"Sect Master."
Upon seeing Niu Tian and Tai Tan, the gathered elders immediately bowed in respect.
The eldest among them addressed Niu Tian: "Sect Master, why has such an immensely powerful Fierce Beast's aura suddenly appeared within our Hao Tian Sect—especially one ranked among the top few in the world?"
"Likely brought in by someone," Niu Tian replied.
His eyes flickered with azure light as he sensed the aura more closely. Detecting no trace of hostility, he waved the elders away, leaving only himself and Tai Tan standing guard.
"Brother," Tai Tan murmured, now calm since Niu Tian showed no alarm, "what's this kid up to?"
He was burning with curiosity.
Instead of answering, Niu Tian posed a question:
"Old Er—suppose you'd survived back then, cultivated all the way to Fierce Beast status… but now, in a few years, you'd inevitably face heavenly tribulation and die. If a soul master capable of godhood stood before you, what would you choose?"
"Bet everything on him, of course!" Tai Tan answered without hesitation. "Offer myself in soul sacrifice—wait for him to ascend, then resurrect me."
The moment he spoke, understanding dawned on him.
"So… that's Snow Empress's plan."
"Exactly," Niu Tian nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, she's about to become this boy's soul spirit—and his seventh soul ring."
"Tsk tsk tsk—" Tai Tan whistled in astonishment.
"A 690,000-year True Body… unimaginable!"
Such a Martial Soul True Body was unprecedented—and likely would never be seen again.
—
Meanwhile, in the Cold Jade Chamber—
Huo Yuhao sat serenely on the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Bed, but chaos reigned in his spiritual sea.
"It's her! How can she possibly be here?!" Ice Empress cried out in disbelief.
"Bing Bing, are you sure you're not mistaken?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm asked skeptically.
"Nonsense! How could I be wrong?!"
"But…"
"No 'buts'!"
With a furious flick of her scorpion tail, she sent the worm flying across the mental plane.
Huo Yuhao watched helplessly, then finally asked, "Who is 'she'?"
"Snow Empress."
The name struck Huo Yuhao speechless.
Snow Empress—the third-ranked Fierce Beast in the world!
Before he could recover, Ice Empress urgently pleaded for him to go investigate. She could feel Snow Empress nearby.
Huo Yuhao readily agreed—after all, Ice Empress confirmed the aura felt peaceful, indicating no danger.
But the moment he opened the door—
Swish—
He came face-to-face with Niu Tian and Tai Tan.
"So the aura of Snow Empress has drawn out you, too—brat with an Ice Jade Empress Scorpion martial soul," Tai Tan remarked casually.
Ice Jade Empress Scorpion?!
Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat. Just as Ice Empress predicted—they'd sensed her presence. Or rather, they'd sensed that she'd become part of his martial soul.
But Tai Tan made no move to expose him. Instead, Niu Tian said evenly, "You came rushing over because you're curious what's happening inside, right? Then come in and see for yourself."
He reached for the doorknob.
But before he could push it open, a hand gently settled beside his—silently blocking him.
"Uncle… perhaps we should wait a moment," Huo Yuhao said firmly, ignoring Ice Empress's frantic cries in his mind. His eyes locked onto Niu Tian's, burning with quiet intensity.
He had a good idea what Snow Empress was doing—and this was no time for interruption.
"Oh?" Niu Tian raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. For the first time, he felt a flicker of genuine approval for this young man.
But Tai Tan wasn't so restrained. "What's this? This is our home! Since when do we need permission to enter our own rooms?"
"No, no—I didn't mean that!" Huo Yuhao flustered, waving his hands.
Thankfully, Niu Tian intervened. "Enough, Brother."
Just as he was about to say more, a voice came from inside—
"Uncles, Yu Hao—you're already at the door. Might as well come in."
Well then—
The host himself had issued the invitation.
The moment the door opened, an unimaginably frigid aura surged outward.
And there, at the center of a glowing spirit-binding formation, stood a small, childlike figure.
But when they recognized her—
"Snow Empress?!" ×3
Three voices echoed in stunned disbelief.
Inside Huo Yuhao's mind, Ice Empress was utterly dumbfounded.
Yet the ritual was at its final stage—neither Chen Junting nor Snow Empress paid the newcomers any mind.
Recognizing this, the three instantly held their breath, watching in rapt silence. Niu Tian and Tai Tan, especially, were deeply curious about soul spirits.
The newly inscribed Spirit-Binding Array now blazed with radiance.
A wave of invisible energy flowed from Snow Empress. Her tiny form began to dissolve, replaced by a vision of breathtaking elegance—ethereal, majestic, and icy cold.
Simultaneously, a blood-red soul ring marked with six golden rings slowly emerged. As Snow Empress transformed into a soul spirit, the ring's hue began shifting toward brilliant orange.
Clutching his Seven Kill Sword, Chen Junting felt a torrent of power surge into his body, merging seamlessly with his core.
Snow Empress's form was now half-transparent—but one final step remained.
"What soul bone do you wish for?" Her voice was crisp, calm.
Chen Junting hesitated briefly—
Then, Niu Tian offered timely advice: "Choose an arm bone. In 99% of cases, the seventh soul skill is True Body. If you bind Snow Empress as your seventh ring but don't secure a matching soul bone, you'll waste her legendary Three Supreme Arts—Empress' Sword, Empress' Palm, Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice (Empress' Chill)—most of which rely on hand techniques."
Chen Junting made his decision instantly.
"Snow Empress—let's do it this way."
"Agreed."
Snow Empress nodded. White energy swirled violently.
In the next instant, her form vanished completely—yet the biting chill of the Far North filled the room.
Floating before Chen Junting now was a left arm bone, seemingly carved from crystalline ice, dusted with eternal snowflakes.
It glowed brilliantly—then seamlessly fused onto his left arm.
Huuuum—!
A clear, resonant sword chime pierced the heavens.
At that moment, Chen Junting shattered through Level 70—and his cultivation continued surging upward!
As for Snow Empress…
"…So this is your Spiritual Sea?"
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