"Mu Yang… what a fine title—Iceflame Douluo!"
Having spoken, the Snow Empress closed her eyes, quietly awaiting the arrival of death.
As the supreme ruler of the Extreme North, she did not lack the courage to face death. Nor would she demean herself with futile struggle.
Yet after a long while, no attack fell upon her. The Snow Empress opened her eyes once more, gazing at Mu Yang before her.
"How about making a deal?"
"Heh~"
The Snow Empress did not reply—only gave a cold laugh.
This man before her had killed her closest sister, the Ice Empress. Even if he spared her this time, the Snow Empress would never bargain with an enemy she could never coexist with.
"You and I originally had no hatred. Since you have not inflicted irreparable loss upon me or the Academy, I can grant both you and the Ice Empress a complete ending."
Casting a glance toward Shui Bing'er, Mu Yang spoke.
"What?"
At first, the Snow Empress cared little for Mu Yang's so-called deal. But once he mentioned the Ice Empress, she could not ignore it.
"Hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts and fierce beasts do not so easily perish entirely. If you are willing to offer yourself in sacrifice to Bing'er in the future, helping her advance to nine-ring Title Douluo, I promise you this: when she and I ascend to godhood, we will resurrect you and the Ice Empress."
Mu Yang's gaze rested on the Snow Empress as he spoke.
In the original tale, the Azure Sky Bull Python Da Ming and the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming had sacrificed themselves to Tang San. Yet in later generations, Tang San revived them both.
Though Mu Yang had not yet fully grasped the mechanism behind such revival, nor the precise requirements, one thing was certain: once a Spirit Master ascended to godhood, the beasts who had become their spirit rings could indeed be revived.
He could already sense this truth. Within the Iceflame Immortal Jade Ginseng's seventh spirit ring (the Titan Giant Ape), the Iceflame Holy Shadow's first (Soft Bone Rabbit), second (Azure Sky Bull Python), and sixth rings (Ice Jade Scorpion), as well as within the Soft Bone Rabbit's left leg bone, Titan Giant Ape's right arm bone, Azure Sky Bull Python's left arm bone, and Ice Jade Scorpion's torso bone—all these still held fragments of souls.
Among them, Er Ming the Titan Giant Ape's fragment was incomplete. In contrast, Xiao Wu, Da Ming the Azure Sky Bull Python, and The Ice Jade Scorpion—who had sacrificed themselves—left far more complete soul fragments.
Especially the Ice Empress. Through Mu Yang's spiritual sight, she appeared as a complete soul-body riddled with cracks, yet whole.
As for why no other spirit rings or spirit bones contained such fragments—besides god-given rings and self-condensed rings that never contained beast souls—Mu Yang guessed it was because those spirit beasts' years were too few. Their souls lacked tenacity and had long since dissipated.
The Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone was a special case. Though it was also of hundred-thousand-year level, Ah Yin had not died when she sacrificed herself. Instead, she transformed into seed and was reborn. Thus no fragment lingered within that bone.
Perhaps, then, the reason Spirit Masters who became gods could revive the beasts of their spirit rings was precisely because those souls had never fully perished. They lingered within the rings and bones as fragments.
Though this theory remained untested, Mu Yang believed it was close enough to truth. And it was more than sufficient to support his promise to the Snow Empress.
"Are these words true?"
The Snow Empress asked in disbelief.
First, because she was shocked that a Spirit Master who became a god could revive spirit beasts that had become rings and bones. Second, because she was stunned that the despicable Mu Yang would show such kindness.
"You have no choice but to believe. Before I even advanced to Title Douluo, I could use secret spirit arts to control the Ice Empress' consciousness and force her to sacrifice. Now that I have reached Level 98, controlling your mind would be effortless."
Mu Yang spoke with calm detachment.
The reason he proposed this deal was not because his soul-controlling arts could not bind her—but because he and the Snow Empress had no true enmity. Their current hostility was only born of him having taken the Ice Empress as ring and bone.
If he could restore the Ice Empress, then the grudge between him and the Snow Empress would vanish.
And most importantly—Shui Bing'er was still far from Level 90. It would be quite some time before she could even use the Snow Empress.
If, in despair, the Snow Empress chose "better shattered jade than intact tile," ending herself prematurely, then her ring and bone would never fall to Shui Bing'er.
Seeing her silent hesitation, Mu Yang continued: "Bing'er's spirit power is now only Level 83. You have time to think it over. I hope that when we next come to the Extreme North, you will give us a definite answer."
Whether she agreed or not did not matter to Mu Yang. So long as he could keep the Snow Empress steady until Shui Bing'er reached Title Douluo, that was enough. If she refused at that time—soft words would end, and force would begin.
Of course, if the Snow Empress did agree, he would keep his word.
He was no saint, but neither was he so vile as to rot with treachery.
The Snow Empress left then, carrying complex emotions back to the Extreme North.
Watching her lonely back as she departed, Shui Bing'er could not help but sigh.
"Mu Yang, do you think our world is simply too cruel to spirit beasts?"
Shui Bing'er asked softly.
"How do you mean?"
Mu Yang raised his brow.
"The growth of spirit beasts is so slow. After countless years avoiding predators and hunters, they finally reach a hundred thousand years—and yet they must face life-or-death tribulation. Then there are Spirit Masters like us, seeking their rings and bones. For a spirit beast, survival is just too hard."
Shui Bing'er spoke with feeling.
Hearing this, Mu Yang gently comforted her: "Bing'er, what you say isn't wrong. But if you look from another perspective—shouldn't it be us Spirit Masters who envy spirit beasts?
If a Spirit Master cannot reach godhood at Level 100, even a Level 99 Ultimate Douluo will return to dust. But spirit beasts, if not slain, can easily live tens of thousands of years.
And besides, you need not think so heavily of it.
The current era sees beasts hunted by Spirit Masters. But in ancient times, when humans were weak, it was we who were food for beasts.
The wheel of heaven turns. Now humans rule the continent and beasts are hunted. That is karma.
What we must do is hold to our bottom line—and never slaughter needlessly."
Spirit beasts left rings and bones upon death, and Spirit Masters required rings to advance. With such game-like rules, Mu Yang had strong reason to believe that some deity of the God Realm, displeased with spirit beasts, had altered the laws of the Douluo plane.
After all, spirit beasts were once soldiers under the Dragon God. And the Dragon God had been the common enemy of all gods of the Divine Realm.
If the gods deliberately suppressed the beasts, it was hardly surprising.