76: Chapter 76: We should only target Hyotei; as for Yukitetsu, let's forget about it.

A month passed quietly amidst the jolting of the carriage.

The wheels ground over the thick snow, emitting a "creak, creak" sound, and finally entered the only city in the Far North—Ice North City.

As soon as they entered the city gate, the wind and snow rushed toward them like a white wave, bringing with it a biting chill that seemed as if it would freeze a person's bone marrow.

Looking around, the entire city was shrouded in ice and snow.

Thick snow piled up on the roofs of the houses, and crystal-clear icicles hung under the eaves. The trees on both sides of the street were frozen into ice sculptures, and even the air seemed to have condensed into a solid, carrying a needle-like chill when inhaled into the lungs.

Lu Jing wrapped his fur coat tightly around himself, burying half his face into the collar, and only then could he barely resist the pervasive cold wind.

He stepped off the carriage, his feet sinking into the snow that was deeper than his ankles, making a dull sound.

The carriage driver, already shivering from the cold, hurried to drive the carriage to the inn's backyard, while Lu Jing headed straight for the only decent-looking hotel in the city.

"Guest, please come in!"

The hotel owner was a burly man with a full beard, wearing a thick leather coat. Seeing Lu Jing enter, he enthusiastically greeted him: "The wind and snow are heavy outside, come in and warm up!"

Lu Jing nodded, brushed the snow off his body, and booked a room by the window.

Pushing open the door, a wave of warmth greeted him—a charcoal brazier was burning in the room, and although the light was a bit dim, it was enough to resist the severe cold outside.

He walked to the window and pushed it open a crack; the cold wind mixed with snow foam poured in instantly.

Outside the window, the wind and snow became even more violent. The distant horizon merged with the lead-grey sky, and one could vaguely see the boundless ice plains of the Far North, emitting an awe-inspiring aura like a sleeping giant beast.

"Tian Meng!"

Lu Jing gazed at that ice plain and asked in his heart: "Tell me, can you persuade the Ice Empress?"

In the spiritual sea, the chubby body of Tian Meng Ice Silkworm was curled up. Hearing Lu Jing's words, he lazily stretched, a trace of certainty flashing in his white eyes: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of pride: "Although there are still more than ten thousand years before the Ice Empress's deadline, I can guarantee that she absolutely cannot survive that heavenly tribulation. Never mind now, even ten thousand years later it would be impossible. Unless there is external intervention, she will undoubtedly die."

Tian Meng paused and continued: "Actually, even if we hadn't come to this World from ten thousand years ago, I originally planned to take you to the Far North to find her once you were strong enough. After all, the Ice Empress's spirit ring and Spirit Bone would be of great benefit to your God Position inheritance and self-creation. What's more, you have already obtained the opportunity for God Position inheritance. As long as I explain this to her, unless she is a fool, she will absolutely not refuse—after all, sacrificing to you is far better than dying under the heavenly tribulation."

Lu Jing nodded slightly; Tian Meng's words made sense.

Although the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion was formidable, it ultimately could not escape the cycle of life and death, especially the heavenly tribulation, which was a nightmare for Spirit Beasts.

If it could use the opportunity of sacrifice to continue its existence in another way, and even have the chance to witness a Spirit Master and itself becoming a god, any rational Spirit Beast would likely find it hard to refuse.

"Since you are confident in taking down the Ice Empress!"

Thinking of this, Lu Jing changed the subject, a hint of expectation flashing in his eyes, and asked: "Can we use the Ice Empress's relationship to also take down the Snow Empress?"

The Snow Empress, the ruler of the Far North, the third-ranked existence among the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, possessed unfathomable strength.

If he could obtain her spirit ring and origin, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to his God Position inheritance.

However, Tian Meng in the spiritual sea fell silent.

After a while, he sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness: "Xiao Jing, let's just target the Ice Empress; as for the Snow Empress… it's better not to think about it."

"Why?"

Lu Jing frowned and asked, puzzled: "They are both rulers of the Far North, their relationship shouldn't be bad, right?"

"The relationship isn't bad, but their personalities are Worlds apart."

Tian Meng explained earnestly: "That Ice Empress, she looks arrogant, but she actually cherishes her life the most. She has cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years and has an extreme desire to live. She is absolutely unwilling to just die under the heavenly tribulation, so she has sufficient reason to accept the sacrifice."

"But the Snow Empress is different."

Tian Meng's voice lowered a bit as he explained: "She is the Ice Jade Empress, the natural ruler of the Far North, and carries a pride engraved into her soul in her bones. To her, the dignity of the Far North and the glory of the Ice Jade Empress are more important than life. You want her to sacrifice herself to a human Spirit Master like the Ice Empress? She would rather die under the heavenly tribulation than agree. In her view, that is a stain on the name of the ruler of the Far North, which is absolutely unacceptable."

Tian Meng paused and added: "Moreover, the Snow Empress's strength is far greater than the Ice Empress's, and her nature is more stubborn. Never mind that I am just a worm; even if Di Tian came, he probably couldn't persuade her. Once she has made up her mind, even ten cows couldn't pull her back."

Hearing this, Lu Jing couldn't help but sigh softly. The expectation in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only a hint of regret: "That's truly a pity. If we could obtain the Snow Empress, our path to becoming a god could be shortened by at least half."

"Who says otherwise."

Tian Meng also sighed and said helplessly: "The Snow Empress's origin power is rarely pure. If it could be transformed into your spirit ring, your God Position inheritance would definitely be twice as effective... It's a pity, there's no way."

Silence fell in the room, with only the sound of the wind and snow howling outside the window.

Lu Jing looked at the distant Far North ice plains covered in ice and snow, pondering in his heart.

It seems that if he wants to obtain the Snow Empress's spirit ring, he will probably have to wait until he returns to the time ten thousand years later.

But by that time, what realm would he be in? Perhaps he would have already passed the tests and even become the new God King of Destruction.

By that step, the Snow Empress's spirit ring would probably not be of much use to him.

"Forget it, let's not think about it."

Lu Jing shook his head, casting these thoughts to the back of his mind, and reminded: "Let's deal with the Ice Empress first. Tian Meng, we will set off tomorrow to see the Ice Empress's lair."

"No problem."

Tian Meng replied: "At that time, you just need to show the aura of your God Position inheritance, plus my silver tongue, and I guarantee she will obediently nod."

A smile curled at the corner of Lu Jing's mouth. He wrapped his fur coat tightly around himself and walked to the charcoal brazier to warm his hands.

The Ice Empress is just the first step.

After taking her down, it will be time to return to Heaven Dou City and take Wang Donger to Sea God Island.

Angel God Position, Rakshasa God Position, Sea God Position, God Rank of Destruction—he wants to see how Tang San, relying solely on his Asura God Position, will compete with them!