Douluo: Peerless Beastmaster King-Chapter 121 - 122: The Ice Empress

The area and scope of the Extreme North far surpassed those of the Star Dou Great Forest. However, due to its harsh environment, the number of soul beasts within was far fewer, and they were much more scattered.

But in terms of overall strength, even if the creatures of the Star Dou Great Forest banded together, they might still not be able to overpower the soul beasts of the Extreme North.

Under these frigid conditions, the soul beasts here had special environmental advantages that made them virtually invincible.

Most importantly, the Extreme North was home to three absolute overlord-level beings, each with strength surpassing the hundred-thousand-year level, reaching the realm of true Savage Beasts.

These three were known as the Three Great Kings of the Extreme North: the Snow Empress, ranked third among the Ten Great Savage Beasts; the Ice Empress, ranked seventh; and the Titan Snow Demon King, who was not listed but possessed equally fearsome power.

Among them, the Snow Empress was a naturally born Snow Maiden, the absolute ruler of the Extreme North.

The Ice Empress was the most powerful of the Ice Jade Scorpion race—an Ice Jade Empress Scorpion. The Titan Snow Demon King, on the other hand, was the sovereign of the Titan Snow Demon clan.

Zhou Sicheng's target this time was the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion—the Ice Empress.

However, unlike Huo Yuhao from the original story, Zhou Sicheng did not intend to use the Ice Empress as his third martial soul. Instead, he aimed to obtain her soul ring to attach to his second martial soul, and her soul bone to enhance his physique and potential.

He had already discussed this with Elder Yi. If Zhou could obtain both the Ice Empress's soul ring and soul bone, his body would likely be able to withstand the third martial soul derived from Elder Yi's transformation.

Thus, this journey was a mission of great importance to Zhou Sicheng.

If all went well, Zhou's strength and foundation would receive a massive boost.

...

When Zhou Sicheng reached a certain location within the core region, he stopped and expressionlessly stared at the endless snowy expanse before him. The breathtaking scenery stirred an inexplicable feeling within his heart.

In the Sea of Spiritual Consciousness, Tianmeng's voice slowly rang out:

"Sicheng, I'll need to lure Bingbing out next. Work with me."

Zhou Sicheng nodded slightly, relaxed his mind, and allowed Tianmeng to take control.

With Zhou's cooperation, a platinum-colored soul ring emerged from his body.

It was the manifestation of his main martial soul.

Being in a fused state with his contracted soul beast did not prevent Zhou from using his second martial soul.

That radiant platinum soul ring—one that had existed for a million years—shone brightly. Tianmeng's terrifying spiritual power began to radiate outward through Zhou Sicheng's spiritual sea.

At that moment, Zhou felt his consciousness extend far into the distance, expanding rapidly.

The sensation was akin to gazing down from the sky upon the world below—completely different from the usual feeling of using Spiritual Detection.

As Tianmeng's immense spiritual force spread out, the light over a vast area of the Extreme North—spanning more than ten thousand square kilometers—suddenly dimmed, as if day had abruptly turned to night.

A terrifying, invisible pressure burst forth, centered on Zhou Sicheng, accompanied by an overwhelming spiritual force that rippled outward.

His platinum soul ring glowed even more brilliantly. Under the influence of Tianmeng's vast power, the ring produced effects far beyond Zhou's current abilities.

As Tianmeng's spiritual energy swept out, rumbling thunder began to echo in the overcast sky.

Golden light began to emerge from Zhou's forehead. Back when Tianmeng Iceworm fused with him, it had left behind ten golden orbs—Tianmeng's spiritual essence, the core of its power.

Now, nine of those orbs floated outward, with only one remaining behind in Zhou's spiritual sea to maintain the connection between them.

The nine golden orbs gently descended from the sky. The first fell into the snow, followed by the second, stacking atop each other. As they accumulated, their total size shrank, but their golden hue grew ever denser.

At this moment, Zhou could clearly sense the overwhelming strength of Tianmeng's spiritual power—a power so great it could even alter celestial phenomena.

Even Elder Yi let out a soft hum of surprise within the spiritual sea, clearly impressed:

"This giant worm... really is something."

The nine golden essence orbs fused and slowly formed into a golden humanoid figure.

That golden figure rose from the ground and soared into the sky.

It looked exactly like Zhou Sicheng—so much so that one could even sense the same domineering aura that Zhou carried.

Then, a powerful mental projection erupted the moment Tianmeng's spiritual body took shape:

"Ice Empress, I know you've sensed me. I, Tianmeng, have returned—for revenge. Do you dare face me?"

At that moment, Zhou, who was inherently linked with Tianmeng, also experienced the world through its vast spiritual perception.

He may not be good at fighting, but Tianmeng's mastery over spiritual force was worth studying in depth.

Seconds ticked by. The previously darkened sky—blanketed by oppressive clouds due to Tianmeng's spiritual pressure—suddenly trembled violently.

From the northern horizon, a layer of emerald green light swept forth in an instant.

The pitch-black sky was swiftly replaced by a brilliant, crystalline green, as if the heavens had transformed into a massive gemstone of pure emerald.

The oppressive atmosphere vanished in that instant, completely dissolved.

"Tianmeng, you're still alive," a crisp voice echoed from all directions.

"Truly worthy of being the oldest creature in the Extreme North."

With the voice came a terrifying sonic wave. The snow on the ground surged three meters high, like waves crashing against a shore.

Only the area within a hundred-meter radius around Zhou's body, protected by Tianmeng's essence and immense spiritual power, remained calm and undisturbed.

"You're still alive, Ice Empress. Why shouldn't I be?" the golden Zhou said with a playful smile. Tianmeng's voice softened.

"Do you remember what I said back then?"

"If I didn't die, I would one day become your mate."

At those words, Ice Empress's voice grew cold and filled with killing intent:

"Tianmeng... you're courting death."

The emerald sky darkened to an ominous forest green. The murderous pressure fell like a crashing tide, shrinking the previously protected zone around Zhou from a hundred meters to just ten.

Fortunately, in terms of pure spiritual power, Tianmeng was not afraid of the Ice Empress.

The golden Zhou's handsome face curved into a charming smile.

"Bingbing, I meant every word."

"I've lived for a million years. Most of that time I spent in sleep."

"But deep within my heart, the only one who ever left a mark—the only one who ever made me feel anything—was you."

"Do you know why I came back now? Because I calculated that within a century, you'll reach your limit—a dead end."

"At that time, you won't be able to overcome your next tribulation. You'll vanish in this cold, lifeless world."

"I came back to save you, to be with you."

"I can't wait any longer. Life has lost all meaning to me, and I don't have much time left either."

"I returned... so that you could live, and so that we could truly be together."

Sharing consciousness with Tianmeng, Zhou Sicheng watched this strange version of himself spouting such words with a greasy smile and couldn't help but feel deeply disturbed...

Why did it feel like he was watching himself make a disgusting love confession?

After hearing Tianmeng's emotional speech, the Ice Empress fell silent. It seemed Tianmeng had touched a nerve, and she began quietly contemplating.

The golden Zhou stared nervously at the green sky.

"I've come back, Bingbing. After all these years... won't you at least show yourself?"

The Ice Empress's cold voice responded once more:

"Tianmeng, do you not realize... my species is the natural enemy of yours?"

...

Tianmeng, still using Zhou Sicheng's appearance, continued to argue with the Ice Empress. Meanwhile, both Zhou and Elder Yi listened to their conversation with increasingly strange expressions.

A Forbidden Love Between Natural Enemies? A Taboo Romance Between the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress?

When Tianmeng and the Ice Empress had almost finished their conversation, the dark sky turned a brilliant jade green once more.

A streak of emerald light carved a glowing arc across the sky—something was approaching at incredible speed. It was almost as if the green light had merely flickered, and in the blink of an eye, a soul beast appeared directly across from the golden figure of Zhou Sicheng.

Zhou Sicheng saw the Ice Empress's form clearly—it was indeed an astonishingly beautiful Ice Jade Scorpion Empress.

The Ice Empress measured about 1.5 meters long and had two distinct colors on her body: the icy blue of frost, and a vibrant, translucent jade green.

The front of her body consisted of four stacked segments, each a bit longer than half a foot. Her head was attached to the foremost segment, and her silvery-white mouthparts glinted with a faint, chilling light.

The upper half of her body was covered in a special kind of plating—not scales, strictly speaking, but protrusions.

These protrusions were hexagonal in shape, dazzling with an extraordinary luster like finely cut diamonds.

They were densely packed across her upper body and along her six long, powerful legs.

Under the gleam of the snowy terrain, they shimmered with a brilliant radiance. At this moment, she seemed less like a living being and more like a radiant source of light itself, scattering beams of color in every direction.

Her two front pincers were each a meter long, covered in those same crystalline hexagonal bumps. Only the very tips of the claws, like her mouthparts, gleamed with a mirror-like silver sheen.

But the most striking feature was her eyes.

They were a crystalline amber, just like Tianmeng's, resembling two flawless yellow diamonds set in place. Also hexagonal in shape, they sparkled with an inner brilliance that seemed to glow like a sacred gem.

In those glittering eyes, there was a faint, indescribable emotion.

If her upper body was already resplendent, then the long, arched tail trailing behind her was the true focal point of her mesmerizing beauty.

Unlike the multi-jointed tails of ordinary scorpions, the Ice Empress's tail consisted of just five segments, each one radiating a rich, vibrant green full of life.

All five segments shared the same hue, though the one nearest to the body was the widest, with each subsequent segment narrowing progressively.

At the tip of the final segment was a stinger, raised high like a diamond-encrusted dagger. The hook at the end gleamed with that same mirror-like silver finish.

Though her body was only 1.5 meters long—shorter than Ah Da—the difference in strength between them was immeasurable.

Even now, despite having mastered the power of Ultimate Ice, Ah Da couldn't even summon the courage to make a move in front of the Ice Empress.

At that moment, fused with Zhou Sicheng, Ah Da's emotions of awe and fear were clearly felt by him.

Through their spiritual link, Zhou Sicheng whispered softly, "Don't worry, Ah Da."

As soon as he saw her, Zhou Sicheng—his form glowing with golden light—couldn't help but reveal an expression of infatuation in his beautiful eyes. He stared intently at the Ice Empress. "You've come."

The Ice Empress looked at Tianmeng's radiant golden figure. Though she could tell it was purely formed from spiritual power, she was clearly surprised. Her crystalline yellow eyes flickered with a curious gleam.

Though soul beasts and humans had different standards of beauty, the Ice Empress had lived long enough to understand human aesthetics quite well.

And she had to admit, this spiritual projection of Tianmeng was the most handsome she had ever seen—whether male or female.

Most striking of all was that the Snow Empress took the form of a human woman... and now, strangely, the Ice Empress felt that the human form before her might even surpass the Snow Empress in both looks and aura...

The very moment this thought surfaced, she forcefully suppressed it and said coldly, "Tianmeng, do you think that hiding your body and meeting me with a form created from pure spiritual power will prevent me from finding your true body?"

"Even if your spiritual power is strong enough to take on form—and look this... dashing... in human shape—you can't be far from your original body."

Noticing the brief flicker in the Ice Empress's eyes, Tianmeng suddenly regretted choosing Zhou Sicheng's appearance.

He knew Zhou Sicheng had universal appeal within Shrek—beloved by both men and women—but he hadn't expected even someone like Bingbing to be momentarily swayed by a human's appearance?

Still, at that moment, Tianmeng's eyes were full of longing. He gazed at the Ice Empress, whom he hadn't seen in so many years, practically drooling. "Bingbing, you're as alluring as ever. I remember the last time I saw you, your tail still had six segments. Now it's fused into five!"

"I've always loved that seductive green of yours. Seems my memory hasn't failed me—you really are approaching your final limit."

The Ice Empress scoffed in disdain. Her crisp, feminine voice rang out again. "Sweet words will only speed your death. You've done well to hide all these years. And now you show up out of nowhere—just to die?"

No matter what she said, the golden-faced Zhou Sicheng only looked at her with sincere affection, expressing Tianmeng's deep yearning and love for the Ice Empress.

Zhou Sicheng and Elder Yi stood silently at the side like two glowing light bulbs, watching as Tianmeng and the Ice Empress conversed.

But suddenly, mid-conversation, the Ice Empress launched an attack.

To her, if she could devour Tianmeng's energy, she'd have a chance to break through her fourth life limit and ascend to the 400,000-year level!

Unfortunately for her, Tianmeng had already anticipated this. The remaining two-thirds of his spiritual cocoon silently emerged and trapped the Ice Empress within.

The spiritual husk left behind from Tianmeng's million-year cultivation was undoubtedly one of the most refined materials in existence. Even the Snow Empress would struggle to break free from its binding.

With Tianmeng's swift movements, the terrifyingly powerful Ice Jade Scorpion Empress vanished.

Golden Zhou Sicheng let out a wistful sigh toward the sky. "Who would've thought... that after losing my body, I could finally use abilities I never dared attempt before."

"It's a pity... this is my one and only chance. Bingbing, oh Bingbing... I hope you won't disappoint me."

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