Soul Beasts feared death far more than humans, especially 100,000 Year Soul Beasts.
Although they possessed long lifespans, they lacked corresponding forms of entertainment. Therefore, life, cultivation, and a mate—these three things were especially important to them.
There was no shortage of humans who feared death, but compared to Soul Beasts that had lived for countless years, their desire for life was far from comparable.
The Ice Emperor Scorpion was one such member.
On an icy peak two thousand meters away from Li Xun, a one-and-a-half-meter-long scorpion, its entire body like crystal, stood still, warily watching Li Xun's group.
The Ice Empress had rushed over after sensing an unusual fluctuation in the core region. She had originally thought some Soul Beast was challenging the Titan Snow Devil King, but what she found upon arriving was beyond her expectations.
The Ice Empress could sense the energy contained within one person in that group. If calculated according to a Soul Beast's cultivation, that person's current strength should be about the same as hers, and while the other two humans were weaker in cultivation, they could not be ignored.
This situation put her on high alert.
Few humans ever came to the Far North Land, let alone three such powerful ones. In her long life, she had seen too much death and had narrowly escaped it herself several times. Knowing how precious life was, she was not prepared to take any risks.
Suddenly, a familiar aura arose. The Ice Empress's gaze sharpened as she saw one of the group, who could be considered a human cub, suddenly split off another body. Immediately after, a Golden-striped Ice Silkworm landed on that person's shoulder.
"How did that guy end up with humans?" The Ice Empress was somewhat perplexed, and also felt a little resentful.
Back then, she had only managed to pass the 300,000-year mark with the Snow Emperor's help, but it had damaged her very essence. She knew very well in her heart that she would never be able to overcome the 400,000-year hurdle.
And the nearly million-year-old Golden-striped Ice Silkworm was a great tonic for her. If she devoured him, she could not only overcome the 400,000-year trial but also advance even further.
But unfortunately, she had carelessly let him escape.
The Ice Empress gazed at Li Xun's group in the distance, suppressing the impulse in her heart. Although she was stronger than the Titan Snow Devil King, she would likely die here if she were to face those humans.
"The Snow Emperor and I should have a way to deal with them. At worst, I'll just take a smaller share." The Ice Empress slowly retreated, deciding to go back and make a plan first.
Unexpectedly, the human in the distance with the Golden-striped Ice Silkworm on his shoulder moved, and at an extremely fast speed.
"What's going on?"
The Ice Empress was a little astonished. She could sense that human's weakness and didn't understand why he dared to come in her direction with the Golden-striped Ice Silkworm.
Had the Golden-striped Ice Silkworm not told that human how powerful she was? The Ice Empress stopped, wanting to see what he was up to.
A moment later, with a sound of something tearing through the air, Li Xun arrived before the Ice Empress with Skydream. It was only at this moment that he truly felt the magnificent beauty of life in the Douluo world.
No wonder it could turn Skydream into a simp, Li Xun thought, averting his gaze.
When he saw this scorpion, as brilliant as crystal, even he wanted to raise one as a pet.
"Ice Empress, we meet again," Skydream said, looking at the Ice Empress with infatuation, a continuous barrage of praise firing from his mouth.
"Enough! What right does a piece of food like you have to like me! If you had stayed obediently with those humans, there would have been nothing I could do. But since you've brought this human here, I won't be holding back." The Ice Empress snorted disdainfully, raising her front pincer to attack.
Those people in the distance were still watching them. She prepared to seize this rare opportunity.
Skydream was acting as if he'd lost his mind, still spouting nonsense. Li Xun had no choice but to clarify, "Ice Empress, these are merely our avatars. With just a little force from you, we will both dissipate."
"Avatars?" The Ice Empress was taken aback.
Seeing the Ice Empress's stunned expression, Skydream's eyes revealed his affection. "That's right. Even if you capture us, you won't get anything."
"Then what did you come here for? To mock me?" Upon hearing this, the Ice Empress's aura grew cold, and she gradually lost interest.
"No, of course I want you to live! I'd be very sad if you died. As it happens, I've found a way for us to be together forever." Skydream's eyes darted about as he sidled up to the Ice Empress with a sly grin, circling around her.
Annoyed by this harassment, the Ice Empress instantly shot a beam of light from her jewel-like tail stinger, piercing straight through Skydream.
However, Skydream was currently condensed purely from spiritual power. Although he could still be harmed, given the immensity of his spiritual power, an attack like this was completely insignificant.
"Icy, don't be so heartless! What I'm saying is true." Realizing the Ice Empress's attack had no effect on him, Skydream grew bolder, incessantly rubbing against her.
"Golden-striped Ice Silkworm, you're courting death! Don't think I can't do anything to you just because you're a spiritual body now! I'll make sure this wisp of your spiritual power never returns!"
The Ice Empress flew into a rage. Her cultivation of over three hundred thousand years erupted in an instant, and a vast tide of spiritual power surged forth. Although it was not as powerful as Skydream's, it was clearly stronger than his current rootless, drifting state.
"Skydream, if you keep provoking her like this, I'll have no choice but to hunt her when it's time for me to get my Spirit Ring." Li Xun gave a light cough, feeling quite exasperated himself. "Ice Empress, don't be so quick to act. I came here this time to talk with you."
Hearing Li Xun's words, Skydream's rationality returned. He had dared to act this way based on the fact that neither he nor Li Xun were in their true bodies, but if this negotiation failed, the consequences would be something he dared not imagine.
He had been with Li Xun for some time and knew that this was no idle threat. He quickly adopted a solemn expression and said, "Icy, I was just joking with you earlier. To be honest, my true body no longer exists..."
Skydream immediately told the Ice Empress the whole story.
"What! You actually chose to sacrifice yourself to fulfill another's potential?" The Ice Empress froze on the spot. "And what do you mean by ascending to godhood by attaching yourself to a human?"
"I don't know if you've ever heard this saying: 'Sacrifice and lie flat on the road to godhood.' I didn't quite understand it when Li Xun first told me, but now I'm starting to grasp its meaning more and more."
Skydream wore a sly smile. "Ice Empress, in all our long years of existence, have you ever heard of a Soul Beast ascending to godhood?"
The Ice Empress fell silent, not speaking for a long time.
"Never mind us Soul Beasts; even in human records, there are no accounts of Soul Beasts ascending to godhood. That's because the God Realm does not permit any species other than humans to become gods."
"Let's not talk about something as unattainable as becoming a god. If I remember correctly, you probably can't even survive the next Heavenly Tribulation."
Skydream leaped onto Li Xun's shoulder. "Compared to us Soul Beasts, the human body has more potential. Otherwise, why would we Soul Beasts gain the ability to take human form after reaching one hundred thousand years of cultivation? I suspect this is very likely a form of evolution."
"And most importantly, Li Xun has already found a god's inheritance. If things continue like this, his chances of becoming a god are far greater than anyone else's in this world, human or Soul Beast."
Li Xun opportunely revealed his Martial Soul. Seven Spirit Rings—one yellow, two purple, two black, and two red—appeared in sequence beneath his feet, their light reflecting off the Ice Empress's crystal-like body.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "QueenTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!