The first impression this woman gave Su Yu was one of astonishment.
He had seen beautiful women before, but none could compare to the one standing before him.
Even Aunt Bi, who was a rare beauty, seemed to pale in comparison.
Perfect!
If Su Yu had to describe her in one word, it would be "perfect."
She was truly a masterpiece of nature, the kind that could only be born from the finest essence of heaven and earth.
"Uncle Tian, who are these two?"
Su Yu asked the man beside him, his eyes flashing with amazement.
He could more or less guess who they were, but some things couldn't be said out loud. After all, under normal circumstances, he shouldn't have known their identities.
"These two are the Snow Empress and Ice Empress, two of the three great rulers of the Extreme North, and the true sovereigns of all the soul beasts here."
"The three great rulers of the Extreme North? Soul beasts?"
Su Yu feigned curiosity at the right moment.
"Yes," Uncle Tian nodded and said no more.
Su Yu turned his head to look at the two Empress: the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion and the Snow Empress. Both were supreme powerhouses ranked among the top ten fierce beasts.
Moreover, they both possessed ultimate attributes: one was the Ultimate Ice, and the other was the Ultimate Snow, both incredibly powerful.
In the original story, if it weren't for these two, there would have been no Emotion God Huo Yuhao.
Oh, wait, no, it should be Emotion God Dai Yuhao.
"You still haven't answered me. Is your martial soul the Ultimate Ice?" the Snow Empress asked, her sky-blue eyes fixed on Su Yu.
She was quite interested in this person chosen by the Extreme North. What was so special about this child that had earned the favor of the Extreme North?
No, it wasn't just the favor of the Extreme North—he was also someone valued by that great ruler, someone whom even the Beast God Di Tian was determined to protect.
There must be a great secret hidden within this child.
Moreover, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward him. As someone who had always disliked humans, she found it hard to harbor any ill feelings toward this child. Could it be because this child, like her, had also received the blessing of the Extreme North?
Looking at the humanoid figure of the Ice Emperor King martial soul behind Su Yu, the Snow Empress felt that perhaps this was the reason.
"Yes, my martial soul is the Ultimate Ice," Su Yu answered truthfully without hiding anything.
In front of someone as powerful as the Snow Empress, there was no point in concealing such a thing. She had only casually asked, but she had already seen through it.
The Snow Empress was the person on the Douluo Continent who understood ice and snow the best—how could she not recognize the Ultimate Ice?
"This martial soul is very powerful. It was given to you by the Extreme North. You must use it wisely," the Snow Empress said, looking deeply at Su Yu.
"I will," Su Yu nodded seriously.
"No, you still don't understand. This martial soul is stronger than you think. It's not just a simple Ultimate Ice," she continued.
"You're still young. When you grow up, you'll understand just how precious the blessing of the Extreme North is."
The blessing of heaven and earth was a full-body transformation, a complete rebirth. After receiving the blessing of the Extreme North, Su Yu would have at least the potential to break through to the limits of a human Douluo.
The visible benefits of this blessing were only a small part of it. The more precious aspect was that it paved the way for him to become a true powerhouse.
In other words, with this blessing, as long as he didn't perish prematurely, Su Yu's future was destined to be brilliant.
"The Snow Empress is right. You, little human, are incredibly lucky," the Ice Empress chimed in, her voice crisp like silver bells.
She was practically dying of envy.
The Snow Empress was a spirit born of the Extreme North, protected by the heavens and earth from birth. This was the most important reason why she had been able to cultivate for nearly 700,000 years.
But aside from the Snow Empress, no other soul beast in the Extreme North had received this kind of treatment—not even her, the second-in-command of the Extreme North.
If she had received the blessing of the heavens, she would have been confident enough to survive two more great tribulations. She wouldn't be so anxious about the upcoming 400,000-year tribulation looming over her.
Heaven knows how devastated she felt when she saw that a human child had been chosen by the Extreme North. She was so envious, jealous, and bitter!
"Really? Heh heh!"
Su Yu scratched his head and chuckled.
"Hmph, take a look at yourself now, and you'll understand just how much you've changed," the Ice Empress snorted, and an ice mirror suddenly appeared in front of Su Yu.
Su Yu raised his head slightly and carefully examined himself, realizing that his appearance had indeed changed drastically.
Snow-white hair, ice-blue eyes—was this him?
While his facial features hadn't changed much, the shift in his demeanor had transformed him completely. Su Yu had always been good-looking, but now he had transformed into a cold and handsome young man.
Even Su Yu himself could hardly believe that the person in the mirror was him.
"This... is this me?"
Su Yu's eyes were filled with surprise. Could awakening a martial soul cause such a big change?
"Generally, when a creature undergoes a significant physical transformation, it's a kind of metamorphosis," the Snow Empress explained.
"Soul beasts experience this, and so do you humans. You are now completely different from before."
Su Yu nodded repeatedly, recognizing that he was indeed no longer the same as before. One could say he had grown tremendously stronger.
"The blessing of heaven and earth is indeed rare, and this martial soul is quite remarkable. From now on, focus on cultivating this martial soul. As for your previous martial soul, set it aside for now," Uncle Tian advised Su Yu.
The Dragon God Seal had far-reaching effects, and its quality was higher. For now, cultivating the Ice Emperor King martial soul would bring Su Yu the greatest benefits.
Su Yu agreed with a nod. The power of the Dragon God in the Dragon God Seal couldn't be revealed recklessly. For now, the Ice Emperor King was indeed the better choice.
"Wait, you have twin martial souls?"
The Snow Empress and Ice Empress were astonished once again.
Not only did he have the Ice Emperor King, but he also had another martial soul.
Though they were soul beasts, they knew what twin martial souls meant—it was the highest talent among human soul masters.
And what if one of the twin martial souls was an Ultimate Martial Soul?
That would put him at the pinnacle of human talent.
Moreover, from what Di Tian had said, it seemed like this child's first martial soul might not be inferior to the Ice Emperor King. Otherwise, Di Tian wouldn't have advised the child to cultivate the Ice Emperor King first.
With twin martial souls, most people saved the stronger one for later. That way, adding soul rings would provide greater benefits.
The Snow Empress didn't believe Di Tian was an ignorant person.
Gasp!
Realizing this, even the Snow Empress couldn't suppress her inner shock.
Who on earth was this child?
"Twin martial souls, an Ultimate Martial Soul. Hiss!"
"Di Tian, where on earth did you find such a monster?"
The blessing of heaven and earth was already astonishing, but to have twin martial souls as well? Was this kid the illegitimate child of the world's will or something?
This talent is a bit too ridiculous, isn't it?
The Ice Empress' eyes, like yellow diamonds, flickered slightly, and her tone was filled with shock.
She could already foresee that this child would undoubtedly become a superpower in the human world in the future.
"Di Tian, with such terrifying talent, aren't you even a little bit worried?" The Ice Empress couldn't help but ask.
After all, Su Yu was still human. With such terrifying talent, it was hard to say if he might surpass Di Tian in the future. Was Di Tian not afraid of things spiraling out of control? Humans and soul beasts, after all, were not on the same side!
"Ice Empress, that's enough. Stop speaking nonsense," Uncle Tian's face darkened at her words, and he reprimanded her sternly.
He didn't want any seeds of doubt planted in Su Yu's mind because of what the Ice Empress had said.
"Di Tian, I meant well..."
The Ice Empress was displeased when Di Tian reprimanded her.
She had kindly reminded Di Tian, yet he had given her a cold face in return.
How could the proud Ice Empress not be angry?
"Alright, Ice. Di Tian knows what he's doing."
The Snow Empress, however, saw a deeper meaning behind all this.
The relationship between this boy and Di Tian wasn't that simple.
The Ice Empress was straightforward, but her words might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
"Hmph!"
Uncle Tian snorted and said, "Now that everything here is done, I won't stay any longer. Yu'er, let's go."
"Oh!"
Su Yu responded and once again glanced at the Snow Empress.
Unexpectedly, the Snow Empress smiled at him and said, "If you have the time, you can return to the Extreme North."
"As for Ultimate Ice, I have some insights. Although Di Tian is powerful, he doesn't understand ice."
"...Uh, okay!"
Su Yu was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded.
The Snow Empress was offering goodwill, and he couldn't refuse.
Moreover, the Snow Empress was indeed the person in the world who understood ice and snow the best.
Her guidance would be of great benefit to Su Yu in cultivating the Ice Emperor King martial soul.
"Let's go!"
Uncle Tian glanced at the Snow Empress, then wrapped his arm around Su Yu. In an instant, they disappeared.
Watching the two vanish, the Ice Empress was still fuming.
"That Di Tian, he doesn't know how to appreciate kindness. I kindly reminded him, and he treated me like that. It's infuriating!"
The Ice Empress huffed angrily.
If she could win a fight against him, she would have already fought Di Tian.
"Di Tian must have his plans. As the Beast God, he's no fool. Besides, with the Great Sovereign watching over this, there's no need for us to worry," the Snow Empress said calmly.
"Hmph, I'd love to see the look on his face if things do go wrong," the Ice Empress snorted.
Hearing this, the Snow Empress smiled and shook her head. Ice was still as proud and defiant as ever.
"By the way, Snow, why did you invite that human kid to the Extreme North?"
"After all, he's still a human!" the Ice Empress asked, puzzled.
She didn't have much affection for humans.
"But he's also someone chosen by the Extreme North, which makes him one of us."
"And besides, I'm curious. What makes this little guy so special?"
The Snow Empress raised her head and looked at the azure sky, her sky-blue eyes flickering slightly.
...
Meanwhile, Uncle Tian was taking Su Yu back the way they had come at high speed.
The vast Extreme North, even larger than the Star Dou Forest, flew by rapidly beneath Uncle Tian's feet.
In Uncle Tian's arms, Su Yu's expression was calm, and his ice-blue eyes flickered slightly.
"What are you thinking about?"
Uncle Tian's voice suddenly entered Su Yu's ears.
Su Yu was startled and came back to his senses.
"I was thinking about the Snow Empress."
"The Snow Empress?"
Uncle Tian seemed a little surprised.
"What about her?"
"I was wondering why she invited me to the Extreme North."
"And..."
"And what?"
"And I feel a strange sense of familiarity with the Snow Empress. I don't know if it's just my imagination," Su Yu said quietly.
"A sense of familiarity?"
Uncle Tian's eyebrows raised, and a glint of light flashed in his golden eyes.
Could it be...
"Would you like to go back to the Extreme North?"
Uncle Tian paused for a moment and then asked.
"What do you think I should do, Uncle Tian?"
Su Yu asked.
"If you're going to cultivate the Ice Emperor King martial soul, then I suggest you go."
"The Snow Empress is unquestionably the person who understands Ultimate Ice the best. She was right when she said that I don't understand ice."
Uncle Tian admitted his shortcomings frankly.
"And if you're worried that the Snow Empress, being a soul beast, might harm you, there's no need."
"She won't harm you."
"Plus, with me around, she wouldn't dare."
Uncle Tian's voice was calm but full of pride and dominance.
It was as if this was an unquestionable fact.
"Uncle Tian, you're so cool!"
Su Yu gave him a thumbs-up.
"You little brat!"
Uncle Tian laughed heartily, holding Su Yu close as they sped through the sky.
...
By the time Uncle Tian brought Su Yu back home, the sun had already set.
Inside the house, the soul tool lamps emitted a soft orange glow.
Faintly, a graceful figure could be seen inside.
Uncle Tian landed at the door and set Su Yu down. The two of them walked into the courtyard together.
Inside, hearing the commotion, Aunt Bi quickly came out to greet them.
"You're back?"
Aunt Bi smiled warmly, her gaze soft as she looked at the two of them.
"Mm-hmm!"
Su Yu nodded and smiled in response.
"It's late, you must be starving. Come in quickly—Aunt Bi got you your favorite braised beef."
Aunt Bi rubbed Su Yu's hair and led him inside.
Uncle Tian followed behind.
"Wow, what a feast!"
Seeing the variety of dishes on the table, Su Yu's eyes lit up.
As a true foodie, he could never resist a good meal.
"Then eat quickly. It won't taste as good if it gets cold," Aunt Bi smiled.
"Okay."
Su Yu sat down, and the three of them began to eat.
Aunt Bi placed two pieces of beef on Su Yu's plate and also served some vegetables to Uncle Tian.
"Uncle Tian, Aunt Bi, you should eat too," Su Yu said before digging in.
He hadn't eaten lunch, so he was really hungry.
Watching Su Yu eat happily, Aunt Bi's face softened with a loving smile. She then turned to Uncle Tian and asked, "This trip must have been quite fruitful. Yu'er's transformation is so significant—it must have been something extraordinary."
Su Yu's transformation was too obvious—it could even be called a metamorphosis. This was no simple martial soul awakening.
"It was indeed a significant opportunity."
Uncle Tian nodded slightly and then briefly recounted what had happened in the Extreme North.
"A blessing from heaven and earth, a heaven-bestowed martial soul—what a tremendous fortune."
Aunt Bi's expression also became serious.
At their level, they understood even more how precious the blessing of heaven and earth truly was.
PS: Guys, I added the bonus for this in Tier 2 and Tier 3, but my time is limited because of school hours, so I'm afraid I can't keep up with the updates if I add it to Tier 1.