Chapter 135: Sudden Change

As soon as Ice Sky Snow Lady spoke, Wang Rui knew there was no possibility of this negotiation succeeding.

Setting aside the Silver Dragon King, who had been slumbering at the bottom of the lake for years, the Emperor Auspicious Beast was the true authority of the entire Star Dou Forest. Snow Empress directly accused Wang Rui, which was no different from accusing Star Dou itself, trampling on the dignity of the entire forest—whether she intended it that way or not.

Even if Wang Rui personally didn't care about her accusations, that didn't mean he could sit by and watch as Star Dou Forest was insulted by another faction.

Not to mention, no one would be pleased to have accusations unjustly thrown upon them.

He cast a cold glance at Snow Empress.

The noble Ice Sky Snow Lady was as pure as freshly fallen snow, but her ice-blue eyes were empty, as if she were looking at Di Tian—or perhaps at nothing at all.

Snow Empress didn't understand Star Dou and was unaware of the full picture, which was why she dared to question so directly.

In her view, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had only cultivated for ten thousand years and was weak in strength, so it was naturally nothing more than a noble tool to accelerate cultivation—its status might be exalted, but it certainly shouldn't hold any real power. If not for Wang Rui's efforts over the past fifteen thousand years, then indeed, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's fate should have been just that.

Thus, in her eyes, all the "absurd measures" taken by Star Dou must have been agreed upon simply to appease this so-called cultivation-accelerating treasure.

What did she want? To have the Extreme North suppress Star Dou? Or was she simply here to demand accountability?Wang Rui thought of many possibilities in an instant.

Ultimately, it was still his lack of understanding of Ice Sky Snow Lady. Given the environmental differences, Star Dou's intelligence network had difficulty infiltrating the Extreme North, so his knowledge of Snow Empress mainly came from the original story. However, the Snow Empress who had become Huo Hang's spirit soul in the original work was likely different from the original Ice Sky Snow Lady.

He had considered multiple possibilities but had not expected Ice Sky Snow Lady's personality to be so… direct.

She showed no regard for Di Tian's face, not even exchanging pleasantries. Wang Rui hadn't even brought up the topic of cooperation, and yet Snow Empress had already stepped on one of Di Tian's landmines, causing it to explode.

Was Snow Empress really this confident in the Extreme North?The original story did mention that Snow Empress, with the environmental advantage of the Extreme North, dared to confront Di Tian head-on. But the current Di Tian… was not the same as the one in the original story.

Besides, the gap in cultivation and species was not so easy to bridge.

The face of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King darkened as though it could drip water, violent and terrifying dark energy surging around him. Shadows came alive, resembling sinister eyes opening in the abyss, staring at Ice Sky Snow Lady with murderous intent.

Yet, Di Tian's tone remained calm: "I'll give you three seconds to take back what you just said."

Star Dou's affairs were not something an Extreme North soul beast had the right to judge.

The achievements of the Auspicious Beast over the years could not be buried; otherwise, Di Tian wouldn't have subtly taken sides even while the Silver Dragon King was still asleep beneath the lake.

Even if he took the most lenient stance, to slander his cub right in front of him…

Wang Rui raised his paw in time, hooking onto Di Tian's hair—now was not the time to completely fall out with Snow Lady.

Di Tian glanced at him but said nothing further. Even so, his attitude was clear—the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was the one in charge of speaking.

The golden lion stepped forward, an enigmatic smirk appearing on his face. He showed no intention of sparing Snow Empress's dignity, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he said: "Snow Lady, when you accuse me of betraying soul beasts and siding with humans… are you referring to how I have, in the past ten thousand years, expanded the borders of Star Dou Forest by double, bringing in resources that have elevated the strength of all Star Dou's soul beasts? Or are you referring to how, in these ten thousand years, I have united different soul beast settlements, ensuring that smaller communities were not completely wiped out by humans?"

Snow Empress once again turned her gaze toward Wang Rui, seemingly surprised that Di Tian had allowed the Auspicious Beast to speak directly to her. This time, her eyes were no longer empty but filled with tangible disgust.

This, in turn, puzzled Wang Rui.

"You use the lives of your kin to buy favor from humans." Snow Empress spoke coldly, her voice laced with genuine hatred. The icy energy surrounding her clashed fiercely with Di Tian's darkness, neither side yielding an inch. "You sell out your own kind, allowing them to become spirit rings for humans in exchange for their labor. You permit those creatures, more despicable than insects, to enter the forest, allowing them to establish human cities within the world of soul beasts! You even let soul beasts learn from humans' filthy systems—do you ask me why I condemn you?"

Her voice grew sharp. "The strength of soul beasts is already enough to avenge our fallen kin, yet you choose to mingle with humans. And the Star Dou beasts actually go along with your nonsense? Ridiculous! Absolutely laughable!"

So, Snow Empress's accusations weren't due to a conflict between the two major soul beast territories—she was simply a radical anti-human extremist.

Wang Rui narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Snow Empress. She was genuinely furious, confused, unable to comprehend Star Dou's choices.

That, at least, was understandable. If she lacked insight into the reality of Beast Hall, it was natural for her to develop such a misunderstanding.

But where did Ice Sky Snow Lady's extreme hatred toward humans come from?

The Extreme North was the least disturbed by humans among all soul beast habitats. Moreover, as a naturally born elemental creature, the Ice Sky Snow Lady had a humanoid form from birth and ruled over the Snow Lady race, whose very existence was closely linked to humans… By all logic, Snow Empress shouldn't be so opposed to humans.

Even the Evil Emperor could cooperate with Beast Hall, yet Snow Empress rejected humanity so fiercely—this was abnormal.

There must be some hidden truth that hadn't been mentioned in the original story.

Di Tian's voice grew cold. "Because of benefits." As the leader of the fearsome beasts, he had originally intended to support Snow Empress, but if the Ice Sky Snow Lady was too stubborn, then it might be better to find a more reasonable ruler for the Extreme North. "Coexisting with humans accelerates intelligence, speeds up cultivation, and strengthens soul beasts. So why shouldn't we coexist? Should we cling to past grudges and die for them?"

"But accelerating cultivation only pushes our kin toward a dead end." Snow Empress countered sharply. "Ten thousand years later, every soul beast must face the heavenly tribulation. How many can truly become fearsome beasts? Accelerated cultivation merely shortens their lifespans. Moreover, soul beasts are the pure children of nature—if they adopt human ways, will they still be soul beasts after ten million years? Are you trying to turn soul beasts into a despicable race like humans? I will never allow this in the Extreme North! And I will not allow you corrupted soul beasts to remain on my land!"

Now she just sounded like she was arguing for the sake of it.

Wang Rui studied Snow Empress deeply. Through her attitude, he became even more certain that there was an untold secret surrounding her.

Before he could say anything, he suddenly sensed a strange disturbance in fate itself.

It was as if someone was tampering with destiny—but Wang Rui was speaking with Snow Empress, and the only other person with the Eye of Destiny was far from being strong enough to wield its power.

Who?! Who else could influence fate?!

The disturbance came from the direction where Huo Yuqing was fusing with Ice Empress!

Wang Rui's fur bristled, and his third eye opened, blood-red pupils flashing with a dangerous, profound glow.

In his vision, the distant sky rippled as fate's ethereal mist swirled into a vortex. At its center, a similar vertical eye seemed to be watching this world from afar!

Not from the God Realm.

Staying calm under pressure, Wang Rui recognized that this gaze was even more distant than the God Realm—and it was not malicious. It was… sorrowful.

Who was it?

Before he could fully process it, a brilliant emerald pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky, turning the horizon into an endless sea of green.

Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's phantom flashed and disappeared.

A shrill scream echoed through the air.

"Bing'er!!!!!!"