When Yan Shaozhe came, Yuhao already knew what choice the Academy had made.

He didn't blame Shrek Academy; he knew this was all because of him.

If he'd stepped out sooner, Mu En might not have died, and Shrek wouldn't be in such peril.

Even if Yan Shaozhe hadn't come, for Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and all the teachers and classmates who'd cared for him, Yuhao would've stepped out on his own.

Thinking of Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao, Yuhao couldn't help but smile faintly.

He had people he cared for here, and relationships he treasured—so his sacrifice didn't seem meaningless.

Snow Empress curled her lip in mockery, full of disdain.

In her eyes, this supposedly righteous Academy, when faced with absolute power, revealed its true, base nature.

To save itself, it chose to compromise, sacrificing Yuhao to save the rest.

Although Snow Empress came for Yuhao, he was still a member of the Academy.

This act would chill the hearts of some students, but she didn't care.

In her eyes, only Dragon God Douluo Mu En was worth respecting in Shrek; the rest were nothing.

Yan Shaozhe and the others clenched their fists in anger and humiliation, but before Snow Empress's might, they could only swallow the bitter pill.

Meanwhile, watching Yuhao being taken away, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were frantic with worry.

Bei Bei was in disbelief; he never thought the Academy would surrender.

Mu En had died to protect Yuhao, yet the Academy made this choice—what was Mu En's sacrifice worth?

Han Ruoruo, Wu Ming, Ling Luochen, and other inner court disciples also felt disappointed.

They understood the decision was for the majority, but still, it was disappointing.

In the outer court, those who disliked Yuhao—Wufeng, Dai Huabin, and Zhu Lu—wore schadenfreude on their faces, seeing this as Yuhao's just deserts, oblivious to the real tragedy.

Ning Tian, as heir to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was deeply concerned for Shrek's future and her own sect's fate.

As Snow Empress led Yuhao away, the storm abated, but the thick ice on the ground lingered, like the cold in everyone's hearts.

…

Far from Shrek, in an empty field, Snow Empress tossed Yuhao to the ground. "You know why I came."

Her eyes were full of killing intent, making Yuhao shiver.

"I know, you came for the Ice Empress, right?" Yuhao forced a bitter smile and stood up, dusting himself off.

"Xue'er!"

As he spoke, green light shone from Yuhao and coalesced outside—an almost transparent figure appeared before Snow Empress.

With green twin-tails and a petite figure, it was the Ice Empress.

"Bing'er, you really aren't dead!" Snow Empress's icy look melted instantly, replaced by a gentle smile.

"Snow Empress, long time no see!" A flash of white light revealed the Skydream Iceworm as well.

"You're… that lucky bug?" Snow Empress frowned, recalling the Iceworm's identity.

"Bing'er, what happened? Why are you attached to this human—did they use some despicable trick? I'll kill him for you."

She didn't care about Skydream Iceworm; before, she envied his luck, but now she didn't care about his million-year cultivation.

"No, Xue'er, let me explain!" Ice Empress quickly blocked Yuhao, afraid Snow Empress would kill him in a moment's rage.

She wasn't attached to Yuhao, but since she'd become his second martial soul, if Yuhao died, so would she.

Ice Empress then explained how the Skydream Iceworm lured her out, how she was drawn into their god-making plan, and how she chose to become Yuhao's second martial soul.

Snow Empress frowned upon hearing this.

The so-called god-making plan seemed logical on the surface, but was full of holes.

As a member of World Serpent, she now knew many secrets: in this era, neither humans nor soul beasts could become gods on the Douluo Continent, because all divine positions in the God Realm were filled.

Unless someone actively gave up their godhood and passed it to Yuhao, even with the Skydream Iceworm and Ice Empress's help, he'd have almost no chance.

Even if Yuhao could condense a god seat, without a place in the God Realm, it would all be futile—he wouldn't gain immortality, and might even live less than Ice Empress after her tribulation.

"Bing'er, I've already found a path to godhood. There's no need to pin your hopes on a human. Come back with me."

As a World Serpent member, she knew about the hidden power of the Stigmata. Once the Stigmata Space was opened, it could accommodate god positions.

She'd already received a Stigmata from Lu Jingming, and was collecting faith power in the Extreme North to prepare for condensing a god seat.

She also planned to get one for the Ice Empress—so she, too, could pursue godhood.

Since Ice Empress had abandoned her beast body, if she could reconstruct a physical form, she'd escape the soul beast curse and be free of tribulation.

Ice Empress's eyes lit up at this.

Compared to staying with Yuhao and the annoying Iceworm, she'd much rather be with Snow Empress.

But then her eyes dimmed. "Xue'er, I can't leave Yuhao. If I do, my spirit origin will quickly collapse and I'll die."

She explained that she was now Yuhao's second martial soul, her rings and bones bound to him.

To be free was almost impossible.

Snow Empress frowned—this was a tricky problem.

She was unmatched in battle, but Ice Empress's situation was complicated.

Quickly adjusting, Snow Empress called out, "Mobius, I know you're there. Help me!"

"Heh, you want my help? Are you ready to pay the price?" With a faint ripple in the air, Mobius appeared, smiling slyly.

"Xue'er, who is she?" Ice Empress looked at Mobius warily, feeling unprecedented danger.

Though the threat wasn't strong, her instincts screamed that Mobius was at least as strong as Snow Empress.

So many new powerhouses—what kind of organization had Snow Empress joined?

"Don't worry, Bing'er. She's my ally—you can trust her."

Snow Empress reassured Ice Empress, then looked to Mobius. "Help me, and I'll get you any experimental materials you want, even capture fierce beasts for your research."

"But I'm more interested in you," Mobius said, tapping her lips, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Don't even think about it—and don't touch Bing'er!" Snow Empress snapped, instantly understanding Mobius's meaning and warning her.

"Heh, I'm always tolerant of allies," Mobius said, snake eyes narrowing, secretly cursing Lu Jingming for making all her lab mice so wary.

"Her spirit origin has merged into this kid's spiritual sea. While it can be separated, she can't last long outside. But as long as her body is rebuilt in time, there's no problem—you know who to ask."

Mobius glanced at Ice Empress and Yuhao—she'd been watching Yuhao for a while and knew his situation well.

"Don't worry, Bing'er, I can help you rebuild your body," Snow Empress said confidently.

She knew exactly who could help with this.

Yuhao remained calm, while Skydream Iceworm hesitated to speak, but the fear of Snow Empress silenced him.

Ice Empress looked at Yuhao, eyes hesitating.

She knew her decision would greatly affect Yuhao, and after a moment said softly, "If I leave Yuhao, how will it affect him? I chose to follow him willingly—I hope you don't hurt him, Xue'er."

Snow Empress frowned; it seemed living in human society had changed Ice Empress.

Before, she'd been proud and cold—when would she ever care about a human's fate? But now, she actually considered Yuhao.

Thinking further, Snow Empress realized she herself had changed too after dealing with humans.

She turned to Mobius.

After all, separating Ice Empress's origin was Mobius's job, and she wasn't sure if it would harm Yuhao.

"Don't worry. At worst, he'll suffer some spiritual damage, but with the Iceworm's origin, he'll recover in time."

Mobius smiled innocently, but a strange light flashed in her eyes.

If Lu Jingming were here, knowing Mobius as he did, he would have sensed something off.

But the others present didn't know Mobius's nature, so they noticed nothing unusual.