Wei Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Suppressing the dull ache in his head, he released his divine sense, condensing it into an invisible blade of spirit that pierced toward the glowing orb.
For a moment, the blade met resistance—then sliced through. The orb cracked and dissolved, its light scattering in threads of white and emerald green.
A surge of absolute cold spread outward as the Ice Emperor reappeared several meters away, her aura shaking the air.
The chill she released did not harm Wei Xuan in the least, though the sheer pressure of her presence forced the air around him to tremble. It was the oppressive might of a nearly four-hundred-thousand-year soul beast—the kind of aura that would have crushed any ordinary Soul Sect to the ground.
Yet Wei Xuan stood upright, calm and composed, meeting her gaze without fear.
After a moment, the Ice Emperor withdrew her aura. A swirl of snow encircled her, flaring with emerald radiance—and when the storm faded, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion was gone.
In her place floated a woman of stunning beauty.
Her delicate face was flawless, framed by long, deep green hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of emerald silk. On either cheek glimmered four faint green sigils, adding an almost bewitching charm to her icy poise.
Her body was tall and lithe, wrapped in a jade-green gown that accentuated every curve; her bare feet hovered lightly above the snow, untouched by the cold.
Her presence was regal, dangerous, and alluring all at once—a living embodiment of winter's perfection.
She gazed at Wei Xuan, eyes complicated. Never had she imagined she would one day fall to such a fate—bound as a human's Spirit of Wisdom.
But Wei Xuan's expression remained unchanged. Even before a woman of such devastating beauty, his heart was steady as still water.
When one's mind reached a certain height, no mortal charm could stir it.
"I'm only at level forty-one now," he said evenly. "When I reach fifty, I'll need you to sacrifice yourself to me."
With her cultivation, the Ice Emperor could easily serve as his ninth ring,
but he had no intention of waiting that long. The sooner she became his ring, the sooner her essence could grow alongside his—becoming a powerful aid for the future.
He possessed a method to temporarily seal much of her power, preventing it from overwhelming his body—but that would only work if she cooperated willingly.
"Fine," the Ice Emperor said without hesitation. "When the time comes, I'll suppress my strength to what you can withstand. I'll ensure the fusion succeeds."
Wei Xuan's eyes brightened slightly. That would save him considerable effort.
"I do have a question," he said. "That ice silkworm—what exactly was it? Its cultivation seemed extraordinary."
At the mention of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, the Ice Emperor's expression darkened instantly. The air around her stirred violently, her aura spiking with rage.
To think that she, the proud Ice Emperor of the Extreme North, one of the Three Heavenly Kings, had nearly fallen victim to that gluttonous worm—it was humiliating beyond words.
"Let me meet you again, and I'll crush even your soul," she thought bitterly, her emerald eyes flashing cold fire.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she replied through clenched teeth, "His name is Tianmeng, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm. He's… a million-year soul beast."
"A million years?" Wei Xuan's eyes widened in genuine surprise. He hadn't expected that lazy creature to have reached such an age.
"Mm." The Ice Emperor gave a brief account of Tianmeng's background—how it had attained its cultivation simply by sleeping and consuming heaven and earth's essence, never fighting, never training, yet ascending to a height countless beasts could only dream of.
Wei Xuan's expression turned faintly strange.
"So he ate and slept his way to enlightenment," he murmured. "That… is quite the fortune."
But before he could say more, a subtle shift in the air caught his attention. His eyes flicked toward the depths of the Extreme North. A powerful presence was rapidly approaching.
The Ice Emperor sensed it too, and her face softened with a flicker of joy.
A streak of white light shot across the sky like a falling star, descending in a graceful arc until it landed beside her.
When the light faded, another figure emerged—a woman whose beauty surpassed even the Ice Emperor's.
Her long, snow-white hair flowed like a silk river, reaching all the way to her heels. Her skin glowed with a crystalline purity, and her sky-blue eyes shone with wisdom as deep as the heavens themselves. She wore a simple, elegant white dress—unadorned, yet impossibly refined, radiating divine grace.
Her presence was ethereal, untouchable— cold, pure, and aloof, like a snow lotus blooming atop the highest peak.
In her pale, slender hand she held a snow-white lotus, its petals shimmering faintly with power on par with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
"Snow Emperor! You came!" the Ice Emperor exclaimed, genuine delight lighting her face.
The newcomer smiled faintly, her tone serene as she replied, "I felt a powerful surge of spiritual energy here. I thought something had happened,
so I came to check… I didn't expect to find you here as well."
Her gaze shifted, settling briefly—and coldly—on Wei Xuan.
"What exactly happened here?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with frost.
And without waiting for an answer, her aura began to rise—she was about to strike.
"Wait—don't!" the Ice Emperor cried, quickly stepping between them. "Don't attack him!"
Wei Xuan's brow furrowed slightly, not out of fear but irritation. First, because the Snow Emperor seemed ready to kill him without hesitation;
and second, because he could tell—she wasn't human either.
Her essence was pure and ancient, like a spirit born from ice and heaven itself—a being of creation, not birth.
"Bing'er, what are you doing?" the Snow Emperor frowned. "Why are you protecting a human?"
"Snow Emperor, please, listen first!" the Ice Emperor said quickly. She began recounting everything—how Tianmeng had trapped her, how Wei Xuan had appeared and saved her, and finally, their vow-bound agreement.
She spoke plainly and quickly, leaving out only one detail— Wei Xuan's overwhelming spiritual power.
She knew the Snow Emperor well. If she mentioned that part, the woman would demand answers—and Wei Xuan clearly wished to keep his secret.
Better to avoid needless conflict.
When the Ice Emperor finished, the Snow Emperor looked momentarily taken aback. Then, without warning, she flickered—appearing directly before Wei Xuan.
Wei Xuan did not move. He merely met her gaze, calm and steady, studying the ruler of the Extreme North.
He stood about one meter seventy-three, just slightly taller than her. Their eyes met evenly—two worlds of winter, face to face.
The storm stilled. The snow fell in silence. In that frozen expanse, two peerless sovereigns of ice and one calm, unshaken man stood beneath the pale northern sky.
(End of Chapter)