The icy Cold Jade Bed brought no chill. Instead, warmed by their pressed-together bodies, it gradually became heated.
Snow Empress looked at the man above her. Tears shimmered in her ice-blue eyes before she slowly closed them, her long lashes trembling faintly.
It was a silent acquiescence.
And a form of surrender.
Lu Ming hesitated no longer. Lowering his head, he kissed those cool, soft lips.
(Five thousand words describing the harmony of yin and yang, the fusion of Pure Power and Ultimate Ice, have been omitted here. The process included surging Soul Power, colliding laws, and Snow Empress's journey from resistance to acceptance. Throughout the pavilion, ice and snow melted into mist beneath that wave of heat, concealing a room full of springtime splendor.)
A long while later.
The sounds within the pavilion finally subsided.
Snow Empress lay languidly in Lu Ming's arms, her snow-white hair scattered across the Cold Jade Bed. Her former cold, proud bearing had completely vanished, replaced by a breathtaking allure.
She breathed softly, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles over Lu Ming's chest.
"Your cultivation technique... is truly domineering."
Snow Empress's voice was somewhat hoarse, yet it carried a trace of contentment.
She could feel it. The bottleneck that had held back her cultivation for tens of thousands of years had actually begun to loosen during that absurd encounter.
Lu Ming caught her mischievous hand and kissed it.
"It isn't merely domineering. More importantly, we complement each other. You are a spirit born of heaven and earth, while I am... ahem. In any case, stick with this Dean, and becoming a god is only a matter of time."
Snow Empress rolled her eyes at him but did not pull her hand away.
Becoming a god.
That was a dream forever beyond the reach of the soul beast race.
Yet from this man's lips, it sounded as simple as eating and drinking.
Strangely enough, she believed him.
"Lu Ming."
Snow Empress suddenly called his name.
"Hmm?"
"If one day, the God Realm truly descends, would you... for my sake, or rather, for all of us, become enemies with the gods?"
Snow Empress raised her head and looked at him seriously.
Lu Ming fell silent for a moment, then smiled.
He did not make any grand declarations. He merely reached out to smooth Snow Empress's slightly disheveled hair at her temple and said lightly,
"I protect my own."
"My woman— even if a God King came, they wouldn't touch so much as a finger of hers."
"If the God Realm dares reach out, I'll chop that hand off. If the Heavenly Dao dares stand in my way, I'll punch through the heavens."
The words were simple, yet they carried a killing intent that made one's heart tremble.
Snow Empress stared at him fixedly. After a long while, a smile capable of toppling nations finally bloomed on her lips.
She leaned in of her own accord and planted a kiss at the corner of Lu Ming's mouth.
"Fine."
"Then I'll go mad with you this once."
Just then, Gongsun Li's somewhat anxious voice came from outside the pavilion, shattering the warmth between them.
"Dean! Dean, are you inside?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is here! He is waiting in the front hall and says he brought Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng and some Outer Heavenly Meteorite Iron. He insists on seeing you!"
Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.
She had arrived rather quickly.
He patted Snow Empress's smooth back, signaling for her to rise.
"Looks like our benefactor has arrived."
Lu Ming sat up and casually draped a long robe over himself, covering his muscular upper body.
Snow Empress also unhurriedly straightened her clothes, returning to her aloof, untouchable appearance. Yet the lingering springtime warmth in her eyes and brows could not be concealed.
"Going to see that little girl disguised as a man?"
Snow Empress spoke with a hint of amusement.
"Of course."
Lu Ming stood and pushed open the pavilion doors, allowing the dazzling sunlight to stream inside once more.
He turned back and winked at Snow Empress.
"After all, she came with sincere gifts. I should at least see exactly how she plans to sell herself to me."
With that, Lu Ming strode out.
Behind him, Snow Empress watched his departing figure thoughtfully.
That woman named Qian Renxue...
Hopefully, she can bring a little amusement to these boring days.
The sunlight was somewhat glaring, making the plaque reading "Teach Without Discrimination" in the front hall shine brightly.
Xue Qinghe sat upright at the head of the guest seats, her back straight. She held a cup of tea in her hand, untouched, while more than half its steam had already dissipated.
"Apologies for keeping Your Highness waiting."
A lazy voice came from behind the screen.
Lu Ming emerged. His robe was tied somewhat carelessly, its collar slightly open, revealing faint red marks that had not yet fully faded from his skin. The ends of his hair still carried a trace of dampness, and an inextinguishable icy chill lingered around him, utterly out of place beneath the warm early-summer sun.
Xue Qinghe set down her teacup. Her gaze lingered on Lu Ming for an instant before she carefully concealed the unusual glint in her eyes.
This chill...
Even from several steps away, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul within her felt an instinctive repulsion.
It was the power of Ultimate Ice and snow.
Jixia Academy truly harbored hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
"Dean Lu has many affairs to attend to. It is only proper for Qinghe to wait a little longer."
Xue Qinghe rose to her feet, her face wearing that signature gentle smile that gave no one any grounds for criticism. She waved a hand, and the attendant behind her immediately stepped forward with an unremarkable brocade box.
"I heard that Dean enjoys collecting rare treasures. Qinghe happened to acquire a Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng and a piece of Outer Heavenly Meteorite Iron some days ago. They would merely gather dust in the palace, so I thought it better to give them to Dean. Perhaps you can put them to good use."
Lu Ming glanced at the brocade box.
Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng.
Outer Heavenly Meteorite Iron.
If these items were put up for auction outside, even Titled Douluo would fight until their heads bled over them. Yet in this Crown Prince's mouth, they had become idle objects "acquired by chance."
"Your Highness is too kind."
Lu Ming did not decline. He took the brocade box and casually tossed it in his hand, as though weighing two ordinary stones.
"One does not accept rewards without merit. Your Highness has brought such a generous gift. Surely you did not come merely to ask for a cup of tea?"
He walked to the seat of honor and sat down. He could not even be bothered to have someone replace the tea, simply lifting the half-cup of cold tea left from earlier to wet his throat.
Watching Lu Ming's unrestrained manner, Xue Qinghe instead felt more settled.
It was fine for a man to be greedy for wealth and beauty. What was frightening was someone with no desires at all.
"Qinghe does indeed have a request."
Xue Qinghe sat down again, leaning slightly forward with a sincere tone.
"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is approaching. Qinghe has heard that Jixia Academy will also be participating. Father places great importance on this tournament and has ordered Qinghe to pay attention to outstanding young talents from all sides. Qinghe boldly wishes to ask Jixia Academy... to bring some glory to the Heaven Dou Empire during the tournament."
At this point, she paused before adding pointedly,
"Of course, should Jixia Academy lack anything—whether Gold Soul Coins, a Mimic Training Ground, or rare materials—the Crown Prince's Mansion will provide its full support. From now on, Qinghe will also open every door of convenience for all of Jixia's affairs in Heaven Dou City."
Before you continue