Behind Ice Empress and the others, several overwhelming Titled Douluo Auras clung to them like maggots on a rotting corpse, pursuing relentlessly and rapidly closing the distance.
The pursuers from the Hall of Rebirth had arrived.
The Titan Snow Demon King, A'Tai, suddenly skidded to a halt, his massive body plowing deep furrows into the ice plains.
He looked back at the snow lotus held tightly in Ice Empress's arms, a flash of determination crossing his giant ice-blue eyes.
"Ice Empress!"
His deep voice boomed like muffled thunder, remaining clear even amidst the howling gale.
"Take Snow Empress and leave. I will lead them away."
Before his voice had even faded, his mountain-like body had already turned around. Instead of concealing his Aura, he pushed his boundless blood vitality and Soul Power fluctuations to their absolute limit.
Like a suddenly erupting volcano, he emitted an incredibly conspicuous signal in this pale white World.
Taking massive strides, he thundered off toward the east—a direction completely different from Ice Empress's escape route—each step shaking the earth and mountains as he deliberately left clear tracks and powerful energy residue behind.
"A'Tai!"
Ice Empress's delicate frame trembled, her footsteps involuntarily slowing for a brief moment.
How could she not know that A'Tai's actions were no different from walking into his own grave?
The pursuers from the Hall of Rebirth were by no means easy to deal with. Once entangled... his chances of survival would be slim.
However, sensing the faint Soul fluctuations coming from the snow pill in her arms, she gritted her teeth. Forcing down the bitterness and worry that were about to overflow, she responded with a voice that carried a hint of a tremor:
"...I'm counting on you, A'Tai. Whatever you do... don't die!"
"Don't worry."
A'Tai's muffled response came from through the wind and snow, carrying a calm acceptance of death.
"I won't die that easily."
His figure gradually accelerated, disappearing into the swirling blizzard with an indomitable Aura.
However, A'Tai wasn't the only one drawing fire.
Beside them, the Ice Bear King Xiao Bai took a deep look at Ice Empress and the snow lotus in her arms. Those bear eyes, which were usually somewhat simple and honest, were now filled with complex emotions.
He let out a low roar and stopped suppressing his violent Aura. His massive body reared up on its hind legs before he broke into a frantic run in another direction—the northwest.
"A'Tai."
Xiao Bai's voice carried a hint of a sob, yet it was incredibly earnest.
"If we both survive... I'll never argue with you again, and I'll never say you're a big, stupid oaf again."
His voice dispersed in the wind and snow, and his massive figure soon grew blurred as well.
He also intended to use himself as bait to draw away another portion of the pursuers for Ice Empress.
"Xiao Bai..."
Watching Xiao Bai's resolute departing figure, Ice Empress felt as if her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible to breathe.
Crystal tears mixed with the frost on her face and quietly fell, freezing into ice instantly.
As one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North, having dominated the Extreme North for hundreds of thousands of years, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?
When had she ever needed her companions to sacrifice themselves to buy her a chance at life?
A powerful impulse to turn back and fight to the death with the enemy nearly overwhelmed her reason.
Even if she were to die, she would take a few down with her. The dignity of an overlord of the Extreme North was not to be trampled upon.
But... she lowered her head, looking at the snow lotus in her arms that was quietly emitting a faint glow, sensing that familiar yet weak Origin Aura within it.
"Xue'er..."
She murmured to herself, the madness and humiliation in her eyes gradually replaced by a resolve known as protection.
Compared to her personal dignity, Snow Empress's survival and the future hope of the Extreme North Land were clearly much more important.
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