In the boundless, silent curtain of white snow, a hand as clear as jade suddenly appeared. A single snowflake was gently caught in her palm. As the perspective drew back, a figure in a flowing white dress stood proudly in the blizzard. Her gaze was fixed far into the distance, as if she were searching for something.
The Snow Empress's Search
In the raging blizzard, the Snow Empress's pure white, long hair danced wildly in the wind. Her beautiful, sky-blue eyes, though seemingly empty, held a hint of uncontainable emotion. In a flash, the Snow Empress's figure vanished, and the snowflake she had held in her hand continued to drift away on the wind.
Outside the Extreme North Land
A hundred miles outside the Extreme North Land, a purple vortex materialized in the air, and four figures stepped out. Suixing Titled Douluo, who was leading the group, unfolded a map and quickly checked their position before turning to the young man.
"Shu, kid, are you sure you sensed the Snow Empress's aura?" he asked.
Shu Yan carefully lowered Xu Jiujiu from his arms and nodded gently. "The moment the bloodline in my body awakened, I felt a special connection—a resonance between similar bloodlines—deep within the Extreme North Land. If I can feel it, the Snow Empress naturally can too."
Suixing Titled Douluo paused for a moment in thought. "We're already in the outermost area of the Extreme North Land. Less than ten kilometers more and we'll be in the Heaven Soul Empire's territory. Even if the Snow Empress sensed your aura, she shouldn't chase us out here so easily. It just means that the next time we want to come to the Extreme North Land to hunt Spirit Beasts, it's probably going to be difficult."
Shu Yan held Xu Jiujiu's hand, unsure what to say. He had long expected this day, but he hadn't thought it would come so suddenly. The last time he visited the Extreme North Land, the bloodline in his body didn't show any unusual activity, and Suixing Titled Douluo had completely suppressed his Martial Soul's aura. Also, the monster beasts they hunted didn't require them to venture too deep, which was why they were safe then.
But this time was totally different. When a talent Domain awakens, the Martial Soul bloodline is definitely activated. At that time, Shu Yan couldn't stop his Martial Soul's aura from leaking out at all. The Snow Empress is like a queen in the Extreme North Land; even ordinary major events can't escape her notice, let alone the distinct aura of another Ice Sky Snow Woman appearing in her territory.
Just then, Xu Jiujiu, who had been quiet for a while, suddenly spoke up. "Since we've left the Extreme North Land, the chance of more trouble is small. However, the most important thing now is to rush back to Star Luo City right away. For every day we stay out here, the danger grows. We absolutely can't let A Yan come to the Extreme North Land again for at least five years."
Suixing Titled Douluo agreed with a nod. "The Princess is right. We can enter the Heaven Soul territory immediately. Over the next few days, I'll take everyone back as fast as possible. Aside from this unexpected event, our trip is complete."
The four of them quickly discussed their plan and prepared to continue their journey. After leaving the Extreme North Land, green vegetation slowly increased, and the landscape became more vibrant. In the forest below their feet, life was thriving, and vitality soared. The four people's previously troubled hearts slowly began to calm down.
The forest's crisp bird chirping constantly reached their ears. The stream flowed with a gentle gurgle, making a tinkling sound as it passed by the broken cliff. Everything was so peaceful and beautiful, as if their earlier fear and accidents had been washed away. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
The four figures turned into streaks of light and flashed across the sky. Perhaps because they hadn't seen anything unusual for a long time, everyone relaxed significantly, even cracking jokes with each other. Almost no one noticed—and no one could notice—that on a distant mountaintop, a lonely, cold white figure was watching them intently.
Confrontation
Everything happened too quickly. Suixing Titled Douluo, who was leading the way, suddenly stiffened. Instantly, an incredibly overbearing power descended from the sky. The surrounding lush forest seemed to turn into an ice and snow hell in a moment. Suixing Titled Douluo and Xingyun Titled Douluo hadn't even regained their senses before they uncontrollably plummeted downwards.
Shu Yan's breath also hitched. The Spirit Power in his body felt as if it had instantly frozen. Losing Suixing Titled Douluo's Spirit Power support, he and Xu Jiujiu began to fall rapidly together. Almost instinctively, Shu Yan reached out and grabbed Xu Jiujiu beside him. After falling for a moment, Shu Yan managed to grab the branch of a nearby tree. After several tumbles to slow their fall, they were finally able to land safely.
Everything in the forest seemed to be frozen solid. A cold aura unique to ice and snow drifted in the air. The birds that had been flying mid-air were frozen in place. Everything looked like it was in slow motion.
Xu Jiujiu, who had landed in Shu Yan's embrace, couldn't stop touching her throat. She felt her breathing was incredibly heavy and difficult. Even with Shu Yan supporting her, she still had to half-kneel on the ground to feel slightly better.
Shu Yan supported Xu Jiujiu with one hand while constantly scanning their surroundings with his eyes. The Ice Sky Snow Woman bloodline in his body was boiling, relentlessly resonating with another bloodline. This feeling caused a strange nervousness in him. His heart unconsciously began beating wildly, and the rush of blood at this moment seemed to make a sound, incredibly clear in the dead quiet of the surroundings.
The next moment, a white figure filled with a noble and cold aura appeared directly in Shu Yan's line of sight. Shu Yan's pupils narrowed sharply. In an instant, he guessed the identity of the newcomer.
It was the leader of the Far North Three Great Heavenly Kings, the Snow Empress!
The Snow Empress wore a white dress. Even without any decorations, the white dress made her appear so pure and beautiful.
And at this moment, the Snow Empress's gaze was fixed on the young man before her. A deep tremor appeared in her sky-blue beautiful eyes, but it immediately shifted into a hint of confusion.
"Human... A bloodline and life aura from the same origin as this Empress. How is that possible?" the Snow Empress murmured softly. Her voice was as clear and hollow as a flowing spring, pure and resonant, yet carrying a hint of confusion—like curiosity, but more like she was simply stating a fact.
Unexpectedly, facing the Snow Empress who had truly appeared before him, Shu Yan felt no fear at all, only a little nervousness. He actually felt a strange sense of closeness to the Snow Empress. This was a resonance and closeness coming from their shared bloodlines, which made him uncontrollably want to get closer to her, even though he knew exactly who she was.
The Snow Empress approached, one step at a time. Shu Yan shielded Xu Jiujiu behind him. Just as he was about to slowly back away, the Snow Empress took one step and instantly appeared not far in front of him.
The two auras collided. Shu Yan only felt his scalp tingling. A faint fragrance entered his nostrils. He opened his eyes with difficulty, and his gaze happened to meet the Snow Empress's. The distance between them was now less than half a meter. Shu Yan could clearly feel the faint cold aura on her body. At the same time, the Snow Empress released the spatial confinement around them, allowing everything to return to normal.
Xu Jiujiu gasped for air heavily. She was covered in cold sweat from nervousness and fear, her golden hair stuck to her forehead. But even so, she still held Shu Yan's hand tightly, even though the stunning woman standing less than a meter away from her was the Snow Empress, ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts on the Continent, a powerhouse comparable to a human Limit Titled Douluo.
Suixing Titled Douluo and Xingyun Titled Douluo rushed over from nearby. As they watched this scene, their throats felt dry. A white-haired woman with such terrifying power—besides the Snow Empress, they truly couldn't think of a second possibility.
Suixing Titled Douluo clenched his fist with difficulty, then stepped forward and said in a strained voice, "Respected Lord of the Extreme North, we didn't intend to trespass. We're willing to pay compensation for the three Spirit Beasts we hunted earlier. Please spare us this time for the sake of the Star Luo Empire."
Facing the Snow Empress, whose cultivation was comparable to a human Peerless Titled Douluo, Suixing Titled Douluo knew that even if the four people present self-destructed together, they probably wouldn't be able to harm her at all. To survive now, yielding and begging for mercy was the best option.
The Snow Empress didn't even bother to respond to Suixing Titled Douluo's words. Her gaze remained fixed on Shu Yan, her beautiful eyes showing a slight hesitation. She seemed to be thinking about how to deal with these four human 'ants' in front of her. After a long while, the Snow Empress finally spoke slowly:
"Human, tell this Empress, where does the bloodline in your body, which is of the same origin as this Empress, come from? Why does this Empress sense the aura of an Ice Sky Snow Woman on you..."