Normally, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast undergoing reincarnation would need to grow to the equivalent of a six-year-old human to fully compress and stabilize its soul power. At that stage, reverting to their original form would no longer be possible.
But the Snow Empress now found herself in an awkward predicament.
"Snow Empress, let me help heal your injuries first. With your cultivation, you should recover quickly. Then I'll tell you everything that's happened recently," the Ice Empress said as she channeled her ice-type soul power to treat the Snow Empress's wounds.
"It's useless. My injuries have reached my origin—it's nearly impossible to recover. Unless there's some heaven-defying treasure to repair my essence… but how likely is that?" The Snow Empress sighed.
At her level, approaching the pinnacle of power beneath the gods, treasures capable of repairing her origin were practically non-existent.
Even the ten-thousand-year-old snow lotus she had relied upon only served to seal her cultivation and essence to facilitate her reincarnation. A divine artifact capable of directly repairing her origin was beyond her imagination.
"That might not be the case," Qian Ran said with a small smile, retrieving the Yin-Yang Revival Pill from his spatial storage ring.
"What's this?"
The three women, including the Snow Empress, looked curiously at the jade bottle in Qian Ran's hand.
"A miraculous healing pill. It can mend any injury, no matter how severe. Of course, it won't work for divine-level damage," Qian Ran explained, glancing wryly at Qian Renxue. If this pill could repair her shattered divine core, it would truly be heaven-defying, but the system's rewards hadn't reached that level of absurdity.
"How do you have such a thing?"
Qian Renxue strode forward and snatched the jade bottle from Qian Ran's hand. Inside were several unassuming pills, their appearance betraying nothing extraordinary.
Still, Qian Renxue wouldn't underestimate anything Qian Ran produced.
Over time, she had come to realize that every item Qian Ran revealed was an unparalleled treasure. Though curious about where he obtained these miraculous goods, she had stopped asking, trusting that he would always share generously with her.
"Will this pill really heal my injuries?" the Snow Empress asked, a trace of doubt in her voice as she looked at the pill in Qian Renxue's hand.
"Don't underestimate Qian Ran. While his strength may not be exceptional yet, the treasures he brings out are always extraordinary," the Ice Empress reassured her.
Qian Ran's possessions seemed to form a bottomless treasure trove, each item more astonishing than the last.
If Qian Ran said the pill could heal the Snow Empress's origin, the Ice Empress believed him without hesitation.
"Alright then, thank you, Qian Ran," the Snow Empress said, nodding. Even if it didn't work, she appreciated the thought. Besides, the Ice Empress clearly regarded Qian Ran as someone deeply trustworthy and close.
The Snow Empress's injuries weren't as dire as in the original timeline where she had self-destructed, leaving only her origin consciousness behind. Her current wounds stemmed from the interruption of her reincarnation process, resulting in significant damage to her origin power.
While the injuries wouldn't prevent her from recovering in time, most of her energy would be diverted toward healing her origin, severely limiting her combat power in the short term.
Qian Ran, however, had no intention of letting such a powerful figure become a mere ornament. The Snow Empress was a top-tier powerhouse who could serve as his guardian in the future.
After all, he didn't believe having just the Ice Empress and Qian Renxue was enough to guarantee his safety.
The Holy Spirit Cult alone had two Ultimate Douluos, and the Sun Moon Empire had numerous methods capable of threatening even Ultimate Douluos. In this precarious environment, the more high-level combatants he had at his side, the better.
Most importantly...
Cough.
Qian Ran also had ambitions of eventually winning the Snow Empress's heart. When that happened, her soul ring and bone could further enhance his strength. If her origin remained damaged, the benefits she could provide him would be significantly diminished.
"Snow Empress, try taking this pill. I can't guarantee it'll work on someone as powerful as you, but it's worth a shot," Qian Ran said, his voice tinged with anticipation. He was also eager to see the Snow Empress's true form after she healed—surely a pure and elegant goddess-like figure awaited him.
"Alright." The Snow Empress didn't hesitate, swallowing the pill directly.
The moment the pill entered her mouth, it dissolved instantly into a liquid, spreading throughout her body. The sudden surge of energy caught her off guard as the immense medicinal power exploded within her.
"Mmm…" A soft moan escaped her lips as waves of comfort swept through her, her delicate voice sending a shiver down Qian Ran's spine.
What an intoxicating sound.
"This energy… it's even more potent than the ten-thousand-year snow lotus I consumed back then," the Snow Empress thought to herself, marveling at the pill's power. Her impression of Qian Ran subtly shifted.
Ten-thousand-year snow lotuses were exceedingly rare, yet this pill far surpassed their potency.
For powerful cultivators, long years of battle often left their bodies riddled with hidden injuries—wounds so deeply entrenched that they were nearly impossible to resolve. Yet Qian Ran's Yin-Yang Revival Pill seemed capable of precisely that. If news of its existence spread, even Ultimate Douluos would go mad with desire.
The Body Sect's late sect master, Poisonmaster's older brother, had died from lingering injuries after a battle with Mu En. Many other Super Douluos bore similar hidden scars from past fights.
As the Snow Empress guided the pill's energy through her body, she became enveloped in a cocoon of white ice. Though her current condition wasn't visible, her rapid recovery was evident.
"You really do have remarkable items," Qian Renxue remarked, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at the four remaining pills in the jade bottle. If their effects were revealed, Ultimate Douluos from across the continent would swarm to obtain them.
"Qian Ran, you're incredible." The Ice Empress, too, couldn't hold back her admiration. She had expected the Snow Empress to suffer long-term damage at the very least, yet Qian Ran had resolved the issue with ease.
Though Qian Ran's cultivation still lagged, the Ice Empress had developed a profound respect for him.
No matter the problem, Qian Ran always seemed to find a solution. Neither she nor Qian Renxue could claim such resourcefulness—it was a unique strength of Qian Ran's.
From this perspective, Qian Ran was undeniably a force to be reckoned with.
Cultivation could always be improved over time, but such ingenuity was irreplaceable. Unknowingly, the Ice Empress had grown deeply reliant on Qian Ran. If she were forced to leave him now, she couldn't bear it.
The life of a soul beast was long and isolating, but with Qian Ran, her days were full and vibrant. Whether studying soul tools or training, her time was never wasted.
"Is that so? I'm even better in other areas," Qian Ran teased, clearly in high spirits as he observed the Snow Empress's recovery.
"Snow Empress is still here—don't say such things!" The Ice Empress's face flushed as she stole a glance at the cocoon of ice where the Snow Empress was healing.
"It's fine. She's still fully immersed in her recovery and won't pay attention to us," Qian Ran said casually.
Still, he couldn't help feeling a mix of excitement and unease. Knowing the Ice Empress had once harbored secret feelings for the Snow Empress left him with complicated emotions.
Now that the Snow Empress was back, he was eager yet slightly unsettled. Part of him wanted to assert his dominance over the Ice Empress immediately, as if to reaffirm his position.
(End of Chapter)