"This is an attempt to incite a conflict between the Extreme North and the Tian Hun Empire," Chen Junting spoke up, instantly drawing the attention of all the soul beasts.
"Human, you mean we were used as blades." The Nine-Tailed Ice Fox's nine tails swayed in the wind. Its eyes narrowed into slits resembling hooks and blades, shooting out a chilling light that seized the soul.
Hearing this, the other soul beasts also looked with hostility in their eyes, though it was mixed with a trace of wariness—a wariness that was not directed at Chen Junting.
Even the Titan Snow Demon King was panting heavily. With eyes wide with fury, a ferocious aura exploded from him without any attempt to conceal it.
With the Snow Empress here, they harbored no doubts.
In other words, this was true!
So many soul beasts and so many of their kin had died in the Extreme North, all for nothing! They had been wrongfully killed!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Roar—"
The Titan Snow Demon King smashed his fists heavily against his chest and let out a furious roar. His voice echoed continuously into the distance, triggering avalanches.
At this moment, their surging rage had no outlet!
The Snow Empress's gaze turned icy, and the snowflakes around her solidified into blocks of ice. The scorpion tail behind the Ice Emperor revealed a chilling gleam, constantly thrashing and shattering the ground beneath her. Even the Heavenly Dream Ice Worm remained silent, as if in mourning.
Ultimately, it was Chen Junting who broke the silence.
"Did the attacker leave anything behind?"
He looked directly at the Titan Snow Demon King, but only received a shake of the head in response. Then, Ah Tai replied in a deep, resonant voice, "Every time we received their distress signals, by the time we rushed over, we would see a human Soul Master who had already killed them. Their blood dyed the snow red, and their Soul Bones were directly extracted."
Chen Junting raised an eyebrow and asked:
"It was the same every time?"
Although unclear of the significance of this human's question, the Titan Snow Demon King exchanged glances with the other 100,000-year soul beasts to confirm.
"Yes, it was like that every single time."
"Then this Soul Master's cultivation must be exceptionally high."
Chen Junting's words earned the agreement of the Snow Empress and the Ice Emperor, but left the Titan Snow Demon King and the others puzzled.
They knew the attacker was powerful and ruthless. After all, they had managed to kill forty percent of the 100,000-year soul beasts in the Extreme North. But after Chen Junting emphasized it, why did it feel like something was off?
"Ah Tai."
The Snow Empress gave a soft call, and the Titan Snow Demon King listened attentively. "Those capable of such a feat are few and far between among humans."
At this point, the Snow Empress's expression had turned ugly.
"Under normal circumstances, 100,000-year soul beasts are equivalent to Title Douluo of the ninety-fourth to ninety-fifth rank. And in the Extreme North, with their home-field advantage, their combat power can even cross into the realm of human Super Douluo. Yet, under such circumstances, that human was still able to kill them with such precise timing... Even Bing'er couldn't achieve such a feat."
Hearing this, the Ice Emperor beside her nodded slightly.
Indeed.
If it were her, killing them would be easy. But to kill forty percent of the Extreme North's 100,000-year soul beasts in one breath, and to control the timing so precisely...
She couldn't do it.
Those truly capable of such methods...
"Are only Level 98 Super Douluo and Limit Douluo."
Chen Junting reached out and even started counting on his fingers. "Jing Hongchen, Kong Deming..." After saying these two, he inevitably paused. "Plus the fake Zhongli Wu, the fake Ye Xishui. Perhaps, there's also the Evil Emperor and that Deep Sea Demon Whale Empress—the Demon Empress."
"It wasn't a soul beast."
The Titan Snow Demon King shook his head. "That person unleashed their Soul Rings; we saw them. However..." Seeing another human below about to ask a question, he shook his head again. "We didn't get a clear look at every Soul Ring, we only know that the last two were red."
It was almost certain now: this was the work of the Holy Spirit Cult! Two 100,000-year Soul Rings—Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming absolutely did not have those.
But unfortunately, knowing this was useless.
Chen Junting's eyes narrowed.
He dared to guarantee that before the beast tide had retreated, they were definitely still observing. But now, they had most likely escaped.
If only they could have caught one.
After all, with his own master possessing Yin-Yang Twin Soul Cores and the assistance of Spirit Souls, they feared no one except Di Tian and the Evil Emperor.
Moreover, there was another issue right now: forty percent of the 100,000-year soul beasts in the Extreme North had been killed. This represented no less than six 100,000-year Soul Bones taken by the Holy Spirit Cult.
Six of them!
With good luck, they could almost piece together a full set.
Once absorbed by an ice-attribute Soul Douluo or a Title Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, it could create a powerful Title Douluo or even a Super Douluo. Yet another massive threat!
On the Snow Empress's side, seeing Chen Junting shake his head, she knew that getting justice for them was off the table for now. As a result, a wave of sorrow for her people welled up in her heart.
An Ultimate Douluo entering and leaving the Extreme North at will, treating all soul beasts as nothing. If they came again next time... At this thought, a surge of worry rose in the Snow Empress's heart. She didn't believe Ah Tai and the others could stop them.
She turned her head and looked at Chen Junting.
Coincidentally, Chen Junting seemed to sense something as well, turning his head just in time to meet her gaze. Seeing the worry in her eyes, he connected their thoughts together.
Three breaths later, Chen Junting nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the Snow Empress breathed a sigh of relief and said to the Titan Snow Demon King, "Ah Tai, I need you to do one more thing for me." Then, she turned her head to look at the crowd of 100,000-year soul beasts.
"You all as well."
"Please give your orders, Snow Empress."
The Snow Empress nodded slightly, and at this moment, Chen Junting made his move. Under the confused gazes of the soul beasts, he waved his hands in the void, sketching out one illusory array rune after another.
Under the bewildered yet astonished eyes of the soul beasts, the array runes gradually intertwined, forming a massive illusory grand array that temporarily concealed the heavenly secrets. As long as it wasn't forcefully pierced by a God or Heaven itself, no one could detect what lay within.
"Snow Empress, what is this?"
The Titan Snow Demon King was puzzled, but the Snow Empress's next sentence instantly caused an uproar among all the 100,000-year soul beasts!
"This is a Heaven-Deceiving Grand Array. It can be used to blind the heavens. In other words, it can help the ferocious beasts temporarily evade their heavenly tribulations."
Once these words were spoken, the eyes of all the beasts instantly burned with fervor.
No exceptions!
No one could be an exception!
They had to understand that with their current level of power, unless powerful humans invaded or soul beasts of the same level attacked them, their greatest enemy was essentially the heavenly tribulation. Pass it, and they would roam freely for a hundred thousand years; fail, and everything would turn to ashes.
But how could a heavenly tribulation be ordinary?
At least half of the 100,000-year soul beasts present had little confidence in surviving their next tribulation to become ferocious beasts.
Yet now, they were being told there was a cheat!
As for whether it was true or false... the same saying applied: The Snow Empress said it, and she vouched for it.
"However..."
At this moment, the Snow Empress changed the subject.
"This grand array also has its limitations."
Following that, Chen Junting explained the same rationale he had previously told Di Tian to these powerful soul beasts of the Extreme North.
After listening, the soul beasts weren't surprised at all.
If something this good had no limitations, it would truly be defying the heavens. But the fact that it could buy them several hundreds of thousands of years of life... frankly, they were already more than satisfied.
"Human, you are truly extraordinary."
The Titan Snow Demon King looked at Chen Junting and sighed in admiration.
Afterward, he sat down heavily on the ground and slowly extended one of his large palms, signaling for Chen Junting to step onto it.
Chen Junting wasn't polite about it either.
After stepping onto it, he was lifted high into the air by the Titan Snow Demon King. They stopped only when their lines of sight were level with each other.
"Human, what kind of cooperation do you want to reach with us?"
The Titan Snow Demon King was very clear that the "one more thing" the Snow Empress mentioned was for the sake of this human before him. Since that was the case, he planned to hear what this human had to say.
As long as it didn't harm the interests of the Extreme North, everything was permissible.
"I want you to have faith in me, just as you do in the Ice God."
His voice wasn't loud, but in the ears of all the beasts, it rumbled like thunder.
Without the slightest hesitation, "Human, that's impossible!"
The Titan Snow Demon King flatly rejected him.
Even if this human's Heaven-Deceiving Array could help them temporarily evade their heavenly tribulations, the Ice God was their faith. And most importantly, the Titan Snow Demon race were the descendants of the Ice God. If they abandoned their faith in the Ice God to believe in a human... that simply couldn't be justified!
"No, don't misunderstand."
Chen Junting waved his hand, knowing the Titan Snow Demon King had roughly misunderstood. He explained, "I'm not asking you to change your faith in the Ice God, but rather to add me to your faith on top of the Ice God."
Hearing this, the Titan Snow Demon King knitted his brows tightly.
This phrasing seemed much better, but for him to accept it... one must not ignore their devoutness to the Ice God!
"Don't be in a rush to refuse." Chen Junting never intended to make them change their minds with just a few words or the Snow Empress's face alone. Besides, his bargaining chips didn't stop here.
"Before we leave, I will also set up another grand array in the Extreme North to help you fend off invading powerful enemies."
"Naturally, that includes the one who attacked the Extreme North."
At this, the other 100,000-year soul beasts, apart from the Titan Snow Demon King, were tempted. Just the appearance of the Heaven-Deceiving Array alone had already half-tempted them. After all, it was just adding one more faith; it didn't mean they would no longer be devout to the Ice God.
Furthermore, their personal interests and their own lives were what mattered most.
And now, with this condition of resisting foreign enemies thrown out, it indicated that their lives would be even more secure. They had to understand that the 100,000-year soul beasts that were killed had combat power roughly on par with their own.
Consequently, the gazes of all the soul beasts shifted entirely onto the Titan Snow Demon King, and the pressure instantly bore down entirely on him.
The temptation was simply too great!
And more importantly, as the newly appointed Lord of the Extreme North, he had to consider the Extreme North's future, not to mention the Snow Empress was right here.
Under Little White's teasing gaze, the Titan Snow Demon King finally loosened his stance a bit. "Human, you should know that the Extreme North isn't solely up to us to decide. There are many clans that are incredibly devout to the Extreme North. The matter of faith cannot be settled in a single word."
Chen Junting listened and nodded in agreement.
Indeed.
The weaker the creature, the more devout their faith. But at the same time, as weak soul beasts, they were also the most pure-hearted. When comparing a being that could genuinely help them to an illusory faith... seeking profit was the instinct of all living creatures.
And so...
"I have created artificial Soul Rings and artificial Soul Bones."
Chen Junting's words echoed across the desolate ice field.
...
Extreme North City.
"Is this resolved?"
Du Busi and Ye Xuanji stood side by side on a massive piece of rubble, gazing out at the Extreme North in the distance.
A considerable amount of time had passed since Chen Junting and the others departed and the beast tide retreated. Because the beast tide had not erupted again, Du Busi and Ye Xuanji chose to come and investigate.
"It really is resolved."
Glancing at the Soul Tool in his hand, after a flash of green light, Ye Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with satisfaction. "Send the signal. Have the Tian Hun garrison troops migrate back."
Glancing back over his shoulder, he took in the devastation.
"This Extreme North City not only has to be rebuilt, but its defensive fortifications must surpass those of the Imperial Capital, to avoid repeating this tragedy in the future."
"Makes sense."
Du Busi nodded in agreement.
With the start of a national war, and given the not-insignificant size of the Sun Moon Empire, once the war entered a protracted phase, flames of battle would inevitably be everywhere. If they weren't on guard and the Sun Moon Empire pulled another stunt like this, they might not even know if reinforcements would arrive in time.
Swish— Pop—
A streak of flowing light suddenly shot into the sky. As it exploded high in the air, a green flash instantly flared.
This allowed the Tian Hun Empire army stationed far away at Yu Bei City, along with the two Tian Hun Empire Enshrined Elders, to receive the news immediately. Consequently, they ordered the army to march out, heading toward Extreme North City.
However, what they didn't know was that the moment the beast tide retreated, a dark-red streak of light had fled far into the southwest.
At that very same moment, a naval battle on the seas was on the verge of breaking out.
The two great navies stood in opposition. Judging by numbers, the Tian Hun Empire clearly held the advantage. But in terms of quality, the Sun Moon Empire's naval warships were clearly more than a tier above those of the Tian Hun Empire.
The Sun Moon Empire's warships were forged entirely from steel, powered by soul power and supplemented by manual labor to prevent accidents. The Tian Hun Empire's warships, on the other hand, were built from sturdy wood clad in iron armor. Though they looked majestic, they couldn't compare to the Sun Moon Empire's warships, let alone the fact that the Tian Hun Empire's warships relied on a combination of human and soul power for propulsion.
"Fire!"
Seeing the Sun Moon Imperial Navy, which they had been searching for for so long, right before their eyes, the Tian Hun naval commander held back no longer and immediately ordered the attack!
Fixed Soul Guidance Cannons were immediately aimed at the Sun Moon Imperial Navy.
The next second...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The artillery roared. What looked like tens of thousands of fiery lights spewed out, raining down upon the Sun Moon Imperial Navy like flaming meteors.
At this moment, it seemed as though the Sun Moon Imperial Navy was about to be annihilated.
Just as it appeared the Sun Moon Imperial Navy had no way to resist and was about to capsize in the artillery fire, the Tian Hun naval commander's heart suddenly clenched!
He sensed that something was terribly wrong.
Suddenly, a burst of intense silver light bloomed forth.
The appearance of this silver light seemed abrupt, as if it had been waiting right there all along, anticipating the Tian Hun Navy's attack.
The silver light instantly expanded, turning into a gigantic light barrier that enveloped and contained all of the Tian Hun Navy's attacks.
The next second, a silver moon abruptly rose into the sky.
In an instant, the sun in the sky actually disappeared.
With the silver moon hanging high, the light barrier and the silver moon reflected each other's brilliance.
Seeing this scene, the Tian Hun Navy clenched their teeth, uttering three words filled with despair.
"Kong Deming!"
Who could have thought that he would actually take the field in person!
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