Chapter 336: Rong Nianbing's Trial Grounds, The Hundred Thousand Year Snow Lotus, and Heavenly Tribulation
"Well, I suppose you could say that." Han Li chuckled. "But at the very least, I still gave you the illusion of choice, didn't I? Even if the outcome wouldn't change regardless."
His words, from a certain perspective, were shameless.
Yet the three rulers of the Extreme North didn't refute him.
Even the previously hot tempered Ice Emperor merely glared at him before falling silent.
"So, besides us cooperating with your faith gathering efforts, is there anything else?" Snow Empress pondered for a moment before continuing to ask.
"No, nothing else. In fact, coming to see you was more of a side trip I didn't have any specific reason to." Han Li waved his hand dismissively. "If you had simply done as Gu Yue instructed from the beginning, I wouldn't have even shown up."
He wasn't lying.
"By the way, you might want to try cultivating the techniques I transmitted to your minds. Given your current level, comprehending the rules of this world shouldn't be too difficult especially you, Snow Empress. You might progress faster than you expect."
For human soul masters, reaching Super Douluo meant they had to begin comprehending their Martial Souls, which in essence was a way of grasping the world's laws though their connection to these laws was limited to their Martial Souls.
For soul beasts, the process was similar but leaned more toward natural elemental affinity, which in some ways gave them an advantage.
That is, if you ignored their painfully slow cultivation speed in the early stages.
"We'll give it a try," Snow Empress nodded, seemingly agreeing.
Han Li was pleased with their attitude.
One thing he admired about soul beasts was that once you displayed absolute strength, unless it was a matter of life and death, they would generally submit rather than resist.
Betrayal was rare among them.
"Alright, now go inform your clans and subordinate tribes to proceed with what Gu Yue instructed."
Han Li turned toward Ice Emperor and Titan Snow Demon King.
The two instinctively glanced at Snow Empress before nodding.
It was a difficult adjustment for them having a new leader all of a sudden.
"One more thing the techniques might accelerate your tribulations. If that happens, have Snow Empress contact me in advance. At the very least, I can ensure you pass your next Heavenly Tribulation with ease."
A jade token floated toward Snow Empress.
Since it had already appeared in the shared mental link earlier, he wasn't worried about them not knowing how to use it.
At Han Li's words, all three rulers showed visible emotion.
For the first time, the hostility in their eyes faded, replaced with a trace of gratitude.
Han Li had mastered the art of "stick first, then carrot."
It was effective especially since, aside from being a bit forceful, he hadn't actually harmed them.
In fact, he had provided them with real benefits a rare occurrence in soul beast history.
For soul beasts, equal exchanges with humans were practically unheard of.
After a brief silence, Titan Snow Demon King reluctantly tore his gaze away from the jade token, stood up, and excused himself.
His footsteps were noticeably quicker, and as soon as he exited the castle, he transformed into his beast form, disappearing into the snowy distance with a thunderous rumble.
All eyes then turned to Ice Emperor, who remained seated without a care.
"I'll stay with Snow Empress for a while longer. You don't mind waiting, do you?"
Her gaze flickered, carrying an unspoken meaning as she stared at Han Li.
Ice Emperor the pure love warrior refused to let this manipulative human take her beloved Snow Empress away.
Han Li's gaze toward her and Snow Empress was completely different, and even if the chance was slim, she had to stand her ground.
"Heh."
Han Li chuckled.
He had almost forgotten this scorpion was a rare case of a yuri obsessed fool.
Ice Emperor felt a shiver under his gaze, but she stubbornly glared back.
She, Ice Emperor, the last line of defense before Snow Empress was taken by a man!
Snow Empress furrowed her brows, but seeing that Han Li wasn't bothered, she let it slide.
"Now, Snow Empress, I'll need you to take us to the Glacier Lava Cavern next."
Han Li turned to Snow Empress this was his true reason for visiting.
Perhaps because he had blocked off the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Rong Nianbing, that scheming bastard, had placed his trial grounds in the Extreme North, within a cavern where glaciers and volcanic terrain coexisted.
It was an unusual location, but it was also deep in the heart of the Three Rulers' territory.
Both Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er were about to begin their divine trials, and even if they wouldn't take too long, they wouldn't be finished in a matter of days either.
That was why Han Li hadn't bothered hiding his presence he needed permission to let his people train here.
Food wasn't a problem his storage type soul tools had plenty.
But proper etiquette was necessary.
Regardless of their strength, Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er were entering someone else's domain.
It would be foolish to assume the soul beasts would just ignore them.
Both Ice Emperor and Snow Empress blinked in surprise at Han Li's request.
Then they nodded.
They knew the location well, and had investigated it before.
"Oh, right I almost forgot. Hold on."
Just as Han Li was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something. He turned to Shui Bing'er, tore open a rift in space, and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress exchanged glances, unsure of how to process what just happened.
Less than a minute later, the silver portal reappeared, and Han Li stepped out this time holding two lotus flowers, one large and one small.
"A hundred thousand year Snow Lotus!"
Ice Empress immediately shot up from her seat, her eyes burning with desire. She wanted it.
Han Li glanced at her and spoke indifferently. "You want it? Sure. Just capture a hundred thousand year old ice attribute soul beast for me in exchange. I won't mind."
This was something he had been eyeing for a long time. He had even used rule power to conceal it and nurture it to the hundred thousand year level.
It had no intelligence, could produce a soul bone, and could enhance constitution and elemental affinity. If left to continue growing, it might have even gained sentience, potentially becoming the second Snow Empress.
But for now, it was just an extremely potent heavenly treasure, making it the perfect choice for Shui Bing'er's seventh soul ring. He had even given up the option of forcefully nurturing a hundred thousand year Ice Luan for this.
"Uh…"
Ice Empress shut her mouth. If it were a ninety thousand year soul beast, she wouldn't mind hunting an enemy species in exchange.
But a hundred thousand year soul beast? The only suitable candidate was Xiao Bai at the castle gate and there was no way Snow Empress would agree to that.
"Sir, would you be willing to trade that ten thousand year Snow Lotus instead? Xiao Bai is just one step away from the hundred thousand year threshold. I can offer you a soul bone in exchange."
This time, it was Snow Empress who spoke.
She had set her sights on the ten thousand year Snow Lotus.
She also wanted to use this opportunity to see how Han Li's weakened Heavenly Tribulation method actually worked.
It wasn't that she distrusted him he had already proven his strength, and the memories from the mental sharing had reassured her that he wasn't lying.
But when it came to Heavenly Tribulations, no amount of caution was too much.
Xiao Bai was strong enough to survive his first tribulation, but how much would he be weakened afterward?
Without knowing the answer, even if her people switched to cultivating Xuantian Technique, she would still feel uneasy.
"Fine."
After a brief moment of thought, Han Li agreed.
He had originally planned to take the smaller Snow Lotus back to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but this wasn't a bad alternative either.
Snow Empress's expression brightened, and she lifted a soul bone encased in frost energy, offering it to Han Li.
"A torso bone from a failed hundred thousand year Ice Luan tribulation. It should be highly compatible with this young lady."
She glanced at Shui Bing'er, making her goodwill very clear.
Soul bones were useless to soul beasts, so exchanging them for something that could help Xiao Bai was an easy decision.
It was indeed a great deal.
Without hesitation, Han Li tossed the ten thousand year Snow Lotus to Snow Empress.
This soul bone was superior to the eighty five thousand year one he had previously obtained from Di Tian.
It was also a perfect match for Shui Bing'er.
If she absorbed it, or later refined it into a divine artifact, her power would increase even further a great investment.
Ice Empress pursed her lips and gave up.
She wasn't interested in soul bones and only had a few from her own kind, none of which were particularly valuable.
And there was no way she would compete with Snow Empress for anything.
"I also have some other ice attribute and neutral element treasures. If you want to trade, high year soul bones will do. They'll be useful to all of you."
Han Li winked, then took out some rare medicinal herbs he had harvested from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, including Winter Worm Summer Grass.
He looked at Snow Empress and Ice Empress expectantly.
These herbs were useless to him now.
If he could exchange them for soul bones, that would be a great deal.
After all, Grandpa Maxiu Nuo and Brother Tao might need a set of soul bones in the future.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress stared blankly for a moment then resumed trading.
They even called Titan Snow Demon King back, despite him just having left.
As for Xiao Bai?
That big bear had already given most of his treasures to Snow Empress.
He was basically just a spectator at this point.
"Alright, let's move to the square. Bing'er will absorb her soul ring there. And while we're at it, the Ice Bear King might as well advance to the next level."
With the exchanges complete, Han Li took charge like a leader, guiding his people outside.
The Three Rulers of the Extreme North obediently followed behind it was clear who really had the authority now.
On the square, Shui Bing'er had already swallowed the hundred thousand year Snow Lotus.
Since it had no sentience, she didn't even need to perform a sacrifice ritual the soul ring would naturally appear once she finished absorbing its power, and the corresponding head soul bone would form automatically.
With a layer of divine energy shielding her, Han Li led the Ice Bear King to the opposite side of the square.
It was time.
Under Han Li's interference, the Ice Bear King was about to face its tribulation.
The ten thousand year Snow Lotus was already inside it, being rapidly refined.
Its soul power fluctuations were becoming impossible to suppress.
Above the square, dark clouds gathered.
In the gray storm, blue white lightning crackled wildly.
A suffocating pressure locked onto the massive white bear below.
Not far away, Snow Empress watched with concern.
Ice Empress, on the other hand, looked bored she wasn't worried at all.
Titan Snow Demon King, however, looked less than pleased.
He and Xiao Bai had fought countless times.
If not for Snow Empress's intervention, they would have already settled their grudge with blood.
Now?
He wasn't sure if he should hope for Xiao Bai's survival or secretly wish for the tribulation to finish him off.
(End of Chapter)
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