The cold wind howled, and icy pellets danced in the air.
Amidst the flurry of snow, a massive, icy-blue barrier flickered faintly in and out of view.
Outside the barrier stood a lone figure, upright and imposing, with hands clasped behind his back. His tiger-like eyes were wide and focused straight ahead.
The man was extraordinarily tall, nearly 2.5 meters in height, resembling an enormous door standing upright. His physique was robust and intimidating, exuding an aura of ferocity. Simply standing there, he was enough to strike fear into any enemy.
This man was Lu Yuan.
The second guardian of the Ice Palace, a man capable of taking on Xuanzi at his peak in single combat.
Not far in front of Lu Yuan stood two groups of people.
To the left, the leader was a middle-aged man dressed in white. His appearance was refined, his eyes bright and intelligent, with an aura of light radiating from him. The faint smile at the corner of his lips gave him an approachable and friendly demeanor.
Behind him stood two young women.
One wore a pale blue gown, her demeanor icy and aloof, her expression indifferent, as though she kept everyone at arm's length. A faint glimmer of starlight flickered in her ice-blue eyes, revealing a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Beside her stood another young woman dressed in black. She had a balanced figure, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her delicate nose, arched brows, jet-black eyes, and rosy lips created an image of exquisite beauty.
Her skin was as flawless as jade, smooth and glowing with a soft radiance. Her complexion was so perfect that not even the faintest pores could be seen. She exuded a soft, water-like gentleness and moon-like elegance, with a trace of heroic spirit in her brows that gave her a confident and valiant charm.
This young woman was an unparalleled beauty, rare in the world. Even the cool and stunning girl beside her seemed slightly overshadowed in comparison.
At this moment, the beautiful girl was staring blankly at the barrier ahead, her bright, clear eyes reflecting the flickering light.
On the right side stood another group, led by a young woman who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen years old. Her features were stunning, her eyebrows and eyes as delicate as a painting.
Unlike the black-clad girl's gentle tranquility, this young woman's demeanor was more refined and dignified, brimming with an indescribable elegance. Every movement she made seemed to carry an air of nobility.
She wore a pale yellow gown, with a white-to-yellow gradient sash tied around her waist. The outfit was not overly extravagant, as if intentionally restrained to avoid drawing too much attention. Yet on her, it seemed perfectly harmonious, exuding a unique elegance without being overly assertive.
Her large, gem-like eyes sparkled brightly, as though filled with wisdom. Her skin, like snow and jade, paired beautifully with her yellow gown, enhancing her graceful aura.
Behind the young woman was an elderly lady dressed in a bright red robe. Her hair was white, her skin dry and wrinkled, giving her an aged appearance. Yet her sharp, hawk-like eyes remained bright and piercing, making it clear that she was not to be underestimated.
Both groups stood silently in the snow, waiting as they gazed at Lu Yuan.
"Dean Yan, I never expected to meet you here. This is truly a surprise," Princess Jiujiu said with a smile, looking at the middle-aged man in white nearby.
She hadn't expected to encounter people from Shrek Academy at the entrance of the Ice Palace.
Her bright eyes flickered slightly as she guessed that Shrek Academy's purpose here might be similar to her own. After all, Shrek Academy had long since fallen from its former glory.
And those two young women...
Her gaze sharpened as she silently admitted the excellence of the two girls.
Whether in terms of appearance or temperament, they were both outstanding.
Especially the one in black—her exquisite beauty and extraordinary demeanor made Princess Jiuiu feel a strong sense of threat.
She hadn't expected Shrek Academy to play that card as well.
"Princess Jiujiu, I also didn't expect to meet you here. May I ask what brings you to the Ice Palace?" Yan Shaozhe said with a broad smile, though inwardly he was cursing the situation.
One glance was all he needed to confirm: this was trouble.
Using his seasoned intuition forged in the battlefield of romance, Yan Shaozhe immediately concluded that Xu Jiujiu was here for Su Yu.
Don't ask how he knew—it was just a gut feeling.
And Yan Shaozhe trusted his instincts.
"By order of my royal brother, I've come to the Ice Palace to seek guidance on certain matters. May I ask what brings you here, Dean Yan?" Xu Jiujiu replied with a graceful smile, exuding the poise of a noblewoman.
Yan Shaozhe chuckled. "What a coincidence! I, too, have come to seek guidance. Plus, Lexuan here has been missing Young Master Su Yu, so I brought her along for a visit."
"After all, it wouldn't do for the young couple to be apart for too long, would it?"
Xu Jiujiu's eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the black-clad woman nearby.
So, someone had beaten her to it?
Although she had already known that Su Yu had a girlfriend and had mentally prepared herself, she hadn't expected Su Yu to have any connection to Shrek Academy.
When did Shrek Academy make their move so early?
Xu Jiujiu's thoughts raced as her gaze toward Zhang Lexuan grew more scrutinizing.
Suddenly, a humming sound filled the air.
"Buzz!"
"Buzz!"
"Buzz!"
The massive icy-blue barrier trembled and radiated a brilliant light.
At the barrier's surface, a towering portal slowly emerged, and a graceful figure stepped out.
Shui Lingguang, dressed in an icy-blue palace gown, appeared, her beauty breathtaking and her presence otherworldly.
Her ethereal demeanor, untouched by the mortal world, caused even the proud Xu Jiujiu to stare for a moment, feeling an unexpected sense of inferiority.
"Dean Yan, Princess Jiujiu, the Young Master has invited you inside," Shui Lingguang said, extending her jade-like hand in invitation.
Lu Yuan, who had been standing silently with his hands behind his back, also extended a hand and said in a deep voice, "Please."
"Thank you," Yan Shaozhe replied courteously, not daring to show any disrespect.
Although he had grown much stronger since his last visit, Lu Yuan still gave him an ominous sense of danger.
Even with his current peak level-98 soul power, defeating Lu Yuan would not be an easy task.
However, what shocked him the most was not Lu Yuan but Shui Lingguang.
Last time, Shui Lingguang had seemed unfathomable to him.
Now, she still felt unfathomable.
He was a level-98 Super Douluo, even if his level was somewhat inflated. Yet Shui Lingguang still gave him a sense of mortal peril.
What did this mean?
It meant Shui Lingguang could kill him.
That thought alone was terrifying.
This was a level-98 peak Douluo we're talking about—even if slightly lacking, he believed himself to be stronger than Xuanzai at his peak.
Yet Shui Lingguang could still kill him?
This meant she was at least on the same level—an authentic, undeniable peak Super Douluo, comparable to Du Busi.
This revelation left Yan Shaozhe deeply shaken.
How had Shui Lingguang grown so powerful?
Was this the heritage of the Ice God Palace?
Yan Shaozhe didn't know, but he was thoroughly awed.
He had already been humbled by the Ice God Palace's overwhelming strength, and now, his reverence only deepened.
Xu Jiujiu and the others, unable to discern Shui Lingguang's exact level due to their weaker strength, nonetheless viewed both her and Lu Yuan as unreachable.
Xu Jiujiu, no fool, also expressed her thanks.
Without further comment, Shui Lingguang led both groups into the Ice Palace.
The moment they stepped into the boundary, the world seemed to spin, and the scene instantly transformed.
Before their eyes appeared a magnificent city of ice and snow, glittering like crystal. It was breathtakingly beautiful, majestic, and awe-inspiring.
For Yan Shaozhe, who had seen it once before, it was easier to remain composed. But for Xu Jiujiu and the others, who were seeing it for the first time, their expressions were filled with shock and amazement. Even Zhang Lexuan couldn't help but fix her gaze on the crystalline city, her emotions surging.
"This is the Ice and Snow City of Ice God Palace. It is entirely forged from millennium-old ice and has been the dwelling place of the Ice God Palace for generations."
"Everyone, please follow me into the city. The Young Master is already waiting in the main hall."
Shui Lingguang briefly introduced the city before leading the group forward.
Because Su Yu had summoned them, Shui Lingguang did not continue with any further introductions and instead moved at a quick pace.
As they walked along, everyone was amazed by the extraordinary sights.
Even Xu Jiujiu, who hailed from royalty, secretly clicked her tongue in astonishment, deeply feeling that the Ice God Palace was truly rich and powerful.
They crossed the Ice Bridge, passed over the glacial blue waters, and entered the Ice and Snow City.
The deeper they went, the more soul masters they encountered, leaving Xu Jiujiu deeply shaken.
After walking for so long, she hadn't seen a single ordinary person.
If this entire city consisted solely of soul masters, how terrifyingly powerful must the Ice God Palace be?
Without exaggeration, even if the Star Luo Empire sent a million soldiers, they might not stand a chance against tens of thousands of soul masters.
Xu Jiujiu fell silent, shocked by the overwhelming strength of the Ice God Palace.
As far as she knew, another superpower, the Body Sect, had at most two thousand soul masters. How could the Ice God Palace surpass it by such a large margin?
The comparison was almost meaningless.
If Su Yu wanted to become an emperor, these tens of thousands of soul masters could easily help him overthrow an empire.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
The more Xu Jiujiu thought about it, the more she realized how unfathomable the Ice God Palace truly was.
Fortunately, the Ice God Palace had always remained hidden from the world. If they ever emerged, the three empires might have sleepless nights.
This realization only strengthened Xu Jiujiu's determination.
If Su Yu could be drawn to the Star Luo Empire's side, the empire would instantly become invincible.
Unifying the continent wouldn't be out of the question.
Even if the Ice God Palace remained reclusive, simply forming an alliance with them would be enough to secure the Star Luo Empire's position and eliminate any future threats.
Of course, the ideal scenario would be a marriage alliance.
Xu Jiujiu already had a strong affection for Su Yu, and this sense of pursuit only grew stronger now.
Plus, with Su Yu being so handsome and elegant, she felt she wouldn't be losing out.
After all, marriage was inevitable—why not choose the best option?
And right now, Su Yu was undoubtedly the best choice.
As for Meng Hongchen and Shrek Academy's Zhang Lexuan?
Xu Jiujiu could only say that she was confident in herself.
As a royal princess, if there was one thing she excelled at, it was winning a man's favor—something she had picked up naturally over the years.
The group continued forward when they encountered a team of about two hundred people.
Dressed entirely in white armor and carrying ice spears, their auras were frigid and eerily unified.
At the forefront of the team stood a leader with a black mark on his forehead, signifying his Soul Douluo cultivation.
The other two hundred members were all Soul Ancestors or higher, with yellow and purple marks visible on nearly all of their foreheads.
The team saluted Shui Lingguang and Lu Yuan before continuing on their patrol.
"What an elite army," Xu Jiujiu said in admiration.
She had seen soul master armies before, but a team as unified in aura as this one was rare, practically one in a million.
Perhaps only the White Tiger Duke's elite White Tiger Guards could compare.
However, the average cultivation of this team was higher than that of the White Tiger Guards.
Although the White Tiger Duke's military authority had been stripped, the three thousand White Tiger Guards remained under his command.
This allowed the White Tiger Duke's family to retain considerable influence despite suffering a significant blow.
As a princess of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiujiu couldn't help but covet elite troops like these.
Still, this particular team only had about two hundred members, which wasn't overly shocking.
"This is the Ice Guardian Army, tasked with protecting the safety of the Ice and Snow City. They are currently on patrol," Shui Lingguang explained casually before falling silent again.
The Ice Guardian Army consisted of eight thousand members, with more than ten patrol teams like this one.
The rest were stationed at various key points, maintaining order and defending the city.
Within the Ice God Palace, the Ice Guardian Army wasn't considered the strongest force.
The palace's ultimate military strength lay in the Hall Guard Corps.
The nine Hall Guard Corps, totaling just over two thousand members, represented the pinnacle of the Ice God Palace's power.
The minimum requirement to join the Hall Guard Corps was a purple mark and Soul Emperor-level strength.
Whether in individual combat ability or coordinated teamwork, they far surpassed the Ice Guardian Army.
Of course, Shui Lingguang didn't reveal any of this to Xu Jiujiu and the others. No one would be foolish enough to disclose all their trump cards to outsiders.
"Let's keep moving, everyone; we're almost there," Shui Lingguang said, her pace steady as she continued forward.
About ten minutes later, she led the group to a grand plaza.
At the center of the plaza stood a massive ice dragon statue, exuding divine might, and an imposing aura.
Around the statue was a circular pool filled with icy blue water.
Beyond the statue stood an ice-blue palace, approximately thirty meters tall and covering an area of about 2,500 square meters.
At the palace entrance, another group of white-armored soldiers stood guard—around three hundred in total.
The two leaders both bore black marks on their foreheads, indicating Soul Douluo cultivation.
Xu Jiujiu's beautiful eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in surprise. For such an elite team, how could there still be so many guarding this place?
Her curiosity grew stronger.
How many more of these forces did the Ice God Palace have?
"Everyone, the Young Master is inside. Please enter," Shui Lingguang said, motioning toward the palace before walking gracefully forward.
Lu Yuan strode confidently, while Yan Shaozhe, Xu Jiujiu, and the others quickly followed.
Climbing several dozen steps, the group arrived at the palace entrance.
Standing at the door, Shui Lingguang bowed slightly, her soft and melodic voice echoing gently:
"Young Master, I have brought Pavilion Master Yan and Princess Jiujiu."