After three days of rest, Tang Yin set off for the Far North—accompanied by the two Shui sisters, Bing'er and Yue'er.
The journey was long and arduous, stretching over nearly two weeks of travel. Snow-laden forests, biting winds, and lonely mountain passes filled their days.
One evening, as they traveled in the soft sway of their rented carriage, a familiar mischief gleamed in Shui Yue'er's eyes. She scooted closer to Tang Yin, her voice a sultry purr.
"Tang Yin," she whispered, lips curving into a playful smirk, "Are you planning to take our first time on this journey? Might be just the thing to chase away my boredom."
Her tone dripped with shameless teasing, eyes locked on his with flirtatious fire. It wasn't the first time she tried to provoke him—and it likely wouldn't be the last.
Tang Yin didn't blink.
"When your sister Bing'er is ready," he murmured smoothly, leaning in close enough for her breath to hitch, "I'll take both of you. Together. How about that?"
Shui Yue'er let out a delighted laugh, cheeks flushed with growing excitement. She cast a meaningful glance toward Bing'er—who was, at that very moment, doing her best to vanish into her seat. Bing'er's face turned a shade of pink that rivaled cherry blossoms in spring.
Shui Bing'er looked away quickly, but not before Tang yin caught the faint, undeniable glint of anticipation shimmering in her eyes. No matter how calm she tried to appear, her heart clearly hadn't escaped the pull.
The Far North loomed at last.
An endless expanse of jagged glaciers and frozen cliffs stretched as far as the eye could see. Temperatures plummeted the moment they crossed its threshold. The wind howled like wild beasts, and snow whipped around them like a living storm.
Here, even the bravest hesitated.
But Tang Yin? He walked as if in a garden. The cold didn't bother him—in fact, he seemed stronger for it. His body continued to absorb the ambient frigid energy like a sponge, his every step humming with power drawn from the elements themselves.
Shui Bing'er, thanks to her Ice Phoenix martial soul, handled the cold well. Her breath fogged lightly, but her steps were steady.
Yue'er, on the other hand, fared worse. Her martial soul didn't offer the same resistance to the cold, and soon, she was visibly shivering despite her layers.
Without a word, Tang Yin swept her onto his back. He used the surrounding cold energy to generate warmth, transferring it through his body to shield hers.
"I'd say this is the second-best way to warm you up," Tang yin teased over his shoulder.
"What's the first?" Yue'er mumbled, her arms tightening around his neck for comfort.
"You'll have to wait until Bing'er gives the go-ahead." He flashed her a charming smile.
She laughed softly, nuzzling into his shoulder.
As they delved deeper into the icy wilderness, Tang Yin extended his spiritual perception. His telepathy rippled out across the snow-covered plains, seeking the right prey.
A horde of ice-type soul beasts appeared at the edge of his senses—Snow Wolves, Icy Mammoths, and other millennia-old beasts. Useful, perhaps, but far too weak for what he had planned for the two sisters.
He pressed on.
Hours passed. Then days. Until—
Something stirred.
Not far off, two powerful soul beasts were locked in a savage battle—a 45,000-year-old Ice Crystal Falcon clashing violently with a 30,000-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion. Their roars tore through the frozen air, echoing across the icy wasteland.
The trio concealed their presence, watching from behind an outcropping of crystalized ice.
Ice met claw in a dazzling show of force. Frozen feathers cut the wind. Poison-tipped strikes shattered chunks of the battlefield. After a vicious final blow, the falcon stood victorious.
That's when Tang Yin struck.
A burst of mental pressure exploded from him—crushing the minds of nearby beasts. Using his energy conversion, he transfered the soul power of those weaker soul beast into both the falcon and the scorpion, rapidly aging them past 60,000 years.
Then, without hesitation, he initiated Sacrifice.
Golden light flared in the wasteland. The two Shui sisters floated into the air, their eyes wide as enormous black soul rings spiraled up from the bodies of the dying beasts.
The massive black rings hovered ominously around their martial souls, pulsing with potent soul power. As the absorption completed, the soul power within them surged—
In a single step, they leapt past level 50—soaring toward level 57, their overall strength transformed. As the light finally faded, Bing'er landed with a thud, blue eyes sparkling with genuine astonishment and pride.
"Tang Yin!" she said breathlessly. "My new skill—Crystal Execution: Shattered Sky—it's incredible! I can mark every enemy within sixty meters, then summon a barrage of crystal feathers from above. They pierce soul power directly, freezing enemies from the inside. After three seconds..."
She curled her hand into a fist. "...they shatter. Their insides become ice shards. Devastating doesn't even begin to describe it."
Not to be outdone, Shui Yue'er landed beside her, grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Mine's called Frozen Tide: Glacier Surge." She raised both arms theatrically. "I summon a massive ice tsunami from beneath or behind me—it hits like an avalanche, freezing everything and reshaping the battlefield."
Tang Yin smiled—quiet, satisfied.
They were growing stronger together by his side—his sisters-in-arms… and perhaps, in time, something more.
After another fifteen days of travel, they finally returned to Tian Duo City. A full month passed since they'd set out, and their absence hadn't gone unnoticed—worry had begun to fester among the girls and his lovers. But Tang Yin knew that this reunion would be short-lived.
Moon Pavilion – Tang Yuehua's Quarters
Tang Yin arrived at the Moon Pavilion with the Shui sisters at his side. The moment Tang Yuehua laid eyes on him, her initial joy was quickly overshadowed by suspicion.
Her sharp gaze flicked between him and the two stunning girls by his side, like daggers aimed straight at his heart.
"Hmph! You vanish for a whole month and return with beautiful girls in tow?" Yuehua snapped, arms folded tightly across her chest. "What is this, some sort of parade? Showing off your lovers, Tianyu?!"
Tang Yin chuckled gently, stepping forward to pull her into a warm embrace, his hand sliding around her slender waist.
"I took them to the Far North for hunting soul beast," he said softly. "We just got back. I'm sorry I made you worry."
Yuehua's anger melted under his touch, her body relaxing against his. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear
"Come on," he said with a smile. "Let me introduce you to everyone properly. You haven't met any of them yet, have you?"
Inside Tang Sect – The Gathering
Tang Yuehua stood confidently before the group, her posture graceful, elegance radiating from her every move.
"Hello everyone. I'm Tang Yuehua—Tang Yin's lover. I've heard a lot about you. It's a pleasure to meet you all." She bowed with practiced refinement.
Though the girls greeted Tang Yuehua politely and introduced themselves one after another, they all stole helpless glances at Tang Yin, as if silently saying, 'Another one?'
Then, Tang Yin cleared his throat.
"Ahem—everyone, I have something important to share."
The room quieted instantly. His expression was calm, but there was a weight behind his voice. He looked at all of them lovingly.
"I owe you all the truth," he began. "I'll be leaving again—this time, for two years. It's not a choice I make lightly, but this journey is very critical for my training."
The air grew tense.
"Two years?" Zhu Zhuqing echoed softly. "So long. We've not been apart for so long."
Liu Erlong stood up abruptly, her tone sharp. "Where exactly are you going?"
Tang Yin met her eyes.
"Slaughter City."
Gasps echoed in the room.
Yuehua stepped forward, her voice unsteady. "No, Tang Yin, you can't! That place is crawling with evil soul masters. It's said to twist your mind and devour your sanity!"
"I know what it is," Tang Yin replied, his voice firm yet reassuring. "I know it's dangerous. But it's something I must face. This is the next step in my path, and I need to walk it alone."
He looked around the room, meeting each pair of eyes with unwavering determination.
"I promise you this: after this journey, I won't ever be gone this long again. Next time, we face everything together."
The room fell into a heavy silence, filled with worry, frustration, and silent acceptance. They didn't like it—but they understood.
The Next Morning
After completing his morning cultivation of the Purple Demon Eye, Tang Yin stood before the group, ready to depart.
Though they tried to stay composed, their reluctance was written all over their faces. One by one, he embraced them—holding each girl close, whispering a few quiet words, and sealing every farewell with a tender kiss.
None of them wanted to let go, but they knew… he had already made up his mind.