Chapter 185: Tianmeng — If We Lost Ice Empress, Then We'll Find Snow Empress!
"I will become stronger!"
"Tianmeng, let's go!"
"…"
Those words, which had once felt full of pride and determination, now echoed like countless icy needles stabbing straight into his heart.
Regret.
Huo Yuhao regretted it more than anything.
The disdain and contempt in Ice Empress's eyes had made him burn with anger and humiliation at the time. But now, he realized that even if he'd had to endure that humiliation, even if his pride had been trampled, he should've done it—if it meant rewriting his fate.
Yet he had rejected the chance himself.
Tianmeng Iceworm had fought desperately to keep that door open for him, offering his one and only opportunity. And Huo Yuhao, foolishly, had slammed it shut and sealed it tight.
A crushing wave of helplessness and despair enveloped him—heavier than all the pain and abuse he'd endured at the Duke of White Tiger's Mansion.
He understood perfectly what it meant to lose the chance to change his destiny.
It meant that everything he had done, and everything he would ever do, would be meaningless.
To reach level 20, he had slept less than an hour a week, devoting every remaining moment to cultivation.
And now, all of that effort had amounted to nothing.
Even if he reached level 20, all he'd get was an ordinary hundred-year spirit ring—likely a weak auxiliary one.
That wouldn't change a thing.
He would still lack any formidable attack skill, still depend on others for protection. As for revenge? That was nothing but a dream.
At this rate, he wouldn't even pass next semester's assessments—he might be expelled from Shrek altogether for being too weak.
His eyes grew empty, tears sliding silently down his cheeks as he sank deeper into hopelessness.
Within his spiritual sea, Tianmeng Iceworm watched Huo Yuhao's desolate figure and sighed. The boy's despair ran deep—too deep.
Even Tianmeng himself, thinking of Ice Empress being with that human, felt a twinge of agony and bitterness.
That was his beloved Bingbing, stolen away by a human!
But Tianmeng had lived for a million years; his mind was stronger than the boy's fragile heart.
Huo Yuhao had been mistreated since childhood—his psyche scarred, his emotions easily distorted. He fixated, spiraled, and collapsed inwards faster than anyone else.
If this continued, he would truly fall into despair—maybe even suicidal thoughts.
Tianmeng needed to fix this.
"Yuhao, pull yourself together. This isn't your fault—you just had bad luck… But maybe, just maybe, there's still hope."
He spoke quickly, trying to soothe Huo Yuhao before darkness consumed him.
"Hope…?"
For the first time, a spark flickered in Huo Yuhao's lifeless eyes.
Tianmeng floated through his mindscape, stirring up his dimming spiritual sea. "Even without Ice Empress, it isn't over yet. I still have another plan—one last chance!"
"Another chance?" Huo Yuhao asked weakly but curiously.
"Yes. Among the Three Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North, Ice Empress is just one. The others are the Titan Snow Demon King—and the strongest of all… Snow Empress!"
"Snow Empress?"
That name—so similar to 'Ice Empress'—sent a painful tremor through his heart.
"That's right," Tianmeng confirmed solemnly. "The Snow Maiden of Heaven—the most powerful being in the entire Extreme North! She's far stronger than Ice Empress."
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists, then frowned. "Then why didn't you go for Snow Empress in the first place? If she's that strong, wouldn't she make an even better second martial soul?"
Tianmeng's round face twitched awkwardly, but he explained quickly, "Yuhao, you don't understand. Snow Empress is too powerful—and far harder to convince. She's pure will and spirit itself. Her wisdom surpasses even Ice Empress's, calm and rational, not easily swayed like that silly Ice Empress."
"And most importantly—you're far too weak. Even fusing with Ice Empress gave you only a seventy percent chance of survival. Your body could barely handle her. But Snow Empress's power would destroy you instantly. Even if she agreed, the success rate would be less than ten percent—probably lethal."
His tone turned grave.
Rushing to seek Snow Empress was nearly suicide. She would rip their souls apart if provoked. Even if she accepted, Huo Yuhao's body would likely collapse mid-fusion, killing all three of them.
Huo Yuhao's lips parted to argue—but no words came.
It was the truth.
He could deny many things, but not his own weakness.
"Then what about the Titan Snow Demon King?" Huo Yuhao asked after a pause.
"Uh… let's put it this way—there's a chance I don't actually know the Titan Snow Demon King," Tianmeng admitted awkwardly.
That beast had risen long after his time. If he took Huo Yuhao there, they'd be squashed before uttering a word.
Convincing Ice or Snow Empress had been possible only because both were nearing the end of their lifespans.
Titan Snow Demon King, however, still had hundreds of thousands of years left. No chance she'd stoop to help a human.
"Ah…"
The realization hit Huo Yuhao. He had overestimated Tianmeng's abilities. This kind of chance was one in a billion. Losing Ice Empress meant losing almost all hope.
"Tianmeng," Huo Yuhao said suddenly, clenching his fists tighter, "then it'll be Snow Empress. No matter the risk, I'll do it. I'm not afraid—as long as I can grow stronger!"
Snow Empress was his only hope now. Dangerous, yes, but staying weak was worse.
"Alright," Tianmeng sighed. "But fusing with Snow Empress is a nightmare. Whether it works depends entirely on her willingness."
"How confident are you you can convince her?" Huo Yuhao asked cautiously.
Tianmeng let out a soft chuckle. "Before today? I wouldn't even have dared approach her."
"But now," he said with sudden pride, "I have 99% confidence she won't kill us on sight—and at least a 50% chance I can talk her into becoming your second martial soul!"
(END CHAPTER)
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