Chapter 184: Huo Yuhao — A Mere Ice Empress, She's Not Worth It!
"No… Bingbing, that's not what I meant! Yuhao's willpower is the strongest I've ever seen! He, he…" Tianmeng Iceworm tried to explain, but compared to Ye Chen's overwhelming strength and talent, any excuse was meaningless.
"I said, I'm not some useless weakling! I'll become strong—stronger than anyone!!!"
Finally, the boy who had endured endless humiliation couldn't stand it anymore.
He'd put up with the Ice Empress's insults once for Tianmeng's sake, but being constantly belittled—not only demeaned himself but insulted Tianmeng as well—was too much.
He didn't understand why Tianmeng, who always acted so proud, would suddenly become timid in front of this so-called "Ice Empress."
But he, Huo Yuhao, refused to bow his head!
He had suffered enough humiliation in the Duke of White Tiger's Mansion. From the moment he escaped that nightmare, he swore he would never let anyone trample his dignity again!
"Yuhao…"
Realizing the boy's anger, Tianmeng Iceworm panicked, wanting to explain, but Huo Yuhao cut him off.
"Tianmeng, we're men—we don't take this kind of insult. Let's go!"
Without another word, Huo Yuhao turned on his heel and strode away, determined not to look back.
…
As the two left, Ye Chen smiled faintly and took the Ice Empress the other way.
He hadn't expected Tianmeng Iceworm to be so secretive even now, keeping everything hidden from Huo Yuhao.
But it made sense. At this stage, Huo Yuhao was far too weak—pathetically so. In Tianmeng's eyes, the boy wasn't ready to handle the truth. Knowing too much would only burden him.
If Huo Yuhao had known the Ice Empress was the very opportunity that could change his life, he wouldn't have left so stubbornly.
"I wonder if he'll regret it later," Ye Chen mused with quiet amusement.
He truly hadn't gone out of his way to suppress Huo Yuhao. This encounter had been purely coincidental.
Perhaps destiny was trying to give the boy one last chance…
Unfortunately, with Ye Chen around, that fate was impossible to seize.
…
"Who would've thought? Tianmeng actually bound himself to such a weakling," said the Ice Empress, perched atop Ye Chen's shoulders, kicking her short legs lightly. Her voice carried both amusement and a hint of relief.
She had also contracted with a human, but her situation was infinitely better—her days filled with laughter, her future bound to Ye Chen's inevitable ascension to godhood.
Tianmeng, on the other hand, had sealed his own doom—locking his soul inside a fragile human with barely a century to live.
Before, she had felt some lingering shame about being "captured" by Ye Chen. But now, in comparison, she realized she'd hit the jackpot.
"Haha, what if Tianmeng had brought Huo Yuhao to find you instead? Tried to convince you to become his second martial soul—would you have agreed?" Ye Chen teased.
"Impossible! Even if I died—struck down by lightning a hundred times over—I would never serve a pathetic human like that!"
The Ice Empress's temper flared instantly.
She was one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North. No matter her circumstances, she had her pride! She would never submit to such an unworthy host.
"Haha, that's what I wanted to hear."
Ye Chen laughed heartily, finding her indignation endearing.
"Wait—you don't believe me, do you?! Damn you, Ye Chen! Are you questioning my intelligence?! I'm Ice Empress! I would never be tricked by that fat worm and his useless human pet!"
She waved her little fists from his shoulders, face puffed with annoyance.
"Mm-hmm, my Ice Empress is the smartest," Ye Chen said casually, obviously teasing.
"Argh! Damn you, Ye Chen—I'll show you!"
Their playful banter echoed down the street as the two disappeared around the corner.
…
Elsewhere.
Huo Yuhao walked quickly, fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
After several streets, he stopped, shoulders trembling as he leaned heavily against a cold wall.
His breathing was ragged—not from exhaustion, but from a strange, hollow ache spreading through his chest.
"Tianmeng… why do I feel like I just lost something important?" he muttered.
Inside his spiritual sea, the Tianmeng Iceworm sighed deeply, its tone weary and defeated.
"Ah… Yuhao… that girl just now—she was the Ice Empress."
"Ice Empress? Who's that?" Huo Yuhao asked in confusion.
"One of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North—the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor. A terrifying soul beast nearing four hundred thousand years old."
Tianmeng's voice trembled with helplessness. "She's the great opportunity I told you about before. My plan was to wait until you reached level twenty, then bring you to her—to persuade her to become your second martial soul."
"But that Ye Chen… his methods defy reason."
Its tone grew darker, heavy with dread. "I don't know how he did it. Somehow, he made the proud Ice Empress willingly become his Spirit Wisdom Ring—and even manifested her body perfectly, almost as if she were completely alive. It's beyond my comprehension."
"Her state may resemble mine a bit, but she doesn't seem to have my limitations."
Tianmeng's voice faded into a sigh. "But it no longer matters. The Ice Empress has already been taken. Yuhao… your great opportunity is gone."
"Boom!"
Those words detonated in Huo Yuhao's mind like a thunderclap.
The world spun as blackness clouded his vision. His mind replayed every line of their earlier conversation, each word now making terrible sense.
Before, those words had meant nothing to him—a language beyond his understanding.
But now, with Tianmeng's explanation, the truth stabbed into his heart.
Tianmeng had wanted to bring the Ice Empress to him—to make her his second martial soul, granting him the power of Ultimate Ice just like Ye Chen.
The miraculous destiny he'd always yearned for, the one chance to change his fate… had been right in front of him.
And he had thrown it away.
"I… I…"
Huo Yuhao covered his face as tears streamed freely through his fingers.
"What have I done…" he whispered, voice trembling.
Regret, shame, and self-loathing swelled in his chest until he could hardly breathe. He had turned away the miracle that could have rewritten his life—and all because of his pride.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10