DD Black White [160-165] (Patreon)

Chapter 160: The Appearance of the Snow Empress

At this moment, a layer of dazzling golden light enveloped the sky above Shrek Academy.

This golden radiance resembled a sacred curtain, gentle yet majestic. Whether it was Xuan Zi or Du Busi, the powerful soul pressure they exuded vanished without a trace under this glow, like morning mist meeting the rising sun.

The golden light fell softly to the ground like fine threads, painting all of Shrek City into a glittering city of gold.

"Dragon God Douluo! You're actually alive!" Du Busi's eyes widened, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, his voice filled with disbelief.

All this time, he had believed that after the mutually destructive battle between himself and his elder brother, Du Bisi, Dragon God Douluo Mu En had died of his injuries just like his brother.

Yet the truth before him was shocking—Mu En not only survived, but had apparently broken through to the realm of Limit Douluo!

"That battle with your brother, resulting in mutual destruction, is still fresh in my memory," Mu En said as the golden light gathered and outlined his figure in the air. "It's a pity. If your brother hadn't been so obstinate, perhaps he'd still be alive today."

Mu En's tone carried a hint of regret.

"Damn it, you really didn't die—why?" Du Busi was filled with unwillingness, unable to accept such an outcome.

It had been a fight where both sides suffered, so why did his own brother die while Mu En survived and even advanced further?

"If I were dead, wouldn't you be able to oppress Shrek Academy even more recklessly?" Mu En's tone remained calm, but there was an unmistakable chill beneath the surface.

Du Busi felt the immense pressure bearing down on him. He understood the difference between a Super Douluo and a Limit Douluo; it was a chasm wider even than that between a Soul Douluo and a Titled Douluo.

Though he was extremely close to the Limit Douluo level himself, that final step was like an unbridgeable gulf.

Despite his frustration, he forced himself to speak calmly: "Dragon God Douluo, you should know why I've come."

In truth, though he'd come with the intent to pressure Shrek Academy, he hadn't planned to start a fight. Otherwise, he would have brought more people and wouldn't have dueled Xuan Zi one-on-one.

Mu En replied calmly, "Huo Yuhao is now my personal disciple. Don't even think about laying a hand on him. Otherwise, I won't mind making a personal visit to your Body Sect."

Du Busi's face changed dramatically, his expression ugly as he blurted, "He's already apprenticed to you?"

"That's right. Or do you think you're more qualified to teach him than I am?" Mu En's voice remained utterly calm, as if Du Busi wasn't even worth mentioning.

Du Busi's face twitched hard. He wanted to retort that he could teach better—after all, Yuhao possessed a Body Martial Soul, and the Body Sect specialized in that. But seeing the oppressive golden aura surrounding Mu En, he swallowed his words.

"Fine. For your sake, Dragon God Douluo, my Body Sect will drop this matter. From now on, I won't target that kid again."

He knew Mu En was stronger and further argument would only put him at a disadvantage. Reluctantly, he chose to back down.

Seeing Du Busi yield, Yan Shaozhe and the others all quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

No conflict was best, as the Body Sect was a renowned and powerful force—no one to be trifled with.

They also knew Mu En's current state was less than ideal. Luckily, Du Busi hadn't noticed; otherwise, this incident wouldn't have ended so simply.

"Finished talking? Then it's my turn now!"

Just as everyone relaxed, a cold voice suddenly echoed through the void.

The sound seemed to come from a distant, frozen land, carrying a bone-chilling cold that instantly shattered the just-softened atmosphere.

In the next moment, the sky veiled in golden light was swept over by a tide of cold, as if an overwhelming chill had descended.

White brilliance drifted down like falling snow in June; icy winds howled sharply across the sky.

With a series of cracks, the once-shimmering surface of Sea God Lake at Shrek Academy began to freeze rapidly under the plummeting temperature.

In the blink of an eye, the world was transformed—Shrek City seemed to have been moved to the far north, becoming a city of ice and snow.

"Who is it?" Du Busi, Xuan Zi, and the others were shocked. Such a sudden and dramatic change in the heavens was beyond their imagination.

Even the Titled Douluo present felt a chill in their hearts. While they could change local terrain, altering the very sky—even for a Limit Douluo—was no easy feat.

What's more, they hadn't sensed any powerful soul fluctuations, as if the other party had changed the heavens with a mere gesture.

"Who are you?!" Mu En looked up to the distant sky, where a figure radiating cold rapidly approached.

At the same time, the unease that had lingered in his heart finally found its source.

Judging by this dramatic entrance, the newcomer was no friend—and at least at the Limit Douluo level.

"This chill… could it be Snowy Moon Douluo? No, there's no sword intent. Not her!" Yan Shaozhe frowned deeply, a strong sense of unease rising within him.

He searched his memory for the owner of this mysterious aura, but came up empty.

"Could it be…!" In Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, the Ice Empress suddenly awoke.

She felt this both familiar and unfamiliar aura, her expression filled with uncertainty.

Familiar, because it was extremely similar to the Snow Empress; unfamiliar, because there was a mysterious power within it she'd never felt before.

Moreover, even if the Snow Empress had survived her seven-hundred-thousand-year tribulation, she couldn't possibly have grown this strong so quickly.

"Hmm! Divine sense? A demigod is coming!" At the same time, the long-dormant Electrolux was also startled awake by the powerful aura.

Sensing the aura outside, he said in shock. 

"Old Yi, you mean the newcomer is a demigod?"

Huo Yuhao's pupils shrank, his face turning deathly pale.

He looked up at Mu En in worry—Mu En had just accepted him as a disciple, cared for him, overlooked his secrets, and even wanted to help heal his disabilities.

This kindness, Yuhao remembered well; naturally, he was deeply worried for his teacher's safety.

"Yuhao, something's wrong! Why do I feel like this is aimed at us again?" the Skydream Iceworm grumbled.

He thought the Body Sect was one thing—Shrek Academy could handle it. Even if Yuhao was taken away, he might be cultivated fully, which could be a blessing in disguise.

But this sudden demigod was another matter. Whether Shrek could withstand this was unknown.

As the temperature continued to drop, a figure appeared in the distant sky, stepping through the void.

With each step, she spanned a hundred miles, arriving above Shrek Academy in the blink of an eye.

She wore a snow-white robe, with hair like a waterfall of snow, her figure graceful and enchanting, her face stunningly beautiful. Her aura was as cold as thousand-year ice, radiating an air that kept all at a distance.

It was the Snow Empress. She stood quietly in the air, wind and snow swirling around her, like a breathtaking painting.

"Hand over Huo Yuhao, or I'll raze Shrek Academy to the ground." The Snow Empress spoke, her voice calm, yet making everyone present shudder.

No one doubted she had the power to do it—the confidence and pressure she exuded weighed heavily on all present.

Du Busi's mouth twitched again in shock—it was for Huo Yuhao once more.

He couldn't help but wonder: what secrets did that kid hide to draw such attention from these unfamiliar powerhouses?

While thinking, Du Busi quietly retreated, signaling to the Body Sect to withdraw.

Whatever happened next, the Body Sect shouldn't stay. If they were caught up in this, it would be a disaster.

The Snow Empress gave him a dismissive glance, then ignored him.

She had only one purpose: to take Huo Yuhao and rescue the Ice Empress; nothing else concerned her.

"Who are you? Can you give your name? Why are you seeking my disciple?" Sensing the faint killing intent in her tone, Mu En's expression darkened.

He understood things were unlikely to end peacefully, but still hoped to clarify her identity.

Mu En was frustrated—when did the Douluo Continent become so strange? First Snow Moon Douluo appears, now another unknown Limit expert.

In that moment, Mu En felt his two centuries of life had been wasted, the world had become unfamiliar.

"World Serpent. Fifth Seat. Snow Empress." Her cold voice echoed in the air.

She had intended to introduce herself as the 'Lord of the Extreme North' but after a moment's thought, a knowing smile appeared, and she used her World Serpent title instead.

After all, Mobius had never forbidden revealing World Serpent's existence, and giving the organization a name was her duty as a member.

"World Serpent? Snow Empress!"

Mu En and the others were shocked—even the retreating Du Busi was startled.

They'd never heard of the 'World Serpent' organization, but the name 'Snow Empress' was famous across the continent.

The ruler of the Extreme North, leader of the Three Heavenly Kings, ranked third among the Ten Great Beasts—who didn't know her name?

"It's really Xue'er!" The Ice Empress in Yuhao's spiritual sea was incredulous seeing the Snow Empress's peerless beauty and hearing her introduction.

She was full of doubts—she hadn't been gone from the Extreme North long, so how had the Snow Empress become so powerful, and joined a mysterious 'World Serpent'?

"You're the Snow Empress? Lord of the Extreme North?" Mu En frowned deeply.

He was confused. He'd faced the Beast God Di Tian, but even Di Tian hadn't pressured him as much as the Snow Empress did now. What happened to make her so strong?

Was it that so-called 'World Serpent' that made her stronger? And why was she connected to Huo Yuhao? The reasons were unfathomable.

"Enough talk. Hand over Huo Yuhao, or I'll erase Shrek Academy from the continent!" The Snow Empress was impatient, her eyes cold.

"Such arrogance! Even if you're the Snow Empress, Shrek Academy is not to be trifled with!" Xuan Zi was furious.

Shrek had weathered countless storms over ten thousand years. When had it ever been bullied with such impunity? And the Snow Empress wasn't even human, but a soul beast.

Chapter 161: The Snow Empress's Overbearing Might

It wasn't just Xuan Zi—every powerhouse of Shrek Academy was enraged by the Snow Empress's arrogance.

Their soul power surged uncontrollably, and their furious, hostile gazes shot toward her like blades.

To them, Shrek's ten thousand years of heritage and prestige could not be violated by anyone or any force.

Yet this soul beast dared act so brazenly on Shrek's own grounds—utterly intolerable.

"Hmph!" The Snow Empress snorted coldly. She had never intended peaceful negotiation—her goal was simple: take Huo Yuhao by force.

"Snowy Dance of Ultimate Ice!" Her eyes flashed cold as icy-blue light expanded from her, instantly freezing thousands of meters into a domain of ice and snow.

Terrifying cold erupted, driving out all elements but ice.

Within this domain, the temperature plummeted, as if the world was frozen in eternal winter.

"Sigh…" Mu En sighed helplessly. He could never hand over Huo Yuhao.

He had high hopes for Yuhao as a disciple, but more than that, as a member of Shrek, handing him over to a soul beast would destroy the Academy's dignity and trust, built over millennia.

If this precedent were set, Shrek's prestige would be ruined—utterly unacceptable.

"Snow Empress, go back. I will never hand over a student of the Academy!"

Mu En's expression grew grave. A dragon's roar sounded as golden light burst from him, shining like the sun, resisting the tide of cold.

Nine soul rings appeared on his body: two yellow, one purple, three black, three red—a configuration even more luxurious than Du Busi's.

"If you won't hand him over, then you'll die!" The Snow Empress's voice was icy and emotionless.

As she spoke, the air's ice elements boiled, and freezing winds swept the city, intent on freezing it from the continent.

"Shrek Academy, prepare for battle!" Yan Shaozhe shouted, his voice ringing out as a phoenix cry sounded and his soul power erupted. Instantly, he transformed into a radiant Light Phoenix, bathed in warm, bright flames.

The phoenix soared above Shrek City, a barrier of warmth circling to fend off the cold.

At the same time, the other Titled Douluo of the Academy released their martial souls and rings.

The mingled lights and soul power filled the area.

Those below the Titled Douluo level had already retreated—they knew this would be a clash of superpowers, far beyond what they could endure.

Against the Snow Empress, Shrek had no need to hold back. They prepared to join forces, defending the Academy's honor.

"It's started!" Far from Shrek City, Du Busi watched the snowy chaos.

Above Shrek, dark clouds gathered, cold clashing with soul power in a spectacular scene.

He landed on a high hill to watch the upcoming battle with interest.

…

"It's started!"

In distant Hayuan City, Lu Jingming and Herta watched the tense situation unfold through a projection.

Lu Jingming looked surprised that Shrek would choose to fight despite the Snow Empress's terrifying strength.

"If you don't show strength when someone comes to your door, you're useless," Herta said, arms crossed.

"Indeed. It's their home base, after all—Shrek can't back down," Lu Jingming nodded.

Besides defending their dignity, the battle's location on Sea God Island gave Shrek a strong advantage.

"Let's see if Sea God Tang San left any tricks in the Golden Tree!" Lu Jingming smiled subtly, sipping the black tea Herta made for him, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The Snow Empress attacking Shrek was all within his expectations.

Helping her wasn't just about past-life sentiment; probing Shrek's trump cards was his real aim.

He wanted to see if Tang San had left any tricks in the Golden Tree—after all, as the world's core, it couldn't be replaced easily.

With the Snow Empress's current strength, she might still struggle against a God King's avatar, but Lu Jingming believed she could escape if necessary.

Mobius was ready to assist from the shadows, so he wasn't worried about her safety.

Currently, Tang San was tightly constrained by the God of Destruction and couldn't act boldly.

So, at most, Tang San could send an avatar; as long as the god's true body didn't descend, everything was still in play.

…

"Empress' Sword, Absolute Zero!" The Snow Empress raised her right hand. Instantly, the cold around her surged into a massive ice-blue greatsword.

Carrying a terrifying chill, the sword seemed capable of freezing all creation.

She swung the sword fiercely, sending it slashing towards Mu En and the others.

Wherever the icy sword energy passed, space itself froze, leaving clear icy scars.

"Sigh!" Mu En sighed again, but in the next instant, his eyes became resolute.

Suddenly, Shrek's massive Golden Tree erupted with golden light, a torrent of life energy pouring into Mu En's body.

With this, Mu En's previously hunched body straightened, his wrinkles faded, and his white hair turned black and full of life.

In a flash, the aged Mu En was gone, replaced by a heroic, imposing man whose features closely resembled Bei Bei's.

"Ancestor!"

Within Shrek, Bei Bei looked at the rejuvenated Mu En, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Xu Sanshi stared in shock between Bei Bei and Mu En, not expecting Bei Bei's background to be this strong.

"Old Mu! Why go so far?" Seeing this, Xuan Zi's expression changed to sorrow and worry.

He knew well the price of forcibly restoring Mu En's peak state with the Golden Tree's energy.

Originally, Mu En might have had at least five years left, but after this, he was doomed to die regardless of the outcome.

"To face such a powerful foe in my final battle—no regrets!"

Mu En looked at the frozen sword, eyes full of pride and determination.

His right hand transformed into a golden dragon claw as a deafening dragon roar rang out. A massive golden dragon claw, nearly a hundred meters long, appeared and struck at the ice greatsword.

"Radiant Dragon Claw!"

Chapter 162: Herrscher Transformation

"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.

Chapter 163: Sorry, I Couldn't Let You Enjoy Yourself!

At this moment, the Herrscher-form Snow Empress radiated an overwhelming aura, her pressure far surpassing Mu En.

Fierce winds howled as blizzards raged, and within an instant, the vast area within several hundred miles of Shrek City was completely covered in snow and ice, turning into a dead, frozen land.

Snow Empress gripped an ice sword condensed from snow and cold, looking at Mu En with cold eyes before swinging her sword without hesitation.

The slash seemed casual, yet contained terrifying power.

It was like an icy blue line gently drawn across a pristine white sheet, leaving a shocking blue scar between heaven and earth.

Wherever the sword's path passed, space itself was torn open, emitting a chilling crackling sound.

Faced with this sword that seemed to split heaven and earth, Mu En's pupils contracted violently, and a chill of death welled up inside him.

The power of this attack was simply too terrifying—he had no way to resist!

In this life-and-death moment, Mu En didn't hesitate. With his authority as Pavilion Master, he activated the hidden power of the Sea God Pavilion.

Shua!

A beam of blue-gold divine light shot up from Sea God Island.

This light surged like a vast tidal wave, continuously pouring out, carrying the aura of a true deity.

The next moment, Snow Empress' sword slashed fiercely into the blue-gold light.

Light burst in all directions as the two mighty forces clashed, letting out deafening thunder.

However, in the end, the sword light was gradually worn away by the blue-gold divine light and failed to break through this barrier.

"The Light of the Sea God! They actually used the Light of the Sea God!"

From afar, Du Busi stared in shock. The Body Sect had fought Shrek Academy before and had records of some of their hidden cards.

In the Body Sect's historical records, the Light of the Sea God was detailed as the strongest trump card of Sea God Island.

The Light of the Sea God carried the power left by Tang San, who had ascended to the Divine Realm ten thousand years ago—a last resort for Shrek Academy in times of desperate crisis.

Every use of the Light of the Sea God meant the Academy was facing life-or-death peril.

In the past, Shrek used it against the Body Sect. During the beast tide and the terrifying Beast God Di Tian, the Light of the Sea God had also appeared.

Now, once again, this mighty power shone forth to resist a deadly enemy—the Snow Empress.

"The Light of the Sea God, huh." Snow Empress frowned slightly. She'd heard of its power, knowing that even the Beast God Di Tian feared it, and that it was Shrek Academy's key to survival.

But in her eyes, this wasn't enough to stop her. Even if it was power left by the Sea God, he'd ascended for ten thousand years—how much could really remain?

Expression cold, Snow Empress raised one hand to the sky and the other to the earth, declaring icily, "Above all heaven and earth I alone am the honored one!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried unparalleled authority, echoing across the battlefield.

The next instant, white ripples spread outward from her, sweeping over thousands of meters in the blink of an eye.

Where the white light passed, space itself was frozen—everything fell into silence.

Whether it was the mighty Light of the Sea God, Mu En's giant golden dragon, or Yan Shaozhe and the others below, all were immobilized in that instant.

Mu En's eyes filled with horror. His mind was still awake, barely able to think, but his body couldn't move at all.

Even his soul power seemed frozen, unable to be summoned.

Aside from his struggling thoughts, his body was completely out of his control—he was utterly trapped.

"It's over, Dragon God Douluo Mu En. I'll remember your name," Snow Empress said coldly, her voice emotionless.

She gathered the surrounding icy energy, forming a huge ice bow.

Snow Empress gently drew the bow. In the eyes of all those from Shrek Academy—filled with grief and despair—an ice arrow formed instantly.

As she released the string, the arrow became a dazzling white streak, flying like a meteor with a deafening sonic boom.

In an instant, the white arrow pierced the golden dragon's heart.

Puchi!

With a dull sound, golden blood sprayed out like a fountain, staining the sky.

The frozen space returned to normal.

At the same time, everyone regained their mobility, but they could only watch helplessly as the tragedy unfolded, powerless to stop it.

"Teacher!"

"Old Mu!"

"Ancestor!"

Cries of grief echoed across the sky as everyone stared in shock and sorrow at the golden dragon, now pierced by a gaping hole, golden blood raining down, hearts full of despair.

It all happened too fast—from Mu En's decisive use of the Light of the Sea God to block the killing blow, to Snow Empress freezing space and finally delivering a fatal blow. All these changes took place in less than a minute.

Yan Shaozhe and the others wanted to help, but Snow Empress's overwhelming power left them no chance. They could only watch their respected Mu En be killed, powerless to intervene.

Suffering such a fatal wound, Mu En's mighty true body could no longer hold.

The golden dragon's form faded, and Mu En's body dropped from the sky like a severed kite.

Everyone saw clearly—a gaping hole in his chest, his powerful heart gone, blood still pouring out, soaking his robes.

Mu En felt his body grow cold, his consciousness fading.

The howling wind seemed to play his final requiem, the cries of Yan Shaozhe and the others reaching his ears, filling him with guilt and helplessness.

He forced his heavy eyelids open and looked at the aloof Snow Empress, a bitter smile tugging at his lips: "So this is the power at that level? Truly awe-inspiring! Sorry, Snow Empress, I couldn't let you fully enjoy yourself!"

Even after giving his all, using the Sea God Pavilion's hidden strength and the Golden Tree's power to briefly return to his prime, against the Herrscher-form Snow Empress, he was still so small and powerless.

As cold spread rapidly from the hole in his chest, Mu En's entire body became encased in ice.

In his final moments, he looked back at Shrek Academy one last time.

The familiar buildings, filled with memories, now seemed more precious than ever.

His eyes were full of worry and reluctance. Shrek Academy, the place he had protected his whole life, now faced an unprecedented crisis.

Xuan Zi was competent but not a leader, Yan Shaozhe and others only average, and the younger generation like Ma Xiaotao had not yet matured—none could support the Academy's future.

He was truly uneasy. The Snow Empress's sudden attack was completely unforeseen.

He'd thought he had time to arrange things, to prepare Shrek's future.

But death arrived like a storm, shattering all his plans.

He could only pray silently that Shrek would survive this disaster.

The next moment, Mu En's thoughts faded into eternal silence, his consciousness dissipating.

His body became a crystal-clear ice sculpture, which, under the grieving eyes of Yan Shaozhe and the others, shattered into countless ice crystals, drifting down to cover every inch of Shrek Academy—like a sorrowful silver mourning veil.

"Dragon God Douluo… has fallen!" Du Busi stared blankly, his face full of terror and disbelief.

He looked fearfully at the Snow Empress, like a demon god in the sky.

Because he was far enough away, he'd avoided the spatial freeze, but even so, he deeply felt that terrifying freezing power.

Even the Light of the Sea God, Tang San's trump card, was helpless against this.

Dragon God Douluo—a peerless Limit Douluo—had no power to resist Snow Empress's attack.

Such terrifying power made his heart tremble with fear.

"Go! Now! Back to the Sect!" Du Busi didn't dare linger, shouting desperately.

The Snow Empress was so strong—who knew if she'd wipe out the Body Sect next?

After all, the Body Sect had once hunted hundred-thousand-year soul beasts en masse and had deep enmity with many soul beasts.

Facing such a powerful soul beast, the Body Sect felt no sense of safety.

No further urging was needed—his followers had already fled in terror.

Hearing his order, they turned and ran, desperate to get away before the Snow Empress noticed, fearing they'd share Mu En's fate.

Curious as they were about Shrek's fate, their lives were more important.

…

"Nothing happened?" Lu Jingming frowned, full of confusion.

Mu En had just fallen, but the back-up he expected from Tang San never appeared.

"Looks like your Sea God doesn't really care about that Academy," Herta smirked, mocking.

"Probably. The important thing is the Golden Tree, not Shrek Academy. As long as the Golden Tree's untouched, he won't act," Lu Jingming analyzed after thinking.

In his view, Tang San had left many safeguards, but, being tightly guarded by the God of Destruction, could only use them with great risk—so unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't act.

To Tang San, Shrek Academy was just a tool to guard the Golden Tree.

Just like the Tang Sect he'd built, where all the secret skills and medicines were just nerfed versions—only the Clear Sky Sect, his blood relatives, got special treatment.

From the matter of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Lu Jingming saw Tang San's different attitudes toward the three powers: the Tang Sect, Shrek, and the Clear Sky Sect.

Both the Tang Sect and Shrek had no clue about the Well's location, while Clear Sky had a detailed map.

So, even if Shrek was in crisis, unless the Golden Tree was threatened, Tang San's hidden hand likely wouldn't activate.

Thinking this through, Lu Jingming became curious about Shrek Academy's next choice.

Now that Mu En had fallen, and with the terrifying Snow Empress present, Shrek's ability to resist had been destroyed.

In such desperation, would Shrek fight to the death, or hand over Huo Yuhao?

Lu Jingming was eager to know the answer.

Chapter 164: Shrek's Choice

At high altitude above Shrek, the Snow Empress quietly looked in the direction where Mu En had vanished, a trace of emotion in her heart.

Another top powerhouse gone from the Douluo Continent.

But this sentiment faded quickly, and she cast Mu En from her mind.

She raised her hand to her chest, quietly feeling the Herrscher Core's power, and recalled the move she just used, her eyes filled with amazement.

"Above all heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one"—this was a move she'd developed after fusing her own powers with the Herrscher Gem.

Just now was its first real battle test.

Though she'd anticipated its power, the actual effect far exceeded expectations.

Freezing space was something she'd imagined, but that even Limit Douluo couldn't resist it, and not even the Light of the Sea God could withstand it, was shocking.

The terrifying power brought by the Herrscher form—even Snow Empress herself was amazed.

She slowly floated down, eyes icy as she looked at Yan Shaozhe and the others blocking her.

Yan Shaozhe's eyes were bloodshot, burning with hatred and anger.

Behind him, more than a dozen Titled Douluo were tense, radiating anger and vigilance, watching her as if facing a mortal enemy.

"Hand over Huo Yuhao, or you all die!" The Snow Empress's icy voice swept over everyone, laced with chilling killing intent.

As she spoke, a cold tide swept over the group.

All the Titled Douluo felt a wave of death threaten them, making them shudder.

They knew—even with numbers, against Herrscher Snow Empress, they were far too weak.

Just her divine armor alone was beyond their ability to even scratch.

Yan Shaozhe's lips trembled; he wanted to refuse her to defend Shrek's dignity.

But the bone-chilling cold strangled his throat, and he couldn't get the words out.

All the Sea God Pavilion elders looked deeply troubled.

They knew handing over Huo Yuhao would betray Mu En's last wish—Mu En had fought and died to protect him.

To hand him over now would destroy Shrek's prestige.

But if they refused, with her terrifying power, Shrek might truly be erased from the continent.

That power to freeze space made them shudder.

And with Mu En dead, none could wield the Light of the Sea God again.

Shrek Academy was in unprecedented peril.

If they'd had time to prepare, with their deep foundation, they could have summoned over fifty Titled Douluo to besiege the Snow Empress.

But her attack was too sudden, and with no time to prepare, Mu En had to face her alone—and died.

"My patience is limited. You have three minutes. If you don't hand over Huo Yuhao, this city doesn't need to exist," Snow Empress said coldly.

She released her divine sense, pressing down with soul power like a mountain.

Yan Shaozhe and the others felt their bodies sink, as if carrying a ten-thousand-pound weight, and tumbled helplessly from the sky to the snowy ground.

It was a brutal, direct demonstration of the vast power gap.

Numbers meant nothing before absolute power.

"Let's fight her!" Xian Lin'er, always hot-tempered, was instantly enraged.

She gripped her spear tightly, glaring at Snow Empress with determination.

"Lin'er, don't be rash!" Her mother, Elder Song, quickly stopped her.

She knew her daughter's temperament, and that charging Snow Empress was suicide.

"What else can we do? Give up Huo Yuhao? Old Mu died rather than hand him over—should we betray his wish?"

Xian Lin'er's words stirred a storm in everyone's heart; all fell silent under the weight of her question.

Betraying Mu En's will would be a blow to Shrek's honor and glory, built over ten thousand years.

"Then we fight her, all or nothing," Beast King Douluo Gong Changlong was equally fiery.

He clenched his fists, ready to die fighting.

"Cough…" At that moment, Xuan Zi's weak voice sounded.

Everyone was relieved to see him; after being struck by Snow Empress, they'd feared for his life.

Now, with Mu En dead, Xuan Zi was the most qualified to take charge.

But Xuan Zi was in a sorry state, clearly seriously injured.

He coughed hard, showing the cold had badly damaged his organs.

His eyes full of sorrow, Xuan Zi looked around at the now frozen Shrek Academy and then at Yan Shaozhe and the others before shaking his head and saying heavily, "Our decision concerns the life and death of Shrek City itself. Are we really going to risk all our students' lives for one disciple? Is that fair?"

Everyone was stunned—Xian Lin'er and others looked at him in disbelief, hearing a hint of giving up on Yuhao.

"Elder Xuan, if we give up Yuhao, where is Shrek's dignity? Are we to let it be trampled?" Xian Lin'er couldn't accept it.

"I agree with Elder Xuan. We can't sacrifice all our students for Huo Yuhao. We may die, but the Academy must survive!" Yan Shaozhe closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and said.

"Yan Shaozhe!" Xian Lin'er glared at him, full of contempt.

"There's no time—the Academy can't fall in our hands. Shaozhe, go bring Huo Yuhao." Xuan Zi's face was grim.

He was furious and unwilling, but reality left no room for pride—if even Mu En at his peak died, what could they do?

So long as Shrek survived, there was still hope for revenge.

But if the Academy was destroyed, all would be lost.

With no other choice, he made the painful decision—to sacrifice Yuhao, even if it meant betraying Mu En's will.

No matter Snow Empress's reason for taking Yuhao, Xuan Zi didn't believe Yuhao could survive in the soul beast hands.

Some, like Xian Lin'er and Qian Duoduo, still opposed this, but with Mu En gone, Xuan Zi's authority was highest, and with most supporting him, before the three minutes were up, Yan Shaozhe brought Yuhao out.

Everyone's eyes flashed with complicated emotions.

There was guilt for sacrificing Yuhao for the Academy's survival, and some blamed him for bringing disaster.

To many, Yuhao was the root cause of this calamity.

Yuhao himself was expressionless, strangely calm.

He'd guessed the result when Yan Shaozhe came to find him.

Mu En had died to protect him—Yuhao felt endless gratitude and guilt.

He knew why Snow Empress wanted him—most likely for the Ice Empress inside him.

He'd intended to step forward himself, but was stopped by Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao—before he could act, Mu En had already died in battle.

It all happened too fast for him to react.

No sooner had he begun to grieve than Yan Shaozhe came to get him.

Chapter 165: Ice Empress and Snow Empress

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.