Chapter 158: Capturing the Snow Empress
The Snow Empress's beautiful eyes showed a hint of contemplation. To her, humans represented greed, shamelessness, cunning, pettiness, and baseness. How credible could Qian Xunji's so-called fair contest be?
However, Qian Xunji wasn't really her match in the first place. Having drawn on the Extreme North's power, her strength was already back at its peak, whereas Qian Xunji had consumed a fair amount of his soul power. Even if they left the Extreme North and Qian Xunji broke their agreement, she had no reason to fear him. Moreover, outside the Extreme North, she wouldn't have to worry about protecting her soul beast subjects, meaning she wouldn't need to take all of Qian Xunji's attacks head-on.
Once beyond the Extreme North, they'd be in human territory, and Qian Xunji would be the one restricted. The aftermath of their battle could easily kill humans or destroy human cities—just as well to help repay the blood debt owed to the Extreme North. Later on, if Qian Xunji brought Spirit Hall soul masters seeking revenge, she could again rely on the Extreme North's power to wipe out all except Qian Xunji, further repaying their debt in blood.
If there were any human Title Douluo lurking, anyone below rank 97 was basically cannon fodder; she could detect them early with her spiritual power. On this continent, the only human she truly feared was the Angel God's successor, but this generation's successor seemed weaker than her. According to Qian Xunji's earlier words, every generation of Angel God successors was declining in strength anyway. Leaving the Extreme North, tearing up the treaty with Spirit Hall—there was nothing for her to worry about.
By every measure, going beyond the Extreme North only resulted in significant losses for humans. Indeed, in all her many years, the Snow Empress considered herself quite clever.
"What's wrong? Are you too scared? So, the so-called monarch of the Extreme North is just a cowardly turtle that only dares act fierce in her own domain? If so, you should stop calling yourself Snow Empress and call yourself Snow 'Little Brother' instead."
"Judging by the time, I ought to leave now. I've already bought enough time for the kids."
With that, Qian Xunji turned and flew off toward the edge of the Extreme North without a moment's hesitation.
"You really think my Extreme North is somewhere you can come and go as you please?"
Seeing Qian Xunji flee—having used words to humiliate her on his way out—the Snow Empress immediately took chase.
A faint curve appeared at Qian Xunji's lips. Using the tactics of "feigned retreat" and "verbal mockery," he thought, Snow Empress, you've fallen into my trap. This time, there's no beast that can save you.
Above the Ice-Sealed Forest, a streak of gold and a streak of blue ripped through the sky. The moment the Snow Empress arrived, she halted in midair, spreading her spiritual power. Instantly, the scene within the forest, including hidden soul beasts and soul masters hunting them, entered her perception.
"Shameless humans!"
Raising her hand, she formed a multitude of ice spears in the ice-blue glow. The spears rained down upon the Ice-Sealed Forest. Each one struck precisely through a soul master's forehead, and bloodcurdling shrieks rang out. Before long, the ground was stained with reddish snow.
Slowly lowering her hand, she glanced at Qian Xunji's calm face in the short distance. Her lips curled into a sneer. "Why, you don't seem concerned in the slightest."
"Concerned? And why would I be?"
"I just killed these human soul masters, including some at the Soul Emperor and Soul Sage levels. They were your people."
"Heh. They're irrelevant to Spirit Hall—unable to bring any benefit to us. Some of them might even oppose us in the future. A mere few dozen deaths don't matter."
The Extreme North lay in the far north of the Heaven Dou Empire, meaning it was an entire empire away from Spirit Hall. In other words, very few of these soul masters would have joined Spirit Hall in the future; most would have aligned with the Heaven Dou Empire, certainly not paying tribute or devotion to his faction. So if they died, they died. As Qian Xunji said this, he quietly drifted around the Snow Empress in a half circle, blocking the path back to the Extreme North.
"The shamelessness of humans never ceases to amaze."
Qian Xunji remarked coolly, "Let's see if you still look so calm in half a minute."
The Snow Empress's pupils abruptly contracted. She sensed an aura similar to Qian Xunji's, but much stronger. Whirling around, she spotted a golden streak of light shooting across the sky in their direction. In just a few breaths, the light had doubled in size.
There were two successors of the Angel God! But why did he arrive at precisely this time? It was a trap!
Fear and confusion flickered in the Snow Empress's eyes. No matter how much she pondered, she could never imagine that Qian Xunji had used the Angel God Trial to call his examiner, Qian Daoliu, rather than setting up a conventional ambush.
She tried to escape back into the Extreme North, but Qian Xunji blocked her path completely. Within the span of a single second, they clashed dozens of times, flattening everything within a hundred meters of the Ice-Sealed Forest below.
"Despicable, shameless human—didn't you say we'd have a fair fight?!" she roared, unleashing wild attacks.
Though each blow stirred the blood inside Qian Xunji, he continued to smile. "Of course it's fair. Even if it's two against one, we must still triumph. Don't call me cunning—you're the Snow Empress. We're only proving your strength in this way."
"Besides, didn't you just wipe out a bunch of soul masters with a single move? That's one versus dozens, plus me. Now that I've called on another person, you're scared?"
She nearly spat blood at his words. Right then, Qian Daoliu arrived above the Ice-Sealed Forest, gripping the Angelic Holy Sword. He spotted the Snow Empress prevailing slightly against Qian Xunji, and for a moment didn't intervene, apparently intending to wait until Qian Xunji was forced back, so he could face her one-on-one.
But Qian Xunji suddenly shouted, "Father, this vicious beast slaughtered all the soul masters in the Ice-Sealed Forest! She's about to attack human cities and commit mass murder. Let's move together to subdue her!"
Upon hearing that, Qian Daoliu looked down at the forest and indeed saw countless bodies of human soul masters. Murderous intent flashed through his gaze. Pouring Angel God power into the Angelic Holy Sword, he extended its angelic wings from the guard. Eight black spirit rings and one red shone beneath his feet as he slashed at the Snow Empress with all his might.
Between upholding chivalry and protecting humanity, Qian Daoliu made a swift choice.
"Vile creature, die!"
Bright golden light flared from the Angelic Holy Sword, strengthened by divine power. The very space it passed seemed to be cut apart as he delivered a blow meant to utterly destroy the Snow Empress.
Sensing an aura of certain death, the Snow Empress spun and swung her Imperial Sword to block. But the Angelic Holy Sword weighed thirty-six thousand jin, double the mass of Tang Chen's Clear Sky Avatar. Together with the Angel God power, its might was beyond what she could withstand.
The Imperial Sword shattered. The Snow Empress crashed into the Ice-Sealed Forest below, coughing up a mouthful of ice-blue blood.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Angelic Annihilation Lightning!"
Qian Xunji's ninth spirit ring lit up beneath his feet, unleashing a golden lightning that engulfed the still-falling Snow Empress, purging every trace of soul power in her body. Devoid of energy to resist, she could only succumb.
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