Chapter 377: Entering the Ruins

One month later.

"This should be the place, right?" Xiao Han examined the enormous iceberg before him with some uncertainty. Over this period, he had circled the Extreme North in its entirety, searching so thoroughly he could have conducted a census of the species in the Extreme North.

Yet, only in this place, under the perception of his Emperor Realm Soul, was there a trace of imperceptible incongruity.

"How is one supposed to enter this?"

Xiao Han discovered an awkward fact: he had no idea how to enter the inheritance.

After thinking for a long time without result...

"Forget it, I might as well give it a try!" Xiao Han shook his head, then immediately circulated the Ice Emperor Canon. A chilling, somber cold Qi radiated from his body, and the surrounding space instantly stagnated; even the dancing snowflakes were fixed in mid-air, motionless.

"Hm?" Just at this moment, Xiao Han's gaze flashed. "As expected..."

The next instant, the otherwise ordinary iceberg split open without warning. A cold, clear radiance spilled onto Xiao Han, making him look as if he were draped in a light veil under the sunlight.

Just as Xiao Han had expected, as the Inheritance Ruins of the Ice Emperor, the Ice Emperor Canon was undoubtedly the best proof of identity and the most direct way to gain the ruins' recognition.

Just then, a sudden change occurred. Xiao Han was slightly distracted, and after a moment of trance, when he opened his eyes again, he had already reappeared in a brand-new place.

Unlike the frozen, snowy world of the Extreme North, and without the grandfather figure similar to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor that Xiao Han had expected, this place was like an extremely ordinary farmhouse courtyard nestled deep in the woods.

Many vegetables were planted in the garden plot, the dewdrops on the tips of the leaves revealing a touch of verdancy. Most eye-catching were the stone table nearby and the two stone cups and a pot of steaming tea placed opposite each other upon it.

Frowning slightly, Xiao Han lifted his foot. He hesitated for a moment, but still pulled back the leg he was about to step forward with. In such a completely unfamiliar environment—and one left behind by an Imperial-level powerhouse—it was better not to act rashly.

Just as Xiao Han was having a brainstorm in his mind, a crisp, refreshing laugh suddenly drifted from behind him.

"Little friend, since you have arrived, then please take a seat."

Xiao Han was startled and turned around, stunned to discover the young man watching him with a smile. Although he looked to be about the same age as himself, one could never trust appearances.

Judging by how this person had just addressed him, this individual was clearly an old monster who had lived for who knows how many years, or rather...

"Are you..."

"That Ice Emperor?" Xiao Han asked tentatively.

Pointing to the bluestone stool beside the stone table, the young man smiled: "Sit down first, then we shall talk!"

Xiao Han did not object and walked straight to a stone stool to sit down. Just as he sat, he raised his head and saw the figure who had quietly taken a seat opposite him at some unknown time.

"It seems those little brats from back then have grown up now!"

After examining Xiao Han for a short while, the young man suddenly uttered a nonsensical remark.

Seeing the bewilderment in Xiao Han's expression, the young man smiled slightly. "Do you have any questions?"

"Perhaps I can answer some for you."

Xiao Han's eyes flickered. He had a whole basket full of doubts, and for a moment, he didn't know where to start. The scene fell into a brief silence.

Seeing this, the young man's expression remained unchanged, and he spoke first: "Since that is the case, then I shall answer your previous question first!"

Hearing this, Xiao Han's eyes lit up, and he looked over with anticipation, then heard the young man say:

"I am him, yet I am not that person."

"To be precise, I am merely a remnant soul left behind by that person to guard this place."

"Therefore..."

The remnant soul youth looked at Xiao Han with a smile and said: "My memories consist only of all the information regarding these ruins and some common knowledge. As for anything else, do not harbor any delusions."

A bucket of cold water was poured over his head, and Xiao Han calmed down quite a bit. It seemed his idea of obtaining more ancient secrets from this person had gone down the drain.

Thinking this through, Xiao Han asked curiously: "Senior, could you reveal some details about this final inheritance?"

An examiner leaking the test questions—that should be fine... right?

However, what Xiao Han thought was a whimsical idea was met with a single sentence...

"Alright!"

"Hm?" Xiao Han was dumbfounded.

He saw the Ice Emperor's remnant soul say with no self-awareness: "That is a small matter."

The casual manner was as if he were just taking out the trash.

"A small matter?"

"Your current cultivation should be at the late Nine-Star Dou Sheng stage, right?" the Ice Emperor's remnant soul asked, though it seemed he was merely confirming the answer.

Xiao Han nodded subconsciously, and then he saw the remnant soul clap his hands, as if relieved of a burden. "Isn't that just perfect!"

"This shall be left to you!"

Xiao Han looked at the hexagonal snowflake sent before his eyes, and a row of question marks couldn't help but appear above his head.

Why did this thing look so much like the items he gave his own juniors for self-defense?

"This is..."

Xiao Han looked at the remnant soul in confusion. How could he have the feeling of being dumped with a hot potato?

Especially the craftiness mixed into the other party's gentleness, which made doubts arise in Xiao Han's heart.

"This thing can allow you to break through to Dou Di," the remnant soul youth said with a calm, unruffled expression.

"Dou Di?" Xiao Han was startled, his palm hidden under his sleeve subconsciously clenching tight.

Although he had long guessed that anything treated as a Dou Di inheritance could not be a simple item, the temptation of a Dou Di still made him almost lose his composure.

"Well, do you want it or not?" The Ice Emperor's remnant soul asked with a smile, his eyes flashing with an inexplicable meaning.

Seeing that Xiao Han was still hesitant, the remnant soul added: "If my guess is correct, this world should no longer be able to produce an existence like a Dou Di, right?"

"How does Senior know?" Xiao Han suddenly sobered up, feeling a chill in his heart.

But he saw the former shake his head and say: "This is merely what the memories in my mind indicate; I am not clear on the specific reasons."

Then, the tone shifted: "Since that is the case, opportunity knocks but once. Do you wish to witness..."

"The scenery of the continent's number one powerhouse?"

Just as the remnant soul thought the other party had been swayed and revealed a confident smile, Xiao Han suddenly looked up and asked out of the blue, "Senior, this thing shouldn't be so easy to take, right?"

Looking with slight surprise at the faint, lingering smile on the corner of Xiao Han's mouth, the remnant soul of the Imperial slowly withdrew its smile and said with a hint of regret:

"You still saw through it!"

"Indeed, this thing is truly not so easy to take."

"After all, there is gain only with loss; if you want to obtain benefits, how can you not bear the risks involved!"

Xiao Han's expression suddenly turned serious; was it finally time to get to the main point?

He immediately sat up straight and said respectfully, "I ask that Senior please enlighten me."

"Sigh!" With a light sigh, the young man with the remnant soul slowly began to speak: "Do you..."

"Know the identity of the Imperial?"