Word Count: 2,808 Words
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Damn it, where did such ridiculously accurate unofficial history come from?!
One Qian Xunji, and Angel descendants couldn't hold their heads high for ten thousand years!
Just as Ling Bai was regretting that Qian Xunji's bones had long since turned to dust, leaving him nothing to dig up and flog, Ling Luochen seemed to have already foreseen the night's conclusion. She swept her gaze around the dim secret chamber, her body relaxing in resignation as she said calmly:
"Fine, let's just get this over with."
"…You're not going to resist?" Ling Bai looked genuinely surprised.
"There's nothing to resist."
Ling Luochen's rose-red lips pressed together slightly. "The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is your home. With your strength, you could suppress me with a snap of your fingers. I can't find a man anyway, and at least you're rather formidable. Following you, I won't lose out.
I have a cleanliness obsession, and this secret chamber is too shabby; there isn't even a bed. Next time, please just come directly to my room.
Oh, unless you actually enjoy the atmosphere down here. If so, pretend I never said anything."
With that, she earnestly used her ice element to condense an ice bed, then glided over with elegant steps and sat upon it.
She looked up at Ling Bai and seemed to catch the shock written plainly across his handsome face. Her brows furrowed in confusion, and after two seconds of hesitation, she gently drew aside her collar with both hands, revealing pearly, delicate shoulders.
That was enough to make Ling Bai lose his composure. If he let Ling Luochen's imagination run any further, she would probably strip herself bare like a delectable little lamb. He hurriedly adopted his most upright, gentlemanly demeanor:
"As everyone knows, official histories may not be entirely accurate, but unofficial histories are certainly wild fabrications.
Seriously, stop reading all that nonsense. The Angel Clan has no particular fondness for secret chambers!"
Ignoring Ling Luochen's expression of wanting to speak but holding back, Ling Bai produced an octagonal herb. "I brought you to this secret chamber because what we're about to do might destroy a regular room.
Here, feel this."
The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass floated gently into her arms. Her Ice Element Martial Spirit instantly grew incredibly excited, and Ling Luochen blurted out:
"Ultimate Ice!"
She had encountered the Ice Jade Scorpion's Ultimate Ice before and had personally experienced what it could accomplish.
During the previous tournament, Huo Yuhao had practically served as her personal battery. Using Ultimate Ice back then had been absolutely exhilarating; the sensation of commanding all the ice under heaven still lingered vividly in her memory.
"Its name is the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, a 100,000-year Ultimate Ice plant-type immortal herb spirit beast containing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal."
Ling Bai looked down at Ling Luochen on the ice bed, where she held the herb as if unwilling to let go. "I don't want to play word games with you. Let's speak plainly.
Among my family and lovers, none possess ice-attribute Martial Spirits. As for friends, there's only you and Meng Hongchen.
Let's not discuss Meng Hongchen. For her, ice serves merely as an auxiliary element; the Red Eyed Ice Toad's poison is her true cultivation path. Besides, she's from the Sun Moon Imperial Academy, and her grandfather is Illustrious Virtue Hall Master Jing Hongchen. Being infatuated doesn't mean she's foolish. There's no reason for her to defect to the Douluo Continent like Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan.
So besides you, I don't seem to have a second choice.
You should understand the value of this 100,000-year Ultimate Ice immortal herb."
"Price—less—trea—sure."
Ling Luochen enunciated each word carefully. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass included a 100,000-year spirit ring, a 100,000-year spirit bone, and its own 100,000-year body and essence. It was enough to drive every ice-attribute Spirit Master on the continent mad with desire.
"Lin'er absorbed an immortal herb and evolved into the Ultimate Poison Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. By the same principle, I could use the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass to help a top-tier ice-attribute Spirit Master advance to Ultimate Ice."
Dugu Lin...
Ling Luochen subconsciously clenched her fists upon hearing that name. Her relationship with Dugu Lin had never been amicable.
Back when both women were five-ringed Spirit Kings, Dugu Lin had believed that if not for the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison flaring up during the Seven Monsters challenge, Ling Luochen's place among the Shrek Seven would have belonged to her instead.
In Dugu Lin's original plan, she had fully intended to seduce Ling Bai during the tournament to nail down a position by his side, so she wouldn't have to worry day and night about whether he would help her in the future.
Ling Bai didn't give her time to dwell on such thoughts and continued, "I helped Xiaotao and Lin'er evolve their Martial Spirits because they both chose to follow me.
Strength forms the foundation of any Spirit Master. I want my loved ones to become stronger, so providing spirit rings, spirit bones, and immortal herbs is only natural.
Only with you… to be honest, I'm conflicted."
Ling Luochen fell into contemplation. After a long moment, she nodded gently and admitted frankly, "Yes, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass… I'm truly not worthy of receiving it…"
The Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone was worth thirty million spirit gold coins and granted the ice-attribute divine skill Ice Explosion. Ling Bai had given it to her without batting an eye, filling her heart with deep gratitude. Adding the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass on top of that… she had no idea how to repay him.
"Don't be nervous."
Ling Bai smiled reassuringly and handed her a left leg spirit bone. "This left leg bone comes from a 10,000-year Wolf Ape. Its attached skill is Instant Teleportation, an excellent life-saving technique for Spirit Masters with weak defense.
Those who joined me first could be considered founding followers. I provide them with special treatment. For those from the Inner Courtyard like you, everyone receives a 10,000-year spirit bone."
"Thank you."
Ling Luochen bit her lip. She understood perfectly that the Wolf Ape left leg bone was merely an appetizer. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass was the real feast.
Ultimate Ice Element + 100,000-year Martial Spirit Avatar + 100,000-year spirit bone + Ice Explosion. She was a Rank 69 Spirit Emperor. After absorbing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, she would wake up tomorrow as an Ultimate Ice Spirit Saint with Titled Douluo-level combat strength. The prospect was too beautiful to have ever imagined before.
Though this era had produced many with Ultimate attributes such as Ling Bai, Ling Qiuxi, Ma Xiaotao, Dugu Lin, and Huo Yuhao. Setting aside the present, the entire Douluo Continent had only produced three Ultimate Spirit Masters in the past ten thousand years.
Ma Xiaotao and Dugu Lin had become Ultimate Spirit Masters by attaching themselves to Ling Bai, securing bright futures. Ling Luochen's thoughts couldn't help but wander. Her own qualifications were not poor; her appearance and figure were both outstanding. Perhaps she should also…
The instant that thought surfaced, it startled her. When had she started harboring such shameless ideas?
She could follow Ling Bai, but offering herself in exchange for the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass would make her no different from a courtesan selling her body for money. The only distinction would be… her price was higher.
"My heart is in turmoil."
Ling Luochen said softly. "I'd rather you dominate me in this secret chamber and afterward coax me with the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass than have these disgusting thoughts surfacing in my mind."
"People aren't saints. Who doesn't harbor desires?"
Ling Bai's expression remained serene. "Actually, I've considered your approach too. It's direct and effective. Just shed a tiny bit of conscience, and I could easily obtain an Ultimate Ice beauty.
But the downside is, we'd be sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams. Who knows? Maybe one day you'd grow angry enough to crawl out of bed in the middle of the night and stab me."
Ling Luochen laughed. Her smile was unexpectedly sweet, completely at odds with her naturally cold personality.
Ling Bai grinned. "Being completely frank benefits us both. Besides, my hesitation proves at least one thing:
I have high expectations for you."
"I definitely won't disappoint you."
Ling Luochen's eyes shone clear and resolute. She could sense Ling Bai's expectations and sincerity. Like a cultivator breaking through an inner demon, she realized Ling Bai owed her nothing. Regardless of whether the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass became hers, she had already decided to follow him wholeheartedly.
Complex, indescribable emotions hid within those brilliant golden pupils. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass would remain merely decorative if unused, providing no benefit whatsoever.
There was no better candidate than Ling Luochen, yet the two of them were far from reaching the level of intimacy where an immortal herb could be gifted casually. Two options lay before him: conquer the body or conquer the heart.
Ling Bai decisively chose the second. Taking advantage of a girl was too shallow. As long as he grasped her heart, everything about her would eventually become his.
"I'll help you evolve your Martial Spirit."
"Alright."
With her resolve firmly set, Ling Luochen no longer wavered and accepted his assistance.
Ling Bai sat on the ice bed and placed his left hand lightly against her back. The same extreme chill that had once suppressed the Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone flowed through, and Ling Luochen felt deeply reassured.
After swallowing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal, she seemed to see snow lotuses blooming all around her, but there was no time for further observation. The cold surging within her body grew increasingly intense, forcing her to focus entirely on circulating her spirit power.
Seven snow lotuses appeared in total. They were treasures from the lotus pond the Snow Empress had once built, which Ling Bai had preserved until today. Ling Luochen's Ice Element Martial Spirit remained far from the Ultimate realm, so adding the chill from seven 10,000-year snow lotuses made the process much safer.
The cold didn't erupt all at once but seeped in thread by thread. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Crystal and the 10,000-year snow lotuses were like delicacies condensed from heaven and earth's primordial energy, except their temperature was unimaginably low. Ling Luochen had to exert every ounce of effort to fuse her Martial Spirit with that ultimate cold energy.
Intense spirit power permeated the air. Her aura underwent constant transformation, becoming colder, more forceful, rising powerfully within the small secret chamber.
The room's temperature plummeted at an alarming rate. Frost spread across the walls and gradually thickened until the secret chamber transformed into a world of ice…
…
The next morning, a resounding dragon's roar echoed from somewhere within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Blazing flames gathered into a dragon shape and burst through a window. From within the firelight, a boisterous laugh rang out:
"I did it! This old lady has fucking done it!"
The flames touched the ground and transformed into Wu Feng. Her red hair and red eyes were strikingly beautiful, and her curvaceous figure exuded a wild, scorching energy. She was the very picture of a fiery, sensual queen.
"Xiao Feng, what did you accomplish?"
A graceful figure spun down elegantly from above, a nine-story pagoda floating in her palm and radiating multicolored light. Falling petals danced with the wind, creating a breathtaking scene.
"Ultimate Fire! My Red Dragon evolved into a Fire Dragon!"
Wu Feng bared her teeth in unrestrained joy. It had not been easy at all!
A True Dragon spirit beast's Scarlet Armored Dragon spirit ring, a Scorching Sun Fire Dragon torso bone, Seraphim essence, 100,000-year Blazing Rubber, a 100,000-year Blazing Red Lotus left arm bone…
Through Ling Bai's relentless nurturing, her earth-dragon-level Red Dragon had transformed into an Ultimate Fire Dragon!
"Oh wow, you have a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
Wu Feng noticed the nine-story tower and cheered wildly for Ning Tian's fulfilled dream.
"Yes, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has returned to this world, finally realizing the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's ten-thousand-year aspiration," Ning Tian murmured, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
Both women's spirit power had surged dramatically through their Martial Spirit evolutions and the 100,000-year immortal herb essence, breaking through to Rank 60. One more spirit ring would make them Spirit Emperors.
"Roar—"
Another passionate dragon's roar rang out. A golden meteor crashed to earth, kicking up clouds of dust. The figure turned toward the two women without speaking, but her cold, aloof aura and indifferent gaze declared her complete unapproachability.
Golden Dragon, Ling Qiuxi!
The Golden Dragon already possessed Ultimate Strength, so the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's enhancement was not as massive for her as it had been for Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Even so, judging from Wu Feng's expression of facing a formidable enemy, even after awakening as a Fire Dragon descended from the Fire Dragon King, she still couldn't match Ling Qiuxi.
'Rank 68…'
Ling Qiuxi clenched her fist. The crackling of her bones sent chills down observers' spines. The 100,000-year Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum combined with the 100,000-year Dark Demon Evil God Tiger torso bone had pushed her several major steps forward.
"Want to spar?"
A pair of golden dragon eyes locked onto Wu Feng. She intended to establish dominance over Ling Bai's other women through sheer strength first!
"Let's do it!" Wu Feng thrust out her chest fearlessly.
"I won't bully you. You can both come at me together."
Ling Qiuxi tilted her chin toward Ning Tian and Wu Feng, clearly intent on a one-versus-two!
The smell of gunpowder thickened. An epic battle between two Ultimate True Dragons was about to erupt. Right then, accompanied by a sharp sword cry, Ji Juechen descended as if drawn by the scent of combat, stating coolly:
"Please include me in any fights. Thank you!"
The Eight Petal Immortal Orchid had compensated for his innate deficiencies. Ji Juechen felt light as a feather, his fighting spirit surging!
BOOM—
Bone-chilling cold suddenly erupted. Everyone present froze momentarily. Wu Feng shifted uncomfortably and said with uncertain surprise:
"This chill is… Ultimate Ice? Where did our clan get Ultimate Ice?"
A figure stepped forth from the penetrating cold. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red—seven rings proclaimed her Spirit Saint identity. Ice-blue long hair, ice-blue pupils, exquisite features with well-defined contours. She looked like an Ice Fairy descended to the mortal realm.
Ultimate Ice Element, Ling Luochen!
Her voice, wrapped in frost, drifted down. "A fight? I'm interested too."
"Sword Fanatic Ji Juechen requests your guidance!"
Spirit Saint versus Spirit Saint. Ji Juechen gripped his Judgement Sword and charged straight at Ling Luochen. On the other side, Ling Qiuxi and Wu Feng clashed as well, dragon roars rising and falling in succession.
Ling Bai leaned against a large tree, observing the battles. Ling Luochen's body hadn't been strong enough to bear a 100,000-year spirit ring; in the end, he had borrowed the Snow Empress's dominion over ice and snow to forcibly suppress the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. That night had truly exhausted him.
When Spirit Masters achieved breakthroughs, actual combat provided the best testing ground.
Before long, other Inner Courtyard students who had received spirit bones emerged from their rooms. Their eyes lit up with awakened battle lust as they grabbed partners for chaotic sparring filled with crashes and clangs.
'Ultimate Strength, Ultimate Fire, Ultimate Ice, Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Sword Fanatic…'
Appreciating the fruits of his labor, Ling Bai couldn't help revealing a satisfied smile. The next second, Jianmu Douluo appeared in his field of vision and beckoned:
"Young people overflow with vigor. Let them fight to their hearts' content. Your teacher will accompany you to hunt spirit beasts. We can capture Xiao Tian and Xiao Feng's sixth spirit rings alive and bring them back to the clan."
"Yes, Teacher."
Master and disciple soared skyward together. Ling Bai had already decided on his eighth spirit ring.
Star Luo Empire, Luminous Mystic Forest.
"Can you guess why your teacher is accompanying you this time, and bringing only you?" Jianmu Douluo asked warmly.
"Teacher wants to see the Death Abyss Spider Emperor."
"Correct."
Ling Bai understood the old man's thinking perfectly. He simply wanted to confirm personally whether the Death Abyss Spider Emperor had completely stabilized, which was why he insisted on accompanying Ling Bai alone, without letting Ning Tian or Wu Feng follow.
The two flew at maximum speed, crossing from the Heavenly Soul Empire into the Star Luo Empire and heading straight for the Luminous Mystic Forest.
…
Above the Eternal Day region, a mighty roar echoed like rolling thunder:
"Luminous Wolf Emperor, come face me in the sky!"