Ma Xiaotao's words made the general frown. He looked at her and tightened his fists.
Seeing him clench his hands, Ma Xiaotao raised a brow.
"What? You want to fight us?"
Hearing that, the general was so angry he actually laughed. He took a deep breath and said,
"You are important figures from Shrek Academy—how would I dare fight you? But most of my soldiers aren't soul masters. They can't survive long in an environment like this!"
Ma Xiaotao didn't respond with words. She simply raised her hand and unleashed a wave of Phoenix True Flame.
The surrounding snow and ice melted instantly, creating a circular clearing nearly a hundred meters in radius.
The blazing Phoenix Fire burned fiercely, driving away the bitter cold.
Ma Xiaotao said coldly, "With us here, is that still a problem?"
Cai Meier followed up,
"General, do you have any other concerns?"
Feeling the pressure released by Ma Xiaotao in that brief moment, the general's expression shifted. He was only a three-ring Soul Elder—how could he compare to her and the others?
He looked at the ring of Phoenix True Flame and sighed.
"…Understood."
Under his command, the soldiers of the Heavenly Soul Empire began constructing a defensive position in the cleared area, placing the detection-type soul tools they carried at farther points.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier stood at the edge, gazing toward the depths of the Extreme North.
Xian Lin'er asked, "Do you think that Snow Empress will show up?"
"She should still be in the Sun Moon Empire."
Cai Meier recalled the Snow Empress's appearance and sighed.
"It's a pity. When she first came to the academy, I thought we'd found a treasure. Turns out she was just another beast in human skin."
Xian Lin'er nodded.
"A soul beast is a soul beast. Even if they take human form, they'll never gain a human heart. Once Xiaotao and the others inherit their godhood, those creatures will realize just how foolish their choices were."
Cai Meier agreed with a nod.
Amidst the wind and snow, a cloaked figure hid within the storm.
Blue-white light shimmered faintly around him—yet neither Cai Meier nor Xian Lin'er, both Super Douluo, sensed his presence.
It was Huo Yuhao, who had left Mingdu some time ago to cultivate between the northern border and the Extreme North.
His aura was now restrained—deep and heavy.
As the original child of fate of the Douluo Continent, having temporarily set aside his soul tool research, and with the assistance of three mighty beings in his spiritual sea, his soul power had already reached Level 77.
His powerful foundation allowed both his Spiritual Eyes and the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor to carry 100,000-year-level soul rings.
"Yuhao, you're not planning to attack, are you? Even with me and the Ice Emperor helping, fighting two Super Douluo will be tough. And that girl who plays with fire—she has a terrifying aura. Like… a god."
Tianmeng Iceworm rambled nervously in Yuhao's spiritual sea, afraid Yuhao would act on impulse.
The Ice Emperor snapped,
"Tianmeng, why are you boosting others' morale while crushing our own?"
"I'm just afraid we'll mess things up after coming all this way!" Tianmeng muttered awkwardly.
Huo Yuhao, however, remained calm.
"I know this isn't the right time to act. Let's return to Mingdu. We need to tell my cousin and the others what's happening here."
The movements of Shrek Academy and the Heavenly Soul Empire's troops were soon relayed to Mingdu through him.
Upon hearing the news, the Snow Empress asked in confusion,
"What are they going to the Extreme North for?"
"They want to cut off Orange's retreat route."
On the table before Jiang Shengyu lay a full map of the Douluo Continent.
The Extreme North stretched across the top of the continent.
The section bordering the Sun Moon Empire was minuscule—almost just a narrow corridor beneath the Mingdou Mountains.
It was the only path large forces could use to circle around.
Huo Yuhao had discovered that Cai Meier and the others were positioned precisely at its choke point.
Jiang Qingtong said calmly,
"It seems Orange has begun her operation."
The Snow Empress immediately stood. Jiang Shengyu rose as well.
"I'll go with you."
The Snow Empress paused, glanced at him, and asked,
"What are you going for?"
"Because I'm worried about you."
Jiang Shengyu answered with a gentle smile.
Warmth bloomed in the Snow Empress's chest. She shook her head.
"There's no need. You're the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. With the situation unstable, staying in Mingdu is the safest choice. Those few from Shrek aren't my match anyway."
"But Yuhao just said—Ma Xiaotao is alive again, and she carries a divine aura."
Jiang Shengyu looked at her seriously.
"If my guess is right, she may inherit the Phoenix Godhood passed down from her ancestor Ma Hongjun ten thousand years ago. We don't know how far she's progressed in her god trials. Going alone is too dangerous for you."
Hearing his earnest, solemn words, the Snow Empress laughed softly.
"Alright. Then we'll go together."
Huo Yuhao intended to follow, but Xuan Ziwun stopped him.
Jiang Shengyu patted his shoulder and encouraged him,
"Yuhao, Mingde Hall is where you belong. Keep at it. I hope that one day, ordinary people will be able to ascend into the sky using soul tools—and perhaps even leave the Douluo plane entirely."
His words shocked everyone present.
Even Xuan Ziwun, the person most confident in soul tool technology, looked at Jiang Shengyu in astonishment, deeply drawn to the bold vision he described.
If that day truly came, how prosperous would the Sun Moon Empire become?
Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly.
"Cousin, rest assured. I won't disappoint you. I'll make sure everyone can enjoy the convenience brought by soul tools."
Everyone had the right to benefit from technology.
After Jiang Shengyu and the Snow Empress departed, Huo Yuhao immediately buried himself once more in Mingde Hall, continuing research on various soul tools—until Jiang Feixin arrived.
"You stare at these things all day long. Don't you get bored?"
Jiang Feixin stood behind him, waiting until he finished his operations before speaking.
Hearing her voice, Huo Yuhao turned, smiled, and shook his head.
"Not at all. I find it fascinating—watching the arrays I design produce new and surprising functions one after another."
"I don't understand soul tool technology." Jiang Feixin shook her head.
"I'm here to thank you."
"To… thank me?"
Huo Yuhao blinked in surprise.
Jiang Feixin stepped closer.
"If it weren't for you suppressing that Sea God girl's soul in time, I would have died."
Hearing that, Huo Yuhao quickly waved his hands, flustered.
"N-No need to thank me! It was what I should do. You're my cousin's friend—naturally you're my friend too. If a friend is in danger, of course I won't stand by and watch!"
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