Soul Emperor Awakening

The sudden addition of four hundred thousand pounds almost made Lin Xuan lose his grip on the iron chain. Combined with the weight he was already bearing, the total soared to eight hundred thousand pounds! Fortunately, his Cultivation had recently seen a significant breakthrough; otherwise, he truly wouldn’t have been able to withstand such a terrifying load. After all, that was right around his previous limit.

No wonder the other members of the Demon Race were all climbing on their own. The ascent was already difficult enough for one person; carrying someone else would double the burden. Unless you were exceptionally powerful, it was simply impossible to help carry another person up.

It seemed the rules here couldn’t be broken. You could help someone, but you had to bear their share of the weight!

"It looks like I can’t make it. Let me go. You won’t be able to handle this. I really shouldn’t have come here..." Hu Hong said, seeing the beads of sweat covering Lin Xuan’s forehead. She knew what a heavy burden she was. It was a miracle they hadn’t already plummeted from such a height.

With their physical bodies, a straight fall would undoubtedly smash them into a pulp. From eighty zhang in the air, the people below looked like ants. With no way to cushion the fall, death was certain.

Disappointment filled her eyes as she silently berated herself. ’I have no strength... I’m just a burden to Lin Xuan.’

"What are you talking about? Your talents don’t lie in physical strength, but in other areas! If you don’t have the power, then I’ll just lend you mine!"

The Demon Fox Race doesn’t focus on Physique, but on their innate Charm Technique—that is their most prized ability. If cultivated to a high enough level, an opponent’s physical strength, no matter how great, becomes useless.

Lin Xuan roared, yanking her up and pulling her tight against his body. He immediately began circulating the Cloud Return Technique within him. The power in his body surged, and his grip on the iron chain tightened. Then, with a powerful push from his feet, he coordinated his arms and legs to rapidly ascend.

His climbing speed was now even faster than before. He had deliberately climbed slowly earlier to match Hu Hong’s pace. He wasn’t wasting time; he wanted to see how far she could get on her own. This was a test of sorts. The fact that he could have carried her from the beginning didn’t mean he was just going to do it.

’I had to wait until she reached her limit before helping. If she could have made it up on her own, that would have been for the best.’

The members of the Demon Race climbing nearby stared with wide eyes. This wasn’t the first time they had seen someone carry another person up, but it was the absolute first time they had ever seen a Demon Fox carry a companion. A single thought couldn’t help but pop into their minds: ’Since when were Demon Foxes this strong?’

"Is that really a Demon Fox’s strength? He’s carrying another Demon Fox up with him! He’s even stronger than we are!"

"He looks like a half-human, half-demon. He must have used some special ability, otherwise how could he be so strong?"

"The Demon Fox Race? You don’t see many of them in Ice and Snow City. But even if they make it up, it’s pointless. There are far too many people up there stronger than them."

...

Many members of the Demon Race stared, dumbfounded, at the sight of Lin Xuan carrying his companion. While others had done this before, it was the first time any of them had seen a Demon Fox do so. The Demon Fox Race was notoriously weak, yet here was one—with a seemingly low Cultivation level at that—carrying a companion up the chain!

Hearing their discussion, Lin Xuan breathed an inward sigh of relief. ’It seems the Soul Possession is working. I’ve successfully fooled them.’

Without another thought, he continued climbing with Hu Hong. Soon, they reached the top of the chain. The moment they set foot on the platform, they felt the pressure on their bodies lessen significantly, though it didn’t disappear completely.

Lin Xuan estimated that a weight of at least three hundred thousand pounds was still pressing down on them. Anyone whose Physique wasn’t strong enough would find it difficult to even move here. He was also thankful that the pressure was reduced so much upon arrival. Normally, the very top of the chain exerted five hundred thousand pounds of pressure. If that pressure remained constant on the platform, it would be truly terrifying.

Of course, it was still far from easy. For Hu Hong, this was the absolute limit of what she could endure. If the pressure were to increase any further, she wouldn’t be able to last long here either.

’The entry requirement for Ice and Snow City is steep, but I guess this is how they keep out members of the Demon Race with ordinary Physiques...’

The minimum pressure to withstand was three hundred thousand pounds, which proved that the Physiques of those who stayed here were anything but weak. Lin Xuan’s Physique, however, was even stronger; he was practically a humanoid Giant Beast. The total weight he had carried up the chain was a staggering one million pounds!

’In other words,’ he thought, ’with my current ability, I could probably reach the very top of the Pressure Cyan Cloud Tower. It’s just that I don’t have the chance to go back, and I wouldn’t anyway. There’s no point anymore.’

"Thank you. If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t have made it..." Hu Hong panted, taking a moment to acclimate to the heavy pressure. The climb just now had taken a serious toll on her.

"Don’t worry about it. Like I said, we’re helping each other. I would never leave you behind."

Lin Xuan shifted his gaze to the front of the platform. Before him lay the true entrance to Ice and Snow City. It was a massive gateway, looking as if it could swallow anything whole, giving off the feeling that once you entered, you would never come out again.

"So this is the entrance to Ice and Snow City?" Lin Xuan said. "Though, I think I’d rather call it the Ice and Snow Tower."

"You can call the First Layer ’Ice and Snow City.’ From the Second Layer up, it’s called the Ice and Snow Tower. Most people stay on the First Layer, so it’s basically its own city." Hu Hong looked inside, her eyes filled with excitement. "Let’s go take a look! I’ve never been here before, I’ve only ever heard stories."

Lin Xuan nodded and walked in alongside her. The moment he stepped through the city gate, he felt an icy chill seep into his body. The sensation was strangely familiar—it felt like the Yulan Sacred Fire!

The Yulan Sacred Fire felt almost exactly like this, yet this sensation was subtly different; at the very least, it caused him no harm. At the same time, he felt a cold sensation on his arm. He quickly raised it and saw that a snowflake-shaped mark had appeared on his skin.

"What is this?" Lin Xuan asked, looking at the snowflake-shaped brand on his arm. It didn’t hurt; he only felt a lingering coldness, as if he had just been given a Token.

"That’s your Ice and Snow Badge. It’s a badge branded into your very body, but it also serves to protect you. As long as you have this badge, anyone who attacks you will suffer Ice and Snow City’s Celestial Punishment. The penalty ranges from severe injury to death!" Hu Hong said cautiously. "So, don’t attack anyone randomly. It will trigger the Celestial Punishment, and with our Cultivation, we couldn’t possibly withstand it. In fact, no one, regardless of their Cultivation, can withstand it!"

Lin Xuan froze. ’If that’s the case,’ he thought, ’wouldn’t this be the safest place for the Golden Dragon Race to stay?’