"Jiang Jue, I have a question… how do you know so much about the affairs of the God Realm?"
Xue Di's gaze swept briefly toward Bing Di, who was hovering above the ice spring and earnestly absorbing its energy. Then her lotus-like steps carried her to Jiang Jue's side. Her clear, calm voice held a trace of doubt.
"Back then, the Dragon God was the loser. Everything and everyone that followed him was utterly purged. Naturally nothing remained.But among us humans, there still exist certain inherited legacies from the gods."
Jiang Jue extended a slender hand, catching the circling Emerald Demon Bird as it descended, and spoke softly.
"But…"
Xue Di's beautiful eyes wavered with hesitation. Her lips parted, but she ultimately said nothing more.
She knew further questions might touch on Jiang Jue's secrets, so she stopped herself.
Jiang Jue saw the conflicted expression in her cold, beautiful features and slowly shook his head, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Xue Di, the Dragon God's past has long been buried. Those rights and wrongs have scattered with the wind. What matters more is seizing the present, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Xue Di looked at him, her gaze complicated.
From the moment Jiang Jue released her from the Divine Seal Platform,to Bing Di persuading her to join their "harmonious and loving" family,to Jiang Jue guiding the Emperor Auspicious Beast to its destined path,and now to acquiring the Water Dragon King's reverse scale through the soul beasts' accumulated fate—
Everything seemed perfectly arranged around this human youth, step by step, without a single flaw.
Now that he had obtained the Water Dragon King's reverse scale…What would he do next?
Xue Di couldn't help feeling a deep sense of curiosity.
"Jiang Jue, I have a presumptuous request. I hope you can fulfill it."
Xue Di looked at the pure blue ice spring before her, seeming to remember something. Her red lips pressed lightly together.
"With our relationship, just say it directly."
A sharp gleam flashed in Jiang Jue's eyes as he softly asked.
"I want to store and take some of the ice spring with me. After I become your spirit, I would like you to go to the Extreme North, and hand this ice spring over to a certain soul beast."
"After Bing'er and I leave, the only top-level combatant left in the Extreme North will be the Titan Snow Demon King. But just like Xiao Bai, he is also approaching his 300,000-year tribulation. I want to leave the Extreme North with at least one protective barrier."
Xue Di's eyes held faint expectation as she looked intently at Jiang Jue.
As the ruler of the Extreme North, she had a duty to safeguard it. But now that she had chosen to bet on Jiang Jue's path to godhood, returning was no longer possible.
So she wished to help the Titan Snow Demon King one last time—to fulfill her final responsibility to the Extreme North.After that, she could devote herself completely to assisting Jiang Jue.
"No problem."
Jiang Jue raised an eyebrow and nodded.One of his Martial Soul's future spirit rings was still waiting for him in the Extreme North, so of course he would go there eventually.
Bringing along some ice spring was merely a small convenience.
Besides, it would ease Xue Di's mind, allowing her to assist him without distraction.
"Thank you, Jiang Jue."
Xue Di's heart softened. Her tone was sincere, her pretty face tinted with red, showing a rare hint of awkwardness.
In nearly 700,000 years, this was the first time she had ever said "thank you" to a human.
"It's fine. You deserve it."
Jiang Jue waved dismissively.
Meanwhile, a glint flashed through his eyes—he remembered a certain sect that possessed大量万载寒冰髓—Ten-thousand-year Cold Ice Essence.
That treasure far surpassed the value of the ice spring. He'd need to visit them in the future.
"I… I deserve it…"
Xue Di blinked in slight shock, murmuring inwardly.
"Xue'er, Jiang Jue, what are you two talking about? I'm done absorbing."
Before Xue Di could recover, Bing Di descended from above the ice spring, landing beside them with a cheerful smile.
"N–nothing…"
Suppressing her unsettled emotions, Xue Di gave Jiang Jue a quick glance. Seeing nothing unusual in his expression, she waved lightly at Bing Di.
"Really?"
Bing Di frowned slightly, suspiciously glancing at the two.
"Young master, the immortal herbs are all packed and ready."
Nangong Wan walked over with Youyou on his shoulder, respectfully presenting a space ring embedded with a glowing sapphire.
"Good. Once Xue Di stores some of the ice spring, we'll leave."
Jiang Jue swept his immense spiritual sense over the entire valley. After checking everything, his gaze shifted.
"With the presence of the Jade Phosphorus Flower here, outsiders can't enter. And in a few years, I'll be coming back anyway."
He noted inwardly, then looked at Nangong Wan who was staring at him eagerly.
"Well done, Elder Nangong."
"It was all thanks to your guidance, young master."
Nangong Wan beamed with joy, bowing respectfully.
"And me! I helped too!"Youyou swayed proudly on Nangong Wan's shoulder.
"Yes, yes, I know."
"…Heartless man."
A deep roar shook the sky.
A pure-black tiger—without a single speck of other color—slowly emerged from a pool of blood. Its crimson eyes radiated an eerie, chilling aura. Its body was over sixteen meters long, muscles bulging beneath its skin. A massive "王" (King) character was etched naturally on its forehead.
On both sides of its body grew two pairs of enormous wings, covered in sinister scarlet patterns, vast enough to blot out the sun.
But what stood out most was its tail—far longer than any ordinary tiger-type soul beast. It arched upward, composed of countless connected bones, ending in a massive barbed hook glowing with a cold, deadly gleam.
"All these cowardly bottom-feeders… every forest has its so-called 'big boss.'"
"A clan of Fire Monkeys with their strongest barely reaching ten thousand years, and they dare claim territory? Ridiculous."
"Luckily I'm merciful. I let your whole clan leave together—nice and neat."
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger spat out a large monkey head disdainfully. Around it were shredded corpses of the Scarlet Fire Monkey tribe.
Blood flowed from the bodies, slowly converging into the pool beneath the tiger's feet.
The tiger opened its bloody maw and inhaled deeply.Not a drop of blood remained.
As it absorbed the blood, its massive body visibly grew, and the scarlet markings along its fur became even more sinister and vibrant.
"Cultivation will never beat devouring. Bear King, you just wait—the wound you gave me that day, I will repay it!"
"When I break through to a hundred thousand years, you'll suffer!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger shuddered, letting out a low roar.Its blood-red eyes burned with hatred.
Judging from its aura—it had already reached ninety thousand years.
(End of Chapter)