"Ahem ahem… better let me do the talking."
A lazy voice drifted through the air.
On top of the young girl's head appeared a creature resembling a silkworm.
Its whole body was the color of white jade, crystal clear and flawless, with skin as smooth as polished glass. A soft halo of light rippled beneath its surface, and on its head sat a pair of tiny golden eyes that gleamed brilliantly.
Most striking were the golden rings encircling its body — starting half a meter from its head, one every certain distance, a total of ten from head to tail.
A faint, refreshing fragrance wafted from its body.
The moment it appeared, the temperature inside the office dropped sharply.
"This is…"
Neuvillette's expression froze in surprise.
He almost blurted out Tianmeng Iceworm.
As the most overpowered "early-game cheat" of Huo Yuhao in the original story, there was no way he wouldn't recognize it.
Those unmistakable ten golden rings were the hallmark of a million-year soul beast.
"How is it? Have you been captivated by my dazzling beauty?"
The Tianmeng Iceworm gave a flirtatious shake of its head.
"Let me introduce myself. I am the incarnation of heroism and chivalry, the perfect balance of wisdom and beauty, the king of all soul beasts — a peerless powerhouse who has cultivated for a full million years, holding the record for the longest lifespan in the history of the Douluo Continent! You may call me… Sister Tianmeng."
Neuvillette's face remained impassive as his hand closed around his staff, the teardrop-shaped crystal at its tip glowing faintly.
Invisible ripples instantly enveloped the tiny silkworm.
"W-wait! Big brother, no need for that!"
The Tianmeng Iceworm recoiled in alarm, and the girl quickly plucked it from her head and cupped it protectively in her hands.
"Your Holiness, Sister Tianmeng has something very important to tell you…"
"Is that so?"
Neuvillette's expression was as calm as he withdrew his soul power.
He took a light sip of tea, though his mind was racing.
Why would the Tianmeng Iceworm seek me out at this time?
"Go on," he said. "What business could a million-year soul beast have with a human like me?"
"Ahem."
The Tianmeng Iceworm peeked out cautiously, stealing a glance at Neuvillette's unreadable expression before coughing twice and growing serious.
"Here's the thing — I plan to create a god! I would use every resource at my disposal to nurture a god, and then through the god's feedback, allow soul beasts like me — those trapped at the limits of our lifespan — to achieve immortality."
"My original plan was to pin all my hopes on little Yutong. So I sacrificed myself, sealing away most of my cultivation to become her second soul ring. But then… I met you!"
"Even in all my long years, I've never seen a human with talent to rival yours."
"So… I want to take a gamble!"
Neuvillette frowned slightly, puzzled.
The Tianmeng Iceworm continued:
"I've already sacrificed myself to little Yutong, so I can't do the same for you. But, as it happens, I know another hundred-thousand-year soul beast — and she's on the verge of her fourth great tribulation. So…"
A sharp glint flickered in Neuvillette's eyes.
The Ice Empress? Such a coincidence?
He was currently at Rank 79 Soul Sage, and the only reason he hadn't broken through yet was that he hadn't found a suitable soul ring.
After all, on the entire Douluo Continent, soul beasts that had reached the hundred-thousand-year level were vanishingly rare. The scarcity alone made the hunt a daunting prospect.
And for those he did find… killing them was another matter entirely.
Take Ditian, for example…
"Over three hundred thousand years, lifespan running out…" Neuvillette feigned contemplation. "The one you mean couldn't be the sovereign of the Extreme North, the 390,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion — the Ice Empress — could it?"
"Exactly. I'm impressed — for a human, you're quite knowledgeable."
The Tianmeng Iceworm nodded in satisfaction.
"So… you think you can convince her to become my eighth soul ring?" Neuvillette's gaze fixed steadily on the little creature.
"Facing someone like her, even running away, would be difficult. I have no desire to end up as an ice sculpture in the Extreme North."
"Relax! I'll handle it." The Tianmeng Iceworm puffed out its chest.
"We're the best friends — as long as I show up, she's sure to believe me!"
Neuvillette tapped the tip of his staff lightly with pale fingers, studying the Iceworm's confident expression.
In the original story, Tianmeng had also claimed he was going to "settle a score" — but in truth, the reason he could lure out the Ice Empress was because he was a massive bait she couldn't ignore.
Still… this little thing did have some skill. The outcome back then was well known — if the Ice Empress hadn't held back, Douluo Dalu 2 would've ended on the spot, and she could've claimed the title "Godslayer" along the way.
Yet the temptation was undeniable.
Neuvillette's brow furrowed as he weighed the risks.
If he fought the Ice Empress, what were his odds of escape?
Barely half a percent. Because the Extreme North was not home to her alone, the Snow Empress and Titan Snow Demon King were also there.
The Snow Empress, with over six hundred thousand years of cultivation, treated the Ice Empress as a sister.
If things went wrong, he'd face not one but at least two super hundred-thousand-year soul beasts at once.
But… there would only be one such opportunity.
Several minutes later, under the Iceworm's expectant gaze and the girl's worried eyes, Neuvillette finally ceased tapping his staff.
His voice was calm.
"Alright."
The Extreme North.
Snow blanketed the land as far as the eye could see — a boundless white expanse.
Two figures moved slowly through the snow.
One was a man in deep-blue ceremonial robes, his jade-like face composed, staff in hand. He halted, glancing toward the girl beside him — wrapped head to toe in thick winter clothing, her delicate brows dusted with frost, her black hair stiff with ice. Despite the cold, her eyes were steadfast as she forced each step forward.
He sighed softly.
He hadn't intended for Huo Yutong to accompany him. The Tianmeng Iceworm could have left her body and traveled with him alone.
But she had insisted on coming, arguing that all of Tianmeng's power was stored within her. So Neuvillette had not pressed the matter further.
"Ah!"
The girl gave a soft cry as her foot slipped into a hidden snow pit.
But before she could fall further, she found herself lifted by the scruff of the neck and set gently outside the hole.
"Careful."
Without another word, Neuvillette continued onward as if walking on level ground.
Compared to the girl's "fully armored" attire, his robes seemed almost thin, yet he remained unaffected by the icy wind, as if the bitter cold here did not exist.
"Oh… okay."
She smiled, quickening her pace to keep up.
Of course, she hadn't come solely to help — this was also precious time alone with the Holy Son, each minute to be treasured.
"Just keep heading north," Tianmeng chirped from atop her head, scanning the surroundings. "We're not far now — the Ice Empress is in the heart of the Extreme North. But from here on, we need to slow down. This is the edge of the core region — the cold is worse, but more importantly, the strongest soul beasts live here. Our job is to avoid meeting them at all costs."
He hadn't slept since the day before yesterday, constantly directing them to adjust their route.
As a million-year spiritual-type soul beast, his spiritual detection was unmatched — even the Snow Empress could be fooled.
Half a day later, the snow lay thicker than ever.
Each of the girl's steps sank deep enough to bury her calves. It was exhausting, but she could still press on.
Neuvillette, however, walked in calm serenity — snowflakes swirled aside before they could even touch him.
"Down! Bury yourself in the snow, and don't make a sound!"
Tianmeng's sudden cry was urgent.
Before the girl could react, Neuvillette's hand touched her shoulder — and the next instant, they were gone.
A soft violet light flared.
When she blinked, she found herself in a massive bubble of water.
All around was the stillness of the deep sea; above them drifted a thick layer of ice, and nearby swam faintly glowing aquatic creatures.
Beneath Neuvillette's feet, a pale-violet soul ring pulsed gently.
"Oh? This soul skill of yours is pretty good — it blocks all external detection. I guess I won't even need to act."
The Tianmeng Iceworm sounded impressed.
"Heh."
Neuvillette merely smiled faintly, saying nothing.
This skill was far more than a detection barrier — he usually used it to trap enemies, compress the bubble, and leave nothing but a pool of blood.
If any of the evil soul masters who had died by it knew that Tianmeng was treating it as just a hiding trick… they'd probably claw their way back from the grave to protest.
"Neuvillette, we—"
The girl's voice trailed off as a thunderous rumble echoed above the ice.
Through the translucent ice, they could see them — colossal footprints, each one visible.
She clapped a hand over her mouth in terror.
The titanic creature was walking directly above them!
Five massive toes, sharp and distinct, as though some primordial giant had crossed the ages to stroll past.
(End of chapter)