The Scorpion King's Night Raid: Ice Marrow Maker

Next to the Ice Empress's bedroom was Xu Qing's room.

Xu Qing had already emerged from the Undead Demi-plane.

His body was as red as a boiled shrimp, and the moment his feet touched the ground, he rushed toward the bathroom.

Splash, splash—

Cold water, chilled by his Ultimate Ice, poured over his head and face. White mist billowed instantly, feeling incredibly refreshing.

"Elder Yi, I only consumed two pieces of Mystic Ice Marrow, plus a bit of mental assistance, and not only did I break through by one level of Soul Power, but I also condensed the prototype of a Soul Core."

"Furthermore, a large portion of the elemental energy remains in my body, being slowly absorbed."

Xu Qing lay comfortably in a bathtub piled high with ice cubes, his body trembling occasionally.

This time had truly been intense; first, he had broken through levels in succession, then experimented with soul skills, and finally condensed a Soul Core.

There had been no time to rest, but it was a case of planting a willow shoot and having it grow into shade by accident.

Xu Qing had only intended to walk through the path of condensing a Soul Core, never expecting it to actually succeed.

"What a coincidence, hah~ that feels good."

"With the Soul Core prototype formed, all that remains is to pour ice-attribute elemental energy into it; it's just a matter of time and patience."

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Ice Empress was right; this Mystic Ice Marrow is truly potent."

Xu Qing tilted his head, gazing through the skylight at the night sky, where stars twinkled in the distance.

Elder Yi said nothing, merely scattering faint specks of golden light in silence, pure mental energy merging into Xu Qing's Sea of Consciousness.

The sudden comfort made Xu Qing feel a bit weary.

He couldn't remember the last time he had slept.

Ever since awakening his Martial Soul, meditation had replaced all need for sleep.

In a daze, Xu Qing crawled out of the bathtub, used his Soul Power to evaporate the moisture, collapsed onto his bed, wrapped himself in the quilt, and fell into a deep slumber.

At two in the morning, Xu Qing had been in a deep sleep for three hours.

The Ice Empress stood before the vanity in her room, tying her hair into a ponytail. Her pretty face was taut, her eyes filled with immense determination!

She clenched her fist tightly, feeling the familiar Soul Power surging within her, and her eyes couldn't help but redden.

"My power has returned!!!"

This familiar sensation—the Ultimate Ice-attribute Soul Power she had been parted from for months—was flowing slowly through her meridians once more.

It was enough!

Her gaze shifted to the small refrigerator in the corner of the room.

"Damn it... even though I now have the ability to leave this place, yet..."

The Ice Empress moved, opened the refrigerator door, and pulled out a Mystic Ice Marrow popsicle.

"Yet this Empress still bears the arduous mission of saving Xue'er! That evil Xu Qing attempts to pierce my psychological defenses with Mystic Ice Marrow shells!"

"Little does he know, all of this is within this Empress's plan!"

She opened her small mouth and crunch, took a bite.

She held the popsicle in her mouth, using the tip of her flexible tongue to stir it, letting only the warmth of her mouth melt it!

"Hah~ foolish Xu Qing, to actually trust this Empress so much? To look down upon one-thirtieth of the strength of the Heavenly King of the Far North!"

"How arrogant! Hmph, hmph, hmph."

"Does he not know that once a crack is opened in the seal, I can slowly grind it away myself?"

"What does a Limit Douluo's seal matter? I am still a being of Ultimate Soul Power!"

The Ice Empress finished the rest of the popsicle in two bites, licked the residue from her lips, and began to expand her mental energy silently.

The entire structure of the villa was laid bare before her!

"Your mental fluctuations have already stabilized, haven't they? Hehehe, my Mystic Ice Marrow~~"

No, no, no, stay calm!

The Ice Empress patted her cheeks, whispering to encourage herself:

"This Empress is only using that Mystic Ice Marrow to recover my strength, definitely not because I'm a glutton."

"Of course... there is indeed a part of it that is because it is just so delicious!!"

"It's all Xu Qing's fault for dangling it in front of me!"

The Ice Empress muttered to herself, then restrained her Soul Power fluctuations, hiding them completely.

Because she knew that a 'vicious' human like Xu Qing would surely remain highly vigilant even while sleeping!

Just like those Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts back in the Far North.

She appeared to be asleep, but the moment anyone drew near, the fluctuations of her Soul Power flared up like a raging fire, scorching them awake!

The Ice Empress would never commit such a low-level mistake.

Therefore, this time, she decided not to even use her mental energy; she had already memorized the layout anyway.

Everything would rely entirely on this Empress's physical body!

"Creeeak--"

Hiss! Why is this door so loud!!

(Ｔ▽Ｔ)

The Ice Empress tiptoed out of her room and into the hallway.

Moonlight sliced diagonally through the window at the far end, laying a strip of silver-white light across the wooden floor.

The Ice Empress hugged the wall as she walked, landing on her toes first before slowly lowering her heels.

To ensure absolute silence, she hadn't even worn shoes!

When it came to caution, she was unmatched.

Ten minutes passed, and the Ice Empress's speed was comparable to a ten-year-old Lone Bamboo.

She was practically crawling!

A distance that usually took only a few dozen steps to cover had taken her this long.

This Empress has her own rhythm!!!

She kept her small face taut, lips pursed, not daring to even draw a full breath.

Finally, she arrived.

The Ice Empress stared at the doorknob that sat at the same height as her, silently grinding her teeth.

Then, she viciously trampled all over Xu Qing in her mind.

Damn it! You guy, why did you install the doorknob so high on purpose!?

Just to show off that you're tall, right!

Heave-ho...

The Ice Empress stood on her tiptoes, pressed her weight onto the handle, and pushed gently.

To her delight, Xu Qing's door was completely silent!

There wasn't a hint of noise; even the sound of the mechanism inside the lock was too faint to hear!

Heaven is helping me!!!

The Ice Empress's eyes glowed, resembling a hungry wolf!

The moment she stepped into the room, she nimbly caught the scent of the extremely rich Mystic Ice Marrow fragrance on Xu Qing!

He actually keeps it on his person!!

Damn it... is the mission going to fail...

I'm so frustrated.

The Ice Empress struggled, the Ice Empress pondered, and the Ice Empress made up her mind.

Since I'm here, I might as well give it a try.

Just like that, upholding the secret technique of "Since I'm Here," she focused all her attention and reached the bedside, scrutinizing Xu Qing's sleeping face.

Ugh... how restless, his head is at the foot of the bed and his feet are at the head.

Let this Empress see where you've hidden the Mystic Ice Marrow...

Thinking this, the Ice Empress reached out her wicked little hand, ready to flip back Xu Qing's quilt.

However, she failed to notice that Xu Qing had already opened his eyes and was staring at her in bewilderment.

He had been awakened by the faint, cold fragrance that naturally clung to the Ice Empress.

The clever Ice Empress had forgotten to mask her own scent.

'What is going on?'

'Am I dreaming?'

'Or is this... a dream? Holy crap! Why is this the plot!!'

'Am I actually the passive one?'

'No... this doesn't seem like a dream.'

'Phew... has this world become this repressed already?'

Hehehehe...

Xu Qing's expression was unreadable as he slapped away the small hand.

"Ice Empress, I admit I underestimated you."

Why can't I move?

This was the Ice Empress's thought at that moment.

Her entire body was stiff, her limbs ice-cold...

But the Heavenly King of the Far North lived up to his name, handling even this awkward situation with ease.

The Ice Empress casually withdrew her hand, as if nothing had happened. She spun in place, then swayed as if about to leave.

She was pretending to be sleepwalking.

Amazing...