The Ice Empress gazed into the distance towards the graceful figure atop the mountain peak.
A peculiar light flickered deep in her beautiful eyes.
"Sister, over these years, our far northern lands must have accumulated some heaven and earth treasures."
"Why not send them to our benefactor for healing?"
The Snow Lady's beautiful eyes widened.
"Are you crazy? Those are for you to get through the Heavenly Tribulation."
"Without these treasures to enhance your strength, this tribulation might just end in ashes and smoke."
The Ice Empress nodded.
"Sister, how could I not know this?"
"But if it weren't for our benefactor, we would likely be dead today, and what's worse, you know better than I do what we would be facing."
At this point, the Snow Lady's face turned pale.
It was hard to imagine how dire things would be today if Luo Yu had not appeared.
"But... but I think that benefactor doesn't seem to be injured."
The Ice Empress shook her head.
"No... regardless of whether he's injured or not, we should still show our concern."
"Don't worry, sister. I will only send my share of the heaven and earth treasures to him. I definitely won't touch what you need for your tribulation."
The Snow Lady glared, spitting out:
"Tch, what do you take your sister for?"
"Am I the type of woman to fear death and cling to life? Without him, we would be dead already today."
"Alright, let's give all the treasures of the far northern lands to him."
The Ice Empress sighed.
"Ah..."
"Perhaps our sincerity might not be valued by someone so high above."
"Then you might as well offer yourself," teased the Snow Lady.
"Sister~ that's a joke we cannot afford to make."
The Ice Empress retorted sharply, her cool and beautiful demeanor blushing slightly.
The Snow Lady nodded.
"Oh well, it was just a casual joke."
"Look at how he looked at us just now; there's not a hint of desire, only coldness."
"How could such a lofty person be interested in us?"
Upon hearing the Snow Lady's words, the Ice Empress's gaze notably dimmed.
But she quickly adjusted her mood.
"Sister, what are you talking about?"
"We are the Ice and Snow Empresses, we shouldn't be so shameless. Even if we die of thirst, hunger, or are struck dead by heavenly lightning, we would never stoop to throwing ourselves at a human."
A smile crept onto the Snow Lady's lips, incomparably stunning.
"Of course, not."
Both women were smiling, but their eyes couldn't help glancing towards the towering Summit of the Ice Mountain, a certain loss that they couldn't hide, and just refrained from voicing.
"Hey, sister, why hasn't he left yet?" asked the Ice Empress, unable to contain her curiosity.
The Snow Lady spread her hands, "I also want to ask why he happened to appear here."
"Oh," the Ice Empress took the Snow Lady's arm, "Sister, why don't we just bring the treasures and go ask him?"
The Snow Lady scoffed softly.
"I think you have ulterior motives beyond your stated intentions."
"Gratitude is just a pretense; don't tell me you've begun to yearn for a man?"
"Tch!"
The Ice Empress shook her head repeatedly, her green hair swaying, carrying a fresh scent.
"Impossible! How could that be possible!!"
"There's no way any soul beast or human could make my heart flutter like that, I only like you, sister."
"Get away!" The Snow Lady displayed a face full of disdain.
...
In the boundless darkness of space, strange black mists drifted everywhere.
A towering throne, black as ink, stood tall.
It was vacant above.
Below, however, stood two rows of a total of one hundred and two shadows, each hiding within the black mist, their auras powerful, far surpassing those of Emperor Meng and Emperor Ying, whom Luo Yu had slain.
"Boom!"
It seemed as if a terror was awakening between heaven and earth, thick black fog rolled forth in waves, and One Hundred and Two shadows swayed, dreadfully gazing up at the high throne.
Sometime unbeknownst to all, a shadowy figure had appeared there, endowed with a chilling solemnity, resembling a middle-aged man whose features were both grotesque and alluring, as if he were the favored child of the heavens.
"We welcome you, Emperor!"
The powerful Abyss Great Emperors below knelt in unison, their voices reverberating with respect as they bowed their heads in submission.
"Remain kneeling."
The Emperor commanded coldly, and the myriad shadows below dared not show even a hint of displeasure, instead burying themselves lower, fearful of inciting dissatisfaction.
"Emperor Zhi, have Emperor Meng and the other five managed to infiltrate Soul Land successfully?"
A shadow at the front rose, a youth with ruddy lips and white teeth, his eyes flickering with wisdom, as if he had calculated it all, radiating powerful mental fluctuations.
"Reporting to the Emperor."
"With the counterfeit Abyssal Formation you bestowed upon us, the six Abyss Great Emperors have successfully infiltrated Soul Land, and it is estimated that they have already swept through three regions."
The Emperor's voice softened slightly, showing a measure of satisfaction.
"Good, very good."
"Our Holy Tribe has lain dormant for so many years, and at last, we shall seize our chance for ascension."
At this moment, Emperor Zhi couldn't help but ask:
"Emperor, won't exposing ourselves so early alert the Divine Realm?"
The Emperor glanced at Emperor Zhi, who trembled with fear.
Unable to meet his gaze.
The Emperor spoke slowly,
"Under my observation, a disturbance in space-time will soon occur in the universe. When it does, I will covertly take action to guide it here, at which point the Divine Realm and Douluo Planet will be isolated."
"Then we will have the opportunity to quickly devour Douluo Planet and ascend."
All the One Hundred and Two Emperor bowed deeply once more.
"All hail the mighty Emperor!"
"Heh."
A harsh laugh emerged from the Abyssal Emperor.
"All of you, be spirited! Anyone who slips up, don't blame me for my ruthless hand."
"Now that Emperor Meng and the others have already infiltrated, and those Divine Kings in the Divine Realm are still completely oblivious, how laughable, terribly laughable, hahaha."
Their hearty laughter echoed through all the 108 layers of the abyssal plane, and the whole plane shook continuously.
Emperor Zhi spoke with reverence and a smile,
"Your divine might covers the world, your strategies unmatched, the Divine Realm will sooner or later become but a thing in your palm."
"Hahaha."
"Rise."
The One Hundred and Two Emperor felt enlivened, joining the Emperor in his boisterous laughter.
Utterly euphoric.
At that moment, the entire abyssal plane trembled.
A cracking sound echoed suddenly.
All the great emperors stopped laughing at once, turning their heads to gaze far into the lower planes.
As if responding to their silence,
The crackling sound continued relentlessly.
Under the watchful eyes of the One Hundred and Two Emperor, the 36th and 39th planes collapsed and disintegrated, the process irreversible.
"What..."
Emperor Zhi's face lost its joy, and he shuddered.
A chill surged from his feet to his Heavenly Spirit Cover.
His expression was one of horror.
"What has happened."
"How could anyone have the power to kill Emperor Meng and Emperor Ying?"
"Impossible!"
"Could it be that the Divine Realm has acted?"
The disbelief in the voices of all the great emperors was palpable; in their minds, they should have been undying beings, how could they possibly be annihilated by mere mortals.
"No!"
As two of the 108 planes collapsed, the Emperor's aura diminished slightly, his eyes widened in furious rage as he roared,
"Who did this!"
"Who exactly is responsible!!"
As joyous as they were moments ago, now they were equally enraged!