The howling wind and snow drowned out the frenzied roars of the three colossal beasts.
Even just the aura leaking from them was enough to send every other soul beast within a ten-mile radius fleeing in terror. The storm itself seemed to falter under the weight of the oppressive atmosphere.
Nebula Douluo flickered through the air, her figure trailing starlight. Her martial soul was the Nebula Fan, a top-tier tool-type martial soul that straddled the line between Control and Power types. It possessed a rare starlight attribute so rare, in fact, that even across the entire continent, few could claim to wield it. This unique attribute was the key to her rise to fame.
Now in her eighties, Nebula Douluo had a soul power level of 92 relatively low among Title Douluos, placing her near the bottom of the rankings. With age came limits, and unless fate granted her some miraculous opportunity, she would likely never step into the realm of Super Douluos.
Once Nebula Douluo successfully lured the three berserk Titan Snow Demons out of the chaotic battlefield, Shattered Star Douluo increased his pace.
The frigid wind cut across them, and Xu Jiujing instinctively tightened her grip on Shu Yan's hand. As a princess, this was her first time experiencing a soul beast hunt firsthand. In the past, the Star Luo Empire had always provided her with carefully selected soul beasts. Once subdued, all she had to do was land the killing blow and claim the ring—never before had she taken such a risk.
Shattered Star Douluo, his expression grim as he watched the retreating figures of the beasts, spoke up:
"Your Highness, Shu boy, stay back a bit later. These brutes have hides tougher than steel. I'll be coordinating with Nebula to take down the two recently evolved Titan Snow Demons with one decisive strike. The newly advanced ten-thousand-year one will be incapacitated and left for Shu boy to handle. Keeping your distance will save you from stray attacks."
Shu Yan nodded lightly. As Shattered Star Douluo descended slightly, he leapt down with Xu Jiujing in his arms, landing in knee-deep snow.
Exhaling a warm breath, Xu Jiujing clung to his hand for a long moment before finally speaking:
"A-Yan, sometimes I feel like you're far too mature for someone your age. I know I'm already quite capable myself, but when I'm with you... I can't help but feel a little unworthy."
Shu Yan chuckled softly, pinching her cheek.
"Don't belittle yourself. You're Princess Jiujing—one of the most esteemed women of our time. Compared to that, I'm the one who seems plain."
"Mm..."
"Would 'a pretty boy living off his princess' suit me?" he teased.
Xu Jiujing couldn't hold back a laugh. Around Shu Yan, she could let go of the burdens of royalty and show her softer side.
BOOM—
Just as the two basked in their tender moment, screams and a distant rumble shattered the calm.
Shu Yan's expression shifted instantly. Holding Xu Jiujing once more, he leapt forward, crossing over a hundred meters in just a few bounds. Before she could react, they were already at the edge of the battlefield.
There, Shattered Star Douluo had restrained the ten-thousand-year Titan Snow Demon. Seeing Shu Yan arrive, he nodded and stomped down. The beast slumped into unconsciousness—ready for Shu Yan to finish.
Shu Yan gently patted Xu Jiujing's hand, then strode toward the beast.
Three soul rings each an intense purple beyond normal ratios rose beneath him. A long halberd of pure, ultimate ice formed in his hand. Without hesitation, he ended the Titan Snow Demon's life.
As an immense surge of frigid and domineering energy flooded into him, the three observers collectively let out a faint sigh of relief.
None of them had worried about whether Shu Yan could absorb a soul ring of this magnitude. He had been nurtured from childhood with heavenly treasures, making his body far stronger than others at the same level. Moreover, with his Ice Sky Snow Maiden martial soul, absorbing a Titan Snow Demon's ring a perilous task for most ice-type soul masters—barely counted as a challenge for him.
While Shu Yan absorbed the soul ring, Nebula Douluo examined the corpses of the two other Titan Snow Demons, both of whom had been decapitated in a single strike.
As she inspected one of the severed heads, her aged hand trembled slightly. Under her soul power's guidance, a radiant, silvery-white head soul bone slowly rose from the pile of mangled flesh.
"A head soul bone..."
Shattered Star Douluo and Xu Jiujing, sensing the anomaly, rushed over both visibly shocked.
Among the six types of soul bones a soul master could possess, the torso bone was the rarest and most valuable. Following closely in value was the head bone. Even the vast treasury of the Star Luo Empire contained only a few.
A high-quality head soul bone could boost a soul master's strength more than even an exceptional soul ring making it clear just how invaluable it was.
Everyone had witnessed the power of the Titan Snow Demons, and this soul bone had aged past the ten-thousand-year threshold. On the continent, such a treasure would undoubtedly spark conflict among major factions.
"What unbelievable luck..."
Xu Jiujing gave a wry smile and accepted the priceless soul bone from Nebula Douluo.
Shattered Star Douluo's gaze grew complicated. Though he was a well-established Super Douluo and had the talent to absorb a hundred-thousand-year ring, circumstances had forced him to give up on that path. After years of effort within the Empire, he had only managed to obtain two soul bones suitable for himself at great cost.
Xu Jiujing's expression turned hesitant as she wrestled with herself. After a long pause, she exhaled softly and said:
"This soul bone's value is undeniable. But if we're talking about who it suits best, then it should go to A-Yan. Granny Man Yi, Senior Shattered Star any objections?"
The two Douluos exchanged glances. After a brief silence, they both nodded.
Only then did Xu Jiujing finally relax.
She hadn't been worried that they would covet the soul bone especially not Nebula Douluo, who had watched her grow up and was one of the few people she trusted as much as Shu Yan and her elder brother. As for Shattered Star Douluo...
It wasn't that she doubted him. His loyalty to the Empire was unquestionable. She had simply feared that he might be displeased by her decisive judgment. But now, it seemed she'd been overthinking things even for someone usually as perceptive as her.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Xu Jiujing suddenly spoke:
"Senior Shattered Star, I meant no offense. I was just a little hasty. Please forgive me."
Shattered Star Douluo only chuckled and waved it off.
"I've watched Shu boy grow up I already see him as half a junior of my own. No need to worry, Your Highness. I've been around long enough not to care about something so trivial."
Hearing that, Xu Jiujing smiled. Her gaze turned toward Shu Yan, a hint of anticipation in her eyes—as if awaiting the moment he would awaken.