Ice Empress in a Fury: That Damn Worm Had to Pay Me Back, With Interest!

To be honest, this surprised him a bit.

Zhu Lu always presented herself as quiet, gentle, and unassuming.

But deep down, she is the legitimate daughter of the Zhu Family and the master of the Hell Spirit Cat. Her Martial Soul inherently carries a murderous nature, but she hides this side too deeply.

"Lulu, don't you think I'm cold-blooded?"

When Dai Huabin asked that question, he himself couldn't quite explain his mindset.

Perhaps he wanted to confirm whether Zhu Lu was saying this because she was unconditionally on his side, or if she genuinely agreed with this approach.

Zhu Lu shook her head and said seriously:

I don't care about being cold-blooded or not.

Zhu Lu raised her hand and hooked her fingers around Dai Huabin's sleeve, with very little force.

"All I know is that I am your woman. Whoever is your enemy is my enemy."

Dai Huabin felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He reached out and pulled Zhu Lu close, letting her lean on his shoulder.

Zhu Lu naturally pressed her body against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Lulu, we can't touch him yet."

Dai Huabin rested his chin on the top of Zhu Lu's head, his voice lowered.

"He's had a fortuitous encounter; a million-year-old Soul Beast called the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is parasitizing his Spiritual Sea. That thing's spiritual power is ridiculously strong. It's too risky to make a move in the academy; it's easy to alert it. Besides, all those old monsters from Shrek Academy are there; if things really get out of hand, there'll be no way to control the situation."

Zhu Lu nodded and nuzzled his shoulder.

"Then let's talk about it after we leave the academy."

"Um."

The two huddled together quietly for a short while.

Occasionally, the sound of other students' footsteps and voices could be heard in the corridor outside the dormitory, but they seemed very far away through the door.

As Dai Huabin was pondering his next steps, there was a knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock."

Three strikes, the rhythm is very fast.

Zhu Lu straightened up from his shoulder. Dai Huabin stood up, walked over, and opened the door.

Ice Empress stood at the door, her emerald green twin tails swaying gently as she hurried over.

Behind her stood Snow Empress, her long white hair reaching her ankles, her expression more solemn than usual.

"Come in and talk." Dai Huabin stepped aside to make way.

The two entered the house, Snow Empress closed the door behind her.

Ice Empress gets straight to the point:

"Huabin, that burly man we met in the corridor today, he had the aura of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm on him."

"I know."

Ice Empress raised an eyebrow. "You know?"

"That person is Huo Yuhao, the holder of the Spirit Eye Martial Soul, Twin Martial Souls. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was sacrificed to him when he was in the first year, becoming his first Soul Ring."

However, the Spiritual Origin of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm has not been completely refined; its consciousness should still be alive, residing parasitically in Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Sea.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress exchanged a glance.

Snow Empress spoke first, "You mean, the million-year-old Spiritual Origin of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm still exists?"

"It's still there, but not entirely."

Dai Huabin sat back on the edge of the bed, Zhu Lu automatically made room for him.

"When we brushed past each other in the corridor today, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm must have sensed your presence. Its spiritual power is at the million-year level; even if you suppressed your Soul Beast aura, it could still detect it."

Ice Empress crossed his arms, his expression somewhat subtle.

"That dead bug is still alive..."

She muttered something, then suddenly perked up and clenched her fist, gesturing in the air.

"Huabin, find an opportunity to seize its Spiritual Origin! That's Spiritual Origin that's millions of years old; using it to replenish spiritual power is simply a gift from heaven."

Dai Huabin nodded. "I have this plan, but I can't do it at the academy. I'll wait until we leave Shrek and find a suitable opportunity."

"Of course."

Ice Empress pursed her lips, then grew angrier the more she thought about it, and her speech quickened.

"Just thinking about that damned bug makes me furious! Do you even know that back in the Far North, it devoured all the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow?!"

Not a single drop was left! That was Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow! All the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow in the Far North, and that worm ate it like a snack!"

Snow Empress sighed softly beside her, "Bing'er, it's all in the past now."

"I'm still angry even after it's over!"

Ice Empress stomped their foot.

"If Huabin hadn't helped me find another Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, I probably wouldn't have survived the heavenly tribulation that followed for the next four hundred thousand years. I almost lost my life in that worm's mouth!"

Zhu Lu whispered a comment from the side:

"Sister Bing'er, calm down. We'll have a chance to get its essence back later."

"We must rob it! Rob it with interest!"

Ice Empress was puffed up with anger, her cheeks bulging out. Combined with her bright green twin ponytails and petite figure, she looked exactly like a little girl with a puffed-up hair.

Dai Huabin almost couldn't help but laugh when he saw her like this.

This is the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion, ranked seventh among the Ten Great Fierce Beasts. Even 100,000-year-old Soul Beast in the Far North would give her a wide berth.

The way he's now stomping his feet and cursing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm as a "dead worm" is completely at odds with his former reputation.

"Alright, alright."

Dai Huabin waved his hand.

"Remember Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. I'll deal with him when the time is right. He can't escape our grasp."

Ice Empress snorted, "That's right, with his true form, it's a piece of cake."

Snow Empress nodded. Since Dai Huabin knew about the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, then things would be simple.

She immediately spoke:

"We're going back now. Huabin, you should get some rest too."

"Okay, sure."

Ice Empress followed Snow Empress out the door, and before leaving, she turned back and added:

"Huabin, don't forget about the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm! That damned worm owes me a debt, and it will have to pay me back sooner or later!"

"I'll remember that. Close the door."

The door closed, and the sound of two people's footsteps receding into the corridor echoed in the distance.

Zhu Lu got up from the bed, walked to the door, locked the door, and looked back at Dai Huabin.

"The Spiritual Origin of millions of years..."

"It's well worth it." Dai Huabin stretched.

"The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is the oldest Soul Beast on the entire Douluo Continent, without exception. If we could obtain its Spiritual Origin, it would be a qualitative leap, whether for replenishing my and Ice Empress's cultivation or for strengthening our spiritual power."

Zhu Lu hummed in agreement and walked to the bedside to start making the bed.

"What about Huo Yuhao? If we steal his Soul Ring origin, won't he die?"

"He might not die, but he'll definitely be crippled."

After Zhu Lu finished making the bed, she tugged at the pillow and looked back at him. "Do you mind?"

Dai Huabin smiled.

"I don't care."

Zhu Lu smiled slightly, then patted the bed. "Go to sleep, you've been up all day."

Dai Huabin kicked off his shoes and got into bed.

Zhu Lu lay down next to him, habitually shifting closer to him to find a comfortable spot to settle in.

Dai Huabin, on the other hand, was deep in thought.

There's just too much information today.

The Class Promotion Assessment, the competition between the two departments for talent, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting, Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao, and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm —every single event is related to the subsequent developments.

He mentally prioritized them.

First, the Golden Tree meditation. This is the most pressing need at present.

Secondly, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's million-year-old Spiritual Origin is too valuable, but it cannot be used within the academy; a suitable opportunity must be awaited.

Third, Ma Xiaotao. The best solution for her is naturally to make Yan Shaozhe and others owe her a favor, which she will definitely need later.

Fourth, Huo Yuhao.

Dai Huabin took a deep breath.

This person is the biggest variable.

In the original novel, Huo Yuhao, relying on his "cheat codes" such as the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, and Electrolux, grew from a useless nobody to the strongest person on the continent.

He has now intercepted most of these cheat codes, but Huo Yuhao has not become weaker because of it. He obtained the Titan Snow Demon and embarked on a different path.

Well, let's just take it one step at a time.

He turned over, pulled Zhu Lu closer to him, and closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, the Sea God Pavilion Meeting.

Mu En's voice was loud and clear:

"The Sea God Pavilion has only one resolution: to win over Dai Huabin at all costs."

No one objected.

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed.

When Yan Shaozhe came out of the Sea God Pavilion, it was already completely dark.

The Soul Guidance Lamp on campus shone with a dim yellow light, and there were hardly any people on the stone-paved path. He walked hurriedly towards the Outer Academy, his mind still on Mu En's words.

At any cost.

Everyone present understood the weight of those four words. The last time the Sea God Pavilion used this phrase was a thousand years ago when that Ultimate Martial Soul genius appeared among the students.

When Yan Shaozhe reached the bend in the line connecting the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance Department, he suddenly stopped.

A faint blue light shone through the bushes by the roadside.

He frowned, walked around to take a look.

Ma Xiaotao is still there.

However, most of the ice had melted, leaving only a thin layer of ice shell still covering her body.

Ma Xiaotao squatted on the ground, hugging her shoulders, her whole body trembling.

Her lips were purple, her face flushed red and then turned pale, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.

This is a symptom of Ice and Fire Dual Heavens. The Ultimate Ice has penetrated her meridians and mixed with the Evil Fire within her body, with the two forces pulling at each other within her.

"Xiaotao!"

Yan Shaozhe quickly stepped forward, knelt down on one knee, and put one hand on her shoulder.

The temperature coming from my palm was fluctuating wildly, sometimes hot and sometimes cold, which was highly abnormal.

"How did you get into this state?"

Ma Xiaotao raised her head, her lips trembled twice, and she forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"T-Teacher, I'm a little cold."

Without Yan Shaozhe poured his Soul Power into his palm and channeled it through her shoulder to help stabilize the disordered Soul Power circulation within her body.

It took about ten minutes for Ma Xiaotao's trembling to gradually stop.

"Tell me, what happened?" Yan Shaozhe withdrew his hand, his face stern.

Ma Xiaotao shrank her neck.

"I... I'm going to find Xue Qingyao."

"What did I tell you before I left?"

You said not to act impulsively.

"Then what?"

Ma Xiaotao lowered her head, her voice much softer. "I was thinking... since we're both Soul Master of Ultimate Ice, asking her for help isn't a big deal."

Did she help?

"No." Ma Xiaotao rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. "She refused, so I said I'd fight her, and whoever wins gets to decide."

Yan Shaozhe had already roughly guessed the outcome. "You lost."

"No... no."

How many moves did she make?

Ma Xiaotao lowered her head even further, her voice barely audible.

"One move."

When had Ma Xiaotao ever suffered such a humiliation? But she was also capable of accepting defeat and didn't speak recklessly.

Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

A level 67 Evil Fire Phoenix was instantly Ice Seal by a level 65 opponent. Is this the power of Ultimate Ice?

"Get up." Yan Shaozhe stood up and reached out to help Ma Xiaotao up.

After regaining her balance, Ma Xiaotao moved her somewhat stiff limbs.

Although she was frozen for more than an hour and experienced both ice and fire, her level 67 foundation allowed her to recover quickly.

"Teacher, who exactly is Xue Qingyao? Her Ultimate Ice is incredible!"

"We'll talk about that later."

Yan Shaozhe patted the remaining ice crystals on her shoulder.

"You still have residual cold toxins in your body, which you can't eliminate on your own. I'll take you to see Dai Huabin tomorrow."

"Dai Huabin?" Ma Xiaotao was taken aback. "Is that the blond guy who was with Xue Qingyao?"

"Yes. Xue Qingyao is his person. You went directly to her and got humiliated. You should have gone through Dai Huabin's channels. Besides, Dai Huabin is also the holder of the Ultimate Ice, so helping you expel the cold poison won't be difficult."

Ma Xiaotao opened her mouth, her expression somewhat conflicted.

"But when I talked to him today, he didn't seem very willing to help..."

That's because you're rude.

Yan Shaozhe pointed out bluntly,

"You come up to people and ask for their help, and then you try to fight if they don't help you. Is that asking for help? That's extortion."

Ma Xiaotao blushed after being told that.

"I... I was just in a hurry."

Even when you're in a hurry, you still have to follow the rules.

Yan Shaozhe started walking towards the dormitory.

"I'll personally take you there tomorrow. You'd better behave yourself. Dai Huabin is not someone to be trifled with, and the people around him are even more dangerous. You've learned your lesson today."

In fact Yan Shaozhe also liked to force sales, but this time Dai Huabin was someone Mu En personally selected to win over, so Yan Shaozhe didn't dare to be too presumptuous.

Ma Xiaotao followed behind, muttering something to herself, but didn't dare to say it aloud.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly remembered something else.

"Teacher, when Xue Qingyao Ice Seal me, the Evil Fire within me was indeed suppressed for a while. That feeling..."

She paused for a moment, then thought carefully.

"It's incredibly comfortable. The kind of comfort I haven't felt in years."

Yan Shaozhe slowed his pace.

He glanced back at Ma Xiaotao, saying nothing but calculating in his mind.

If the Ultimate Ice can truly suppress Ma Xiaotao's backlash from the Evil Fire, then the significance of this matter goes beyond simply helping a student solve a cultivation problem.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix is one of the most promising Martial Soul in the entire Shrek Academy.

Once the problem of the Evil Fire is resolved, her growth potential...

"Let's go back to sleep first." Yan Shaozhe snapped out of his thoughts and quickened his pace. "I'll go find Dai Huabin first thing tomorrow morning."

Ma Xiaotao jogged to catch up, replying with a "Okay."

A night breeze blew through the tree-lined paths of the campus, and a small patch of unmelted ice remained on the ground beside the bushes, gleaming faintly blue in the light of the Soul Guidance Lamp.