Spirit Ice Domain

Lin Feng lay flat on the remaining ice, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. He closed his eyes and let out a long, weary breath.

This entire ordeal had taken a significant toll on him in every respect.

Ling Luochen lay quietly atop him, her consciousness having long since returned.

She could clearly feel the body heat radiating from beneath her, as well as the intimate contact between them, stripped of all barriers.

Her cheeks burned, her mind a chaotic mess. She dared not lift her head to look at Lin Feng's expression, burying her flushed face deeper into the crook of his neck instead.

Silence spread, broken only by the sound of their intertwined, shallow breathing.

"Senior Sister," Lin Feng finally spoke, his voice tinged with apology. "Just now... I'm sorry, I..."

"It's fine. I said I would bear the consequences myself; I don't blame you." Ling Luochen cut him off quickly, her voice muffled but devoid of any anger.

After saying this, she pressed her burning cheek gently against his shoulder. After a long moment of hesitation, she asked in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

"So... do you think this Senior Sister is good?"

"Of course you are. You..." Lin Feng answered without a moment's hesitation. Despite his exhaustion, his tone was clear and certain.

"...Mm." Ling Luochen interrupted, letting out a low hum. This satisfying answer allowed her tense body to finally relax.

She propped herself up slightly, her ice-blue eyes gazing into Lin Feng's face amidst the dim light.

After watching him for a moment, she, having only just become a woman, seemed to have confirmed something—or perhaps she was simply following her instincts—as she slowly lowered herself once more... Within the ice cave, only the mingling of their body heat and the sound of rapid heartbeats remained.

A long time passed before Lin Feng finally helped Ling Luochen fully stabilize the nascent origin of that Mystic Ice Spirit Flame.

Only then did they reluctantly separate, each silently tidying their clothes.

Once their breathing had steadied, they left the ice cave beneath the lake—a place where so much chaos and so many unexpected events had occurred—and returned to the tranquil shore.

"Lin Feng, thank you."

Ling Luochen gently took Lin Feng's hand. Her ice-blue eyes appeared exceptionally clear under the moonlight, filled with sincere gratitude and a trace of lingering passion that had yet to fully subside.

"I truly don't know how to repay you... Not only did I successfully master this ice flame, but my Soul Power also broke through, rising directly from level fifty-five to the bottleneck of level sixty. And even more incredibly..." She paused, a flash of irrepressible joy and shock crossing her eyes. "I... I awakened a Spirit Ice Domain. You know how rare and powerful domain-type skills are; they are comparable to Ultimate Martial Souls and are the highest tier of control soul skills."

Her voice carried a dreamlike haze; these gains far exceeded her initial expectations.

"Then I must truly congratulate you, Senior Sister." Lin Feng smiled, sharing his own gains as well. "My harvest was not small either. My Soul Power rose from level forty-seven to level fifty, which counts as stepping over the threshold of a Soul King. Moreover, in the process of helping you stabilize the ice flame, I gained insight into many of your ice-control techniques and also acquired this Spirit Ice Domain."

"Even though you gained a lot as well," Ling Luochen shook her head, her tone earnest and firm as she tightened her grip on his hand, "this massive favor is something I will keep in my heart forever. In the future, whenever you are in need, you can come to me."

"Good." Lin Feng nodded and took the opportunity to say, "I do have an idea. I plan to establish my own sect in the future, and when that time comes, I would like to invite you to serve as an elder. As for the specific details and plans, I will keep them secret for now and tell you when the time is right."

"Fine, I promise you." Ling Luochen agreed readily, almost without hesitation.

As of now, Ling Luochen's Soul Power level had surpassed that of the level fifty-nine Chen Zifeng and Gongyang Mo, leaping to become the undisputed third-ranked figure among this generation's Shrek Seven Devils.

With the origin of the Mystic Ice Spirit Flame and the rare, powerful Spirit Ice Domain, once she successfully obtained her sixth Soul Ring and officially ascended to the rank of Soul Emperor, her true combat power would very likely surpass that of the current second-ranked assault-type Soul Emperor, Dai Yueheng.

"If you have no other matters, Senior Sister, I will head back to rest," Lin Feng said, feeling the new power within his body and a faint sense of fatigue.

"Mm." Ling Luochen replied softly. Her ice-blue eyes watched him, emotions churning within them, eventually settling into a clear whisper: "Thank you again, Lin Feng."

As her voice faded, she stepped forward, reached out, and wrapped her arms gently around Lin Feng's neck, giving him a brief but tight embrace.

Her scent carried her familiar coolness, yet her embrace held an unmistakable warmth.

The hug lasted for a moment before she seemed to have finally gathered enough courage or comfort, slowly loosening her grip.

"Rest well, see you tomorrow." She stepped back half a pace, beaming.

Lin Feng nodded and turned to leave.

Under the moonlight, Ling Luochen stood quietly by the lake, watching his receding back, the ice lotus mark on her forehead shimmering with a faint light in the night.

On his way back, Lin Feng suddenly remembered that his Soul Power had reached level fifty, exactly the minimum threshold Mu En had previously mentioned for traveling to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

His fatigue was somewhat washed away by this thought.

He did not return to his dormitory, instead turning toward the academy's east gate and heading straight for the small shop run by Tang Ya.

"Xiao Feng? I haven't seen you come by in a long time." Tang Ya was behind the counter organizing accounts. When she looked up and saw him, a warm smile immediately appeared on her face.

"Xiao Ya," Lin Feng walked to the counter and, skipping the pleasantries, delivered the good news directly: "My Soul Power has broken through to level fifty."

"Level fifty?!" Tang Ya's hand paused, and she jerked her head up, her eyes filled with incredulous surprise.

She remembered clearly that not long ago, Lin Feng was only a Soul Ancestor; this speed of advancement was simply unheard of. As for herself, after all her hardships, she was only at level forty-four.

After the brief shock, joy bloomed on her face, but it was immediately followed by a trace of imperceptible sadness and worry.

He was progressing so quickly, while she...

"That's wonderful!" Tang Ya suppressed her complex emotions and smiled sincerely.

"Mm," Lin Feng nodded, looking at her with a firm gaze. "Once I obtain my fifth Soul Ring, we will set off. We'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to find the Blue Silver Emperor for you."

This statement made Tang Ya pause slightly.

The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well... the Blue Silver Emperor...

Although the dark power within her had been eradicated, awakening the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline was her greatest hope for becoming stronger in the future.

"Xiao Feng... thank you." Tang Ya opened her mouth, a thousand words in her heart, but in the end, it only manifested as a low, choked-up whisper. Her eyes quickly turned red and hot.

"Don't cry," Lin Feng said, his tone softening as he reached out to gently wipe away the moisture seeping from the corners of her eyes. "Our Sect Master shouldn't let people see her like this."

Tang Ya could no longer hold back; she stepped forward and threw herself into Lin Feng's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her face deep into his shoulder.