"Forget it. I'll leave you a little."
Jiang Yi took only the thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins, then tucked the Soul Tool back into the front of Nan Shuishui's robe.
The bank certificate would be useless even if he took it, so he might as well take some cash. Leave a thread of kindness, and you may meet again someday.
"Let's go!"
Jiang Yi clapped his hands, carried the mother and daughter onto the bed, and covered them with a blanket before turning to leave.
He had only come for the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice, not to rob and kill.
The well was behind the courtyard, and Jiang Yi didn't take long to find it.
"Hm? Such rich ice elements."
As soon as Jiang Yi reached the well, Ice Empress emerged, drawn by the scent.
"There's something strange down there."
She perched on Jiang Yi's shoulder, her gaze fixed intently on the pitch-black well.
As a top Ferocious Beast with Ultimate Ice, she could clearly sense the powerful chill below. It was probably even colder than her ice cavern.
After all, the Frozen Forest where she lived was already a blessed land in the core region of the Far North.
Yet this unremarkable well actually concealed an even more intense chill?
"Jiang Yi, this place..."
Ice Empress couldn't help looking at Jiang Yi.
"We'll know when we go down."
Jiang Yi smiled without explaining and jumped straight in.
Splash!
The instant he entered the well, a bone-chilling cold surged toward him.
Ice Empress lightly flicked her tail hook, sending out a streak of emerald light that formed a barrier and blocked the chill.
Protected by Ice Empress, Jiang Yi's descent wasn't affected in the slightest, and he soon reached the bottom of the well.
At the very bottom was a deep blue spring, its surging chill almost tangible.
"It's so cold~"
Jiang Yi looked at the spring and blew a bubble underwater. Even Ultimate Ice couldn't completely hold back this chill.
Without lingering, he swam straight toward the spring.
Once he passed through it, the water grew several times colder, yet strangely, it didn't freeze.
"Wait!"
Ice Empress suddenly spoke.
She rose from Jiang Yi's shoulder, emerald light blooming around her as she transformed into a barefoot girl in a green dress.
"The chill below is beyond what you can endure. Help me undo the seal..."
She gazed into the deep spring below and spoke in a serious tone.
"Okay."
Jiang Yi nodded.
Even Huo Yuhao, a Soul Sage, couldn't withstand this frigid spring, let alone Jiang Yi, who was only at the third ring.
Then, with a thought, he loosened his control over the contract between them.
The next moment, a terrifying aura surged from Ice Empress's petite body as the seal was completely undone.
At the same time, the connection between her and Jiang Yi faded until it was almost imperceptible.
Ice Empress severed her link with Jiang Yi of her own accord. Otherwise, the power of her fully unleashed source would instantly burst him apart.
With her strength restored, Ice Empress merely raised a hand and pointed down into the bottomless frigid pool.
"Part."
Just one word.
Casual, yet carrying unquestionable authority.
The spring water instantly churned. Like subjects obeying their king's command, it retreated to either side.
A deep blue passage of solid ice took shape beneath the water, stretching from her feet all the way into the depths.
"Let's go."
Ice Empress turned back, took Jiang Yi's hand, and led him into the icy blue passage.
"Okay."
Jiang Yi blinked and obediently let Ice Empress lead him.
This was Ice Empress at full strength, nothing like a Soul Spirit. In the original story, Huo Yuhao's three Soul Spirits had struggled desperately just to get him down here.
After passing through the long passage, they came upon a pitch-black opening.
Splash!
Before Jiang Yi could react, he fell through the opening and landed in a small cavern.
There was no water inside, but endless darkness shrouded the cavern. The instant Jiang Yi hit the ground, a terrifying chill swept over him.
"Ah-choo~"
Even with Ice Empress standing in front of him, he shivered. The cold seemed ready to freeze his soul.
"Tian Meng!"
Jiang Yi grabbed Tian Meng from his shoulder and gave her a good squeeze. The next moment, a blue glow radiated from Tian Meng.
Tian Meng transformed into a blue lightbulb, illuminating the entire cavern.
The cavern wasn't large. More than a dozen pristine white ice pillars stood inside, and they were the source of the terrifying chill.
And at that moment—
Ice Empress stood at the front, completely frozen in place.
Her emerald eyes were wide, her little mouth slightly agape, revealing two small pointed canines.
"We've struck it rich—!!!"
Ice Empress's eyes sparkled. Not a trace of her usual majesty remained; she was nothing but genuinely thrilled.
Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow! The whole place was full of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow!
This cavern was every bit as good as Tian Meng's. If she could absorb all this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow,
then even if she couldn't break through to a million years, she would be astonishingly close.
By then, she'd be the Far North Soul Beast closest to becoming the Ice God in all of history... No, what did the Far North even matter?
"This Queen will have you bring Di Tian here!"
"Bingbing, calm down!"
Tian Meng reminded her helplessly.
It was just a mere cavern of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow. They shouldn't embarrass themselves! Besides, Jiang Yi was the one who'd brought them here.
"Ahem~"
Ice Empress coughed softly. Only then did she realize she'd lost her composure. She quickly put on a stern expression, trying to salvage her image.
But the excitement between her brows simply wouldn't fade.
Her gaze lingered on the pristine jade-white ice pillars, her eyes burning as though she were gazing at her beloved.
"Jiang Yi, this Mystic Ice Marrow..."
At last, she turned around and looked at Jiang Yi, her tone tentative.
Jiang Yi had willingly brought them here, so he couldn't possibly be unaware of how precious this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow was.
She felt conflicted, unsure how to ask for a larger share.
"Just leave one pillar for me. I can't use it for now... You can keep the rest, Bing'er."
Seeing Ice Empress's cautious expression, Jiang Yi couldn't help laughing. So even the aloof queen could look like this.
Investing in Ice Empress was also investing in himself. It was just moving something from one hand to the other, so he naturally wouldn't be stingy.
Besides, if he could have a Limit Douluo bodyguard at his side, he could roam the entire Douluo Continent without restraint.
As for Tian Meng... Her cultivation was already at its limit. Giving her Mystic Ice Marrow would be like feeding her carrots. What a waste.
"Jiang Yi! Thank you..."
Ice Empress parted her lips, at a loss for words.
This was Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow!
A truly priceless treasure. Even Xue'er, the Lord of the Far North, would go mad at the sight of it.
To put it bluntly, even if Ice Empress sold herself, she wouldn't be worth as much as all this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.
"I told you, we're partners! What's mine is yours!"
Jiang Yi smiled sincerely, then reached out to gently ruffle Ice Empress's hair.
"..."
Ice Empress didn't dodge. Feeling the warmth of Jiang Yi's hand, a strange sensation gradually stirred in her heart.
It was warm and cozy, as if she'd returned to Xue'er's embrace. The connection between her and Jiang Yi also grew clearer.
Was this the bond Tian Meng had talked about?
Ice Empress wondered silently.
She stole a glance at Jiang Yi, then quickly looked away again, a strange glint flashing through her beautiful eyes.
This feeling... wasn't bad at all...
Before you continue