"Boom!"

The ice-blue and golden light collided violently, like two stars crashing together, releasing unparalleled energy.

A massive energy storm erupted from the collision, sweeping across several kilometers.

The shockwave slammed into Shrek's protective shield, causing it to shake violently, as if it might shatter at any moment.

Seeing this, Xian Lin'er and the others rushed to the city walls, working together to raise soul power shields to protect Shrek from the devastating aftershocks.

Xuan Zi, seeing this, roared and transformed into a massive, godly taotie bull, its four limbs like pillars, each step threatening to shatter space itself.

It charged straight at the Snow Empress, white lightning gathering on its sharp horns.

"Out of my way!"

The Snow Empress's eyes flashed with impatience, disdainful of Xuan Zi's attack.

She raised her jade hand, gathering cold into her palm, and waved lightly. Instantly, a massive ice-blue palm appeared, slamming down on Xuan Zi.

Space shattered under its power, the giant palm like a moving iceberg, heavy with chill, smashing into the divine bull.

"Boom!"

White lightning and ice-blue light clashed, but against the Snow Empress's ultimate ice, the lightning was quickly frozen.

The giant bull was instantly encased in ice, sent flying for thousands of meters before crashing into a hill, shattering it to pieces.

The freezing cold spread, turning the area into a hell of ice, everything frozen solid.

Du Busi, watching from afar, couldn't help but flinch.

Though he looked down on Xuan Zi, he had to admit Xuan Zi's strength was top-tier in the Douluo Continent—few could defeat him.

Yet the Snow Empress had sent him flying and frozen him with a single blow. If it had been him, he doubted he could fare much better.

After all, both he and Xuanzi were level 98; while there was a gap, it wasn't insurmountable.

"Xuan Zi, sigh…" Mu En shook his head helplessly.

He'd seen that the Snow Empress had already stepped beyond a key threshold. Though still a level 99 Titled Douluo, her power had half-stepped into the divine realm.

Such terrifying strength was far beyond Xuan Zi's ability to resist.

Mu En knew his battle with the Snow Empress was now beyond anyone else's ability to intervene.

With the Golden Tree's power restoring him to his peak, Mu En felt a long-lost surge of ambition.

"To think someone could really take that step. Let me witness the realm all soul masters dream of!"

He burned with passion. Though he'd never reach that realm himself, to cross swords with someone who had, even at life's end, was enough.

Golden light shone like a blazing sun, illuminating the sky.

Mu En's seventh soul ring flashed, and with a dragon's roar, a golden dragon soared into the sky.

This dragon radiated gold, its scales shining, golden horns sharp enough to pierce the heavens, over a thousand meters long—majestic and imposing.

It roared, spitting a beam of golden dragon breath like an arrow, splitting the air with deafening booms.

The Snow Empress narrowed her eyes. Without her Herrscher core or surviving her tribulation, she might have struggled against Mu En at his current strength. Humans truly were favored by heaven—less than three hundred years of life could still produce such power, not much less than her tens of thousands of years of cultivation, and without the tribulation dangers. The world was unfair.

The Snow Empress's icy-blue soul power surged, freezing all water in the air. With a series of cracks, an ice dragon formed before her.

It roared, spitting a blue beam like a giant sword, shooting at the golden dragon.

Blue and gold, the two beams crossed thousands of meters to collide.

The world changed color. With a deafening boom, black space cracks spread like spiderwebs across the sky.

The energy storm swept out, tearing clouds and shattering the land, as if the apocalypse had come.

Within Shrek, the shield barely held, but the lands outside were devastated—hills erased, forests uprooted, trees splintered, dust and debris everywhere.

"Sovereign's Descent!" Mu En roared as the dragon claw, wrapped in spiritual will, tore through space, leaving black fissures as it struck at the Snow Empress.

She frowned, ice-blue light wrapping her right hand, exuding endless chill.

She struck back, shouting, "Empress' Palm!"

Her small hand, packed with terrifying power, collided with the massive dragon claw.

Space couldn't bear the force and cracked explosively.

Black-red lightning raged, venting terrifying energy.

The shockwave pierced the clouds, splitting the sky in two—a stunning sight.

Blue and gold light exploded, like two suns shining together, blinding all present.

"Boom!"

With a tremendous blast, energy waves spread wildly from the collision.

The Snow Empress was knocked back by the force, pushed away from the golden dragon.

She frowned—physical strength wasn't her forte as an elemental being, whereas Mu En's golden dragon form was tough and powerful, giving him a clear advantage in close combat.

"Human, you are impressive. You are worthy to see this form of mine!" For the first time, the Snow Empress looked at Mu En with a trace of admiration.

Though she disliked most humans, she respected true strength—and Mu En was a worthy opponent. She decided he deserved a dignified death.

As she spoke, though there was no obvious change in ice elements, the temperature dropped again.

The sudden cold seemed to spread from the depths of the world.

Soon, heavy snow began to fall, beautiful yet hiding deadly chill.

Bathed in ice-blue light, the Snow Empress's figure began to transform.

The light swirled around her, reshaping her body, her aura erupting like a volcano. The pressure made everyone feel as if a mountain pressed on their hearts.

Du Busi swallowed hard. He thought the Snow Empress had already shown her full strength, but now realized she hadn't. The true terror was only just beginning.

"Come, let me see the power of gods!" Mu En showed no fear—instead, he laughed heartily.

His eyes were resolute. Even if he could save himself and Shrek by surrendering Yuhao, he would not. Dignity and conviction meant more to him than life.

"As you wish!" the Snow Empress's cold voice sounded, as the ice-blue radiance surrounding her faded into countless particles.

When the light dispersed, the Snow Empress had undergone a dramatic transformation.

She wore an icy-blue crown inlaid with gems that sparkled with the power of snow and ice.

Her snow-white hair fell like a waterfall, the tips turning to mist.

A pair of magnificent ice wings sprouted from her back, spreading chill with every beat.

She wore an ice-blue suit of armor, smooth and gleaming, as if forged from the hardest ice.

This was her Herrscher form, her armor representing divine gear—Ice God Armor.

In this form, the Snow Empress was the ruler of ice and snow, her power and presence on a whole new level: truly the strength of a demigod.

Previously, she hadn't used the Ice Herrscher's power at all—otherwise, Mu En would have stood no chance.