The Ice Empress narrowed her eyes slightly, her jade-gem-like beautiful pupils flashing with a dangerous light. She sized up Lin Xiao, seemingly judging his strength.
"Human, this is not a place for you."
The Ice Empress's voice was pleasant.
But it was also cold, as cold as the eternally unmelting ice of the Extreme North.
Lin Xiao said, "I've traveled a long distance, so I naturally have a purpose."
"Even if I gain nothing, it's still a worthwhile trip to witness the majestic presence of the Extreme North's three great monarchs."
The Ice Empress sneered.
A powerful pressure suddenly emanated from her.
The Ice Empress's cultivation had reached 390,000 years, not far from the 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation. Coupled with her status as the sole Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, her bloodline was exceptionally strong.
In an instant, extreme cold assailed Lin Xiao's body.
In a daze, he could still see the powerful phantom of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion roaring towards the sky.
Lin Xiao ignited the Great Sun Golden Flame on his body.
The domineering nature of fire within fire dissolved the Ice Empress's attack into nothingness.
Lin Xiao smiled.
"Ice Empress, you've just returned. I haven't had a chance to welcome you properly. I happened to brew some flower tea. Would you do me the honor of sharing a cup?"
The Ice Empress had already smelled the elegant floral fragrance permeating the air.
It was refreshing and pleasing to the senses.
Even her usually irritable temper couldn't help but relax, and her mood became joyful.
Furthermore, her spirit felt subtly invigorated.
"You have quite the hand, using ten-thousand-year treasures as tea leaves!"
Lin Xiao smiled without speaking.
In truth, he was just a little schemer.
The Ice Empress had a fiery temper. To avoid being denied even a chance to speak, Lin Xiao had been brewing this mood-lifting flower tea for several days.
Then, a faint jade light enveloped the Ice Empress, and a stunningly beautiful figure appeared before Lin Xiao. She had a delicate face with four jade demonic patterns on each side and a head of cascading jade hair.
The Ice Empress's skin was as translucent as ice and snow, and her demeanor was cold and captivating.
If there was any flaw, it was the Ice Empress's height of only 1.5 meters, which inexplicably reminded Lin Xiao of a middle schooler. Despite her cold and alluring face and temperament, she appeared incredibly young.
It was hard to imagine what it would be like to be stepped on and cursed at by someone with the Ice Empress's appearance and fiery personality.
The Ice Empress's expression was icy as she entered Lin Xiao's tent.
Just now, Lin Xiao's ability to withstand her pressure had earned him the right to sit and talk with her. Otherwise, in the world of Soul Beasts where strength reigned supreme, let alone drinking tea with Lin Xiao, The Ice Empress would have considered Lin Xiao her property.
His life and death, his departure or stay, would all be at the Ice Empress's disposal.
The kind where disobedience would be met with a whipping.
...
Inside the tent.
The tea fragrance was exceptionally rich.
Lin Xiao offered a cup of tea to the Ice Empress. She took it and sipped it lightly.
No poison.
How fragrant!
She couldn't help but drink the entire cup.
Unconsciously, a hint of joy appeared on the Ice Empress's small and delicate face, and her previously icy demeanor melted away.
However, she quickly realized this.
She tried to pull the corners of her mouth down, her expression returning to a cold and serious one.
"This tea of yours is decent. It should be very effective for calming the mind and restoring one's spirit."
"However, if you think you can use this tea to win me over, I advise you to give up on that idea!"
"You said you have a deal for me? And it concerns my 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation?"
"You must give me a satisfactory explanation, otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make you wish you were dead!"
This loli is so fierce!
Although appearance is an external factor, it can sometimes be incredibly important.
Even though the Ice Empress spoke to Lin Xiao with ferocity, he didn't feel the slightest bit threatened. The culprit, naturally, was her adorable face.
Lin Xiao sighed.
"Soul Beasts undergo Heavenly Tribulations every hundred thousand years."
"The Heavenly Tribulation is a near-death experience, and the further along you go, the lower your chances of survival."
"Among the kings of the Extreme North, the Snow Empress faces a 700,000-year Heavenly Tribulation, while you, Ice Empress, face a 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation. It's truly lamentable."
"How difficult is the life of a Soul Beast?"
The Ice Empress's expression grew colder, her voice gradually chilling.
"I'll ask you one last time!"
"I want a way to overcome the 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation!"
"If you spout any more nonsense, don't blame me for turning hostile!"
It seemed Lin Xiao's words had struck a nerve with the Ice Empress.
Her attitude worsened considerably.
Lin Xiao said slowly:
"What's the rush?"
"The ultimate goal of Soul Beast cultivation is eternal life, and the only way to achieve eternal life is to become a God. For Soul Beasts, there are usually two paths to Godhood."
"First, the Ferocious Beast path. Cultivate to a million years, enduring ten Heavenly Tribulations in total. Furthermore, because the God Realm does not tolerate Soul Beasts, even if they survive the Heavenly Tribulation and become Gods, their final outcome is likely to be very tragic."
"Second, the path of transformation and re-cultivation. Transform into a human, but before reaching the Soul Saint stage, there's the danger of being discovered and hunted by humans for Soul Rings. Even if one successfully cultivates to Titled Douluo or even Limit Douluo, besides having a longer lifespan than humans, the hope of becoming a God remains slim."
"Moreover, after surviving the second Heavenly Tribulation, Soul Beasts can no longer transform and re-cultivate. For you, Ice Empress, this path is no longer viable."
Listening to Lin Xiao's words, a shadow fell over the Ice Empress's face.
Everything Lin Xiao said was correct.
And she didn't have much confidence in surviving the 400,000-year Heavenly Tribulation.
"However, I have a way."
The young man's words were extremely plain, as if he were casually chatting.
The Ice Empress was taken aback for a moment, then reacted.
Her pair of jade-green pupils fixed intently on Lin Xiao.
"Human, you should know what happens if you deceive me!"
The Ice Empress's face was like frost.
If Lin Xiao gave her hope only to shatter it, Then the Ice Empress would make him understand what cruelty was.
Lin Xiao whetted her appetite and stopped playing coy.
"Ice Empress."
"This third option is to sacrifice yourself to me, become my Soul Spirit, and share in my glory and ruin! When I achieve Godhood, you will undergo a qualitative transformation with me, thereby achieving eternal life, and even becoming a subordinate God under my command!"
After speaking, Lin Xiao looked intently at the Ice Empress.
Awaiting her choice.
But the Ice Empress's expression changed drastically, and she shouted sternly:
"Presumptuous! Who exactly are you?"
"Why are you so boastful!"
A monstrous, terrifying aura erupted from the Ice Empress.
It was as if the wind and snow converged into a giant dragon, crushing down upon Lin Xiao.
At this moment, the Ice Empress was still ten thousand years away from her Heavenly Tribulation, unlike Douluo 2, whose situation was more pressing. This was Lin Xiao's disadvantage compared to Huo Yuhao.
But he also had an advantage.
That is, compared to the initially weak Huo Yuhao.
Lin Xiao possessed enough strength to prove that becoming a God was not difficult for him!
But at this moment, the Ice Empress had lost the patience to listen further.
Her voice was chilling, and her jade-green Soul Power converged around her body. She said coldly:
"Answer my question, who exactly are you!"
Just then, a powerful bloodline aura suddenly surged from Lin Xiao, an aura that even made the Ice Empress feel genuine awe.
A clear female voice rang out.
"Who is Lin Xiao?"
"I'll tell you, he is your master!"
-----------
Machine Translation by: https://beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 1111+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https://beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------https://inkstone.webnovel.com/novels/view/33277706100775505