Snow Empress spoke calmly, "From this moment on, I declare that Ah Tai shall succeed my position and become the ruler of the Extreme North. You are to respect him as you respect me, follow his commands, and aid him in maintaining the peace of the Extreme North. Though Ah Tai may seem a bit rough, he is honest, loyal, and has never used his strength to oppress other clans. He is a worthy successor."
Her declaration sent shockwaves through the assembled soul beasts. In their eyes, the only one truly qualified to succeed the Snow Empress was the Ice Empress. Everyone knew of the deep connection between the two, and as the top two of the three great kings of the Extreme North, they had once been powerful enough to even threaten Beast God Di Tian. Especially if the battlefield was here, even the Beast God would tread cautiously.
The fact that Snow Empress was relinquishing her position was already astonishing, but that she would pass it to the Titan Snow Demon King instead of the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress? That was inconceivable.
Even the Titan Snow Demon King himself was stunned, eyes wide as he looked at Snow Empress, unsure if he had misheard.
But Snow Empress met his gaze, nodding gently to affirm her words.
"Snow Empress, you..." Titan Snow Demon King's voice trembled. It wasn't excitement he felt, but grief.
Only those who had reached their level of cultivation could understand what this meant. Snow Empress was likely approaching the end of her lifespan and preparing for a closed-door final cultivation, a death retreat. To him, it was no different from her stepping into death itself.
A soft smile graced her lips. "Ah Tai, you've contributed greatly over the years. You've truly grown. Every action of yours has been within my watch, and I'm proud of you. Between you and Bing'er, you're more suitable. Her temperament is too strong, and her clan lacks your Titan Snow Demons' cohesive might. You were always meant to be my successor. Remember, even if I'm gone, the Extreme North remains. Treat every clan with kindness, uphold my will. Only if we remain united will we be safe from invasion and humiliation."
"Yes, yes..." Huge teardrops rolled down Titan Snow Demon King's face. He had never imagined receiving such a trust.
Snow Empress giving him this title was proof of her utmost faith. He had always admired her, but now, knowing she might be walking to her end, sorrow surged in his heart.
Not far off, the Ice Bear King had opened its eyes again. Its gaze flickered between Titan Snow Demon King and the retreating beast horde. There was a clear trace of unwillingness in its eyes, and it didn't try to hide it. Yet the Titan Snow Demon King had no attention to spare for such emotions now.
Snow Empress continued, "Ah Tai, and everyone here today, remember this—this succession is not the end, but the beginning of hope. I will no longer be the master of this land, but that doesn't mean I will die. I am going to seek a higher realm. Should I succeed, even Di Tian will no longer be above me."
Titan Snow Demon King, who had been sobbing quietly, looked up in surprise. Through his tear-streaked vision, he stared at her calm expression, stunned.
Though he didn't fully grasp her meaning, a sense of relief bloomed in his heart. The heavy atmosphere around this succession began to ease. No one dared to speculate on Snow Empress's intentions, but with her reassurance, there was a flicker of belief—perhaps her departure wasn't the beginning of doom.
"Now that the new ruler is chosen, my children of the Extreme North, let me see you off. Ah Tai, Xiao Bai, the two of you stay."
At her command, the soul beasts began to rise and slowly disperse. Even as they left, they constantly turned back, eyes filled with deep reluctance. From this moment on, the Three Kings of the Extreme North were no more. Only a new ruler remained.
Snow Empress stood quietly. Beside her, the Titan Snow Demon King didn't move, nor did the Ice Bear King, who had now stood upright. Towering over forty meters, though shorter than the Titan Snow Demon King, its muscular frame was no less powerful. Its silver fur shimmered as it shifted, eyes fierce. It glanced at Titan Snow Demon King, then toward the soul beasts retreating into the distance—its emotions clearly conflicted.
Huo Yuhao stood silently next to the Ice Empress, witnessing this historic moment of leadership transition. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'Snow Empress... you are truly worthy of being ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.'
A full half-hour passed before the soul beasts finally dispersed, restoring peace to the vast icy plain.
Only two clans remained: the Ice Bears and the Titan Snow Demons.
These two clans, along with the Ice Jade Scorpions, were known as the three great clans of the Extreme North, their strength unmatched.
Their leaders remained, and so too did their kin.
"Snow Empress."
A deep, hoarse voice broke the silence, rousing her from her thoughts.
Perched atop Titan Snow Demon King's shoulder, Snow Empress looked down to see the Ice Bear King gazing up at her with pleading eyes.
She lightly tapped her toe on Titan Snow Demon King's shoulder and floated down.
The Ice Bear King quickly lay prone, pressing its enormous head to the ground. In its eyes were traces of pitiful hope and helplessness.
"Snow Empress..." it called again.
But Snow Empress didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Titan Snow Demon King and said, "Ah Tai, as I mentioned earlier, my return to the Extreme North concerns two major matters. The first was passing on the mantle of ruler. The second concerns the future—of this land, and of all soul beasts."
"You must listen carefully and take this seriously."
Though a bit confused, Titan Snow Demon King nodded. Yet the more he heard about this so-called future, the more alarmed he became.
(End of Chapter)
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