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The Ice Empress felt a wave of confusion wash over her. She quickly turned her eyes away, feeling a bit dizzy from everything that had just happened. She lowered her head and rubbed her face with her hands, trying to clear her mind. She felt slightly disoriented, as if her world had been turned upside down in just a few moments.
Not far away, Kong Mingan stood in a completely new form. He did not notice that the Ice Empress was acting strangely. He was far too busy focusing on his own body and the power flowing through him.
He had entered a state of Spirit Fusion with the Snow Empress. In this form, he was the one in control. He could feel his ability to manipulate energy, but he knew he could not stay like this for a long time. Controlling energy in such a primal, instinctive way was very hard on his mind. It drained his mental strength quickly.
However, he realized that he only needed a short amount of time to finish what he started. He needed to condense the Spirit Core and modify the spirit ring. If he worked fast, his current strength would be enough to get the job done.
Kong Mingan took a moment to get used to this new body. Being fused with the Snow Empress gave him a level of power that far went beyond anything he had ever felt before. He felt strong, but he knew he had to act immediately before the fusion wore off.
He raised his right hand slowly. The ninth spirit ring belonging to the Snow Empress began to float toward his palm. It was a bright, scarlet color, showing its status as a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. It was a beautiful but intimidating sight.
Suddenly, tiny threads of transparent energy began to grow from his fingertips. These threads were as thin as a human hair, but they were incredibly strong and condensed. They moved like living things, wrapping themselves around the red spirit ring.
To Kong Mingan, the structure of the energy was clear. He could see every detail of how the ring was put together. He used the fine energy threads like tiny carving knives and embroidery needles. He began to engrave and weave new patterns onto the spirit ring.
As his fingers moved, the hidden designs on the ring started to change. It was a delicate process, almost like a master artist working on a masterpiece. Slowly, the ring began to look different, taking on a sense of indescribable beauty that it didn't have before.
While his one hand worked on the ring, Kong Mingan raised his other hand. He held his palm upward, and the spirit power of the ultimate ice and snow attribute began to gather there. This was the unique power of the Snow Empress.
He knew he was running out of time, so he had to do two things at once. He was modifying the spirit ring and condensing the Spirit Core at the same time. This was a very difficult task, but he didn't seem worried.
Kong Mingan's way of making a Spirit Core was not like the traditional methods used by other Spirit Masters. Most people would try to compress their spirit power first until it became solid. Kong Mingan did not do that. Instead, he used his powerful mental force to build a framework first.
He created a perfect energy structure in the air, using his mind to hold every piece in place. Once the frame was ready, he guided his spirit power into it. He made the energy start to rotate inside the frame. As more spirit power went in, the pre-built structure became stronger and harder. It started to solidify from the outside in.
The whole process looked easy because of his perfect control. There was none of the danger or tension that usually happens when a Spirit Master tries to form a Spirit Core. For him, it was just a matter of being precise and efficient.
The minutes ticked by slowly. The Ice Empress stood perfectly still, watching him with her breath held. She didn't want to miss a single detail. She watched how he handled the spirit power and how the Spirit Core was taking shape. She was amazed by his skill.
By now, the Snow Empress's ninth spirit ring had changed completely. It was no longer bright red. Now, it was a deep, pure ice-blue color. Small, silver patterns flowed across the surface of the ring. It looked magnificent and mysterious. It gave off a freezing chill and a huge amount of energy that could make anyone's heart race.
On the other side, the Spirit Core was finished. It was only about the size of a thumb, but it glowed with a brilliant light like a tiny star. It floated in the air, pulling in the natural energy from the world around it. It turned that energy into the purest ice and snow power.
Kong Mingan narrowed his eyes. He knew the final moment had come. He brought his hands together with a sharp movement. The ice-blue Spirit Core flew through the air and landed perfectly in the middle of the modified spirit ring. It fit exactly where it was supposed to go.
A soft buzzing sound filled the air. The moment the Spirit Core touched the spirit ring, the transparent energy threads he had prepared earlier shot out. They connected the two objects together, fusing them into a single piece.
Everything fit perfectly, as if they were always meant to be joined. The combination of the spirit ring and the Spirit Core was a complete success. A new, more stable and powerful aura started to spread out from the ring.
Kong Mingan let out a long, tired breath. He finally let his mental force relax. A flash of light covered him, and the Spirit Fusion ended. The two figures became separate again. Kong Mingan's face was very pale, and he could barely stand. He felt a wave of exhaustion hit him like a giant wave. His vision went dark, and his legs gave out. He started to fall backward.
The Snow Empress was fast. She reached out and caught him before he hit the ground. She held him carefully in her arms, letting his head rest against her. She looked worried for a second, her blue eyes scanning his face. She checked his body and realized he was just unconscious. He had used up too much of his spirit power and mental strength. Once she knew he was safe, she felt a little better.
"Snow Empress," the Ice Empress said as she walked closer. Her voice sounded worried.
"I am fine," the Snow Empress replied. She shook her head gently and moved a little to make Kong Mingan more comfortable in her lap. Her movements were very soft and kind. She looked at the new spirit ring floating nearby, the one that now held the Spirit Core. She stayed silent for a moment, thinking. Then she looked up at the Ice Empress. "Bing'er, after seeing this, do you trust him now?"
The Ice Empress did not answer right away. She looked at Kong Mingan's pale face with a complicated expression. She remembered the adult version of him she had seen in her mind earlier. She bit her lip and whispered, "I... I don't know." It was still hard for her to think about trusting a human. Humans and spirit beasts usually did not get along.
The Snow Empress looked down at the young man in her arms. She gently brushed her fingers against his cheek. Her voice was calm and sounded like a soft breeze. "Bing'er, do you remember the deal he made with me?"
The Ice Empress nodded her head silently.
"His power has been restored, and he is the kind of person who keeps his word," the Snow Empress continued. "He is destined to become a god in the future. When that happens, he will keep his promise to protect the Extreme North Land.
He will make sure our home is safe." She paused for a moment, and a small, real smile appeared on her face. "In a way, everything I am already belongs to him."
The Ice Empress stayed quiet, processing those words.
The Snow Empress looked at her friend again. There was a look of hope in her eyes. "So, Bing'er, are you willing to try? Can you try to trust him?"
The Ice Empress was silent for a long time. When she finally spoke, her voice sounded a bit dry. "I still don't know. He is a human, and it is very hard for me to give him my full trust. But..." She thought about how confident he looked when he explained his plans.
She thought about how he had worked for over two weeks without resting to help the Snow Empress. She saw how hard he worked. "...I want to stay. I want to see what happens next."
She wanted to see for herself if this human was really different from the others. She wanted to know if the Snow Empress had made the right choice by following him.
A soft smile appeared on the Snow Empress's cold face. "You are welcome to stay, Bing'er," she said softly.
The Ice Empress looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed. She glanced at the sleeping Kong Mingan and complained, "Why are you welcoming me? I don't even know if this guy will let me stay. If he tries to kick me out, are you going to hide me somewhere?"
The Snow Empress looked a bit amused, but she spoke with total confidence. "He will let you stay. I am sure of it." She looked down at Kong Mingan again, as if she was remembering a secret. "He definitely will."
"You seem very sure," the Ice Empress said, looking suspicious. She couldn't understand why the Snow Empress was so certain about it. She felt like there was something she was missing, but she couldn't figure out what it was.