Chapter 432: The Most Familiar Stranger, Part 4
Ye Wen had personally come to the Extreme North, so he certainly wouldn't make Huo Yu´er waste time coming here as well. Over the next few days, Snow Empress was occupied with organizing the creatures of the Extreme North, now that new plans were underway. Though she had a godson, the Frost Bear King, Xiaobai a 200,000 year old beast on par with Titan Snow Demon King Xiaobai's lack of ambition meant he'd never shown much leadership potential.
The responsibility of ruling the Extreme North would thus fall to one of its Three Kings: the somewhat unreliable Titan Snow Demon King. Although his performance had been lackluster earlier, his lineage held both the Ice God and Titan Giant bloodlines, giving him remarkable combat strength, second only to Ice Empress.
Yet in the end, Snow Empress's emotions swayed her, and she requested Ye Wen to give Xiaobai a chance at godhood. Ye Wen had already anticipated her request, and he agreed. He also decided that Ice Empress and Xiaobai would remain in the Extreme North. The absence of top tier soul beasts here might otherwise invite waves of greedy human soul masters. Plus, Ice Empress had the potential to become even stronger. Ye Wen allowed her to absorb Tianmeng Iceworm's mental power, after killing its spirit, in hopes that this would enhance her cultivation. This would ensure that when the time came to sacrifice her spirit, Huo Yu´er would also gain considerable strength.
Ye Wen also had plans to maximize the resources of the Extreme North. Although the three original nations of Douluo saw this place as a land of death, the Sun Moon Empire viewed it as a treasure trove of untouched minerals. Knowing the layout of the land well, Ye Wen aimed to discreetly develop its rich resources, laying a foundation that would support Huo Yu´er's future. After all, his vision for her was not merely to gain power but to one day rise as an unrivaled Empress. And for that, power alone was not enough she would need profound resources to match.
In the end, Ice Empress and Xiaobai would take on new roles as Supervisors of Mining Development in the Extreme North. This arrangement was made in the presence of Titan Snow Demon King, who was still shaken from his previous retreat but now saw a path to redemption. Determined to earn Ye Wen's approval, he resolved to do his utmost in his role, hoping that perhaps he, too, could one day reach godhood.
With matters settled, Ye Wen left the Extreme North with Snow Empress at his side. Instead of heading straight to Shrek Academy, he turned toward Sunset Forest. He still had time before his two month promise to Huo Yu´er, and the trip might yield additional resources to aid her growth.
Upon entering Sunset Forest, Ye Wen noticed a significant difference. Over millennia, the forest's area had diminished, much like Star Dou Forest. With a sigh, he remarked, "Greed remains the root of humanity's worst sins. They mindlessly slaughter soul beasts, without understanding the future costs. If this reckless hunting continues, soul masters will soon find themselves without a single decent soul ring to pursue. Every year, the same call to protect soul beast habitats goes out, yet here they are, exploiting every inch of what's left. The chaos of this era is truly disheartening."
Snow Empress said nothing, yet as a soul beast herself, she empathized with Ye Wen's frustration. As they neared the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they came across a startling sight that made both stop in their tracks.
"Damn you, Tang San," Ye Wen muttered bitterly. Before them lay a vast stretch of green mist, the ground carpeted with vibrant, yet ominous green plants. Shrouded in a poisonous mist, countless green flowers seemed to carpet the entire area, releasing a faint vapor that spread slowly outward. Snow Empress blinked, trying to comprehend the scene. Though she was accustomed to the barren, icy landscapes of the Extreme North, she did not detest vibrant forests. However, this forest's vitality was tainted by a sense of lifelessness.
Snow Empress soon caught on. "Tang San? Lord, are you referring to the Sea God Tang San from millennia ago?"
Ye Wen nodded, explaining, "Yes. These flowers are called Bilin Seven Absolute Flowers, one of the most toxic plants on Douluo. Not only are they corrosive, earning the title of Corrosion King, but their neurotoxins cause unimaginable pain upon contact. Any attempt to shield oneself with soul power would be futile, as the toxins can even corrode metal."
He continued, "These flowers are incredibly rare and cherished by plant type soul masters. If a plant soul master were to fuse with a Bilin Seven Absolute Flower, they would gain its potent poison as part of their martial soul. But as you can see, there's an unusual amount here."
Snow Empress nodded thoughtfully. She had grown up hearing embellished stories about Tang San, painting him as the ultimate righteous figure. However, this scene suggested otherwise, and she was beginning to question the validity of those tales.
Just then, she noticed Ye Wen moving forward. "Be careful!" she warned, her tone urgent.
Ye Wen glanced back with a reassuring smile. "Why hesitate? Follow me. It's just a bit of poison nothing to worry about."
Snow Empress blushed, realizing that her concern had been unnecessary. With Ye Wen's strength, he could easily handle a bit of poison, so she refrained from creating an ice barrier around them. As they continued, an invisible force seemed to part the green mist around them, leaving the Bilin Seven Absolute Flowers unaware of the intruders in their midst.
The farther they went, the more Snow Empress's shock grew. At the forest's edge, the flowers were only around a thousand years old, making the area feel lifeless. However, deeper inside, they encountered Bilin flowers surpassing ten thousand years of age, and beyond that, even a rare form of these deadly plants the Bilin Nine Absolute Flowers. Even a titled Douluo would fall prey to them if they dared to cross their path.
Ye Wen, taking in the grim scene, murmured, "So much for preserving the balance. The irony of it all."
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