The increasingly powerful storm around him whipped up the accumulated snow, scattering it into the air and blocking Lin Xiao's line of sight.
The team from some unknown sect behind him soon disappeared from view. After all, the disciple they were escorting had relatively low cultivation and would not venture too deep into the Far North.
Lin Xiao slightly raised his head to glance at the sky, then tightened his clothing around him.
Although this was his first time coming to the Far North, he was not completely unfamiliar with the place. Compared to the chilling cold on the ground, the fierce astral winds in the sky within the core area of the Far North were the truly most terrifying aspect here.
This place was known as one of humanity's forbidden zones, partly because of its harsh environment. Even a Title Douluo would be unable to remain in those astral winds for long.
Similarly, there were hardly any flying soul beasts here.
The ice shards carried by the wind obscured Lin Xiao's vision, making it impossible to see very far. He could only detect what was around him through the several soul threads he had sent out.
Lin Xiao's hands were now completely tucked inside his clothing. Lanhun hung at his waist, swaying slightly with his walking movements. Ever since entering the area, the Snow Empress inside had remained silent until they reached the core circle, when she finally showed some reaction.
"Although someone has already discovered that I'm no longer in the Far North, the environment here isn't something ordinary soul masters can withstand. Probably not many people have come this deep."
Hearing Lin Xiao's words, which could barely count as consolation, the Snow Empress unusually took the initiative to speak. "I'm still very worried about Bing'er."
"Bing'er? You mean the Ice Empress?"
Perhaps because the Snow Empress had returned to the familiar Far North, or perhaps because the old man's earlier words had made her too worried about the soul beasts in the Far North, she wasn't paying much attention to Lin Xiao. Her tone had lost its initial iciness.
"Hmph." Hearing Lin Xiao mention the Ice Empress, the Snow Empress gave a cold snort. However, after a moment of silence, she still spoke on her own. "That's right. You should have heard of her title. Even if I'm not in the Far North, I couldn't possibly allow you humans to come and go freely here."
As the Snow Empress spoke, her tone grew slightly lower. "Bing'er's heavenly tribulation is coming soon. The last time I went to find her, she had already disappeared without a trace. Perhaps it's really as they said..."
With the Ice Empress's own strength, she indeed had no way to overcome her fourth heavenly tribulation. Both the Million-Year Ice Silkworm and the Snow Empress knew this very well, which was why both wanted to help her.
It's just that Tian Meng had acted one step ahead. As for the outcome, it would probably succeed.
Lin Xiao slightly turned his head to glance at the Snow Empress. After thinking for a moment, he still did not reveal the Ice Empress's whereabouts.
For one thing, it would be hard to explain how he knew someone else's greatest secret. For another, he knew about the relationship between the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress. Even if he were to reveal this matter, it should wait for a critical moment. This was a very valuable bargaining chip.
With his mental power connected to Lanhun, Lin Xiao chatted sporadically with the Snow Empress while his feet did not slow down at all. With every step he took, his figure would inexplicably advance a great distance forward.
After that meditation session in the Valley of Love Between Heaven, his use of spatial power had become increasingly proficient. Although he still couldn't flexibly apply it in combat, it was already more than sufficient for traveling. With no other people in the Far North's core circle, he could use this power without any reservations.
As Lin Xiao went deeper, the surrounding storm grew stronger. The cold wind hitting his body felt like attacks from other soul masters, even as if it were truly mixed with soul power...
Wait.
Lin Xiao suddenly stopped in his tracks.
After entering the Far North's core circle, he had immediately faced fierce gales head-on. Although he had never been here before, he had heard rumors about this place and wasn't too surprised by the storms here.
However, walking continuously in the storm, the surrounding chill gradually numbed his senses. The lack of any other living beings within his perception had also caused him to gradually lower his guard a bit.
At some point, the storm around him had ceased to be a simple natural environmental change. Instead, a faint trace of soul power was mixed within it, as if some person or soul beast had actively stirred it up.
"You sensed it long ago?"
Lin Xiao reached out and picked up Lanhun.
The Snow Empress was silent for a moment. "Indeed. Even in the Far North, there wouldn't be a storm covering such a vast area. From just earlier, the storm you've encountered is no longer naturally formed."
Lin Xiao paused for a moment, not speaking immediately.
"Hmph. What, are you blaming me for not warning you sooner?"
"No." Lin Xiao shook his head. "After all, you were once the ruler here, and I'm an uninvited guest. The fact that you didn't actively lead me into danger is already quite good."
"It's just that I thought my eloquence had improved a lot. After this journey, I figured it would ease the relationship between us a bit."
"Hmph. You're only after my soul ring. Talking about easing relations, ultimately, you just want me to resist less when you take my life. Do you expect me to be grateful for that?"
The Snow Empress saw through Lin Xiao's intentions with a single sentence.
Lin Xiao wasn't annoyed. He glanced at the faint white light emanating from Lanhun. "Are you afraid of death?"
The Snow Empress fell silent for a moment. Although she had a human form, she was ultimately a soul beast. As a soul beast, no matter how intelligent, which one would go against the instinct to seek survival?
"If that's really the case, perhaps becoming my soul ring would even be a good thing for you." Lin Xiao smiled and resumed walking forward. "You've already seen my abilities. With me, death is never the end."
"At the very least, after becoming my soul ring, your soul can still exist with me for a period of time. By then, you'll hope I live long enough to take you to see more scenery."
As Lin Xiao spoke, he looked up toward the depths of the snowfield. The soul threads he had sent out still hadn't detected any trace of other soul beasts.
Either the soul beast stirring up the storm was still very far from here, or it could conceal itself within the storm and evade detection by soul threads.
But no matter what, before reaching his destination, he couldn't possibly stop just because he sensed a storm.
"Sigh. Keep going forward. This should be the commotion caused by Xiao Bai. It has no intention to harm anyone; it's probably just releasing its power to scare away those who enter the core circle."
Just as Lin Xiao was pondering, the Snow Empress inside Lanhun suddenly spoke.
Lin Xiao lowered his head to glance at Lanhun, then suddenly grinned widely, his smile growing even brighter. "Thank you for the information."
"It seems that in the time you've been away, other soul beasts have wanted to protect this place of survival. Rest assured, I won't disturb the lives of those soul beasts. I'll leave as soon as I find what I need."
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