Caelus let out a long sigh, and fine beads of sweat even seeped from his forehead.
The process of treating Zhang Lexuan's wounds was no less agonizing than fighting a powerful enemy.
He carefully applied the ointment evenly, then wrapped it meticulously with clean bandages. Finally, he took out a Medicinal Pill that radiated a rich life aura, gently pried open her slightly cool lips, and fed it to her.
After finishing all this, he took a clean set of male clothing from his storage spirit tool and, with movements that were slightly clumsy but as gentle as possible, helped Zhang Lexuan put them on, completely covering the breathtakingly alluring scenery.
As the bleeding from the wounds was stanched and the top-tier royal medicine prepared by Xu Jiujiu began to take effect, the complexion of Zhang Lexuan, which had been as pale as paper, finally regained a trace of faint color, and her breathing became a little steadier and deeper.
At least... her life was saved.
Caelus felt a little relieved, but immediately felt a trace of helplessness.
He only hoped that after this Senior Sister recovered, she would rationally view the unavoidable circumstances from just now and not draw her sword against him.
After all, he had basically seen everything he should and shouldn't have seen, and even touched things due to his lack of experience... Although it was all force majeure, a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean floor, especially regarding matters of chastity; even Zhang Lexuan, known for her calmness and composure, would likely find it hard to completely avoid such conventions.
He shook his head, pushing these chaotic thoughts aside for the moment.
Right now, there was something more important that needed to be resolved.
He turned around, his gaze shifting back to the green-haired girl with twin tails who was already struggling to sit up, leaning against a giant piece of ice while panting—the Ice Empress.
"Speak, what do you want to trade with me?"
Caelus's tone had returned to calm, with no discernable emotion.
The Ice Empress did not answer immediately, but instead asked in return: "Do you know who I am?"
Her voice was still weak, but carried a trace of the lingering aura belonging to a ruler.
Caelus glanced at her indifferently, his tone without a ripple:
"Does that matter? In your current situation, whether you are a human or a Soul Beast, is there any difference?"
He naturally knew that she was the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion that shook the Extreme North Land, but at this moment, pointing out her identity was meaningless.
The Ice Empress was startled upon hearing this, then a bitter arc appeared at the corner of her mouth, and she said in a low voice: "That's true... none of it matters anymore."
Indeed, past glory and majesty seemed so pale and powerless in the face of life and death.
She took a deep breath, as if making a final resolution, and her emerald vertical pupils locked tightly onto Caelus's golden eyes, throwing out a temptation that would make any Soul Master crazy, word by word:
"Your name is Caelus, right? Then... do you want to obtain a Second Martial Soul?"
Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere seemed to suddenly freeze.
Second Martial Soul.
twin spirits were a one-in-ten-thousand peerless talent, a shortcut to the Peak.
Any Soul Master who heard this sentence would likely be unable to control their excitement.
However, Caelus's reaction was completely beyond the Ice Empress's expectations.
He did not show the slightest shock or greed, but just tilted his head slightly, asking back with a bit of pure curiosity:
"Second Martial Soul? How do you know whether I have a Second Martial Soul or not?"
"You... could it be that you are already a twin spirits user?!"
The Ice Empress's face stiffened instantly, and her voice carried a trace of unbelievable trembling.
If the other party already possessed twin spirits, the value of her greatest bargaining chip would be greatly discounted.
"Of course..."
Caelus deliberately drew out his tone, watching the Ice Empress's suddenly tense expression before slowly spreading his hands, "Not."
"You...!"
The Ice Empress was so angry that she couldn't catch her breath, clutching her violently heaving chest, her exquisite little face flushed red, almost passing out directly.
This human boy, even at a time like this, actually still had the mind to tease her.
"Don't be agitated, don't be agitated, just a joke, to liven up the atmosphere."
Caelus knew when to stop while ahead and hurriedly waved his hands.
He was truly afraid of angering this dying three heavenly kings of the far north to death, or else his previous calculations would all fall through.
"Hoo... hoo..."
The Ice Empress took several deep breaths in a row, forcibly suppressing the urge to freeze the boy in front of her into an ice sculpture, and continued through gritted teeth:
"I am not joking with you. This hundred thousand year snow lotus has extremely special and powerful effects. For Soul Beasts, it can increase cultivation and even help Vicious Beast perfectly transform into human form. For humans, consuming it can open up a Second Martial Soul slot, obtaining an ice-attribute blank Martial Soul."
"Blank Martial Soul?"
Caelus appropriately showed a perfectly timed expression of confusion, although he had already known about this in his heart.
"That's right, a blank Martial Soul."
The Ice Empress's expression was complex.
"It can form a brand new, blank Martial Soul foundation within your body. You can imprint it by absorbing the Origin power of an ice-attribute Soul Beast, making it your exclusive Second Martial Soul."
"Interesting."
Caelus nodded, then changed the subject, his tone carrying a trace of indifferent scrutiny.
"So, your bargaining chip is this snow lotus? Don't forget, I can snatch it away at any time now; you... are powerless to resist."
The Ice Empress was not surprised by Caelus's directness. She met his gaze calmly, took a deep breath, and stated the most core and shocking part of the trade:
"I know, but I myself am also a bargaining chip."
"I am the Ice Empress, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. Me, one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North, a 390,000-year-old super Soul Beast, personally becoming your Second Martial Soul—how is this bargaining chip?"
Even though Caelus was mentally prepared, when the Ice Empress personally spoke these resolute words, his eyes could not help but narrow slightly.
However, before Caelus could respond, Zhang Lexuan, who had been "unconscious" on the side, suddenly trembled, opened her eyes in disbelief, and exclaimed:
"Ice Empress?! three heavenly kings of the far north?! You... are you the Ice Empress, ranked seventh among the Ten Great Vicious Beasts?!"
"Senior Sister, you are awake."
Caelus was not at all surprised by this; he had long since noticed the change in Zhang Lexuan's aura, but simply hadn't pointed it out.
Zhang Lexuan's body stiffened, her gaze dodging in a panic, not daring to look Caelus in the eye; clearly, the previous awkwardness still lingered in her heart.
But the shock brought by the Ice Empress's identity was simply too great. She forcibly suppressed the embarrassment in her heart, trying to keep her voice steady, and focused her attention entirely on the Ice Empress:
"Are you really that overlord of the Extreme North Land, the Ice Empress? You... how did you sustain such heavy injuries? What exactly happened in the Extreme North Land?"
As the chief of the Shrek Inner Court, she naturally had some understanding of the top Soul Beasts on the continent.
The Ice Empress glanced at Zhang Lexuan coldly, her attitude completely different from when she spoke to Caelus, carrying the aloofness and arrogance belonging to a three heavenly kings of the far north:
"That's right, I am the Ice Empress. As for my injuries and matters of the Extreme North Land... they have nothing to do with our transaction."
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