Chapter 40: Cooking

Just as Ice Emperor was feeling a bit lost, the skeleton soldiers in the distance suddenly stopped fighting each other.

They simultaneously looked toward Ice Emperor, their hollow eye sockets flickering with ghostly soul flames as they raised their bone blades, a strange sense of longing emanating from them.

"Do they... want to fight me?"

Ice Emperor looked at the skeleton soldiers in confusion, not quite believing the thought that crossed its mind.

In the Extreme North, no—in the entire soul beast world—most soul beasts would either flee or beg for mercy upon seeing Ice Emperor. None had ever dared to raise a weapon against it.

But what Ice Emperor didn't realize was that this was the realm of the undead, outside the rules of the soul beast world. These low-level skeleton soldiers were part of the undead hierarchy.

They only craved life force. They had no sense of fear or respect—everything was measured by life energy, and they would stop at nothing to obtain it.

And from Ice Emperor, they felt an overwhelming vitality.

"Uwa... Uwa..."

The skeleton soldiers' bones screeched as they clashed together, and they charged at Ice Emperor all at once.

"What... What a chaotic place!"

Ice Emperor casually waved its pincers, and the skeleton soldiers exploded into icy shards.

After shattering, they emitted black smoke, which drifted into the air before slowly being absorbed into the surrounding environment, as if called by some unseen force.

"It's come to this... I'd better figure out where I am first."

With that thought, Ice Emperor transformed into a beam of emerald light and dashed off into the distance.

In the Outside World

"Elder Yi, how's the Ice Emperor?"

Jiang Jue asked excitedly.

Imprisoning the Ice Emperor was the first and most crucial step of his plan. Only if this succeeded could the rest of his schemes be executed.

"Rest assured, I never fail," Electrolux replied indifferently, his voice calm yet reassuring.

After all, this undead realm was his creation. Everything within it was under his control. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was a true god within this dimension.

"That's good," Jiang Jue responded, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Zhang Peng was unconscious now, but he couldn't be allowed to die. If Zhang Peng died, there would be too many questions about this expedition to the Extreme North.

Even as Zhongli Wu's favored disciple, such suspicions could cause unnecessary complications.

However, Zhang Peng now knew too much, so Jiang Jue needed to fully bring him to his side. Not just superficially, but in a way that ensured Zhang Peng's absolute loyalty—loyalty to him alone.

If he couldn't eliminate the suspicions, he would eliminate the person who could become a problem.

"Elder Yi, I'll need your help with this too."

Jiang Jue looked at Electrolux, who nodded slowly.

His fate was tied to Jiang Jue's—if Jiang Jue prospered, so would he; if Jiang Jue perished, so would he. His current existence was thanks to Jiang Jue, so as long as Jiang Jue's requests weren't too excessive, he was willing to help.

After observing Jiang Jue over the past six months, Electrolux had developed a deeper understanding of his character.

Jiang Jue was ambitious and cunning, willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goals, but he also adhered to his own set of principles and never wavered from them.

Such a man, if an enemy, would be a nightmare. But as an ally, he would be invaluable.

Jiang Jue lifted Zhang Peng and placed him in a meditative position on the ground.

Electrolux began chanting in an ancient, cryptic language, his voice low and resonant. A purple skeletal mark appeared in midair, pulsating with spiritual energy.

"Go!"

With a soft command, the purple skeletal mark flew into Zhang Peng's forehead.

Zhang Peng groaned, his face contorting in pain.

Moments later, a flame-like soul essence floated out from his brow, landing in Electrolux's palm.

"This is his soul flame. It grants complete control over his life and death. I've also placed a restriction in his mind. When he wakes up, he'll obey you without question," Electrolux explained, handing the soul flame to Jiang Jue.

Jiang Jue summoned his Soul Refining Banner, waving it gently. The flame was sucked inside.

Inside the banner, the Ice Prowess Tiger's beast spirit lunged toward the newly arrived flame, ready to assert its dominance and welcome the newcomer with its usual "greeting ritual."

Smack!

Howl!

Before it could reach the soul flame, a black ghost chain appeared and whipped it away.

"Guard this soul flame, or I'll break your legs," Jiang Jue's voice thundered inside the banner. The Ice Prowess Tiger whimpered, feeling unjustly treated.

Why is it always me?

"You hear me?" Jiang Jue's voice grew even more menacing, and the Ice Prowess Tiger hurriedly yelped in compliance, not daring to protest further.

What sort of hell did I end up in? Is there any hope left for me?

After securing Zhang Peng's soul flame, Jiang Jue kicked off the ground and raced towards the spot where Masked Douluo had fallen.

Masked Douluo was probably just frozen by Ice Emperor's attack, not dead, Jiang Jue thought to himself.

If he were dead, I'd just inherit his possessions... after all, as a Saint Spirit Church elder, his wealth belongs to the Church, and since I'll control the Church one day, it's only logical that it goes to me.

The thought cleared his mind, and he sped up.

He soon arrived at the spot where Masked Douluo lay encased in ice.

Tap, tap, tap!

Jiang Jue knocked on the ice, producing a crisp sound.

As he extended his spiritual sense into the ice, a chilling sensation surged into his mind.

"This Ultimate Ice is truly terrifying—it can even freeze souls," Jiang Jue murmured.

He channeled his spiritual sea, using its continuous tidal flow to disperse the icy aura.

"Oh, still alive," Jiang Jue remarked, though a flash of disappointment crossed his eyes.

"Elder Yi, I'll need your help once more."

Masked Douluo was frozen solid, his soul encased in ice. If Jiang Jue forcefully shattered the ice, the body and soul would likely break apart too.

This called for Electrolux's Ultimate Light.

When in doubt, consult Elder Yi.

Electrolux didn't waste words. He waved his hand, summoning light elements from the air, condensing them into golden liquid.

The liquid radiated warmth and gentleness, carrying a faint aura of holy origin.

As the liquid was poured over the ice, thick steam rose, shrouding the area in mist.

Masked Douluo's figure gradually became visible once more.

(End of Chapter)