Chapter 178: The Ice Empress's Leap in Strength, Hugs and the Beginning of Reform

It is night.

A cool breeze sneaked into the room through the gap in the curtains. Shu Yan sat here alone in meditation. The surroundings were very quiet, with only some small insects making pleasant sounds among various exotic flowers and plants. Under the cold and hazy moonlight, this scene appeared exceptionally beautiful.

A subtle sound rang out in the room. Shu Yan opened his eyes abruptly, but before he could react, a white, slender jade finger had already pointed at the center of his eyebrows.

Following Shu Yan's gaze, the woman standing in front of him had white hair fluttering, and a white long dress was worn by her with an ethereal, fairy-like, illusory beauty. Her stunning face, familiar aura, and that sense of closeness that was there but not quite there—Shu Yan was stunned for a moment, and then he suddenly came to his senses.

His body, which had already been tense and ready to go, slowly relaxed. Overhead, the Snow Empress's cold voice clearly came: "When did your vigilance become so poor? With your spiritual power level, even if you couldn't discover my arrival, you should have had some sense..."

Shu Yan smiled helplessly. As the Snow Empress withdrew that jade finger, he was finally able to stand up, then said softly:

"After condensing the Yin-Yang Complementary Dual Soul Cores, your cultivation and strength have greatly increased, reaching a level infinitely close to Di Tian's. If it weren't for the suppression of the plane's laws, you and Di Tian should be able to break through to the True God realm in a very short time. Although my spiritual power is strong, it is definitely considered the weakest among all Limit Douluos. Being able to sense your arrival one second in advance is already the limit..."

The Snow Empress snorted coldly, then said:

"Glib-tongued. I think you've been dizzy by your existing achievements. Your vigilance is actually so poor. If I were someone else, I'm afraid you would be dead or half-crippled by now."

Shu Yan shook his head helplessly, but then, he quickly changed the subject.

"Snow Sister, when did you complete the condensation of the second soul core? Why didn't I have any sense..."

The Snow Empress glanced at Shu Yan, then sat on the sofa by herself, and then said: "I succeeded not long ago, but I have to say, the Yin-Yang Complementary second soul core is indeed wondrous. I now finally understand how huge the gap between the previous me and Di Tian was. Just in terms of space power, he wins me by a hundred or a thousand times."

As she spoke, the Snow Empress grasped casually, and the space in her white palm visibly twisted, but in the blink of an eye, it returned to its original state.

"The space power mastered by Di Tian should still be above mine, but now I can also perform long-distance space teleportation like him, provided I have coordinates. The mysteries of space are endless. The space power you master is just some fur. After you condense the Yin-Yang Complementary second soul core, your understanding and utilization of space power will be stronger than mine, but whether you can surpass Di Tian depends on yourself."

Shu Yan sat opposite the Snow Empress, lost in thought listening to the Snow Empress's words, then laughed and said: "Exactly, I plan to go to the Sun Moon Empire in a while. I don't plan to bring Jiujiu and the others."

The Snow Empress said "um," then slowly condensed a diamond-shaped ice crystal in her hand, and then sent it in front of Shu Yan.

"The Ice Sky Snow Maiden clan doesn't have such obvious characteristics as the Black Dragon clan. This ice crystal is condensed from a small part of my origin. It contains terrifying soul power. Your origin and mine are almost the same. If you encounter danger, I can locate your position through it and break through space to descend at the first time. Of course, you can also choose to fuse with the power within it and solve it yourself."

"I made a rough estimation. After you fuse with this energy, facing a level 95 or 96 Super Douluo, I won't say you can abuse them, but if you play properly, it won't be difficult to kill the other party..."

Shu Yan held the ice crystal in his hand. Immediately, the ice crystal turned into a cold current and escaped into his body, then stayed above his dantian.

The Snow Empress watched Shu Yan quietly, her gaze slowly becoming gentle. Regarding Shu Yan, her emotions were actually quite complex—both the doting of a sister for a younger brother, the strictness and guidance of a teacher for a student, and a hint of attachment and liking like a lover. In any case, during the time she was condensing her soul core, Shu Yan had indeed experienced quite a bit and had become more mature.

"I have some understanding of the things that have happened in the outside world recently. Congratulations on returning to your family."

The Snow Empress said softly.

Shu Yan smiled. Thinking for a moment, he suddenly said: "Actually, I also miss you quite a bit, Snow Sister..."

The Snow Empress was stunned, then rolled her eyes lightly.

"Ling Luochen, that little girl from the Southern Region who is flirting with you, Han Ruoruo, Zhang Lexuan who wants to repay your kindness—there are quite a few girls involved with you during this period. I don't think your scumbag heart can remember someone like me..."

Shu Yan wasn't surprised that the Snow Empress would know these things. He shook his head lightly, then said:

"Feeling and emotion are different. Although I am more sentimental, I won't treat the emotions for everyone together."

Hearing this, the Snow Empress snorted lightly, then said:

"I think you feel that conquering this Empress and making this Empress beg for mercy under you is very fulfilling. A scumbag is a scumbag; don't find reasons for your behavior."

Shu Yan looked at the Snow Empress helplessly. It wasn't just condensing a soul core; how could someone as noble and proud as the Snow Empress say such things righteously? He seriously suspected that it was Xue Ling who taught the pure Snow Empress bad things!

The two were silent for a moment. Not long after, the Snow Empress stood up and walked slowly to the window.

She looked at the waning moon in the sky, then said softly: "You are about to break through to the Soul Douluo realm. Originally, Bing'er wanted to be your seventh soul ring, but then an accident occurred. She will sacrifice herself when you are at the eighth ring. I think there shouldn't be much time left..."

Shu Yan stood up and came to the Snow Empress's side, laughed lightly, then said: "It doesn't affect anything. Even if she sacrifices herself to me, with the help of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's Cold Extreme Yin Spring and the remaining Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow, she can still condense a body, but her combat power will be affected."

The Snow Empress also just shook her head with a light smile. She looked at Shu Yan, then said seriously:

"This is different. If she sacrifices herself to you, you will truly live and die together. Even if we made the oath very early, we still feel nervous and confused until this moment is approaching. You thought why she has been hiding from seeing you recently? She is afraid that her emotions will be captured by you..."

"This..."

Shu Yan admitted that he really hadn't thought of this layer. The Ice Empress's whereabouts had been mysterious recently. Speaking of which, he indeed hadn't had a good chat with the Ice Empress for a while.

Seeing Shu Yan's expression, the Snow Empress burst into laughter, then reached out and pinched Shu Yan's cheek, saying softly:

"Don't think too much. Bing'er is just like this. If she has anything or is in a bad mood, she will hide it in her heart. Even me, sometimes I can't see through her heart. Cultivate with peace of mind; I'll find time to chat with her."

Shu Yan suddenly reached out and held the hand that the Snow Empress was pinching his cheek with. The cold, boneless touch was very comfortable. The Snow Empress couldn't break free, so she let Shu Yan be.

Seeing that the Snow Empress didn't resist, Shu Yan boldly pulled the Snow Empress into his arms.

The Snow Empress had a faint, elegant fragrance on her body, which made people's nerves relax involuntarily. Shu Yan's hand wrapped around the Snow Empress's waist, letting her lean into his arms. The Snow Empress's cheek was against his chest. She closed her sky-blue beautiful eyes, then said:

"Only allowed to hug for a while, not allowed to touch randomly, and even less allowed to push your luck, understand?"

Shu Yan said "um" lightly, buried his face in the Snow Empress's hair, and smelled that fragrance that made him somewhat intoxicated...

……

About a quarter of an hour later, the Snow Empress still pushed Shu Yan away gently. She tidied up her hair, which had been messed up by Shu Yan, then said softly: "This time you should be glad you didn't dare to move your hands and feet, otherwise, I'm afraid you would only be able to spend these two days in bed..."

Shu Yan smiled. Although the Snow Empress said so, her body was still very honest. For an existence as proud and powerful as the Snow Empress, he naturally didn't dare to be too impatient. Otherwise, the Snow Empress saying he would lie in bed for two days wasn't a joke.

The current Shu Yan facing the Snow Empress is basically ten-zero, Snow Empress ten, Shu Yan zero.

The night was already very deep. Under the moonlight, a faint smile appeared on the Snow Empress's face. She looked at Shu Yan, then said:

"Rest early, I'm leaving..."

Shu Yan watched her gradually disappearing back, his thoughts flying, but then, he shook his head, organized the thoughts that surged up in an instant, and then entered the meditation state again.

……

Peaceful life continues.

Shu Yan's life has had some subtle changes these few days. He needs at least two or three months to break through to the Soul Douluo realm. Shu Yan is not in a hurry for this. In recent days, his main goal has gradually shifted toward the idea of changing the situation in Star Luo. Xu Jiujiu has been by his side, and Shu Yan once gave her a promise to reform Star Luo, so naturally, he couldn't break his word. He had to consider it carefully when his own strength was not enough, but now everything is completely different. And Star Luo undoubtedly needs such a reform, removing the decaying and backward parts to enter a period of high-speed development. And those nobles and forces blocking this path naturally have no need to exist. Before the future war truly breaks out, the time in Star Luo is still abundant. Xu Jiawei made up his mind to reform the entire country according to the plan they discussed. The soul master power belonging to the imperial family is being mobilized secretly, and even several elders of the Star Crown Sect who have long been hidden from the world have been invited to Star Luo City. Shu Yan invited five Title Douluos and one Super Douluo from his family to Star Luo City. They also brought dozens of high-level soul masters, plus several consultants who were only loyal to the imperial family, as well as shadow guards and secret guards. In a short time, they had already formed an extremely terrifying soul master force.

Shu Yan doesn't want to deal with that group of decaying nobles who are greedy for power and status. Since they stand on the opposite side of him, the ending for all of them is only death.

Verbal persuasion is too wasteful of time. Killing in this world where strength is supreme is often the most effective way. But this process will not be too fast or tragic in a short time. In a short time, it will be maintained at a controllable level, otherwise, the domestic situation will soon be violently turbulent.

Xu Jiawei will soon re-announce several important decisions that were rejected by some dignitaries before. Star Luo City is the starting point for all this. Shu Yan is looking forward to how wonderful this big drama that radiates across the country will be. Before the next Soul Master Grand Competition, this ancient country with a history of tens of thousands of years will usher in a transformation.

Shu Yan is essentially not interested in these things, but Xu Jiujiu is different. She loves her motherland, and many times she has to consider national interests. Shu Yan can be considered loving the house and its crow. Even if he doesn't like it, he does his best to help Xu Jiujiu realize her wish.

If there must be a country to unify the entire continent in the future, why can't it be Star Luo? Looking at the blood-red setting sun in the distant sky, Shu Yan thought so...

……

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 179 =====

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