Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

"Well, I suppose you could say that," Han Li smiled.

"But at the very least, I gave you the right to choose, didn't I? Even if the outcome won't change much."

From one perspective, his words were rather shameless, but the three didn't argue. Even the Ice Empress, who had been quite irritable earlier, only shot him a glare before falling silent.

"So, aside from us cooperating with you to gather faith energy, is there anything else?"

After thinking for a moment, the Snow Empress asked again.

"No, nothing else. Or rather, meeting with you was just incidental—not for any particular reason. If you had agreed to follow Gu Yue's instructions from the start, I wouldn't have even shown up."

Han Li waved his hand dismissively. He wasn't lying about that.

"By the way, you can try cultivating the technique that was transmitted to your minds. Given your current state, it shouldn't be too difficult to start understanding the rules—especially you, Snow Empress. Your progress might be surprisingly fast."

For humans, once they reach the rank of Super Douluo, they need to gain insight into their martial souls, which, in a sense, is a way of touching the rules, though it's closely related to their martial souls. As for soul beasts, it's similar, but more inclined toward the properties of their elements. In this regard, soul beasts have an advantage—of course, this assumes you overlook their extremely slow cultivation speed in the early stages.

"We'll give it a try."

The Snow Empress nodded, agreeing to his suggestion.

Han Li was quite satisfied with their attitude. This was what he appreciated about soul beasts—once you showed absolute strength, unless it was a situation where they would fight to the death, most of the time they would choose to submit, rarely questioning or betraying.

"All right, now go inform your clans and affiliated tribes to follow Gu Yue's instructions."

Han Li turned to the Ice Empress and the Ice Devil Titan.

The two exchanged a glance with the Snow Empress, then nodded. It would take them some time to get used to having a new leader.

"The technique might speed up your tribulation process. When the time comes, Snow Empress, you can contact me in advance. No need to worry; helping you easily pass your next tribulation will be simple."

A jade token landed in front of the Snow Empress. This item had already appeared during the spiritual sharing earlier, so she wouldn't have any trouble using it.

Upon hearing this, the three of them couldn't help but show some interest. Their gazes toward Han Li were now almost free of hostility, with even a hint of gratitude.

The classic tactic of giving a stick and then a sweet reward—Han Li was quite familiar with it. And apart from being somewhat forceful, he hadn't harmed them. He had offered them assistance, amounting to a fair exchange. This kind of situation was almost unheard of in the soul beast world.

The castle grew quiet for a moment. The Ice Devil Titan reluctantly tore his gaze from the jade token, stood up, and took his leave. His steps quickened as he exited the castle, and once outside, he transformed into his true form and quickly disappeared with a rumble.

The others turned their gazes toward the Ice Empress, who remained in place, seemingly unbothered.

"I'll stay with the Snow Empress for a while longer. You don't mind sparing a little more time, do you?"

The Ice Empress's eyes flickered, unwilling to leave just yet. There was something incomprehensible in the way she looked at Han Li.

She, the Ice Empress, was a warrior of pure loyalty, refusing to betray her own. One sting from her scorpion tail could take down any who threatened her or the Snow Empress.

Han Li's gaze when looking at her and the Snow Empress was different. Even if the odds were slim, she would remain the last line of defense for the Snow Empress.

"Heh~"

Han Li glanced at her with a strange laugh. He had almost forgotten—this one was a rarity, a fierce protector on a continent often devoid of such loyalty.

The Ice Empress shuddered a little under Han Li's gaze but still glared back defiantly. She would protect the Snow Empress no matter what.

The Snow Empress frowned but relaxed when she saw that Han Li wasn't going to argue the point.

"Next, I must trouble you, Snow Empress, to take us to the Icefire Dragon Cave," Han Li said, looking at the Snow Empress. This was the main reason he had come to meet the three kings of the Extreme North.

Perhaps because he had sealed off the Icefire Yin Yang Well, that scoundrel Rong Nianbing had placed his legacy in a cave in the Extreme North. The cave, where glaciers and volcanoes coexisted, was unique, but its location was very close to the territory of the three kings.

Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er's divine trials wouldn't take too long, but they certainly couldn't be completed in just a few days. That was why Han Li had made his presence known so openly.

Thanks to storage soul tools, food wasn't a concern, but they still needed to notify the locals. Though the two girls were strong, this was still the heart of the Extreme North; they couldn't assume that the soul beasts here would be pushovers.

Hearing his request, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress were momentarily stunned but then nodded. The Icefire God Cave was located at the center of their territory, so they were well-acquainted with it.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Wait a moment."

Just as Han Li was about to move, he remembered something and turned to Shui Bing'er. He tore open space and disappeared before everyone's eyes. The Snow Empress and Ice Empress exchanged glances, unsure how to react.

In less than a minute, a silver portal reappeared, and Han Li stepped out, holding two lotuses—one large and one small.

"A hundred-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus!"

The Ice Empress shot up from her seat, unable to conceal the fiery desire in her eyes. She wanted it badly.

Han Li glanced at her and said calmly, "You want it? Fine. Go catch a hundred-thousand-year-old ice-attribute soul beast for me to trade; I don't mind."

He had been eyeing this Snow Lotus for a long time, even using the power of the rules to conceal and nurture it to the hundred-thousand-year mark. Though it hadn't developed intelligence, it could still produce a soul bone and enhance both physique and elemental affinity. If left to grow, it might eventually develop intelligence and become a second Snow Empress.

For now, it was an extremely potent natural treasure—perfectly suited for Shui Bing'er's seventh soul ring. He had even abandoned the idea of nurturing a hundred-thousand-year-old Ice Phoenix for this.

"Uh…"

The Ice Empress closed her mouth. If it were a ninety-thousand-year-old beast, she wouldn't mind hunting one of the rival species to trade. But a hundred-thousand-year-old one? Only Xiao Bai at the gate would be suitable, and the Snow Empress would never agree to that.

"Your Excellency, would you consider trading the ten-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus? Xiao Bai is just a step away from crossing the hundred-thousand-year threshold. I can offer a soul bone in exchange."

It was the Snow Empress who spoke up. She had her eyes on that ten-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus, hoping to use it to aid Xiao Bai in his tribulation.

It wasn't that she doubted Han Li—he had demonstrated corresponding strength, and with the shared spiritual memories, she didn't think he was deceiving them. But with tribulations, one could never be too cautious.

With Xiao Bai's strength, passing the first tribulation wasn't a major concern. But she wanted to understand the extent of the weakening, should things go as planned. Otherwise, she would still be anxious, even if they shifted to cultivating Mysterious Heaven Skill.

"Agreed."

After a brief moment of thought, Han Li nodded. He had planned to take the small Snow Lotus back to the Icefire Yin Yang Well, but this trade seemed worthwhile.

The Snow Empress smiled and used her soul power to float a sou bone, emanating cold air, to Han Li.

"This is the torso bone of a nearly hundred-thousand-year-old Ice Luan that failed its tribulation. It should be quite suitable for this young lady," she said, glancing at Shui Bing'er, who had already taken the Snow Lotus, making her goodwill clear. Soul bones were of little use to them, so trading them for something to help Xiao Bai was a wise choice.

It was indeed a good deal. Without hesitation, Han Li tossed the ten-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus to the Snow Empress.

This soul bone was far superior to the eighty-five-thousand-year-old one he had obtained from Di Tian. It was also a better fit for Shui Bing'er. After absorbing it, or when it eventually transformed into a divine set, she might be able to advance even further. The trade benefited him immensely.

The Ice Empress pursed her lips and let it go. She wasn't particularly interested in collecting soul bones, and those she had from her kin weren't of particularly high age. Besides, she wouldn't compete with the Snow Empress.

"I also have some other ice-attribute and neutral high-grade treasures. If you want to trade, I'll take high-year soul bones. They're effective for all of you."

Han Li blinked, pulling out other herbs he had harvested from the Icefire Yin Yang Well, like caterpillar fungus, and looked at the two.

These were of no use to him now, but trading them for soul bones wouldn't be a bad idea. Grandpa Ma Xiuno and Brother Tao could try to assemble a set later.

The Snow Empress and Ice Empress blinked and then resumed trading. They even called back the Ice Devil Titan, who had just left.

As for Xiao Bai, aside from his tribe, he had given almost all his valuables to the Snow Empress. He was just a bystander in this whole process.

"All right, let's head to the square outside. Bing'er can absorb her soul ring there, and while we're at it, the Ice Bear King can advance as well."

Once the exchanges were done, Han Li took on a leader's demeanor and led his group outside. The three kings of the Extreme North followed obediently, almost as if they were the guests now.

...

In the square, Shui Bing'er had already swallowed the hundred-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus. Since it hadn't developed intelligence, there was no need for a sacrificial ritual. Once the absorption was complete, the soul ring would appear, and a corresponding head soul bone would form, with Shui Bing'er fully in control.

Han Li laid a divine shield over her, then walked toward the other side of the square with the Ice Bear King.

It was time for the Ice Bear King to undergo a tribulation, with Han Li's intervention.

The ten-thousand-year-old Snow Lotus had been swallowed by the Ice Bear King and was rapidly being refined, its soul power fluctuations growing harder to suppress.

Above the square, dark clouds gathered, and blue-white lightning snaked through the gray sky. An oppressive aura locked onto the massive white bear below.

Not far away, the Snow Empress looked on with concern, while the Ice Empress, appearing lazy and indifferent, didn't seem to care much.

The Ice Devil Titan, however, looked less than pleased. He and Xiao Bai had clashed many times, and without the Snow Empress's intervention, they might have settled their grudge by now. At this point, he didn't know whether to wish Xiao Bai luck or hope he perished in the tribulation.