tried so many times; you should know it's futile by now," the Tianmeng Iceworm spoke in its usual mischievous tone.
"Tianmeng, it seems I've underestimated you. What do you intend to do?" Ice Empress coldly asked.
"I just want to be with my beloved forever," the Skydream Iceworm replied in a sickly sweet tone.
Tianmeng then laid out its plan to create a god before Ice Empress, interspersing its explanation with nauseatingly affectionate words, gradually calming the enraged Ice Empress.
"But, if it's you and me together, our chances of success will exceed eighty percent! An eighty percent chance at immortality—isn't it worth taking a gamble? Ice Empress, you must understand that only a god's life is infinite!"
Upon hearing the Tianmeng's explanation, Ice Empress fell silent. No living being is unafraid of death, and she was no exception. Now, with a chance at immortality before her, she had to consider it carefully.
Moreover, she was already imprisoned by the Tianmeng. Even if she wanted to refuse, the Tianmeng would never let her go.
"But you still haven't addressed the main point," Ice Empress suddenly spoke. "Why should I believe that the person you've chosen has the potential to become a god? You claim to be eighty percent sure; where does this confidence come from?"
"Hehe, don't worry, Ice Empress. If you agree to sacrifice yourself and become Yuhao's intelligent soul ring, I, Tianmeng, can swear an oath right now," the Tianmeng Iceworm said.
"By the Ice God, I, Tianmeng, swear in the name of ice: if I deceive Ice Empress and fail to help her become an intelligent soul ring after releasing her spiritual essence, may all that is of ice be stripped from me."
Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. Tianmeng, you're truly a genius!
Swearing by the Ice God in front of the Ice God's inheritor—whether the oath would be fulfilled depended entirely on Huo Yuhao's intentions.
How can you be so good at deceiving women? What dreams do you have every night?
To Huo Yuhao, the oath seemed somewhat insincere, but Ice Empress thought otherwise. In the Extreme North, this was the most solemn vow for soul beasts.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao approached. On his shoulder, Fire Spirit Xiaohan curiously observed the Ice Empress trapped in the mental prison, letting out a few soft chirps.
"This is?"
Ice Empress's gaze focused as she sensed the violent power of the strange fire within Xiaohan. Even she couldn't ignore such a formidable force.
Huo Yuhao smiled at Ice Empress without speaking and directly activated his martial soul.
An unparalleled aura of majesty emanated from Huo Yuhao, and simultaneously, countless blazing ice-blue lights erupted from his body, forming a massive ice-blue figure behind him.
Though its features were indistinct, one could vaguely see it wielding an ice-blue long sword.
As soon as Huo Yuhao released his martial soul, Ice Empress felt her control over the surrounding ice elements waver. It seemed that if Huo Yuhao wished, he could sever her connection with the ice elements at any moment.
"This... this aura is..." Ice Empress exclaimed in fear. "The Ice God?!"
"Yes, hello Ice Empress, I am Huo Yuhao, the inheritor of the Ice God," Huo Yuhao said with a smile.
"The Ice God's... inheritance." Ice Empress's crystalline yellow eyes flickered.
If she were in her complete state, she would have undoubtedly devoured Huo Yuhao without hesitation. But now, her life was in the hands of the Tianmeng. Any movement on her part would be met with immediate retaliation from Tianmeng.
"Ice Empress, Yuhao has inherited the Ice God's power. Even his second martial soul is the Ice God. Regarding his talent, he possesses unprecedented twin god-level martial souls on the Douluo Continent, and he's the strongest among his peers at the continent's top academy," Tianmeng Iceworm said. "Moreover, he harbors even more secrets that I can't disclose until you merge with him."
"We are all subjects of the Ice God. Yuhao, as the inheritor of the Ice God, is naturally the lord of the Extreme North! Becoming the soul ring of the Ice God, and potentially ascending with the Ice God to the Divine Realm in the future—haven't I provided you with such an opportunity and honor to prove my love for you?"
Plane's Will: Oh yes, it's all thanks to you!
"Tianmeng, you're right." With things as they were, Ice Empress had no more hesitation. "Even if I don't trust you, I trust the Ice God's will not to harm his followers."
Her crystalline yellow eyes gradually turned emerald green. The long emerald green tail of the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor lifted again, and a gentle green light began to ripple from the base of her tail, ultimately gathering at the tip.
With a flash of emerald light, a small emerald green sphere separated and slowly floated upwards. The light in Ice Empress's eyes dimmed instantly.
Indeed, this emerald green sphere was her spiritual essence, essentially her soul.
With Yaolao's protection, Huo Yuhao and the Tianmeng Iceworm were confident there would be no issues with this operation. Tianmeng understood Ice Empress well; given her decisive nature, once she realized her situation, she would choose this path.
The golden light formed by the Tianmeng Iceworm floated forward and adhered to its remains. As the emerald green sphere approached, the golden sphere expanded, swallowing the emerald sphere like a whale, and quickly returned to Huo Yuhao's body, entering through his forehead.
The ancient black ring on Huo Yuhao's hand flashed, and Yaolao stored the Tianmeng's remains.
After all, the Tianmeng wouldn't need them anymore, so it was better for Yaolao to see if he could make something useful from them.
Upon entering Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, Ice Empress immediately saw the gray sphere formed by Electrolux. Although the sphere wasn't large, its aura of divine consciousness made Ice Empress's body tremble.
"Yuhao, you've had quite the harvest on this trip to the Extreme North..." At this moment, Yaolao's voice also sounded in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea.
"Hello, Ice Empress? Quite a majestic name. In our world, only the pinnacle of power is called 'Emperor.' Nice to meet you, I'm Yuhao's teacher, you can call me Yaolao."
Ice Empress: ???
Goodness, I thought this was a double room, but it's a big dormitory!
No wonder he's the Ice God's inheritor—his spiritual sea has turned into a hotel!