"You said you'd help me break through the Heavenly Tribulation."
She extended her slender fingers and traced circles across Xue Tianyu's chest, her breath sweet as orchids.
"I want you to keep that promise right now."
Xue Tianyu rolled over and pinned her beneath him.
He looked down at her peerlessly beautiful face.
"Breaking through the Heavenly Tribulation takes a lot of stamina."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
The Ice Empress didn't back down. Instead, she boldly met his gaze.
Her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
"I'm the Ice Empress of the Far North. What can't I handle?"
"Just do your worst. I'm all yours."
She cupped his face in both hands and kissed him of her own accord.
It was passionate and unpracticed, with the wildness unique to the Soul Beasts of the Far North.
Xue Tianyu chuckled and took the initiative.
A blast of frigid air erupted through the bedroom.
A thick wall of ice swiftly formed around the soft couch.
It shut out every sound from the outside world.
With a sharp ripping sound,
the troublesome silk nightdress was torn to shreds, its fragments fluttering to the floor.
An astonishing softness and slickness filled Xue Tianyu's palm.
The Ice Empress let out a sultry moan.
Her body arched involuntarily, her toes curling tight.
A captivating blush spread across her exquisite face.
The bed began to rock violently.
Under an onslaught like a raging storm, the Ice Empress, one of the Three Heavenly Kings of the Far North, was utterly overwhelmed.
Before this peerless prodigy, whose power was absolute,
she willingly shed all her pride.
She became his personal plaything, there for him to take as he pleased.
Amid the waves of sweet cries that drifted from within the icy chamber,
the night in Spirit City seemed all the more enchanting.
Morning light pierced the thick ice walls, casting dazzling, colorful halos across the luxurious bedroom.
The room was bitterly cold, yet filled with an intoxicating warmth.
Xue Tianyu slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was clear, without a trace of sleepiness.
A soft, petite body was wrapped around him.
The Ice Empress clung to his arm like a koala, her fair cheek resting against his broad chest.
Her sleeping face was peaceful, and a contented smile lingered on her lips.
The emerald patterns on her body had grown purer, their brilliance shimmering faintly.
The stormy union of the previous night had shattered the Heavenly Tribulation barrier that had suppressed her for tens of thousands of years.
The greatest life-or-death crisis facing the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion clan of the Far North had vanished amid the warmth of their bed curtains.
Sensing Xue Tianyu stir, the Ice Empress murmured sleepily.
Her long lashes fluttered as she opened her emerald eyes and stared straight at the man before her.
"Awake?"
Xue Tianyu reached out and pinched her pert nose.
The Ice Empress made no effort to hide herself. She simply rolled over and sprawled across him.
"Tian Yu, you're incredible!"
"I feel like I'm overflowing with strength. That annoying Heavenly Tribulation aura is really completely gone!"
She kicked her legs excitedly, paying no mind to the enticing view revealed by her disheveled state.
Though she had lived for nearly four hundred thousand years and was a Ferocious Beast, before this man she was as sweetly innocent as a young girl who had just been given candy.
Soft footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.
Snow Empress's cool, otherworldly voice came from beyond it.
"The sun's high in the sky. Aren't you two getting up?"
Hearing this, the Ice Empress didn't blush. Instead, she grinned like a cat that had gotten into the cream.
"Snow Maiden's hurrying us along."
Xue Tianyu waved a hand.
The thick walls of ice around them instantly turned into a flurry of icy powder and vanished into the air.
"Then let's get up."
They dressed and opened the door.
In the side hall, the maids of the Skywater Team had already set a lavish breakfast across a large round table of purple sandalwood.
Shui Bing'er and the others were considerate enough not to linger. After setting out the food, they quietly withdrew.
Snow Empress sat at the table in white, holding a cup of steaming tea.
When she saw the two emerge, her gaze lingered on the Ice Empress for a moment.
With her keen eye, she could tell at a glance that her friend had changed enormously.
The listlessness that had once hindered the Ice Empress's vitality had vanished, replaced by a surging life force.
"Your Heavenly Tribulation is broken."
Snow Empress's voice held a hint of relief, along with an emotion she could barely conceal.
The Ice Empress rushed over and threw her arms around Snow Empress's neck.
"It's all thanks to Tian Yu!"
"Snow Maiden, I'm telling you, dual cultivation feels absolutely wonderful."
"Not only can it break the Heavenly Tribulation, it can make you feel like you're in heaven and hell at the same time."
Even after nearly seven hundred thousand years, Snow Empress couldn't keep a faint blush from spreading across her fair cheeks at such blunt words.
"Stop talking nonsense."
She lifted a delicate hand and lightly tapped the Ice Empress on the forehead.
Xue Tianyu strode over and sat in the seat of honor.
"She's not talking nonsense."
"The Far North is bitterly cold. You high-level Soul Beasts may live long, but you miss out on plenty of pleasures."
Xue Tianyu's gaze roamed boldly over Snow Empress's exquisite figure.
"Once I've dealt with the spatial rift, I'll help you break through your nearly seven-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation too."
Snow Empress's hand paused around her teacup.
Ripples spread across the tea.
"I'm in no hurry about the Heavenly Tribulation."
Snow Empress lowered her eyes, avoiding that brazen gaze.
The Ice Empress, however, wouldn't let it go. She leaned close to Snow Empress's ear, her breath sweet as orchids.
"Snow Maiden, why are you pretending?"
"I deliberately didn't put up a soundproof barrier last night. You were in the side hall next door. I don't believe you didn't hear a thing."
At that, the blush on Snow Empress's face spread all the way to her ears.
She really had stayed awake all night.
The ice barrier had blocked her view, but every sultry sound had carried straight into her ears.
The Ice Empress picked up a delicate pastry from the table and offered it to Xue Tianyu.
"Tian Yu, try this. Shui Bing'er said it's a Snowflake Pastry, a specialty of Spirit City."
Xue Tianyu opened his mouth and took a bite, then nipped the Ice Empress's slender finger.
The Ice Empress gave a coy little cry and melted into his arms.
"Snow Maiden, you should try one too."
The Ice Empress picked up another pastry and offered it to Snow Empress.
Snow Empress shook her head.
"I have no need for such mundane food."
Xue Tianyu picked up a bowl of warm lotus-seed soup and leaned forward slightly.
"With me, there's no question of what you need. Only whether I want you to have it."
He scooped up a spoonful of clear, glistening soup and held it to Snow Empress's red lips.
"Open up."
Those two simple words carried an undeniable force.
Snow Empress looked at the spoon so close to her, then at Xue Tianyu's deep eyes.
Before this man, the pride of the Lord of the Far North simply could not rise.
She parted her lips slightly and took the spoonful of lotus-seed soup into her mouth.
A gentle sweetness spread across her tongue.
Xue Tianyu used his thumb to wipe a trace of soup from the corner of her lips.
The rough pad of his thumb brushed her delicate lips, making Snow Empress stiffen again.
"Sweet?"
Xue Tianyu asked casually.
Snow Empress swallowed the soup and gave a slight nod.
"It's acceptable."
The Ice Empress giggled and looped her arms around Xue Tianyu's neck.
"Tian Yu, Snow Maiden is the hardest ice in the Far North to melt. You'll have to put in some effort."
Xue Tianyu wrapped an arm around the Ice Empress's slender waist and settled her on his lap.
"Nothing in this world stays frozen if I want it to melt."
He looked at Snow Empress.
"You included."
His forceful declaration made Snow Empress's heart leap, yet she couldn't bring herself to argue.
After breakfast, the three of them went to the open-air hot spring behind the palace.
Steam billowed, and white mist curled through the air.
The Ice Empress kicked off her embroidered slippers and dipped her feet, fair as frost and snow, into the warm spring.
"Spirit City may be an unpleasant place, but this hot spring is lovely."
She scooped up some water and playfully splashed it toward Snow Empress, who stood on the bank.
The droplets landed on Snow Empress's pure white skirt and instantly froze into glittering beads of ice that rolled away.
"Bing'er, stop that."
Snow Empress stepped back slightly.
Xue Tianyu walked up behind Snow Empress and placed both hands directly on her rounded shoulders.
Snow Empress shuddered and instinctively tried to dodge, but his hands held her in place.
"Now that you're here, stop acting like the Lord of the Far North."
"Get in and soak with me."
A flicker of panic crossed Snow Empress's eyes.
"I'm not used to—"
"Getting used to it is just a matter of time."
Xue Tianyu cut her off.
He leaned close to Snow Empress's ear, his warm breath brushing her crystalline earlobe.
"Or do you want me to help you undress myself?"
At those words, a breathtaking blush spread across Snow Empress's fair cheeks.
The Ice Empress splashed water in the hot spring and egged her on.
"Snow Maiden, hurry up and get in!"
"Tian Yu's chest is so firm. Leaning against it makes you feel really safe."
Faced with Xue Tianyu's insistence and the Ice Empress's encouragement, Snow Empress gently bit her lower lip.
She knew she was powerless to resist this man's will.
Besides, deep down, she didn't seem to mind being this close to him.
Snow Empress raised a delicate hand and slowly untied the sash around her waist.
The sash fell to the ground with a soft rustle.
Her pure white skirt slipped down her graceful curves like falling snow.
Her undergarments followed.
Her exquisite beauty was laid bare.
Xue Tianyu quietly admired the perfect body before him.
Her skin was as white as snow, without a flaw.
Her long legs were straight and shapely, her waist slender enough to fit in his hands.
That kind of visual impact—the sight of someone high above being dragged down from their pedestal—was enough to drive any man mad.
Splash.
The Snow Empress slipped into the hot spring, the warm water instantly swallowing her stunning figure.
Only one snow-white shoulder remained, appearing and disappearing above the surface.
Xue Tianyu removed his outer robe and followed her into the pool.
As soon as he entered the water, the Ice Empress wrapped herself around him like a slippery mermaid.
"Tian Yu, I want a hug!"
Xue Tianyu lifted her with one arm, letting her sit securely on his sturdy forearm.
The Ice Empress took the opportunity to wrap her shapely legs around Xue Tianyu's waist, pressing her whole body snugly against him.
As the water rippled, the three of them were close together.
Xue Tianyu reached out with his other hand and clasped the Snow Empress's slender waist.
He drew her into his arms.
The Snow Empress let out a soft gasp, her hands instinctively braced against Xue Tianyu's chest.
Feeling the scorching warmth of his body in her palms, her heartbeat suddenly quickened.
"Don't move around."
Xue Tianyu's tone was calm.
Under the water, he squeezed the soft flesh at the Snow Empress's waist.
The Snow Empress's body went limp, and she leaned against him.
With one in each arm, the Far North's two peerless Ferocious Beasts nestled docilely at his sides.
"Those useless fools from Spirit Hall are probably still thinking about how to deal with me in the finals."
Xue Tianyu toyed with the Snow Empress's waterfall of white hair.
"Once the competition is over, we'll return to the Far North."
The Ice Empress planted a hard kiss on Xue Tianyu's cheek.
"Yay!"
"Then Tian Yu will be the Far North's one and only emperor."
"If those blind Soul Beasts dare to stand in our way, I'll freeze them all into ice shards."
Leaning against Xue Tianyu's chest, the Snow Empress felt the presence that made her feel utterly safe.
"The Soul Beasts of the Far North have always submitted to the strong."
"With your strength, they wouldn't dare harbor any disloyal thoughts."
Xue Tianyu gave a cold laugh.
"Even if they do, it makes no difference."
"Those who follow me prosper; those who oppose me perish."
"The Far North needs only one voice."
The hot spring water glided over their skin.
The ambiguous mood steadily heated in the white mist.
The Ice Empress's restless little hands wandered all over Xue Tianyu.
The commotion beneath the water grew louder and louder.
Caught between the two of them, the Snow Empress clearly felt the changes, charged with aggression.
Her face flushed red, and she struggled to get up and leave.
"You two carry on... I'll get out first."
But Xue Tianyu tightened his arms, keeping her trapped against him.
"Where are you going?"
He lowered his gaze to the Snow Empress's evasive eyes.
"Last night, you listened for the whole night. Don't you want to experience it for yourself today?"
The Snow Empress shook her head again and again, sparkling droplets trickling down her hair.
"N-no... I can't."
"My Heavenly Tribulation is still ten thousand years away. It's not time yet."
That feeble excuse was met with Xue Tianyu's merciless rebuttal.
"Breaking through the Heavenly Tribulation is just a bonus."
"Having you is the real reason."
The Ice Empress leaned in and directly sealed the Snow Empress's red lips with a kiss.
After the brief kiss, the Ice Empress beamed.
"Snow Maiden, just accept your fate."
"Any woman Tian Yu sets his sights on will never escape him in this lifetime."
The Snow Empress's heaving chest gradually settled.
She looked at Xue Tianyu's imperious face and finally closed her eyes.
Her long lashes trembled faintly in the steam.
A glistening droplet slid from the corner of her eye, down her exquisite cheek, and onto her collarbone.
Xue Tianyu cupped her face and pressed his lips directly to her soft red ones.
His domineering kiss left the Snow Empress gasping for breath.
All her reserve and pride melted into spring water before this man, whose force of will was absolute.
Ripples spread across the hot spring's surface as steam billowed upward.
Xue Tianyu slowly released the delicate figure in his arms.
The Snow Empress's cheeks were crimson as she gasped for breath.
Droplets clung to her fair skin, glistening like a breathtaking work of art.
Her eyes, once so clear and aloof, were now clouded with a hazy mist.
The pride of the Lord of the Far North had melted in that domineering kiss.
Xue Tianyu's fingertip brushed over her alluring red lips, his touch teasing yet possessive.
"Now, do you still think that was just an excuse?"
Before you continue