Upon hearing the voice, Gu Feng's heart tightened.
Had the Ice Emperor really come?
Damn it!
"Curse it, why now of all times?"
As Gu Feng's mind raced, trying to devise a strategy, a series of crisp footsteps echoed, growing closer and closer.
"Tap~ tap~ tap~"
Hearing the noise, Gu Feng gritted his teeth and quickly scanned his surroundings. He realized that the cave was a dead end, making it impossible to hide inside.
A cold, feminine voice called out from a distance, "Human, come out. I know you're in there!"
The next second, Gu Feng took a deep breath and walked straight out.
He was about to make a decision that would go against his ancestors.
Since there was no way to avoid it, he might as well face it head-on.
Seeing Gu Feng emerge, the Ice Emperor said coldly, "Human, I knew you were in there!"
Gu Feng looked through the darkness, and a lively shade of green entered his vision.
It was a little girl, petite and delicate, with skin as white as snow. Her twin green ponytails playfully hung by her sides, swaying gently with her movements, making her look extremely adorable.
But if you thought she was just an ordinary little girl, you would be sorely mistaken.
This was one of the Three Great Kings of the North, the second-ranked Ice Emperor!
At this moment, the Ice Emperor's gaze was as sharp as frost, unblinkingly fixed on Gu Feng.
Looking at the young boy before her, the Ice Emperor couldn't help but wonder, "Strange, A'da clearly said the person who scared him was a super powerhouse. This kid in front of me, no matter how you look at him, couldn't possibly be a powerhouse, could he?"
"Could there be someone else?"
Gu Feng slightly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, "Gu Feng greets Senior Ice Emperor."
The Ice Emperor raised an eyebrow, a flash of cold light in her eyes, her voice carrying a bone-chilling coldness, "Oh? I don't recall ever seeing your face before. Are humans nowadays so bold and reckless?"
"You dare trespass into the territory of my Ice Jade Scorpion clan?"
It was important to note that throughout history, human powerhouses who had encountered the Ice Emperor had almost all perished, making it nearly impossible for anyone to know her title.
And this Gu Feng before her, judging by his appearance, was at most six or seven years old—a mere human child. Yet he knew her title?
There must be a powerhouse behind Gu Feng!
Thinking this, the Ice Emperor slightly tilted her head, the icy aura around her growing even more intense, "However, considering you haven't harmed my clansmen, I can spare your life for now."
With that, her gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced through the darkness and landed behind Gu Feng. She sneered, "Let the person behind you come out. I'm itching for a fight right now. As long as he can spar with me, regardless of the outcome, I'll let you leave unharmed."
Hearing this, Gu Feng was slightly taken aback.
She actually thought there was someone behind me?
Gu Feng pondered for a moment and decided to play along.
Thus, Gu Feng smiled faintly and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Senior Ice Emperor, there is indeed a powerhouse behind me. However, I don't think you are qualified to meet my teacher. No, I'm afraid even the Snow Emperor isn't qualified."
If not now, when else would be the time to borrow the tiger's might?
The Ice Emperor's icy aura instantly surged, freezing the surrounding air into visible ice crystals, "What! Human, you're seeking death!"
What had she just heard? Even the Snow Emperor wasn't qualified to meet his teacher?
Then wouldn't his teacher be a legendary God?
Utterly ridiculous!
Did this human really think she wouldn't dare to kill him?
Gu Feng felt the coldness surging like a tidal wave, fiercely attacking from all directions, as if it wanted to tear him apart. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to hold on, and said, "I know you don't believe me, but I have a way to prove it!"
"Oh?" The icy killing intent in the Ice Emperor's eyes slowly faded, replaced by a hint of curiosity.
She moved gracefully closer to Gu Feng, lifting her delicate jade-like hand and gently caressing his cheek. Though her movements seemed soft, they carried an invisible pressure.
Then, the Ice Emperor pinched his cheek lightly, her voice laced with threat, "Then tell me how you plan to prove it. If you dare deceive me, I'll personally crush you to death!"
As she approached, a faint, elegant fragrance subtly drifted into Gu Feng's nostrils, creating a strange contrast with the surrounding icy chill.
Without time to think, Gu Feng blurted out urgently, "Do you know about the existence of souls?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he stared intently at the Ice Emperor's reaction.
"Of course I know. Once you reach the level of a Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beast or above, who wouldn't know about the existence of souls?"
A mocking smile appeared on the Ice Emperor's face, as if she had expected Gu Feng to reveal some earth-shattering secret.
But this? Really?
For a moment, the killing intent in her eyes flared up again.
Gu Feng continued, "Then can Hundred-Thousand Year Soul Beasts survive with their souls separated from their bodies?"
The Ice Emperor shook her head without hesitation, "Impossible. Not even Hundred-Thousand Year Soul Beasts, nor even the Snow Emperor and I, can achieve that. Without a body, the soul is doomed to perish."
Gu Feng stared at her with burning intensity, "What if I told you that there really are people who can survive with their souls separated from their bodies?"
The Ice Emperor was momentarily stunned, then threw her head back and laughed, as if she had heard the most absurd joke in the world. "Impossible! Such a thing could never exist in this world."
Gu Feng frowned, "Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
The Ice Emperor crossed her arms and sneered, "Hmph, human, stop trying to deceive me with your petty tricks. I have little patience. Just let the person hiding behind you come out, and perhaps I'll spare you a complete corpse."
Without wasting any more words, Gu Feng took off the Soul Guidance Ring from his finger and tossed it toward the Ice Emperor.
Seeing something flying toward her, her instincts, honed from years of being in a position of power, kicked in. She swiftly caught the object in her palm.
When the Ice Emperor looked down and saw that it was a ring, she was momentarily stunned, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes. Then her expression changed drastically.
"Human, what are you trying to do? Don't tell me you're trying to win me over with this thing?"
As she spoke, a look of disgust appeared on her face, as if she had been deeply offended. Her tone was full of disdain and contempt, "But you've miscalculated. I have no interest in men like you!"
With that, she made a motion to hurl the ring away.
Just as the Ice Emperor was about to throw the ring, a strange sensation emanated from the Soul Guidance Ring in her palm.
This peculiar feeling made her pause abruptly. She instinctively tightened her grip on the ring, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
Seizing the moment of her distraction, Gu Feng immediately spoke up, "The answer you're looking for is inside."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of hesitation passed through the Ice Emperor's eyes, but her intense curiosity drove her to carefully channel her Soul Power and cautiously probe into the Soul Guidance Ring.
In the next moment, an indescribable shock surged through her heart. The Ice Emperor's face instantly turned pale, filled with disbelief: "How is this possible! How could someone in this world survive without a physical body, relying solely on their soul!"
(End of Chapter)