"But you participated back then too! You can't just watch me die!"
At this, Snow Empress seemed to think of something, her ears reddening slightly, but her tone remained calm: "I mostly just gave tacit approval—at best, an accomplice. Yuhao wouldn't do anything to me over this."
"But you're different. You were the mastermind—you can't escape this. And as I said, if Yuhao wants to settle accounts, I can't stop him."
Not to mention that what was once false has now become true. The unofficial histories involving her weren't excessive—just harmless stories. Given their relationship, even if Yuhao learned the full story, he wouldn't be angry—just somewhat speechless.
Moreover, Snow Empress felt that Yuhao had probably already read the ones about her and was aware of them. So she didn't mind this being exposed, nor did she care about the "threat."
Thus, trying to drag her down was useless and unwise.
Hearing Snow Empress's calm words, Su Tong realized she'd gotten carried away in the moment and tried to drag Snow Empress down with her.
Given Snow Empress's relationship with Huo Yuhao, those trivial unofficial histories were harmless. Even if Yuhao knew about them, he wouldn't really hold it against her.
Saying this was not only useless but made her seem foolish. It might even extinguish whatever slight inclination Snow Empress might have had to "put in a good word for her."
Su Tong regretted it so much she wanted to slap herself and swallow her words.
But there was no undo button—she could only try to make amends.
Relying on herself was clearly hopeless, and she wasn't about to just wait for death.
"Mistress is soft-hearted but not easily swayed by force—I'll have to appeal to her emotions," Su Tong thought.
Just as she was preparing to appeal to Snow Empress's feelings and ask for help, Ye Guyi and Ji Juechen had finished listening to Huo Yuhao's explanation of Battle Armor, increasingly feeling the weight of the era's changes.
Ye Guyi sighed, "It seems we'll need to study Battle Armor too, or we'll fall behind the times."
"There's no rush. I'll find suitable instructors for you later."
Huo Yuhao said, his gaze sweeping over the still-sleeping figures. "It's not ideal to keep talking here. The changes over ten thousand years go far beyond just the number of experts and Battle Armor. Let's go upstairs to the Tower and talk."
Ye Guyi nodded. Ji Juechen remained silent, but the slight expression on his stony face showed he was already looking forward to this era.
Huo Yuhao turned and walked toward the chamber exit. Su Tong, seeing this, temporarily set aside her "survival" concerns and followed with Snow Empress.
At the ice door, Huo Yuhao turned back for one last look at the coffins inside.
Xuan Ziwen, Gao Dalou, Nana—familiar faces resting peacefully in their ice coffins, as if merely asleep rather than frozen for ten thousand years.
"Next time I come, it will be time for your return," Huo Yuhao murmured.
Su Tong and Ye Guyi also stopped, following his gaze to the familiar figures still sleeping.
Their memories had stopped at the moment of freezing, before that they'd still been together with everyone, so they didn't feel the same ten-thousand-year vicissitudes of life Huo Yuhao did.
But thinking that in this era, almost everyone they knew was here, ripples of emotion stirred in their hearts.
Ji Juechen stood quietly at the back, his gaze resting on one coffin. His wife, Jing Ziyan, lay within, her expression serene as if she might wake at any moment. A rare tenderness appeared on his usually expressionless face.
Snow Empress stood beside Huo Yuhao, looking at the figures in the coffins, also feeling some emotion.
Though her closest people were right beside her, seeing certain figures in the coffins reminded her of past times.
For example, seeing Nan Shuishui and her daughter Nan Qiuqiu from the Earth Dragon Sect brought back memories of her first meeting with Huo Yuhao, and the time they'd gone to the Earth Dragon Sect to retrieve the Ten-Thousand-Year Black Ice Marrow.
Yes, among those frozen were also former Earth Dragon Sect members. Of course, they had already accepted Huo Yuhao's invitation to join the Spirit Transmission Tower ten thousand years ago.
As for why Huo Yuhao had thought to help the Earth Dragon Sect... he simply felt it wouldn't be right to take their things without some compensation.
Though the Earth Dragon Sect knew nothing of their Ten-Thousand-Year Black Ice Marrow and couldn't use it, it was still on their territory. Huo Yuhao had used it as start-up capital to trade for Snow Empress's favor—it wasn't exactly honorable.
So during the Mingdu Tournament, he had done what he could to rescue Nan Shuishui and some disciples when the Earth Dragon Sect was nearly wiped out by the Holy Spirit Cult, bringing them out of Mingdu, offering some compensation, and inviting those he knew better to join the Spirit Transmission Tower.
Of course, the debt of rescue, though heavy, couldn't make the Earth Dragon Sect members switch allegiances.
Huo Yuhao hadn't held much hope initially.
But Nan Shuishui, seeing that Snow Empress—the "Limit-level expert" who had once invaded the Earth Dragon Sect—was on Huo Yuhao's side, feared that refusal might incur their displeasure and bring trouble. So she accepted with her daughter Nan Qiuqiu.
At that point, the Earth Dragon Sect had ties with the Spirit Transmission Tower but hadn't fully joined.
It wasn't until the Tianhun Empire fell and it seemed even Shrek couldn't stop the Sun Moon Empire's advance that Nan Shuishui, considering where the Earth Dragon Sect should go, once again thought of the Spirit Transmission Tower. She then fully merged the sect into the Tower, becoming an important member now stationed at Tianhun City.
One could say the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire had contributed significantly to the Spirit Transmission Tower's flourishing development.
"Let's go."
After a long moment, Huo Yuhao withdrew his gaze and left.
Light spilled in from outside the door, casting his silhouette in blue. Snow Empress followed silently. Su Tong and Ye Guyi exchanged a glance and stepped forward. Ji Juechen was the last to look away and follow.
As he stepped out, the ice door slowly closed, sealing the ten-thousand-year silence once more.
The five passed through the deep corridor, up the winding stairs, and arrived at the first floor of the Extreme North Tower, where Little White was still waiting, along with many soul masters who had turned to look.
Where there were people, there were always onlookers.
Little White, as acting Tower Master of the Extreme North branch, personally guarding the underground entrance was unusual enough to draw attention. That it also involved Huo Yuhao and Snow Empress only made it more noticeable.
Especially the Tower's staff, who knew the basement level was forbidden. Seeing Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao enter and emerge with three others naturally aroused their curiosity.
Ignoring those gazes, Su Tong greeted Little White.
"It's been a long time, Senior Little White."
"Yes, it really has been a long time." Little White smiled guilelessly.
Their interaction only added to the intrigue. The watching soul masters wondered who this woman was to address him so familiarly—Little White held a high position in the Tower, and anyone treated with such familiarity was clearly no ordinary person.
To some outsiders and Tower staff, Su Tong, Ye Guyi, and Ji Juechen's faces seemed familiar.
Before they could dwell on it, the group had finished their brief reunion and led Little White toward the Tower's top floor.
They passed through the hall, leaving curious or reverent gazes in their wake. Only after they disappeared at the stairwell did whispers resume.
"Those three seem familiar—like I've seen them somewhere before," said a soul master who had come to conduct business.
"I feel the same. They look like the Tower's historical statues... the second Tower Master, Frost Douluo, and the first-generation members Sword Fanatic Douluo and Angel Douluo!"
Someone finally identified the source of that familiarity, exclaiming in surprise.
"What? You mean they're first-generation members from ten thousand years ago? That's impossible!" Another laughed and shook his head. "They just look alike—maybe descendants?"
It had been ten thousand years—those ancestors had surely passed on long ago.
"But all three look alike... that seems unlikely," someone muttered.
Three people with "atavistic" appearances appearing simultaneously after ten thousand years? Was that possible?
The hall fell silent. Everyone exchanged glances, sensing something strange.
Some turned directly to the Tower staff for answers.
But the staff only smiled calmly, though inwardly they were just as puzzled: You're asking us? We want to know too!
In a corner of the hall, a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast suddenly clenched its fist. Its gaze was fixed on the stairwell, pupils contracted, heart racing.
Others might not recognize them—but it couldn't be mistaken.
Those were definitely first-generation Spirit Transmission Tower members!
Arriving at the Tower's top floor, Huo Yuhao periodically explained common knowledge of this era to the three—soul tool development, the Federation's current state, power structures, and so on.
Ye Guyi listened attentively. Ji Juechen silently took notes. Su Tong, however, was distracted.
As they walked, she kept sneaking glances at Huo Yuhao's expression. Her teacher's tone was calm, his manner gentle, even occasionally smiling at her.
Su Tong gradually relaxed, thinking Huo Yuhao wouldn't settle accounts today—after all, after ten thousand years apart, her teacher probably didn't want to dredge up old grievances on such a reunion day.
She was secretly relieved when Huo Yuhao suddenly stopped before a lounge, glanced at her, and said to Snow Empress, "Snow, please settle Guyi and the others. I'd like a word with Su Tong alone."
Su Tong's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Alright." Snow Empress acknowledged, giving Su Tong a "you're on your own" look, and prepared to lead Ye Guyi and Ji Juechen forward.
Su Tong snapped back, trying to sweet-talk Snow Empress while shielding herself behind her, going all out to "survive"—but clearly to no avail.
Under Ji Juechen's blank stare and Ye Guyi's puzzled look, Huo Yuhao raised his hand, spatial power surging. Su Tong was effortlessly drawn to his side.
She struggled twice, didn't budge, and gave up.
Huo Yuhao's smile didn't reach his eyes as he said gently, "My dear disciple, I've missed you all these years. Come, let's find a quiet place to catch up."
"Wait, they all did it too—why am I the only one getting punished?!" Su Tong struggled indignantly.
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow. "Aside from you, the most enthusiastic was the Auspicious Beast, and she's already been dealt with."
Su Tong faltered, her confidence deflating, but she still wouldn't give up: "But this was your assignment, Teacher! I only carried it out in my own way!"
Huo Yuhao looked at her meaningfully. "You could have done it normally."
"That's because—"
Before she could finish, Huo Yuhao waved his hand, spatial energy enveloping them. Su Tong blinked, and the cold wind hit her face—she was standing on the icy plains of the Extreme North.
No one around, no spirit beasts—clearly a good place to discipline a disciple.
"Whatever you have to say, say it after I've taught you a lesson."
Huo Yuhao said in a low voice. "Let me see how much you've improved since I left."
"No, Teacher, my body hasn't recovered yet!"
"Don't worry, I'll control my strength."
At Huo Yuhao's "cold and merciless" words, Su Tong felt like crying—she'd thought she could at least survive today!
And so, on this uninhabited ice plain, the teacher and disciple who hadn't seen each other in ages "caught up" thoroughly. The signature dishes—bamboo shoot stir-fry, rattan-braised pork, chilled fruits—were served one after another, moving Su Tong to tears.
Meanwhile, back at the Tower, watching where Su Tong and Huo Yuhao had vanished, Ji Juechen and Ye Guyi exchanged bewildered looks.
After a moment of silence, Ji Juechen turned to Snow Empress. "What exactly is going on?"
"Nothing." Snow Empress smiled, brushing it off.
Ji Juechen's world revolved around the sword, with perhaps only Jing Ziyan besides. He paid no attention to rumors or unofficial histories.
Ye Guyi, back then, had been too busy exterminating evil soul masters to get involved in such matters.
Though some had added them to the stories behind their backs, they were ultimately innocent.
So among the three, only Su Tong truly needed "catching up"—which was why she hadn't sought their help.
Seeing Snow Empress didn't want to answer, Ji Juechen and Ye Guyi didn't press further.
Huo Yuhao might look fierce, but he wouldn't actually harm Su Tong—at worst, he'd put her through some drills.
"You called her 'Snow' just now?" Ye Guyi mentioned another thing she'd noticed.
That was a very intimate address.
Snow Empress paused, glancing at Ye Guyi, and said warmly, "He has fewer restraints now, so naturally some things change."
"Is that so?"
Ye Guyi murmured, watching the faint smile at Snow Empress's brows, and fell silent, not pursuing the topic further.
When Huo Yuhao and Su Tong returned to the Tower, it was over ten minutes later. Ye Guyi and Ji Juechen saw Su Tong's "already dead, do not disturb" stargazing expression and tactfully refrained from asking.
Ye Guyi looked at Huo Yuhao and sighed, "Snow Empress told us that humans and land spirit beasts have achieved complete harmony in this era. It's hard to believe—so much has changed from ten thousand years ago."
Ten thousand years ago, Spirit Souls had just begun, and humans and spirit beasts were at best mutually beneficial partners—nothing like now.
Back then, even within the Tower, there was still wariness toward spirit beasts, and some secretly coveted hundred-thousand-year spirit bones and spirit rings, only held in check by the generally good relations between the higher-ups and the Extreme North.
Not like now—she'd seen a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast standing openly in the hall, and visiting soul masters had acted as if it were nothing, their eyes free of greed.
"And evil martial souls," Ye Guyi continued, still surprised. "Snow Empress said there are now strategies to control them. I never thought I'd see the day evil soul masters could reform and even become assets."
Hearing this, even Su Tong's "dead" eyes shifted slightly, clearly moved.
Huo Yuhao smiled, his gaze deep. "It's the result of your efforts and countless others over ten thousand years. So—does this future world disappoint you?"
"Don't forget yourself."
Ye Guyi withdrew her gaze, her smile warm.
"This golden age... is as we wished!"
Perhaps their reasons for joining the Spirit Transmission Tower had varied—some for gratitude, some for power, some simply because they'd been "knocked out" and had nowhere else to go. But as a force they'd built together, they naturally hoped it would make the world a better place.
Now, the Spirit Transmission Tower had indeed done so—and they shared in its pride.
Su Tong came back to life, her eyes regaining focus. She was silent for a moment, then stood and walked to the window, looking down at this city of ice—both familiar and unfamiliar.
Noticing this, Ye Guyi and Ji Juechen also came to the window, gazing at Snow Empress City below.
The soul tool lights formed a warm river of light, different from ten thousand years ago, yet equally reassuring.
Ten thousand years ago, they had planted a seed beneath this ice and snow.
Ten thousand years later, that seed had grown into something they'd never imagined.
And they had witnessed this day with their own eyes.
In that moment, they truly felt it—they had come to the future.
***
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