Bing'er, Your Lips Are So Soft

At the zenith of the firmament, the vast expanse of black clouds twisted and collapsed inward with eerie precision.

A deathly silence reigned between heaven and earth; there was not a hint of thunder, yet the pressure was suffocating.

The ten-thousand-foot-wide thundercloud was violently compressed into a mere hundred-foot sphere, pitch-black as ink, resembling an abyssal black hole suspended in the highest heavens, slowly swirling with a heart-stopping aura of destruction.

The black hole suddenly froze, as if time itself had been locked in place.

"Screech!"

In an instant, a silver-white pillar of lightning, countless times more terrifying than the previous ones, descended from the center of the vortex without warning. It was silent, yet too fast to be captured by the eye.

"Go! Buddha Fury Fire Lotus!" Xiao Jinchen grinned, glancing at the exquisite three-colored fire lotus in his hand before gently pushing it toward the terrifying bolt of lightning in the sky.

The silver-white lightning and the three-colored fire lotus collided mid-air with a deafening roar.

"BOOM!"

An earth-shattering explosion, wreathed in a blinding light, swept outward, illuminating the surrounding hundred miles as bright as day.

Immediately following, a massive phantom of a lotus flower condensed above the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, and violent fluctuations of soul power rippled outward from the center of the giant lotus image.

The Buddha Fury Fire Lotus that Xiao Jinchen had fused this time was far more powerful than the one he had used beneath the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well; it could be said that his condition back then had not been at its peak, so the destructive power of the lotus he had fused was not at its maximum.

The once ink-black thunderclouds, having unleashed their final strike, completely dissipated, revealing the long-lost azure sky.

The end of the pill thunder also signaled the perfect success of the seventh-grade Humanoid Transformation Pill!

"Whoosh!"

The very moment the thunder ceased, the Humanoid Transformation Pill shot out from the medicine cauldron with a violent burst of speed.

"Hmph!"

Xiao Jinchen let out a cold snort. Having gone to such great lengths to refine this Humanoid Transformation Pill, how could he let it escape? Even if it had developed a spark of intelligence, it would have to stay put!

Xiao Jinchen flicked his finger, and a streak of flame shot from his fingertip, striking the pill.

The moment the flame touched it, the Humanoid Transformation Pill stiffened abruptly, like a duck caught by the neck.

Xiao Jinchen flipped his palm, and a gentle gust of wind swept the pill into his hand.

The ice-blue pill felt cool to the touch, carrying a faint, lingering warmth.

"This pill can actually run?" the Ice Empress asked curiously, jumping down from a nearby bluestone.

She had been watching Xiao Jinchen contend with the pill thunder the entire time, ready to intervene directly had he been unable to hold on.

"Indeed," Xiao Jinchen smiled and said, "Sixth-grade pills begin to develop a sliver of intelligence, let alone a higher-tier seventh-grade pill."

"Go on, take it." Xiao Jinchen gave the Ice Empress a brilliant smile, took her small hand, and pressed the Humanoid Transformation Pill into her palm.

"A-Chen..." the Ice Empress whispered. Seeing his pale face yet gentle expression, a warmth bloomed in her heart.

"A-Chen, thank you." The Ice Empress gave a soft laugh, then sat cross-legged and placed the pill into her mouth. It melted instantly, and a surge of pure medicinal power spread through her meridians.

From the outside, a pale blue halo tightly enveloped her, and her aura began to climb at an astonishing speed.

Within the hazy light, she briefly transformed into her true form—the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion—before the light swirled and faded like rippling water, condensing back into her stunning human figure.

As time passed, the pale blue halo around the Ice Empress grew more solid, flowing around her body like liquid.

The medicinal power of the Humanoid Transformation Pill was finally fully refined, turning into a rolling heat that merged into every part of her body.

In an instant, a giant phantom of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion emerged behind her. Nine soul rings—black, black, black, black, red, red, red, red, and emerald green—rose from beneath her feet, and a terrifying pressure of soul power swept out from her center.

A moment later, the Ice Empress slowly opened her eyes, a flash of cold air vanishing within them.

She looked at her fair, slender hands and tried clenching her fist, feeling the abundant soul power circulating within her.

The pressure brought by the heavenly tribulation had truly vanished!

"The heavenly tribulation... it really is gone."

A surge of immense joy shattered the Ice Empress's usual reserve. She suddenly looked up, her amber eyes filled with excitement. Unable to hold back any longer, she flashed forward and threw herself into Xiao Jinchen's arms, clutching his waist tightly.

"A-Chen! The tribulation is gone! I really succeeded!"

The Ice Empress buried her face in Xiao Jinchen's chest, her voice trembling with excitement. The heavenly tribulation that had plagued her for hundreds of thousands of years had vanished without a trace because of the man before her.

Xiao Jinchen let her hold him, feeling the tremors of her petite frame. He raised his hand and gently stroked her soft, emerald-green hair.

"Yes, you succeeded," Xiao Jinchen said with a gentle smile. "There will never be another heavenly tribulation. You are free."

Hearing these words, the Ice Empress held him even tighter, nuzzling into his chest. When she looked up, there were still tears of excitement at the corners of her eyes, but she was smiling more happily than ever before.

"A-Chen, thank you... If it weren't for you, I might have already... been tricked by that hateful big bug into sacrificing myself... Now, not only am I free from the shackles of the tribulation, but I have the lifespan of a soul beast and the cultivation speed of a human," the Ice Empress said happily. "Even though you burned me with fire the first time we met, which I hated so much... still, I have to say thank you, A-Chen."

"Silly girl." Xiao Jinchen interrupted her, reaching out to flick her dainty nose. He said softly, "Between us, there is no need for thanks."

After a long while, the Ice Empress finally came to her senses, her cheeks turning scorching hot.

She shyly tried to pull away from his embrace, but before she could lean back or escape, the large hand on her waist tightened. An irresistible force pulled her back into his broad, warm embrace.

"Don't move." A mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of Xiao Jinchen's mouth. Instead of letting go, he pulled her body flush against his chest and whispered, "You've already hugged me, you think you can just run away?"

"You... what do you want?" the Ice Empress asked, her face beet-red as she stammered.

"Heh heh heh, look, I've done such a huge favor for you—don't you think you should thank me properly?" Xiao Jinchen chuckled wickedly.

The Ice Empress was so embarrassed that even her neck was stained with a rosy flush. Biting her lower lip lightly, she spoke slowly, "Then... what compensation do you want?"

The Ice Empress lifted her amber eyes to steal a quick glance at the handsome Xiao Jinchen, then lowered her head just as quickly, adding, "As long as it isn't too excessive... I will agree to it."

"Oh? Is that so?" Xiao Jinchen looked at the Ice Empress with a half-smile, the mischief in his eyes deepening.

"It can't be too excessive... otherwise I will..."

"Mmph!"

Before the Ice Empress could finish her sentence, her pink, delicate lips were blocked by Xiao Jinchen.

Taking advantage of her parted lips, Xiao Jinchen drove straight in, prying open her teeth to slide his tongue inside.

The Ice Empress pushed against him a few times, but her arms soon came to rest lightly against Xiao Jinchen's chest, leaving her to surrender to his kiss.

It was only when both of them were breathing heavily that they slowly pulled apart, a glistening silver thread snapping between their lips.

The Ice Empress's face was flushed crimson, her gaze darting away, not daring to look Xiao Jinchen in the eye.

A wicked smirk played on the corners of Xiao Jinchen's mouth as he reached out to wipe her lips clean.

The Ice Empress nestled quietly in Xiao Jinchen's arms, muttering softly, "You... you are wicked!"

"How so?" Xiao Jinchen stroked the Ice Empress's emerald-green hair and whispered, "Bing'er, your lips are so soft."

The Ice Empress's body stiffened, her cheeks turning red to the very tips of her ears in an instant.

She buried her head deep into Xiao Jinchen's chest and chided, "Is 'Bing'er' something you can call me? Only Xue'er is allowed to call me that... you have no sense of propriety."

Although she chided him with her words, her body remained soft as water against him, with no intention of pushing him away at all.