Returning to life in Element City was calm, yet it carried a slight difference.
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress were experiencing such a lively human world for the first time. Unlike the extremely cold world of soul beasts that consisted only of hunting and killing, everything here held great attraction for them.
With the addition of these two, the three girls led by Shui Bing'er became busy again.
The Ice Empress had a more lively personality and was a complete glutton. She often dragged the three girls out to "bomb the streets" (go around eating everywhere), and she absolutely wouldn't return until her stomach was completely stuffed.
Compared to her, the Snow Empress had a much better temperament. Most of her time each day was spent sitting under the evergreen tree, drinking tea. When Shen Hanyu had free time, he would chat with her about cultivation matters or explain to her the current strength distribution and situation of humans on the continent.
The Snow Empress was extremely intelligent. In a very short period of time, she had already understood and mastered most of this information and could even offer different viewpoints on certain matters.
Regarding the conflict between humans and soul beasts, Shen Hanyu didn't bother taking sides. He pursued only actions that had corresponding purposes and results.
The Snow Empress's current strength was comparable to a Limit Douluo, and she was among the very top tier of Limit Douluos. If one really had to describe it, with the blessing of the Far North, the Snow Empress's strength was equivalent to a Quasi-God level. Even without the Far North's amplification, she should still possess half-god-level power.
Although slightly inferior to Di Tian, while the Evil Emperor was still on the Sun Moon Continent, the Snow Empress was undoubtedly the number one land soul beast on the Douluo Continent besides Di Tian.
Of course, a certain silver fish that was still recovering from injury couldn't be counted.
...
Until Shen Hanyu awoke from meditation, walked downstairs, and at first glance saw the Snow Empress flipping through an ancient-looking book that was at least ten centimeters thick.
Shen Hanyu had also seen that book before: A Brief History of Soul Master Development on the Continent, a historical record of the development of soul masters. During the years he was away, he would occasionally flip through it when he had time.
Noticing Shen Hanyu approaching, the Snow Empress slightly raised her eyes, then took a sip of flower tea and continued reading on her own.
Shen Hanyu was already accustomed to this attitude from the Snow Empress. Powerful beings always had their own unique temperament, and that was completely understandable.
"Can you understand it?"
Shen Hanyu plopped down on the nearby recliner, completely relaxing his body, enjoying this rare moment of leisurely peace.
The Snow Empress glanced at Shen Hanyu and said indifferently:
"I'm not stupid."
Shen Hanyu helplessly waved his hand and then said:
"When do you plan to start the God Examination? My second martial soul is quite special and has extremely high requirements for the quality of the soul beasts I hunt. Each one will take considerable time. Although there's no time limit, the sooner the better..."
The Snow Empress slowly put down the thick book in her hands. A trace of cold light appeared in her beautiful eyes as she said coldly:
"You cannot touch the soul beasts of the Far North."
Shen Hanyu smiled nonchalantly and said word by word:
"Impossible. My second martial soul still needs an Ultimate Ice soul ring."
The atmosphere between the two gradually became heavy. The Snow Empress's gaze turned extremely cold, while Shen Hanyu refused to yield. Although he couldn't defeat the Snow Empress, that didn't mean he was afraid. Promising to help soul beasts in the future was already the greatest concession he was willing to make.
After a long while, looking at Shen Hanyu's almost emotionless eyes, the Snow Empress inexplicably felt a wave of sorrow. She closed her eyes and said:
"Very well. But you must preserve that soul beast's soul and resurrect it after you become a god."
Shen Hanyu was not surprised at all by the Snow Empress's concession. He nodded and said:
"Naturally."
The Snow Empress dropped the heavy book. Even the teacup with flower tea was slowly covered in frost. She stood up directly, coldly left one sentence, and then disappeared from the spot.
"Give me one more week. After that, I will do as you wish."
Shen Hanyu toyed with the frost at his fingertips, his gaze profound. With a wave of his hand, everything around him instantly returned to normal...
...
Seven days later.
Deep in the Ice-sealed Forest.
The Ice and Snow Emperors, the three girls, Shui Ningbing, and Shen Hanyu, were almost all present.
The emotions in the Ice Empress's eyes were very complicated. During this period, she had become quite familiar with Shui Bing'er and the others and had experienced many events in the human world. She gradually learned some information about Shen Hanyu. Coupled with Tianmeng's almost nonstop "brainwashing" day and night, she had almost no resistance left toward these matters, though there was still a thorn in her heart.
The Snow Empress's gaze was serene as she looked at Shen Hanyu before her and said in a low voice:
"Remember what you promised me."
Shen Hanyu nodded, indicating for the Snow Empress to rest assured.
Emotions surged in the Snow Empress's beautiful eyes. She couldn't understand why Shen Hanyu remained so calm from beginning to end, while she, who had always possessed a firm heart, repeatedly showed flaws in such a short period of time.
"Never mind. I hope you will be the correct choice I made."
The Snow Empress softly spoke this last sentence, then stepped toward Shen Hanyu.
The Ice Empress pursed her lips tightly and was just about to speak when Shui Liu Yu, beside her, quickly stuffed an iced candied hawthorn into her mouth.
The Ice Empress froze for a moment, then subconsciously took a bite. It was icy cold, sweet — as delicious as always.
While the Ice Empress was stunned, in Shen Hanyu's surprised gaze, the Snow Empress gently stretched out both hands and embraced him...
Immediately after, red light shot into the sky, accompanied by an indescribable cold that rapidly spread in all directions.
Countless ice spikes rose from the ground, finally slowly condensing into huge icebergs. Shen Hanyu's body slowly rose within the package of this energy, countless ice spikes following closely behind, firmly enveloping Shen Hanyu within them.
Tears appeared in the Ice Empress's eyes, but because she still had the candied hawthorn in her mouth, her speech was somewhat muffled and unclear. No one paid attention to it.
Shui Ningbing helped the three girls block the cold air, then retreated a distance backward.
The Ice Empress was completely unaffected and stood there somewhat blankly, not knowing what she was thinking.
Shui Ningbing slowly walked forward and said to this "old woman" who was at least one and a half heads shorter than her:
"Senior, would you... Like to eat something?"
The Ice Empress was stunned, then felt somewhat angry. These humans, what did they take her for? She was clearly so sad right now, yet they still talked about eating? This was simply insulting the great Ice Empress!
"Later... save some for me."
The Ice Empress said sullenly.
Shui Ningbing revealed a shallow smile, then swayed her figure as she slowly walked back.
The Ice Empress slightly turned her head and saw Shui Ningbing's voluptuous figure, then looked down at her own small feet. The depression in her heart rose another level!
...
Because Shen Hanyu had previously explained that this absorption would take quite a long time, since he had to absorb both the Snow Emperor's soul ring and soul bone at the same time, out of certain considerations, he had asked Shui Ningbing to come and help protect him.
Looking at it now, it had been the right decision.
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