After half a day's meditation, Tianlin had basically recovered to peak condition thanks to the Nuwa Emperor Meditation Method.
This meant they could continue deeper into the Extreme North without worries.
With the two former kings guiding them, getting lost in this land of ice and snow was not a concern.
Before long, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong reached an icy gorge. Skydream Iceworm exclaimed, "Huh, Ice Empress, isn't this your home?"
"Yes. I parted from my clan and have always lived alone here because this is where I encountered that Firelord soul beast. Other than me and Snow Empress, not even the Titan Snow Demon King is a match for the Firelord. I stayed to prevent it from threatening my clan. Since I'm leaving now, I'll deal with this trouble once and for all," Ice Empress explained.
Tianlin stepped forward and used his powerful spiritual sense, even adding a bit of Asura God's power. Soon, he sensed a spatial disturbance.
"Yes, there's a small subspace behind here. If I'm right, it was created artificially. But who would create such a blazing space in this land of extreme cold?" Tianlin wondered.
"Can you get in, Xiao Tian?" Snow Empress asked.
Tianlin shook his head. "No. The spatial rift that existed before has already been healed by nature. The space is very stable now; without an attack specifically made to tear space, it's impossible to enter. I have such a move among my Demon Sword techniques, but unfortunately, I haven't unlocked it yet. It looks like I'll need my eighth soul ring before I can even try."
It was a shame—he would not be able to obtain the fire-earth dual attribute soul ring.
He needed the eighth ring to break in, but once he did, there'd be no point—it was a paradox.
"But we should still investigate, lest the Firelord someday emerges and wreaks havoc in the Extreme North," Snow Empress said. "For now, let's go find Little White and use his power to unlock your eighth soul skill, then come back."
"Alright, I'll trouble you to lead the way," Tianlin agreed. The Ice Bear King's power was no less than the Firelord's, but it meant his elemental balance would be skewed even more—his already strong water and earth attributes would become even stronger, while his fire attribute would lag further behind, weakening his ultimate Demon Sword technique, Elemental Spirit Slash.
But there was no other way. He'd have to solve the Demon Sword's element imbalance after reaching the God Realm.
Actually, he needn't worry. At this moment, the Asura God had already prepared a solution. The much-maligned, stingy Asura God had gone all out this time.
He had gathered the five Elemental Gods—Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, and Lightning—plus his own power, and sworn to create the strongest god-bestowed soul ring, one that would solve all of Tianlin's problems.
…
At that moment, the Fire God sensed something. "Hmm? Did someone just...?"
"What is it, Fire God?" Water God asked with concern.
Though water and fire were traditionally incompatible, these two gods were actually a married couple.
Fire God smiled. "Nothing. Let's just finish the god-bestowed soul ring for Asura. That guy really knows how to order people around."
The Elemental Gods, as first-tier gods, had status just below Asura. They didn't have to obey him, but the Asura was strict yet personable, so he had good relations in the God Realm—except with the Rakshasa God.
So the Elemental Gods were willing to help him, and also wanted to earn favors for the next Asura God.
While they talked, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong reached Snow Empress's domain. Her territory was close to Ice Empress's, which was why Ice Empress had lived nearby. It was said Ice Empress liked Snow Empress—seemed it wasn't all rumor. Who would've thought Skydream Iceworm's greatest rival was actually a woman?
Snow Empress had built a city of ice and snow. It was silent, with no one around.
She was different from Ice Empress. The Ice Heaven Snow Maiden had no clan—she was born from the purest ice attribute elemental force at the Extreme North's core, gaining consciousness and wisdom over countless years.
Snow Empress, being a naturally-born Snow Maiden, had never known parental warmth. She had no kin, and was lonely from birth, which made her yearn for human relationships—family, friendship, love—causing her to desire life among humans.
If she hadn't picked up Little White to raise, Snow Empress might have chosen to reincarnate as a human tens of thousands of years ago.
"Little White, mama's home! Come out!" Snow Empress called with spiritual transmission.
The castle trembled. Hearing his mother's voice, Little White rushed out—a gigantic ice bear, its body like a small mountain. Even on all fours, its height exceeded fifteen meters, its thick white fur shimmering with silver.
But when Little White emerged, he saw only Tianlin and Ning Rongrong. However, he sensed his mother's aura from Ning Rongrong.
It was his mother's soul ring and soul bone. In that instant, Little White's eyes reddened—his simple mind concluding that these two humans had killed his mother.
"Roar!"
With an angry roar, Little White didn't ask questions. His giant bear paw came crashing down—a natural soul skill, Titan's Palm.
"Snow Empress, why is your son so rash? Doesn't he ever use his brain? Who could possibly kill you in the Extreme North?" Skydream Iceworm complained helplessly.
"My Little White is just pure-hearted. Seeing his mother's soul ring and bone on someone else, how could he think straight? But he's a good and filial child—look, he's angry for my sake," Snow Empress smiled. Cherishing family above all, she doted on Little White. Seeing him so outraged on her behalf, she was actually quite happy inside.