Life in the heart of the Extreme North was dull and monotonous.
Although Shu Yan believed his words—borderline manipulative as they were—had stirred the Snow Empress' obsession with godhood and immortality, she was no ordinary being. The Snow Empress had lived for hundreds of thousands of years in this frozen realm and had witnessed more than most could ever imagine. A momentary lapse or emotional stir wasn't enough to sway her completely. Shu Yan had expected this. All he had intended was to plant a seed in her heart, not to have her trust him blindly.
Even though his final actions that day had been somewhat overstepping, the Snow Empress didn't seem to mind. She proved her sincerity—not just offering empty promises. As long as Shu Yan was willing to stay and cultivate in peace, she granted him as many rare resources from the outside world as he needed. Among them were even three precious pieces of Millennium Ice Marrow.
Shu Yan accepted everything without hesitation. After absorbing his fourth spirit ring, his cultivation skyrocketed to level 43. In just three days, with the support of these abundant resources, he had stabilized his cultivation and was now steadily progressing toward level 44.
The Snow Empress would occasionally visit. They would sit across from each other at an ice table, rarely speaking first, but whenever one did, the conversation would flow. Over time, the two gained a better understanding of one another.
Though Shu Yan had yet to reach a level where he could go without food, the heart of the Extreme North's core zone offered no fresh fruits or vegetables. At best, the Snow Empress would bring back a few small snow rabbit–type soul beasts from outside to satisfy his basic needs.
Why didn't he hunt them himself? The reason was simple—soul beasts that weak didn't exist within the core circle. His movements were restricted to the palace. If he were to step outside, the human aura he carried would be noticed immediately, and trouble would follow.
Surprisingly, the aloof and regal Snow Empress took quite an interest in Shu Yan's simple roasted meals. At first, she merely followed the scent, but after spending more time around him, she began appearing at a set time and place each day, waiting silently. Her icy demeanor gradually shifted into something more relaxed, even familiar. Occasionally, when Shu Yan spoke of amusing things from the outside world, she would show the faintest smile.
Though brief, those smiles never escaped Shu Yan's notice. The change in her was visible to the naked eye, and that was exactly what Shu Yan wanted. If he could draw the Snow Empress into his camp, many obstacles would suddenly become far easier to overcome.
Sometimes, Shu Yan regretted how little patience he'd had in his previous life. Even after transmigrating, his understanding of the plot was superficial at best—he could hardly recall the major storylines.
But that no longer mattered. His arrival in this world had already disrupted the original plot. The Snow Empress was proof of that. In an increasingly chaotic world, strength was the only thing that truly mattered.
Shu Yan didn't see himself as a good person. In fact, he was willing to become a villain if it helped him achieve his goals. Good or evil—all of it was a matter of perspective. Rules and restrictions existed for people like him, yes, but their meaning came only from within. The so-called laws of the world were laughable in his eyes.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. Shu Yan had now cultivated in the core circle for a full three months, and his spirit power had risen to level 44. The unique properties of the environment boosted his cultivation speed significantly, though much of the credit also went to the resources the Snow Empress had provided.
Spirit masters with Ultimate Attributes had a well-known drawback: their cultivation from level 30 to 70 was significantly slower than those with ordinary attributes. Each level became progressively harder to achieve. That was why even the most talented Ultimate Attribute cultivators often lagged behind in the early stages.
But everything in this world follows a balance.
While ordinary attribute spirit masters progressed much faster before level 70, the moment that threshold was passed, the tables turned. Ultimate Attribute cultivators would then advance more easily, with greater potential and higher limits.
The Ice Heavenly Snow Maiden was born to command the Ultimate Ice. As a true spirit born of ice and snow, she wasn't just an embodiment of pure cold. If one truly understood her nature, they'd know that her attribute was not just Ultimate Ice—but Ultimate Ice and Snow.
And without question, Ultimate Ice and Snow was stronger than Ultimate Ice alone. This meant that spirit masters who inherited the Ice Heavenly Snow Maiden's martial soul faced even greater difficulty than ordinary Ultimate Attribute users. Shu Yan wholeheartedly agreed—he could see it firsthand.
His interactions with the Snow Empress continued to deepen. Shu Yan showed infinite patience. Before he had enough power, psychological warfare remained his best weapon. Yet despite his intentions, his heart couldn't help but be stirred.
Feelings require a foundation—whether it was the affinity between their bloodlines or the details of their three months of shared time, Shu Yan could feel something different growing between them.
The Snow Empress, too, was slowly adapting. Her mindset was gradually changing. Once someone had tasted warmth and companionship, how could they willingly return to loneliness and cold? Subtle transformation was the most dangerous kind—because it was a reflection of the heart's deepest desires. The Snow Empress was changing, and Shu Yan's efforts were not in vain.
By the fifth month in the Extreme North, the outside world remained out of reach. Shu Yan's world was buried in snow and wind, severed from everything—but not without a certain peace.
Once again, the Snow Empress approached Shu Yan to talk about godhood. This time, their conversation went deeper. Shu Yan shared all his thoughts, holding nothing back. The reaction in her eyes was real she was clearly moved.
For the first time, she revealed her own thoughts to Shu Yan.
She had long sensed that she wouldn't survive her upcoming seven-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation. But her desire to live had led her to consider a different path: transforming into a human. As a human, she could once again climb toward greater heights and perhaps grasp that illusory dream of eternal life.
But that was easier said than done. The bitterness and hardship behind her words were something only the Snow Empress herself could understand.
It was a hard truth soul beasts couldn't become gods. Even after taking human form, they remained soul beasts at heart. Trying to ascend to godhood was like chasing a fleeting dream. Ironically, Shu Yan's so-called "path to god-making" seemed more realistic.
Perhaps it was because she understood her situation too well. After much deliberation, the Snow Empress finally agreed to form an alliance with Shu Yan.
Rather than sit and wait for death, why not gamble everything in one final attempt? That was her thinking and it aligned perfectly with her nature. After swearing an oath of ice and snow, the two were now truly bound together on the same narrow path. From this moment on, they would rise and fall together until the very end of their lives.