The shadow cast by the Ice Bear King's sacrifice had not yet fully dispersed when the news of the Ice Emperor entering the ranking arrived like a warm ray of sunlight, sweeping away all the heaviness.
Inside the palace, the Snow Empress stood in white robes purer than snow itself. Gazing at the Ice Emperor's name on the light screen, her cold eyes were filled with relief and a gentle smile as she raised her hand and lightly patted the Ice Emperor's shoulder.
"A Bing, congratulations. Four hundred and seventy thousand years of cultivation, plus the Ice Explosion Technique. You are now truly the main pillar of combat strength in the Extreme North."
A faint icy blue glow lingered around the Ice Emperor. Even her originally cold and rigid scorpion body revealed a trace of barely perceptible excitement.
She looked at the words "Ice Explosion Technique" on the light screen, sensing the restless power of Extreme Ice surging within her body, her voice carrying a slight tremor.
However, she soon snorted coldly.
They say you do not strike a smiling face and you do not expose someone's sore spot, so why did this ranking stab straight into her weak point?
What if she did not have the Ice Explosion Technique before, did she choose not to have it herself?
Still, complaints aside, after receiving the reward, the Ice Emperor was all smiles. As she felt the terrifying might of the Ice Explosion Technique, powerful enough to detonate the entire Extreme North, her expression gradually brightened with joy.
The Titan Snow Demon King stood to the side. Although there was still a trace of arrogance on his face, the recognition and shock in his eyes were impossible to conceal.
The Ice Emperor glanced at him indifferently, the corner of her mouth lifting into an extremely faint curve. "A Tai, follow by my side from now on. No one will dare touch you."
The Snow Empress looked at the two of them, a deep glint flashing through her eyes. "Now that the Soul Beast Ranking has appeared, turmoil will soon sweep across the continent. A Bing, your growth is the greatest foundation for the Extreme North."
"But we cannot lower our guard, especially against that Deep Sea Demon Whale King in the deep sea, and those terrifying existences in the Star Dou Forest."
The Ice Emperor nodded slightly. The excitement in her eyes faded, replaced by solemn resolve.
"I understand. Rest assured, Snow Empress. I will master the Ice Explosion Technique as soon as possible and raise my strength. I will never bring danger to the Extreme North."
...
At the same time, inside a pavilion at Heavenly Path Academy, Li Tianyi was quietly sipping tea. Shui Bing'er sat cross-legged, refining the energy brought by the Ice Bear King's sacrifice. A pure glow of Extreme Ice surrounded her body, and her aura had already stabilized at the level of an Eighty-Rank Soul Douluo.
When the Soul Beast Ranking updated and the Ice Emperor's information appeared, Li Tianyi's hand holding the teacup paused slightly. His gaze swept over the light screen, a trace of understanding flashing in his eyes before he smiled faintly.
"The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, four hundred and seventy thousand years, and she even obtained the Ice Explosion Technique. The Extreme North is becoming more and more interesting."
Shui Bing'er slowly opened her eyes and looked at the Ice Emperor's name on the light screen, her eyes filled with shock and reverence.
She could clearly sense that the power of Extreme Ice emanating from the Ice Emperor was several times stronger than that of the Ice Bear King who had just been sacrificed.
Especially the words "Ice Explosion Technique," which stirred a ripple in her heart. She wondered whether her own Ice Explosion Technique was stronger or weaker than that of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion clan.
"Teacher, the Ice Emperor's strength is far too terrifying, isn't it?"
Shui Bing'er spoke softly, her tone carrying disbelief.
Li Tianyi set down his teacup and looked at Shui Bing'er. "A four hundred and seventy thousand year ferocious beast, plus a natal talent like the Ice Explosion Technique, does indeed count as top-tier combat power on the continent. However, for you, this is not a bad thing."
Shui Bing'er looked at Li Tianyi in confusion. "Teacher, what do you mean?"
"The Ice Emperor controls Extreme Ice, which shares the same origin as your martial soul," Li Tianyi said slowly. "Her rise is both pressure and motivation for you."
"You are already a Soul Douluo and possess the Ice Bear King's Extreme Ice soul ring. If in the future you can clash with the Ice Emperor, or even comprehend the true essence of the Ice Explosion Technique from her, it will greatly help you break through to Title Douluo and even reach godhood."
"Of course, later on I will take you to the Extreme North again. There is still an Ice and Snow Celestial Maiden there."
"If your eighth soul ring is the Ice Emperor and your ninth soul ring is the Snow Empress, then if all goes well, you will become the absolute ruler of ice and snow."
A flash of realization passed through Shui Bing'er's eyes, followed by firm resolve.
"I understand, Teacher. I will cultivate diligently and will not fail your expectations."
Li Tianyi nodded in satisfaction and raised his hand to lightly pat her shoulder.
"Very good."
"However, you do not need to rush."
"The Ice Emperor cultivated for four hundred and seventy thousand years to achieve her current accomplishments. You are only a little over seventeen years old and already a Soul Douluo. The road ahead is still very long."
He paused, his gaze returning to the light screen, a deep glimmer flashing in his eyes.
"Moreover, the powerhouses on this continent are not limited to the Ice Emperor alone."
"The Demon Whale King of the deep sea, someone in the Star Dou Forest, and those forces hidden in the shadows…"
"The coming era on the continent will be a fierce clash of dragons and tigers."
"What you need to do is continuously strengthen yourself, gain a firm foothold amid this upheaval, and ultimately embark on the path to godhood."
Shui Bing'er nodded heavily. "This disciple will keep the teacher's teachings firmly in mind."
Outside the pavilion, a gentle breeze swept past, carrying the faint fragrance of tea and the aura of Extreme Ice.
Li Tianyi looked at the light screen in the sky, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile, confidence shining in his eyes.
Shui Bing'er, meanwhile, sat cross-legged once more, closed her eyes, and refined the energy within her body with all her strength, charging toward an even higher realm.
At this moment, deep within the sea, the Demon Empress was devouring a four hundred and fifty thousand year Deep Sea Giant Python. As she felt the power within her body continuously growing, her eyes were filled with frenzied delight. Suddenly, she sensed an energy fluctuation coming from the sky. She raised her head and looked toward the light screen above the sea surface. When she saw the Ice Emperor's information, the joy in her eyes instantly turned into icy killing intent.
"Ice Emperor? Four hundred and seventy thousand years? And she even obtained the Ice Explosion Technique?"
The Demon Empress snorted coldly as purple-black energy surged wildly around her.
"She is nothing more than a land-dwelling scorpion. How is she worthy of standing alongside me?"
"Just wait. It will not be long before I break through to a million years. When that time comes, whether it is you, Ice Emperor, or those land-based forces, all of you will become nourishment for me to devour."
The sky screen changed once again without warning.
[Soul Beast Ranking Twelfth: Myriad Demon King]
[Cultivation: 520,000 years]
[Affiliation: Star Dou Forest]
[Evaluation: True form is the Demonic Eye Devil Tree, Extreme Wood combined with poison, possessing three attributes of wood, poison, and spirit. The strongest plant-type soul beast in the Star Dou Forest, one of the kings of the Star Dou Forest, ruler of all soul beasts in the outer regions of the Star Dou Forest.]
[Reward: Ninety thousand years of cultivation, poison attribute and spirit attribute upgraded to Extreme attributes.]
Golden light burst forth from the Soul Beast Ranking. Information for the twelfth place resounded like thunder across the skies above the Star Dou Forest. The gazes of all the ferocious beasts by the Lake of Life instantly focused on the light screen, then turned in unison toward the towering figure beside Gu Yuena.
The Myriad Demon King stood quietly at Gu Yuena's side. He wore a dark green robe, with a faint fragrance of vegetation and a barely perceptible aura of chilling poison lingering around his body.
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