Faced with Yunxiao's enthusiastic invitation, the Snow Emperor pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"I will answer for the Ice Emperor. We are willing to join the Elf Clan."
"I am also willing to return with you to the Elf Small World."
"However, I have a few questions for you."
Returning to the Elf Small World, rejoining her own kind—it was something she truly desired. Moreover, she would no longer have to face those accursed heavenly tribulations.
Truth be told, the Snow Emperor was more than willing in her heart.
But as the ruler of the Extreme North, she couldn't simply abandon her responsibilities and leave.
Aside from the Soul Beasts she didn't get along with, there were those she had known for tens of thousands of years.
By reason and sentiment, she couldn't just forsake them.
Meeting the Snow Emperor's gaze, Yunxiao thought for a moment.
If he wasn't mistaken, he understood her concerns.
After stroking his chin, Yunxiao spoke slowly.
"Snow Emperor, if I'm not wrong..."
"You're thinking about those Soul Beasts you're close to, aren't you?"
Hearing this, the Snow Emperor nodded slightly.
"Correct. I wanted to ask—since you were able to transform the Ice Emperor into an elf, could you..."
At this point, even the Snow Emperor hesitated to finish her sentence.
Her own return to the Elf Clan was one thing, but her request was somewhat excessive.
The number of Soul Beasts she was truly close to wasn't large—less than ten.
But the problem was, each of these old friends had their own clans behind them.
Combined, these ten Soul Beast clans numbered in the thousands, if not tens of thousands.
Understanding her hesitation, Yunxiao smiled dismissively.
"Snow Emperor, I see what you mean."
"Your concerns aren't a major issue for me."
"Right now, the Elf Clan is in a state of rebuilding. The more elves we have, the better."
"However, I must make something clear beforehand."
"For powerful Soul Beasts, transforming them into elves isn't a problem."
"But for those weaker in strength, there's a certain risk of failure."
"And if the transformation fails..."
"They will perish completely, becoming nourishment for the growth of the Elf Small World."
This wasn't meant to intimidate the Snow Emperor.
Those who didn't believe in the Elf Clan, those too weak, or the old and infirm—they couldn't be transformed into elves.
After all, the Elf Tree wasn't indiscriminate in whom it accepted.
That said, absolute control over the Elf Tree still lay with Yunxiao.
If he were willing to tap into the essence of the Elf Small World, there would be no risk of failure.
But he would never allow such an exception.
Once this precedent was set, what would he do if similar situations arose in the future?
Would he save them?
Or not?
If he chose to save them, the essence of the Elf Small World would only diminish further.
As the essence of the Elf Small World diminishes, it will cause the Elf Small World to regress.
Once this happens, the Elf Small World will revert to its original state as a Demiplane.
Not only that, but as the essence continues to dwindle, the Elf Small World will become increasingly fragile.
Eventually, it may even collapse and disintegrate completely.
For this very reason, unless it involves my close relatives and friends, I would never agree to deplete the world's essence.
You can call me selfish or hypocritical.
But as the leader of the Elf Clan and their king, I have responsibilities.
Moreover, I have Qian Renxue as my girlfriend.
Both emotionally and logically, I naturally have more to consider.
After all, I am not some saintly figure.
As the saying goes:
"Compassion does not command armies, righteousness does not manage wealth."
"Emotion does not establish affairs, kindness does not govern officials."
After a moment, having obtained the answer she sought, the Snow Emperor nodded slightly.
"Life and death are fated, wealth and honor are decreed by heaven?"
"Very well, Yunxiao, thank you. I understand."
"I will notify those Soul Beasts willing to join the Elf Clan and become elves."
The Snow Emperor naturally had no objections.
There was no other way—the world of Soul Beasts was inherently cruel.
If you were weak, you would be eliminated.
If you were strong, you could do as you pleased.
This was precisely why she, the strongest existence in the Extreme North, reigned as its absolute overlord, ruling over countless Soul Beast tribes.
Having dispelled the Snow Emperor's doubts, Yunxiao retrieved something from the Elf Small World.
A fragment!
No, wait.
To be precise, it was a shattered fragment of Godhood.
"This... this is the aura of the Ice God?"
Upon seeing the object in Yunxiao's hand, the Snow and Ice Emperors' pupils constricted sharply.
"Clan Leader, has the Ice God... fallen?"
Having chosen to return to the Elf Clan, the Snow Emperor naturally addressed Yunxiao as Clan Leader.
Recalling what Yunxiao had previously told them about the divine war instigated by the Dragon God, the Snow and Ice Emperors felt a wave of sorrow.
The Ice God they had always worshipped now existed only as a shattered fragment of Godhood.
"Well, about that question..."
Faced with their inquiry, Yunxiao hesitated.
Because this shattered fragment of the Ice God's Godhood had been given to him by Shui Wu You.
Of course, he had asked Shui Wu You the same question back then.
But she had only smiled without answering, never providing a clear response.
"If you wish to inquire about the Ice God, I suggest you seek out Shui Wu You later."
With that, Yunxiao slowly recounted the matter of Shui Wu You.
This question was best left for her to handle.
Since she possessed the shattered fragment of the Ice God's Godhood, she must know something about the Ice God's fate.
Then, Yunxiao activated the shattered fragment.
In an instant, ripples of energy began to spread outward.
Ten meters, a hundred meters, a thousand meters, ten thousand meters, a hundred thousand meters.
The fluctuations continued to expand, covering the entire Extreme North in mere moments.
A moment later, ripples in space appeared before him.
After carefully storing the shattered fragments of the Ice God's Godhood, Yunxiao finally allowed himself a faint smile.
"Heh, found it. Is this the spatial teleportation leading to the Ice God's Temple?"
Through the broken fragments of the Ice God's Godhood, he had located the Ice God's Temple.
And this—was the true purpose behind Shui Wu You sending him to the Far North.
As for the Snow Emperor... that had merely been a detour along the way.
Which he had conveniently dealt with as well.