The Snow Empress looked at the Ice Crystal Jade Orchid, her voice calm and even.
"When I underwent my tribulation last time, I had already taken an Ice Crystal Jade Orchid that was fifty thousand years old.
"Taking this kind of Immortal Herb again would have far less effect on me. It would do little to help us overall."
Her gaze shifted to Xue Chen, warmth flowing through her ice-blue eyes.
"But Chen'er is different.
"His foundation is already established. His Bloodline Power has been tempered by the power of the tribulation, making him far stronger than an ordinary person. He can withstand the potent medicinal power of this eighty-thousand-year-old Immortal Herb.
"With this orchid as a catalyst, we can bring out his body's full potential, purify his meridians, and lay the strongest possible foundation for condensing an ice-attribute Origin Seed."
She paused, then continued.
"Besides, the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow Chen'er brought back contains the Origin Power of Ultimate Ice, which is far more suitable for helping me break through my bottleneck than this orchid.
"Putting it to use here makes the best of it and gives us greater value."
Hearing this, the Ice Empress finally understood. She nodded thoughtfully.
"I see... No wonder you said you were completely sure.
"To use an eighty-thousand-year-old Ice Crystal Jade Orchid to build his foundation, then draw on the Ice Spring's origin and the Profound Ice Marrow's power to condense an Origin Seed... Only you could pull off something like that."
The Snow Empress said no more. She held out the Ice Crystal Jade Orchid, glowing with a soft blue light, to Xue Chen.
"Chen'er, take it.
"Center yourself and guard your mind. No matter what changes you feel, don't panic."
Looking at the Immortal Herb before him, a treasure of heaven and earth, Xue Chen was overwhelmed with gratitude.
He knew what this Immortal Herb meant to the Snow Empress, his mother, yet she had given it to him without hesitation.
He solemnly accepted the orchid with both hands. It felt cool and smooth, like he was holding a living piece of ten-thousand-year-old profound ice.
He didn't hesitate any longer. Following the Snow Empress's instructions, he sat cross-legged beside the Ice Spring and swallowed the entire Ice Crystal Jade Orchid.
The Immortal Herb melted as soon as it entered his mouth. It wasn't bone-chillingly cold, as he had imagined. Instead, it turned into a gentle yet immensely powerful icy torrent, surging down his throat and rushing into every part of his body!
The energy was pure and boundless. Wherever it went, his meridians felt as though countless tiny ice crystals were scouring and widening them, while his internal organs and bones seemed to be permeated and tempered by the most extreme chill.
"Chen'er, guide your Bloodline Power and refine the medicinal effects. Absorb them!
"Don't resist. Let them merge with your bloodline!"
The Snow Empress's cool, steady voice rang out in time, like a beacon guiding the way.
Xue Chen immediately focused and poured all his strength into circulating the Bloodline Power within him, as mighty as a young Ferocious Beast.
His Bloodline Power surged forth, crimson shot through with faint golden glimmers and blue lightning, and met the icy torrent head-on.
The two forces met within him, but did not clash violently. The Ice Crystal Jade Orchid's medicinal power seemed remarkably gentle.
Guided by Xue Chen's Bloodline Power, it began to seep into his bloodline, bones, and meridians, strand by strand...
It subtly reshaped his physique, laying an invisible foundation attuned to ice.
A thin layer of frost with a jade-like sheen began to form on the surface of his body. Driven by the immense medicinal power, his aura steadily rose and became purer.
The Snow Empress watched Xue Chen closely. When she saw that he had begun to stabilize the medicinal power, a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
She knew the crucial first step had succeeded.
Next, she would draw on the Far North Ice Spring's Origin Power and use the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow to help him truly condense an Origin Seed—the symbol of the power of Ultimate Ice!
She raised her jade-white hand. A vast aura began to radiate from her, resonating with the entire Far North Ice Spring.
Then, following her instructions, Xue Chen leaped into the gurgling Ice Spring.
"Brrr—!"
Even though he was prepared, the instant he sank into the water, a chill beyond anything he could have imagined engulfed his entire body!
The cold relentlessly burrowed into him, seeking to freeze his bone marrow and Ice Seal his soul.
He couldn't help shuddering violently.
Daring not to slacken for even a moment, Xue Chen gave a low shout and urged his immense Bloodline Power to its limits! Hum!
His Bloodline Power collided with the cold, making a faint sound as wisps of white, frigid mist steamed into the air.
At the same time, stimulated by the Ice Spring, the medicinal power of the eighty-thousand-year-old Ice Crystal Jade Orchid he had taken earlier was fully unleashed!
A torrent of icy energy surged out. It no longer merely seeped into his bloodline; it began to merge more deeply with his boiling Bloodline Power.
"Focus! Guide the medicinal power and protect your heart and dantian! The true tempering is only beginning!"
The Snow Empress's cool voice rang out like a sudden revelation.
The next moment, the Snow Empress moved.
She lightly tapped the spring's source with a jade-white finger and recited an ancient, profound incantation.
The entire Far North Ice Spring seemed to come alive. A dazzling pillar of azure light burst from the center of its source.
Boundless ice-attribute energy, as if summoned, surged toward Xue Chen in the spring!
"Ugh—!" Xue
Chen let out a muffled groan.
Terrifying cold and energy flooded into his body.
Thick blue ice instantly covered his skin. Frost crusted his eyebrows and hair, and even his surging Bloodline Power seemed on the verge of freezing.
At that moment, the Ice Crystal Jade Orchid's medicinal power played a crucial role, forming a gentle protective membrane.
It shielded Xue Chen's heart and dantian with unyielding force, keeping the berserk Ice Spring energy from truly damaging his foundations.
Pain! It hurt so much!
Xue Chen felt as though his body was being torn apart, then frozen, over and over again.
He gritted his teeth and relied on his unbreakable will to hold on to a sliver of clarity in his mind, guiding the violent yet pure energy with all his might.
Seeing this, the Snow Empress knew the most critical moment had arrived.
She no longer hesitated. With a sweep of her hand, several pieces of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, glowing with a deep blue light, flew out of her Storage Soul Tool and hovered above Xue Chen.
"Fuse!"
The Snow Empress gave a soft shout, and the pieces of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow suddenly burst into brilliant blue light!
Pure ice-attribute Origin Power gently enveloped Xue Chen, then slowly flowed into his body through his pores.
The Origin Power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow was utterly different from the Ice Spring's violent energy. It was purer and gentler, carrying the promise of creation and new life.
When this power entered Xue Chen's body, a miracle occurred.
The extreme ice energy that had been careening through him, nearly bursting him apart, seemed to find its core. It began to circle the Profound Ice Marrow's Origin Power, gathering around it.
The pain receded, replaced by an indescribable coolness and comfort.
Deep in his dantian, above his sea of Bloodline Power and Soul Power vortex, a tiny yet utterly pure blue speck of light began to condense.
It was small, yet held infinite possibilities.
The Ice Spring's energy, the Ice Crystal Jade Orchid's medicinal power, and the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow's Origin Power fused perfectly together, continuously flowing into the blue speck of light.
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