The journey south was a stark reversal of their trek into the frozen heart of the north. The world seemed to thaw around them, the landscape bleeding from stark white to the hardy grey-green of tundra, and then, finally, to the vibrant, living emerald of the Heaven Soul Empire's northern plains.
For four days, they traveled, a strange and potent trio moving through the wilderness that separated the two disparate worlds. Their first day was on foot, a brisk, ground-eating pace that would have exhausted a company of soldiers. On the second day, they encountered a pack of fleet-footed Ice-Claw Lynxes. A single, regal glance from Jin Xi was enough to quell their predatory instincts, and a soft-spoken request from Xue Nu, whose serene aura held a familiar echo of the north's authority, was enough to have the entire pack offering their services as swift, silent mounts.
They rode through the vast, empty plains, the wind whipping at their clothes, the sheer speed a thrilling novelty.
It was during this journey that Xue Nu, the silent observer, began to truly process the world beyond her icy domain. She would watch the distant plumes of smoke from human villages, the neatly plowed fields of farmers, the long, winding roads packed with merchant caravans.
"It's so… orderly," she commented one evening, as they sat around a small, crackling campfire. Her voice, as soft and clear as a winter stream, was filled with a profound, academic curiosity. "In the Extreme North, when two powerful beasts cross paths, the result is almost always a battle. A challenge for territory, for dominance, for pride. It is a world of solitary kings and violent encounters."
She gestured towards the distant, twinkling lights of a small town on the horizon. "But these humans… they are so physically weak, so fragile. Yet they cluster together in these great, teeming nests. They build walls, not just to keep the beasts out, but to keep themselves in. They live packed so tightly, breathing each other's air, sharing each other's food. It is a strange and fascinating symbiosis."
Jin Xi, who was expertly toasting a piece of dried meat over the fire, let out a disdainful snort. "Symbiosis? It's a hive of vipers. They smile at each other while sharpening daggers behind their backs. The schemes we just uncovered are proof enough of that. At least when a beast wants to kill you, it has the decency to roar and show its fangs."
"That is true," Xue Nu conceded with a slight, elegant nod. "Their hearts are often as cold and treacherous as the deepest glacial crevasses. And yet…" Her gaze turned back to the distant lights, a thoughtful gleam in her sky-blue eyes. "You cannot deny their intelligence. To build such structures, to create such complex societies, to devise tools that can challenge the might of beings like me… It is an admirable quality, even if it is often used for despicable ends. They are a race of profound contradictions."
Huo Yuhao, listening to the two former queens debate the merits of humanity, simply smiled. Their perspectives were so pure, so untainted by the lived experience of being human. It was a viewpoint he found both refreshing and deeply insightful.
On the fourth day, their journey brought them to the base of a great mountain pass. As they crested the final ridge, the city lay before them, nestled in a wide, fertile valley.
It was Dragon City.
The name was not a flight of fancy. The city's very architecture seemed to roar with draconic pride. The great city walls were topped with crenellations carved in the shape of dragon's teeth. The rooftops of the grander buildings were tiled with shimmering, scale-like ceramics, their eaves curving upwards like the horns of a great lizard. A colossal statue of a rearing, vaguely western-style dragon dominated the central plaza, its stone claws clutching a glowing orb of light that illuminated the city at night.
"This place certainly has a theme," Jin Xi commented, her ruby eyes taking in the grand, intimidating spectacle with a look of critical appreciation.
"This is Dragon City," Huo Yuhao explained, his mind drawing upon the vast well of knowledge from the book. He pointed towards the southern half of the city, where the buildings seemed more opulent, their roofs adorned with carvings of sleeker, more majestic dragons. "That is the domain of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. They are the true power here. Their core members, the leaders and their direct inheritors, all possess top-tier Beast Martial Souls. The legendary Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is the pride of their sect, but they also have powerful variants like the Scarlet Dragon."
He then gestured to the northern part of the city. The architecture there was still impressive, but it felt more… robust, earthier. The dragons carved into their gates were stockier, more primal. "And that is the territory of the Earth Dragon Sect. They are powerful in their own right, but their dragon souls are considered a step below. They have beasts like the Sabertooth Earth Dragon and the Night Dragon. Though," he paused, a flicker of interest in his own eyes, "I have heard that their current leader and heir possesses an incredibly rare sub-dragon, the Rouge Dragon, which has an Annihilation element, a power that can destroy other elements. It is said to be almost as rare as an Ultimate attribute...Just a step lower compared to an Ultimate Attribute."
Xue Nu absorbed the information, her analytical mind piecing together the social fabric of the city. "So, the city is divided. Two rival powers, living in a forced proximity. It must be a place of constant, simmering tension."
"Exactly," Huo Yuhao confirmed. "The two sects are always competing for resources, for disciples, for prestige. It makes the city a very vibrant, and sometimes very volatile, place. We should be careful."
They entered the city, the sheer, bustling energy of it a stark contrast to the quiet streets of Heaven Dou City's outer districts. Here, the air crackled with power. Young men and women with arrogant strides and expensive robes walked the streets, their bodies humming with latent Soul Power. The sigils of the two dragon sects were everywhere—on banners, on the uniforms of guards, on the signs of inns and weapon shops.
With their newfound wealth, Huo Yuhao had no intention of settling for a modest inn. He led them to the very heart of the city, to a grand, towering establishment called the "Dragon's Rest Inn," a place known for its luxury and its neutrality, catering to powerful Soul Masters from all over the continent.
He booked their finest suite. It was less a room and more a small apartment, with a spacious common area, three separate, lavishly appointed bedrooms, and a wide balcony that overlooked the entire, sprawling city. The furniture was carved from dark, polished wood, the sheets were of the finest silk, and the air was scented with a pleasant, calming incense.
Jin Xi let out a delighted squeal, a sound that was strangely at odds with her regal appearance, and immediately threw herself onto the largest bed, bouncing on the soft mattress with childlike glee. "This is much better than that other place! The shiny metal circles were well spent!"
Xue Nu, in contrast, walked to the balcony, her expression one of quiet wonder as she gazed out at the living, breathing city below. She had never seen so many lives, so much motion, all contained in one place. It was a sight more vast and complex than any snowfield.
With their base established, Jin Xi's primary objective immediately came to the forefront.
"Shopping!" she declared, her ruby eyes blazing with a materialistic fire. "Xue Nu, you poor thing, you can't keep wearing that simple white dress. It's elegant, yes, but it lacks flair! It lacks sparkle! And you, Yuhao, those blue robes are practical, but you need something that says, 'I am a powerful and mysterious young master with a profound and wealthy background.' We must rectify this immediately!"
Huo Yuhao just sighed, a resigned smile on his face. There was no arguing with Jin Xi when she was in this mood.
Their first stop was the city's most exclusive tailor shop, a place called "The Golden Thread." The moment they stepped inside, the proprietor, a portly man with a keen eye for wealth, took one look at their bearing and the subtle, humming power that clung to them, and immediately ushered them into his private viewing room.
Jin Xi was in paradise. She held up bolts of shimmering gold silk, fiery red brocades, and deep, royal purples. "This one!" she would declare. "And this one! And that one, too!"
Xue Nu was more reserved. She drifted through the fabrics like a ghost, her slender fingers brushing over a bolt of pure, silver-white silk that shimmered like moonlight on snow. "This one, perhaps," she said softly. "And a simple dress of pale blue, like a clear winter sky."
Huo Yuhao, under Jin Xi's firm direction, was measured for a set of high-collared, dark robes, one in a deep, charcoal grey and another in an obsidian black, both embroidered with subtle, silver thread in a pattern that hinted at swirling mists. They were elegant, practical, and gave him an air of quiet, mysterious authority.
They left the shop hours later, their arms laden with packages and their coin pouch considerably lighter.
Their next stop was a jeweler, a glittering cavern of precious stones and intricate metalwork. Jin Xi's eyes went wide.
"Oh, look at these!" she exclaimed, pointing to a tray of brilliant, fiery rubies that perfectly matched her eyes. "And these diamonds! They sparkle almost as brightly as Yuhao's eyes!"
She purchased a small fortune in loose gems—rubies, diamonds, and a handful of deep blue sapphires. She then turned to Huo Yuhao, holding up a particularly large, flawless ruby.
"Yuhao, my clever little craftsman," she said, her voice a purr of delighted anticipation. "When we get back to the inn, I want you to attach these to my new golden dress. A line of them down the sleeves, and a cluster right here," she said, tapping the spot just above her cleavage. "They will look magnificent, won't they?"
"I… I'll need some tools, Xi'er," he stammered, his cheeks flushing at her casual instruction.
"Then we shall buy them!" she declared.
It was as they were browsing the gems that his two spiritual companions decided to make their opinions known.
'Kid. Kid, look at those,' Skydream's excited voice buzzed in his mind. 'Over there, in that velvet-lined tray. Those emeralds!'
Huo Yuhao's gaze followed his mental prompting. He saw a collection of beautiful, deep green gems, carved into perfect, teardrop shapes. They shone with a light that was reminiscent of pure, vibrant life.
'They are the exact color of my Bingbing's beautiful hair!' Skydream declared, his voice filled with a sudden, romantic fervor. 'You must buy them for me! I will present them to her as a token of my undying, all-consuming, earth-shattering love! She will be so touched, she will surely fall into my waiting arms… or, you know, my waiting spiritual form!'
Huo Yuhao felt a headache coming on. 'Brother Skydream, are you sure that's a good idea? She'll probably just hit you again.'
'Nonsense! It is the thought that counts! The gesture! No female, not even one as beautifully frosty as my Bingbing, can resist a gift so thoughtful and so perfectly matched to her own divine beauty! Buy them, kid! I'll pay you back… somehow… eventually!'
With a long, suffering sigh that was becoming his default response to his first Soul Spirit, Huo Yuhao purchased the emeralds.
Later that evening, back in the quiet luxury of their suite, Huo Yuhao found a moment of privacy in his own room. "Alright, you can come out now."
The ethereal forms of Skydream and the Ice Empress materialized in the air. The Ice Empress, in her human spirit form, was a vision of cold, elegant beauty. Her long, dark green hair cascaded down her back, her golden eyes were sharp and intelligent, and the four demonic patterns on each of her cheeks gave her an otherworldly, dangerous allure. She was dressed in a flowing, jade-green dress that seemed to shift and shimmer like water.
Skydream immediately zipped over to her, the spiritual projection of the emeralds held reverently before him.
"My darling! My precious empress! I have brought you a gift!" he declared, his voice trembling with passion. "A treasure to match your own unparalleled splendor! Emeralds, the color of your magnificent hair, the color of the very essence of your being! Please, accept this humble token of my affection!"
The Ice Empress looked from the floating emeralds to Skydream's hopeful, buzzing form. Her flawless face remained a mask of cold indifference.
"I do not want your trinkets, worm," she stated flatly.
"But… but they match your hair!"
"I am aware of the color of my own hair," she retorted, her golden eyes narrowing. "Your persistence is as tiresome as your existence. Take your shiny rocks and bother someone else."
She turned away from him, dismissing him completely.
Skydream's spiritual form seemed to wilt. "So cold… so wonderfully, heartbreakingly cold…"
He then turned to the Ice Empress and attempted a desperate, flanking spiritual nuzzle.
THWACK!
The Ice Empress's spectral scorpion tail lashed out with lightning speed, swatting him so hard his crystalline form spun through the air like a top before crashing into the far wall with a pathetic tink.
"I told you to be silent," she said, not even glancing in his direction.
Huo Yuhao just shook his head, a small smile on his face. Some things, it seemed, would never change.
The next day, their explorations led them to a wide, bustling plaza that separated the northern and southern districts of the city. As they were sipping tea on the second-floor balcony of a teahouse, a commotion from the plaza below drew their attention.
A crowd had gathered, forming a wide circle. In the center, two groups of young men, none older than sixteen, were facing off, their faces red with anger, their postures aggressive.
One group wore the fiery red and gold uniforms of the Heavenly Dragon Sect. The other wore the earthy brown and black of the Earth Dragon Sect. It was a classic outer court disciple showdown.
"Look!" Jin Xi said, leaning forward with keen interest, her ruby eyes sparkling with amusement. "The little lizards are fighting."
"They seem to be arguing over something," Xue Nu observed, her calm gaze taking in the scene.
Down below, the leaders of the two groups were shouting at each other.
"Your Earth Dragon Sect has no right to reserve this training ground, Feng Shao!" the Heavenly Dragon disciple yelled. "This is a public plaza! We will train where we please!"
"This has been our sect's traditional morning practice spot for fifty years, Long Wei!" the Earth Dragon disciple shot back. "Your Heavenly Dragon Sect thinks you own the whole city, but you don't own this plaza!"
The argument quickly devolved. With a furious roar, the disciple named Long Wei unleashed his Martial Soul. A small, vaguely draconic creature with bright red scales and a weak-looking plume of fire for a tail appeared behind him. A Lesser Flame Drake.
Not to be outdone, Feng Shao summoned his own. A stocky, grey, lizard-like beast with a tough, rocky hide and no discernible breath weapon. A Stone-Skinned Wyvern.
Their comrades followed suit, a menagerie of low-grade, variant dragon souls appearing in a flash of yellow and purple soul rings. It was a pathetic display of power compared to what the trio was used to, but it was filled with a youthful, aggressive passion that was undeniably entertaining.
"This should be fun," Jin Xi declared, a predatory grin on her face. She turned to the other two. "Let's make it more interesting. I'll wager five gold coins on the red-and-gold ones. Their dragons breathe fire. Fire is always more impressive."
Xue Nu considered the two groups with a cool, analytical gaze. "The grey ones seem sturdier. Their defensive stances are more stable. I will wager five on them."
They both looked at Huo Yuhao.
He chuckled. "I'll side with Xue Nu. The Stone-Skinned Wyvern has a higher defense. In a battle of attrition between low-level Soul Masters, defense almost always trumps a weak offense."
The battle below erupted. It was a clumsy, chaotic affair. The Flame Drakes spat out gouts of fire that were easily blocked by the Stone-Skinned Wyverns' tough hides. The Earth Dragon disciples charged, their attacks slow but powerful, while the Heavenly Dragon disciples tried to use their superior speed to flank them.
It was a messy, brutish, and thoroughly enjoyable spectacle. The fight raged for a full ten minutes before, just as Huo Yuhao had predicted, the Heavenly Dragon disciples began to run low on Soul Power. Their flashy fire attacks had drained them, while the Earth Dragon disciples, relying on pure physical strength, were still going strong.
With a final, triumphant roar, Feng Shao and his comrades overwhelmed the last of their rivals, sending them sprawling. The Earth Dragon Sect had won.
Jin Xi let out a theatrical groan of dismay, dramatically tossing five gold coins onto the table in front of Xue Nu and Huo Yuhao. "Hmph. Boring. Strength and sturdiness over flash and fire. How utterly predictable."
Xue Nu simply gave a small, serene smile as she collected her winnings, a gesture that was somehow more satisfying than any gloating could have been.
They finished their tea, leaving the victorious Earth Dragon disciples to their gloating and the defeated Heavenly Dragon disciples to their shame. As they walked away, Jin Xi was already chattering about their plans for the rest of the day.
"Now that we have witnessed the local brawling rituals," she said, linking her arm through Huo Yuhao's, "I believe it is time for the most important ritual of all: finding the best restaurant in this entire city and spending our new winnings on a magnificent feast!"
Huo Yuhao just laughed, a deep, easy sound.