The Extreme North.
Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi traveled for a month, stopping and starting along the way as they passed through the three provincial capitals of the Heavenly Soul Empire. At last, they reached the boundless icy expanse of the Extreme North.
Upon entering the second layer of the region, Zhu Ziyang summoned his four soul spirits. Among Snow Empress, Ice Empress, Second Frost, and Lu'er, only Lu'er was visiting the Extreme North for the first time. The other three were all born here. Returning to their homeland stirred deep emotions on their faces.
"Shuang'er, you'll be our guide from here," Zhu Ziyang said to Second Frost.
"Of course!" Second Frost's eyes burned with hatred. "We'll go to my old lair first. That traitor is very likely hiding there. If not, then we'll head for the Snow Soul Clan's territory to root it out!"
"Then I'll follow your lead," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
Second Frost flew ahead, leading the way. Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi followed close behind, observing the scenery of the Extreme North. On his last visit, Zhu Ziyang had been far too preoccupied to take notice of the icy world's beauty. This time, with a calmer heart, he found the frozen landscapes possessed a desolate magnificence of their own.
Of course, if it weren't so unbearably cold, it would be even better.
Guided by Second Frost, they soon arrived at her former lair—a modest-sized frozen lake surrounded by clusters of hardy coniferous trees. Floating motionless above the lake's surface was a humanoid soul beast, its form so still it seemed asleep.
"That beast… it really is here!" Second Frost's rage flared instantly when her gaze fell upon the figure.
"That's the one who betrayed you? The Ice Demon Snow Soul King?" Zhu Ziyang's eyes narrowed. The soul beast resembled an adult human male. Black and blue markings striped its body, while purple demonic runes were carved upon its face. From its forehead sprouted a third eye—the mark of a hundred-thousand-year Ice Demon Snow Soul. Its aura was oppressively strong.
"Yes! It's him!" Second Frost's teeth clenched, her voice trembling with fury. "Damn it! He's even survived the Beast Calamity and ascended to the level of a Savage Beast! Unforgivable!"
"A twenty-thousand-year Savage Beast…" Zhu Ziyang's expression grew solemn. Such a creature rivaled a Rank 95 Super Douluo. "So it's true. In that case, I'll deal with him myself."
"Father, do you need our help?" Snow Empress asked with concern.
"No. Stay here and guard Yiyi for me." Though he faced a twenty-thousand-year Savage Beast, Zhu Ziyang's tone carried unshakable confidence.
"Brother Yang, you're going alone? Against a beast of that level?" Qian Lingyi's heart tightened. "That's far too risky! Why not let Senior Kou and Senior Luo assist you?"
Zhu Ziyang chuckled. "Heh, Yiyi, you underestimate me. It's only a newly ascended Savage Beast. I'll need to exert some effort, yes, but it won't be beyond my strength. Just watch."
With those words, Zhu Ziyang strode directly into the frozen lake. The disturbance instantly awakened the slumbering Ice Demon Snow Soul King.
Its third eye flared open as it unleashed a piercing roar. "Human! You dare trespass upon this king's domain?!"
"Hmph!" Zhu Ziyang snorted coldly. He had no interest in wasting words. His Reaper's Scythe of Judgment appeared in his hand. At once, his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body, ignited. The scythe doubled in size, and all his soul skills surged to double their original power.
Golden and gray energies wove together around him, forming a massive ring of light that spread outward five hundred meters, enveloping both himself and the Snow Soul King.
This was the Domain of Judgment and Execution, the exclusive soul domain of his Reaper's Scythe, awakened upon reaching the Martial Soul True Body. Within this field, his soul power consumption was halved, the might of his skills increased by half, and both light and death energies gathered fifty percent faster.
"Let's begin," Zhu Ziyang murmured.
The scythe transformed into a radiant staff as he unleashed the Holy Curse of Judgment. Blazing light lanced toward the Ice Demon Snow Soul King.
The Savage Beast bellowed in fury, insulted by the human's audacity. With a wave of its hand, countless ice lances formed and shot forth. At the same time, blocks of black ice materialized to intercept Zhu Ziyang's holy light.
Zhu Ziyang's figure flashed forward. The scythe swept in a mighty arc, shattering the incoming lances. His First Soul Skill activated, the scythe growing immense as waves of gray death aura surged out, engulfing the Snow Soul King.
The beast's black ice shield shattered instantly. Its third eye blazed open, unleashing an overwhelming tide of spiritual power infused with extreme cold. The heavens darkened. Black snow began to fall from the sky, each flake turning into a razor-sharp ice blade upon touching the ground.
This was the clan's forbidden skill—Blade of Dark Snow, a fusion of ice, darkness, and spirit attributes. Its power was terrifying.
But Zhu Ziyang only smiled. His Third Soul Skill burst forth, summoning brilliant light that pierced the shroud of black snow. From above, countless meteors of purest radiance descended, crashing into the lake like divine punishment. Each meteor brimmed with holy judgment, burning away swathes of dark snow.
The Snow Soul King howled in panic, scrambling to evade the falling stars. But Zhu Ziyang gave him no respite. His Fourth Soul Skill followed immediately.
A golden-armored unicorn appeared beneath him. Leaping onto its back, Zhu Ziyang raised his scythe. Around him, five starlit clones of himself manifested, each mounted upon their own unicorn steed, each wielding a massive golden scythe. Together, six radiant knights encircled the Snow Soul King.
At Zhu Ziyang's command, they charged. Six beams of holy execution slashed down as one.
The Snow Soul King roared desperately, conjuring titanic shields of ice to bar their path.
But one by one, the shields shattered. First, second, third, fourth… until all were gone. The six scythes pierced straight into the Savage Beast's body.
Light and death surged through its form. Its monstrous face twisted with agony as its life force drained away at terrifying speed. It struggled, but could do nothing. Its three eyes dimmed, the divine spark extinguished.
The newly risen king of the Extreme North, the Ice Demon Snow Soul King, fell before his reign had even begun.
"It's done," Zhu Ziyang said softly, withdrawing his martial soul. Standing over the beast's corpse, he allowed himself a faint smile.
"Brother Yang!" Qian Lingyi and the soul spirits hurried to his side, their faces shining with relief and admiration.
"You're incredible! To slay a Savage Beast so easily—amazing!"
"Heh, just average," Zhu Ziyang replied modestly, though the grin on his face betrayed his pride.
Second Frost drifted down beside the corpse, her expression brimming with satisfaction. "You brought this upon yourself! Betrayal only leads to ruin. Hmph, though I must thank you. Without your treachery, I might never have met Ziyang. May you never know peace, even in death!"
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