Everything that followed was, truthfully, predictably cliché.
Shu Yan wielder of the supreme martial soul, the Snow Empress, with an ultimate-level ice attribute and full innate soul power had a clean background and a calm, gentle personality. This was the first intelligence gathered by both Xu Jiuyou and Xu Jiawei.
The extraordinary nature of these details had Xu Jiawei clapping with approval. Coupled with Shu Yan's spotless reputation during his time in the welfare system, Xu Jiawei had once considered inviting the most enigmatic Grand Worship from the Star Luo Royal Shrine to take Shu Yan as a disciple. However, for reasons unknown, the matter was quietly dropped.
Among all Titled Douluo affiliated with the Star Luo Empire, none possessed an ice-element martial soul. As such, determining who could guide Shu Yan became a major challenge for Xu Jiawei.
He agonized over the issue for a long time, even entertaining the notion of having Shu Yan conceal his identity and attend the Star Luo National Academy in secret. But eventually, he discarded that idea as well.
Shu Yan's martial soul the Snow Empress, bearing the power of Ultimate Ice was unique in the human world. If word of this ever got out, it would certainly send shockwaves throughout the continent. Countless factions would mobilize at the mere rumor. In such a scenario, Shu Yan's final fate would be entirely unpredictable...
And that was something Xu Jiawei absolutely wanted to avoid.
He desired a genius who would remain loyal to the Star Luo Empire, a hidden prodigy who could serve as the Empire's sharpest blade from the shadows—one that could strike a fatal blow when the moment called for it. Exposing Shu Yan prematurely to the public eye would be anything but wise.
It was then that Xu Jiuyou proposed a solution.
A simple one: have Shu Yan learn under her tutelage. As a princess of Star Luo, Xu Jiuyou was constantly attended by servants and had no need to study at the Royal Academy. Moreover, with Nebula Douluo a worldly and experienced elder by her side, no instructor at the National Academy could compare.
Xu Jiuyou was a master of social finesse and persuasion. By spending extended time with Shu Yan and gradually forging a deep bond, she could guide him far more effectively than through coercion. A strong friendship made for a far more stable foundation, minimizing complications and resistance.
Of course, both Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiuyou envisioned an ideal outcome—but the original intent of childhood companionship subtly shifted over time. What had begun as simple nurturing gradually deepened… all because Xu Jiuyou accidentally developed real feelings while "raising" him.
Everything that followed seemed almost destined. While Xu Jiawei did end up sacrificing his sister's emotional freedom, he ultimately achieved his goal.
You could say… it was a win-win.
True to her word, Xu Jiuyou didn't lie on the very next day, Shattered Star Douluo appeared to personally escort Shu Yan.
A Level-95 Super Douluo, Shattered Star held great prestige within the Star Luo Empire and was akin to a national pillar. Despite his overwhelming strength and seniority, he nonetheless took on the seemingly trivial task of guiding a junior on a soul ring hunt.
Yet Shattered Star Douluo bore no resentment. In fact, forging early ties with a promising genius like Shu Yan was clearly in his best interest. As someone of high status within the Empire, he was not entirely unaware of certain hidden truths…
Ahem. Back on topic.
With all preparations now complete, only one aspect deviated from the original plan.
Originally, only Shu Yan, Shattered Star Douluo, and Nebula Douluo were supposed to head out. But by the end, Xu Jiuyou had managed to join them as well.
Shu Yan had no idea how she persuaded Xu Jiawei to let her leave Star Luo City. But judging by how much she likely got scolded for it, she hadn't had an easy time...
As a ruler, Xu Jiawei was undoubtedly competent, and as a brother, he was just as dependable. Beneath his rational authority lay the domineering foresight of a true monarch. When it came to Xu Jiuyou's safety, however, he tended to go overboard—but in doing so, he also demonstrated how much he valued her.
The royal family is said to be cold by nature, but these two siblings were clear exceptions. All things considered, it was understandable.
The journey to the Extreme North was long and arduous. Along the way, they had to pass through territory belonging to the Heaven Soul Empire, and whenever they neared major cities, the group would detour to avoid unwanted attention from local powerhouses.
Shu Yan had traveled this route once before and was fairly familiar with it.
Shattered Star Douluo remained composed. As a Super Douluo, he wasn't unfamiliar with any of the four great empires. He had accompanied Shu Yan on his third soul ring hunt, which had also taken place in the Extreme North.
Truth be told, they could have found suitable soul beasts for Shu Yan within the Star Dou Great Forest. Yet Xu Jiawei had insisted on sending a Super Douluo across such vast distances with him. Clearly, he had his reasons.
For one, the Extreme North was rich in high-quality ice-type soul beasts—far superior to those in the Star Dou Great Forest. It was a haven for ice-element soul masters.
More importantly, Xu Jiawei harbored a secret concern: the Snow Empress was a martial soul that had never appeared in humans before, bearing both supreme spirit power and ultimate elemental traits. In all of soul master history, this was almost unheard of.
He feared that Shu Yan might actually be the reincarnation of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
After all, no one truly knew what lay at the very core of the Extreme North. Even now, it remained unexplored by mankind. Regardless of their relationship—even if Shu Yan had grown up under his watch and become romantically involved with his imperial sister—Xu Jiawei knew he had to remain cautious.
With their journey underway, the group often had no choice but to camp out in the wild. Occasionally, they stopped to rest in villages and towns.
Shattered Star and Nebula Douluo were unfazed by hardship, but Xu Jiuyou and Shu Yan were still relatively low-ranked soul masters. Although both were in excellent physical condition, the constant travel took a toll on them.
Even so, Xu Jiuyou's mood remained high. She frequently pulled Shu Yan aside to admire the passing scenery. For her, this was a rare opportunity: to see the world's wonders alongside the person she loved. The thought alone made her heart flutter with quiet joy.
Shu Yan simply stayed by her side. Over time, his personality had grown more reserved, shaped by both life and the influence of his martial soul. Xu Jiuyou, accustomed to his presence, hadn't noticed the change, but Nebula Douluo certainly had.
Despite their similar ages, Shu Yan and Xu Jiuyou's personalities meshed well. Both were rare cultivation prodigies, and though Nebula Douluo was normally stern and old-fashioned, even he quietly supported their relationship.
After traveling day and night for three days, they finally reached the border of the Extreme North.
Over millennia, the power gap between humans and soul beasts had steadily narrowed, and humanity's slow encroachment on the Extreme North was becoming increasingly obvious.
Much of the region's outer zone had already been claimed by humans, and expansion continued deeper into the territory. Naturally, this was done with extreme caution—one misstep could trigger a devastating beast tide.
Such is human nature: even while anticipating the consequences, they remain slaves to their greed. Disaster is only a matter of time.
Howling winds and blinding snow battered the group. For Xu Jiuyou, this was her first time traveling so far from Star Luo City. Despite her Soul Elder-level defensive soul power, she couldn't help but shiver.
The deeper one ventured into the Extreme North, the harsher the climate became. At a certain point, it would cross into a zone no human could survive.
Here, the phrase "frozen to death" wasn't poetic exaggeration—it was a very real and immediate threat.
The extreme cold was lethal to low-level soul masters. Yet Shu Yan wore nothing more than a light white robe suited for summer. Unlike others, he found the biting chill pleasant—even refreshing. The Snow Empress martial soul granted him near-total immunity to cold, a trait now fully on display.
The two Titled Douluo were unaffected thanks to their deep reserves of soul power. The only one truly suffering was Xu Jiuyou, on her first long-distance expedition.
Fourteen years old and two years older than Shu Yan, Xu Jiuyou had already reached Soul Elder (Level 34) a rare prodigy in her own right. But even that wasn't quite enough to handle the elements here, especially since they'd run into a once-in-a-century blizzard.
Just as Nebula Douluo prepared to step in, Shu Yan handed Xu Jiuyou a faintly glowing pale-blue crystal. The biting cold around her immediately lessened, replaced by a gentle warmth.
This was a special ice crystal formed from the source soul power of the Snow Empress. Whatever other effects it had, its cold resistance alone was priceless to lower-ranked soul masters in this environment practically a divine artifact.
Xu Jiuyou froze for a moment, then smiled brightly at Shu Yan.
Shu Yan smiled quietly in return, then turned and continued walking into the storm.