Awakening Preparations

"Same old rules," Xue Lingyun said. "The fruits are ours. This pool of stone marrow is good stuff—we'll take it back for Sister Xue to inspect."

He took out the jade knife and Jade Box he had prepared beforehand, carefully picked and sealed the three fruits, then used a jade bottle to collect every last drop of the stone marrow.

Xiao Bai stared longingly at the Jade Box, licking its nose.

Xue Lingyun smiled and took out one fruit, handing it over. "Here, have a taste first."

Xiao Bai immediately accepted it with its enormous claws, incredibly gently. It tossed the fruit into its mouth like a candy bean, narrowed its eyes, and let out contented hums.

Seeing Xiao Bai like that, Xue Lingyun ate one as well.

The fruit melted as soon as it entered his mouth. A sweet, mild warm current instantly spread through his limbs and bones, rapidly restoring his body, which was still somewhat tired from stance training. He even felt his blood and vitality grow a little stronger.

Good stuff. He carefully put away the remaining fruit and sealed the stone marrow properly as well.

On the way back, Xiao Bai was in high spirits, running so fast it seemed to ride the wind.

Sitting on its back, Xue Lingyun watched the distant outline of the Ice Palace come into view, but his thoughts were on something else.

Over the past half year, he had often observed the stars at night. Combining that with repeated calculations of his fate using the Huangji Jingshi, he had become increasingly certain of one thing: not only did he possess Innate Full Soul Power, but he was also very likely to have Twin Martial Souls of exceptionally high quality.

That obscure sense of power buried deep within his fate made his heart tremble whenever he sensed it.

If he wanted to fully bear the might of two top-tier Martial Souls upon awakening, without one being forced into dormancy or needing to be sealed because his body or mind could not endure the strain, then his current physical strength was probably still just short of the mark.

The Dharma Cleansing Marrow and Changing Tendons Scripture had already reached the limits of his current body. To advance further, he either had to awaken his Martial Soul and use Soul Power to nourish himself and break through, or... he needed powerful external stimulation, or even higher-grade natural treasures to temper his body.

The Golden Jade Ice Orchid Fruit was good, but it was not enough.

More importantly, the opportunity he sensed for his ideal first Soul Ring—its clear direction and the vaguely emerging time—roughly coincided with the moment his body would reach the next minor threshold of physical endurance.

Perhaps... I should wait a little longer. Looking toward the Ice Palace, he made up his mind.

Once he used natural treasures to temper his body to its utmost at the bottleneck, he would awaken his Martial Soul in one stroke. Then, following his senses to obtain his first Soul Ring should yield the best results.

Still, judging by the days, it should be soon.

At the entrance to the Ice Palace, Snow Empress was already standing there at some unknown time, her sky-blue eyes quietly watching them return.

"Sister Xue!" Xue Lingyun slid off Xiao Bai's back and ran over with a smile, raising the Jade Box and jade bottle in his hands as though presenting treasures. "Look, we found Golden Jade Ice Orchid Fruit and the accompanying Earth Vein Stone Marrow!"

Snow Empress's gaze fell on the items in his hands, then on his rosy, healthy little face, damp with sweat and wearing a satisfied smile. The frozen corner of her lips softened into an extremely faint yet genuine curve.

She took the items and reached out to ruffle his wind-tousled hair. Her palm was as cool as usual, yet now it carried a gentle warmth that put him at ease.

"You ran around all morning and got yourself filthy. Go wash up first."

She paused, gently brushing away an Ice Crystal clinging to his eyelashes with her fingertips. Her voice held a trace of warmth that was almost impossible to detect. "Binger will be here later."

"The things she prepared for you are all ready. The Martial Soul awakening you postponed until now may take place within the next few days."

Xue Lingyun's eyes lit up, and he nodded heavily. "Mm!"

Ice Empress was coming, and from what Sister Xue said, the day of his awakening had finally been decided.

Although that "Sister Bing" never spared anyone with her words, over the years, whenever she found an Ice Attribute spiritual treasure suitable for him, she would quietly take care of it before tossing it to him with an air of "just happened to" and "extra."

He had long grown accustomed to this tsundere concern, and it always left his heart warm.

Thinking that he would officially embark on the path of a Soul Master after awakening his Martial Soul in peak condition—and might even soon obtain the first Soul Ring from his senses—he could not help feeling excited.

"Okay! I'm going now!" he answered brightly. Taking Xiao Bai with him, he darted into the Ice Palace, his footsteps echoing through the Ice Crystal corridors, brimming with lively energy.

Snow Empress remained where she was, watching that small figure disappear through the palace gates. A gentle gleam settled in her sky-blue eyes.

She lowered her head to look at the Jade Box still carrying the child's warmth, carefully put it away, then turned and walked into the palace as well.

That night, in a quiet chamber deep within the Ice Palace.

Xue Lingyun had changed into a training outfit personally woven by Snow Empress from Myriad Year Ice Silkworm Silk. The fabric rested against his skin, cool at first, then turning into a mild warmth that regulated his body temperature on its own.

He sat cross-legged in the middle of the chamber atop a naturally formed Ice Soul Cold Jade Platform. The natural patterns on its surface faintly flowed, gathering the purest and most gentle ice elemental energy within the Ice Palace.

When Ice Empress stepped into the chamber, light flashed in her hand, and several Jade Boxes of varying sizes, along with an Ice Crystal Jade Pot, appeared on the ground beside the jade platform.

"Everything's here." She looked at Xue Lingyun. The usual sharpness in her jade eyes had softened somewhat, and a faint, teasing curve even appeared at the corner of her lips.

"The first two are good things that your big sister here put some effort into getting. If you little brat dare waste them, hmph." She did not finish, but the meaning behind her slightly raised chin and disdainful snort was obvious.

"The last one is the treasure your Sister Xue has kept hidden away."

Snow Empress appeared soundlessly at the entrance to the chamber, her sky-blue eyes calmly looking over. She gave Xue Lingyun a slight nod, then swept her gaze over the items on the ground. "You have my thanks, Binger."

Xiao Bai had been strictly ordered to stay outside. At the moment, it was squeezing its huge head into the crack of the door, blinking its deep-blue eyes without daring to make a sound.

"Sister Xue, Sister Bing, I'm ready." Xue Lingyun took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement and slight unease. The basic Heart Method of the Dharma Cleansing Marrow and Changing Tendons Scripture began circulating naturally, and his mind quickly settled.