The soul-powered aircraft landed at the Tiandou City Spirit Transmission Tower Airport. Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena stepped off the aircraft and looked at the tower-shaped building not far away.
Tiandou City's geographic location was very special — it is adjacent to the Star Dou Great Forest, and its distance from Shrek City was also quite close.
And the branch tower master here was the Savage Beast — Bear Lord!
Huo Yuhao turned his head to look at Gu Yuena, his expression strange. "Is Bear Lord really okay with this?"
He simply couldn't imagine Bear Lord in formal attire, acting as a branch tower master...
"No problem. But originally, he didn't want to be a branch tower master."
Gu Yuena smiled. "It's just that he wanted to observe Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's Heaven Forging up close, to learn from it — that's why he came. And, as you said, 'after three days of separation, you should look at someone with new eyes.' With people assisting Him, with his strength, he's certainly fine to hold down a region."
"I was being too subjective." Huo Yuhao smiled helplessly and walked out of the airport with Gu Yuena.
As a historic city, to maintain its original character, the Federation had regulations that no building in Tiandou City could exceed fifty meters in height that is, limited to below ten floors. Therefore, no skyscrapers were seen here. Instead, many ancient trees exceeded fifty meters in height.
The Spirit Transmission Tower branch here also followed this rule, not making itself special. It was only fifty meters tall, standing in the center of Tiandou City.
However, the two did not go to the Tiandou branch of the Spirit Transmission Tower. Instead, they went to a hotel.
According to Luo Yanglu, the person who wanted to see them was staying here.
The hotel was located in a bustling area of Tiandou City. Its exterior was elegant and grand, a blend of modern and traditional architectural styles, full of historical charm.
Stepping into the hotel, Gu Yuena glanced in the direction behind the hotel, was silent for a moment, then looked at Huo Yuhao. "You're probably going to catch up, right? Although I don't know why she wants to see me, the two of you probably need some time alone. I'll wait here for a while."
She had also noticed Luo Yanglu's hints. She probably knew who had asked Huo Yuhao to come here.
They hadn't seen each other in who knew how many years. They would certainly need some time to catch up. She wouldn't disturb them. She would ask later why she had been invited.
Huo Yuhao nodded. He watched Gu Yuena find a chair, sit down, and become an internet-addicted girl. He did not walk to the front desk to ask for someone but went directly to the pavilion behind the hotel.
He and Gu Yuena could both sense the spatial power there.
That person was over there.
The hotel's pavilion was located by a quiet lake, surrounded by lush ancient trees. A gentle breeze brought the fresh scent of grass and trees.
The lake water was clear to the bottom. Occasionally, a few small fish leaped out of the water, causing ripples.
Huo Yuhao stepped inside, disturbing the tranquility of the place.
Logically, at this time, many people should have been resting in the pavilion. But when Huo Yuhao walked in, he didn't see a single person.
"Cleared out," Huo Yuhao chuckled.
Looking at the empty pavilion, he took another step forward.
Space shifted. In the blink of an eye, a white-clothed figure had already landed in the pavilion, a step ahead of Huo Yuhao.
She was a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, her figure tall and slender, her body perfect. A pure white, flawless long dress accentuated her noble and peerlessly beautiful temperament.
As if sensing Huo Yuhao's gaze, the girl slowly turned her head to look at him, revealing a stunning face.
Her eyes were a clear, ethereal sky-blue, as pure and transparent as crystal. Her long hair, white as ice and snow, cascaded from the back of her head all the way to her feet, swaying gently in the lake breeze and carrying with it a faint chill.
Their blue eyes met—an eternity captured within a single glance.
Huo Yuhao smiled softly.
"I'm back."
The Snow Empress, known to the world as cold and peerless, gazed at him and revealed a faint smile. That smile was like a ray of winter sunlight, melting the surrounding frost and stirring warmth deep within the heart.
"It's good that you're back."
"Senior Yulai?"
Gu Yuena looked at the cold-looking woman who had suddenly appeared before her. She stopped fiddling with her soul tool light screen, her expression somewhat surprised. "Why are you here too?"
Leng Yulai looked at the black-haired, black-eyed girl before her, and for a moment didn't recognize her. But recalling what her sister sister had told her, she instantly understood. Her tone was gentle. "It's Na'er. I came with Tower Master Snow Empress. And you?"
She was quite concerned about this disciple of her sister sister.
"Probably Tower Master Snow Empress... asked Yuhao and me to come together," Gu Yuena said.
"Yuhao?" Leng Yulai was startled. Hearing Gu Yuena's soft tone, she
inexplicably recalled her own days of pining for Yun Ming.
Thinking back carefully, at that time, she had been like a demon possessed. It was as if she couldn't live without Yun Ming.
If not for Lady Snow Empress directly freezing her into an ice sculpture, letting her calm down for ten years, and then resolving their misunderstanding, she would have been finished for the rest of her life.
She didn't know how she had dared.
Did she really think the Holy Spirit Cult was stronger than the Spirit Transmission Tower? Or did she think that by becoming an evil spirit master, she could escape from the Spirit Transmission Tower?
What the First Generation Tower Master had said was reasonable. Being love-brained wouldn't do at the very least, one must be rational. A mindset where nothing mattered except the loved one was not acceptable. It was easy to lose one's intelligence.
Thinking this, Leng Yulai looked at Gu Yuena.
"The Yuhao you speak of is the one who passed the red level assessment — Huo Yuhao, right? What kind of person is he?"
This girl was luckier than her. The person she liked was in the Spirit Transmission Tower, not violating the ancestral instructions. And his talent was good. But as for his character, she felt it was worth observing.
"Yuhao?"
Although Gu Yuena found Leng Yulai's question somewhat unusual, she still offered a brief response out of respect for the other's status. "In my view, he…"
As she listened, Leng Yulai gradually formed an image of Huo Yuhao in her mind.
He was the kind of person who treated others the way they treated him—returning kindness in equal measure. His temperament was calm and composed.
Someone like that would likely hold a more traditional view of love. He wouldn't be as impulsive or passionate as she had once been; instead, he preferred to let things unfold naturally.
There were pros and cons. It would probably take a long time to come to fruition. But at least the positive feedback feedback along the way would not be small. Even if they eventually didn't end up together, it wouldn't be a total loss...
Leng Yulai glanced at Gu Yuena, thought for a moment, and tell her some of her own thoughts.
Huo Yuhao sat down in the pavilion and smiled. "Why did you choose to meet in Tiandou?"
"I had some things to handle here. I was originally going to go to Eastsea to find you, but this ended up delaying me."
Snow Empress's eyes flickered with a smile. "Speaking of which, since you've re-cultivated, why didn't you go directly to the Extreme North?"
Ten thousand years without seeing each other, but their conversation didn't feel distant at all — it was completely natural.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "When I first heard the news that you weren't appearing publicly, I guessed that you had re-cultivated. So I didn't go, to avoid causing you trouble."
Snow Empress chuckled. "I think you simply didn't want to rely on me anymore. Your wings are strong now — you feel you can manage on your own."
The three in the Sea of Spirit nodded inwardly.
That's right, that's right. Snow Empress was right.
Yuhao — his wings were strong. He looked down on their group of the old, the weak, and the disabled.
"Not at all." Huo Yuhao smiled helplessly. "If it weren't for you, I'd probably be living the same kind of life as ten thousand years ago again."
Over ten thousand years, there were many contingencies he couldn't arrange himself. He could only entrust them to people he trusted.
Su Tong wouldn't do, Juechen wouldn't do, Gu Yi wouldn't do either not just because of trust, but also because of the issue of lifespan. Even if they themselves had no problems, their descendants might not be trustworthy.
Ten thousand years ago, the person he chose to entrust everything to was Snow Empress. He trusted only her.
Certainly, Emperor Tian was strong, but he lacked flexibility. The original Spirit Transmission Tower had invited the Star Dou Great Forest to join, but they had ultimately been driven out. And Emperor Tian was an outsider. Huo Yuhao didn't trust him.
Over these ten thousand years, during the times when the Spirit Transmission Tower had no Limit Douluos, it was Snow Empress herself who personally sat in the headquarters, shielding the tower from wind and rain.
The Extreme North was also an important faction within the Spirit Transmission Tower, avoiding the situation of one family dominating as in the original work.
If it weren't for Snow Empress, what he would have seen when he woke up might still have been that regrettable Spirit Transmission Tower...
Huo Yuhao's eyes rippled. He sighed.
"Over these ten thousand years... I owe you too much."
Hearing this, Snow Empress's eyes rippled. She looked at Huo Yuhao and asked a question that seemed unrelated to this topic. "Do you know the name of my Four-Word Battle Armor?"
Huo Yuhao was started.
"Although it wasn't necessary and I've never used it outside, I still gave my Battle Armor a name."
Seeing the expression on Huo Yuhao's face, the Snow Empress's gaze grew even gentler, though her tone remained solemn.
"My Four-Word Battle Armor is called—Spirit Ice Crossing Snow."
"Ten thousand years ago, you protected me—helping me survive the Heavenly Tribulation and allowing the Extreme North to endure in peace for ten millennia. Now, it is my turn to protect you… to help you ascend to godhood."
…
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao met the Snow Empress's gaze. In that silent exchange, it felt as though a thousand words had already been spoken.
Memories of his long journey surfaced in his mind.
The Snow Empress, Gu Yuena, Emperor Tian, the Spirit Souls, Tang Wulin… each of them was now walking a different path.
Was that a good thing? The future was uncertain—impossible to judge. But at this moment, weren't they all living their lives well enough?
Yes… it was protection.
Protecting the world, protecting the mortal realm, protecting others… and protecting oneself.
A brand-new artistic conception arose within Huo Yuhao, surging forth alongside his spiritual power. The Snow Empress was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and shook her head.
"When it comes to artistic conception, no one in this era can compare to you."
"You flatter me," Huo Yuhao said with a faint smile, letting out a long breath. "I'm only capable of holding my own against those at my level. Without your guidance, it would have taken me much longer to even begin."
"It's nothing."
The Snow Empress shook her head gently. "As I said, there's no need to keep bringing up what happened over these ten thousand years. Haven't I owed you just as much? With the bond between us, why be so formal?"
Huo Yuhao replied, "Even close brothers settle their accounts clearly. When a debt of gratitude grows too great, it can turn into resentment. Taking others' efforts for granted is never a good thing. To a spirit beast, ten thousand years may not be long—but to me, it's far too much to owe."
Hearing this, the Snow Empress cast him a sidelong glance, a faint, meaningful smile playing at her lips.
"Ten thousand years have passed, yet you haven't changed at all. Fine—I won't argue with you over principles. Just remember this: if one day you can't repay me, and I ask something of you… don't blame me for calling in that debt."
…
Huo Yuhao's brows drew together slightly. Looking at the smile on her face, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Snow Empress wouldn't use the kindness she'd given to demand something in certain matters, would she?
And if she wanted something, she could just say so directly. It wasn't as if he wouldn't give it.
After all, in his heart, Skydream, Electrolux, Ice Empress, and Snow Empress all had the same status — no higher, no lower. Others could at most be equal to these four, never surpass them...
But since Snow Empress had pointed it out, it probably wasn't just empty words.
After thinking for a moment, Huo Yuhao still smiled. "Of course. If it's me who hasn't repaid you, I have no right to blame anyone for using that kindness to demand something."
Snow Empress smiled and said nothing.
In the Sea of Spirit, Ice Empress looked at Snow Empress outside. Watching Huo Yuhao and her began to chat about the events of the past ten thousand years, she narrowed her eyes.
After transforming into human form, Snow Empress's appearance hadn't changed much. She just had a little less coldness and a little more human warmth...
After a moment of silence, Ice Empress thought for a moment, then walked out of Huo Yuhao's body. "How have you been these ten thousand years? Have you gotten used to the human world?"
"Binger, it's good to see you well." Snow Empress's gaze turned to her. A smile appeared on her face. "I've been doing quite well. I imagine you feel the same. The Extreme North was a bit monotonous after all. The time I've spent these ten thousand years has been far more wonderful than the past."
"It's just that — compared to when you were there — it's been a bit lonely. The only one I could really talk to was Xiao Bai. But he's too ditsy — he just agrees with whatever I say. Others have some distance. It's also made me feel, for the first time, that ten thousand years... is a bit long."
Snow Empress's eyes became gentle. "But it's good — you're back now."
Hearing Snow Empress's words, Huo Yuhao and Ice Empress fell silent for a moment.
Ten thousand years — was that a bit long?
The few of them could form a mahjong table in the Sea of Spirit. But Snow Empress...
"Why the heavy expressions." Snow Empress looked at their faces and smiled helplessly. "Enough. We'll talk about it later. Let's discuss business now. After being apart for so long, I've brought you a gift today."
"A gift?" Huo Yuhao watched Snow Empress take a small box from her storage ring. His eyelids twitched.
He was now... somewhat sensitive to the word "gift."
Snow Empress placed the box on the table, opened it, and pushed it to Huo Yuhao.
In the center of the box lay a gem-like wonder.
It was about the size of a longan, elegantly shaped like a teardrop. Its surface was covered with densely packed tiny facets, emitting a cool, ice-blue luster.
Although its size was unremarkable, when the sun's light cast onto it, it was instantly reflected into
Countless rays of light — no longer golden, but a dazzling ice-blue.
These brilliant ice-blue rays of light seemed to transform into sharp rays, crisscrossing the space within the pavilion.
Looking at it, Huo Yuhao's pupils are condensed.
"Ice God Pearl!"
The Ice God Pearl — also called the Ice God's Heart — was an ice-attribute Divine Artifact. Its ability was cold — extremely cold.
As for its original origin, Huo Yuhao wasn't very clear. He only knew it might be in the Extreme North. From Gu Yuena's familiarity with it in the original work, it might also be related to the Divine Realm of the Dragon God era.
Ten thousand years ago, he had searched for it but hadn't found it. Later, he had mentioned it to Snow Empress. He hadn't expected that after ten thousand years, she had actually found it.
***
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