The Great Con Artist (Second Update)

At the foot of Snow Dragon Spine Mountain, Icebound Forest.

"Alright. In three days at most, the hidden injuries in her body will be cured at the source." Zi Ling looked at Snow Empress, who had entered a meditative state, and reported to Huo Yuhao.

Her face was somewhat pale, and her spirits were low.

Her natal essence blood contained potent medicinal effects and possessed the miraculous ability to transform one's body. Naturally, it could easily resolve Snow Empress's hidden injuries.

However, her own condition was naturally far from good.

Huo Yuhao raised a hand and tossed something to her.

Zi Ling caught it instinctively. It was a Jade Bottle containing a chunk of ice crystal. She looked up at Huo Yuhao in confusion.

"Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow." Huo Yuhao spoke coldly.

Zi Ling stared blankly at him, a trace of surprise showing on her face.

Her expression seemed to say, A black-hearted bastard like you has a conscience too?

Huo Yuhao turned around and observed Snow Empress's recovery. Ice Empress was currently by Snow Empress's side, watching her condition at all times.

Tian Meng happened to witness this scene.

Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow?

What a coincidence. I used to eat that stuff all the time.

After three days of cultivation and recuperation, Snow Empress slowly opened her eyes. Ice Empress's figure immediately entered her vision, while Huo Yuhao stood some distance away.

"Xue Er, how are you? Have your hidden injuries recovered?" When it came to Snow Empress, Ice Empress was always the most concerned.

Judging by her actions, that was indeed true.

"They've recovered." Snow Empress spoke softly.

Ice Empress immediately started feeling Snow Empress all over, carefully checking her.

Huo Yuhao consciously turned away and saw Tian Meng talking with Zi Ling nearby.

Tian Meng was saying that he had often eaten Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Marrow in the past.

Zi Ling merely rolled her eyes, clearly not believing his nonsense.

He gazed out at the snowy scenery in the distance.

Snow Empress resisted somewhat, but she could not withstand Ice Empress's stubbornness.

Only after confirming that Snow Empress was unharmed did Ice Empress finally let out a breath of relief.

Snow Empress walked over and sat down beside Huo Yuhao.

Ice Empress:???

"Are your injuries better?" Huo Yuhao looked at her.

"Mm, I've basically recovered." Snow Empress nodded slightly.

"About how long until the 700,000 Year Calamity?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"If nothing unexpected happens, around another thirty thousand years." Snow Empress answered calmly.

"Do you like life here?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"It's very quiet," Snow Empress said.

"Do you want to go out and see the world?" Huo Yuhao asked.

Snow Empress fell silent for a moment before finally shaking her head. "I'm not sure. I... don't know."

Huo Yuhao smiled silently.

"Are you preparing to leave?" Snow Empress stared at Huo Yuhao's profile.

"The matter has been resolved, so it's about time for me to return." Huo Yuhao's voice was gentle.

"Is it really finished?" Snow Empress asked quietly.

"Mm?"

Snow Empress gently shook her head. "Nothing."

The two sat quietly side by side without speaking.

Tian Meng quietly crept up beside Ice Empress and looked at Huo Yuhao and Snow Empress from behind.

"Hiss, doesn't this atmosphere feel a little off?"

Ice Empress turned her head, killing intent flickering in her emerald eyes.

"I'm telling you, you'll never have a chance in this life. Weaklings have never been within my sight."

With that, Ice Empress turned and left.

Tian Meng's heart nearly shattered. Just as he wanted to stop her, he saw the resolute look in Ice Empress's eyes and then turned away as well.

Tian Meng reached out a hand. Watching Ice Empress's retreating figure, he lowered his head in a daze and drifted outside.

"Hey."

Only then did Tian Meng notice the Purple-Clad Little Girl standing waist-high beside him.

Oh, he had accidentally stepped on her foot.

Tian Meng moved his foot away and continued drifting off into the distance in a daze.

"You're a silkworm, yet you fell for a scorpion. Don't you find that ironic?" Zi Ling raised a brow.

Tian Meng turned back gloomily. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Do you still not understand? As a strong person, she'll only like someone stronger. What she seeks is someone to rely on, someone who can comfort her—not someone who fawns over her. Just like in the human world outside, goddesses never like simps, because in their world, simps don't count as men," Zi Ling said seriously.

Simps? Goddesses?

Tian Meng was somewhat confused.

Zi Ling seemed to realize he understood nothing and immediately explained.

"Put it this way. So-called 'goddesses' are people like Ice Empress and Snow Empress, existences whose cultivation stands at the very peak of the Soul Beast Realm. As for simps, they're people who can only blindly provide emotional value, yet possess little social standing or worth."

"You mean I have no worth or status?" Tian Meng retorted.

"Idiot, I mean strength." Zi Ling could not help lamenting this big bug's intelligence.

"I possess cultivation close to a million years. How could I have no worth?" Tian Meng argued stubbornly.

Heh, worth? As in utility value? Zi Ling mocked inwardly.

However, those words were too damaging to his pride, so she changed them before saying them aloud.

"Heh. Can you beat me?" Zi Ling provoked him.

Tian Meng looked at this sharp-tongued little girl.

A mere ten-thousand-year soul beast, acting all... But then he reconsidered. This little girl had required the Ice and Snow Two Emperors to join forces just to capture her.

With ten thousand years of cultivation, she rivaled a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

He immediately lost his temper.

It would be humiliating if he won, and even more humiliating if he lost.

"If you want to keep pursuing Ice Empress, you must first become stronger." Zi Ling curled her lip.

"You know how to become stronger?" Tian Meng's eyes immediately lit up.

"Of course. Over the years, I've traveled across nearly the entire continent. I've seen much, so naturally my horizons are broad." Zi Ling raised her little head proudly.

"Then what should I do to become stronger?" Tian Meng hurriedly pressed.

"First, the very first thing you need to do is—step out of your comfort zone." Zi Ling spoke with perfect seriousness.

Tian Meng listened in a daze, only half understanding.

"In short, you'll never grow in the Far North Land," Zi Ling added.

"Leave?" Tian Meng froze for a moment.

"Right."

"The strong have always endured life-and-death trials in every direction, seeking life through death. How could they settle in one corner merely for stability?" Zi Ling said.

Tian Meng hesitated. Then, gritting his teeth, he thought that perhaps he could accept it. As long as he could become stronger and make Ice regard him more highly.

"Then what about the second thing?"

"The second thing is to follow the strong. You need to understand the path of 'the strong always grow stronger.' Only by following the strong can you continue improving. Most importantly, you must follow the right person and cling to the right thigh," Zi Ling explained.

"You mean..." Tian Meng's gaze shifted toward Huo Yuhao's back.

Zi Ling nodded seriously. "I think you should be able to see that he's extraordinary."

Tian Meng nodded silently.

Could a human youth with such low cultivation, yet capable of fighting Ice Empress to a draw, possibly be ordinary?

"And the third?" Tian Meng asked.

"What third thing? Hurry up and take action, go, go, go!" Zi Ling did her utmost to stir Tian Meng's emotions.

"I understand." Wisdom gleamed in Tian Meng's eyes as he headed straight for Huo Yuhao.

Zi Ling watched his retreating figure, then immediately turned around. Cunning light flickered in her purple eyes.

Heh, what a huge fool. So easy to fool.

It would be good to trick him into following along. Whenever something happened, he could go first and take the hit. Better a fellow cultivator die than me—then I could live a few more years myself.

Sigh, what a tragic life.