While in Battle Through the Heavens, one can pre-appoint oneself as an emperor.

Chapter 427 The War Emperor of the Southern Heaven?

Chen Xiao's talisman did not directly bring Lin Dong and the other two back to the Purple Cloud Continent. After leaving the Ice Spirit Continent, he simply put them down.

"You may wait here for a while and perhaps gain something unexpected. You may also leave for now and accumulate more experience in another ten or twenty years. At that time, it will not be difficult to achieve your wishes. I will not see you off."

97

Upon hearing the voice coming from the talisman again, the three quickly bowed.

"Thank you for your help, senior. Lin Dong will remember it!"

"Thank you, True Emperor!"

"Thank you, True Emperor!"

The three spoke almost simultaneously, and only after they finished speaking did Lin Dong look at the two women beside him with some surprise.

They seemed to have known the origin of the talisman all along—

Without time to think further, Lin Dong felt even more grateful upon learning that the talisman's owner was Chen Xiao, who had saved Qing Tan once and told Ying Huanhuan whereabouts. He bowed again and gave a solemn salute.

"Haha, don't worry about it, we'll have a chance to meet again in the future."

Amidst a burst of hearty laughter, the icy blue talisman exploded like fireworks, transforming into a ray of light that merged into the world.

Only now did Lin Dong belatedly look at Ling Qingzhu and Qing Tan, and some issues that he hadn't considered when he was in a moment of madness instantly surfaced in his mind, and he understood the reason behind it.

"Qingzhu, did you know the True Emperor would intervene, which is why you agreed to let me come to the Ice Spirit Clan?"

"What else can we do? Huanhuan will definitely try to find us, but we only have hope if we live. If you die, what good will it do even if Huanhuan comes back?"

Ling Qingzhu rolled her eyes at him, making no attempt to hide anything.

Qingtan was saved by Ziyan, and their feelings for each other deepened over the next eight months. Qingtan couldn't openly discuss these private topics between women, so she only told Lin Dong a general overview.

But Ling Qingzhu was different; she understood everything in great detail and knew the effects of the spiritual imprint that Zi Yan had planted on Qing Tan.

That's why she could have predicted that Chen Xiao would take action.

"The reason I didn't let you take the risk before was because I knew that if we couldn't reach an agreement and things really came to a head, we would definitely owe Zixiao Palace a huge favor. If the other party were an ordinary Heavenly Sovereign, it would be fine, and we would have plenty of opportunities to repay him in the future. But this True Emperor is harder to understand the more we learn about him, and we probably won't be able to help him much in the future," Ling Qingzhu said quietly.

From a rational perspective, Chen Xiao's previous advice to Qing Tan—to grow quietly for a few years before seeking out Ying Huanhuan—was undoubtedly the most correct.

After all, Ying Huanhuan's condition couldn't possibly get any worse. If they didn't come to her door, the Ice Spirit Clan might not even notice the extra remnant soul in the Ice Spirit Stele for decades to come.

However, how can one remain rational throughout life?

Even Ling Qingzhu, seeing Lin Dong growing more and more anxious each day, finally relented.

"I understand, but I believe I can repay this favor! Before the True Emperor left, he said we would meet again. Someone of his stature wouldn't speak without reason!"

Lin Dong took a deep breath, marveling at Ling Qingzhu's thorough consideration, and also realizing that she had thought things through.

Thanks to the resolute character he developed in the lower plane, he was quite confident in himself.

If the Earthly Sovereign cannot help, then the Heavenly Sovereign will!

As long as one's strength grows, even to the point of being on par with a True Emperor, one can always be of some help.

Having figured this out, Lin Dong stopped worrying and instead began to ponder what Chen Xiao had said before he left.

"The True Emperor said that if we wait here for a while, we might gain something unexpected. What does that mean?" Lin Dong looked at Qing Tan and then at Ling Qingzhu.

Sometimes, he had to admit that he was a bit too straightforward, unlike Ling Qingzhu who was more thoughtful.

"Brother Lin Dong, since the True Emperor has spoken, even if he hasn't actually shown himself, given his current prestige, the Ice Spirit Ancestor might go back and find out more, and then he might realize that we have some connection with the Purple Cloud Palace, thus becoming wary and changing his attitude."

This time, it was Qingtan who spoke up to explain.

Ling Qingzhu gave her an approving look, but seeing Lin Dong's sudden realization, she felt rather helpless.

This man is not brainless; it's just that his personality, shaped over many years, has made him more accustomed to letting his strength and fists do the talking, so he often gives people the impression of a bandit or a brute.

"Does that mean we have a chance to find Huanhuan this time?"

"That depends on what the Ice Spirit Ancestor decides. Let's wait and see."

..

Ice Spirit Clan.

Inside the familiar main hall, the music had long since ceased, leaving only the three Heavenly Sovereigns and a group of core members of the Ice Spirit Clan.

Snapped!Snapped!

Some heavy footsteps came from outside the hall. The Ice Spirit Ancestor walked in, returned to the main seat and sat down. His gaze immediately turned to the War Emperor.

"War Emperor, please tell me, was that person just now the True Emperor?"

The Ice Spirit Ancestor is a thousand-year-old fox, possessing his own unique wisdom.

Otherwise, in the original timeline, after the incident where Lin Dong defeated four people, the Martial Realm and the Ice Spirit Clan would not have been able to reconcile and eventually become staunch allies of the Martial Realm.

Although Chen Xiao did not reveal his identity directly, a talisman that flew from billions of miles away suppressed him so that he dared not move. There are very few people in the entire world who can do such a thing.

Two and a half years ago, the True Emperor, separated by billions of miles, struck the main city of the Maha Ancient Clan with a single palm strike. That event is quite similar to what is happening today.

Furthermore, Chen Xiao's mention of the War Emperor only fueled further speculation.

Not only the Ice Spirit Ancestor, but also the other two Heavenly Sovereigns in the hall, and even the more intelligent Ice Spirit Clan experts, all thought of the same thing.

All eyes turned to the War Emperor, and unsurprisingly, he quickly nodded in affirmation of their idea.

"It really is him!"

Taking a deep breath, the War Emperor stood up and bowed slightly to the Ice Spirit Ancestor, the Snow Demon Elder, and the Dragon Venerable, saying, "Brothers, this trip to the ruins has given me many insights, which I need to process in seclusion. I won't stay any longer; I'll come to bother you again once I've advanced to the Immortal Rank!"

The War Emperor didn't say how many years he would be in seclusion, nor did he mention Ying Huanhuan's remnant soul again, clearly indicating that he didn't want to get involved in this matter.

After all, Chen Xiao's actions today are enough to prove that Lin Dong and the other two are definitely connected to Zixiao Palace. If they rashly intervene, they may inadvertently cause trouble.

Even when facing other Celestial Sovereigns of the Immortal Rank, the War Emperor would not be so cautious.

But he really dared not be careless when facing Chen Xiao.

It wasn't just because of the shadow of being brutally beaten for a hundred days, but also because this person wasn't like an ordinary Celestial Supreme who would hold back when making a move. If you angered this person, your life would truly be in danger!

It must be said that the example of Mohe You from two and a half years ago was still very deterrent to the powerful figures of the Great Thousand Worlds. It was many times better than the effect of chasing and killing the War Emperor for a hundred days.

Hearing the War Emperor's words, the Ice Spirit Ancestor was not angry. Putting himself in the War Emperor's shoes, he would probably have made the same choice.

"Alright, then let's meet again next time. The Ice Spirit Clan welcomes the War Emperor to visit at any time. However, due to the special circumstances in the clan today, I will not see you off."

The War Emperor nodded slightly, and without further hesitation, strode out of the main hall, transforming into a ray of light that vanished into the sky in an instant.

Watching the War Emperor leave, the Dragon Venerable spoke up, "Old man, I can't help you this time either. Otherwise, if the clan leader finds out, the consequences will be very serious!"

The Ice Spirit Ancestor nodded slightly in understanding.

Only the relationship with the Snow Demon Elder was relatively simple, and he didn't say anything at the moment.

Silence fell over the main hall. The Ice Spirit Ancestor sat on the main seat, pondering for a long time before raising his head again.

"Isn't our clan's once-in-a-millennium grand competition coming up soon? Bingyu, go and see if you can find that reckless brat from earlier. If you do, tell him that as a relative of one of our clansmen, he can also participate. The rewards for the top three in the competition are very generous. Within my power, I can grant one wish to the top three."

The clansman called Ice Feather was stunned for a moment, racking his brains but finding no trace of his memory of the competition.

Does the Ice Spirit Clan even have such a grand event?

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Fortunately, he wasn't stupid. He quickly realized what was happening, responded, and then hurriedly left the main hall.

"The so-called crisis contains opportunities; you old man, you've really grasped the essence of those two words."

Watching the ice feather depart, the Dragon Venerable couldn't help but give a thumbs-up to the Ice Spirit Ancestor.

If this matter is handled well, it might actually be a great thing for the Ice Spirit Clan.

"Hahaha, not at all, come on, let's keep the music playing and keep dancing—"

Time flies, the years are like a shuttle.

Two and a half years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Under the personal supervision of the Ice Spirit Ancestor, the Ice Spirit Clan's first grand competition came to a successful conclusion.

As expected, Lin Dong won the championship of this competition with an overwhelming advantage.

In truth, Lin Dong harbored some resentment towards the Ice Spirit Clan. His initial arrogance followed by his later obsequiousness is laughable.

However, for Huanhuan's sake, he accepted the arrangement after being persuaded by Ling Qingzhu and Qingtan.

After all, the Ice Spirit Clan is definitely the most qualified to speak on how to revive Ying Huanhuan.

After accepting this arrangement, Lin Dong found that the Ice Spirit Clan, whether they deliberately catered to him or suddenly changed their ways, was quite comfortable to be among them, and his initial sense of distance from the Ice Spirit Clan gradually diminished.

Some of the stronger individuals even got along quite well with him and became friends.

It was at this time that Lin Dong learned from these people something that made him furious.

That was two and a half years ago, on the day he arrived at the ancestral land of the Ice Spirit Clan, the War Emperor had asked the Ice Spirit Ancestor for Ying Huanhuan's remnant soul!

Its purpose is self-evident.

After all, the War Emperor's reputation for loving beauty has never been a secret in the vast world. No matter where he goes or where he visits, he has to do it.

Lin Dong could imagine what Ying Huanhuan's fate would have been if Chen Xiao hadn't intervened that day.

Therefore, although the War Emperor managed to extricate himself in time, Lin Dong still secretly remembered him.

"Qingzhu, Qingtan, I already have an idea about where to establish a martial realm."

Ling Qingzhu and Qing Tan exchanged a smile, and the former asked, "Southern Daqian?"

Lin Dong nodded emphatically.

Of course, this is just their current idea.

To provide a safe haven for his friends and relatives from lower realms when they arrive in the Great Thousand World, and to help them gain a foothold in the Great Thousand World, creating a powerful force is inevitable for Lin Dong.

This matter had already been discussed when they first reunited.

Now that a general direction has been determined, there are quite a few reasons for this.

Ling Qingzhu and Qing Tan both know Lin Dong well and know that he is not the kind of person who would willingly be subordinate to others.

Therefore, the far north of the vast world can be ruled out first.

There lies the Purple Cloud Palace of the True Emperor!

Leaving aside whether they could compete with him, they couldn't go there to fight for power simply because of the True Emperor's favor.

In addition, Ling Qingzhu and Qing Tan could also see that Lin Dong held the True Emperor, who also came from a lower plane, in high esteem. Although he hadn't said it, he secretly wanted to be like the True Emperor, to establish a great reputation and to be a guardian of the Great Thousand World.

Of the three directions—east, west, and south—only the south is currently the most frequently invaded by the evil forces from beyond the realm.

In addition, when Lin Dong first entered the Great Thousand World, he landed in the south of the Great Thousand World, so he was more familiar with that area, which is also a reason.

In the very end, it seems that even that War Emperor harbors ambitions to establish a power base south of the Great Thousand Realms!

"After Huanhuan is revived, we will go there first to learn more about her and make some preparations."

"Okay, whatever you say."

..

South of the vast world, the sun shines on the mainland.

After many twists and turns, the War Emperor returned to Divine Sword Mountain.

Even though they were separated by dozens of continents, Zhan Lingdu still managed to find out about the Ice Spirit Clan's grand competition.

Knowing that the Ice Spirit Clan and Lin Dong had made peace, Zhan Ling nodded silently.

The Ice Spirit Clan handled this matter very well!

The world is not only about fighting and killing, but also about understanding human relationships and worldly wisdom. Being able to bend and stretch, and never abandoning one's principles, is a kind of wisdom.

The War Emperor carefully recalled the events of that day, confirming that Chen Xiao truly had no intention of bringing up his past grievances, and that he had not offended him again. He couldn't help but feel relieved.

That matter from before is now completely behind us!

In the future, when Bie Li mentions Chen Xiao, the one he will use as a stepping stone will no longer be Zhan Ling, but the Maha Ancient Clan.

Zhan Ling recalled that she had made a small request in the Ice Spirit Clan's main hall. If that matter were to get out, it would probably displease that brute from the lower plane.

However, Zhan Ling didn't pay too much attention to it.

After all, not everyone who ascends from the lower plane can be like Chen Xiao. Even if that kid has the potential to advance to the Heavenly Sovereign level, it may be decades or even hundreds of years before he can truly reach that level.

In addition, Zhan Ling also trusted that the Ice Spirit Ancestor would not betray him, as he understood the Ice Spirit Ancestor's personality quite well.

Therefore, this matter can be treated as if it never happened.

The more Zhan Ling thought about it, the more comfortable she felt. She changed her posture and began to make plans in her mind.

It seems we can start preparing to establish our own power.

Once everything is ready, it will take at least a few years. After inviting friends, recruiting strong individuals, and handling all sorts of miscellaneous matters, it may take ten years or so to pass.

"Let's begin on this Southern Continent. From now on, I, Ling, will be—"

"Yes, the Southern Heavenly War Emperor!"

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