Snow Empress?!!
Xu Cheng's mouth dropped open as he screamed internally.
"That's right. Your teacher was just lucky. Who would've thought that while I was out looking for some rare metals unique to the Extreme North, I'd just happen to run into her? And even if someone else had come across her, it's unlikely they'd have been able to bring her back. But I just happened to be free and made a Sealed God Platform, so I…"
Elder Cheng stroked his beard with a broad smile.
"So that mysterious Rank 9 Soul Engineer… was you?!" Xu Cheng was speechless, grumbling to himself.
But this made sense.
In the entire Sun-Moon Empire, only a handful of people would even think of crafting a Rank 9 soul tool specifically for capturing soul beasts. Even an ordinary Rank 9 Soul Engineer would hesitate to waste such precious materials.
Only Elder Cheng, Elder Kong, and Jing Hongchen had the resources to indulge in such "hobbies."
Besides, even if he sold it to the Star Luo Empire, no one in the Sun-Moon Empire would dare to trouble him.
That explained why, in the original story, Jing Hongchen only mentioned it once, telling Lin Jiayi to investigate. After that, there was no further follow-up. Investigate Elder Cheng? Who would dare…
"Since I won't be using it, I'll leave it to you. Whether you auction it off or absorb it yourself, it's entirely up to you."
As he spoke, Elder Cheng waved his hand.
The enormous Sealed God Platform instantly shrank several times, compressing into a palm-sized miniature that landed in Xu Cheng's hand.
With that, Elder Cheng returned to his research on mechas.
Deep Within Mingde Hall
Xu Cheng found another secret chamber.
However, his spiritual sea was already in chaos.
The Ice Empress was furious, stirring up the spiritual sea like a storm.
Meanwhile, Skydream was clinging to her, trying to calm her down with a bitter expression. "Bing Bing, this really has nothing to do with Ah Cheng! It was his teacher who did it. The relationship between humans and soul beasts has never been friendly. If you were in his position, would you let such an opportunity slip by?"
"Hmph! All humans deserve to die!" The Ice Empress raged helplessly.
The ten-thousand-year soul beasts of the Extreme North…
She knew almost all of them.
They were practically friends.
"…"
"Don't be so hasty, Ice Empress."
Xu Cheng sat cross-legged in the chamber, carefully observing the white mist violently crashing against the Sealed God Platform.
Ice Empress: "How can I not be furious?!"
Xu Cheng: "You might get even angrier in a moment."
Ice Empress: "…"
"It's probably the Snow Empress inside."
Xu Cheng spoke slowly.
The space seemed to freeze.
Even Skydream twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"Alright, no more talking. Let's let her out first."
With that, he activated the Sealed God Platform.
Instantly.
The white mist surged out violently. The moment it sensed Xu Cheng, its fury erupted like a volcano.
Just as it was about to attack—
A familiar voice made it freeze.
Following Skydream's guidance, the mist entered Xu Cheng's spiritual sea.
"Huh? Ice Empress?"
The Snow Empress's phantom gasped in surprise.
The Ice Empress immediately called out anxiously, "Snow Lady! What happened to you? Why have you become a ten-thousand-year soul beast embryo?"
The Snow Empress sighed and said, "Aren't we the same? You've also become a human's soul ring."
The Ice Empress shook her head. "His strength is immense, and he has the potential to become a god. This is also part of Skydream's god-making plan, which is why I agreed to become his soul ring…"
"Cough, cough, Snow Empress, do you still remember me?" Skydream Iceworm asked awkwardly.
"Hm?" The Snow Empress was clearly taken aback. "There's an aura of a soul beast surpassing a hundred thousand years… Why have you all sacrificed yourselves for a human? This aura feels familiar… such vast spiritual power?" She seemed unable to recall Skydream.
The Ice Empress rolled her eyes and said, "It's that ridiculously lucky iceworm who kept breaking through in his sleep, surpassing bottleneck after bottleneck, and even ended up stronger than all of us."
The Snow Empress immediately understood. "Oh, I remember now. Ice, didn't you go after it back then? You said it had disappeared? How did you all end up together?"
Skydream chuckled. "Snow Empress, I like the way you phrased that—'ended up together'!"
"Scram. Shut your filthy mouth." The Ice Empress roared in fury.
"Cough, allow me to say something."
Xu Cheng spoke up.
"Sorry to interrupt your reunion, but the most important thing right now is your decision—will you continue as a soul beast, or…"
"A human?!!"
The Snow Empress snapped angrily. "No human is good! I don't need your help."
The Ice Empress sighed. She knew that once the Snow Empress's temper flared up, no one could change her mind. Only by explaining things clearly could she be reasoned with.
So, she briefly recounted how she met Xu Cheng and Skydream, how Skydream persuaded her, and how she ultimately agreed to become Xu Cheng's third martial soul.
The Snow Empress listened in silence.
At the same time, Xu Cheng condensed her origin power into a small sphere.
Unlike in the original story, where the Snow Empress was trapped inside the Sealed God Platform for a long time, this time, the duration wasn't too long. Her origin power was slightly damaged but not critically so. This meant that if she wished to take human form, there was still a chance.
"I see." After hearing the Ice Empress's explanation, the Snow Empress sighed, her emotions gradually calming.
After all, attacking Xu Cheng now would mean attacking Ice and Skydream as well.
She didn't care about the latter, but the former…
"So, Snow Empress, if you wish to take human form, I am willing to assist my teacher in compensating for some of the harm done to you." Xu Cheng said.
"Hmph? Just you?"
The Snow Empress spoke coldly.
"You do have talent among humans, but you are still just an unripe genius. What help can you offer me?"
Though her tone was indifferent, it was noticeably less hostile than before.
Clearly, she had realized that while Xu Cheng's teacher had captured her, if she hadn't encountered Xu Cheng, her fate could have been far worse.
"Snow Empress, tell me, under normal circumstances, what are your chances of successfully taking human form?"
Xu Cheng asked.
"Normally, 20%. But with the Snow Lotus, it could reach 30%." The Snow Empress was impatient but still answered.
"Alright. Then how about now?" Xu Cheng smiled faintly.
He activated his system title: [Soul Beast Transformation].
In an instant.
The Snow Empress's previously unstable origin power suddenly stabilized.
Her previously incomplete spiritual consciousness also began to restore itself.
Her success rate skyrocketed!
The Ice Empress was dumbfounded. "Ah Cheng, how did you do that?"
Skydream was even more shocked. "Damn! If I'd known, I would have transformed too! You little brat, you've been hiding this!"
The Snow Empress felt the changes in her origin power and looked at Xu Cheng with no trace of hostility left—only a hint of guilt.
"…I'm sorry, I…"
"It's alright, Snow Empress. Since Skydream and Ice Empress are my friends, that means you are too. I, Xu Cheng, always treat my friends with sincerity."
Xu Cheng spoke solemnly.
He had no ulterior motives regarding the Snow Empress.
Since she had the chance to transform, why not lend a hand…?
(End of Chapter)