"Do you think Dugu Yan can become a god?" the Ice Empress asked, her brows tightly furrowed.
Godhood, whether in the current human world or the soul beast realm, was a legend.
"I don't know," the Snow Empress shook her head. "But Di Tian and the others want to rebel against the God Realm. Without enough god-level beings, it's impossible."
"Dugu Yan is only 23 years old and already a level 80 Soul Douluo. Her chances of becoming a god aren't low."
"What if she fails?" the Ice Empress hesitated.
"Nothing is guaranteed to succeed," the Snow Empress replied. "And if Di Tian and the Silver Dragon King's rebellion against the God Realm fails, do you think our Far North can remain unscathed?"
"This…" the Ice Empress faltered.
"Di Tian mentioned this to me before," the Snow Empress continued. "He's set his sights on Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and the Angel God's inheritor, Qian Renxue. He's willing to pay any price for it."
"You understand what 'any price' means, right?"
"100,000-year soul beasts, 100,000-year soul bones…" the Ice Empress murmured, falling silent.
"Yes," the Snow Empress nodded with a hint of approval. "Di Tian's condition is that, after achieving godhood, they resurrect the soul beasts that sacrificed for them."
"That's just one-sided, isn't it? What if the humans break their promise?" the Ice Empress asked.
"I know, but we don't have a choice, do we?" the Snow Empress said. "That's why I want to closely observe a few humans I'm interested in, to gauge their character and whether they're trustworthy."
"Ice Empress, I'm not confident about breaking through 700,000 years."
"You…" the Ice Empress began.
"Enough," the Snow Empress waved her hand to stop her. "Let's observe for now and see how it goes."
…
After the Ice Empress and Snow Empress left, Ning Rongrong continued to quietly monitor Dugu Yan, who was in a meditative state, ensuring nothing went wrong.
Deep in the Far North, within a few hundred kilometers of the Ice Empress's palace, the environment was harsh. It was either heavy snowfall or blazing sunlight. A cloud blocked the sun, plunging the sky into darkness, and the next moment, a fierce blizzard of white snow swept through.
Snow fell relentlessly, occasionally landing on Ning Rongrong's clothes. However, her zhenqi caused the dense snowflakes to evaporate the moment they touched her, leaving her pristine and untouched despite standing in the violent storm.
"It's almost over," Ning Rongrong said, her gaze piercing through the hazy blizzard to the venom pool in the distance.
In the pool, the snow seemed to be blocked. The poisonous mist emanating from Dugu Yan formed a ring-shaped aura, and the falling snow was instantly eroded by the terrifying toxins.
Ning Rongrong withdrew her gaze, keeping her senses locked on Dugu Yan's position. Her peripheral vision glanced at a distant spot—the massive, icy structure of the Ice Empress's palace.
"I wonder how their discussion went," she mused.
If the two deemed her and Dugu Yan a threat, Ning Rongrong had no choice but to strategically retreat and flee with Dugu Yan. A 690,000-year-old Ice Snow Maiden wielding the Extreme of Ice—a level 99 half-god peak existence—wasn't someone she could fight. She could escape, but winning was out of the question.
However, she had an agreement with the Snow Empress and Ice Empress regarding the Ancient Ice Phoenix below. The Snow Empress, having likely crossed paths with Di Tian, knew a lot. Unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn't likely turn hostile.
"I really don't want Dugu Yan involved in the upcoming beast tide," Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly.
For clearing large areas, Dugu Bo was the best choice, but he was still recovering from the Heaven Dou-Star Luo war. The beast tide, however, wouldn't wait.
"I hope nothing major happens in Hagen City while I'm away."
Suddenly, a surge of pressure erupted from the venom pool.
Ning Rongrong knew—Dugu Yan had broken through.
"Level 80 Soul Douluo."
Using a spatial jump, Ning Rongrong appeared just outside Dugu Yan's venom pool.
She watched as a graceful woman rose from the area shrouded in light green poisonous mist. Dugu Yan's shoulder-length cyan-purple hair began to change, the color fading from the tips and being replaced by a glossy white.
"Rongrong, I've reached level 80," Dugu Yan said, exhaling a breath of turbid air. She took out a piece of clothing from her soul tool, put it on, and crossed the venom pool to stand before Ning Rongrong.
"Great job, Sister Yan!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed.
After a brief catch-up, Dugu Yan asked, "What's next? Do we head back?"
She knew this trip was mainly to help her break through to counter the potential beast tide in Hagen City.
"You still need a 100,000-year soul ring. I've got some ideas," Ning Rongrong replied.
"A… 100,000-year soul ring!?" Dugu Yan gasped.
"Exactly. If Senior Lou Gao can absorb a 100,000-year soul ring, why not you with your current constitution?"
"No, that's not the issue," Dugu Yan said, her tone laced with worry. "What about the Snow Empress and Ice Empress?"
Talking about a 100,000-year soul ring in soul beast territory was like lighting a lantern in a latrine—asking for trouble.
"Don't worry!" Ning Rongrong patted Dugu Yan's shoulder. "How about a venomous Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion soul ring?"
"Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion? That's…" Dugu Yan trailed off.
"Let's go!" Ning Rongrong grabbed Dugu Yan and used a spatial jump to leave the snowy, stormy area.
Soon, they arrived at the Ice Empress's palace.
Due to Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan's relationship, the Snow Empress had been staying at the Ice Empress's palace, much to the latter's delight. But today, uninvited guests—humans, no less—interrupted her plans for closeness, filling the Ice Empress with resentful energy, her body practically radiating dark aura.
"Ice Empress, Snow Empress, thank you so much for your help," Ning Rongrong said, bowing to them. Dugu Yan followed suit.
"Level 80 already?" the Snow Empress said, standing beside the Ice Empress, who remained silent. She sized up Dugu Yan, whose aura wasn't fully concealed. "You're impressive. Honestly, most Soul Douluo probably aren't your match. Even some Title Douluo might…" She trailed off, changing the subject. "At level 80, humans need a soul ring. Any thoughts?"
The Snow Empress asked calmly, as if intentionally letting Dugu Yan choose.
"Something poison-related," Dugu Yan said hesitantly.
She didn't have the guts to repeat Ning Rongrong's words, which would likely enrage the two empresses.
"Poison… Well, something like the Ice Toad has strong toxins," the Snow Empress said, deliberately excluding the Ice Jade Scorpion clan.
"Actually, I think an Ice Jade Scorpion soul ring would be great," Ning Rongrong interjected.
Her words caused the atmosphere to freeze, tension rising sharply. The Ice Empress's green twin tails flared wildly. "Human, don't push it! Should I give her my soul ring too?"
"Ice Empress, if you're willing, I'd be quite pleased," Ning Rongrong teased.
"You…" The Ice Empress rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.
"Wait," the Snow Empress intervened, her tone carrying a hint of coldness. "Ning Rongrong, you know it's impossible to take the Ice Empress's soul ring. Or do you think you can take us both down? With your Dark Devilgod Tiger abilities, you might escape, but this girl might not."
The Snow Empress squinted. "I see no greed for the Ice Empress or 100,000-year soul beasts in your eyes. But if you truly have such intentions, the Far North isn't a place for you to slaughter at will."
As her words fell, the pressure of a level 99 half-god began to spread, enveloping the entire palace in an instant.