Shui Bing'er gradually calmed down; this required an adjustment period.
However, the powerful seed of Ma Hongjun had already taken deep root in her heart, and following him would likely bring her boundless security.
As expected, the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede was persuaded.
In truth, it had no way out.
Whether it agreed or not, Ma Hongjun would take its soul ring and soul bone.
Most importantly, it had no hope of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation; even without Ma Hongjun's interference, it had no hope.
Ma Hongjun put away the Martial God Spear and the Fire Phoenix.
The Dragon Soul hovered around Ma Hongjun's body, and the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede's entire body slowly became ethereal, transforming into a ball of dark light under Tianmeng's guidance and entering the Dragon Soul.
A red soul ring appeared on the platinum soul ring.
A miniature Purple-Backed Ice Centipede appeared on the Dragon Soul's claw.
At the same time, a tickling sensation came from Ma Hongjun's feet.
"This is... foot bones!"
Ma Hongjun looked at his feet in surprise.
The Purple-Backed Ice Centipede didn't give him the normal six soul bones, but rather foot bones.
And a pair at that!
If you ask what centipedes have the most of, it's their feet, of course.
Unexpectedly, the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede actually gave him a pair of little feet.
How adorable!
The Purple-Backed Ice Centipede probably has tens of thousands of feet.
"Tens of thousands of feet, and only two foot soul bones dropped? Isn't that too few!
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear only has four, and they all dropped a palm bone.
Little centipede, so stingy!"
"Heavens, you're so shameless! You only have two feet, what do you need so many for?"
Tianmeng complained fiercely.
The little centipede looked at Ma Hongjun, feeling wronged.
You only have two feet, and you're blaming me?
Actually, the sacrificed soul beast can give the soul master suitable soul bones according to their needs. Of course, the location of the soul bone is also related to the soul beast's body structure.
Soul beasts like the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede generally produce torso soul bones and foot bones.
Of course, it can also produce soul bones in other locations, but the effect isn't as good as these two.
With these two foot bones, which wouldn't take up the soul bone space in the legs, it was good news for Ma Hongjun.
This time, Tianmeng had gained a little brother.
Ma Hongjun named it Xiao Zi!
Actually, she was a female centipede!
"Tianmeng, forced love is never sweet, and with Bingdi's strength, you can't force her.
Why be hung up on one flower!"
"What are you trying to say?"
"Why don't you consider Xiao Zi!"
However, the speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart.
Xiao Zi in the dragon soul shyly turned her head away, not daring to look at Tianmeng.
Tianmeng instantly turned black-faced, glaring at Ma Hongjun.
"Don't play matchmaker, I only love Bingdi!"
"It doesn't matter, you're just collecting anyway, what's wrong with one or two? You are the first million-year soul beast in the history of Douluo Continent, you have the prestige!"
Hearing Ma Hongjun's words, Tianmeng actually started to seriously consider it.
As a million-year soul beast, although its strength was weak, it didn't affect Tianmeng's sense of superiority at all.
Seeing the suddenly intoxicated Tianmeng, Ma Hongjun laughed heartily.
Beneath Tianmeng's frail body lay the heart of an emperor.
"Go to hell! You think I'm like you?!"
Tianmeng blushed and shrank back into her stomach.
Ma Hongjun was laughing happily when a sweet voice suddenly interrupted him.
"Have you taken more than one?"
Shui Bing'er's beautiful eyes were fixed on him, awaiting his answer.
Sure enough, a woman!
Just moments ago she was amazed by Ma Hongjun's physique, but now, with the topic of emotions at hand, her thoughts were instantly drawn to him.
However, how could such a question stump someone as shameless as Ma Hongjun?
"What, do you want to join?"
Shui Bing'er suddenly froze, this counter-question catching her off guard.
"I..."
Her initial instinctive response was "I want to join," as if answering "I'm willing."
But the counter-question revealed that Ma Hongjun had indeed taken more than one.
How could he do this?
Shui Bing'er felt a chill run down her spine!
Her beautiful expectations for love shattered in an instant.
Could it be?
Shui Bing'er thought of the golden soul bone on Ma Hongjun's body again.
"Could it be because of that?"
she wondered to herself, trying to exonerate Ma Hongjun.
"We'll talk about joining later. The timing isn't right here. Let's study the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow first!"
Ma Hongjun interrupted Shui Bing'er as she pondered, turning instead to study the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.
Roughly counting, there were more than fifty pillars of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow in this ice cave. The
Purple-Backed Profound Ice Centipede had absorbed quite a bit before.
These ice pillars needed to be absorbed slowly, and the Purple-Backed Profound Ice Centipede had been absorbing them here for tens of thousands of years.
However, unlike Tianmeng, who was like a lazy fish, sleeping and absorbing without even turning over,
the Purple-Backed Profound Ice Centipede cultivated while absorbing, so its strength and cultivation promoted each other.
However, lacking practical experience, the Purple-Backed Profound Ice Centipede dared not leave this treasure land, afraid of being discovered by other soul beasts, and also afraid of accidentally dying if it went out.
So they've been hiding here, developing their strength. Although their cultivation has improved, their combat ability is still incredibly weak. Furthermore, due to a lack of experience, they're powerless against heavenly tribulations.
This is the nature of soul beasts that grow in special treasure lands; their cultivation is generally high, but their combat power is quite different.
"We can't absorb it all in a short time. These ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing marrow have been here for tens of thousands of years without being lost.
Let's go in and take a look!"
Ma Hongjun quickly made a decision.
The Purple-Backed Xuanbing Centipede told them.
After passing the crisscrossing Xuanbing pillars, ahead lay another world—the burial ground of phoenixes.
The Purple-Backed Xuanbing Centipede had been there before, and according to her, the process of entering was extremely difficult.
Not because of danger, but because of the tedious and monotonous experience that drove the centipede to despair.
Finally, upon arriving, besides a frozen ice crystal phoenix, there seemed to be nothing else.
However, the Purple-Backed Xuanbing Centipede dared not approach the ice crystal phoenix. According to her, there was a power within it that made her heart tremble; it seemed the phoenix was watching her. Leading
Shui Bing'er, they continued forward.
After passing through the crisscrossing Xuanbing marrow, the ice cave ahead widened considerably.
However, the straight ice cave seemed endless, quite far away!
Ignoring Shui Bing'er's struggles, Ma Hongjun took her hand.
Shui Bing'er quickly complied.
The two walked through the empty ice cave.
It was a strange feeling; the ice cave gradually took on a square shape, its four sides smooth as mirror-like ice crystals.
They saw four three-dimensional reflections of themselves, a very strange sensation—four versions of themselves walking together.
Walking alone would have given them a chilling feeling.
Especially after a day of walking, with no end in sight, it would have been
truly unbearable .
Three more days passed, and the two continued walking in the same way.
This time, without Ma Hongjun holding Shui Bing'er's hand, she had already taken his arm herself.
Five days passed, and it was still the same!
"Little Purple, are you sure there really is an end ahead, and an Ice Crystal Phoenix?"
Ma Hongjun summoned his dragon soul, shaking awake the sleeping Purple-Backed Xuanbing Centipede.
At this moment, he felt a chill run down his spine and needed to confirm with Xiao Zi again.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes.
I've already said it, this process is tedious and requires perseverance.
Don't bother me, let me sleep. I've already suffered this kind of torment once before.
I don't want to experience this environment again."
After saying this, the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede closed its eyes; this place had truly become its nightmare.
Ma Hongjun released his senses, but even with Tianmeng's enhanced mental detection, he couldn't detect the end.
Gradually, the concept of time blurred.
They didn't know how much time had passed.
Shui Bing'er kept chatting with Ma Hongjun, talking about herself, Ma Hongjun, the academy, all sorts of topics.
She was trying to drive away this boredom and loneliness.
Retreat was impossible, but the future seemed endless.
This made her even doubt the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede's words.
After an unknown amount of time, Shui Bing'er ran out of things to say.
Her spirit collapsed first.
Her eyes were already glazed as she looked at Ma Hongjun.
This long, lonely time, flat and uneventful, without any ups and downs, seemed to stretch on endlessly.
She needed a little stimulation!
(End of Chapter)