Shui Bing'er already knew the situation in the far north and the existence of the three Heavenly Kings of the far north.
This was all from the conversations Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er had during their boring time in the ice cave.
"Will my teachers be in danger?"
Shui Bing'er asked worriedly. Her four teachers were still frozen in the ice cave.
She didn't know if the Ice Emperor had ended their lives.
Strangely enough, how did the Ice Emperor suddenly find this place?
Ma Hongjun didn't deliberately conceal his aura, maintaining his Dragon Soul Martial Soul state, and led Shui Bing'er towards the Ice Centipede Cave.
In the crevice between the two mountains, the former Ice Centipedes were gone, replaced by a group of Ice Scorpions.
They could be seen darting between various rock crevices, each a vibrant green scorpion.
It seemed that after the Ice Emperor occupied this place, she drove away the Ice Centipede clan and let the Ice Scorpion clan live here.
"Little Purple, your homeland has been occupied. Will your people be alright?"
This was Ma Hongjun's concern. He was determined to subdue the Ice Emperor, but if the Ice Emperor wiped out the Ice Centipede clan, there would be a conflict between him and Little Purple, making it difficult for their souls to coexist.
"They should be fine. The Ice Centipedes and Ice Scorpions don't have any racial conflicts, and they share similar habits with little difference. They even cooperate regularly and rarely engage in life-or-death battles.
Besides, the Ice Emperor is always arrogant and won't concern himself with such matters. At most, those Ice Centipedes will just be driven away from here."
Tianmeng answered before Little Purple could speak.
Little Purple didn't refute, indicating agreement with Tianmeng's point of view, but she also curled up angrily. Of
course, she wasn't happy that her own kind had been driven away, especially since her new favorite, Tianmeng, was defending her rival.
This filled Little Purple with anger and sadness.
Ma Hongjun sighed inwardly, "Tianmeng has narrowed her path!
If she doesn't reconcile the relationship at this crucial moment, it will be difficult for her to establish a palace and make a concubine later!" They
walked to the entrance of the ice cave.
As soon as Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er approached, the ice scorpions began to squeak.
These ice scorpions were noticeably more arrogant than the previous ice centipedes, suggesting they had powerful backers and were more confident.
Several ice-green scorpions crawled out.
"So it's you!"
Ma Hongjun recognized the familiar ice-green scorpion—the one he had kicked away at the spot where he had landed on the iceberg.
The Ice Emperor's arrival was very likely related to this ice-green scorpion.
Otherwise, how could the Ice Emperor have suddenly appeared when the Purple-Backed Profound Ice Centipede had remained in seclusion here for so many millennia? There
were only two explanations: one, the ice-green scorpion Ma Hongjun had beaten had tracked his scent, arrived here, and discovered the secret of this place;
two, the ice-green scorpion, after being beaten, sought revenge on the Ice Emperor, following Ma Hongjun's scent to this location.
In short, it was related to this guy.
However, it was good that the Ice Emperor had arrived, saving Ma Hongjun the trouble of searching the entire far north.
Upon seeing Ma Hongjun, the Ice Jade Scorpion clearly showed surprise, its small eyes shining, but it also crawled back fearfully.
It quickly scurried into the ice cave, presumably to inform the Ice Emperor.
The other Ice Scorpions and Ice Jade Scorpions blocked the cave entrance.
They dared not attack Ma Hongjun; the Ice Soul Dragon Soul Martial Soul he displayed, with its four soul rings of platinum, red, blue-gold, and red, put immense pressure on the scorpions.
Ma Hongjun didn't rashly attack either; he waited outside the cave, showing courtesy before resorting to force, giving the Ice Emperor face and ensuring a good start for both sides.
Soon, the Ice Scorpions parted to make way.
The Ice Emperor emerged.
The surrounding air instantly turned cold, and one could feel wisps of ice crystals enveloping the area.
The Ice Emperor's appearance was roughly similar to the Ice Jade Scorpion seen on the ice mountain, but its color was a deeper, more vibrant green.
Compared to ordinary scorpions, the Ice Emperor's tail was somewhat distinctive.
Unlike the multi-segmented tails of ordinary scorpions, Hyotei's tail has only five segments.
Each segment is an alluring emerald green, shimmering with a vibrant, life-giving luster.
The five segments are the same color, the widest being the one closest to the upper body, tapering towards the rear. At the very last segment, a crest, also adorned with diamond-like particles, is raised high, its tip a shimmering, silvery-white mirror-like point.
Its eyes are yellow, like two yellow diamonds set within them.
The crystalline yellow light shimmers, giving it a dazzling, precious quality.
However, this warm color carries a chilling undertone.
This is Hyotei, the aloof Hyotei.
"Human, this is not a place for you!"
Hyotei's cold voice rang out, pleasant to the ear, possessing a queenly aura.
She didn't attack immediately, seemingly wary of Ma Hongjun's imposing presence.
However, her eyes quickly fell on Tianmeng Baby, located in the heart of the Dragon Soul.
Tianmeng's two large eyes were fixed intently on Bingdi, completely captivated.
"Tianmeng Ice Silkworm!"
Bingdi exclaimed in surprise this time.
She had once hunted down Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. Bingdi had searched for Ice Marrow in the far north, and later discovered Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in an ice crevice, having already absorbed all the Ice Marrow. Enraged, she demanded Tianmeng eat it to make up for it.
It was to escape Bingdi's pursuit that Tianmeng drifted to land and accidentally stumbled into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Even so, Tianmeng remained infatuated with Bingdi. Despite
being a silkworm, it had a special fondness for centipedes and scorpions!
"It's me, it's me, Bingdi, did you miss me?"
"Yes, I missed you so much."
Bingdi gritted her teeth in anger. So much Ice Marrow had been absorbed by this fool, leaving it still a useless creature.
If she had obtained it, it would probably be the most powerful Soul Beast on the Douluo Continent now, the King of Soul Beasts, the ruler of all Soul Beasts.
However, thinking of the ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow in the ice cave, the Ice Emperor's anger subsided considerably. Heaven had finally been kind to her, giving her another chance.
"I miss you too, but I really want to die!"
Tianmeng said shamelessly at this moment.
"How come you're in a human's martial soul? Where's your body?"
The Ice Emperor asked in confusion. She couldn't tell Tianmeng's condition; it wasn't a sacrifice, nor was she killed.
"Ice Emperor, are you worried about me?
Oh, Bing'er, I'm fine. Although my body is gone, my heart and soul still love you."
Ma Hongjun rolled his eyes. This Tianmeng baby had completely changed since seeing the Ice Emperor.
The Ice Emperor was speechless. She didn't want to talk to Tianmeng anymore and turned to Ma Hongjun.
"Human, you haven't answered my question yet?"
"Oh, it's been a long time. Let your family chat first."
"Human, are you provoking me?"
"Oh, Ice Emperor, let's talk this out. Have we been here before?"
Tianmeng quickly spoke up again, pointing to Xiao Zi in the dragon claw area.
"Look at her, Xiao Zi was here three months ago. Xiao Zi is proof."
The Ice Emperor looked over. Seeing the body of the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede, along with the other ice centipedes present and the lingering aura from the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow Cave, the Ice Emperor believed Tian Meng's words.
However, there was no such thing as first come, first served. The Ice Emperor couldn't possibly give up the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.
But the Ice Emperor was even more puzzled. Seeing Tian Meng and the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede's spirits, why were they in this state?
Moreover, neither of them seemed to harbor any resentment towards this human, and they even spoke up for him.
They were spirit beasts, after all. Why?
The conflict between spirit beasts and humans was irreconcilable; when could they ever coexist?
This human was too strange. The Ice Emperor didn't want to get entangled with him any longer. Absorbing the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow was the most important thing for her now.
"This place is mine now. You can leave."
(End of Chapter)