When Tai Tan heard Qian Daoliu's name, he was startled and blurted out, "It's that old bastard!"
Then, a look of recollection flashed in Tai Tan's eyes, and he murmured to himself, "More than ten years ago, after Master killed the previous Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, he forced Qian Daoliu out and chased Master repeatedly."
"However, Master's strength was immense, and Qian Daoliu, that old bastard, failed to succeed multiple times. Now, more than ten years have passed; Master's strength can only be greater, so how could he have died at Qian Daoliu's hands?"
Tang San heard this and, after a brief silence, said, "My father's eyes were poisoned blind by Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong when I was six, and not long ago, he was ambushed by Dugu Bo and lost an arm, greatly diminishing his strength."
Back then, Tang Hao lost an arm to Dugu Bo. Feeling disgraced, he only told Tang San that it was due to Dugu Bo's ambush.
Tai Tan was greatly shocked.
"This happened?"
Then, he frowned deeply and continued, "That Dugu Bo is known as the weakest Titled Douluo. Even if Master was blind, he shouldn't have been Master's opponent, should he?"
Tang San shook his head, a look of hatred flashing in his eyes.
"Everyone was fooled by Dugu Bo; his spirit power level is not ninety-first rank at all."
"According to my father, his spirit power level is at least ninety-fourth rank or higher, and his combat power is extremely formidable."
"What?!"
"That old poisoner, his schemes are so deep," Tai Tan exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Tang San sighed deeply upon hearing this, then took Tai Tan's hands, his expression sincere.
"Senior Tai Tan, now you are the only one I can rely on."
Tai Tan saw Tang San's trust in him. Already fiercely loyal to Tang Hao, he instantly felt a strong sense of responsibility, as if being entrusted with a crucial mission, and the sentiment of a scholar dying for his confidant.
Bang!
The next second, Tai Tan again knelt heavily on one knee, his expression solemn and earnest, saying, "Young Master, I am honored by your trust. Tai Tan, with my entire clan, pledges to follow you to the death, without regret!"
"Good, good, good!" Tang San exclaimed, saying 'good' three times, then excitedly helped Tai Tan up.
"Senior Tai Tan, with your words, Tang San will never let you down!"
Tai Tan was also excited, then said to his son and grandson beside him, "Why aren't you greeting the Master quickly!"
Tai Nuo and Tai Long heard this and immediately imitated Tai Tan, kneeling on one knee and cupping their fists, saying, "Greetings, Master!"
Tang San's eyes flashed with joy at the sight.
With the full assistance of the Strength Clan, he would definitely rise quickly.
And there was an even more crucial point: the Strength Clan members were all blacksmiths, which gave him a unique advantage in establishing the Tang Sect.
Thinking of this, Tang San's face once again showed a look of high spirits.
...
Extreme North!
Above the frozen wasteland, snow and wind filled the sky.
The girls followed Qi Lin, chatting and laughing along the way.
Guided by Ice Empress, everyone quickly ventured deep into the snowy wasteland and arrived before a crystal palace.
The temperature around the crystal palace was extremely low, so much so that even the girls felt a bone-chilling cold.
However, by activating their spirit power, it wasn't impossible to resist.
All the girls were eager to see the legendary ruler of the Extreme North.
Especially after Qi Lin introduced Snow Empress and they learned that Snow Empress was a powerful Spirit Beast of nearly seven hundred thousand years, they felt even more incredulous.
In their impression, a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast was already the pinnacle of Spirit Beasts. Upon reaching this level, if they didn't transform into human form, they would die after a few more millennia at most.
It wasn't until Qi Lin educated them that they realized that as long as a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast survived a heavenly tribulation, it could continue to live.
And every hundred thousand years thereafter, a Spirit Beast would undergo another heavenly tribulation!
Just as everyone arrived at the crystal palace, on a profound ice bed in the deepest part of the palace, a cold and stunning figure silently opened her eyes, and a pair of clear, cold gazes suddenly looked outside the palace.
"Humans?"
Snow Empress's voice carried a hint of confusion.
One must know that her location was a forbidden area within a forbidden area to the outside world. Yet, humans were bold enough to venture deep into this place.
Were they not afraid of death?
Coming as a group to be delivered?
Thinking of this, a snowy white light flashed in Snow Empress's eyes, and then an extremely terrifying pressure erupted from her body, emitting an icy aura that caused the temperature in this area to plummet again.
"Extreme North Forbidden Zone. Those who dare to approach further, die!"
The clear, cold voice echoed between heaven and earth, reaching the ears of Qi Lin and the others.
Accompanying it was Snow Empress's extremely terrifying pressure.
However, Qi Lin waved his hand, and a brilliant golden light flashed from his palm like a fleeting shadow, instantly enveloping everyone.
Upon touching the brilliant golden light, Snow Empress's pressure instantly melted away like ice and snow under the sun.
Then, Qi Lin communicated with Ice Empress, allowing Ice Empress's soul origin to connect with the outside world.
Ice Empress spoke, "Snow Empress, it's me!"
Inside the crystal palace, Snow Empress's expression slightly froze as she heard the familiar voice and soul origin.
"Bing'er, how is she here too!"
Snow Empress frowned slightly because she hadn't detected Ice Empress's aura just now, but now Ice Empress's aura suddenly appeared.
What was going on?
Snow Empress's brows furrowed slightly, then she gracefully rose from the profound ice bed, her figure suddenly vanishing from her original spot.
The next second, she appeared before Qi Lin and the girls!
Everyone was slightly startled, looking at the suddenly appearing Snow Empress.
What a beautiful woman!
Snow Empress's appearance was human-like, looking like a young woman of seventeen or eighteen, with soft, snow-white long hair and ethereal sky-blue eyes.
Besides this, her skin was snow-white, her face exquisitely flawless, and she stood barefoot in the ice and snow, like an ice and snow elf.
Although Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others were all beauties, compared to Snow Empress, they were still slightly inferior.
Among everyone, only Gu Yuena's appearance and temperament could rival hers, perhaps even slightly surpass it.
"Is...is she Snow Empress?"
"Qi Lin Ge said that Snow Empress's true form is the Ice Sky Snow Maiden, with an appearance identical to humans, an elf born in this Extreme North. She is indeed so beautiful."
The girls' voices carried a hint of envy.
Snow Empress ignored the girls' murmuring and looked at Qi Lin instead.
She could feel that Ice Empress's aura and soul origin were emanating from this human youth before her.
Snow Empress frowned and asked, "Human, how is Ice Empress's soul origin in your body?"
Qi Lin smiled at this, "Let Ice Empress explain it to you!"
With that, Qi Lin raised his hand.
A brilliant green light shot out from between his eyebrows, then transformed into a delicate, small, brilliant green scorpion.
The moment she saw Ice Empress, Snow Empress's pupils slightly contracted.
"Bing'er!"