The Snow Empress's voice rang out with regal authority, laced with an undeniable power. Just the echo of her words was enough to force the two Titled Douluo back a step, the atmosphere around them sinking into an oppressive chill.
Xu Jiujing gripped Shu Yan's hand tightly, desperately telling herself to stay calm—but in the presence of the Snow Empress, all attempts at composure were futile.
Shu Yan's pupils contracted, his throat dry. A cold sweat slid down his temple as the blood in his veins began to boil. Even his martial spirit seemed to stir, as if summoned. The next instant, a wave of intense cold descended. Snow and ice blanketed the flowers and grass, and a hazy, ice-blue silhouette manifested behind Shu Yan. Four spirit rings rose beneath his feet.
The Snow Empress locked eyes on the blurry figure behind Shu Yan, her expression darkening. At that moment, Shu Yan felt as though the world itself had gone pale. From her presence, he sensed a colossal, unrestrained killing intent—icy and absolute.
A terrifying pressure surged outward from the Snow Empress. Blood trickled from the corner of Shu Yan's lips as he staggered back uncontrollably. Xu Jiujing, with her lower spirit power, was completely overwhelmed—collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath.
A flicker of surprise and gloom passed through the Snow Empress's eyes. A moment later, the oppressive force lifted. Shu Yan coughed violently, his body unsteady. Xu Jiujing trembled all over, her eyes dazed, staring blankly at the scene before her.
"Ice Heavenly Snow Maiden martial spirit, hmm… A human possessing a bloodline that originates from me. Truly, the heavens are unjust."
There was a rare trace of self-deprecation in the Snow Empress's tone. But in the next breath, her voice sharpened—firm and commanding.
"You cannot remain in the human world. Come with me to the Extreme North. I don't wish to kill you. If you obey, those three humans still have a chance to live."
Shu Yan's thoughts churned wildly. He considered every possible way to escape—but in the end, he realized with despair that he had no choice at all.
His gaze swept to the collapsed Xu Jiujing behind him, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes. Forcing himself to calm down, he turned slightly, his eyes softening as they met hers. He mouthed a few words. Xu Jiujing's pupils constricted sharply—but before she could speak, she let out a faint sound and collapsed completely.
Shu Yan turned to the two Titled Douluo and mouthed softly:
"Go. Don't worry about me I have a way to survive."
Nebula Douluo and Starshatter Douluo's eyes were bloodshot, spirit power surging within them. But with a single cold snort from the Snow Empress, both men spat blood, forced back by her sheer aura. Gritting their teeth, they quickly assessed the situation. With heavy hearts, they cast Shu Yan a regretful glance before vanishing into the sky, taking Xu Jiujing with them.
Only when their figures disappeared completely did Shu Yan finally exhale in relief.
He had imagined such a scenario before—but never did he think it would come so suddenly, so violently. As his thoughts scattered, the Snow Empress's icy voice rang out again, cutting through his confusion.
"You seem to care deeply about that human girl."
Shu Yan turned slowly. Before him stood the Snow Empress shorter than him by a full head, yet with a presence that eclipsed his own a hundredfold. He nodded softly.
"We met in our youth. She was like an older sister I relied on... and now, she is my beloved."
The Snow Empress snorted coldly and spoke:
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think the blood of the Ice Heavenly Snow Maiden would appear in a human let alone a man. But since you carry a bloodline that originates from me, you are, by all rights, one of my kind. Come with me to the Extreme North. That is where you truly belong."
Shu Yan exhaled slowly. His newly awakened Ice Heavenly Snow Maiden bloodline made his white hair gently float in the air. A look of resolve flickered in his eyes.
"Snow Empress, I believe… we need to have a proper conversation."
Another cold snort. Then suddenly, the world spun around Shu Yan. When he opened his eyes again, everything was rapidly retreating from view at an untraceable speed. The Snow Empress's clear, distant voice echoed in his ears.
"If you wish to speak, wait until we arrive in the Core Circle. Until then, I advise you stay silent."
"Shu Yan"
...
Extreme North – Core Circle
Unlike the Outer and Mixed Circles, the Core Circle of the Extreme North was eerily calm—no violent snowstorms, only an unnatural, dead silence.
Looking around, the landscape was a blanket of white. In the distance, faint outlines of towering snow mountains loomed. Occasionally, a distant beast's howl echoed across the frozen plains. Layer upon layer of snow whirled through the air. Even Shu Yan, attuned to cold, felt a chill creep through him.
The Snow Empress's sky-blue eyes stared ahead. Her expression remained impassive. In her right hand, she clutched Shu Yan by the collar, carrying him like a fledgling. Wherever she passed, gales howled, and ice scattered like crashing waves. Occasionally, soul beasts emerged across the ice field—but upon sensing her aura, they all fell to the ground, kneeling in submission. Every one of them had at least fifty thousand years of cultivation, a clear testament to the Snow Empress's dominance here.
When they reached a desolate stretch of ice, the Snow Empress lowered altitude. Through a gap in the clouds, Shu Yan glimpsed a palace-like structure. At the same time, the surrounding temperature plummeted again—so cold that it could kill any spirit master below the Spirit King level.
The Snow Empress descended, and Shu Yan finally got a clear look at the palace: grand, majestic, and entirely carved from ice. He was momentarily stunned.
While he stood frozen in awe, the Snow Empress had already begun walking inside. Noticing he hadn't followed, she frowned slightly and said curtly:
"The creatures in the Core Circle are extremely sensitive and hostile to human auras. If you don't want to die too soon—keep up."
Snapping back to his senses, Shu Yan hurried after her. The moment he stepped into the palace, a biting cold surged over his entire body. It was even colder than outside, and despite his martial spirit, he still found it difficult to endure.
The Snow Empress walked gracefully and steadily. In a blink, she was already seated on the throne at the top of the hall. Her flowing white gown pooled around her, and her long right leg crossed over her left, revealing a stretch of flawless, jade-like skin.
Her ice-blue heels shimmered with an icy glow. From Shu Yan's angle, he could just see her perfect, snow-white feet.
Perhaps sensing his gaze, the Snow Empress's expression visibly darkened. In the next moment, a terrifying pressure crashed down. Shu Yan dropped to one knee with a loud thud, denting the ice floor, blood trickling once more from his lips.
"Human. I suggest you retract that filthy gaze. If not, I won't hesitate to fix the root of the problem."
Her voice was cold as frost. Shu Yan coughed lightly as the pressure suddenly lifted. He slowly stood up.
What the hell… It wasn't like he meant to look. It's just when someone sits like that and you're forced to look up…
Suppressing the churning of blood inside him, Shu Yan took a deep breath, wiped the blood from his lips, and said:
"Snow Empress, I believe we really do need to have a serious talk."
The Snow Empress leaned lazily on one arm, gazing down at him from above. She spoke calmly:
"You are of my blood. Staying in the Extreme North or better yet, by my side is the best place for you. This is the land most suited to your growth. I can provide you with endless resources, allowing you to cultivate to the Titled Douluo level with ease. As for those soul bones your kind craves… I will do what I can to provide them."