Chapter 322: External Soul Bone – Snow Empress Jade Crown
At the same time, Qian Renxue and Qian Renchuan were leading nearly all Title Douluos above Rank 95 toward the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire's Element City—six temple consecrators, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, totaling eight Title Douluos over Rank 95, plus Ning Fengzhi, the continent's number one support-type soul master.
For battles on the level of Limit Douluos, even these super Douluos—aside from Golden Crocodile Douluo—could only throw out their ninth soul skills from afar. Bringing the Title Douluo elders of the Elder Hall wouldn't be of much use—just a show of numbers.
"Grandfather, you must be safe."
Qian Renxue murmured in her heart, her face full of worry. She had already lost her father and mother. If she lost her grandfather too, she would truly become an orphan.
"Bibi Dong, if you dare harm my grandfather, I will rip out your tendons, peel off your skin, tear your body into pieces, and extract your soul to torment for eternity!"
Qian Renchuan radiated chilling intent. His Four-Winged Slaughter Angel Spirit was evolving toward a Six-Winged Slaughter Angel after the departure of his parents.
"Elder Ning, we're counting on you for support in what's to come."
Ning Fengzhi said solemnly, "Of course. I've long been part of Spirit Hall. Bibi Dong is Spirit Hall's great enemy—she killed His Holiness the Pope. She also destroyed my sect. This blood feud is irreconcilable. I will do everything I can to support you all."
Ning Fengzhi's hair was now completely white, and his face looked even older than two years ago, with deeper wrinkles. In the past two years, he had taken several new wives and fathered more children to continue the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile line.
Despite being half in the grave, his efforts—perhaps overindulgent—had finally borne fruit. His once-thin lineage had new heirs, with another on the way. This gave Ning Fengzhi peace of mind to die, knowing he could meet his ancestors without guilt. This trip to the Heaven Dou Empire was a good opportunity to earn merit and secure his family's future after death.
Just a third of the way into the empire, four figures approached: Qian Daoliu, the Snow Empress, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er.
"Grand Worshiper."
"Grandfather."
"Grandfather, Bing'er!"
The group had just arrived at a grove when Shui Yue'er, like an octopus, leapt into Qian Renchuan's arms, crying and complaining, "Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! My sister and I almost died!"
"What!? What happened!?"
For the first time, Qian Renchuan used soul power to push off the soft-bodied Shui Yue'er and instantly appeared in front of Shui Bing'er, concern flooding his face. "Bing'er, are you alright? What happened?"
Shui Bing'er shook her head. "Xiao Chuan, I'm fine. According to Grandfather, Bibi Dong may have used the Rakshasa God Spirit to secretly control the Heaven Dou Empire and tried to eliminate the Shui family, gradually weakening Spirit Hall's power. Grandfather saved us. The Shui family is preparing to relocate to Spirit City, and Grandfather brought us ahead."
Qian Daoliu had witnessed Qian Renchuan's madness firsthand. His Killing God Domain had advanced two levels to become the Asura Domain. If Shui Bing'er had died, he couldn't imagine what his grandson would become. As a grandfather, how could he allow that?
Hearing this, Qian Renchuan let out a heavy sigh and pulled Shui Bing'er into a tight embrace, holding her as if he had just survived a calamity. Though Qian Daoliu had said that gods could bring people back from the dead, no one could be certain. If she really died, even if he killed Bibi Dong in revenge, he wouldn't want to live.
Behind them, Shui Yue'er's face was full of grievance seeing Qian Renchuan and Shui Bing'er in such a tight embrace. If ordinary people saw such a pretty girl, they'd surely hold her dearly, but no one here paid her the slightest attention.
Suddenly, the Snow Empress spoke. "Daughter of Qian Xunji, come here."
"What do you want from me?"
Qian Renxue turned her eyes from Shui Bing'er, still puzzled. Sharpened by Qian Xunji's guidance, she wasn't stupid. Seeing the Snow Empress again, she pondered deeply. She knew the Snow Empress was a fierce beast with over 600,000 years of cultivation, and that she had once cooperated with Spirit Hall—but she'd clearly left long ago. Now she reappeared and bore injuries—clearly the result of a fierce battle. Was it that Bibi Dong tried to hunt her, and Grandfather happened to intervene?
But no, if that were the case, the battle should've taken place in the Extreme North, yet Shui Bing'er said it happened in Element City…
"Do you want to avenge your father? If so, stop asking questions."
The Snow Empress said coldly. To be honest, she didn't want to make this sacrificial choice. But for the safety of the soul beasts in the Extreme North and because she believed Qian Renxue had a chance to become a god—and she herself had a chance at immortality—she had no other option. If Bibi Dong came again to hunt her down, she could only self-destruct.
"Xiao Xue, go."
Qian Daoliu spoke, a strange light in his eyes. He had no idea about the Snow Empress's multiple considerations. He just assumed, like with Ah Yin, that after Qian Xunji died, she couldn't go on. Were all soul beast love stories so strange?
If he hadn't seen the Snow Empress fight Bibi Dong with his own eyes, he never would've agreed to her sacrifice. Her soul rings had the opposite attributes of the Six-Winged Angel Spirit. Even if it was a god-level spirit, such a sacrifice could cripple it—like Tang San absorbing poison-attributed rings for his Blue Silver Grass and ruining it.
With over 600,000 years of cultivation, the Snow Empress could destroy the Eight-Ringed Six-Winged Angel Spirit.
But in her battle with Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu had witnessed how her soul power felt ice-cold externally but burned like fire on contact. Even his Divine Holy Fire had to yield.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo were bewildered. The consecrators were shut-ins who hadn't met the Snow Empress, save for Lion Douluo. But these two had seen her before—and back then, she looked like a normal woman. How could she now radiate such powerful soul energy?
Golden Crocodile Douluo, seeing Qian Renxue follow that mysterious being—whom even he feared—wanted to go too, but Qian Daoliu stopped him.
"Big Brother—"
Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Second Brother, this is Xiao Xue's opportunity."
Meanwhile, in a small forest clearing, after a brief conversation, Qian Renxue asked in surprise, "You're saying the ultimate form of ice is also a form of flame?"
"You'll understand once you receive my soul ring. To be honest, I really don't want to sacrifice myself to you. But you're the only choice."
The Snow Empress's disdainful tone made Qian Renxue grit her teeth. But seeing her reaction, the Snow Empress couldn't help but reveal a stunning smile. Her beauty caused the surrounding trees to sway, as if entranced by her grace.
This was payback. Years ago, when Qian Renxue attacked her under Spirit Hall's orders, she nearly died—saved only by Qian Xunji. The Snow Empress wasn't the forgiving type. Now, with Qian Renxue chosen by the gods, her help would guarantee her success in becoming one.
No sharp cries followed. A crimson energy beam shot into the sky, laced with streaks of gold. The immense energy fluctuations left Qian Daoliu and the others awestruck.
Qian Daoliu recognized the red-gold beam as something beyond a Limit Douluo—on the level of a god. In that moment, he glimpsed his own destiny. Beast sacrifices, like a consecrator sacrificing to unlock the Angelic Ninth Trial, led to the same end: death. Yet his eyes burned with zeal. With two Limit Douluos sacrificing themselves, his granddaughter could even surpass divine ancestors.
Within the great magnetic field, Qian Renxue declared, "I have six god-trial-exclusive Angel soul bones. If a soul bone is to be created—let it be a torso bone!"
The Snow Empress asked calmly, "Why?"
"Because my brother lacks a soul bone in that position."
The Snow Empress didn't answer. Her soul would reside in the soul bone for her quest for immortality. How could she let her soul bone be placed elsewhere, away from her soul ring? Since the six main body locations weren't an option—then an external soul bone it would be.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen