Everything that followed was, as they say, inexplicably cliché.
The information gathered by Xu Jiujiu and Xu Jiawei was astonishing: Shu Yan possessed the Ice Sky Snow Woman as his Super Martial Soul , an Extreme Ice attribute, innate full Spirit Power, and a clean background with an introverted, gentle personality.
This impressive data made Xu Jiawei repeatedly applaud in approval. Coupled with the excellent image Shu Yan had maintained at the welfare institution, Xu Jiawei, at one point, wanted to invite the most mysterious Great Consecration from the Star Luo Imperial Family's Consecration Hall to take Shu Yan as a disciple. However, the plan ultimately fell through for unknown reasons.
None of the Titled Douluos belonging to the Star Luo Empire had an Ice-attribute Martial Soul, which created a huge problem for Xu Jiawei regarding who should teach Shu Yan. Xu Jiawei agonized over this issue for a long time. He even considered letting Shu Yan hide his identity and study at the Star Luo National Academy. However, Xu Jiawei quickly dismissed this idea.
The Extreme Ice Martial Soul Shu Yan possessed was already unique among humans in this era. Furthermore, this Extreme Ice Martial Soul was the Ice Sky Snow Woman, the overlord of the Extreme North Land. If this news were to be revealed, it would certainly cause a massive stir, and countless forces would immediately take action. At that point, Shu Yan's final allegiance would truly be uncertain.
This was clearly not the situation Xu Jiawei wanted. He wanted a peerless genius loyal to the Star Luo Empire and hidden in the shadows. When needed, Shu Yan could become the sharpest sword, hidden in the dark, to deal fatal blows to the enemy of the Star Luo Empire. Allowing Shu Yan to be exposed too early was not a rational decision.
It was at this moment that Xu Jiujiu proposed a solution.
The solution was simple: let Shu Yan learn from her. As the Star Luo Princess, Xu Jiujiu had many attendants around her, and she didn't need to study at the Royal Academy. With Xingyun Douluo, a knowledgeable and experienced senior, by her side, no teacher in the Star Luo Empire Academy could compare.
Xu Jiujiu herself was extremely skilled in social interaction and psychological manipulation. As long as they spent enough time together and she established a deep, personal connection with Shu Yan, it would be much more reliable than brainwashing or other methods. Also, the troubles and difficulties they might face would naturally be fewer.
Of course, the plans of both Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu were sound, but the original friendship gradually changed as their innocent interactions turned into something like childhood sweethearts. The reason for this change was actually Xu Jiujiu developing feelings through "raising" him...
Everything that followed made sense. Though he had "sacrificed" a sister, Xu Jiawei's main goal was achieved, wasn't it? This move truly killed two birds with one stone!
The Journey Begins
Xu Jiujiu hadn't lied this time. On the very next day, Suixing Douluo appeared and found Shu Yan. This Level 95 Super Douluo was incredibly powerful and held a very high position in the Star Luo Empire, essentially acting as the Empire's stabilizing force. Yet, even this powerful veteran was now carrying out the minor task of taking a junior to hunt for Spirit Rings.
However, Suixing Douluo himself had no complaints. Befriending a young genius with Shu Yan's boundless potential brought him considerable benefits. Besides, given his high position in the Star Luo Empire, he was privy to certain hidden, inside information...
Now, all other preparations and arrangements were complete, though the original personnel had changed slightly. The group originally arranged to go hunting for Spirit Rings was supposed to be only Shu Yan, Suixing Douluo, and Xingyun Douluo. In the end, Xu Jiujiu was added.
Shu Yan didn't know how she convinced Xu Jiawei to let her leave Star Luo City. He only knew that the girl was probably reprimanded quite a bit by Xu Jiawei for this trip. In terms of accomplishments and the state of the country during his rule, Xu Jiawei was undoubtedly a capable monarch.
At the same time, he was definitely a qualified older brother. While he was rational and majestic, he also had the dominance and long-term vision a monarch should have. Yet, when it came to Xu Jiujiu's safety, he was sometimes overly worried.
From another point of view, this concern undoubtedly reflected his deep care for Xu Jiujiu. The Imperial Family was inherently cold-hearted, but these two siblings were exceptions, which explained everything.
Across the Continent
The journey to the Extreme North Land was extremely long , and they also needed to pass through the territory of the Heaven Soul Empire along the way. When passing through some large cities, all four of them had to take detours to avoid being detected by Heavenly Soul powerhouses and causing trouble.
Shu Yan had already traveled this route once before, so he wasn't completely unfamiliar with it. Suixing Douluo's expression was calm, too. As a Super Douluo, he was quite familiar with the Four Empires. When Shu Yan hunted his third Spirit Ring, it was also he who took him to the Extreme North Land to get it.
To be honest, Spirit Beasts suitable for Shu Yan could also be found in the Star Dou Great Forest. But there had to be a reason why Xu Jiawei preferred to have a Super Douluo take Shu Yan thousands of miles to the Extreme North Land to hunt for one.
On one hand, the Extreme North Land had many Ice-attribute Spirit Beasts, and their quality was far higher than those in the Star Dou Great Forest, making it a paradise for Ice-attribute Soul Masters.
On the other hand, Xu Jiawei had some little-known concerns. The Ice Sky Snow Woman was a Super Martial Soul that had never appeared on a human before, and it also had the Extreme attribute. This was extremely rare in the history of human Soul Masters.
Xu Jiawei's worry was that Shu Yan might be a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast that had reincarnated and transformed. After all, humans still hadn't fully explored the core area of the Extreme North Land.
No matter what, Xu Jiawei believed that necessary vigilance should be maintained, even if the other person was someone he had watched grow up and who eventually became his Imperial Sister's lover...
Into the Cold
The four travelers were busy, so they naturally had to eat and sleep out in the open, only occasionally stopping to rest when they passed through some small villages and towns. Suixing Douluo and Xingyun Douluo felt nothing, of course, but Xu Jiujiu and Shu Yan were still considered lower-level Soul Masters. Even though they were physically fit, their complexions looked quite poor after such high-intensity travel.
Despite this, Xu Jiujiu's spirits remained high. She would occasionally pull Shu Yan aside to admire the scenery along the way, which was very unusual for her. Being able to see all the beauty of the world with the person she had chosen as her lover made Xu Jiujiu feel that the trip was incredibly romantic.
Shu Yan quietly walked with Xu Jiujiu. His personality was becoming increasingly introverted and calm with the passing of time and the influence of his Martial Soul.
Perhaps Xu Jiujiu, who spent a lot of time with him, didn't notice it, but Xingyun Douluo, who was accompanying them, observed much more.
Although their Princess and Shu Yan were similar in age, their personalities were strangely compatible, and both of them were rare cultivation geniuses.
Although Xingyun Douluo was usually serious and rigid, he was extremely optimistic about their relationship.
After three days and nights of continuous travel, everyone finally reached the edge of the Extreme North Land.
With ten thousand years of development, the gap in strength between humans and Spirit Beasts was slowly closing, and humanity's encroachment on the Extreme North Land had already become obvious.
At least half of the original outer area of the Extreme North Land had become human territory. In recent years, humans were still slowly pushing deeper, being extremely cautious in the process.
They feared that a single mistake would trigger a beast tide, making everything irreversible. This is the essence of humanity: they predicted the outcome before plundering, but they still couldn't control their inner greed. Disaster was only a matter of time.
A Small Gesture
The wind and snow howled. This was the first time Xu Jiujiu had left Star Luo City to travel so far. The howling wind and snow made her, who was protected by her Soul Emperor-level Spirit Power, feel a bit cold. The deeper they went into the Extreme North Land, the harsher the environment became and the lower the temperature dropped. That area was truly a forbidden zone for humans.
Here, the phrase "freezing to death" was no longer just an expression or a complaint, but the most realistic description of the area within the Extreme North Land. The extreme low temperature was fatal to low-level Soul Masters.
However, Shu Yan was only casually wearing a summer white robe. Unlike ordinary people, he didn't feel any discomfort at all. In fact, he felt that the bone-chilling wind blowing toward him was very comfortable. The Ice Sky Snow Woman Martial Soul's immunity to extremely cold temperatures was top-notch, and this was fully evident in him.
Beside him, the two Titled Douluo had deep Spirit Power and were naturally unaffected. The only one suffering was Xu Jiujiu, who was traveling far from home for the first time. Xu Jiujiu was fourteen years old this year, two years older than Shu Yan, and her Spirit Power level had reached Level 34 Soul Emperor.
This was already considered a rare genius. However, a Soul Emperor's strength was still insufficient to face the wind and snow of the Extreme North Land, especially since they also ran into a blizzard that was rare in a hundred years.
Just as Xingyun Douluo was about to step forward to protect her, Shu Yan slipped a light blue crystal into Xu Jiujiu's hand. The bone-chilling coldness instantly lessened quite a bit, replaced by a warmth.
This was a special ice crystal condensed from the origin Spirit Power of the Ice Sky Snow Woman Martial Soul. Setting aside any other effects for now, the effect of immunity to cold when carried on one's person could indeed be considered half a divine skill for low-level Soul Masters in the Extreme North Land.
Xu Jiujiu was momentarily stunned, then she gently gave Shu Yan a clear smile.
Shu Yan chuckled and shook his head, then turned and continued walking into the wind and snow.