The Extreme North was a boundless expanse, blanketed in snow that covered everything, freezing even the air itself. The dark sky loomed like an endless abyss, oppressively heavy, as if it could swallow the whole world in silence.
Suddenly, the inky black sky transformed into a clear, mesmerizing jade green. Sunlight filtered through, casting a brilliant glow over the previously dim landscape. The deep blue sky turned into a fresh green, giving the world a sense of purity, with the air now charged by a strange, oppressive aura of lightning and thunder.
At that moment, a crack appeared in the earth, and a massive, jade-green scorpion slowly emerged from the snow. Its giant form reflected a ghostly green light under the sun, exuding an air of mystery and power. With its sturdy legs, every step it took left deep imprints on the snowy ground.
This creature was the ruler of the Extreme North, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, also known as the Ice Emperor. Standing one and a half meters tall, the Ice Emperor's body had two distinct colors: a cold icy blue and a rich green. Its front body was layered in four segments, each about half a foot long. At the foremost layer, its head gleamed with silver mouthparts, giving off an eerie chill. These layered segments were covered with hexagonal scales that sparkled with a brilliant jade-green glow, as if encrusted with diamonds.
These diamond-like scales also adorned its six long, powerful legs. Under the snowy light, it shone with unparalleled brilliance, making it appear like a light source, refracting countless beams of color and casting an enchanting radiance.
The Ice Emperor's front pincers, each over a meter in length, were similarly covered with those sparkling, hexagonal scales, with the tips as silver as a mirror.
Unlike ordinary scorpions with segmented tails, the Ice Emperor's tail had only five segments, each a vibrant jade green. The tail narrowed progressively from the base to the tip, ending in a hook-like barb with a gleaming, mirror-like silver tip.
"What a magnificent scorpion," Xiao Yan murmured in admiration.
Moments later, the clouds gathered again, and the sky began to dim once more. But the giant jade-green scorpion stood firmly in the snow, as if no matter how the world changed, it would remain the undisputed ruler of the Extreme North.
"Bing Bing?" Seeing the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, the Heavenly Dream Iceworm felt a surge of joy, and with a thought, a pure white soul ring emerged from Xiao Yan.
At that moment, Xiao Yan felt his soul power expanding rapidly, stretching far beyond his usual reach. It was as if he were gazing down upon the world from above, a sensation far beyond anything he had ever felt while using his spiritual detection.
In the vast core of the Extreme North, covering thousands of square kilometers, the light dimmed as if day had suddenly turned to night. An invisible aura of majesty radiated from Xiao Yan, accompanied by a terrifying mental force that spread out from his body like ripples in a pond.
Xiao Yan's brow furrowed as he felt a strange sense of euphoria, as though the entire world lay at his feet, completely within his grasp. It was a godlike sensation, as if he could destroy everything with a flick of his wrist, judging all with a single gaze.
"One day, I will ensure that these heavens can no longer obscure my sight, this earth can no longer bury my heart, and the entire world will kneel before me," Xiao Yan whispered, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination as he looked toward the Ice Emperor, unflinching.
The soul ring around him began to change color, from a shimmering white to a faint gold, then to a radiant gold. This transformation planted within Xiao Yan's heart a seed of conviction: the belief that he would one day reign supreme.
Then, a series of golden lights emerged from Xiao Yan's brow, a total of ten golden orbs. These were the Heavenly Dream Iceworm's spiritual essence, the core of its power. Finally, the orbs merged into a chubby worm, identical to the Iceworm's true form.
"Bing Bing, it's me, Heavenly Dream," the Iceworm greeted.
"Heavenly Dream? I never expected you to still be alive," replied the Ice Emperor in a clear, feminine voice, gazing at the plump golden worm.
"Bing Bing, if you're still alive, why can't I be? Remember what I said back then? If I survived, one day I'd make you my mate," the Iceworm teased in a sweet, endearing voice, causing Xiao Yan to shiver with discomfort.
"Heavenly Dream, you're asking for death!" The Ice Emperor's voice grew sharp with killing intent, and the jade-green sky darkened as a dense, murderous aura descended. "Since you've come here to offer yourself as food, I'll graciously accept."
"Once I absorb your energy, I'll be the strongest soul beast on the continent."
Despite the Ice Emperor's growing killing intent, the Iceworm remained calm, smiling elegantly. "Bing Bing, don't be mad. I meant every word. Most of my million-year life was spent in slumber, but in the depths of my heart, the only one who left an impression, the only one who ever moved me… was you."
"Bing Bing, do you know why I chose this moment to return? I calculated that within a hundred years, you'd reach your limit, facing death. At that point, you'll be unable to survive the next tribulation and will vanish in this cold world. Even if you absorb my energy and become the strongest soul beast, you'll still face the ten-thousand-year tribulation. Even if you survive this time, what about the next? And the one after that?"
"Each tribulation will only grow fiercer, and eventually, you'll still face death."
"Die?" The Ice Emperor's voice grew shrill with rage, and the sky above turned a deep, menacing black. Her raised stinger glowed brightly, and a green beam shot through the Iceworm's body.
Ignoring Xiao Yan, the Ice Emperor let a satisfied smile play on her lips as she approached the pierced Iceworm. But just then, the Iceworm's golden body dissipated, transforming into countless threads of golden silk that wrapped around the Ice Emperor, forming a golden cocoon.
At the Ice Emperor's level, soul beasts had strong instincts for danger, and she sensed something was wrong almost instantly. Just as she prepared to resist, the golden threads bound her tightly, encasing her in a golden cocoon.
As soul beasts reach the level of the Ice Emperor, they develop a heightened sense of danger. The Ice Emperor immediately sensed something was amiss and attempted to resist, but was swiftly ensnared by countless golden threads, which wrapped tightly around it, transforming it into a golden cocoon.
The Ice Emperor's gaze grew sharp, and the jade-green tip of its stinger began to shine as it struggled fiercely, but despite its efforts, it couldn't break free.
"How dare you trick me?" the Ice Emperor spat, its eyes full of venomous anger. The Heavenly Dream Iceworm continued calmly, "Bing Bing, there's no use struggling. This cocoon is my million-year cultivation's essence. Not even Snow Empress could escape from it. Even if you possess the courage to transform, do you really think you'll break past the barrier of the hundredth level and achieve rebirth? Instead of starting over, wouldn't it be wiser to use your current cultivation to help me create a god, just like the most powerful human from a thousand years ago?"
"If we manage to create a god, we'll be able to obtain endless life alongside that god. When the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape perished in the Star Dou Forest, they not only helped that human become the strongest but also ensured their own souls achieved eternal life."
Hearing this, the Ice Emperor halted its resistance, a slight frown appearing on its face. It asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"
"Bing Bing, don't you get it yet?" The Iceworm spoke with excitement. "All we need to do is help create a new god, and we can gain eternal life alongside him. I lack offensive strength, but if you and I combine forces, we'd have a better than fifty percent chance of success. That's more than enough reason to try."
The Ice Emperor looked skeptical and asked, "What exactly are you suggesting?"
Turning to glance at the nearby dark-robed youth, the Heavenly Dream Iceworm explained, "Bing Bing, haven't you realized that I'm down to just my spiritual core? I sacrificed myself to become this boy's wisdom soul ring."
"Wisdom soul ring?" The Ice Emperor froze, shocked. "You sacrificed yourself? Only your spiritual essence remains? How is that possible? You really are a fool. Is this boy your puppet?"
"No, he's not my puppet. He's my host, or perhaps you could call him my master. I am now his soul ring. You know about human soul rings, don't you? I'm the continent's first-ever wisdom soul ring," the Iceworm's eyes flashed, and it continued to explain, "A wisdom soul ring maintains consciousness even after sacrificing itself, with the spirit dwelling in the host's mindscape, offering a kind of alternative immortality."
The Ice Emperor's interest was piqued, and it instinctively asked, "You're suggesting I sacrifice myself to become his soul ring?"
"Yes," the Iceworm nodded, speaking seriously. "I did it once, and under my guidance, the chances of you successfully becoming Xiao Yan's wisdom soul ring are over ninety percent."
"He was born with a spirit-attributed Eye of Insight martial spirit, and later, under my influence, he developed a second martial spirit with a fusion of ice and fire attributes. If you sacrifice yourself to become the soul ring for his second martial spirit, I am certain Xiao Yan's future achievements will surpass even the strongest human from a thousand years ago."
As the Iceworm spoke, the Ice Emperor seemed slightly moved but still unwilling to yield. She replied coldly, "You mentioned there's a ninety percent chance of success, but what if it fails? Wouldn't I be utterly destroyed?"
"Ah… Bing Bing, in this world, there's nothing without risk. The greater the storm, the higher the stakes." The Iceworm threatened, "You're already trapped. This is a rare opportunity. Although I have feelings for you, if you refuse, I will still turn you into a soul ring for my own survival and for the strength of my master."
"But this time, you'll lose your wisdom. Eternal life on one hand, or annihilation on the other. It's your choice."
The Iceworm's words were undoubtedly a threat. In the world of soul beasts, unlike among humans, such direct intimidation was often more effective. After enduring countless hardships, the Iceworm, despite spending ninety percent of its life in slumber, had long since developed cunning and survival instincts, especially after countless life-or-death encounters with powerful beasts in the Star Dou Forest.
"Do I have any other choice?" the Ice Emperor hesitated, taken aback. As a soul beast with a cultivation nearing four hundred thousand years, surrendering so easily went against her nature. Feigning compliance, she said, "Release me first; otherwise, how am I supposed to sacrifice myself?"
The Iceworm breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I knew you'd make the right choice, my dear Bing Bing. You won't regret this."
As it spoke, the Iceworm released the cocoon surrounding the Ice Emperor. Yet in that instant, the Ice Emperor's gaze sharpened, her body surging with jade-green light as she flashed to Xiao Yan's side in an instant.
"Bing Bing, what are you doing?" The Heavenly Dream Iceworm gasped, its voice trembling.
"Hmph, I won't foolishly sacrifice myself as a soul ring for a human," the Ice Emperor scoffed, her feminine voice clear and disdainful.
"To make me his soul ring… impossible! Not unless he can prove to me that he'll achieve godhood one day."
With that, the Ice Emperor's jade light intensified, her stinger glinting as she aimed it straight at Xiao Yan's heart.
"Oh? Power, is it?" A calm voice interjected. "Then behold mine."
Just as the stinger was about to pierce Xiao Yan's chest, a ripple in the air appeared before him, and an ethereal, aged figure materialized, a powerful aura flooding outward like a tidal wave, causing the Ice Emperor's expression to change drastically.
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