This Mother Was Worth Calling Mother

The masticated wine blessed by the island nation's gods was quite valuable. Perhaps he could trade it for some spiritual pills, miraculous medicines, or other treasures that would aid his cultivation.

"It really is an ability. Looks like I should thank you after all."

Gu Yuan had just finished collecting the masticated wine when everything before him suddenly turned blue, followed by the Ice Dragon King's voice.

He had been brought into his Spirit Sea again.

As the Ice Dragon King looked at Gu Yuan's handsome face, which had inherited her bloodline, he found it increasingly pleasing to the eye.

"My name is the Ice Dragon King, also known as the Water Dragon King."

"I am one of the ancient Nine Great Dragon Kings."

"Originally, another Dragon King and I perished somewhere on Douluo Continent, leaving only our remnant souls to linger on."

"It was your ability that, through a fortunate coincidence, used your Martial Soul to make an exchange with me, giving me hope of survival."

Knowing that he had earned the Ice Dragon King's trust, Gu Yuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled faintly and said,

"It was mutually beneficial. My original Martial Soul really wasn't much good, and my Innate Soul Power was only rank one. Without you, I couldn't have obtained Innate Full Soul Power or such a powerful Martial Soul."

The Ice Dragon King's gaze toward Gu Yuan grew gentler, even carrying a hint of doting affection.

"Now that you have inherited my purest bloodline, you are like my child."

"So I intend to help you become a god."

"This is for your sake, and for mine as well."

Looking at the unbelievably beautiful girl before him, Gu Yuan found her words increasingly strange.

How had he somehow become her son for no reason at all?

But it did not matter.

As long as he received tangible benefits.

"Then, Ice Dragon King, how do I become a god?"

Gu Yuan asked curiously.

"Call me Mother..." The Ice Dragon King transformed into a violent little loli and rapped him on the forehead.

The pain made Gu Yuan bare his teeth.

"Mother..."

Gu Yuan called out without the slightest hesitation.

As long as he could grow stronger, what was wrong with calling her Mom?

Besides,

given the Ice Dragon King's age, not only could she be his mother, she could easily be the mother of his ancestors.

Only then did the Ice Dragon King nod in satisfaction and gently pat Gu Yuan's head. "Good."

After pondering for a moment, she said gravely,

"My divine power origin has basically been exhausted. At most, I can condense for you a million-year natal soul ring and the prototype of a second Martial Soul."

"My spiritual origin was also severely damaged in the great battle back then. At most, I can raise nine of your soul rings to the million-year level."

Just listen to that. Really listen to that.

Was that even something a person should say?

At most, she could condense a million-year natal soul ring and the prototype of a second Martial Soul for him.

At most, she could raise nine of his soul rings to the million-year level.

With all that,

what more could he possibly want?

What more could he possibly want...

"Mother, it's all right. You've already done your best."

Gu Yuan's voice grew noticeably more intimate.

Well, how should one put it?

He rather looked like someone who had gained an advantage and was still acting innocent.

At that moment, he felt that calling her Mother had been worth it.

Extremely, incomparably worth it.

The Ice Dragon King continued, "I will integrate my four strongest abilities into your natal soul ring."

"And grant them to you along with my innate domain."

"However, considering that your physique is not strong enough to bear the energy of a million-year soul ring, I will seal away most of its power."

"These four abilities will gradually unseal as your cultivation and endurance increase."

After saying this, blue light flashed around the Ice Dragon King, and she transformed once more into the enormous frost dragon with a wingspan exceeding a thousand meters.

There was no roar.

No terrifying dragon's might.

In complete silence, the Ice Dragon King's body rapidly shrank until she finally became an ice egg roughly ten feet in diameter.

Crack—

A fissure split across the ice egg, followed by more and more cracks. Beams of blue-gold light burst through them.

In an instant, Gu Yuan's Spirit Sea was flooded with blue-gold radiance.

It was as though a blue-gold sun had appeared above his head.

Then, nine smaller golden suns separated from that blue-gold light.

These should have been the Ice Dragon King's spiritual origin.

The blue-gold sun from before transformed into a beam of energy and rushed toward him without hesitation.

The dazzling brilliance before him was so blinding that Gu Yuan could not open his eyes.

When he opened them again, he discovered that he had already left his Spirit Sea.

A blue-gold halo had also appeared around him.

[ Ding, congratulations to the host. Soul Power has risen to rank thirteen. You have obtained three opportunities to exchange treasures. ]

"Is this the million-year soul ring bestowed upon me by the Ice Dragon King?"

Gu Yuan's voice trembled slightly, his heart overwhelmed with excitement.

"Call me Mother..."

A tender, coquettish voice suddenly rang out in Gu Yuan's mind.

Then everything before him turned blue.

He was brought back into his Spirit Sea.

The moment he entered, the Ice Dragon King gave him another rap on the head.

Only, unlike last time,

this time, she had to jump up to hit him.

Yes.

The Ice Dragon King had become even smaller. Before granting Gu Yuan his natal soul ring, her human form had looked like that of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl.

Now, she was nothing but a five- or six-year-old little loli.

Her former youthful air had been entirely concealed by childish innocence, making her look like an exquisitely gorgeous Barbie doll.

Gu Yuan could not help stepping forward, picking her up, and lifting her high. "I know, little Mother."

"Good that you know." The little loli merely took it as Gu Yuan showing closeness to her.

Completely unaware of someone's perverted behavior, the Ice Dragon King let Gu Yuan hold her and pointed at the nine golden "suns" overhead.

"I have already sealed your spiritual origin. Once you are strong enough to endure the energy of million-year soul rings in the future, I will gradually unseal it for you."

"And your natal soul ring. Although you inherited my bloodline, your endurance is still far too weak."

"Your first soul ring may be a million-year soul ring, but its actual power is only equivalent to a six-hundred-year soul ring. I have sealed all the remaining energy as well."

"As your cultivation, physique, and spiritual power improve, it will automatically unseal bit by bit."

"As for the innate domain, I have already granted it to you. You can experience it for yourself later."

"Also, your method of cultivating Soul Power is far too clumsy. Later, I will give you the cultivation method of our dragon race."

"You inherited my bloodline, so you should be able to use it."

"Afterward, head north. That is where my other people reside. You will obtain your remaining eight soul rings there."

"As for your second Martial Soul, you need to absorb a dragon-type soul ring before it can fully take shape. I have already selected one for you, so you must not absorb soul rings on your own."

Gu Yuan looked at the little loli in his arms in surprise. "Little Mother, are you the Ice God of the Far North?"

"That is indeed what they call me." The little loli nodded blankly.

Gu Yuan looked at her strangely. "I heard that the Titan Snow Ape clan are descendants of the ancient Ice God and Titan Giants. Then you and the Titan Giants..."

"What exactly is going through that little head of yours all day?" The Ice Dragon King raised her chubby little hand and pinched Gu Yuan's smooth cheek hard, saying fiercely in a childish voice,

"The so-called descendants merely came about because the Titan Giants received a portion of the power I bestowed upon them. Just like how you are now my child. It is the same principle."

"So that's how it is." Gu Yuan came to a sudden realization.

The little loli released Gu Yuan's face, yawned, and said sleepily,

"All right, that is everything I needed to say. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"If not, I am going to sleep."

"While traveling, familiarize yourself with the Ice Dragon King Martial Soul and the soul skills I granted you."

"When you reach the Far North or encounter mortal danger, I will awaken on my own."