Precisely because of this—
That's why he had the Ice Jade Scorpion Clan leader summon it over.
As for the reason he mentioned "slickness,"It was because he had hesitated. After all, in today's world, a citizenship in the Sun Moon Empire was quite valuable. Over on the Star Luo side, people were practically trampling over each other trying to get in, even having to sneak across the border illegally.
If his plan succeeded, then the importance of the Ice Silkworm Clan to the Sun Moon Empire's future would be self-evident. If they were to betray the empire—it would be absolutely intolerable...
But one sentence from Tianmeng made him abandon that thought.
Being slick—did indeed have its reasons.
In such extreme environments, the unsophisticated fools who didn't learn to be slick had long become food on the plates of other soul beasts.
"I can promise you this: from now on, no soul beast in the entire Extreme North will be allowed to prey on the Ice Silkworm Clan."
Xu Cheng locked eyes with the Ice Silkworm Clan leader.
"Not even it—"
He pointed to the towering Titan Snow Demon King nearby.
Seeing this, the Titan Snow Demon King quickly nodded in agreement:
"Whatever the lord says, I'll follow. I swear it!"
"Even the Snow Empress and Ice Empress will not be allowed to devour you."
Xu Cheng stared straight at the Ice Silkworm Clan leader.
"Then... what do we have to give in return?"
The Ice Silkworm Clan leader's throat bobbed, and its voice trembled slightly. It knew this might be the great opportunity brought by the ancestor. But it also knew—there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. So it asked.
"I've already said—join us."
Xu Cheng smiled.
"But unlike the others, you'll formally be incorporated into our structure—become an actual part of the Sun Moon Empire."
He had looked over the blueprints for the interstellar battleship before handing them over to Elder Jing.
The Level 11 Soul Cannon System within was powered by soul energy, but its wormhole jump system relied heavily on spiritual power—immense spiritual power.
So before coming here, he had already set his sights on the Ice Silkworm Clan.
Of course, that's all in the future. The immediate priority was the defense line of the Extreme North.
Thousands of kilometers of border.
To properly defend it would require hundreds of high-level spiritual-type soul engineers—a number that even the entire Sun Moon Empire would struggle to muster. And these Tianmeng Ice Silkworms? Perfect candidates—naturally selected workers.
He wouldn't treat the Extreme North as a special case.
After all, soul beasts devouring one another was part of the natural law. He couldn't, and wouldn't, interfere too much.
But if the Ice Silkworm Clan proved its worth—And earned the recognition of the entire Extreme North—Then even the other soul beasts would instinctively start to protect them.
"The southern border of the Extreme North is long. Even with Sun Moon garrisons, there will be loopholes. Many areas can't be fully protected. Even Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect regularly come by to stir trouble. And without evidence, there's nothing you can do…"
Xu Cheng explained as he pulled out a seventh-level surveillance soul device.
It looked like a silver flying orb, with wings on both sides fluttering as it floated slowly in the air. A light screen appeared before everyone, and as the orb slowly rose, the view on the screen zoomed out farther and farther.
"This—will be your guarantee for the future."
Xu Cheng smiled.
"And among you, the only ones who can operate this little thing… are spiritual-type soul beasts. In other words—the Ice Silkworm Clan."
"..."
Upon hearing this, both the Ice Silkworm Clan leader and the Titan Snow Demon King showed expressions of awe. Their attitude toward the Ice Silkworm leader clearly shifted.
From a food source—to an equal.
"The Ice Silkworm Clan swears absolute loyalty to the Sun Moon!"
The Ice Silkworm Clan leader declared solemnly.
In truth, from the moment the ancestor appeared, it had already made up its mind.
But now, with such extravagant benefits being offered—It believed this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change the clan's fate.Miss it—and that opportunity would never come again.
"Very well. The Sun Moon accepts your loyalty."
Xu Cheng smiled.
"Your Highness!"
As massive airships appeared overhead,
Countless soul beasts from the Extreme North looked up at the spectacular scene in the sky.In their hearts, they gained newfound respect for the Sun Moon Empire.
From this day on—They would be known as Sun Moon Soul Beasts.
The Extreme North had now been incorporated into the empire.While receiving the empire's protection, they would of course need to give something back.
"Mineral resources? Metal resources? What the heck are those?"
The Titan Snow Demon King was totally confused.
"Just hard blocks. Basically, if you dig one up, hand it over to the Sun Moon soldiers guarding the area."
Xiao Bai explained crudely.
Then he threw a flattering glance at Xu Cheng:
"Dad, I'm right, aren't I?"
Xu Cheng: "..."
Ever since this kid found out that the Snow Empress was very attached to Xu Cheng, he had stopped calling him "Lord" and started calling him "Dad."
Xu Cheng secretly thought this brat was even more cunning than the Ice Silkworms.
The brat proudly cast a smug look at the Titan Snow Demon King:
"I dare to call him Dad. Do you?"
The Titan Snow Demon King just scratched its head calmly.
"Sort of. These resources usually lie hidden in ice caves. If you find large abnormal blocks, break off a small piece and give it to the Sun Moon Soul Engineer Corps for analysis." Xu Cheng nodded slightly.
"Your Highness!"
After a full day of nonstop travel—
Two elite units under the Evil Lord moved north to rendezvous with two border-guard Hands of the Nation stationed at the Star Luo border. Then they met up with two Imperial Dragon units and continued their journey.
The commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Corps, Qing Zhi, was the overall director of this operation.Looking at Xu Cheng mingling effortlessly with one of the Four Kings of the Extreme North—the Titan Snow Demon King—he spoke respectfully:
"We've arrived."
Xu Cheng smiled.
"From now on, you will be stationed in the southern part of the Extreme North. And of course, certain surveillance authority in this region will be handed over… to them."
He gestured to the Ice Silkworm Clan leader on the side.
Qing Zhi looked at the big bug happily operating the surveillance soul device, and his mouth twitched.
Good grief—this was the first time he had heard of working alongside soul beasts.
But due to Xu Cheng's authority, he still nodded politely.
"Don't underestimate the Ice Silkworm Clan," Xu Cheng, as if reading his mind, chuckled,"Even a thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm can possess spiritual power on par with an ordinary Soul Emperor. And this ten-thousand-year-old Ice Silkworm Clan leader? Its spiritual power can rival that of a Super Douluo."
The Ice Silkworm Clan were trash when it came to combat.
But they had their own natural strengths.
Their powerful spiritual power was their greatest asset.
It's just that for countless years, because they had no contact with soul tools, they never got to put that strength to use.
"Understood!"
Qing Zhi immediately grasped what Xu Cheng had in mind.
Even though it all sounded a little absurd—he didn't say a word.
Xu Cheng didn't care either.
After all, humans and soul beasts had never gotten along since ancient times.
Now, they had to undergo a process of integration.
"Did you bring all the Sun Moon Empire's soul tools, including daily-use items?" Xu Cheng asked.
"Memory crystals, flight gear, baby bottles—we've pulled large quantities from the warehouses," Qing Zhi quickly replied.
"So… soul beasts are going to watch movies too?"
(End of Chapter)