Exotic Flame Space

Ice Empress instinctively looked around, immediately rendered speechless by the sight before her.

She could feel that the temperature within this space was astonishingly high.

At the end of her sight stood an ancient stone hall in silent majesty upon the plains, flanked by colossal pillars thousands of zhang tall that radiated an imposing, awe-inspiring aura.

As they drew closer, brilliant flames could be seen rising from each towering stone pillar.

And at the center of that plaza stood an abrupt statue of a young man, ten thousand zhang tall.

The young man had black hair draped over his shoulders, and a deep, imposing flame mark between his brows. He resembled an overbearing Flame Emperor.

Around the statue danced countless glowing spheres, creating a dazzling sight from afar.

"Where is this..." Ice Empress murmured, her amber eyes filled with shock.

"This is the Exotic Flame Space." Xiao Jinchen released the hand around her waist, a faint smile curling across his lips. "Welcome to my territory."

Ice Empress came back to her senses, only then realizing that she was still standing beside Xiao Jinchen—and that his hand had just been around her waist.

She instinctively took half a step back. The blush on her cheeks had yet to fade, but she forced herself to sound calm. "Y-you... How do you have a place like this?"

"My teacher left it to me." Xiao Jinchen chuckled softly. "My teacher was a God-level expert, and this space was what he left behind for me."

"A god! A God-level expert!" Ice Empress's pupils suddenly contracted, her face full of disbelief.

Just as Xiao Jinchen finished speaking, the Evil Eye Tyrant's crystal core, wrapped in Emperor Flame in his hand, began to tremble. However, because it was encased in Emperor Flame, it could not make a sound.

Xiao Jinchen keenly noticed the abnormality in his palm. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling upon the crystal core tightly bound by Emperor Flame.

The dark-red diamond-shaped crystal trembled violently like a living creature, and fine cracks even emerged across its surface.

"Heh." Xiao Jinchen sneered disdainfully. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish. Become my sixth Spirit Ring."

With a thought from Xiao Jinchen, the terrifying flames of Emperor Flame continuously surged into the Evil Eye Tyrant's crystal core.

The incomparably hard silver-white crystal let out an utterly miserable scream the instant Emperor Flame entered it.

The hard silver crystal melted away like ice and snow, while the silver vapor emerging from within could not escape Emperor Flame in the slightest. It was completely burned to ash by Emperor Flame's terrifying heat.

A blood-red Spirit Ring finally bloomed after the silver crystal had completely melted. Seeing its glow, a smile could not help appearing on Xiao Jinchen's handsome face.

Xiao Jinchen took a deep breath, adjusted his condition, then sat cross-legged and drew the Spirit Ring onto himself.

Ice Empress stood quietly beside Xiao Jinchen, her beautiful amber eyes fixed without blinking on him as he absorbed the Spirit Ring.

From her initial contempt and suspicion to her current scrutiny and admiration, Xiao Jinchen's image in her heart had quietly undergone many changes.

This guy... Ice Empress thought to herself, her gaze settling upon Xiao Jinchen's slightly trembling yet still straight back.

Ice Empress shifted her gaze away from Xiao Jinchen and began carefully examining the Exotic Flame Plaza within the Exotic Flame Space.

Twenty-three enormous pillars rose proudly from the Exotic Flame Plaza, each entwined with flames of different colors and giving off energy fluctuations that made one's heart tremble.

Ice Empress then looked toward the young man's statue at the center of the plaza and muttered, "Could this be the teacher Xiao Jinchen mentioned? Also... a God-level expert."

Feeling the Heavenly Flames coiling around the pillars of the Exotic Flame Plaza, Ice Empress's doubts finally vanished completely.

Xiao Jinchen was a god's disciple. In that case, his ascension to godhood was practically certain.

Ice Empress thought again of the predicament of her four-hundred-thousand-year limit approaching, as well as the "God-Making Project" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had described.

If she followed Xiao Jinchen into the domain of the gods, perhaps she really could obtain immortality alongside him.

Ice Empress secretly glanced at Xiao Jinchen, who was absorbing the Spirit Ring. When her eyes fell upon his jet-black long hair and straight nose, her pretty face could not help turning red. She murmured, "He actually seems pretty handsome..."

The instant the words left her mouth, Ice Empress abruptly came back to her senses and hurriedly turned her head away. Her cheeks were so red they seemed ready to bleed. Touching them, she cried, "Aah! What am I thinking?!"

"Oh? I'm handsome?"

A deep male voice suddenly sounded beside Ice Empress's ear, carrying a lazy hint of amusement.

Ice Empress's entire body stiffened.

That scorching breath pressed against her ear, brushing over it again and again as though an invisible hand were lightly scratching her most sensitive nerves.

Ice Empress could even feel the faint vibrations in his chest when he spoke, transmitted through the air and sending half her body numb.

"Y-you! When did you come over?!"

Ice Empress abruptly turned around, and the tip of her nose nearly hit Xiao Jinchen's chin.

They were too close.

Those brown eyes were right before her, as deep as a bottomless pool. Yet they held a bright, unmistakable smile, clearly reflecting her current flustered, helpless appearance.

Ice Empress felt heat rush up from the base of her neck, burning her entire face. She instinctively stepped back, but her skirt caught on her foot. Her body tilted, and she crashed straight into Xiao Jinchen's embrace.

"..."

Ice Empress's mind went blank instantly.

Her nose was filled with Xiao Jinchen's scent, and his steady heartbeat pressed against her ear. The sudden intimacy stiffened her entire body. Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she jolted awake.

"You!"

Ice Empress hurriedly raised her hands against Xiao Jinchen's solid chest and pushed him back with all her strength.

Xiao Jinchen had not been holding her tightly to begin with, so he released her with the motion and watched as she struggled free like a startled rabbit.

Ice Empress staggered back several steps. After regaining her footing, she demanded, "Why did you get so close to me?!"

Xiao Jinchen stood where he was. Seeing her bristling appearance, he smiled faintly. "Ice Empress, you were the one who lost your balance and threw yourself at me. How is it my fault?"

"You!"

Xiao Jinchen's words left Ice Empress speechless. Her cheeks burned fiercely as she forcefully suppressed her embarrassment and annoyance. Turning partly away, she revealed only the tip of one crimson ear and said in a muffled voice, "Stop teasing me. You're not allowed to mention what just happened again!"

Xiao Jinchen gently shook his head and lightly flicked his finger against his Storage Ring. The Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow landed in his hand.

"Look." Xiao Jinchen waved the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow behind Ice Empress.

Xiao Jinchen's unhurried voice came from behind her.

Ice Empress was still sulking when a crisp, pure chill drifted over. Her body reacted before her mind did. She suddenly turned around, her gaze locking firmly onto the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow in Xiao Jinchen's hand.

"Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow..." Ice Empress murmured softly. She instinctively stepped forward and reached out to take it.

"You want it?" A smile curled over Xiao Jinchen's lips. With a light turn of his wrist, the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow vanished as he put it away again.

Ice Empress grabbed empty air and froze where she stood.