Chapter 42: The Mysterious Space

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“What kind of creature is this?” Ling Xiao asked, looking at the insect the Ice Empress had dragged over.

“This is a Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm, a soul beast that has lived for a million years!” the Ice Empress replied, releasing it with a look of disgust.

“A million-year soul beast? That means it has reached the divine level. But why does it look so weak? It feels as though it couldn’t even defeat a fifteen-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape!” Ling Xiao said, stroking his chin as he examined the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm.

“We discovered this Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm in a glacier fifty years ago. When we saw the ten golden markings on its body, we realized it was a million-year soul beast. We thought it would be incredibly powerful, and it gave both the Snow Empress and me quite a fright.”

“Who could have imagined that it only possessed a million years of cultivation in name, while its actual strength was inferior to that of some hundred-thousand-year soul beasts? What was even more outrageous was that, before revealing his true nature, he actually tried to marry me. Fortunately, I saw through him in time.” The Ice Empress spoke with disgust and kicked the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm.

“Bingbing, I truly love you. How could you say such things about me? You’ve broken my heart!” said the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm, who had remained silent until then. His voice was full of resentment.

“You still dare to call me that?”

The Ice Empress flew into a rage. With one kick, she sent the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm tumbling through the air several times before it crashed to the ground, making the entire cavern tremble.

Fortunately, the ice cavern was large enough. Otherwise, that kick from the Ice Empress would have sent the roof flying.

“Is this creature useful to you?”

“It is. The Snow Empress and I can absorb the soul power within its body, which will greatly accelerate our cultivation. Unfortunately, it is far too irritating, so we have kept it imprisoned elsewhere. It also has a secret.”

“He was not originally from the Far North. He fled here from another extremely terrifying place!” the Ice Empress said, her expression turning solemn.

“Is that so?”

Ling Xiao immediately became interested. Looking at the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm, he asked, “Little creature, where did you come from?”

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm ignored Ling Xiao and instead stared desperately at the Ice Empress.

“Bingbing, how can you be so heartless toward me? I love you so much!”

“Bah! You are a Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm, nothing more than food for my Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion clan. What nonsense are you spouting?” The Ice Empress’s expression darkened.

“Bingbing…”

Just as the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm was about to say more, a terrifying chill suddenly enveloped him. His soul trembled violently, and he was stunned.

Although his combat strength was poor, he was still a genuine million-year soul beast. In terms of spiritual power, there were very few soul beasts capable of matching him.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm turned toward Ling Xiao, whom he had never paid attention to before, and cried out in despair, “Bingbing, you’re a soul beast! Why are you beating me for the sake of a human?”

“Insect, what did you say?”

The Ice Empress’s face flushed crimson. She hammered her fists into the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm’s body again and again, eliciting one agonized cry after another.

“Stop hitting me! Stop! I was wrong!”

The Ice Empress continued beating him for several minutes before finally stopping. Her face still flushed, she returned to Ling Xiao’s side.

“Human, don’t misunderstand. I simply couldn’t stand listening to his nonsense!” the Ice Empress explained, her cheeks still red.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm looked toward Ling Xiao. His face revealed no discernible expression, yet Ling Xiao could sense the despair radiating from him.

It was over. It was truly over.

Brother Dream had only just escaped from a group of demons, and now he had encountered another one!

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm thought in despair.

“Little creature, can you tell me where you came from now?” Ling Xiao asked as he stepped forward. A flash of red passed through his eyes.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm shuddered when he heard Ling Xiao’s voice. Facing those terrifying eyes, he said, “I can tell you, but can you let me go afterward?”

“No. If you refuse to speak, that is fine too. I can investigate personally, but it will be extremely painful—like being cut apart by a thousand blades. Would you like to try?”

Ling Xiao possessed a soul-searching technique that allowed him to investigate memories. However, the process was exceedingly painful, and the subject would most likely be driven insane.

Ling Xiao’s tone was perfectly calm, yet it filled the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm with boundless fear.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk!” the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm cried out in terror, beginning to recount everything.

“I was originally just an ordinary ice silkworm soul beast living in a glacier. Everything was peaceful, but one day I suddenly fell into a cavern. Inside, there was an enormous amount of ten-thousand-year ice marrow, which was extremely beneficial to soul beasts.”

“I was only an ordinary soul beast with no real strength, and I constantly feared becoming food for another soul beast. After discovering something so valuable, I could increase my strength as quickly as possible. The cavern was also very safe.”

“From then on, I stayed there and never left. After swallowing some ten-thousand-year ice marrow, I would fall into a deep sleep. When I awoke, I would continue consuming it. In this way, my strength gradually grew until I became a million-year soul beast!”

Upon hearing the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm’s account, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress fell silent.

He had actually become a million-year soul beast through such a method. He truly was extraordinarily fortunate.

His strength, however, was indeed far too weak. He possessed none of the dignity expected of a million-year soul beast. He was an embarrassment to the entire race.

“And then?” Ling Xiao asked, somewhat astonished. The life of this Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm was truly legendary.

“After an unknown amount of time, I awoke from another deep sleep and found myself in a mysterious space. There were several soul beasts there. The weakest had cultivated for two hundred thousand years, while the strongest was a black dragon. Its strength was terrifying. I felt that even the Snow Empress in her current state might not be its opponent!” the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm said heavily.

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The Snow Empress and Ice Empress both changed expressions. Although the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm was weak in battle, his million-year spiritual power was genuine. If he spoke with such certainty, he was generally not mistaken.

“Power surpassing that of a seven-hundred-and-forty-thousand-year soul beast? How interesting!” Ling Xiao said, his interest deepening.

“After that, I was imprisoned there and forced to let the soul beasts consume my energy. I was utterly desperate for a time. But when I thought of Bingbing waiting for me, I found endless strength. At last, an opportunity arose, and I escaped!”

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm spoke with great emotion. By the end, he was so moved that he began to weep. The Ice Empress’s expression, however, turned dark.

Under the puzzled gazes of the Snow Empress and Ling Xiao, the Ice Empress stepped forward and struck the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm heavily.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm immediately cried out in pain.

“Ow!”

“Insect! Just recount what happened. If you dare to keep bringing up irrelevant matters, I will cut off a piece of your flesh!” the Ice Empress warned viciously.

Her hands transformed into sharp scorpion pincers, gleaming coldly and causing the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm to shudder.

“All right, all right! Bingbing, calm down. I’ll explain properly!” the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm replied fearfully, continuing his account.

“I don’t know what happened that time. It seemed that something deep within the space had awakened, and a majestic roar echoed out. The soul beasts immediately rushed toward the depths of the space. Although I was curious about what it was, I didn’t dare hesitate. I fled with all my strength.”

“Fortunately, none of them followed me. After traveling a great distance, I finally returned here. I immediately chose a place to enter hibernation and recover my strength. When I awoke again and opened my eyes, I saw the Ice Empress. I was overjoyed—but then I discovered that she was devouring me, and I wasn’t happy anymore!”

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm spoke solemnly, his plump face filled with dejection.

“I am an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion. Your Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworms have always been food for my clan. How could I possibly be with a giant worm like you? It would be impossible even in your dreams!” the Ice Empress said, her eyes filled with disdain.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm looked as though he had suffered a devastating blow.

“Where is that place?” Ling Xiao asked directly, paying no attention to his feelings.

“I don’t know. After escaping, I was focused entirely on saving my life. How could I have paid attention to my surroundings?” the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm replied.

Ling Xiao thought for a moment, then stepped in front of the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm.

“Temporal Reflection!”

The river of time appeared within Ling Xiao’s eyes. The events the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm had experienced transformed into a series of images that flashed past his vision.

Beginning with the moment the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm consumed the ten-thousand-year ice marrow and continuing until his imprisonment, Ling Xiao saw a black dragon, a purple dragon, a swan, and several other creatures.

Then, as the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm escaped from the prisonlike space and reached the surface, he saw two enormous rabbits, a gigantic bull’s head, and a great ape flash past in a forest.

Soon afterward, the scene reached the Far North. Darkness descended, and when light returned, the figures of the Snow Empress and Ice Empress appeared. The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm was imprisoned once again, and the scene came to an abrupt end.

Ling Xiao fell into thought. The gigantic bull and great ape he had just seen were the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape. The two enormous rabbits were most likely Rou Rou and Xiao Wu, who had not yet transformed into human form.

He had never expected that the place where those soul beasts resided would be beneath the Star Dou Forest. Did Rou Rou and the others know about it? He would ask them when he returned.

“All right. I know enough,” Ling Xiao said, waving his hand.

“Mm!”

The Ice Empress nodded, seized the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm, and began dragging him away. Such a massive source of nourishment was exceedingly rare. She could not possibly let it go.

“No! I told you so much! Please let me go!” the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm cried miserably.

“Yes, precisely because you told us so much, I am sparing your life. But there is so much nourishment in your body that it must not be wasted. We will discuss the rest after we have absorbed it.”

“Don’t worry. You will survive,” the Ice Empress said coldly.

The Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm was plunged into despair, but he did not dare say anything more. Being allowed to survive was already fortunate enough.

After the Ice Empress dragged the Heaven’s Dream Ice Silkworm away, Ling Xiao released an immense surge of soul power that swept across the entire continent.

As expected, he discovered a mysterious space beneath Star Dou Lake. He saw several soul beasts there, including a silver dragon whose strength, according to the standards of the Divine Realm, had already reached the level of a second-class god.

“A second-class god is hiding on the continent. The people from the Divine Realm probably haven’t discovered it yet. Otherwise, the Divine Realm would not be so peaceful,” Ling Xiao thought.

Seeing that the Azure Bull Python was resting, Ling Xiao sent his soul power into its mind.

“Azure Bull Python!”

“Who is that?”

The Azure Bull Python’s eyes widened when it heard the sudden voice in its mind.

“It’s me, Ling Xiao!”

“Ling Xiao, where are you?”

The Azure Bull Python raised its head from the lake and looked around.

“I’m in the Far North, very far from Star Dou Lake. I just want to ask you something.”

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“What is it?”

“Do you know what is beneath Star Dou Lake?”

“What’s beneath Star Dou Lake? Isn’t it just me? What else could there be?”

The Azure Bull Python was stunned. It submerged itself in Star Dou Lake and searched the area, but found nothing.

“That is because you and they are not in the same space. There are several soul beasts in that space, and even the weakest among them possesses the strength of a two-hundred-thousand-year soul beast.”

The Azure Bull Python’s mind reeled. It had never imagined that such powerful beings were hidden beneath Star Dou Lake, where it had lived for so many years.

“Why are you looking for them? Is something wrong?”

“I merely found it interesting. By the way, you and the Titan Giant Ape must increase your strength as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once the soul beasts beneath Star Dou Lake emerge, you will have no power to resist them.”

Ling Xiao’s words caused the Azure Bull Python’s expression to turn solemn as well.

Ling Xiao took out ten bottles of Life Water and threw them forward. Passing through layer upon layer of space, the bottles landed before the Azure Bull Python.

“These ten bottles of Life Water should be enough to raise both your strength and the Titan Giant Ape’s to three or four hundred thousand years. That way, even if those soul beasts emerge, you will still possess a certain standing.”

“Thank you!” the Azure Bull Python said solemnly.

“You’re welcome. You are my soul beast friends. Naturally, I cannot allow you to be bullied.”

With that, Ling Xiao severed the connection.

The Azure Bull Python extended its tail from the lake and woke the sleeping Titan Giant Ape. After explaining everything, it gave five bottles of Life Water to the Titan Giant Ape, then drank the remaining five itself and began breaking through.

After withdrawing his soul power, Ling Xiao took out an iron pot, porcelain bowls, and wooden chopsticks, preparing to cook.

“Are you hungry now?” the Snow Empress asked.

“Yes. It has been such a long time. It’s time to eat!”

As Ling Xiao spoke, the space beside him rippled. Several stones and pieces of firewood fell from it, followed by a patch of clear lake water that floated in midair.

Ling Xiao used the stones to build a stove, lit a fire, washed the ingredients, and began stir-frying.

The Snow Empress silently swallowed as well. She had tasted food prepared by Ling Xiao before and naturally knew how delicious it was.

Just then, the Ice Empress returned. Seeing Ling Xiao cooking, her eyes lit up, and she hurried to her seat to wait quietly.

After eating Ling Xiao’s food the previous time, both of them had fallen in love with cooked meals. Sometimes they tried preparing food themselves, but the taste was always inferior to Ling Xiao’s cooking.

Before long, everything was ready. A large pot of white rice, a large pot of stir-fried meat, stir-fried ribs, rib soup, and stir-fried greens were placed on the table.

The three of them each filled a bowl with rice and began eating.

“Mm! Human, as you would say, anyone who stays with you is blessed with good fortune!” the Ice Empress said as she ate.

Her cheeks were puffed out with food, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Ling Xiao shook his head at the Ice Empress and then looked toward the Snow Empress.

Compared with the Ice Empress’s uninhibited manner, the Snow Empress appeared much quieter.

Her movements were graceful, and she chewed slowly and carefully.

When their eyes met, the Snow Empress suddenly felt flustered for no apparent reason. A faint blush spread across her lovely face.

The Ice Empress noticed this scene as well. Suddenly, the food in her hand no longer tasted as good, and her movements slowed. Her eyes grew somewhat dim.

“Ice Empress, why have you stopped eating?” Ling Xiao asked when he noticed her reaction.

A golden glimmer flashed through his eyes, revealing that the Ice Empress’s mood had fallen somewhat.

He extended a hand and placed it on the Ice Empress’s small head. A thread of soul power entered her mind.

The Ice Empress’s body trembled. She lifted her small head and looked at Ling Xiao. Suddenly, she felt much better and became inexplicably happy.

Why is this happening? Why do I feel so happy when this human pats my head? I never felt this way even when the Snow Empress touched me. Could it be that I…

At the thought of one possibility, the Ice Empress became flustered, and her heart grew restless.

Ling Xiao sensed the violent fluctuations in her emotions. He gently stroked the Ice Empress’s small head again, sending another faint thread of soul power into her soul and calming the turmoil within her.

“You feel much better now, don’t you?” Ling Xiao asked with a light laugh.

“Mm. Much better,” the Ice Empress replied softly.

She looked at Ling Xiao once more. Something within her had changed, and she was aware of it, yet she did not resist. She felt that this was actually rather nice.

Seeing that the Ice Empress’s mood had recovered, Ling Xiao withdrew his hand.

Just now, he had used his power to interfere slightly with the Ice Empress’s soul and stabilize her emotions. It appeared to have worked quite well.