"Of course, he's the one I picked… ah! Bingbing—ow, ow!"
Just as the Tianmeng Iceworm started to gloat, the Ice Empress, in her spiritual form, drove the long stinger on her tail deep into Tianmeng's body.
"Shut up!"
Not far away, the young woman stood quietly. Her gaze toward Neuvillette carried a trace of shyness, her cheeks faintly flushed, yet she deliberately acted indifferent—occasionally sneaking a glance his way.
"But his talent…"
The Ice Empress' expression returned to seriousness.
"Among all the humans I have ever seen, none can compare to him. Tianmeng, your judgment… is indeed correct."
"Heh-heh, of course I—"
Before the Iceworm could brag further, a far stronger aura suddenly erupted from within Neuvillette.
Snow that had piled high was instantly shaken loose, as an invisible wave spread outward, drawing the attention of the two soul beasts.
"He did it!"
Tianmeng exclaimed in delight, his face full of joy.
"Hmph… he didn't disappoint me."
Even the Ice Empress let out a quiet breath of relief, her eyes flickering with joy.
Neuvillette opened his eyes.
For an instant, a bright emerald light flashed within them before fading back to their original color.
"Haa…"
He exhaled a long breath of turbid air, his expression filled with satisfaction.
"Well? Tell us—what did you gain?" The Tianmeng Iceworm floated to Neuvillette's side, examining him curiously.
"Soul skill—Absolute Zero."
Neuvillette smiled faintly.
In Douluo Dalu 2, a new concept was introduced—using actual temperature to measure the level of ice.
For example, most ordinary ice-type Soul Masters could reach -100°C, while Ultimate Ice could reach -200°C.
In the original story, even Huo Gua, by the end of his journey, only managed to reach the realm of Absolute Zero.
But Neuvillette's eighth soul skill was true Absolute Zero—in the purest sense of the word. Wherever it passed, ten thousand miles would be frozen.
As he spoke, a crimson soul ring slowly rippled into view at his feet.
Unlike ordinary hundred-thousand-year soul rings, this strange crimson ring bore four golden lines along its edge.
When the Ice Empress sacrificed herself, Tianmeng had also lent his strength, allowing her cultivation to break through to 400,000 years…
"And now, my Water Dragon has also merged with the attribute of Ultimate Ice. From this point forward… I am a dual-attribute Soul Master."
Neuvillette's smile was full of satisfaction.
"Not bad," the Ice Empress nodded slightly. This human had not betrayed the worth of her sacrifice.
"As for the soul bone skills…"
Neuvillette continued:
"The domain skill is Everfrozen Domain, and the offensive skill—Wrath of the Ice Empress."
He closed his fist lightly.
Feeling soul power several times stronger than before, he nodded in approval.
Now, forget Yan Shaozhe—even if he were to clash head-on with Elder Xuan, he dared to give it a try.
In the boundless white of the snowfields…
Snowflakes drifting from the sky would divert away three feet before reaching him. With Neuvillette at the center, a ring of untouched, pristine ground appeared—a vacuum of purity.
This was not intentional control on his part. Rather, it was instinct—like a true master of ice and snow.
"Ah~"
The young woman suddenly seemed to realize something, and when she noticed Neuvillette looking her way, she guiltily covered her eyes with her pale hands, letting out a soft gasp.
But her gaze still peeked through the gaps between her fingers, stealing another look.
Neuvillette's mouth twitched slightly. With a wave of his hand, a brand-new deep-blue ceremonial robe appeared on his body once more.
"Let's go."
They were just about to leave—
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble.
The shaking quickly grew violent, like the thunder of ten thousand galloping horses. Every few seconds, the thick ice layer beneath them quaked fiercely.
"This is the Snow Devil!"
The Tianmeng Iceworm cried out. "Run!"
He knew that if this colossal creature were roused, then the true ruler of the Extreme North—the Snow Empress—would not be far behind.
Neuvillette shook his head slightly.
His right hand pressed his long staff against the ice.
"Too late…"
Sure enough, the very next moment—
A massive figure entered their view: a hulking beast covered entirely in white fur, its body shaped like a colossal ape.
Baring savage fangs, it glared viciously down at Neuvillette. With a body a hundred meters tall, it launched itself into the air, descending with crushing force!
"Snow Devil! I was willing!"
The Ice Empress called out urgently, but it was already too late.
The Snow Devil, swinging its massive fist and using its weight for momentum, brought it down hard. With that simple mind, he couldn't even process what had happened.
All he knew was that the companion he had lived alongside for hundreds of thousands of years had become this human's soul ring!
Around Neuvillette, shadows swelled outward.
Snow exploded in every direction, and the ice beneath his feet creaked as though it could no longer bear the strain.
The young woman's heart pounded wildly—the apocalyptic scene before her filled her with a deep sense of helplessness.
And yet…
Looking at the calm figure before her, his head tilted slightly upward toward the sky, the deep-blue of his ceremonial robes flowing in the wind, she suddenly felt a strange thought rise within her heart.
Perhaps… walking alongside His Holiness the Holy Son might not be such a terrible thing?
The looming shadow grew larger.
The roar of impact filled the air.
And just as the massive body of the Snow Devil was about to come crashing down—
The young woman's beautiful eyes widened in surprise.
She saw the Holy Son slowly raise his staff, its tip pointing toward the giant above.
And then—
In the very next instant—
The entire world seemed to fall into stillness.
Neuvillette's voice rang out softly:
"Absolute Zero."
The crimson soul ring at his feet rippled outward.
Up in the sky, the enormous Snow Devil froze mid-motion in an unnatural pose—its eyes, white as its fur, bulged wide, its face still twisted in a savage snarl. It looked like an enormous, life-sized figurine.
Without any support beneath it, it simply hovered there in the air.
The sight was eerie, almost unreal.
A fitting debut… for the Ice Empress' power.
Neuvillette calmly lowered his staff, though a shadow of solemnity passed across his face.
He turned his head to the side.
There, a stunning figure appeared in his sight—
Like a spirit born of snow: alabaster skin, a flawless, delicate face, and bare jade-like feet.
Especially those slender, delicate feet—emitting a faint fragrance, toes arched like crescent moons, their graceful shape rippling through the heart like waves upon sand.
The mysterious, innate authority flowing in her blood exuded the unique charm of the true sovereign of the Extreme North.
"Snow Empress…"
Neuvillette frowned slightly.
This could be… troublesome.
"Snow Empress, I came of my own will." From within Neuvillette's body, the miniature form of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion emerged, floating beside the Snow Empress.
"My time is nearly up. I've decided to support Tianmeng's plan—to forge a god."
"I know…"
The Snow Empress sighed softly, cupping the Ice Empress gently in her pale hands, her beautiful eyes full of reluctance.
"Since you've decided, I will not try to stop you. In that case… I wish you success."
Boom!
The Snow Empress tapped a single slender finger.
The massive body suspended in midair crashed heavily to the ground.
"Ah—ah ah-ahchoo!"
The Snow Devil struggled to rise, but its massive arms could no longer exert strength.
The blood within its body… had been completely frozen solid.
"Damned human!"
The Snow Devil growled in impotent fury.
"Enough. If he had wanted you dead, what would have fallen just now… would have been nothing more than shattered ice. Your body would have been in pieces."
The Snow Empress did not spare the Snow Devil a glance. Her gaze remained fixed on the figures of Neuvillette and the young woman as they walked away, her voice calm.
What she did not say was—the plan to forge a god… had tempted her heart as well.
(End of Chapter)