The Extreme North.
Core Region.
Within an ice valley encircled by towering glaciers, a profound silence pervaded the surroundings, as if time itself had frozen still.
A pool of icy, dark blue spring water lay nestled at the valley's heart, exuding an astonishingly frigid chill that was enough to pierce to the bone. A thin veil of mist hovered above the water, composed of countless minuscule ice crystals that shimmered faintly in and out of sight.
Drifting atop the cold spring were several radiant, pure-white snow lotuses. Though the air remained still, the blossoms swayed gently under the sunlight as if moved by an unseen force.
"Sigh... Do I really have to take this step?"
A cold sigh echoed through the valley, tinged with hesitation and reluctance.
The voice belonged to a figure standing beside the icy spring.
Shrouded entirely in a dazzling white glow, this being emanated an aura of profound mystery, obscuring their true appearance. Yet, the oppressive might radiating from their presence was enough to make one's heart tremble.
"But this will be the seventh heavenly tribulation… and I have no certainty of overcoming it this time."
"For the Extreme North… for my countless subjects… and for myself, I must take this risk."
"I will wager everything on the road to divinity! I will carve out a path with my own hands!"
This figure was none other than Xue Di, one of the three Great Kings of the Extreme North, ranked third among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, and possessing nearly 700,000 years of cultivation.
She was the true sovereign of this frozen land!
With her decision made, Xue Di's expression became firm. She had never been one to waver. With a graceful wave of her hand, the largest snow lotus in the cold spring floated towards her palm.
The lotus pulsed with a potent energy—this was a 100,000-year-old Snow Lotus!
However, it held no consciousness, resembling an instinct-driven ten-year-old soul beast rather than a sentient being.
"Snow Lotus, it is I who have wronged you. If one day I attain godhood, I shall resurrect you."
Xue Di whispered softly, before flicking her hand to summon a towering wall of snow, sealing herself within the ice valley.
With the preparations complete, she began infusing the Snow Lotus with waves of pure, white soul power, steadily activating its core essence.
She intended to use this 100,000-year-old Snow Lotus to reshape her form—discarding her hundreds of thousands of years of cultivation to be reborn as a human, in pursuit of godhood.
Xue Di sat cross-legged, a massive crystalline snowflake forming beneath her, lifting her into the air. The Snow Lotus hovered before her, radiating an intense brilliance as its essence enveloped her, gradually cloaking her entire form.
Her transformation had begun!
Yet, unbeknownst to her, deep within the valley's thickest layer of ice, a frail figure remained utterly still, eyes burning with greed and excitement as he observed everything.
"I can't believe it! Luck is truly on my side this time. What an incredible opportunity!"
This frail-looking man was wrapped in clothing of unknown material, his body further shielded by layers upon layers of soul tool barriers—at least fifteen layers—completely concealing his presence, not even allowing a trace to leak out.
He had been lurking here for quite some time. Despite his protective measures, the biting cold had still left his body somewhat stiff.
"Now, it's all up to this."
A faint blue light flickered as he retrieved a wooden box adorned with over a hundred different gemstones, each stone engraved with at least three core formations, emitting a subtle sealing aura.
"I originally planned to use this to store the 100,000-year-old Snow Lotus, but I never expected to find a soul beast of such caliber attempting transformation! Could it be that I, Wang Gengyin, am truly favored by fate?"
This Wang Gengyin was none other than a Rank 9 Soul Engineer—the very one who would imprison Xue Di!
Originally, he had stumbled upon this ice spring and discovered the Snow Lotus. At the time, it had not yet reached 100,000 years, though it was close.
Thus, he returned to his workshop and crafted a Rank 9 Soul Tool—Sealing God Platform, intending to claim the Snow Lotus once it fully matured.
Yet, when he returned, he found that the Snow Lotus was no longer the most valuable thing here—a 100,000-year-old soul beast had appeared instead!
Due to the thick snowy glow surrounding it, even with his Rank 9 Soul Engineer abilities, he couldn't discern its true form.
Initially, he thought his plan had failed, but unwilling to give up, he chose to hide and wait for an opening.
Then—the heavens smiled upon him.
The soul beast intended to remodel itself into a human using the Snow Lotus!
Now, Wang Gengyin could barely contain his excitement. A transformed soul beast embryo was far more valuable than an ordinary 100,000-year-old soul beast. If absorbed, it could grant the user a second martial soul!
"Wait, wait, I must be patient…"
Wang Gengyin reminded himself. If he attacked too soon, the soul beast might abandon or interrupt the transformation, ruining everything.
No—he would strike at the perfect moment, when the transformation was halfway complete, ensuring success in one decisive blow!
But what he didn't know was that—on a mountaintop overlooking the valley, two other figures were silently observing him…
Time passed, second by second.
Within the protective snow wall, Xue Di's form had already begun fading, her shape slowly shifting into that of a human infant.
Another half an hour slipped by.
Wang Gengyin's eyes gleamed.
"Now! My chance is here!"
BOOM!
The ice shattered as Wang Gengyin's shoulder-mounted Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannon fired a massive projectile straight at Xue Di's protective wall.
RUMBLE!
Flames erupted as the shockwave swept across the valley, shaking the surrounding glaciers. Snow cascaded down, and ripples spread across the icy spring, causing the remaining snow lotuses to sway violently.
Cracks spread like spiderwebs across Xue Di's protective wall, yet it did not collapse. Enduring the full force of a Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannon, its durability was evident.
"You can't catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den!"
"Rank 9 Cannons can always be rebuilt, but a soul beast embryo is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
BOOM!
Another Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannon projectile blasted forth!
Wang Gengyin winced slightly—this was his last Rank 9 Cannon projectile.
But he had already made up his mind.
The pitch-black projectile shot toward the snow wall with devastating force.
BOOM!
The second explosion shook the entire valley. Distant ice mountains began collapsing, triggering a minor avalanche.
This time, the snow wall finally crumbled, dissolving into slush that flowed across the valley floor.
No matter how powerful Xue Di was, her protective barrier, having lost her soul power's support, could not withstand two consecutive Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannon strikes.
At last—the scene inside was revealed.
Floating in midair, Xue Di had transformed into a mass of white mist.
Upon seeing the destruction before her, she was instantly alarmed and tried to react.
But it was too late.
"Go! Sealing God Platform!"
With a flick of his wrist, the Sealing God Platform emitted dazzling multicolored lights as he hurled it toward Xue Di.
WHOOSH!
A terrifying suction force burst forth. In her half-transformed state, Xue Di was powerless to resist.
In an instant—she was sucked into the Sealing God Platform.
"Hah! It's done!"
Wang Gengyin caught the platform, laughing wildly.
"At last, my fortune has turned!"
His eyes glowed with greed and madness as he stared at the Sealing God Platform in his hand.
"Oi! What's so funny?"
"If you're that happy, why not share it with me?"
Suddenly—a voice echoed through the silent valley.