Ice Spirit Cold Spring

The medicinal power was absorbed by Xiao Shuang into the vortex within his body. Supported by this immense energy, the vortex seemed to spin more merrily.

"Three Star Dou Zhe!"

Feeling the Dou Qi within him, Xiao Shuang slapped his palm against the stone platform and sprang to his feet.

Just a single medicinal herb had allowed him to advance so much. The Extreme Cold Physique truly lived up to its reputation.

However, Xiao Shuang had no intention of continuing his cultivation. He still understood that one could not bite off more than one could chew.

If his strength rose too quickly, the Dou Qi within his body would become unstable. But Xiao Shuang was different. His Extreme Cold Physique was refining the lingering medicinal power within him, transforming all that energy into the purest Ice Attribute Dou Qi and pouring it into his vortex.

Well, perhaps because his strength was still low, the refining speed was not particularly fast. The fruit had not been fully digested either. By Xiao Shuang's estimate, at least half of its medicinal power remained in his body!

He could wait until all that medicinal power had been digested before taking any new medicinal herbs.

"Congratulations."

Beside him, the shadow on the stone cave wall flickered several times, and Ling Ying appeared once more...

Being watched like this made Xiao Shuang very uncomfortable. However, he was still too weak, so he had no objections.

Xiao Shuang sat cross-legged on the stone platform again and asked curiously, "What is it? Surely you did not come just to congratulate me on becoming a Dou Zhe?"

"I do not think I am important enough for that."

With a soft chuckle, Ling Ying sat down on the stone platform as well and sighed sincerely, "Worthy indeed of the Extreme Cold Physique. It truly makes one envious."

"Your Dark Attribute Dou Qi is one in ten thousand as well, sir." Xiao Shuang answered casually. He did not believe the other man had come merely to congratulate him.

"Tsk, you really are a guarded kid."

Ling Ying smiled unconcernedly. He took an ancient book from his storage ring, flipped through it casually, and placed it before Xiao Shuang.

Taking the ancient book, Xiao Shuang's expression changed slightly after glancing through it.

"After breaking through to Dou Zhe, I need to enter seclusion for two years before I can fully awaken this Extreme Cold Physique?"

"And where am I supposed to find this Ice Spirit Cold Spring?"

According to the ancient book, after becoming a Dou Zhe, one needed to soak in the Ice Spirit Cold Spring for two years in order to fully awaken the Extreme Cold Physique.

This condition made Xiao Shuang's eyelids twitch violently. He had never even seen the Ice Spirit Cold Spring before, so where was he supposed to find it?

"Do not rush. Since my young lady sent me, naturally we have a solution."

Smiling, Ling Ying put the ancient book back into his storage ring. At that moment, he looked just a little crafty.

"What are the conditions?"

At that, Ling Ying smiled. "There are no conditions. This is merely the young lady's investment."

In truth, there was another sentence in the ancient book: after the Extreme Cold Physique awakened, its possessor's temperament would become cold and detached, and he would rarely place his trust in anyone again. There were exceptions, but those were unlikely.

The young lady was doing this to awaken Xiao Shuang's Extreme Cold Physique early. That way, the number of people he trusted would be extremely limited.

Xun'er's calculations were meticulous. However, Yaoye had appeared as an unexpected variable. Otherwise, Xiao Shuang and his Extreme Cold Physique would most likely have been hers alone to use.

As for Yaoye, Xun'er had no intention of doing anything about her. After all, paper could not cover fire. If Xiao Shuang learned of this and turned against her, the loss would outweigh the gain.

Since that was the case, she might as well go with the flow and grant him a favor.

"Worthy indeed of Xun'er. I understand. I will follow your arrangements in everything."

After saying this, Xiao Shuang jumped down from the stone platform and left the cave.

Having received the answer he wanted, Ling Ying transformed into a shadow and merged into the darkness once again.

Back in his little wooden cabin, Xiao Shuang lay on his bed and looked at the familiar surroundings, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.

"Sigh, who knows what will happen in the future? Actually, I am already quite satisfied with this kind of life..."

At that moment, Xun'er listened to Ling Ying's report at her side and revealed a satisfied smile.

"The Extreme Cold Physique is perfectly suited to become Brother Xiao Yan's support. When that time comes, even if he faces my clan, Brother Xiao Yan will be able to face it calmly."

Xun'er confidently raised her teacup. Many things were developing in a good direction, were they not?

Feelings needed to be nurtured. She was confident that she could enter Xiao Yan's heart. However, Brother Xiao Yan's fiancée was indeed somewhat troublesome. Honestly, at worst, she could just have Ling Ying deal with her.

The only thing that put pressure on Xun'er was the Ancient Clan. Indeed, the current Xiao Yan did not even have the qualifications to make the Ancient Clan take notice of him. How could he possibly marry her, the eldest young lady of the Ancient Clan?

Her slender fingers tapped her forehead, and a troubled look appeared on Xun'er's delicate little face.

She had given all the resources she had on hand to Xiao Shuang. Those Ice Attribute medicinal herbs had cost her no small amount of effort, leaving her worried about cultivation resources now.

There was no other way. This was all she could do for the time being. The resources she could obtain from her clan were limited as well. If Gu Yuan had not tacitly permitted her to win over the Extreme Cold Physique, she would not have been able to obtain those Ice Attribute medicinal herbs either.

"How are the preparations for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring coming along?"

Upon hearing Xun'er's question, Ling Ying bowed and replied respectfully, "In reply to Young Lady, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring will be ready within two days at the latest."

Xun'er thought for a moment, then pointed at the green-clad figure behind her. "Good. I will explain this matter to Uncle Xiao. You will choose the place for Xiao Shuang's seclusion, and she will guard him."

Xun'er had already more or less prepared what she would tell Xiao Zhan.

She only needed to say that an elder from her clan had taken notice of Xiao Shuang's potential and wished to take him away for two years of instruction. Xiao Zhan surely would not refuse.

Two days later, Ling Ying brought Xiao Shuang into a mountain range.

A cave had clearly been opened up only recently, and a woman in green sat cross-legged on the ground within it.

Seeing the woman in green, Ling Ying explained, "I need to remain by the young lady's side, so this person will guard you during your seclusion."

Xiao Shuang nodded and cupped his hands. "I will trouble you, Senior."

The woman in green had a crisp voice. She waved her hand and said, "It is the young lady's order. I am merely carrying out my duty."

After saying that, she closed her eyes, with no intention of continuing the conversation.

Inside the cave was a fairly large pool.

It was filled to the brim with liquid, white mist curling above it. Even from nearby, one could feel its bone-piercing chill.

When Xiao Shuang approached the pool, the woman in green waved her slender hand. Thick tree roots wound around the cave entrance, leaving no trace behind.

She too began circulating the Dou Qi within her body to resist the low temperatures brought by the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.