"Snow Empress… is that you?" Ice Empress looked around, confused. Her gaze finally landed on a snowy-white egg in front of her.
Inside the spirit soul egg, Snow Empress could only respond by shaking slightly.
"Ice Empress, hello. I'm Zhu Ziyang," said Zhu Ziyang as he entered his spiritual sea. Electrolux appeared beside him, and a faint smile played on his lips.
"You're… human?" Ice Empress stiffened. "This is your spiritual sea? You're the one who used that giant hand earlier? What did you do to Snow Empress? Why is she… an egg?"
"Easy. Let me explain," Zhu Ziyang replied calmly, unbothered by her hostility. With only her soul and life origin left, Ice Empress couldn't stir up any real threat—especially not before Electrolux.
Zhu Ziyang explained everything that had happened. Ice Empress fell silent, staring at the egg that had once been her closest friend. "Snow Empress… was this truly your choice?"
Zhu Ziyang and Electrolux waited patiently for her response. Snow Empress was clearly anxious, but she could only communicate with Zhu Ziyang—not with Ice Empress directly.
"…Zhu Ziyang," Ice Empress finally asked in a crisp voice, "may I become your spirit soul?"
"Hm…" Zhu Ziyang rubbed his chin with a conflicted look—causing both Ice Empress and Snow Empress to tense. Never had the two Sovereigns of the Extreme North imagined they'd one day be at the mercy of a human.
"In theory, yes," Electrolux chimed in. "Your soul is intact, and most of your life origin remains. You meet the criteria to become a spirit soul. However…"
Just as the two empresses were getting hopeful, that last word sent their hearts racing again. "However what?" Ice Empress asked. "Do I need to do something? I'll do anything I can!"
Zhu Ziyang and Electrolux exchanged a smile. Electrolux said, "However, Ziyang doesn't have a free spirit ring slot for you. You'll have to share with Snow Empress."
"…I see." Ice Empress hesitated. She wasn't sure whether sharing a ring would negatively affect Snow Empress. She couldn't take that risk.
But Snow Empress had no such concerns. The egg shook vigorously, clearly expressing her approval. Seeing it, even Zhu Ziyang felt a flicker of guilt—but it quickly passed.
"Well? Have you decided?" he asked.
"…Yes. Let me become your spirit soul." Ice Empress had understood Snow Empress's will. To remain with her forever, she was willing to abandon everything—even if it meant becoming a human's "pet."
Both Zhu Ziyang and Electrolux smiled. Their plan had worked.
Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang formed a soul contract with Ice Empress. This time, Electrolux didn't need to assist—spirit soul formation had already become recognized by the world's laws. As long as a soul master had an open slot, and a soul beast was willing to become a ring, the process could be completed with a contract.
Zhu Ziyang watched as Ice Empress's soul merged with her ice pearl. It released her life origin, forming a glowing green spirit soul egg. Her essence began integrating with Zhu Ziyang's body, and he sat down to meditate and absorb the gift.
After three or four hours, Zhu Ziyang opened his eyes and smiled, satisfied. He glanced at his spiritual sea—now holding two spirit soul eggs, one white and one green. The smile on his face deepened.
"How was it?" Electrolux floated out of his brow.
"It went perfectly, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang replied. "As expected, Snow Empress was special as the first spirit soul. Ice Empress doesn't hold nearly as much authority over the soul rings. And now… those four red-gold rings? I no longer have to worry about Snow Empress controlling them."
"Excellent!" Electrolux beamed. "That old heaven really thought it could trick us. Trying to steal our prize? How laughable!"
As it turned out, Zhu Ziyang and Electrolux had orchestrated everything. Zhu Ziyang actually did have a free sixth ring slot—but he deliberately didn't offer it to Ice Empress. Their goal was to use her to dilute Snow Empress's control over the four red-gold rings.
Snow Empress, being the world's first spirit soul, was truly unique. She retained almost 80% of her power and had partial control over the rings. While this power was technically beneficial to Zhu Ziyang, the lack of full control made him uneasy.
By having Ice Empress share the rings, some of that authority shifted away from Snow Empress. As a newcomer and spirit soul, Ice Empress couldn't take any control from Zhu Ziyang—only from Snow Empress. Since Snow Empress had allowed her to share, it was natural she would surrender part of her control.
Now, the control over the four red-gold rings was split: 70% to Zhu Ziyang, 20% to Snow Empress, and 10% to Ice Empress.
Zhu Ziyang had won big—not only had he neutralized the danger of losing ring control, he had earned Snow Empress's gratitude, gained a powerful new ally, and acquired a second spirit soul… and three new soul skills to boot.
Yes, after fusing with Ice Empress's origin, his second, third, and fourth soul rings—which previously had only one skill each—gained a second soul skill.
Second Ring, Second Skill: Heavenly Frost Wolf Fang Spear
Zhu Ziyang (or Ice Empress) summons a massive array of jagged ice spikes shaped like wolf fangs and pincers to freeze enemies. Especially effective against fast-moving foes, it can cover a 600-meter radius.
Third Ring, Second Skill: Emperor's Frost Wrath
A massive energy wave filled with extreme ice energy is launched along a chosen path. It deals indiscriminate damage and slows enemies with intense cold.
Fourth Ring, Second Skill: Domain of Freezing Frost
Similar to Snow Empress's Snow Dance of Radiance, this is a domain-type skill—but instead of enhancing allies, it weakens enemies. All enemies in the area suffer 50% reduced ice resistance and movement speed. It originates from Ice Empress's ultimate move: Domain of Absolute Ice.
Even more, Zhu Ziyang discovered something astonishing—Snow Empress and Ice Empress could fuse their abilities.
Snow Empress's Snow Dance of Radiance and Ice Empress's Domain of Freezing Frost could combine into the fusion soul skill Glacial Lockdown Domain, merging two supreme techniques from the Ferocious Beast era. At Zhu Ziyang's current strength, it could instantly freeze a Soul Douluo-level enemy.
The skill had a high cost, but it made for a perfect trump card.
Behind Zhu Ziyang, five red spirit rings now shimmered. On Snow Empress and Ice Empress's four rings, three golden lines were engraved. Each line represented 100,000 years of cultivation—two from Snow Empress, one from Ice Empress—perfectly reflecting their share of ring control.
Feeling ecstatic, Zhu Ziyang looked into the distance. Huo Yuhao had stabilized. A new spirit cocoon was forming behind him.
Inside Zhu Ziyang's spiritual sea, the two spirit soul eggs now sat close together. Snow Empress and Ice Empress could now speak freely to one another.
Ice Empress: "Snow Empress, I'm sorry. I didn't think it would affect you so much."
Snow Empress: "It's fine, Bingbing. Losing some ring control might be a good thing for both of us. From what I've seen, Zhu Ziyang isn't the type to betray those he relies on."
Ice Empress: "You have that much faith in him?"
Snow Empress: "We're bound to him now—whether I believe or not makes no difference. Besides, his talent is real. Compared to that big bug Tianmeng's chosen one, Zhu Ziyang is on a completely different level. Don't you agree?"
Ice Empress: "That… I can't deny."
Snow Empress: "And don't forget about that old man Electrolux either!"