FE—Chapter 91: Silver Dragon King: What Is the Auspicious Beast Doing?
It is indeed a hot spring formed by the fall of the Water Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King. From the colorful clouds in the sky, it resembles a beautiful and harmonious fairyland where ice and fire coexist.
The Ice Empress held Huo Yuhao and the auspicious beast in her left arm, while Dugu Luo rested in her right. She hovered in the air above the valley, gazing at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well below with interest.
"Hey, who are you?" A female voice, lacking politeness, called out, causing Huo Yuhao and the others to subconsciously turn their heads and look in the direction of the voice.
A faint green fragrance, bereft of any intention to attack, wafted from a gorgeous red flower towards Huo Yuhao and his companions above the valley.
"Huh? This flower can speak," Dugu Luo exclaimed, her tone filled with joy and surprise.
While she wouldn't have been shocked if flowers and plants from ten thousand years ago spoke human languages, the new flower and plant seeds had grown to be ten thousand years old after being plundered by Tang San.
Moreover, they had been living in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, and they had learned to speak! This novelty delighted Dugu Luo.
Bingdi glanced at Di Rachel calmly and projected her soul power: "Auspicious beast, see? It's not just you who can speak human language after ten thousand years; flowers and plants can do it too."
Di Rachel was accustomed to Bingdi's occasional retorts. Embracing the golden dragon spear, she looked nonchalant. "So what? This auspicious beast shares a similar power of destiny with Yuhao, but do these flowers and plants possess it?"
Her relationship with Yuhao's power of destiny was unique in this world. How could these plant-like soul beasts compare with her?
Di Rachel reasoned that the Ice Empress was merely envious of her ability to transform and interact freely with Huo Yuhao. Furthermore, while she seemed to have hoped to merge with Huo Yuhao in the third ring, that goal likely seemed hopeless now. She could only wait for Huo Yuhao to reach level 40 and merge with him in the fourth ring.
"Hey, you humans, answer my questions."
The clear female voice rang out again: "If you ignore me again, don't blame me for being rude."
The Ice Empress led Huo Yuhao and the others to slowly descend from their lofty position, stepping onto the soft ground blanketed with colorful small petals.
Dugu Luo, arriving at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well of her ancestor Dugu Bo from ten thousand years ago, felt a twinge of strangeness.
She smiled warmly and politely responded, "Big Red Flower, my name is Dugu Luo. His name is Huo Yuhao, and her name is Di Rachel, and this is Ice... Crown."
The petals of the large pink flower opened and closed slightly, releasing a wisp of fragrance that floated between Huo Yuhao and Di Rachel.
"You two seem to have a pure breath of life."
Then the pink flower seemed to want to sense the Ice Empress, but its aura suddenly dissipated when it got too close.
"This human green-haired girl has strong cultivation."
"Your ice attribute purity is so high, but it doesn't match the purity of the Ice and Fire Well..." The pink flower's voice took on a tone of surprise before transforming into a giggle.
Huo Yuhao revealed the seal of life on his forehead, responding with a kind smile. "She and I both possess life gold, which is why you're sensing the pure breath of life."
The latitude of his Chilling Bone Flame was higher than that of the pink flower, so as long as Huo Yuhao didn't release it, the other party couldn't feel the cold and hot breath of the Chilling Bone Flame.
The Ice Empress crossed her arms and snorted softly, releasing a wisp of extreme ice breath to dispel the fragrance of the pink flower.
She curled her lips. She was supposed to merge with Huo Yuhao's third ring, but now she found herself in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well—an ideal location for the third ring—and had flown away.
The key point was that she was still obligated to help Yuhao obtain his third ring. Wasn't this a genuine act of sacrificial victimization?
The Ice Empress naturally didn't wear a pleasant expression.
The pink flower was delighted to hear Huo Yuhao explaining the origin of the breath of life.
"Hey, you are quite wise, much better than this Xiao Bing."
It was quite dissatisfied with the Ice Empress's attitude as if it were owed a considerable amount of immortal herbs.
What is the Ice Scorpion Crown? After all, it was a human being. How long had it lived? Their immortal herb comparison relied on who lived longer.
Now that the Ice Scorpion Crown had come to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, it was merely Xiao Bing.
"Xiao Bing, you are fortunate to be here. I have lived in this home for tens of thousands of years. Please be polite when you come to us..."
The pink flower prattled on, like a patron.
"Xiao Bing?"
The Ice Empress frowned slightly, showing her displeasure as she released the aura of the second overlord of the Far North for 390,000 years.
The tone of the pink flower suddenly halted, and the petals opened and closed with effort, as though it was swallowing saliva with human-like intensity.
It's over; this immortal herb is going to fall.
The Ice Empress might look like a cute little girl, but her tone was very cold: "I heard you have lived for a long time?"
"You, you are a soul..." The pink flower trembled, about to say that the other party was a soul beast, but the Ice Empress interrupted her.
"Huh?" The Ice Empress raised her tone twice, staring coldly at the pink flower.
Under the powerful pressure exerted by the Ice Empress, the petals of the pink flower shrank together.
It couldn't figure out who the other party was, but under absolute strength and cultivation suppression, the trembling sensation that coursed through its body made the pink flower feel the breath of death.
The Ice Empress, already slightly emotional about not merging with Huo Yuhao's third ring, asked coldly, "Do you know who I am?"
"No, I don't know." The pink flowers shook their petals almost in unison.
"Even when this emperor is unrecognized, it seems you live too comfortably here." The Ice Empress deliberately unleashed a chilling killing intent.
The pink flower quickly tapped its petals: "No, no, no, I know who you are."
The Ice Empress sneered, "Since you acknowledge my identity, you cannot remain!"
But Huo Yuhao reminded her that the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was very likely someone's backyard, and the risk factor was very high.
The pink flower began to tremble, but should she know the Ice Empress's identity?
"Okay, Bing'er, don't tease it."
At that moment, Snow Empress materialized outside of Huo Yuhao's body. When she arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well in the original story, she appeared as a young girl. However, she now maintained her noble, beautiful, and elegant demeanor as the Empress of the Far North.
Huo Yuhao patted Bingdi's shoulder and said with a warm smile, "Don't be upset. I will secure a place for you. Don't worry."
The pink flower watched the sudden appearance of Xuedi halt Bingdi's actions, and it was moved by Huo Yuhao's comforting words.
It felt grateful to Xuedi and Huo Yuhao.
"You are a good person. I... I won't cause you trouble for breaking into our home."
Dugu Luo blinked and looked at the pink flower. "Excuse me, what is your name?"
The petals of the pink flower are tilted, mimicking a human thinking gesture. After a few seconds, it produced a somewhat uncertain sound.
"That person called me an immortal herb and referred to me as Beautiful Silk Tulip... You can just call me Youyou."
"Though I can speak human language, I haven't lived for 100,000 years. I'm only about 10,000 years old."
Youyou felt much better upon saying this: "In our homeland, the nourishment from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well allows us to grow at an accelerated rate; every day we flourish here is equivalent to ten days of growth for external beings."
Its tone became a touch prouder. Although it was not a 100,000-year soul beast, it had reached that level of capability.
No wonder humans called them immortal herbs; it made sense.
Being able to attain the strength of 100,000 years in just 10,000 years of cultivation is a rarity among soul beasts.
Di Rachel was oblivious to Youyou's thoughts; otherwise, she would have had something to add to the conversation.
Dugu Luo paused momentarily before saying, "Youyou, is that human you are talking about Tang San?"
Youyou's giant petals that had been slowly opening and closing suddenly froze: "Shh! Don't utter that person's name directly."
"We are living well in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well now. If that person discovers that we possess the capabilities of 100,000 years, he may come to plunder again."
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips. The Lord God King must have been aware of their existence long ago, but he was merely using the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for his plans.
After all, how else could Huo Yuhao procure the Yearning Heartbroken Red for Wang Dong'er in the original text?
Dugu Luo jabbed playfully, "Youyou, don't you feel like you're being kept captive?"
"Even the Jade Phosphorus Flowers of Absolute Poison Array outside aren't naturally grown; they're structured with a definitive arrangement, showing signs of artificial cultivation."
Youyou gasped; even if she knew the truth, she couldn't say it out loud.
It responded weakly, "We aren't being kept captive. That person set up the Jade Phosphorus Flowers of Absolute Poison Array to protect us, ensuring that we can grow safely."
Youyou wasn't prepared to continue discussing this topic.
Anyway, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well radiated spiritual energy now. All they needed to do was sleep and eat well here without worrying about their future.
The Ice Empress released her breath to sense the area, browsing through the oddly shaped flowers and plants without leaving a trace.
"Yuhao, the plant-type soul beasts here—some of the advanced ones—possess the same capabilities as those it mentioned, having ten thousand years of strength equivalent to one hundred thousand years."
"Are you sure you want to seek soul rings here?"
The Ice Empress was perplexed. According to her observations so far, no one was more suited to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well than her.
If anything could benefit Huo Yuhao, the Ice Empress would happily assist, for her and the Snow Empress's goal was to help Huo Yuhao grow stronger.
But this Beautiful Silk Tulip looked timid, and it was likely that the other immortal herbs wouldn't stand out much either.
Oh, yes, there was an octagonal mysterious ice grass, but how could this compare with the Ice Empress?
Huo Yuhao released the Chilling Bone Flame and smiled, "Ice Empress, let's explore the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well Lake."
Upon hearing this, the Ice Empress stepped towards the cold spring's location.
Youyou intended to speak up to stop them but suddenly sensed the breath of the Chilling Bone Flame emanating from Huo Yuhao, her tone turning shocked.
"Huh... The breaths of these two attributes resemble those of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well."
"Oh no! Your ice and fire breaths appear to blend quite harmoniously, whereas the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, while equally harmonious, clearly do not interfere with each other."
The essence of the Chilling Bone Flame is a synthesis of two attributes, while the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well represents one attribute from each dragon: the Water Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King.
After the demise of the two dragon kings, their essences could interact without conflict, ultimately forming this blessed land.
The Ice Empress, Huo Yuhao, and the others approached the lakeside and arrived at the ice spring, which radiated waves of cold air.
Huo Yuhao was safeguarded by the Chilling Bone Flame, and its extreme cold surpassed that of the Ice Spring. Still, the Ice Spring was vast, and he subconsciously shivered.
The Ice Empress released the breath of extreme ice to help the group withstand the Ice Spring's chill.
With the Ice Empress's protection, Di Rachel unleashed her golden flame. As long as she didn't enter the spring, the Ice Spring's coldness wouldn't affect her much.
However, Dugu Luo trembled against the cold, and the Ice Empress had to intensify her assistance to stave off the cold's encroachment.
"Ice Empress, let's begin and see what lies beneath this Ice Spring."
The Ice Empress nodded gently, and then her breath of extreme ice penetrated the depths of the Ice Spring. The cold water's surface presented no capacity to impede the Ice Empress, allowing her to break through effortlessly.
However, Huo Yuhao was aware that the deeper he ventured into the ice spring, the nearer he approached the Water Dragon King's corpse, intensifying the pressure he would encounter.
After all, the Water Dragon King had formidable powers when he was alive. Even if he had now fallen, it would be challenging for the Ice Empress to interact with the dragon's corpse.
"It appears to be a pure ice spring; the bottom seems endless." As the Ice Empress's breath continued to explore deeper, she felt no anomalies aside from the cold spring itself.
"It's fine, Ice Empress. Just go deeper; if there's nothing, I will merge with you."
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. The Water Dragon King and the Fire Dragon King were only mentioned in the original work, and Huo Yuhao had no direct ties to them.
If he truly couldn't acquire the Water Dragon King, it would simply mean it wasn't his fate.
Before long, the entire ice spring shuddered violently, and the whole valley housing the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well quaked slightly due to the ensuing chain reaction.
Upon hearing Huo Yuhao state that if nothing was found at the bottom of the spring, she'd merge with him, Bingdi's eyes glinted as she contemplated whether to play a trick.
Unexpectedly, her breath seemed to have triggered a mechanism. In the spring's center, an immense energy gathered, forming a rapidly rotating ice-white light ring.
Youyou, seeing the entire valley tremble, gasped: "What happened? Could that person be coming? Didn't they say that once one becomes a god, they may not interfere in the lower world?"
Bingdi remained uncertain, feeling a mix of excitement and disappointment. With a complex expression, she sighed softly.
"Yuhao, there seems to be something below."
Bingdi immediately gathered her strength, attempting to pull whatever was at the bottom of the spring upward.
With her power, she could simply lift a dragon's corpse, but the formidable cold aura from the Water Dragon King at the spring's bottom stifled Bingdi's efforts.
"Don't be afraid, Ice Empress. This auspicious beast will assist you."
Empress Rachel noticed that the silver dragon king's reverse scale on her neck was glowing with silver light, so she removed the pendant.
The silver reverse scale flew towards the center of the ice spring, and the unique breath of the Silver Dragon King surged from it, aiding the Ice Empress in suppressing the aura from below the ice spring.
Star Dou Great Forest, beneath the Lake of Life.
The Silver Dragon King suddenly opened her clear and deep purple dragon eyes: "What is this auspicious beast doing?"
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(End of this chapter)