Within the spiritual sea, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's mental force quietly extended to the outside world, carefully sensing this extreme north world that was both familiar and strange. Returning to its old haunt after hundreds of thousands of years, there wasn't much sentimental homesickness in its heart.
The memories this boundless ice plain left it were mostly of long periods of dormancy, endless hiding, and the cold fear of being coveted by predators. As an ice silkworm born weak, nearly at the bottom of the spirit beast food chain, the Extreme North Land had never been a home to it, but a massive and cruel survival arena.
There was no warmth for it here, only the instinct to survive. At this moment, only one thing surged in its heart, and that was to see the Ice Empress as soon as possible. She was the only bond as hot as fire it felt in this cold world.
"Big bug!" A voice came, interrupting the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's complex thoughts. It wiggled its lustrous white body, seeing Little Silver's massive silver pupils staring at it.
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was suddenly a bit displeased and snorted, "Is 'big bug' something you can call me? You should call me Brother Tianmeng!"
Little Silver didn't dwell on the address; after all, even the Lord Yuhao it respected most called it that, so there was no need to push back. But to expect the proud, unyielding soul spirit to truly call the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm "brother"? Even if it was a million year spirit beast, it was absolutely impossible!
Immediately after, Little Silver said directly, "Speaking of which, since you can provide Lord Yuhao with an ice-attribute spirit, why isn't the target the Snow Empress? She is the recognized strongest dominator of the Extreme North Land. In terms of strength and cultivation, isn't she more suitable than the Ice Empress? Could it be... there's some special story between you and that Ice Empress that makes it have to be her?"
The question was asked casually, even with a bit of gossipy curiosity. However, it made the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's heart skip a beat, and its lustrous, rounded white body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
The thing it disliked most about Little Silver was that this big eyeball's casual guesses often somehow pointed toward the truth. Choosing the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion as Huo Yuhao's second spirit naturally involved its own private feelings that couldn't be shared with outsiders, because it harbored a forbidden love for the Ice Empress.
But such thoughts, in the face of Little Silver's questioning, it would never admit even if it were killed. After all, it still wanted to keep its face as a million year spirit beast!
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's lustrous white body straightened slightly as it quickly wove together reasons. "From the perspective of pure strength and cultivation, the Snow Empress is indeed the theoretically superior choice."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm admitted this frankly; it was an indisputable fact, and denying it would only make it look guilty. "However," then its tone shifted, becoming solemn, "as the head of the Three Great Heavens of the Extreme North, the Snow Empress's aloof heart-nature and proud will are far beyond ordinary spirit beasts. I believe that her pride, which is ingrained in her very marrow, would never allow her to accept becoming a human's spirit."
A hint of disapproval flashed in Little Silver's massive single eye. It was once an equally proud and unyielding soul spirit, yet now hadn't it also willingly become Lord Yuhao's first spirit soul? In its view, when a true path to immortality and supremacy was laid out before one, so-called pride should give way to wisdom.
So it retorted, "With the path to godhood right in front of her, I don't believe the Snow Empress would refuse."
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm felt its brain ache; this big eyeball was indeed difficult to deal with and not easily fooled. "We have experienced the miracle of transmigration across ten thousand years and seen with our own eyes the records of the Spirit Ice Douluo's glorious achievements in the history books of later generations, which is why we are convinced Yuhao can become a god."
Its voice took on a hint of urgency. "But now, facing the Snow Empress, what do we have to prove it? Words alone carry no weight! Do you think just a few sentences will make her believe that a human youth who hasn't even grown up yet will definitely become a god in the future, thus causing her to stake everything on him? Do you think that with the Snow Empress's status and intellect, she would accept such a promise that sounds like a fairy tale?"
Little Silver fell silent for a moment, then said, "With this unprecedented spirit soul system, and especially with Elder Yi, a great power from another world. Aren't these two enough to demonstrate Lord Yuhao's extraordinary nature and potential?"
"Not enough, far from enough!" The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm shook its head decisively. "These might pique her interest, but they are definitely not enough to make her immediately gamble her everything and her future. Moreover, there is the most crucial point—finding her won't be easy. The Snow Empress is alone, without clan ties, her movements are ethereal, and she often leaves the Extreme North Land for long travels. Whether she happens to be in the Extreme North Land right now and when she might appear are all unknowns."
Little Silver's suggestion for the Snow Empress to become Huo Yuhao's second spirit wasn't simply to argue with Tianmeng. Its starting point, in the final analysis, was for its Lord Yuhao to obtain the strongest power.
At this moment, listening to the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's step-by-step analysis, the light shifted within its massive silver pupils as it fell into a thoughtful silence. It also had to admit that this big bug's words had some merit.
Seeing that Little Silver seemed to be swayed, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm quickly struck while the iron was hot. "By contrast, choosing the Ice Empress is much more feasible. She is the clan chief of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan and lives in the core circle of the Extreme North Land year-round, making her easier to find. More importantly, the Ice Empress and I... can be considered to have some history. I have confidence I can persuade her to become Yuhao's second spirit!"
Finally, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm brought out its trump card, saying, "Besides, history ten thousand years later has already proven that my choice was correct!"
After this series of arguments, especially that final irrefutable historical answer, Little Silver finally gave up its insistence completely. It didn't argue further on the issue of the Snow Empress; its massive pupils slowly rotated, essentially accepting the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's plan.
On the ice plain, Huo Yuhao braved the biting gale and deep snow that reached past his shins, trudging step by step toward the increasingly cold core region. His physical body was enduring the extreme tests of the environment, but most of his attention was actually on this debate within the spiritual sea concerning the fate of his second spirit.
He quietly listened to every exchange between Tianmeng and Little Silver but did not participate. For him, a second spirit, whether it was the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion or the Ice Sky Snow Lady, was a gift far beyond his imagination! To be able to obtain one of them was already a stroke of immense luck; how could he dare to be picky?
He was someone who had experienced suffering, having tasted the highs and lows of life in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. These experiences had worn away any frivolousness or arrogance that might have arisen from knowing the future, instead tempering an ingrained clarity and humility.
He knew he might carry an extraordinary fate, but he wouldn't be picky or overbearing toward the opportunity before him just because he might become a god in the future. On the contrary, he always maintained a mindset of gratitude and appreciation.
For the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's full-scale planning, for Electrolux's meticulous guidance, for Little Silver's loyal protection... and even for this impending ice-attribute power, he held the greatest respect and expectation. Neither impetuous nor impatient, neither greedy nor dismissive.
He humbly accepted every possibility fate fought to provide for him. Then, he would use twelve-fold effort to master it and harness it. Letting it become the cornerstone for protecting those he cherished and achieving the goals in his heart, rather than capital for showing off.
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