Chapter 130: Convincing the Ice Emperor

"You are not our only option, Ice Emperor," Wang Rui said softly. "The blank ice martial soul provided by the Skydream Iceworm lacks a form and requires an ice-attribute soul ring to serve as its core… but the Extreme North has countless ice-attribute soul beasts. For example, if we randomly choose one of your clan members, we could still obtain an Ice Jade Scorpion martial soul with the Ultimate Ice attribute. And if I recall correctly, your Ice Jade Scorpion clan has more than one member who has reached a hundred-thousand-year cultivation and is facing the threat of the Heavenly Tribulation, right?"

The Ice Emperor glared at them viciously, the icy white glow at the tip of her tail flickering dangerously.

"Don't even think about targeting my clan members!" she hissed in warning. "Otherwise, even if you are the Emperor Auspicious Beast, I will make you pay the price!"

Wang Rui smiled, but on his feline face, that expression carried an inexplicable sense of menace—it was closer to a threat than a friendly gesture. "Not just your Ice Jade Scorpions, but even other powerful beings in the Extreme North… at the very least, the Titan Snow Devil King absolutely cannot survive the next Heavenly Tribulation. Do you think he might be interested in this plan?"

"That white gorilla is not even worthy of being compared to me," the Ice Emperor scoffed disdainfully.

Her attitude remained firm, but the fact that she was engaging in this discussion meant she had already fallen into a disadvantageous position—she still wasn't willing to give up this ticket to immortality.

Wang Rui lazily flicked his tail. "The Titan Snow Devil King is indeed younger than you… but I also have options outside the Extreme North."

"You should be well aware of the legends that existed before the rise of soul beasts," he continued. "At that time, true dragons ruled the continent."

A tyrannical and powerful aura erupted from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, spreading out like an overwhelming force, pressing down on the resplendent scorpion before him.

Although the Auspicious Beast's strength was inferior to the Ice Emperor, who had nearly 400,000 years of cultivation, the Ice Jade Scorpion inexplicably felt a deep-rooted fear creeping up from the depths of her very bloodline.

It became difficult for her to breathe.

A faint dragon's roar echoed through time, resonating once more upon this land.

"I happen to possess the most noble bloodline of the dragons… It would simply be a little more troublesome, but perhaps one of my ancestors might be willing to become this child's martial soul? I do know where several ice-attribute true dragons lie in slumber. If I awaken their souls, perhaps one of them would like to take this opportunity to see the world again."

Wang Rui spoke unhurriedly while carefully observing the Ice Emperor's reaction.

Truthfully, he was exaggerating.

He was referring to the Dragon Soul of the Water Dragon King, which lay dormant beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. But if he disturbed the corpses of the two Dragon Kings, the effectiveness of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would greatly diminish… and Wang Rui had two forests to sustain. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never consider disturbing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

As for the Dragon Graveyard's pocket dimension, it certainly contained many dragon souls of various attributes, but Wang Rui had yet to discover its entrance. Even Di Tian had no clue—most likely, only the Silver Dragon King possessed the means to enter. That meant the Dragon Graveyard was currently inaccessible. Furthermore, the dragon souls within it were severely weakened, reduced to mere wisps of energy and the faintest remnants of instincts. Whether they could even become the form of a blank martial soul was uncertain.

As for backup options, such as the Eight-Petal Ice Crystal Herb or lower-cultivation ice-attribute soul beasts, Wang Rui had completely dismissed them.

All things considered, the Ice Emperor was undoubtedly the best choice for Huo Yuqing. But during negotiations, Wang Rui would never allow his true bottom line to be exposed to her.

He calmly swayed his tail, watching the Ice Emperor, as if there were plenty of candidates for Huo Yuqing's first soul ring.

Meanwhile, the Skydream Iceworm nearly lost his composure, almost exposing their scheme—Wang Rui had to flick him with his tail to snap him out of it.

Fortunately, the Ice Emperor failed to notice. As soon as Wang Rui finished speaking, she shifted uncomfortably, and her previously imposing aura weakened.

"If you have so many choices, why choose me?" The Ice Emperor snorted coldly. Though her tone remained tough, her defensive posture had clearly softened.

She knew she couldn't afford to let the other party see her eagerness. But, unfortunately for her, she was facing the scheming Emperor Auspicious Beast—meaning her weak attempt at concealing her desire was utterly ineffective.

"Because you are indeed powerful," Wang Rui replied sincerely. "In terms of mastery over the ice attribute, you are second only to the Ice Sky Snow Woman. Moreover, to refine your control over the Ultimate Ice attribute, the Ice Jade Scorpion clan sacrificed their originally potent poison ability to focus solely on ice. That is something truly worthy of respect."

First, he established that she was not their only option, then he acknowledged her strength—an incredibly simple yet effective negotiation tactic.

It was crude, but sufficient for the Ice Emperor. Wang Rui suspected that if he spoke any more ambiguously, she might not even understand him.

Sure enough, her wary and resistant attitude relaxed slightly.

"Of course, there's another reason," Wang Rui added cheerfully, as if making an offhand remark. "After all, the Skydream Iceworm is deeply in love with you."

"Ice Emperor, I believe you should consider your own future more carefully." Before the Ice Emperor could react with annoyance, Wang Rui immediately continued, "Perhaps the Ice Sky Snow Woman is not in as much danger from her tribulation as you assume."

"Xue'er's tribulation is coming very soon," the Ice Emperor argued anxiously. "I truly want to save her!"

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lifted his gaze, looking toward the core of the Extreme North. His crimson Destiny Eye spun in a dizzying manner.

Within the Extreme North, countless threads of light intertwined to form an enormous web of fate. The brightest among them was about to disperse, yet its core still maintained a lingering thread of connection.

"The Ice Sky Snow Woman's fate is nearing its end, but she still holds a stable thread of survival. I suspect she has some hidden means to counter the Heavenly Tribulation," Wang Rui murmured. "Just because you don't know about it doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

The Ice Emperor was stunned.

Wang Rui continued gazing in the direction of the Extreme North's core. He couldn't completely discern the Snow Emperor's fate—something there was obstructing his Destiny Eye's sight.

He would still need to meet with her in person and offer some advice. If her reincarnation went smoothly, that would be ideal.

…If it didn't, then he would have to find a way to intervene.

"In any case, you should consider your own future before worrying about hers," Wang Rui said. "Snow Empress doesn't need you to worry for her."

The Ice Jade Scorpion pondered in silence for a long time.

Finally, she spoke with some difficulty.

"I understand. I will join your plan."

(End of Chapter)