"Yo, Little Ice, how's the studying going?"

After collecting his uniform, student handbook, and various other odds and ends from the academy, Xu Qing returned to his villa.

As for Xiao Meng? Naturally, she had gone back to class!

Today was the first day of her fifth-grade year, and well... Xu Qing would also be reporting for duty tomorrow.

He looked at the Ice Empress, who sat in a chair with her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face, and asked in confusion:

"You... you can't be that slow, right?"

"Idiot Xu Qing, do you really take this Empress for a human child? I'm just unfamiliar with human script, not completely incapable of learning."

The Ice Empress rolled her eyes at Xu Qing, unwilling to entertain a man who did nothing but mock her.

"Starting from kindergarten, you really are full of nothing but bad intentions! I learned everything in just one morning!"

"Clap, clap, clap, clap—"

Xu Qing raised his hands, offering applause for the birth of a Wenqu Scorpion.

"Truly impressive. I'll reward you with a piece of Mystic Ice Marrow."

As he spoke, he made a grasping motion with one hand. Pale blue soul power surged, and the temperature in the air plummeted while the humidity rose noticeably.

The process lasted only a few seconds before ending with the appearance of a piece of deep blue Mystic Ice Marrow the size of a candy.

"Don't want it. Mystic Ice Marrow of this quality has a negligible effect on this Empress; at most, it's on the level of the snacks you humans eat."

"Besides, you didn't even wash your hands."

The Ice Empress pursed her lips and turned her head away, looking utterly disgusted.

"Crunch, crunch..."

"Ah... so delicious. It's a pity someone doesn't like to eat it."

Xu Qing didn't bother making a fool of himself and consumed it himself. His gaze wandered over the modern clothing the Ice Empress was wearing, finally landing on the pair of sandals she had worn for the first time ever.

"Hmm... you seem to be adapting quite quickly. I thought you wouldn't be used to human society."

"Heh..."

Is that me adapting quickly?!

If I didn't adapt, I wouldn't even have clothes to wear! You did this on purpose, you jerk!!

You knew full well I couldn't use my soul power to manifest clothing, yet you acted like you didn't know!

But you still prepared these for me in advance...

Sigh... fine. Since they're quite comfortable and look good, I won't give you any trouble.

No! Ice Empress, how can you not give him trouble? Why are you so spineless!

Grrr!! This Empress will remember this grudge!

"Ice Empress, at what cultivation level did you condense your Soul Core?"

Xu Qing suddenly sat down in front of the Ice Empress, the two of them sharing the table. He looked into her darting amber eyes and continued:

"Teach me the process while you're at it."

"Not teaching you."

The refusal was crisp and decisive. The Ice Empress rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the piece of Mystic Ice Marrow in Xu Qing's hand, which was steadily shrinking.

The aura emanating from it grew increasingly pure, causing her to swallow hard.

But how could the Willpower of the Far North's Empress be anything but firm?

The iron-willed determination honed through tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation was enough to resist temptation of this magnitude!

She composed herself and looked at the expressionless Xu Qing. Thinking her attitude just now had been too blunt, she explained:

"You are currently only at level forty-four... wait, how are you at forty-five?"

"Forget it. The requirements for condensing a Soul Core are extremely rigid. Your physical body must reach the level of a Titled Douluo, and your spiritual power must reach the same level."

"Furthermore, your soul power must also reach that threshold. That is why a Soul Core can only be condensed after breaking through to the Titled Douluo rank."

"Foolish Xu Qing, stop dreaming of getting the method for Soul Core condensation from this Empress."

If you don't believe me and try it anyway, only to blow yourself up, where would this Empress go to find Xue'er?

Yes, the primary condition for the Ice Empress choosing to cooperate with Xu Qing was finding Xue'er.

As for million-year cultivation, Ten-Thousand-Year Mystic Ice Marrow, ascending to the God Realm, or immortality?

She didn't believe a word of it.

"Is that all?"

Xu Qing was lost in thought. It was that simple? The old man had specifically instructed the sect elders not to reveal any information.

He had even torn up the book that recorded the method for Soul Core condensation.

"In that case, Ice Empress, could you share your insights on condensing a soul core with me through spiritual connection?"

"With those, I'll have the confidence to condense my soul core ahead of schedule."

Before the Ice Empress could mock his arrogance, the piece of Mystic Ice Marrow in Xu Qing's hand, compressed to the size of a grain of rice, snapped with a click.

It split open, revealing two pale blue cross-sections.

Light shimmered across the surface, yet it was firmly locked in place by a faint golden thread.

This was the solidification of soul power!

He had actually utilized the characteristics of the Mystic Ice Marrow martial soul to master the solidification of soul power, a technique only Titled Douluo could employ, well ahead of time!

"Although the quantity of soul power is insufficient, the quality has already reached the threshold, and I have ways to rapidly increase it in a short period."

Ice-type soul beasts could increase their cultivation by consuming Mystic Ice Marrow, and in the process, they would become increasingly inseparable from it.

They would develop a deep dependency on it.

This could be seen from the example of the Big Bug.

Xu Qing intended to attach a 100,000-year Titan Snow Demon as his fifth soul ring!

Not enough cultivation? Eat some Mystic Ice Marrow!

Unwilling to sacrifice? Eat some Mystic Ice Marrow!

Mystic Ice Marrow not pure enough? Sorry, I'm going to the well beneath the Earth Dragon Sect to rescue some Ten-Thousand-Year Mystic Ice Marrow.

Xu Qing placed the rice-grain-sized ice marrow, now broken in two, into the Ice Empress's palm.

The moment she made contact, her expression shifted from blankness to confusion.

How did you do this!!?

She sniffed the scent in her palm; that fresh, fragrant aroma... had actually increased several times over compared to before!

"Condensing soul power into a solid state and imbuing it with attributes is precisely the prerequisite for condensing a soul core!"

"Hoo... you're right, the threshold—you have indeed crossed it, but it is only the threshold."

The Ice Empress pinched one half of the ice marrow, extended a tiny pink tongue, and lightly touched the tip to it; it melted upon contact.

An incomparable sweetness flooded her entire mouth in a fleeting instant!

Delicious...

"Mmm... but... but having condensed only this tiny bit of ice marrow, your soul power must be bottoming out, right?"

A faint, imperceptible blush crept onto the tips of her ears.

As she spoke, she placed the other half on her fingertip, and finally, her abyss-like mouth descended sharply!

She ate the piece right off her finger.

The Ice Empress subconsciously narrowed her eyes.

"If you could take out Mystic Ice Marrow of this quality, the size of a steamed bun, every day, and let this Empress eat it for a month or two."

"Then send me back to the Far North, I would have an eighty percent chance of surviving the heavenly tribulation."

Her voice softened by a few degrees.

"But, that's impossible. You're still too weak to satisfy this Empress's appetite."

"Mmm..."

Xu Qing leaned back against the chair, feeling the ninety-five percent of his soul power still remaining in his body, and watched the gluttonous scorpion still savoring the aftertaste.

He said meaningfully:

"Hehehe... I think this afternoon we can discuss how to make even more delicious Mystic Ice Marrow."