The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm nodded vigorously and said,
"Exactly, it is indeed humans. Although among our soul beasts, there are also exceptionally powerful races like yours, born with astonishing strength. But it must be admitted, our potential cannot compare to humans. To put it simply, try comparing a human with a member of your Jade Ice Scorpion race. If a Soul Master has their talent, it only takes a few decades of cultivation to reach a strength comparable to soul beasts with ten thousand years of cultivation, or even a hundred thousand years. Why is this? Isn't it the difference in potential? The human body is indeed weak, and their lifespan is not long, but the heavens are fair. In return, their talent and potential are very high, something we cannot hope to match. This is their advantage and our shortcoming."
"The most important issue, and also something we have never achieved, do you remember what happened ten thousand years ago?"
The Ice Empress immediately replied,
"Heaven and earth changed color, instantly becoming gods."
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said,
"Yes, I even felt that at least five gods were born. And before that, two Beast Kings died in the Star Dou Great Forest. They were both powerful experts living in the central region of the forest. Although I was in a deep sleep, having my energy absorbed by those damned things, I still felt it very clearly. And those two were not weak; they were two extremely powerful soul beasts. One of them was the Titan Snow Demon King, with a bloodline similar to that guy, and the other was even more terrifying because he had the bloodline of the Dragon Race. Yet they both died at once, and they weren't killed but committed suicide to complete that powerful expert. In the end, that person became an extremely powerful god."
Speaking of this, it paused for a moment, then continued in a very heavy voice,
"Ice Empress, you also know that only by becoming a god can one obtain endless life!"
The Ice Empress was silent. The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm seized the opportunity to continue,
"After reaching one hundred thousand years, we soul beasts all have the opportunity to choose to transform into human form. But, how many soul beasts truly dare to risk choosing this path? Because we fundamentally cannot break through within a short hundred years. Even if we could, our lifespan would be extremely short, not even five hundred years. Therefore, the path to becoming a god is extremely distant for us, only a dream. This continent has developed for over a billion years, but only humans have become gods; have any soul beasts become gods? Although there are a few soul beasts who transformed into human form and cultivated to a very high level, no one has been able to cross that wall."
"This is also why, even though such noble blood flowed in your veins back then, you ultimately did not choose the path of transformation, right?"
"I didn't want to try that uncertain method. What if, during transformation and cultivation, I died prematurely? So I decided to retreat and choose another method, which is God Creation. I had to find someone and help that person become a god. Although I myself cannot become a god afterward, following a god will also grant endless life, becoming a part of the god. Therefore, I chose to become a Soul Ring, an intelligent Soul Ring. I want to use my power to help him take step by step towards becoming a GOD."
"That's right, in her eyes, I'm always a good-for-nothing, but my cultivation has surpassed a million years. When I became his Soul Ring, my intelligence brought him four skills, twice as many as a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast. Moreover, I even helped him create another Martial Soul. At this moment, he is a Soul Master with Twin Martial Souls. This boy is only twelve years old, but his talent, under my guidance, has gradually revealed itself. Furthermore, his temperament, compared to his peers, is not only steady but also possesses extraordinary willpower. With my help, why can't he achieve what that young man did a million years ago?"
The Ice Empress, hearing this, was moved and asked in a deep voice, "How confident are you?"
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, "If I rely solely on my own strength, it's no more than thirty percent. After all, I'm not very proficient in offense, so I can't help him protect himself. But..."
It suddenly paused there.
"But what?" the Ice Empress pressed.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm said, "I know what you're thinking right now. You also want to find a human and follow my method, gradually creating a god. Yes, in many aspects, you are indeed stronger than me, so your chances of success are naturally higher than mine. But, have you forgotten my specialty? Yes, in terms of spiritual power, I can be said to be invincible. But more importantly, do you still have time? Your great tribulation is less than a hundred years away. Do you still have time to research and explore? Moreover, I pondered for a million years, tried several times, and only succeeded in the end. As for you, even if I release you now, I'm afraid you won't even have a single chance to try."
"You good-for-nothing, what did you say?"
The Ice Empress roared in fury. A glimmer of hope that had just appeared was instantly shattered by the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm. It would be strange if she didn't go mad.
"However, not everything is impossible. My beloved, how can I let you die? I already said I have a solution, one that not only helps me but also benefits you. It's true that for you to do this yourself is unrealistic. You no longer have time to find someone with a suitable body, nor can you guarantee that after fusion, you can retain your original power to preserve your consciousness. But, there's still my experience. I've gone through this process once before, and with my original power to assist, your chances of success during fusion will definitely increase by dozens of times. The reason I paused earlier was precisely because this also depends on you. It's true that if I cultivate him myself, and carry out the god-creation process alone, the success rate won't exceed thirty percent. But if the two of us work together, it will immediately reach over fifty percent, more than half a chance! Isn't that worth us taking a gamble?"
The Ice Empress was stunned upon hearing this. She finally understood the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's purpose, and her golden eyes turned to stare at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao had been silently listening to the conversation between the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm and the Ice Empress. His body was assailed by waves of cold, but his heart burned with hope. He couldn't help but agree that the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's words were extremely stimulating. Especially for the Ice Empress, who didn't have much time left to live... This opportunity and hope were like the sun at dawn, truly very appealing. No wonder it didn't hesitate to risk danger to bring the Ice Empress here, because it wasn't fundamentally persuading, but rather enticing the Ice Empress!
Will the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion truly become my second Martial Soul and Soul Ring? Heavens, it's the second strongest among the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the extreme north!
Huo Yuhao had never dared to imagine that he would one day ascend to such heights. But if he had the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion as his Martial Soul, he would no longer be an ordinary Control-type Soul Master, but a Soul Master with both control and attack abilities. Regardless of what skills the Ice Empress would grant him after becoming a Soul Ring, it would definitely be a form of attack. Moreover, with its cultivation, it might even provide a Soul Bone, just like a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. How could Huo Yuhao not be excited by such a good thing?
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, seizing the opportunity, continued:
"How about it? You need to think carefully and seize this chance. Furthermore, I am no longer the me of yesterday. If you don't agree, it's simple: I will help my master turn you into his Soul Ring, and of course, you will no longer have your own consciousness. So, once I've captured you, you have no way out. I have many methods, but right now, you have the right to choose, at most it will just take a little time. On one side is eternal existence, on the other is destruction. Which is heavier, which is lighter, you decide."
These words were clearly a blatant threat, but in the world of soul beasts, threats were sometimes more effective than ordinary explanations. The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm had lived for over a million years. For the first nine hundred thousand years, he could be said to be as pure as a blank sheet of paper, always immersed in deep sleep. But after that came the period when he was imprisoned in the Star Dou Great Forest. It was no easy feat for him to endure against so many soul beasts for such a long time! Because of this, to preserve his life, his temperament had unknowingly gradually become cunning and full of schemes.
"Do I still have a choice?"
The Ice Empress said coldly. But compared to before, her tone had softened considerably. Clearly, she had agreed to negotiate. Although achieving eternal life this way meant a slight loss of freedom, it was better than vanishing forever. Moreover, she had lived for nearly forty thousand years; continuing to live, no matter what, was still happier.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"As expected, you live up to the name of the 'Bingbing' I love. You will definitely realize today how wise and fortunate you were."
The Ice Jade Empress Scorpion angrily said:
"Heavenly Dream, you good-for-nothing piece of trash, if you take advantage of me again, I will fight to the death and kill both of you. I don't believe that even if I self-destruct, I can't escape this cage. By then, you won't be able to avoid being buried with me. Cooperating with you to create a god is fine, but I have one request: stop spouting nonsense to me."
"Uh... don't be so heartless. I specifically came here for you..."
The Ice Empress glanced at him but said nothing more.
"Alright, alright, I agree, isn't that enough? Release your spiritual power. Do you really think I'd let you go so easily? Your temper truly makes it hard for one to feel at ease."
Don't think that the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm is usually boisterous and boastful; in reality, he is very meticulous. How could he not know how powerful the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion is? She is, after all, the second strongest expert in this extreme north; this is no joke. Let her go? Is he kidding? How could he take such a risk? As for the self-detonation she mentioned earlier, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm didn't care about it at all. As long as there's a chance to live, no soul beast would dare to refuse.
The Ice Empress's eyes showed a hint of hesitation, and only then did she release her primordial spiritual power. This power was completely incomparable to that of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm. At this point, even if she wanted to change her mind, it was too late. If the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm truly deceived her, she could only blame herself for being too foolish.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm naturally noticed her hesitation and said in a deep voice:
"Oh, Ice God above, I, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm, swear before you: if I deceive the Ice Empress, forcing her to release her primordial spiritual power but fail to help her become an intelligent soul ring, then all the ice-element power within me shall be returned to you."
Huo Yuhao felt nothing upon hearing this oath, but the Ice Empress was different, because this was the heaviest and most solemn oath in this world of ice and snow.
"Alright, I believe you."
How could the Ice Empress, one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings, be ordinary? Her most prominent trait was her domineering and decisive nature. Once she decided on something, she would do her utmost to achieve it. After all, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm no longer had a physical body. Even if what he said was true, it wouldn't be easy for him to lead her to her death. Moreover, the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm had always liked her and always showed concern; how could he do such a thing?
The Ice Empress's golden eyes gradually turned emerald green, and her long, emerald green tail once again twitched. This was also thanks to the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm having retrieved her shell, allowing the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion to move.
A gentle emerald green light gently emanated from her tail, slowly condensing at the tip of her poisonous stinger. Then, this green light flickered, and a small emerald green orb of light slowly separated and floated in the air. After that moment, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion's eyes gradually dimmed and then closed.
Yes, this was her primordial spirit.
Don't underestimate the process of releasing primordial spirit just because it seems simple; not just any soul beast can do it. Only soul beasts that have overcome a tribulation and whose cultivation has reached over one hundred thousand years can accomplish it. Of course, for peerless experts like the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm or the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, this was nothing.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm breathed a sigh of relief. A golden light instantly appeared, slowly flying towards the emerald green orb of light, then gradually expanding to envelop it. This was the shell of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm. Afterwards, it quickly returned to Huo Yuhao's glabella, and at the same time, waves of bone-chilling coldness surged into the boy's body.
After losing its primordial spirit, the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion immediately fell to the ground. And after losing control, its body spontaneously emitted an incredibly terrifying and majestic aura. The sky instantly turned jade green. Just the scene before them was enough to know how terrifying the Ice Jade Empress's power was.
"I'm freezing to death."
Huo Yuhao's body continuously endured the cold, unable to stop himself from trembling like a scorpion.
"Tian Meng, the person you chose is too weak. He's a good-for-nothing, just like you. Do you think his frail body can withstand my power?"
The Ice Empress's voice, full of disdain, echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.
Huo Yuhao suddenly had a strange thought. Now that he had Tian Meng Iceworm and the old man in gray in his spiritual world, adding this Ice Jade Empress would make it exactly four hands, enough to play mahjong. How lively!
Tian Meng Iceworm chuckled and said, "Ice Empress, don't be so hasty. If you die and he absorbs all your power, that would indeed be impossible. With his current body, I'm not sure if he could even handle a thousand-year spirit ring, let alone you, who are nearly forty thousand years old. However, with my control, the situation is no longer the same. Could we possibly fail even with our cooperation?"