Chapter 17: The Sacrifice
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Skydream Iceworm said seriously.
The Ice Empress's eyes flickered with indecision. Becoming a god! Achieving eternal life! These were the ultimate pursuits of all soul beasts!
"Tell me more."
Finally, the Ice Empress gave in.
"Do you remember what happened ten thousand years ago?" Skydream Iceworm asked.
Ten thousand years ago, the original Shrek Seven Devils and the two gods of Angel and Rakshasa ascended to godhood. But Tang San was a dual god, and Xiao Wu was merely the scabbard for the Shura Sword, not a true god.
"Of course, the sky changed colors, and they became gods in an instant!" The Ice Empress nodded. The divine pressure that swept across the continent was unforgettable, and its sheer terror still lingered in her memory.
"Exactly. Ten thousand years ago, several individuals became gods. I estimate there were at least seven who ascended to the Divine Realm," Skydream Iceworm said.
"What race has the best innate talent? Which race has the best chance of becoming gods?"
"It's humans, Ice Empress! That's why I chose to cooperate with them. I want to create a god and have them take me to the Divine Realm for eternal life!"
"So, the person you found is him?" The Ice Empress glanced at Du Bushi, flicking her jade-like tail dismissively. "I'm not underestimating him, but even though he's strong enough to defeat or even kill me, becoming a god is impossible!"
Du Bushi found it amusing how much resentment was in the Ice Empress's tone, clearly unhappy about being smacked into the ground. But he still shook his head, denying her assumption.
"No, it's not me. It's my great-grandson."
"Qianjue, come out."
From the snow emerged a head adorned with soft black hair sprinkled with crystalline snowflakes. An incredibly handsome face showed a faint smile.
"Ice Empress, hello. My name is Du Qianjue."
At first glance, the Ice Empress felt a sense of bloodline suppression emanating from him, which was baffling.
"Why does this human, despite being so weak, suppress me through his bloodline?" the Ice Empress muttered, bewildered.
"Maybe because of this!" Du Qianjue instantly activated his Chaos Dragon King martial soul. A golden-red ring with blue-gold patterns rose from his feet and hovered around him.
The majestic aura made the Ice Empress feel dizzy.
As a nearly 400,000-year-old soul beast, she had witnessed the glory of the Dragon Clan. During that era, humans had not yet dominated the continent. Despite the damage from the Divine War, the Dragon Clan had not yet fallen to its current state.
At that time, the Dragon Clan ruled the continent, and the Ice Empress was just a slightly powerful ant.
But never had she encountered such pure dragon might, a might even greater than Di Tian's.
"This... is?"
"The Chaos Dragon King martial soul, born from the fusion of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings. It ranks at the level of a god king!" Du Qianjue said, showing off.
He then switched to his main martial soul, replacing the god ring with Skydream Iceworm's million-year ring.
"See, Ice Empress, twin martial souls, each with a million-year ring and a god-level ring. Both martial souls are incredibly powerful," Skydream Iceworm said confidently. "If he can't become a god, who can?"
"Qianjue is the most talented human I've ever seen. His potential is unprecedented. Can't you see that?"
"Moreover, the sacrifice won't completely kill you. After you sacrifice, I'll keep your consciousness intact until Qianjue ascends and revives us. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ice Empress!"
The Ice Empress looked at Du Qianjue, her inner struggle shattering at that moment, and her gaze grew firm.
"Fine, I agree!"
"Let's begin," Du Qianjue said, sitting cross-legged in front of the Ice Empress. Du Bushi also released his suppression.
"Your soul bone will fuse directly with my Ice Dragon King's right arm bone. Both of my divine soul bones are growth-type and will eventually become my divine equipment!"
The Ice Empress nodded, her body igniting with crimson flames. A pillar of red light shot up to the sky, and Du Qianjue released his Chaos Dragon King martial soul to receive her spirit ring.
Skydream Iceworm returned to Du Qianjue's mental sea, ready to guard the Ice Empress's consciousness.
Outside, Du Bushi stood thoughtfully.
Du Qianjue had only awakened his martial soul four years ago, but in those four years, his adventures had been beyond belief, even for an Ultimate Douluo like Du Bushi.
Just as Skydream Iceworm had said, if Du Qianjue couldn't become a god, who could?
Becoming a god...
Du Bushi's eyes held a glimmer of longing.
Who wouldn't desire that realm? Reaching level 100 and becoming a god had always been the highest legend of the Douluo Continent!
With Du Bushi's presence, no soul beast dared disturb them, although the grandeur of the Ice Empress's sacrifice did attract attention from the core of the Extreme North.
But Du Bushi wasn't worried. This was a voluntary cooperation, even if other soul beasts couldn't interfere.
Soon, a noble and stunning figure, the center of heaven and earth itself, appeared.
The leader of the three rulers of the Extreme North, ranked third among the top ten fierce beasts, the Ice Sky Snow Woman, Snow Empress!
Since Du Qianjue arrived two years earlier than Huo Yuhao, the Snow Empress hadn't transformed yet and thus hadn't been captured.
The original story mentioned the Snow Empress searching for the Ice Empress to help her survive her 400,000-year tribulation but failing to find her. She only transformed afterward. So, at this time, the Snow Empress still retained her soul beast form.
"A sacrifice?! Ice Empress, why are you sacrificing to a human?" the Snow Empress said, alarmed. "Is this human forcing you? I'll make him pay!"
The Snow Empress formed an ice-blue sword.
"Stop, don't attack! I'm doing this voluntarily!" the Ice Empress cried, halting her.
The Snow Empress hesitated, her killing intent subdued, and turned to the Ice Empress.
"Ice Empress, what is going on?"
(End of Chapter)
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