Since ancient times, the Extreme North has been one of the forbidden zones for humanity.
Thousands of years ago, humans first discovered the existence of ferocious beasts and, for the first time, realized just how powerful and terrifying they could be.
From that moment on, hundred-thousand-year soul beasts were no longer considered the pinnacle of soul beast strength. Instead, the "Top Ten Ferocious Beasts" list, widely known across the continent, took its place as the new standard.
Each beast on that list represents the peak of land-dwelling soul beasts. Ranked at the very top is Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, currently undisputed as the number one being on the Douluo Plane and revered as the Beast God.
Ruling over the Extreme North, however, is the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Snow Empress, whose cultivation is nearing an astonishing 700,000 years.
Also residing in the Extreme North are other top-ranked beasts, such as the Ice Empress seventh on the list alongside other fierce beasts like the Titan Snow Demon King and the Ice Bear King, both of whom have also reached the fearsome rank of "ferocious beast."
Whether even stronger soul beasts remain hidden in the Extreme North is unknown, but the sheer power of those already revealed is enough to make even the most powerful forces across the continent tremble. This overwhelming might is what gives the Extreme North the right to stand alongside the Star Dou Forest as one of humanity's untouchable forbidden zones.
After entering the mixed zone from the outskirts, Fragment Star Douluo separated from the group to scout ahead, while Nebula Douluo Man Yi stayed to protect the other two.
Fragment Star Douluo's martial soul, Light of Shattered Stars, possesses the power of spatial destruction, granting him extraordinary speed and offensive power. His formidable Rank 95 soul power alone earns him a name known across the continent. Under his search, it didn't even take half a day before he found a soul beast suitable for Shu Yan in the deeper area of the mixed zone.
It was a massive white beast over thirty meters tall, standing upright like a human. Its entire body was covered in white fur, blending it almost perfectly into the snowy world around it.
Despite the fur's concealment, its terrifyingly muscular frame and fierce features were still faintly visible. But what shocked Fragment Star Douluo most was the beast's species.
After gazing at it from a distance for a moment, his expression shifted from astonishment to a subtle frown.
"…This kid's luck is insane…"
He muttered to himself. The last time he and Shu Yan came to the Extreme North, it took them nearly ten days to find a suitable soul beast. This time, they'd barely been here two hours and already stumbled upon such an extraordinary find.
Man Yi's expression also darkened. She recognized the soul beast at first glance and could tell that its cultivation had just passed the ten-thousand-year mark both in terms of age and species, it was a perfect match for Shu Yan.
The two Douluos exchanged a glance. Then, Fragment Star Douluo turned slightly and said:
"Your Highness, this soul beast is an exceptional match for young Shu… but..."
Xu Jiujiu's gaze was also drawn to the towering beast. Noticing the hesitation in both Douluos' expressions, she seemed to understand their concerns.
"What's so special about this soul beast that even Grandma Man Yi and Senior Fragment Star are being this cautious?"
Fragment Star Douluo sighed softly and explained:
"Your Highness may not be too familiar with the species native to the Extreme North. The soul beast before us belongs to an incredibly rare and powerful species known as the Titan Snow Demon. Legend says they are descendants of an ancient Ice God and a primordial giant. Though individuals of this species may not possess the amplification of Ultimate Ice, their physical strength is unmatched. In many ways, the Titan Snow Demon is the Extreme North's counterpart to the Titan Giant Ape and within this region, it might even be more terrifying."
"Given how rare such soul beasts are, an ordinary soul master might spend months searching without ever encountering one. Yet today, we found one so easily… Our luck feels almost too good to be true."
He paused, then continued:
"If that were all, we wouldn't be so concerned. But what truly worries us is the Titan Snow Demon King the king of this species, a full-fledged ferocious beast whose cultivation reportedly exceeds 250,000 years. And Titan Snow Demons never travel alone. Wherever they appear, others of their kind are usually nearby. If we fail to kill this one instantly and it manages to alert the others, it won't be long before the Snow Demon King comes charging out from the core zone… and we'll be hunted down mercilessly."
As soon as his words fell, the ground beneath them trembled faintly. Snow exploded into the air before gently falling again.
From within the snowy mist ahead, two more colossal beasts emerged each over thirty meters tall and radiating a soul power well above ten thousand years.
Three ten-thousand-year Titan Snow Demons enough to slaughter even a fifty-thousand-year soul beast. Their combat strength was nothing short of terrifying.
Fragment Star Douluo sighed again, his gaze landing on Shu Yan with a trace of regret.
"Shu, it's not that I'm afraid to take a risk but hunting Titan Snow Demons here in the depths of the Extreme North is far too dangerous. His Majesty entrusted your safety to me… I can't gamble with your life."
Nebula Douluo hesitated, then nodded in agreement.
Xu Jiujiu turned to Shu Yan, ready to ask his thoughts.
But Shu Yan's expression remained calm. After watching the distant beasts for a moment, he said quietly:
"It's too late. They've already sensed us."
His words immediately snapped everyone back to reality. Fragment Star Douluo spun around only to see that the three Titan Snow Demons were now approaching rapidly, picking up speed with every step.
"Damn it! These creatures are this sensitive to aura?"
He cursed under his breath. Three ten-thousand-year beasts weren't a real threat to him— but it was the Titan Snow Demon King he feared. If not for that, Shu Yan could already begin absorbing the soul ring.
They had been too stunned earlier to suppress their auras properly. Who would have thought the Titan Snow Demons could detect them from over three kilometers away?
Just as Fragment Star Douluo was about to retreat with the others, Shu Yan suddenly spoke:
"If we can't kill them here, then let's draw them out of the mixed zone. We strike in the outer area—three clean kills. Grandma Man Yi, Senior Fragment Star… you two should be able to manage that, right?"
Fragment Star Douluo blinked, not yet processing the feasibility of the plan, when Shu Yan pulled out a jade vial from his soul tool. After opening it, he tossed it into the air with a surge of soul power. A white powder burst forth, carried by the wind—falling directly in the Titan Snow Demons' path.
Fragment Star Douluo's expression shifted. "What's that?"
Shu Yan smiled and explained:
"A soul beast berserking powder made by a friend of the Medical Immortal Douluo. Just a small dose drastically reduces a soul beast's rationality, while ramping up their bloodlust and combat instinct. It's still experimental. I got it when the Medical Immortal helped me treat internal injuries."
Fragment Star Douluo & Nebula Douluo: (speechless) "…You really are something."
Suppressing a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Fragment Star Douluo exchanged a helpless glance with Man Yi and silently accepted reality.
Nebula Douluo rose into the sky. Nine soul rings the perfect configuration spun beneath her feet. Gazing at the now-enraged Titan Snow Demons below, she exhaled slowly. Then, one soul attack after another rained down from above, each one locking onto its target and striking the beasts squarely, causing rocks and snow to tumble around them.
These attacks weren't enough to kill the Titan Snow Demons perhaps not even pierce their defenses but such "taunting" strikes only made them angrier. With furious roars, the three beasts charged toward the sky, wreaking havoc in their wake. Mountains shook, and the earth cracked beneath their feet a terrifying show of their destructive power.
Fragment Star Douluo then appeared with Xu Jiujiu and Shu Yan in tow. With a casual wave, a violent gust of wind swept out, erasing every trace of their presence from the surroundings. Watching the Titan Snow Demons and Nebula Douluo vanish into the distance, he paused to confirm no others were nearby then sped off to follow.