Facing the Ice Empress's undisguised indifference, Zhang Lexuan was not surprised.
The other party was one of the existences standing at the Peak of the Soul Beast world; that she could maintain basic communication with a human Soul Master like herself was already rare, and it would be strange if she were friendly.
However, the condition proposed by the Ice Empress herself stirred up stormy waves in her heart.
A Second Martial Soul, and one using an Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, such a super Vicious Beast, as the Martial Soul.
The Ice Jade Scorpion clan was inherently the king of the Extreme North Land, naturally controlling Ultimate Ice, and was one of the top Bloodlines among ice-attribute Soul Beasts.
And the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion was the emperor among them, the ultimate within Ultimate Ice; its potential and power were unquestionable.
Once Caelus succeeded, he would simultaneously possess the mysterious Regent of Time Martial Soul that manipulated time, and the overbearing and unparalleled Ice Jade Empress Scorpion Martial Soul that controlled Ultimate Ice.
Soul Masters with twin spirits were already as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and each one had the potential to become a Peak powerhouse.
Caelus's first Martial Soul had already displayed terrifying rule-level abilities; if another top-tier attack system Ultimate Ice Martial Soul were added... Zhang Lexuan could hardly imagine to what extent Caelus would grow in the future.
That was by no means as simple as one plus one equals two, but a qualitative leap.
Although she was shocked inside and even faintly hoped that Caelus could seize this great Opportunity, Zhang Lexuan knew her place.
This was Caelus's own choice; as his senior, she could be concerned, but she absolutely could not overstep her bounds.
She silently closed her eyes, fully circulating her Soul Power to cooperate with the medicinal efficacy to repair her own injuries, no longer participating in the subsequent conversation.
On the other side, after listening to the Ice Empress's conditions, Caelus gently rubbed his chin, appearing to be in deep thought.
"The conditions are indeed very tempting."
He said frankly, rational light flickering in his golden eyes.
"But since it is a transaction, it emphasizes fairness. If I obtain such huge benefits, then what price do I need to pay?"
He knew clearly in his heart that directly seizing the hundred thousand year snow lotus, or even attempting to forcibly devour the Ice Empress's Origin, was not a wise move.
Not to mention that the consequences of the Ice Empress's desperate counterattack before death were unpredictable, just based on his current Spirit Ancestor cultivation, wanting to forcibly contain the vast Origin of a 390,000-year-old super Vicious Beast was no different from a daydream, with the greatest possibility being exploding and dying.
Only with the Ice Empress's willing cooperation could this risk be minimized and the benefits maximized.
Seeing that Caelus had gotten to the point, the Ice Empress perked up slightly, fighting against the increasingly heavy feeling of weakness as she said:
"The transaction is very simple. I will voluntarily give up resistance and guide my Origin and the power of the snow lotus to become your Second Martial Soul. From then on, we will prosper together and suffer together. What you need to do is help me save someone, and furthermore, after you possess sufficient power, avenge me."
Her conditions were direct and pure, without adding any complex terms, because she knew she had no more capital or time to bargain.
"Saving someone, and revenge, okay, I agree."
Caelus nodded decisively, almost without hesitation.
His straightforward attitude actually made the Ice Empress stunned.
She had originally thought the other party would at least ask who needed to be saved, who the enemy was, or perhaps even use this to lower the conditions.
"You... aren't you going to ask who needs to be saved? And who my enemy is?"
The Ice Empress couldn't help but ask, her eyes full of confusion.
Caelus looked at her, a calm yet sincere smile appearing on his face, and said:
"Why ask more? Just as you said, once you become my Second Martial Soul, we will be a community with linked fates. Helping you save someone and take revenge is something I am destined to face and shoulder in the future. After we truly fight side by side and understand each other in the future, even without today's transaction, as partners, would I just stand by and watch?"
His words were matter-of-fact, as if this was only natural.
He was not making empty promises, but stating a logic he recognized in his heart—since we have become one of our own, then your business is naturally my business.
These words were like a warm current, instantly impacting the Ice Empress's heart that had been frozen for hundreds of thousands of years.
She stared blankly at Caelus, looking at his clear and firm golden eyes, a mix of emotions surging in her heart.
For a long time, she finally recovered from this shock, and on her originally cold face, an extremely slight yet truly existing smile slowly bloomed.
This smile dispelled some of the Death Qi between her brows, making her look a bit more lively.
"It seems... my luck doesn't seem to be bad to the extreme."
She said softly, her tone carrying a sense of relief.
"I didn't choose the wrong person."
"Of course."
Caelus smiled confidently, his tone carrying a hint of just-right arrogance.
"Choosing me is definitely right. After all, you will find it very hard to meet a second person as excellent and reasonable as me."
He said this half in jest, half in earnest.
Although the Ice Empress's current tragic situation could be traced back to the Nirvana Corpse chaos brought about by the "myriad karma true blood", and he was the source of it all.
But Caelus had no guilt in his heart; the Hall of Rebirth attacking the Extreme North was their own decision, so he naturally would not take this responsibility upon himself.
At this moment, he was more using a relaxed way to further consolidate the fragile trust relationship just established, brushing up the Ice Empress's favorability to ensure the smooth progress of the subsequent Fusion.
The Ice Empress did not mind the slight narcissism in his words, or rather, she was more willing to believe in the confidence and responsibility represented behind this narcissism at this moment.
She took a deep breath, even though this action made her feel incomparably difficult.
"Then... there is no time to lose."
Her gaze became resolute, and she slowly lifted the hundred thousand year snow lotus with both hands, handing it to Caelus.
"The process of Fusion will be very painful. My Origin will impact your body and Soul. You must hold on. Once it fails, we... will both suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering."
Caelus restrained his smile, his expression becoming solemn.
He took the hundred thousand year snow lotus that radiated a soft halo and vast Life Qi, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the ice-blue snow pill deep within the petals.
He naturally knew clearly that this seemingly inconspicuous snow pill was exactly what the Snow Empress's remaining spiritual Origin had transformed into, the last spark of a Soul Beast nearly 700,000 years old.
It was just that the Snow Empress was in a deep slumber due to self-detonation and severe injuries, her aura restrained to the extreme, and it was unknown when she would be able to wake up.
But his current "persona" should not know the truth about this snow pill.
So he raised his head, looking at the Ice Empress with just-right confusion, as if asking what this snow pill was.
The Ice Empress saw his question and said in a weak voice:
"You keep her safe. After we complete the Fusion, I will tell you... everything."
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