After traveling roughly several dozen li, the group of four appeared within a mountain range some distance outside Jialing Pass.
The Ice Empress lazily yawned, then poked Shuyan in the waist. Looking up at him, she said,
"Where are we going next, Shuyan? What about that 'surprise' you promised me? If you can't produce something that truly dazzles this Empress, I wouldn't mind sparring with you nonstop for another two and a half months…"
Shuyan gave the Ice Empress a strange look, feeling that she had somehow grown a little darker lately…
Tch! Damn little troublemaker!
"You don't need to worry about that. I can guarantee it with my character. The treasure I'm talking about holds immense temptation for both you and the Snow Empress. You definitely won't be disappointed…"
Shuyan smiled mysteriously, speaking with absolute confidence.
The Ice Empress suddenly reached out and pinched the soft flesh at his waist again. A chilling smile appeared on her stunning face as she said coldly,
"Damn you, Shuyan. Why do you love keeping us in suspense so much? It makes my teeth itch with hatred. I almost want to train you into a proper male servant just to fix that bad habit…"
"Hiss—"
Shuyan sucked in a breath and quickly slapped her hand away. That pinch had been ruthless. Even with his physical strength, he felt a piercing pain.
"No sense of restraint at all. Are you trying to murder me? If I'm gone, then the large quantity of Ice Extreme Divine Crystals and dozens of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow beneath the cold pond will be out of your reach too…"
He knocked lightly on her head and rubbed his waist.
The moment his words fell, the Ice Empress—who had been about to retort—froze in a bizarrely stiff posture. Even the Snow Empress, who had been quietly listening to their bickering, held her breath and abruptly turned her gaze toward Shuyan.
Shuyan's lips twitched. He realized he had accidentally let the truth slip. But whether he said it sooner or later didn't matter much. At first, he had only wanted to temper the Ice Empress's growing impatience—or perhaps tease her and treat it as a surprise. Revealing it early wasn't a big deal.
Of course, in the eyes of the Snow Empress and Ice Empress, it was a completely different matter…
Light slowly returned to the Ice Empress's blank gaze. She suddenly floated up, grabbed Shuyan by the shoulders, and shook him wildly, her voice urgent and trembling with excitement:
"Shuyan, repeat what you just said! Hurry! I'm begging you! Did you just say Ice Extreme Divine Crystals and Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow? Tell me!"
Dizzy from the shaking, Shuyan pressed a hand against her head to steady her. Looking at the still-agitated Ice Empress in front of him, he sighed helplessly.
"It's exactly what you think. I know the location of a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave. Well? I didn't lie to you, did I? I told you this treasure land would be worth going crazy over."
The Ice Empress suddenly clutched one of his arms, her eyes filled with intense longing. Breathing rapidly, she demanded:
"Swear on your dignity as a man that you're not lying to me! Now!"
Seeing the look on her face—the kind that promised endless pestering unless he swore—Shuyan nodded helplessly.
"I swear. Alright?"
The Ice Empress no longer suppressed her excitement. She released his arm and threw herself into the Snow Empress's embrace, exclaiming joyfully:
"Xue'er, did you hear that? A Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave! It's really a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave! We're truly going to strike it rich this time!!"
The Snow Empress tried to restrain her emotions, yet unparalleled shock churned in her eyes.
No one understood better than the two of them what a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave represented. For ice-attribute soul beasts, it was the ultimate sacred land—the paradise of their dreams. If a fortunate ice-attribute soul beast could discover such a place in its lifetime, it would inevitably ascend to the pinnacle of the soul beast world. It might sound exaggerated, but it was absolute truth.
For example, the reason the hundred-thousand-year soul beasts and ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Forest far surpassed those of the Extreme North in both number and strength was, first, their possession of an auspicious beast, and second, their control of the life-attribute treasure land known as the Lake of Life.
The significance of a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave to ice-attribute soul beasts was no less than that of the Lake of Life—perhaps even greater. If the Snow Empress and Ice Empress had found such a treasure before meeting Shuyan, heavenly tribulations would no longer threaten them. In only a few years, they might even gain the strength to rival the Beast God Di Tian. Perhaps even his title as Beast God would no longer remain secure…
Of course, this was only speculation. But no matter what, at this moment, the Ice Empress admitted she nearly loved Shuyan to death.
The Snow Empress stared at him blankly for a long while before finally asking in a trembling voice:
"How did you learn of such a treasure land?"
Shuyan laughed lightly.
"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed. If there's a chance in the future, I'll tell you."
The Snow Empress looked at him deeply, unable to suppress the excitement and joy in her tone.
"No matter what, this surprise means more to Ice'er and me than you can imagine. Shuyan, thank you…"
Two black lines seemed to drop across Shuyan's forehead as he said helplessly,
"Why do I feel like you two are thinking about breaking your oath and ditching me to act on your own?"
"Don't scare me. I've been completely sincere with you…"
Hearing this, the Ice Empress poked her head out from the Snow Empress's arms. A faint blush of excitement colored her face, making her even more breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing Shuyan's deliberately wounded expression, she burst into laughter.
"Little Shu, hurry up and kneel to call me Master—and lick this Empress's toes while you're at it. Otherwise, I really might abandon you and team up with Xue'er instead. Then you'll have nowhere to cry."
Shuyan's gaze unconsciously flicked toward her delicate jade-like feet before shifting to the Snow Empress as he put on a sorrowful expression.
"Big Sister Xue, you wouldn't think the same, would you?"
The Snow Empress smiled faintly and shook her head, rare amusement in her voice.
"Since the first time you met this Empress until now, you've sneakily glanced at my feet more than fifty times. I don't feel inclined to reward a little pervert like you. However, I do find the first half of Ice'er's suggestion rather interesting. It may be worth trying…"
"As for whether we abandon you—that depends entirely on your performance."
She chuckled softly. Her gaze flicked behind Shuyan, her smile deepening slightly.
"I don't think you need to worry about that right now. Hehe… It seems something more dangerous is waiting for you."
Shuyan froze, suddenly sensing waves of cold air rising behind him.
Turning around, he saw Xu Jiujiu, dark aura billowing around her. Half his body instantly went numb.
"Jiujiu, can you at least let me explain?"
"Oh?"
Xu Jiujiu curved her lips and swiftly grabbed his ear, speaking word by word:
"So you like sneaking glances, hm? Going to say it's just a man's natural instinct again? Or do you think this Princess's feet aren't pretty enough?"
"Shuyan, this Princess will act on Heaven's behalf and properly punish you—the man who looks upright on the surface but is actually a complete scoundrel!"
"If you dare resist even a little, I'll stuff your shoes and socks into your mouth today. Still talking back?"
"Take this punch!"