"Rongrong, are you ready? We're setting out for the Extreme North. This will be a key turning point in your transformation!" At the very moment Tang Hao departed, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong also packed their bags.

"Don't worry, Brother Sword, everything's set." Ning Rongrong gave a thumbs up.

She seemed very happy, because this time it was just the two of them. Sometimes, a couple needed their own world instead of always bringing along a bunch of third wheels.

Moreover, the main goal of this trip was to help Ning Rongrong acquire her second martial soul. If too many experts followed, it might provoke hostility from the three great kings of the Extreme North.

Tang Hao was essentially a gift from Skydream Ice Silkworm to the Snow Empress or the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress.

If Skydream Ice Silkworm's guess was correct, the Snow Empress should already know about Tang Hao. Di Tian wasn't a fool; he surely guessed as well. Tang Hao definitely wouldn't go back to the Star Dou Forest. Since the Sunset Forest was closer, Di Tian could keep an eye on it or send the Scarlet King to guard. But as for the Extreme North, Di Tian wouldn't bother.

That place didn't need his attention anyway. He just needed to send a soul beast to notify the Snow Empress, and Tang Hao would be dealt with.

The temperaments of the three great kings of the Extreme North were not to be taken lightly.

Especially the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress, who immediately declared that if Tang Hao dared come, she would show him the terror of ultimate ice.

Actually, Skydream Ice Silkworm's plan was simple: lure Tang Hao to the Extreme North. He had Tianlin's people spread false news that Di Tian was heading to the Sunset Forest, making Tang Hao rule out that option.

As for the Star Dou Forest, it was obvious Tang Hao wouldn't go back there. Who knew when Di Tian might return? If Tang Hao ran into him again, he was as good as dead.

In this world, besides the Star Dou and Sunset Forests, there weren't many other major soul beast gathering places—just the ocean, the Extreme North, or some other continents like the Evil Demon Forest on the Sun Moon Continent.

But Tang Hao knew nothing about other continents, and had no means to survive or fight in the ocean. So, he had no other choice.

The real purpose of healing Tang Hao was merely to hasten his death. Skydream Ice Silkworm couldn't wait to ensure he died without a grave.

Normally, if it was just for advancement and killing a soul beast, that was the rule of the continent. Not just Skydream Ice Silkworm, but even the top ten fierce soul beasts would turn a blind eye. But killing wantonly for soul bones crossed Skydream's bottom line.

As it said, its stance was firmly with Tianlin, but at its core, it was still a soul beast—the highest-cultivated one on the continent. It couldn't ignore such things and had to stop Tang Hao.

With thick winter clothing ready, the two left the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong had originally hoped for a leisurely journey with Tianlin, like a honeymoon. Unfortunately, Skydream Ice Silkworm was urging them on. Since it had lured Tang Hao to the Extreme North, it had to be responsible for the soul beasts there; otherwise, if Tang Hao started slaughtering, all the blame would fall on it.

Even if the Snow Empress or the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress noticed, it would still take time, and Tang Hao could kill a hundred or two soul beasts by then.

So, to get ahead of Tang Hao, Tianlin could only take Ning Rongrong and fly on his sword.

"Brother Sword, it's my first time going to the Extreme North too. How long will we have to fly north?" Ning Rongrong lazily asked while leaning in Tianlin's embrace.

Although traveling with Tianlin was nice, always flying in the sky at high speed without seeing any scenery was boring.

"About two to three days. The Extreme North is roughly over 8,000 kilometers from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect," Tianlin replied.

Ning Rongrong's face fell. "Two or three days? Sigh, I really want to see what the legendary Snow Empress looks like. Is she as beautiful as in the stories?"

When Ning Rongrong was little, Tianlin often told her stories, many involving the Snow Empress, so she was already somewhat obsessed.

This time, they were going to meet the third-ranked among the top ten fierce beasts, and a female at that. Sometimes, women could be scarier than men when angered.

Tianlin was already silently mourning for Tang Hao.

In reality, if Tianlin flew at full speed, it would take just over a day, but that was only theoretical. The Extreme North was extremely dangerous. If Tianlin exhausted himself rushing, what would happen if he ran into enemies? Besides, no matter what, flying would still be faster than Tang Hao walking, so there was no need to rush.

…

Two days later, as the cold winds grew sharper, Tianlin knew they were close to the border of the Extreme North. The two had already descended to travel on foot, as the temperature at high altitude was too low. Tianlin was fine, but Ning Rongrong only had two soul bones, and even after consuming two immortal herbs, she could only barely resist the cold, still feeling it to the bone.

There were two routes into the Extreme North: over the snowy mountains or through the Frost Forest. Tianlin chose the latter, as both he and Ning Rongrong were at bottlenecks and needed soul rings to advance.

"Finally home. Sigh, I lived here for hundreds of thousands of years, but because my cultivation was too high, I was forced to flee to the ocean, then wandered back to the continent and was imprisoned by the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Forest at the Lake of Life. Thankfully, I was twice saved by your divine sword, Xiao Tian," Skydream Ice Silkworm lamented.

"Oh, so the one who made you suffer so much was the one who hunted you down from the start? If I get stronger, should I avenge you like I killed the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?" Tianlin joked, though he knew exactly who the hunter was—Skydream Ice Silkworm couldn't bear to hurt Ice Empress.

"No way, Xiao Tian! You must never harm that soul beast. She's my beloved Bingbing!" Sure enough, Skydream became anxious. "As they say, to hit is to love and to scold is to care. Bingbing only treats me that way because she loves me deeply."

"Brother Skydream, I never realized you were so double-standard. The Dreadclaw Bear catches you and it's a deep grudge, but the Ice Jade Scorpion Empress does it and it's about love? Why didn't you just submit to her instead of running?"

"How can that big dumb bear compare to my Bingbing? I didn't submit because I'm the strongest soul beast on the continent—how could I be kept by Bingbing? She chased me all across the Extreme North to protect me. I have to repay her with all my love and devotion!" Skydream's eyes shone with deep affection.

Tianlin shook his head helplessly. The continent's number one soul beast was nothing but a lovesick fool—what a crazy world.

Seeing Tianlin shake his head in exasperation, Ning Rongrong laughed, "Brother Sword, are you talking with Skydream again in your sea of soul?"

Tianlin nodded. "Yes, he was born here and knows this place well."

"Brother Sword, if I also get a wisdom soul ring in the future, will a person live in my soul sea too? If we get intimate, won't she and Skydream both see everything?" Ning Rongrong asked shyly, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink.

So that was what she minded. Tianlin gently stroked her hair, his fingers trailing through the silky strands. "Don't worry. I'll teach you how to seal off your mental sea, so those inside can't see or hear anything outside. Like this."

Tianlin touched his own forehead, and instantly sealed off his sea of soul. Then he leaned toward Ning Rongrong's blushing cheek. His lips brushed against her soft skin, sending a shiver down her spine. Rongrong's breath hitched as Tianlin's mouth moved closer to hers, their lips barely touching in a feather-light caress.

Rongrong's eyes fluttered closed as Tianlin closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. Their mouths moved together in perfect harmony, exploring and tasting each other with growing passion. Tianlin's hand cupped the back of her neck, drawing her closer as he deepened the kiss.

When they finally parted, both breathless and flushed, Rongrong's eyes sparkled with desire and newfound confidence. "I think I understand now," she murmured, a coy smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps you could show me again, just to make sure I've got it right?"

Tianlin chuckled softly, more than happy to oblige as he leaned in for another kiss, this one even more passionate than the last.

"Hey, Xiao Tian, why'd you turn off the lights in broad daylight? I'm scared of the dark! Xiao Tian!!!"

Inside the sea of soul, Skydream Ice Silkworm wailed miserably. Who would have thought that a million-year-old soul beast would be afraid of the dark?