Return to the Academy

Lin Shuo walked to the edge of the well and peered down. The bottom was pitch black, and a biting chill surged upward. He turned to face the Snow Empress and the Ice Empress, his tone indifferent.

"Go down. If there is any Ice Extreme Divine Crystal below, please extract it for me. Di Tian and I will stand guard for you up here."

Ice Extreme Divine Crystal was an ice-attribute metal, a top-tier rare material, yet it held no utility for soul beasts.

The Snow Empress nodded slightly, her ice-blue eyes lingering on Lin Shuo for a deep moment before she leapt into the ancient well, with the Ice Empress following close behind.

Lin Shuo sat cross-legged by the well and closed his eyes. The cold mist continuously pouring from the well swirled around him, yet it could not draw within three feet—the pressure of his Seven-Colored Dragon King martial soul spontaneously repelled the frigid air.

With Di Tian by his side, the Earth Dragon Sect naturally could not detect them.

Time flowed slowly in the silence, the entire backyard so quiet it felt cut off from the world.

It was unknown how much time had passed when the cold mist surging from the well suddenly intensified. The surrounding temperature plummeted in an instant. Di Tian's brows twitched, and he raised his hand, ready to strike, but the next moment he lowered it—though the cold wave was fierce, it carried no hostility.

Two figures flew out from the well one after the other, landing lightly in the courtyard.

The Snow Empress remained in her long, snow-white dress, her bare feet touching the ground, leaving a trail of blooming ice-crystal lotuses wherever she stepped. Her cold, ethereal face showed little ripple, but deep within her ice-blue eyes, a faint trace of satisfaction was visible. Her aura was deeper and more restrained than before; the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow had already merged into her body, and crossing the seven-hundred-thousand-year tribulation was now only a matter of time.

The Ice Empress landed right behind her, her emerald-green dress fluttering gently in the cold air. Her changes were more pronounced than the Snow Empress's—her emerald eyes were clearer than before, and the cold air swirling around her was purer and more refined. Her proud face bore undisguised joy, the corners of her mouth curled high, much like a cat that had successfully stolen a fish.

"My Lord." The Snow Empress walked up to Lin Shuo and handed him a storage ring.

"There is indeed a great deal of Ice Extreme Divine Crystal inside. We have finished extracting it all and placed it within."

"The reserves of Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow were greater than expected." The Snow Empress spoke, her voice still cold, yet carrying a hint of warmth compared to before. "After the Ice Empress and I finished absorbing our share, we brought the remainder with us."

Lin Shuo took the storage soul tool, opened it to take a look, nodded, and put it away.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"You are too kind, My Lord." The Snow Empress shook her head slightly. "To the Ice Empress and me, the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow was a lifeline we had sought in vain. Had it not been for your guidance, we would still be unaware of its existence in this world. The Far North will not forget this debt of gratitude."

The Ice Empress stepped forward, a rare trace of gratitude appearing on her proud face. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back. Instead, she patted her own chest, her emerald eyes filled with sincerity: "My Lord, if there is ever a place where you have need of me, do not hesitate to speak."

"What are your plans for the future?" Lin Shuo asked.

"To return to the Far North," the Snow Empress replied. "The Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow has been integrated into our bodies, and the Ice Empress and I intend to go into seclusion to face our heavenly tribulations."

Lin Shuo nodded. "Then go back and cultivate in seclusion. One must rely on oneself when facing the heavenly tribulation."

"Many thanks, My Lord." The Snow Empress bowed slightly, then raised her eyes, her ice-blue pupils reflecting Lin Shuo's figure. "If you ever have need of us, My Lord, you may come to the Far North at any time. The Far North will always make way for you. Also..."

A flash appeared in the Snow Empress's hand, and an ice-blue soul bone appeared in her palm. "Although humans can generally make no use of the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow, the Ice Empress and I cannot take such precious items from others for nothing," the Snow Empress said in a cold voice. She flicked her finger, and the soul bone transformed into a stream of light. "Let this soul bone be gifted to them." The stream of light flew directly toward Nan Shui Shui, the most powerful cultivator of the Earth Dragon Sect.

"My Lord, until we meet again." The Snow Empress bowed slightly to Lin Shuo.

The Ice Empress waved vigorously at Lin Shuo, her emerald eyes shining brilliantly in the morning light: "My Lord, once I break through the four-hundred-thousand-year tribulation, I will definitely come to find you!"

Lin Shuo nodded slightly. "Go, and cultivate well in seclusion."

The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress bowed once more, then transformed into two streaks of light—one white, one emerald—and vanished into the sky.

Lin Shuo withdrew his gaze. "Di Tian, let us return to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"As you command, My Lord."

Di Tian raised his hand and slashed through the void, tearing open a pitch-black spatial rift without a sound.

Lin Shuo stepped into the rift, with Di Tian following closely behind.

The familiar scent of grass and trees in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest rushed to meet him, and the Lake of Life remained as calm as a mirror.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was lying by the lake; the moment it saw the spatial rift open, it leapt to its feet. But when it saw Di Tian following behind Lin Shuo, it restrained the urge to pounce, sitting down on the spot instead. Its tail swept rapidly behind it, and its amber vertical pupils gazed at Lin Shuo with a brilliant shine.

"My Lord." Chi Wang stood up from the side, his three heads lowering in unison.

Lin Shuo walked over to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and reached out to rub its head. "Little one, have you been good these past few days?"

"I have, I've been staying by the Lake of Life these past few days." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion nodded vigorously, finally unable to resist nuzzling against his palm.

"My Lord," Di Tian stepped forward, his voice steady. "What are your arrangements for the next steps?"

"I will rest for a day and return to the academy tomorrow." Lin Shuo stood up. "Di Tian, go attend to your duties. Chi Wang, take the Auspicious Beast to play for a while, and mind its safety."

"Understood." Di Tian bowed, his figure vanishing into ripples of space.

Chi Wang nodded. Although the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was reluctant, it obediently followed Chi Wang toward the Mixed Zone. Lin Shuo turned and walked toward the depths of the Lake of Life.

Inside the independent space, the moment Lin Shuo entered, Gu Yuena's purple eyes fell upon him. Having already returned to her usual demeanor, she asked him calmly.

"You've returned?"

"Yes." Lin Shuo walked up to her. "The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress obtained the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Marrow; they only need to undergo their tribulations now."

Gu Yuena nodded slightly, confirming he was uninjured before looking away.

"Leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes, I have finished what I needed to do." Lin Shuo paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "I will spend today here keeping Nana company."

Gu Yuena's eyelashes fluttered slightly. She did not speak, but she did not look away either. On her cold, ethereal face, the corners of her lips curved into a faint arc that no one else could have possibly perceived.

The next morning, Lin Shuo stood up and looked at Gu Yuena.

Her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall, her purple eyes were like water, and her cold, ethereal face carried a trace of reluctance.

"Nana, I'll be back as soon as the academy goes on break." Lin Shuo stepped forward and gave her a firm hug.

Gu Yuena did not push him away, nor did she speak. She simply felt the warmth of the embrace in silence, and when he let go, she raised her hand, her cool fingertips brushing over the top of his hair with a touch as light and swift as a passing breeze.

"Go."

Her voice was as calm as still water.

Lin Shuo took one last look at her, then channeled his spatial power and departed from the Star Dou Great Forest.