Your Xiao Meng Has Appeared

To sacrifice oneself so thoroughly, to the point where not even a soul fluctuation remains...

What could he possibly be after? Even in a soul sacrifice, one usually retains a sliver of the soul.

Just what kind of love potion did this guy feed that bug?

And this Mystic Ice Marrow martial soul of yours... does such a martial soul truly exist in this world?

Ice Empress watched Xu Qing's practiced movements as he fused his rings to create Mystic Ice Marrow, and asked softly:

"Can your martial soul create Ten-Thousand-Year Mystic Ice Marrow?"

"Of course not. My martial soul is Mystic Ice Marrow, not Ten-Thousand-Year Mystic Ice Marrow. Mind your wording, Ice-y."

Haa!!!

How dare you lie to me!!!!

Ice Empress was so furious she stomped her foot on the spot, forgetting her own fragility and the hardness of the floor.

Other than hurting her own foot, she accomplished nothing.

"But it will be possible in the future, once my martial soul evolves."

Xu Qing glanced at her toes, which had turned a rosy, crystalline red from the impact.

He then focused his attention on crafting this, the strongest piece of Mystic Ice Marrow in history!!

"Don't be anxious, keep a calm heart. Snow Empress will be fine for the next two or three years. Hmm... if things go well and there are no accidents, I'll just go find the old man and have a word with him to resolve it."

"An Extreme Dao Little Soldier, indeed. Although Master's strength is only at the entry level of the Limit, he can still charge in and out of Star Luo seven times over."

"For now, just stay with me. Slowly accumulate ice-attribute origin energy through my Mystic Ice Marrow. Once there's enough, I'll break your seal, and you can break through to four hundred thousand years."

"Mm..."

Having received Xu Qing's confident and certain promise, the stone in Ice Empress's heart settled a little.

"Then how will you evolve the Mystic Ice Marrow? Also, am I to follow you everywhere from now on? But aren't you going to school? If you go to school, where am I supposed to go?"

"How about you send me back to the Far North first?"

"This mountain man has his own clever plans. Knowing too much won't do you any good, Ice Empress. Don't be so curious."

Xu Qing wore a mysterious expression, his tone lingering and faint.

"As for returning to the Far North, you'd better think it through. The secret between you and me—the old man doesn't know about it, and he can't know. How would you explain it to him?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Rest assured, we're in the same boat now. Stick with Brother Xu, and don't panic about anything."

"Riddle-monger," Ice Empress said irritably. "Why are you still making Mystic Ice Marrow? I won't eat it! Take it away."

Hmph! Trying to curry favor with me by making Mystic Ice Marrow? Where did you learn these tricks for coaxing human girls? Do you really think they work on me?

Unless...

"Haa... finally done. I'm exhausted... Tsk, you're actually turning your nose up at it?"

Xu Qing was just about to mock her for failing to appreciate his kindness.

Suddenly!

Thump, thump, thump!!!

"Click--!"

The door had actually been opened! No, where did she get a key?

Xu Qing was left with a face full of confusion.

"Ta-da! Your Xiao Meng has arrived!!"

The young girl wore a plain white dress, clean, simple, and elegant.

Her light, tasteful makeup was just right, and her long white hair was tied into a single ponytail, left to drape over her shoulder.

Her brows and eyes curved into crescents, filled with joy.

Xu Qing, this stubborn kid who is so hard to conquer, has finally fallen into this young lady's hands!

Hehehe, I'm so looking forward to hearing Xu Qing call me Senior Sister...

A beautiful senior sister and a youthful junior brother... just thinking about it makes me, Xiao Meng, unable to handle it.

Meng Hongchen scanned the strange lighting in the room, inwardly lamenting that Xu Qing had finally seen the light.

But before she could even revel in her joy, she never expected this!!

There was actually someone else in the room!

"Who are you?"

Xiao Meng blocked the space between the two like a teleportation, spreading her arms to firmly shield Xu Qing behind her.

"In broad daylight, you actually dare to ambush an innocent man!"

"?"

This time, it was Ice Empress's turn to be confused. No, who is this human?

Trying to pin the blame on me the moment we meet? Who ambushed whom, exactly?!

I'm the one who got caught!

"Xiao Meng, where is Hall Master Jing?"

Hearing a familiar voice behind her, Meng Hongchen hurriedly ignored the little girl who stood at her own height. She turned around, stuck out her tongue, and pressed her palms together in front of her chest, acting spoiled.

"Sorry! Hehe, Grandpa hasn't finished work yet, and Xiao Meng just couldn't wait any longer."

"Besides, this place the Poison Sect Master arranged for you is terrible! All sorts of people are here! What if you were to... you know what I mean, right?"

Xiao Meng pursed her lips, clearly implying something.

"Heh, do you think this... young lady wanted to come here!?"

Ice Empress nearly let her verbal tic slip, but fortunately, she caught herself in time.

She wanted to keep going, but Xu Qing felt his head throbbing. He quickly spoke up to extinguish the flames of the argument.

"Stop, stop, stop. Ice... sigh, forget it. Xiao Meng, come out with me for a moment."

Xu Qing gave Ice Empress a look, hoping she would understand his intent.

Xu Qing then took Meng Hongchen by the wrist and walked out into the corridor.

Fortunately, it was midday, and there was hardly anyone around.

"Xu, Brother!"

Xiao Meng crossed her arms, her cheeks puffing up like balloons before quickly deflating as she muttered, "I could have done it too! I know you're just curious. Honestly, better to let me have the benefit than someone else."

Bold and confident by nature, Xiao Meng always spoke her mind and never held back.

"It's a good thing I came, otherwise, who knows what might have happened..."

"Here."

Xu Qing held out a blue crystal the size of a grape toward Xiao Meng.

"This is the first time I've condensed such pure Mystic Ice Marrow since breaking through to the fourth ring. You can taste it and see if there's any difference from the previous ones, and whether it helps with your martial soul's evolution."

"The first time!!"

Xiao Meng, a hopeless romantic, focused on something fundamentally different from everyone else.

"Brother Xu is so good to me, so I, Xiao Meng, have also prepared a gift for Brother Xu!!"

She reached out and pinched the Mystic Ice Marrow that Xu Qing had condensed. Without even washing it, she popped it straight into her mouth.

She wanted the original flavor!

"Mmm..."

The special effect of the ice marrow on ice-attribute martial souls was clearly evident in Xiao Meng.

Xu Qing hurriedly noted down the effects of this condensation technique.

Flushed complexion, rapid breathing, unfocused eyes...

Light perspiration on the skin, soul power fluctuations significantly enhanced but very unstable—likely due to the temporary boost. The original level forty-six soul power fluctuation is now at level forty-eight...

Still rising... level forty-nine... starting to drop.

Duration is... thirty seconds. After it ends, the soul power feels slightly more solidified.

"Mm... Brother Xu..."

Xiao Meng's body went limp, and she collapsed into Xu Qing's arms.

Haah... finally got what I wanted...

"Tell me... what is the meaning of life?"

"The meaning of life... sorry, I am still searching for that myself."

Xu Qing answered the literal question with complete seriousness, his expression unchanged. Even with a stunningly beautiful girl soft in his arms, his state of mind remained undisturbed.

This is my conviction!

Not long after, Xiao Meng rubbed her temples.

"Brother Xu's ice marrow... is really becoming more and more..."