Chapter 254: Siege on the Three Kings of the Extreme North
Yang Potian pondered briefly before deciding to see what Chrysanthemum Douluo wanted at Heaven Traversing Academy.
Before he even reached the reception hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice, unmistakably feminine, echoed through the room, "What's going on with Heaven Traversing Academy? That old Poison Douluo and that old goat—where have they gone off to?"
Hearing his overly refined voice, Yang Potian couldn't help but feel an urge to give Chrysanthemum Douluo a piece of his mind.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, what brings you to our academy today? Surely you didn't come here just to spar with my grandfather? He's away on some business, but if you're looking for a match, I'll gladly step in."
Yang Potian entered the room, taking a seat casually.
At the sight of him, Chrysanthemum Douluo's demeanor softened a bit, though he chuckled, "Potian, didn't you just disappear for two years? What brings you back all of a sudden?"
Yang Potian gave him a sly look. "Surprised you're keeping track of my travels, Chrysanthemum Douluo. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were planning something."
"Now, now—who in their right mind would dare to plot against you these days? So, where's your grandfather? I have something I need to discuss with him."
"He's not around, but if you've got something to say, you can say it to me."
Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated before finally speaking, "Now that our Spirit Empire is established, what exactly is Heaven Traversing Academy's stance? Or, if there's something you want in return, what would it take for you to support us?"
Yang Potian raised an eyebrow. "With your empire's strength, you should be able to sweep across both Heaven Dou and Star Luo. Our academy is situated quite remotely, so I'm afraid we're not in a position to offer much support."
Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned slightly. "Word around the continent is that Heaven Traversing Academy has become the most powerful force in the soul master world, perhaps even surpassing the old Clear Sky Clan. If you were to publicly support our Spirit Empire's cause, even without direct involvement in the war, it would make our conquest all the easier."
Yang Potian sighed. "Chrysanthemum Douluo, you should know that I despise war. I have no intention of supporting any movement that involves it, nor will I take part in it myself."
"Why did Bibi Dong send you here? Did she think I'd actually want to fight her?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo looked conflicted, his intentions shifting. The Spirit Empire had sent him hoping to take advantage of Yang Potian's two-year absence to gauge Heaven Traversing Academy's position and assess Yang Potian's current power. But Yang Potian's sudden return—and apparently even greater strength—caught him off guard.
Everyone around them, including Feng Xuan and Huo Lie, remained silent. These were conversations for Titled Douluo, far beyond what any Soul Douluo could interject into, let alone younger soul masters like Feng Xiaotian.
Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed, "Young Potian, you've reached the strength of even the High Priest. I doubt Her Majesty would seek a match with you."
Yang Potian smiled slightly. "You never know. Your esteemed empress is quite the hidden force herself—I suspect she's already on par with your High Priest."
After a few more words, Chrysanthemum Douluo prepared to take his leave, having seemingly come away empty-handed. However, before he could depart, Yang Potian spoke up again, "Though I can't support your war, I do have another trade proposal."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's brow furrowed. "What could possibly be more important than our war?"
"You'd be surprised."
With that, Yang Potian took out a jade box. As he opened it, the room filled with a delicate, fragrant aroma. Inside lay an exquisite eight-petal orchid, pristine white with a crystalline quality, exuding an aura of purity and refinement.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, entranced, murmured, "An Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid? You… you've been holding onto this treasure?"
Ignoring Chrysanthemum Douluo's dazed expression, Yang Potian said calmly, "My proposal involves this Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. You know better than anyone its immense value. Do you think it's enough?"
Snapping back to his senses, Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Yang Potian, bewildered. "What could be so important that you'd offer such a priceless treasure?"
Yang Potian's face grew serious. "I'd like you to relay a message to Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu. In exchange for this Immortal Orchid, I'd like to borrow the Angelic Holy Sword."
Chrysanthemum Douluo was stunned. "The… the Angelic Holy Sword? Impossible."
"Nothing is impossible. If it weren't for that sword, I wouldn't be willing to part with this Immortal Orchid."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression darkened as he pondered the request. "Your demand is enormous. I'll need to consult with Her Majesty and the High Priest."
Yang Potian nodded. "Understood. Take your time. If they refuse, I'll have no choice but to pay a visit to Spirit City myself."
Chrysanthemum Douluo finally tore his gaze from the Immortal Orchid, departing reluctantly.
Yang Potian ignored the envious glances around him, stowing the orchid away before leaving. If not for the Holy Sword, he would never have revealed such a valuable item.
Suddenly, Yang Potian sensed a powerful aura emanating from the Extreme North, one that felt closely connected to Yang Tianyue's group. It seemed they had encountered the Snow Empress.
With a slight concern for his family's safety, Yang Potian unfurled his wings and sped toward the Extreme North.
In less than half an hour, he reached the edge of the battlefield. Without drawing attention to himself, he concealed his soul power and observed the scene from the shadows.
The battle was fierce. On the academy's side, everyone had summoned their martial spirits and spirit rings. Yang Tianyue wielded the massive Sea God Trident, radiating the Sea God's Light that illuminated the entire battlefield.
On the opposing side were three mighty soul beasts. At the forefront was a massive Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, its fifteen-meter-long body covered in icy and jade-green hues. It bore four segmented sections, each about half a foot in length, with the head atop the first segment, featuring a silver mouthpiece and six-sided protrusions along its body. Its tail ended in a crystalline hook with a silver-white, mirror-like sheen. This creature could only be the Ice Empress.
Beside the Ice Empress stood a colossal Titan Snow Ape, towering over a hundred meters tall, its whole form radiating boundless power. The final soul beast was a gigantic Ice Bear King, its body covered in thick white fur that emanated an overwhelming strength.
Yang Potian continued to watch the clash unfold, his concern tempered by the formidable presence of his family and allies.
Watching the battle unfold, Yang Potian couldn't help but shake his head. This fight is far too chaotic, he thought. With so many Titled Douluo against just three soul beasts, they should have had the advantage.
Sensing a faint aura, he realized that the Snow Empress was likely nearby but, for some unknown reason, wasn't intervening. Among the three beasts, the most challenging was the Ice Empress, whose age was close to four hundred thousand years, making her even stronger than Yang Potian's father, Yang Zhentian. It took multiple people attacking her simultaneously to maintain some semblance of balance in the fight.
The Ice Empress, visibly enraged, let out a thunderous, almost divine voice: "Humans, no matter how powerful you are, do you truly intend to wipe us out?"
Yang Tianyue responded with solemnity, "We have no intention of wiping you out. We only seek a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."
The Ice Empress's face twisted in anger. "Humans, you go too far!"
With a surge of soul power, the Ice Empress froze everything within hundreds of meters. The entire battlefield became shrouded in ice, and a chilling energy restricted everyone's movements—her skill, Eternal Freeze.
Inside this domain, they faced intense freezing energy that slowed their soul power and restricted their physical movements. For anyone less than a Titled Douluo, this skill would likely be fatal.
But Yang Tianyue remained unfazed. She raised the enormous Sea God Trident, unleashing a brilliant light that seemed to tear through the surrounding ice.
Yang Zhentian, Yang Ping'an, and Yang Wudi swiftly charged at the Ice Empress, with Yang Ping'an transforming into a bolt of lightning. He activated his Thunder Domain, which provided a significant counter to the Ice Empress's power.
Meanwhile, the Titan Snow Demon Ape and Ice Bear King were each engaged by at least two Titled Douluo.
Off to the side, Ye Lingling had summoned her Nine Heart Begonia to heal everyone. Even the extreme cold of the Ice Empress couldn't prevent her from quickly restoring her companions.
At this rate, it seemed only a matter of time before the three soul beasts would be defeated.
The Ice Empress, fully aware of the grim situation, pushed her strength to its limits. Her body became encased in thick, dark ice armor—her soul skill, Ice Emperor's Protection.
Behind her, a powerful projection appeared, exuding an aura of divine fury. This was her ultimate skill, Ice Emperor's Wrath. It seemed as if she intended to shatter the very heavens with this attack.
In the harsh cold of the Extreme North, the Ice Empress's skill was enhanced by the environment, reaching a terrifying level of power.
Yang Tianyue saw the massive projection of the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor and quickly summoned the Sea God Trident. A large figure of the Sea God appeared behind her as she channeled all her soul power into the trident. She hurled it forward, mirroring Yang Potian's ninth soul skill, Piercing Sun.
This was the third form of the Golden Thirteen Halberds: No Return, one of the most devastating attacks in the first three forms and capable of injuring even an Ultimate Douluo.
The enormous projection of the Ice Jade Scorpion clashed with the Sea God Trident. In an instant, the scorpion projection shattered, and the trident shot forward, threatening to pierce the Ice Empress's body.
For a moment, the Ice Empress's face showed sheer terror. She couldn't believe her ultimate attack had been destroyed, and as she looked at the oncoming trident, she felt an overwhelming force and destructive energy, one that seemed to restrain her ultimate ice power entirely. The attack appeared capable of killing her in an instant.
But at that critical moment, a soft, ethereal sigh sounded from the sky, as if from a young girl who transcended all worldly things.
In the next instant, an enormous ice sword appeared in the sky, intercepting the Sea God Trident and halting its momentum. Taking advantage of the brief delay, the Ice Empress covered her hands in ice crystals, forming giant Ice Jade Scorpion pincers that managed to barely block the trident.
Even so, a deep wound appeared on her hands as the trident's impact had clearly injured her.
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