Just as Kong Mingan's path forward became clearer, the Snow Empress also finished absorbing the ten thousand year profound ice marrow.
The entire process didn't take much time; in just two hours, the Snow Empress completed the absorption.
Opening her eyes again, the aura around the Snow Empress had undergone an earth-shattering change.
Her already incredibly solid and heavy spirit power at this moment was almost materialized, exuding waves of oppressive pressure, and it continued to solidify further as time passed.
The Snow Empress slowly exhaled a breath of cold air. At this moment, she felt as if a layer of shackles had been shed from her body, and a long-lost sense of lightness surged into her heart, making her feel inexplicably relaxed.
The recovery of her Origin was not instantaneous, but the ten thousand year profound ice marrow was simply too suitable for a pure ice element creature like her.
After only initial absorption, with a significant amount of the ten thousand year profound ice marrow's Energy still remaining in her body, her Origin had already recovered by more than half. And as time passed, her Origin would undoubtedly fully recover, pushing her to an even higher level.
By then, facing the seven-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation, she would have no chance of failure whatsoever; even the eight-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation would not be a problem!
But... was it resolved just like that?
The matter she had worried about for so long was resolved in this way?
The Snow Empress was slightly silent, looking at the always calm young man with complex emotions, unsure of what to say for a moment.
Kong Mingan, however, did not notice the Snow Empress's complex gaze; his attention was instead focused on the remaining ten thousand year profound ice marrow in front of him.
Unlike the original story where the Snow Empress absorbed thirteen pieces at once and sealed seven, this time the Snow Empress only absorbed eight pieces to recover from the Origin damage caused by the Heavenly Tribulation and the failure to condense her spirit core.
Was it because, unlike in the original story where she self-destructed and only a trace of her Origin remained, her recovery was relatively easier this time?
Kong Mingan looked thoughtfully at the thirty-seven remaining ten thousand year profound ice marrow in front of him. After a brief pause, he directly asked:
"If you want to heal the Ice Empress's Origin injuries and allow her to successfully pass the four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation, roughly how many ten thousand year profound ice marrow would be needed?"
The Snow Empress was stunned for a moment, perhaps thinking of something, and looked at Kong Mingan with strange ice-blue eyes. But after a moment, she still quietly estimated in her heart and reported a number.
"Bing'er's injuries are not too severe. To heal her and allow her to pass the four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation, it would probably require three to five pieces of ten thousand year profound ice marrow..."
"Is that so..."
Kong Mingan murmured softly, but his hand movements did not pause much. He simply waved his hand, separating thirty of the thirty-seven ten thousand year profound ice marrow in front of him and placing them before the Snow Empress:
"Take these ten thousand year profound ice marrow."
The Snow Empress fell completely silent.
She looked at the thirty pieces of ten thousand year profound ice marrow in front of her, her mind a bit muddled for a moment.
She didn't respond to Kong Mingan, remaining silent for a long while, but then suddenly raised her head, her ice-blue eyes looking directly at Kong Mingan, and asked straightforwardly:
"You... you wouldn't, from the very beginning, have wanted me to help you 'abduct' the Ice Empress, would you?"
"Hm?"
I had planned that too?
..."These thirty pieces of ten thousand year profound ice marrow, the portion for treating the Ice Empress's Origin is what we agreed upon in our contract, to resolve the issue of the Ice Empress passing her four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation."
"And the rest are for you to absorb, accumulate Energy, and await my subsequent assistance in condensing your spirit core..."
Kong Mingan explained earnestly.
His goal remained unchanged: to continuously strengthen the Snow Empress, allowing her to deal with all threats for him except for Divinities.
And even... to attempt to cultivate the Snow Empress to become a Divinity, thereby allowing her to completely resolve his worries.
As for the Ice Empress... admittedly, as a three-hundred-ninety-thousand-year Spirit Beast, it was certainly false to say he had no thoughts about her, but that was a focus on her as "material" and "sample."
But... from the Snow Empress's tone, he was very sure that her perception of his view on the Ice Empress was absolutely different from his actual view on the Ice Empress.
The Snow Empress was very unusual!
..."That's my thought process. Do you understand?"
Kong Mingan finished his earnest explanation.
In response, the Snow Empress continued to gaze at him, a slight ripple in her eyes. After a moment of silence, she asked again:
"Really?"
...Kong Mingan felt a sudden headache, "It's true."
...
The Snow Empress remained silent, still with suspicion in her eyes.
Other matters were fine; as long as Kong Mingan spoke, she wouldn't have even a trace of doubt. But only regarding matters in this area... thoughts began to arise, but in just a moment, the Snow Empress seemed to make up her mind, sighing softly, her eyes returning to calmness.
Gently raising her hand, she collected all thirty pieces of ten thousand year profound ice marrow in front of her, then, as usual, stood beside Kong Mingan, seemingly no different from normal.
Kong Mingan glanced at the Snow Empress, somewhat unable to fathom what she was thinking, but seeing her calm demeanor, he ultimately did not ask further.
Raising his hand, Kong Mingan put away the remaining seven pieces of ten thousand year profound ice marrow, to be used as future research materials. At this point, all the gains from the ten-thousand-year profound ice cave had been sorted out.
With a light wave of his hand, a spatial portal opened, and the two stepped through it, returning to the Undead Sub-Plane.
As soon as they stepped out of the portal, the two could see a huge hall not far away. Inside the hall were standing spatial portals, each leading to any city on the Douluo Continent.
Figures in Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce uniforms stepped out of and into the portals, a bit busy, yet orderly, forming the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce's information and resource network.
Soon, the two arrived before a spatial portal leading to Snowfield City.
The Snow Empress's steps paused slightly. She turned her head and looked at Kong Mingan, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately turned and stepped into the portal, her figure disappearing.
Kong Mingan stood in place, looking at the portal where the Snow Empress had vanished, his gaze subtly changing.
During this time, he had become accustomed to the feeling of the Snow Empress always being by his side. Now that the Snow Empress had left, it inexplicably made him feel a bit empty beside him... Tsk, he felt insecure.
Ever since Da Ming and Er Ming's assassination attempt on him last time, he always felt a bit unsafe without an ultimate-level combat power by his side.
Shaking his head, Kong Mingan cast aside these inexplicable emotions and resolutely turned, preparing to return directly to Capital City.
It was still safer to stay at home, and he could also consult Elder Yi about his ideas and have Elder Yi help him calculate the feasibility.
However, after only a few steps, not far away, Ju Zi, dressed in a fitted uniform, emerged from a spatial portal ahead. Her gaze then naturally caught sight of him.
Ju Zi's eyes brightened slightly. She quickened her steps to arrive before Kong Mingan and spoke without any hesitation:
"President, the Spirit Beast you wanted has been captured!"
(End of Chapter)
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