"As expected, you could sense me."
An ethereal voice echoed through the slightly chilly air.
Crisp footsteps tapped against the ice as a woman with long, snow-white hair emerged unhurriedly from behind a massive boulder covered in snow.
Her flawless white hair cascaded down from the back of her head to her feet.
Her sky-blue eyes were clear and luminous, and the white dress she wore seemed to merge seamlessly with the surrounding space, as if she were one with it.
"You've been watching for a while, haven't you? No—I should say, you've been following us the whole time."
"Mn. I came after you left," the Snow Empress admitted without denial.
"Surveillance? I doubt you'd be that bored."
"No. I was merely curious about what you intended to do." The Snow Empress glanced at Ning Rongrong, then at Tokisaki Kurumi and Dugu Yan before returning her gaze to Ning Rongrong.
"Aside from that, I also came to inform you of something."
"Oh?" Ning Rongrong perked up. "Don't tell me you're planning to visit the human world."
"Unnecessary." The Snow Empress replied indifferently.
"I've been to the human world before. Aside from deceit and treachery, there's nothing there that interests me. I only came to tell you one thing."
"I intend to seal off the Far North and issue a decree to all soul beasts—any human who enters will be killed without exception."
The Snow Empress's graceful figure stood poised, her pristine white dress fluttering slightly. The merciless killing intent radiating from her caused Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er's faces to pale.
"Miss Snow Empress, am I to interpret this as you flexing your power here?"
"Kurumi and I may not be your match right now, but if we choose to flee, even with the Ice Empress's help, you won't be able to stop us."
Ning Rongrong frowned slightly, unable to comprehend why the Snow Empress had undergone such a drastic change in attitude.
"This applies not just to you, but to all humans who enter the Far North." The Snow Empress reined in her aura and exhaled softly before continuing.
"What you did triggered an anomaly in the Far North—one visible across at least a third of the Douluo Continent."
"So that's it." Ning Rongrong pinched her chin thoughtfully.
The Ice Empress must be worried about Soul Douluos and Title Douluos causing trouble in the Far North. The so-called "anomaly" was just the spectacle caused by the appearance of the Ancient Ice Phoenix—there was no treasure to be found.
"You have three days. Leave as soon as possible." The Snow Empress stated. "Within this timeframe, I will also expel all humans currently in the Far North."
"Why go out of your way to tell me this?"
Ning Rongrong was puzzled.
If the Snow Empress wanted to seal off the Far North, she could just do it. Why bother coming to warn them to leave quickly?
"Because of our contract. I don't wish for relations between us to sour. Moreover, I don't want you to misunderstand anything."
With that, the Snow Empress dissolved into specks of white light and vanished.
"How aloof." Ning Rongrong shook her head as she watched the spot where the Snow Empress had disappeared.
"Rongrong, about what the Snow Empress said…" Dugu Yan's voice reached Ning Rongrong's ears.
"Don't worry about it. Once Dean Shui wakes up, we'll leave."
The Snow Empress was a demigod-level powerhouse. In the unique environment of the Far North, even Qian Daoliu might not be able to defeat her.
But that Black Phoenix had only appeared for a brief moment—just a fragment of its soul and power leaking through the formation—and it had already caused such a commotion?
Half an hour later, Shui Cangyue slowly regained consciousness. Her Soul Douluo-level aura had further improved, reaching the realm all Soul Masters dreamed of—Title Douluo.
Everything felt surreal to Shui Cangyue. She had never imagined that she could advance from Soul Douluo to Title Douluo in just a few days.
And as her strength climbed to Title Douluo, her aged appearance reverted to a youthful state.
Her once sixty-year-old visage transformed into that of a woman in her late twenties—no older than thirty.
She quickly approached Ning Rongrong and knelt on one knee:
"Young Master, Shui Cangyue once again expresses her gratitude for the gifts you have bestowed upon me and the Shui Family. From this day forth, the Shui Family pledges loyalty to you—even at the cost of our lives."
"Mn. I appreciate it." Ning Rongrong nodded.
"No, it is I who should be thanking you. Were it not for your miraculous methods, I, Shui Cangyue, would have never reached the realm all Soul Masters yearn for in this lifetime."
She knew her own circumstances well. With her talent, the peak of Level 89 Soul Douluo had been her limit.
Eighty to ninety percent of Soul Douluos were stuck at this stage, forever unable to obtain their ninth Soul Ring.
This was why Soul Douluos were still somewhat respected, but Title Douluos were revered across the continent.
Even Dugu Bo, who had been Level 91 back then, had been treated as an honored guest in the Heaven Dou Empire.
For Shui Cangyue, pledging loyalty wasn't just about gratitude—there was another reason.
It was about the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—or rather, Ning Rongrong's future.
As a Title Douluo, she had never seen this "support-type" Soul Master fight.
But she had a feeling that, perhaps, she wouldn't be able to defeat the Young Master she had just sworn loyalty to.
An "unorthodox" support-type Soul Master.
"Stand up. Having a Title Douluo kneel in loyalty feels a bit strange." Ning Rongrong shifted the topic. "What's your ninth Soul Skill? If you don't mind sharing."
"Not at all." Shui Cangyue stood up. "My ninth Soul Ring grants me 'Mental Pressure.' Simply put, it uses spiritual power to distort and compress the surrounding space into an attack."
As she spoke, Shui Cangyue activated her Martial Soul.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red—nine Soul Rings rose around her.
"Ninth Soul Skill—Mental Pressure!"
In an instant, a powerful surge of spiritual energy manifested, condensing into a twisted, beam-like attack in front of her.
The transparent beam struck a distant boulder frozen in ice.
BOOM—
With a deafening explosion, the entire boulder was reduced to powder.
"Not bad. Stronger than that big worm's attacks."
Tokisaki Kurumi stood beside Ning Rongrong, commenting with interest.
"Indeed." Ning Rongrong nodded.
For a Level 91 Title Douluo—who wasn't a freak like Tang Hao—this level of power was already impressive.
"Dean Shui, does your hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring only grant one Soul Skill?" Ning Rongrong was more concerned about this. After all, even the Bone Douluo had two Soul Skills, but this was a man-made hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring. She wasn't entirely sure.
"Ah… yes, just one." Shui Cangyue was slightly surprised.
"I see. Never mind then." Ning Rongrong nodded.
After Shui Cangyue's demonstration, Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er—her granddaughters—rushed over, loudly praising their grandmother's strength.
Ning Rongrong, Tokisaki Kurumi, and Dugu Yan didn't disturb them, instead moving aside.
"Still not perfect, huh~ Doesn't match your usual obsession with perfection."
Tokisaki Kurumi rested her hands behind her head, deliberately drawing out her words.
Ning Rongrong shot her a sidelong glance.
"I'm not that much of a perfectionist. Be realistic. Besides… whether it's the Bone Douluo or Shui Cangyue, replicating this isn't easy."
In simple terms, it was like imparting knowledge—using higher-level energy to elevate lower-level energy and then stabilizing it.
The process had been more refined with Gu Rong, thanks to the Dark Devilgod Tiger's orb.
But for Shui Cangyue, it had relied on the energy of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and remnants of the Ancient Ice Phoenix's rules to forcibly elevate the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's Soul Ring to the hundred-thousand-year level.
Hence, only one skill.
After a brief exchange, Shui Cangyue approached. She had also heard from Shui Bing'er about the Snow Empress's warning, and Ning Rongrong agreed that they should leave the Far North now.
High in the sky.
The Ice Empress's cold gaze watched as Ning Rongrong and the others departed through a spatial portal.
She let out a long exhale, her right hand gripping the hilt of a slender sword forged from crystalline ice.
"It's time to get serious."
"The Far North is not humanity's playground."