"Human Emperor Banner, what a strange name?"
Ma Rulong muttered softly to himself but didn't say much more.
No one else had any different opinions about Jiang Jue just because he was merely a Soul Elder. After all, anyone who made it here had been strictly selected by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Since the academy had chosen Jiang Jue as one of the reserve team members, it was proof that he had something extraordinary.
Trusting the academy was never wrong because they wanted to win the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament more than anyone else.
"From now on, I hope everyone gets along well. If any issues arise, come to me immediately. If there are conflicts, try to resolve them peacefully. I can also help mediate," Ma Rulong said.
"After all, we are a team now, and we will be entering the tournament together. Small frictions are normal, but we must learn to be more understanding of one another."
As he spoke, Ma Rulong deliberately glanced at Lin Xi.
Lin Xi was no fool. He immediately understood that Ma Rulong was trying to help him, so he quickly responded,
"Yes, yes, Boss Ma is right. Junior Xiao Hongchen, I was in the wrong earlier. I apologize to you here and now. I hope we can fight side by side in the future."
As he spoke, his palms were already sweating, and his tone was as sincere as it could be.
"Boring," Xiao Hongchen said with a shrug, his tone filled with regret.
"I still preferred your defiant attitude from earlier."
Sure enough, only Jiang Jue was a worthy opponent for him.
Lin Xi showed no change in expression at Xiao Hongchen's words. Instead, he sighed in relief internally.
The tension in the room finally dissipated.
Ma Rulong watched the two of them and nodded slightly, feeling at ease.
Despite his towering physique and muscular build, his mind was exceptionally meticulous—otherwise, he wouldn't have been chosen as the team leader.
"This will be my last chance to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. I must challenge Shrek and settle the score properly," Ma Rulong thought to himself, his eyes filled with determination.
Five years ago, he had been a reserve team member, standing on that grand continental stage and witnessing countless prodigies clash.
Unfortunately, he had lacked the strength to compete against those geniuses and was merely a bystander in their battles.
But this time, as the team leader, all of his main team members were at least Soul Kings, and with himself as a Soul Emperor, they were in their most well-prepared state ever.
He did not want to lose, nor could he afford to!
The glory he fought for was not just his own but that of the academy and the Sun Moon Empire!
Time was merciless; flowers bloomed and withered. This semester soon came to an end.
Throughout this term, aside from his regular cultivation, Jiang Jue trained weekly in sparring sessions with Ma Rulong and the others. With Xuan Ziwen around, he no longer needed to visit the laboratory.
Actual combat was always the best way to test one's shortcomings. Through these countless sparring matches, Jiang Jue's combat awareness and techniques had improved significantly.
"Hoo..."
"It's time to visit the Ice Emperor."
In his dormitory, Jiang Jue felt the surging soul power within him, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.
Over these five months, his soul power had already reached the peak of Rank 43. This cultivation speed was nothing short of astonishing, considering he was only eleven and a half years old.
But with the Spirit of Life's golden essence and the immense spiritual foundation from the Skydream Iceworm, everything made sense.
Xiao Hongchen had even come to ask Jiang Jue if he was taking pills to advance so quickly, saying that he wanted to try them too.
Jiang Jue had been tempted to tell him that he was simply "cheating" but obviously couldn't say that.
He could only claim that his progress was the result of relentless training, growing bit by bit through sheer effort.
In the Sun Moon Empire, where Soul Engineers were the dominant force, using medicine to enhance cultivation was not uncommon.
Most Soul Engineers spent the majority of their time studying the creation of soul tools, leaving them with little time to cultivate their soul power. As a result, the market for medicinal enhancements naturally emerged.
One could only say—its existence was reasonable.
"Old Yi, are you there?"
Jiang Jue called out softly.
A flash of gray light appeared, and Electrolux's figure materialized beside him.
Thanks to the prolonged nourishment and repair from the Spirit of Life's golden essence, Electrolux's consciousness had not only stabilized but even shown signs of strengthening.
"Jiang brat, calling me—what do you need?"
Electrolux's deep and aged voice rang out, his gaze carrying a trace of concern for his young protégé.
Ever since Electrolux had pointed out "that matter" last time, their relationship had not become distant. Instead, it had grown closer, with fewer barriers between them.
"Old Yi, I want to see the Ice Emperor," Jiang Jue said succinctly.
The Ice Emperor was an essential piece in his plans—not only for the enhancement of his Martial Soul's ultimate attribute but also for the future involvement of the Snow Emperor.
The Snow Emperor had an unyielding temperament. In the original novel, she had chosen to self-destruct her essence rather than be absorbed by a human. If it weren't for the Ice Emperor's call, she truly would have perished.
The bond between the Ice Emperor and the Snow Emperor was extraordinary. If he secured the Ice Emperor now, he would have a significant advantage when facing the Snow Emperor in the future.
And with the Snow Emperor on his side, Jiang Jue would gain leverage over the Extreme North…
It was like rolling a snowball—it would only get bigger and bigger.
"Let's go," Electrolux said, waving his hand.
A small-scale Gate of the Undead appeared, and Jiang Jue stepped into it in a single leap.
Purple light shimmered, the aura of death spread, and all vitality was absent.
This was the true face of the Undead Plane—a world belonging solely to the dead.
Jiang Jue's figure appeared, floating in midair.
Electrolux stood beside him, gazing at the world before them with a hint of nostalgia in his expression.
"Old Yi, where is the Ice Emperor?"
Jiang Jue scanned his surroundings. Aside from a few skeletal soldiers, there was nothing else in sight.
Electrolux chanted a spell in a deep voice. Waves of spatial ripples gently flowed like water, gradually opening a passage.
A jade-green figure tumbled out from within.
In this world, Electrolux was the true god! Everything here was under his control—he was the sovereign ruler of the undead!
"What's happening?"
A startled voice rang out. The jade-green figure immediately halted in midair, its two front pincers raised in a defensive stance.
"Ice Emperor, long time no see!"
Jiang Jue smiled faintly and called out to the figure.
"It's you! Let me out of this wretched place immediately!"
The Ice Emperor's eyes locked onto him. Wasn't this the human brat responsible for sending it to this accursed place?
However, its current state was far from ideal. Its golden gemstone-like eyes were filled with exhaustion, its once radiant scales had lost their luster, and its aura was extremely weak.
No one knew how it had survived for so long. There was no soul power to replenish itself, only the constant pursuit of undead creatures.
It had tried to flee in a single direction, only to find the end was an abyss of eternal darkness, filled with chaotic energy. It hadn't dared to take the risk.
The Ice Emperor was about to advance when it caught sight of Electrolux beside Jiang Jue.
Its pupils contracted, and it instinctively took a step back.
It hadn't forgotten that this human elder was the one who had trapped it and sent it into this undead world.
And most terrifyingly—this old man carried the aura of a god!