Chapter 12: The Extreme North—Snow Empress!
This journey to the Extreme North was not just for show—Lin Yun had many tasks to accomplish here.
Over the past nine months of cultivation, he had gradually clarified his future plans. To confirm the current point in the timeline, he even summoned the Ten Thousand Beast King and had him conceal his aura and secretly visit Star Luo City.
As for the reason behind this trip—naturally, it was to check on our dear Tang Clan lackey, Huo Gua, and see how old he was now.
Though puzzled by the order, the Ten Thousand Beast King still carried it out dutifully.
The final report: Huo Gua had awakened his martial soul over three years ago and was now being severely oppressed within the duke's estate—treated like a mere lackey.
His soul power level? A pathetic level six.
So it turned out that Lin Yun was about the same age as Huo Gua. This allowed him to confirm the present timeline based on his own age.
That eased some of his tension, but it also introduced new urgency—for some of his arrangements, time was of the essence. Thankfully, with the Star Dou Great Forest as his backing, many of his plans could proceed smoothly.
For example, in the original story, Huo Gua had to risk death, stake everything, and venture into the Extreme North to draw the attention of Tianmeng Ice Silkworm just to meet the Ice Empress.
But Lin Yun? He merely needed Di Tian to escort him—no struggle required—and he could easily meet the Three Great Kings of the Extreme North.
As the original tale had stated: the title of Beast God wasn't just for show. If Di Tian truly asserted himself, even the powers of the Extreme North had to submit to his command.
Snow Empress had known that Di Tian served a higher sovereign among soul beasts—she just didn't know that sovereign was Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King.
Now, Gu Yuena had already passed that mantle to Lin Yun. As the Gold Dragon King, he held the authority to command all soul beasts.
Don't want to obey?
Fine—Di Tian's Dragon God Claw will serve as a reminder!
Besides, Lin Yun had confidence in his tongue. If he could talk Gu Yuena around, how hard could it be to deal with Snow Empress—who wasn't even blinded by love?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
As the vegetation before them gradually turned white, the scenery ahead had already transformed into a vast silver-white expanse—the Extreme North was now within reach.
A journey that would've taken ordinary humans days on horseback was, for Di Tian, merely a few spatial steps away.
"Respected One, we've arrived at the Extreme North." Floating above the periphery of the frozen forest, Di Tian came to a halt.
Lin Yun hadn't specified a destination, so Di Tian naturally paused to await further instructions.
"No need to stop. Head straight into the core zone of the Extreme North. Take me to meet its current ruler," Lin Yun said calmly.
"Yes, Respected One."
Space warped again. The world blurred once more. Di Tian's mastery over spatial power had long since become instinctual—besides his extreme dark attribute, his spatial command was like a second limb.
If not for the limitations of universal laws, Di Tian would likely have long surpassed his current level and inherited his father's former title—becoming the next Black Dragon King.
His strength was worthy of being called the strongest beneath the god level on the entire Douluo Continent.
When Lin Yun once again felt solid ground beneath his feet, he and Di Tian were already standing atop an icy mountain.
Thick, feather-like snowflakes swirled around them, yet none dared come within three meters. Lin Yun barely felt a chill—Di Tian had completely shielded him from the Extreme North's biting cold.
This was the core zone of the Extreme North.
Everywhere the eye could see was frozen soil stretching for miles. The sky above was shrouded by layers of thick clouds that hadn't parted in millennia, continuously pouring down snow. Not a single ray of sunlight could reach this place.
After arriving, Di Tian made no attempt to suppress his aura. The dragon might of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King began spreading outward.
—In a certain ice cave within the core of the Extreme North—
A tall, slender woman stood silently before a blooming snow lotus. Her features were flawless, her expression proud and cold.
She was the ruler of the Extreme North—the Ice Sky Snow Empress, Xue Di.
'Should I finally take on human form? If I don't, there's no way I'll survive the next heavenly tribulation. Rather than perish under the tribulation, it might be better to stake everything on one desperate gamble!'
'Come to think of it, Bing'er will be facing her tribulation soon as well. Perhaps, before I undergo my transformation, I can help her one last time.'
Snow Empress gradually made up her mind.
During her last heavenly tribulation, she had attempted to condense a second soul core through the harmony of yin and yang, aiming to break into a higher realm—but she failed. The backlash from that failure severely damaged her primary soul core, leaving irreparable cracks.
As a result, not only was she unable to form another soul core, even her physical body had become dangerously unstable.
Fortunately, her luck hadn't completely abandoned her. She encountered a hundred-thousand-year-old snow lotus that lacked spiritual intelligence and couldn't assume a human form.
By using this snow lotus as a medium, she could seal her own sixty-nine-thousand-year cultivation and undergo human transformation.
Just as she prepared to begin her pre-transformation arrangements, a familiar aura reached her senses.
"This dragon might, tinged with darkness... Di Tian? What is he doing in the Extreme North?" Snow Empress froze mid-action, her delicate brows furrowing as she looked toward the direction of Di Tian's aura.
"Whatever the reason, I should go take a look."
Di Tian had entered the Extreme North so brazenly, even deliberately releasing his aura to draw her out—he clearly wasn't here for idle chatter.
After carefully storing the hundred-thousand-year-old snow lotus, Snow Empress transformed into an icy-blue streak of light and vanished from the spot.
Elsewhere—
Lin Yun and Di Tian stood atop the icy mountain, quietly waiting for Snow Empress's arrival.
"That's enough, Respected One. Snow Empress has sensed my aura and is heading our way," Di Tian said softly.
Just as Snow Empress could detect Di Tian, he could also sense her. Within the Extreme North, she hadn't bothered to conceal her presence at all.
Lin Yun gave a silent nod.
Moments later, the distant sky suddenly lit up. A brilliant blue radiance pierced through the thick clouds above, freezing the falling snowflakes mid-air as they bowed in reverence to the empress of snow.
"Di Tian, what business brings you here to my Extreme North, instead of staying in the Star Dou Forest where you belong?"
Before she arrived, her cold and melodic voice echoed through the skies, resonating across the vast tundra.
At the moment her voice sounded, the few soul beasts still living within the core zone of the Extreme North emerged from the frozen earth and prostrated themselves in the direction of Snow Empress.
Wherever she passed, all beasts bowed in worship.
"Whoa, that's some entrance!" Lin Yun raised an eyebrow and teased, "Hey Di Tian, how come you never got this kind of welcome in Star Dou?"
Before Di Tian could respond, that icy-blue light descended before them.
As the radiance faded, a leg stepped out—slender and flawless, adorned with crystalline high heels. Snow Empress, clad in a pristine white gown and crowned with a regal headdress, emerged fully into view.
The Ice Sky Snow Empress—Xue Di!
(The chapter ends.)
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