Far North – Land of Eternal Ice
Beyond the reach of empires, in the deepest wilderness of the continent, where no human dared tread, there slumbered a legend.
The Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast of beauty, elegance, and merciless power, lay beneath the glacial surface of the Silver Frozen Lake. No one disturbed her—not even time.
Until tonight.
Because the shadows had reached even here.
A Rift in the Ice
The lake cracked.
Shadowy mist flowed across the wind-blasted tundra.
From the darkness, Ren stepped forward, unbothered by the biting cold. Behind him trailed only one—a quiet girl with snow-white hair and a crown of frost: Lianhua, the first soul beast girl who had sworn herself to Ren after her transformation.
"This is where she sleeps?" he asked softly.
Lianhua nodded. "She ruled this region even before the gods shaped heaven. But her heart… it grew cold with time. She lost interest in everything."
Ren smiled. "Then let's give her something new to care about."
Beneath the Ice
The awakening was sudden—violent.
The entire glacier rumbled as the Ice Empress burst from her slumber, shimmering blue exoskeleton glinting like a diamond blade. Her eyes glowed with power older than mountains.
"You dare disturb me?" she hissed, frost spiraling in her breath.
Ren didn't flinch. "I came to offer you eternity. Not in chains. But by my side."
She snarled, spirit pressure heavy enough to shatter mountains. "I will not be taken."
Ren smiled coolly. "Then walk away. Stay frozen and forgotten."
The Ice Empress paused.
Because in his voice—there was no demand.
Only confidence.
And somewhere deep in her ancient soul… a flicker of interest.
Later – Frostveil Temple
A small temple made of frozen jade stood in the heart of the tundra. Now, it echoed with warmth for the first time in ages.
The Ice Empress, now in her human form—glacial blue hair cascading down her back, sharp as the cold, but silent—stood beside Ren.
She had not spoken much after accepting his mark.
But when he took her hand, she did not pull away.
"I never thought I would feel warmth again," she whispered at last.
"You won't have to feel it alone," Ren replied.
Spirit Empire – Crumbling Authority
Far across the land, news of Ren's latest move reached Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong stared at the reports, her hands trembling. "The Ice Empress… even she…"
Behind her, her daughter Hu Liena smiled faintly. "Because he doesn't take. He offers. And they choose him."
The balance of power was no longer shifting.
It had already shifted.
Final Scene – The Divine Court, Splintering
The Sea God—Tang San's divine self—stood at the center of the Court of Gods.
"He is pulling soul beasts and humans alike to his side," he growled. "He seduces queens, awakens monsters, and shakes empires. This cannot continue."
But not all the gods agreed.
Because the Goddess of Life was silent.
And the Goddess of Fate?
She had already begun descending to the mortal world… curious to meet the one who defied destiny itself.
End of Chapter 60To be continued…