Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Cave! The Ice Empress's Approval!

"Forget it, I'll leave you some."

Jiang Yi only took the thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins, then tucked the Soul Tool back into the collar of Nan Shui-Shui's dress.

The bank vouchers were useless to him anyway; taking some cash was enough. It was best to leave a path open for others, so they might meet again under better circumstances.

"Let's go!"

Jiang Yi clapped his hands, moved the mother and daughter onto the bed, covered them with a quilt, and then turned to leave.

He had only come for the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice; he had no intention of murdering them for their wealth.

The well was located behind the courtyard, and it didn't take Jiang Yi long to find it.

"Hm? Such dense ice elemental energy."

As soon as Jiang Yi reached the edge of the well, Ice Empress caught the scent and emerged.

"There is something strange down there."

She perched on Jiang Yi's shoulder, her eyes burning as she stared into the pitch-black well.

As a top-tier fierce beast possessing the Ultimate Ice, she clearly sensed the powerful chill emanating from below. That coldness was likely even more intense than her own ice cave.

One had to realize that the Frozen Forest where she resided was already a blessed land in the core area of the Far North.

Yet, this unremarkable well actually concealed an even more potent chill?

"Jiang Yi, this place..."

Ice Empress couldn't help but look at Jiang Yi.

"We'll know once we go down."

Jiang Yi smiled without explaining, jumping straight into the well.

Splash!

The moment he entered the well water, a bone-chilling cold surged toward him frantically.

Ice Empress flicked her tail hook, and a jade-green halo flew out, forming a light barrier that isolated the cold.

With Ice Empress's protection, Jiang Yi's descent speed was not hindered in the slightest, and he quickly reached the bottom of the well.

At the deepest part of the well was a deep blue spring, from which the gushing cold was almost tangible.

"So cold~"

Jiang Yi looked at the spring and blew a bubble in the water; even his Ultimate Ice couldn't completely block this level of chill.

Without lingering, he swam directly toward the spring.

After passing through the spring, the water temperature dropped by more than a notch, yet strangely, the water here did not freeze.

"Wait!"

Ice Empress suddenly spoke up.

She flew off Jiang Yi's shoulder, her body blooming with green light as she transformed into a young girl with bare feet and a green dress.

"The cold below is more than you can withstand. Help me undo the seal..."

She looked at the deep, dark spring water below, her tone serious.

"Alright."

Jiang Yi nodded.

Even Huo Yuhao, at the Soul Saint level, couldn't withstand this cold spring, let alone Jiang Yi, who was only at the third ring.

Immediately, he focused his mind and relaxed his control over their contract.

The next moment, a terrifying aura erupted from Ice Empress's petite body as the seal was completely lifted.

At the same time, the connection between Jiang Yi and her faded to the point of being almost imperceptible.

Ice Empress had proactively severed the link with Jiang Yi; otherwise, her fully unleashed origin energy would have instantly overwhelmed and shattered him.

Having regained her strength, Ice Empress simply reached out and pointed a finger toward the bottomless cold pool below.

"Open."

A single word.

It was understated, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.

The spring water surged instantly, like subjects receiving a monarch's command, retreating to both sides.

A deep blue passage made of solid ice formed within the spring water, extending from beneath her feet all the way into the depths of the pool.

"Let's go."

Ice Empress looked back, took Jiang Yi's hand, and led him into the ice-blue corridor.

"Mm."

Jiang Yi blinked, obediently letting Ice Empress lead the way.

This is the Ice Empress in her complete form, incomparable to any mere soul spirit; in the original work, it took everything Huo Yuhao's three great soul spirits had just to send her down.

Passing through the long corridor, a pitch-black opening appeared ahead.

Thump!

Before Jiang Yi could even react, he tumbled into the opening and landed inside a small cavern.

There was no water in the cave, yet it was shrouded in endless darkness. The moment Jiang Yi hit the ground, a terrifying chill rushed toward him.

"Achoo~"

Even with the Ice Empress standing in front to block it, he still shivered; that cold felt as if it were trying to freeze his very soul.

"Tian Meng!"

Jiang Yi grabbed Tian Meng from his shoulder and squeezed hard. The next moment, an icy blue halo radiated from Tian Meng's body.

Tian Meng transformed into a blue lightbulb, illuminating the entire cavern.

The cave was not large, and standing within were over a dozen pristine white ice pillars. The terrifying chill originated from these very pillars.

And at this moment—

The Ice Empress stood at the front, completely stunned.

Her emerald eyes were wide open, her small mouth slightly agape, revealing two sharp little fangs.

"We've hit the jackpot—!!!"

Her eyes sparkled, and not a trace of her usual majesty remained, replaced only by genuine, heartfelt excitement.

Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow! It was all, every damn bit of it, Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow!

This Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cavern was in no way inferior to the one Tian Meng had occupied. If she could absorb all this marrow, even if she couldn't break through to the million-year level, she would certainly be close.

By then, she would be the closest soul beast in the Far North to the Ice God in history... No, what did the Far North even matter anymore?

This King shall make you summon Di Tian!!!

"Bingbing, calm down!"

Tian Meng reminded her helplessly.

It's just a measly Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cavern, let's not lose our composure! Jiang Yi was the one who brought them here, after all.

"Ahem~"

The Ice Empress gave a light cough, realizing she had lost her composure. She quickly straightened her face, attempting to salvage her image.

But the excitement between her brows could not be suppressed no matter how hard she tried.

Her gaze lingered on those jade-white ice pillars, her burning eyes as if she were staring at a lover.

"Jiang Yi, this Profound Ice Marrow..."

Finally, she turned her head, her gaze falling upon Jiang Yi behind her, her tone carrying a hint of hesitation.

Jiang Yi had taken the initiative to lead them here; it was impossible for him not to know the value of this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.

She felt conflicted, unsure of how to ask for a larger share.

"Just leave one for me; I don't have a use for it right now... Keep the rest in your care, Bing'er."

Seeing the Ice Empress acting so cautious, Jiang Yi couldn't help but laugh. Even the cold, haughty queen had a side like this.

Cultivating the Ice Empress was an investment in himself; it was essentially moving things from his left hand to his right, so he naturally wouldn't be stingy.

Besides, if he could carry a Limit Douluo bodyguard around, he could run rampant across the entire Douluo Continent.

As for Tian Meng... her cultivation had already reached the peak; giving her the marrow would just be like feeding her radishes—a total waste.

"Jiang Yi! Thank you..."

The Ice Empress opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

This was Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow!

A true priceless treasure; even someone like Xue'er, the Lord of the Far North, would go crazy if she saw this.

To put it bluntly, even if she sold herself, she wouldn't be worth as much as this pile of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.

"I said it before, we are partners! What is mine is yours!"

Jiang Yi smiled with genuine sincerity, then reached out and ruffled the Ice Empress's hair with a gentle touch.

"..."

The Ice Empress didn't pull away. Feeling the warmth of Jiang Yi's palm, a strange sensation gradually welled up in her heart.

It was warm and fuzzy, like returning to Xue'er's embrace, and the connection between her and Jiang Yi grew increasingly clear.

Is this the bond that Tian Meng spoke of?

The Ice Empress murmured in her heart.

She snuck a glance at Jiang Yi, then quickly looked away, a strange glint flashing in her beautiful eyes.

This feeling... it didn't seem half bad.