After Baixue successfully obtained her first soul ring, we made our way back to the hotel to recover from the day's events. I needed to inform her of my upcoming absence, as I planned to venture into the more northern reaches of the forest—a region known as the Extreme North. The locals considered this area a forbidden zone due to its treacherous weather conditions and formidable soul beasts that made their home there.
Several factors bolstered my confidence for this dangerous expedition: primarily Tian Meng's assistance, the backup teleportation skill from Xiao Wu's soul ring that Tian Meng could utilize, and perhaps most significantly, my "Child of Luck" title which had proven valuable countless times before.
"Baixue, you'll need to remain here for several days, potentially even weeks, until I return," I explained while she listened attentively. "Continue practicing your techniques during my absence."
She appeared momentarily lost in thought before responding with unexpected urgency, "Master, please don't leave me behind. I promise to follow your every instruction precisely."
I sighed heavily, wondering how she had arrived at such a misunderstanding. "I'm not abandoning you," I clarified. "The situation is that I require spirit rings from more powerful soul beasts, necessitating travel into the deeper, more dangerous regions of the forest. In those areas, I couldn't guarantee your protection, which is why I'm instructing you to wait here where it's safer."
Her expression softened slightly, though concern still lingered in her eyes. "Master, promise you'll return soon," she requested, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I promise to make every effort to return properly," I assured her. "Afterward, we'll proceed together to the academy. Does that arrangement sound acceptable?"
"Yes, Master," she replied, her voice diminishing further as embarrassment colored her features regarding her earlier outburst.
"Then I'll be departing now. Take care of yourself." Before leaving, I crafted a hidden weapon for her protection in case of emergency.
"Keep this with you and use it for self-defense if necessary," I instructed, spending considerable time teaching her the proper handling techniques. I had considered providing her with a pistol but ultimately deemed it inappropriate to place such a dangerous weapon in the hands of a child, regardless of her exceptional abilities.
After ensuring Baixue was comfortably settled in the hotel with adequate provisions and protection, I ventured back into the forest until I discovered a suitable clearing for my preparations.
I had not yet attempted flight using Tian Meng's external soul bone skill—this seemed an opportune moment to test it. I needed to be mindful not to ascend too high where the increasing cold would become problematic even for my enhanced constitution.
"Tian Meng, let's proceed to the Extreme North," I announced decisively, my voice cutting through the ambient forest sounds. A nearby bird took flight, startled by the sudden noise. "The timing seems appropriate. The weather indicates relatively stable conditions for the next few days, and I've completed all necessary preparations." I flexed my shoulders, preparing for the sensation of the external soul bone manifestation. "Should we encounter difficulties, you could teleport us away as you've done previously, or we could simply utilize your flight capabilities to escape."
Tian Meng materialized beside me, his delicate features animated with enthusiasm. The afternoon sunlight seemed to pass through him partially, giving him an ethereal quality that reminded me of his supernatural origin.
"Big Sister Qingxue, you needn't worry!" he exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. His boyish enthusiasm contrasted sharply with the gravity of our mission. "I, Tian Meng, shall serve as your perfect guide—after all, the Extreme North is essentially my home territory. Don't concern yourself with the cold or other environmental hazards; I can easily mitigate those conditions for you. My ice affinity allows me to create a protective barrier against the worst of the elements." He puffed out his chest proudly. "Additionally, my aura will prevent any soul beasts below 100,000 years from approaching us. They'll sense my power and give us a wide berth!"
"In that case, Tian Meng, I'll be relying heavily on your expertise," I acknowledged, appreciating his confidence while mentally adjusting my expectations. Tian Meng's enthusiasm sometimes outpaced his abilities, though I'd never mentioned this observation to avoid dampening his spirits. "Your knowledge of the territory will be invaluable."
As the external soul bone manifested between my shoulder blades—a strange sensation of something both foreign and inherently part of me emerging from beneath my skin—Tian Meng assumed control of its operation since I hadn't yet mastered the art of flight independently. The bone extended outward, forming translucent, wing-like appendages that shimmered with a pale blue energy.
However, I certainly hadn't anticipated crashing unceremoniously three times before achieving stable flight. The first attempt sent me spiraling into a particularly thorny bush, the second had me skidding across the forest floor on my stomach, and the third resulted in an undignified collision with a low-hanging branch. Each failure tested my usually substantial patience. My frustration manifested in a deadpan stare directed at Tian Meng, who hovered nearby with an increasingly apologetic expression.
He laughed nervously at my expression, rubbing the back of his head. "Haha, Sister Qingxue, would you believe me if I say this wasn't intentional? The soul bone responds differently to each master, and, well..." he trailed off before brightening again. "Remember that I only recently evolved into a butterfly-type soul beast. My understanding of aerodynamics is still somewhat... theoretical."
I brushed leaves and dirt from my clothing, suppressing a sigh. "At least no one witnessed these attempts," I muttered, mentally cataloging the various bruises that would certainly develop later. "Perhaps you could just fly to certain altitude, and glide down from there?"
The fourth attempt proved more successful. We rose steadily above the treeline, the forest shrinking beneath us as we gained height. The vast expanse of green gradually gave way to patches of white as we headed northward, the temperature dropping noticeably with each passing minute.
Anyway, the flight in the open sky was initially somewhat terrifying—the ground so far below, the wind buffeting my body, the constant awareness that a mistake could send me plummeting. But as I adapted to it, the experience transformed into something almost magical. There was an undeniable freedom in soaring above the world, seeing the landscape from a perspective few humans ever witnessed. The sensation was both humbling and exhilarating.
I sighed deeply, unable to formulate a compelling counterargument against Tian Meng's excuses. The view below had shifted completely to white now, endless expanses of snow and ice stretching to the horizon. "Well then, elaborate on your strategy for capturing the Ice Emperor," I prompted, changing the subject to our primary objective. The cold air was beginning to seep through my protective clothing despite Tian Meng's barrier.
Just after Tian Meng was absorbed as a spirit ring, he had learned about my aspirations toward godhood and my soul ring configuration plans. During one of our many internal conversations, he had shared his ambitious idea regarding the capture of the Ice Emperor. The plan was audacious, perhaps even foolhardy, but it aligned perfectly with my needs.
I couldn't fault his evident infatuation with the Ice Emperor, as our arrangement represented a mutually beneficial scenario—I would acquire a valuable soul ring while he pursued his romantic interest. Though I couldn't help wondering, considering the Ice Emperor's well-known obsession with the female Snow Emperor, whether Tian Meng's appearance would appeal to her aesthetic preferences. Would she find his butterfly form attractive, or would she dismiss him outright? The question intrigued me considerably, and I found myself genuinely curious about the outcome.
"Before detailing my strategic approach," Tian Meng began professionally, his demeanor shifting to something more serious than his usual carefree attitude, "allow me to provide some essential background information about the Extreme North. The region is dominated by three Arctic Kings, each controlling specific territories and commanding their own hierarchies of lesser beasts."
He gestured grandly toward the frozen landscape below us. "The last of the three is the Arctic Ice Devil Titan King, fearsome but least among equals. The second is the Ice Jade Scorpion King—the Ice Emperor herself—whose beauty is said to be matched only by her deadly precision. And finally, first on the hierarchy and unquestionably the most powerful, the head of all Arctic Kings, the Heavenly Snow Women Spirit, commonly known as the Snow Emperor. Most crucially, these formidable beings are approximately 199,900 years, 389,000 years, and 699,900 years old, respectively."
This information gave me pause. The wind whistled past us as I processed the implications of these ages. I understood that the Ice Emperor was approximately 10,000 years younger than the timeline of Soul Land 2, but what about the other two who seemed poised on the verge of evolutionary breakthrough? Soul beasts typically faced revolutionary transformations at key age milestones—100,000, 200,000, and so forth. These beings were all suspiciously just shy of major thresholds.
The only reasonable explanation was that they were deliberately accumulating appropriate resources to successfully weather the legendary Heavenly Tribulation Lightning shower that accompanied such transitions. This cosmic phenomenon was known to destroy many would-be higher beings during their advancement attempts. Preparation was essential for survival.
Tian Meng continued his detailed exposition, clearly enjoying the role of knowledgeable guide: "The Snow Emperor hasn't yet reached 700,000 years primarily because she's nurturing a rare Snow Lotus herb which will facilitate faster recovery after her eventual breakthrough. The herb requires constant supervision and precise environmental control—even the slightest fluctuation in temperature or spiritual energy could ruin centuries of cultivation."
He traced complex patterns in the air as he spoke, visually mapping the territories below. "This circumstance provides us the perfect opportunity to encounter the Ice Emperor alone, as the Snow Emperor remains preoccupied guarding the precious Snow Lotus. Additionally, the Ice Emperor maintains limited social relationships with other soul beasts, with the sole exception of the Ice Bear King, who was adopted by the Snow Emperor as a cub after a territorial dispute left him orphaned."
Tian Meng's expression turned contemplative. "Most likely, the Ice Bear King will avoid approaching the Ice Empress unless accompanied by the Snow Emperor. Their relationship is complicated by political tensions between their respective territories. This isolation creates our window of opportunity—we can approach and isolate the Ice Emperor, allowing me to employ myself as bait for the trap. Only then can I properly negotiate with her regarding our proposition."
"How did you acquire such detailed intelligence despite your relatively modest bloodline status?" I questioned sceptically. We were now descending gradually toward what appeared to be a vast field of ice crystals, each reflecting the light in dazzling patterns. "Aren't Ice Silkworms like yourself considered natural prey for the Ice Jade Scorpion? I imagine reconnaissance would be particularly challenging under those circumstances."
"Sister Qingxue," he responded with dramatic flair, placing a hand over his heart, "you underestimate the transformative power of love! It transcends racial boundaries and every other limitation, enabling me to learn everything possible about the Ice Emperor." His eyes took on a dreamy quality. "I've observed her from afar for decades, studying her habits, her preferences, her rare moments of vulnerability. I've risked discovery countless times just to catch glimpses of her magnificent form gliding across the ice fields."
"As expected of Senior Tian Meng!" Xiao Wu suddenly materialized beside us, her ghostly form shimmering into existence. Her expression reflected both admiration and contempt. "Love truly knows no boundaries, unlike certain individuals who remain entirely indifferent to emotional connections." Her pointed remark was clearly directed at me, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke.
Yeah, yeah. I understood how Xiao Wu's all-consuming love had helped Tang San—her entire existence was used for Tang San to hold Shura God Throne, and even sacrificed her both brother for the love. Leaving aside the sarcasm, at least Tian Meng possessed sufficient intelligence to devise strategies that might potentially evoke genuine emotion from the Ice Emperor. In matters of love and war, everything is fair, though I remained sceptical about his chances of success.
"Whatever your perspective," I replied philosophically as we touched down on the crystalline surface, the cold immediately seeping through my boots, "love is just like beer—the deeper we fall, the stronger our dependency grows. When we lose it, our hearts become numb unless the feeling of love is genuinely reciprocated. One-sided passion rarely ends well for anyone involved."
"Sister Qingxue, your observation is remarkably accurate, though surprisingly mature for someone of your apparent age," Tian Meng commented, his head tilted curiously as he studied my face. His innocent observation inadvertently reminded me that I'd spoken too knowingly, too experienced for the youthful appearance I maintained.
Quickly crafting a plausible explanation, I maintained my composure while adjusting my gloves more securely. "I don't have parents in my life, and maybe due to that persistent longing for that fundamental connection, my heart developed a certain emotional numbness early on. That experience informed my conclusions about the nature of love." I maintained a neutral expression to support my improvised reasoning, though internally I chided myself for the careless slip.
"I had no idea Sister Qingxue had endured such hardship," Tian Meng responded sympathetically, his eyes softening. "Your wisdom is born from pain—a common but unfortunate path."
He seemed ready to offer further condolences, but suddenly his posture straightened, his attention shifting to our surroundings. The endless white expanse stretched in all directions, broken only by jagged formations of ice that resembled twisted sculptures.
"We've arrived, Sister Qingxue," he announced, smoothly transitioning back to our mission. "This location is ideal for trapping the Ice Emperor—there's no presence of the Ice Jade Scorpions here, and we're positioned relatively close to the Ice Emperor's territory. The wind patterns will carry my scent directly toward her domain, while these ice formations will provide us strategic cover."
Xiao Wu retreated to her internal dwelling as her assistance wasn't currently required, her form dissolving like morning mist. We took some time to prepare ourselves, focusing on recovery of our depleted energy reserves from the journey. I settled into a meditative posture, regulating my breathing to conserve body heat while maximizing my spiritual energy circulation.
After adequate preparation, I positioned myself carefully on the ice, covered with the Ice Bear fur I had specifically purchased for this expedition. The fur provided excellent camouflage against the vast, white snowfield, its enchanted properties helping to mask my human scent and retain crucial body heat. Tian Meng utilized his considerable mental energy to conceal my presence entirely from detection, adding an additional layer of security to our ambush.
He then transformed into his soul beast form—a magnificent butterfly whose ethereal beauty belied its tremendous power. His wings spanned nearly two meters, each translucent surface etched with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and change like living frost. Tiny crystals of ice formed and reformed along the edges of his wings, catching the light and dispersing it in rainbow patterns across the snow.
"Are you ready, Sister Qingxue?" his melodic voice echoed in my mind. "Once I begin the attraction signal, there will be no turning back."
I settled more deeply into my concealed position, checking once more that my equipment was easily accessible. "I'm ready," I confirmed. "Let the hunt begin."