In the cold, silent cavern, the Snow Empress leaned against the stone wall, a trace of frustration on her face.
Across from her, the Ice Empress sulked in the corner, crouching down and absentmindedly drawing circles on the ground, looking like someone who had just been wronged.
This was the first sight Shu Yan saw when he awakened.
He had no idea what the two had discussed during his breakthrough, but it clearly hadn't been an ordinary conversation. Otherwise, how could the once inseparable Snow and Ice Empresses end up in such an awkward state?
The moment they sensed Shu Yan waking up, both turned their heads at nearly the same time. When their eyes met, they quickly looked away again. Shu Yan couldn't help but feel speechless.
"What's going on?" he asked. "Did you two argue over dividing the loot? Why do you look so strange?"
Before he could finish speaking, the Ice Empress pounced onto his back, bristling with indignation. Grabbing his long white hair, she snapped angrily:
"What do you mean 'dividing the loot'? Can you even speak properly, Shu Yan? Do Snow and I look that shallow to you?!"
Shu Yan calmly reached behind him, grabbed her by the back of the collar, and lifted her off his back.
The Ice Empress froze for a moment, staring at her feet dangling in midair. Then she met Shu Yan's amused gaze. A faint blush crept across her pale cheeks. Flustered and irritated, she shouted:
"Put me down right now! Who gave you permission to treat me like this? Shu Yan, you're really asking for trouble!"
Shu Yan gently set her down, casually ruffling her hair before quickly retreating behind the Snow Empress with a grin.
"Hey, you're supposed to be small and delicate. How did you turn into the Tyrant of the Extreme North? You're always threatening to smash someone's head."
Hearing his shameless teasing, the Ice Empress's fair face turned bright red. For a moment, it almost seemed like steam was rising from her head—though of course, that was just an exaggeration.
With all the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow already taken, the cave's temperature had risen noticeably, but it still wasn't warm enough for actual vapor to appear.
Unfortunately, this Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Cavern likely wouldn't last much longer.
It wasn't because of them. Although Dragon City's climate was cold, it wasn't cold enough to sustain such a cavern indefinitely. According to the Snow Empress, the cavern had probably been displaced from somewhere deep within the Extreme North due to geological changes. Under the current environmental conditions, it would likely disappear within a few hundred years.
Otherwise, even if a portion of Ice-Extreme Divine Crystals or Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow had been left behind, new ones could have formed over time.
Draining resources recklessly is never as wise as long-term planning. All three of them understood that well.
…
After a while, the Snow Empress finally calmed the still-fuming Ice Empress. She then turned and gave Shu Yan a mildly reproachful look.
Shu Yan smiled awkwardly and wisely kept quiet.
When everything was settled, the Snow Empress cast one last glance at the completely emptied cavern and spoke softly:
"Bing'er and I will return to the Extreme North to absorb the Ice Marrow and prepare for the heavenly tribulation. Before that, we'll accompany you to hunt that hundred-thousand-year Void Predator."
Shu Yan nodded without hesitation.
The Snow Empress enveloped the three of them in her vast soul power. After glancing once more at the now-weakened strange force below, they transformed into a streak of light and rapidly ascended.
…
At the rear courtyard of the Earthdragon Sect, beside the well.
Even after a full day and night had passed, Nan Shuishui remained guarding the spot.
It wasn't that she was overly worried about Shu Yan and the others. Rather, she didn't know what the outcome would be. The uncertainty gnawed at her like a thorn she couldn't pull out.
It was understandable. Outsiders had entered her sect's sacred land, and they were far from ordinary in strength. Anyone in her position would feel uneasy. Especially since, the previous evening, she had sensed a terrifying surge of soul power from below—so overwhelming that it made her heart pound.
Fortunately, its owner had shown restraint. The aura hadn't spread far; otherwise, the entire Dragon City might have been thrown into alarm.
As she reflected on it, bitterness rose in her heart. She had a strong feeling that the secret land her Earthdragon Sect had guarded for over a thousand years would likely be completely handed over today.
Just then, the previously calm spring began bubbling violently, as if something was about to burst through the surface.
Splash—
Water erupted outward as four figures emerged.
Nan Shuishui froze for a moment, then her expression quickly turned complicated and subdued.
Breathing air at normal temperature again, Shu Yan felt slightly unaccustomed. He glanced at the sun behind the clouds before turning toward Nan Shuishui.
Seeing all four of them completely unharmed, she was too stunned to speak. Just as she hesitated, the Snow Empress spoke first:
"Have you decided what you want? What lay below is of great importance to us. Since we have taken your sect's treasure, you deserve compensation. I am not joking. This opportunity will only be offered once. Whether you seize it is up to you."
Nan Shuishui hesitated, unsure how to respond. At that moment, a voice suddenly spoke from beside her:
"Then if we ask for a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, would you give it to us, Senior?"
Nan Shuishui's expression changed instantly. She quickly stepped forward and covered Nan Qiuqiu's mouth, glaring at her daughter before turning back apologetically.
"Senior, Qiuqiu has been spoiled by me. She meant no disrespect."
The Snow Empress glanced at the young girl. Seeing the stubborn defiance in her eyes, she did not seem displeased. Instead, she answered calmly:
"A hundred-thousand-year soul bone… Very well. What was below is indeed worth that price. Wait for a time. A hundred-thousand-year soul bone will be delivered to you. After that, our debt will be settled."
The Ice Empress held the Snow Empress's hand without saying anything. Though hundred-thousand-year soul bones were rare, for the vast and powerful Extreme North, they were not impossible to obtain.
The Snow Empress had ruled the Extreme North for hundreds of thousands of years. During that time, countless hundred-thousand-year soul beasts had fallen. Although many of their soul bones had decayed or been lost over time, the Extreme North's reserves still ranked second only to the Star Dou Forest.
Even if the Snow Empress did not have one personally on hand, the great clans of the Extreme North certainly did. For its ruler, acquiring a hundred-thousand-year soul bone was not difficult.
Whether it would match Nan Shuishui and her daughter's attributes, however—that would depend entirely on luck.
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