The Snow Empress's gaze swept across the surroundings, taking everything into view.
Having roughly guessed the thoughts of these 100,000-year soul beasts, she let out a slightly bitter sigh in her heart, though her expression remained as tranquil as ever.
"Alright, since everyone is mostly here, let us begin. It has been a long time since I last saw you all; I am glad to see you."
Despite the absolute lack of a smile on her face, the moment these words were spoken, the myriad beasts let out a unified roar of cheers. The rolling waves of sound forcefully shredded the fierce astral winds of the Extreme North ice field. The emotions of every soul beast below the 100,000-year mark instantly surged with fervor, almost as if they had been struck by a Mass Bloodthirst ability.
Facing this chaotic scene, the Snow Empress slowly raised her right hand and made a gentle pressing motion. Instantly, the resounding roars of the myriad beasts came to a screeching halt, and everything returned to silence.
The Snow Empress glanced at the Titan Snow Demon King beside her. Sensing her gaze, Ah Tai likewise lowered his head.
"In a certain sense, I actually died long ago."
As soon as the words fell, the word "died" echoed out.
The beasts were instantly struck with terror, erupting into an uproar!
To them, the Snow Empress was the guardian deity of the entire Extreme North ice field! Yet, she was saying she had already died. Although they didn't understand how she could still be here if she were dead, they believed every word she said, not daring to question it.
But this current matter...
To them, it was practically a catastrophe.
Little White, who was lying beside her legs, could no longer contain his grief. Bean-sized tears instantly flowed from his eyes.
Whimpers and mournful howls escaped him.
Such a massive bear, acting just like a half-grown child.
Just as this snowy domain was on the verge of plunging into chaos...
"Roar—"
A vigorous roar suddenly erupted. The Titan Snow Demon King, who had been seated cross-legged, violently stood up and hammered his broad chest with heavy fists. His furious roar boomed out, unexpectedly suppressing the clamor of all the soul beasts in an instant.
The other 100,000-year soul beasts rose to their feet one after another, casting cold glares at their own clan members or vassal races. Aligning with the Titan Snow Demon King, their overbearing auras, mixed with endless killing intent, suddenly proliferated. This forced the soul beasts, who had just begun to clamor, to swiftly quiet down, one by one lowering their heads in fear.
Only after the Titan Snow Demon King and the great 100,000-year soul beasts coldly swept their gazes over the surroundings did they return to their original seated or prone positions. But this alone was far from enough to calm the hearts of the soul beasts.
To them, their faith was the Ice God, but the Ice God was simply too distant and abstract. In a certain sense, the Snow Empress was more like the true deity of the Extreme North. Without their god, could the Extreme North still be the Extreme North they knew?
Moreover, the consequences of the Snow Empress's passing...
The soul beasts that had participated in the beast tide couldn't help but recall the terrifying firepower the humans had unleashed upon them. Two egg-shaped objects had effortlessly wiped out a swath of their kin and directly obliterated a 100,000-year soul beast. And then there was that human from just now—with a single punch, he had forced all the beasts to bow their heads.
If the Snow Empress wasn't around, and that human went on a killing spree, there wouldn't be a single soul beast in the Extreme North capable of stopping him.
The myriad looks directed toward her carried begging, sorrow...
A true reflection of all living beings in their grief.
"Do not grieve for my departure."
A trace of comfort rose in the Snow Empress's heart. "Although I have departed, I will select a suitable heir to continue leading you forward, and they will continue to guard our homeland."
At this moment, the majority of the soul beasts shifted their gazes to the side, looking at the equally aloof and silent Ice Emperor. After all, in their eyes, the only one qualified to inherit the Snow Empress's position was the Ice Emperor. She was the strongest in the Extreme North beneath the Snow Empress. Only the 100,000-year soul beasts and the Titan Snow Demon King shifted their gazes to the white bear by the Snow Empress's feet, who appeared honest but was actually quite cunning.
However, who could have anticipated that the Snow Empress's next words would completely defy their expectations.
"I declare that from this moment onward, Ah Tai will inherit my position and become the Lord of the Extreme North Ice Field. You must respect him just as you respected me, obey his commands, and assist him in maintaining the peace of the Extreme North. Although Ah Tai can be a bit rough around the edges, he is honest and upright, deeply loyal, and has never relied on his own strength to bully other clans. He is an excellent choice for a successor."
Once again, the beasts were struck with shock!
Even the 100,000-year soul beasts and the Titan Snow Demon King stared with wide eyes, looking at the Snow Empress, wondering if she had misspoken.
However, the Snow Empress's gaze was firmly fixed on the Titan Snow Demon King as she nodded to him, confirming her intent.
"Snow Empress, you..."
The Titan Snow Demon King's voice trembled slightly. From the Snow Empress, he felt her absolute trust in him. At this moment, he also felt a deep sense of shame for the distance he had shown her earlier.
A faint smile appeared on the Snow Empress's face. "Ah Tai, over the years, you have made many contributions under my guidance. You have truly grown up. Your every action has been under my watch all along. I am very pleased; you have done very well these past years. You were always more suited for this position than Bing'er. Bing'er's personality is too strong, and in terms of dominance, her clan cannot compare to your Titan Snow Demon race; their overall strength is simply too lacking. Therefore, in my heart, you have long been my successor. You must remember that even if I am no longer here, the Extreme North will still be the Extreme North of the past. You must treat all clans kindly, uphold my aspirations. Only if we are sufficiently united will we not be invaded or bullied by foreign enemies."
"Yes..."
Heavy drops of tears slid from the Titan Snow Demon King's eyes.
He suddenly felt the crushing weight upon his shoulders. Recalling the true reason they had launched the beast tide, his heart grew even heavier with suppression.
But even so, he remained completely silent.
He merely stood up once more, took a few steps back, and then...
Boom—
He dropped to both knees before the Snow Empress and kowtowed to her. His massive body trembled continuously. Every single bow was filled with the utmost sincerity.
Little White, who was prostrate beside the Snow Empress, had reopened his eyes by now. He looked at the Titan Snow Demon King, his gaze filled with a fair amount of unwillingness.
He didn't bother to hide his emotions, but right now, the Titan Snow Demon King's attention wasn't on him at all.
The Snow Empress smiled faintly and nodded to the Titan Snow Demon King. "Ah Tai, rise. Before I leave, I still have things for you to do." Saying this, her gaze also turned to the other 100,000-year soul beasts. "Naturally, this applies to you all as well."
The Titan Snow Demon King immediately raised his head and said respectfully, "Snow Empress, in my heart, you will always be the King of the Extreme North."
The other 100,000-year soul beasts lowered their heads and echoed this cry in unison.
Seeing his appearance, the Snow Empress couldn't help but be slightly moved.
"Good."
With that, she looked out at the multitude of soul beasts.
"What I needed to say has been said. Aside from Ah Tai and the rest of you, everyone else is dismissed. Return to your homes and continue with your lives. In the future, any major events concerning the ice field will be decided by Ah Tai."
The Snow Empress slowly drifted upward, soaring straight up until she quietly hovered high in the sky. The Titan Snow Demon King hastily stepped forward, positioning himself beneath her. He then allowed the Snow Empress to float gently down, gracefully taking her stand upon his broad shoulders.
The multitude of ice field soul beasts didn't move a muscle. They remained prostrate on the ground, kowtowing to the Snow Empress. Standing atop the Titan Snow Demon King's shoulders, the Snow Empress slowly turned around. Looking at these subjects who had followed her for so many years, a crystalline mist gradually gathered in her eyes.
"Go, my people. Let me watch you depart."
The Snow Empress's voice echoed ethereally, carrying far into the distance.
Roar! Roar! Roar!
Three consecutive beast roars rang out from the soul beast crowds. All the soul beasts of the Extreme North shrieked hysterically, using this to bid her farewell and to vent the emotions surging in their hearts.
It wasn't until the sounds completely died down that the soul beasts of the Extreme North ice field began to rise and slowly disperse. However, even as they departed, they couldn't help but look back repeatedly, gazing at their former master of the Extreme North with deep reluctance.
The Snow Empress stood there silently. The Titan Snow Demon King remained utterly motionless. Little White also stopped prostrating himself and stood up.
On either side, the great 100,000-year soul beasts stood guard. The transfer of power in the Extreme North was taking place in this very moment, drawing to its close.
It took a full half an hour for all the soul beasts to gradually disperse.
And at this moment, the Extreme North returned to its tranquil state.
Standing on the Titan Snow Demon King's shoulders, a hint of melancholy appeared in the Snow Empress's eyes. After all, she had ruled and lived in the Extreme North for hundreds of thousands of years; it was truly hard for her to let go.
The feeling of loss at this moment could not be overstated.
"Snow Empress."
"Snow Empress." ×N
Several voices rang out, pulling the Snow Empress from her reverie.
Standing on the Titan Snow Demon King's shoulders, she looked downward. She saw the group of 100,000-year soul beasts and Little White all looking up, their eyes filled with confusion. In Little White's gaze, in particular, that confusion was mixed with a trace of pleading.
"You are all wondering why I asked you to stay behind."
The Snow Empress's lips parted slightly. Then, the tip of her toe tapped lightly against the Titan Snow Demon King's shoulder, and she descended from the heavens, floating gracefully to the ground.
Before they could respond, she continued on her own.
"A few years ago, you should have already heard from Di Tian that the Ice Emperor and I have become human Spirit Souls."
"Snow Empress!"
The beasts lowered their heads, and Little White was the first to let out a mournful cry, his lantern-sized eyes staring fixedly at Chen Junting and the others.
He harbored no anger, only sorrow.
Because, just as the Snow Empress said, he—or rather, they—had already learned from Di Tian last time that the Snow Empress and the Ice Emperor had become human Spirit Souls, and that they had done so voluntarily.
They hadn't wanted to believe it, but Di Tian could never lie.
And it was precisely because of this, coupled with the incident that occurred recently, that the 100,000-year soul beasts and the Titan Snow Demon King had developed a sense of alienation regarding the choices made by the Snow Empress and Ice Emperor.
"In truth, our choice to become Spirit Souls was one of absolute necessity. Back then, the Ice Emperor and I were about to face our next heavenly tribulation, but we had absolutely no confidence in surviving it. To be able to walk further down the path of cultivation, Bing'er chose to join forces with the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm to initiate a God-Making Plan."
The moment the Snow Empress finished speaking, the beasts shifted their gazes to the Ice Emperor, who had her arms folded across her chest, and then to the obese bug beside her, which was wriggling its chubby body and waving its tentacles in greeting.
"Everyone, hello there!"
Its species is... an Ice Silkworm?!
The soul beasts were immediately startled. Since when could a mere food source like an Ice Silkworm be mentioned in the same breath as the Ice Emperor?
And a God-Making Plan... could it be that...
Surging thoughts filled the minds of the beasts as their gazes darted back and forth between the Snow Empress and the Ice Emperor, seemingly unable to believe it.
As if seeing through their doubts, the Snow Empress continued, "However, my situation was different from Bing'er's. Facing the impending great tribulation, I originally intended to undergo a humanoid transformation and walk the path of cultivation anew. I never expected to fall into human hands. Afterwards, I planned to perish together with the human, but I was persuaded by another human to become his Spirit Soul."
Saying this, her gaze turned toward Chen Junting.
The soul beasts followed her gaze, shifting over to him as well.
Facing the collective stare of the soul beasts, Chen Junting appeared completely calm and unhurried. Even the fierce auras they unconsciously radiated were silently neutralized by him, forcing the soul beasts to adopt a more serious demeanor.
At the same time, they couldn't help but be secretly astounded in their hearts.
Humans are truly favored by the heavens!
"Snow Empress, please speak. What is it you wish for us to do?"
An Ice Wolf lowered its head and spoke up first.
The Snow Empress did not respond immediately. Instead, she said, "You should already be aware of the benefits of Spirit Souls, and you should have also sensed just how powerful humans have become." With that, she paused slightly.
"Therefore, put an end to launching beast tides. Coexist peacefully with the humans."
Once these words were spoken, let alone the 100,000-year soul beasts, even the Titan Snow Demon King and Little White found themselves in a difficult position.
They opened their mouths, wanting to speak but hesitating.
But before they could utter a sound, the Snow Empress said, "Of course, I know that you wouldn't launch a beast tide without due cause. Something major must have happened for you to consider teaching the humans a lesson."
At this point, the Snow Empress's cool gaze turned frigid.
"Tell me. Why did they die?"
The Extreme North had been passed down for hundreds of thousands of years. Life flowed here; there were births and there were deaths. As a forbidden zone for humans, very few ever set foot here.
Therefore, once a powerful soul beast was born in the Extreme North, as long as its aptitude wasn't poor and it didn't fall prey to the natural law of the jungle, it would gradually grow until it became a 100,000-year soul beast.
The Snow Empress had seen too much and knew too much.
As the master of the Extreme North, she grasped everything.
She knew exactly how many 100,000-year soul beasts there were in the entire Extreme North. But what about now? Only sixty percent remained.
Only sixty percent were left!
And this was achieved in just a few short years!
Realizing this and connecting the dots, the Snow Empress understood exactly why the beast tide had been triggered. To say they had died of natural causes over the past few years? Not even a dog would believe that!
They were absolutely hunted down by humans.
If she were still in power, presiding over the Extreme North, she would have erupted in fury and launched a beast tide of her own to let humanity face her wrath!
But the problem now was that the three great empires had signed an agreement with the Great Star Dou Forest. As long as they agreed to the proliferation of the Spirit Soul system, the major powers were no longer allowed to wantonly hunt soul beasts within their gathering grounds.
Because of this, the experts of the three great empires had been restricted.
Yet, even so, so many 100,000-year soul beasts had still died.
Even though the Snow Empress was a soul beast and unversed in scheming and machinations, having traveled alongside Chen Junting all this way, she had caught the scent of a conspiracy.
Ah Tai and the others had absolutely been manipulated!
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