Tian Meng: Kid, just tell me what conditions you have.

The previous hesitation and apprehension were completely washed away, obliterated by this intense surge of jealousy and a sense of crisis!

He suddenly straightened his round, chubby body, his fat face revealing an unprecedented level of determination and resolve, while two flames named "charging for love" burned within his small eyes.

"No way! Bingbing is mine! No one is allowed to snatch her away!"

Sky Dream Ice Worm issued a declaration full of momentum, though his voice was somewhat shrill from excitement.

He looked at Xue Chen, as if he had found his only comrade-in-arms and military advisor, and nodded his large head vigorously:

"Fine! Kid! I'll listen to you! It's settled!

Brother can't keep hiding here sleeping anymore! I want to go see my Bingbing! Now! Immediately! Right away!"

He looked as though he were prepared to brave fire and water, ready to face a brutal beating from Ice Emperor without a second thought.

For the sake of love, Brother Sky Dream was going all out!

Xue Chen watched the suddenly energized and high-spirited Sky Dream Ice Worm, feeling delighted inside, though he maintained a solemn expression on his face.

Although Sky Dream Ice Worm was blinded by love, he had lived for so long, after all; he still possessed basic logic and vigilance.

He looked at the human kid before him with clear eyes and a harmless smile, his mind as sharp as a mirror—this kid couldn't possibly be helping him for no reason.

He took a deep breath, struggling to calm himself down just a little from his fanatical longing for Bingbing, and stared at Xue Chen with his small eyes, cutting straight to the point:

"Kid, let's not beat around the bush!

You're working so hard, analyzing the situation and creating opportunities... you can't be helping for free, right?

If you have any demands, just say them! As long as Brother can do it, for the sake of Bingbing, everything is negotiable!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Chen nodded inwardly:

Tsk, although he's a top-tier love-struck fool, he hasn't completely lost his mind after living this long. He's actually quite sharp.

He quickly pondered his own requirements in his mind.

Initially, he had indeed considered having Tian Meng become his wisdom soul ring, which was the ultimate cheat code standard for any transmigrator.

But upon second thought, the anomalies and complexities within his own body made him feel that rashly adding a million-year spirit-type soul ring now was too much of a variable; he wasn't sure if it would be a good thing.

Moreover, asking Tian Meng to sacrifice himself to become his wisdom soul ring so bluntly was clearly a pipe dream and highly unlikely.

The most urgent task was to get all this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow out of the cave; he absolutely could not let Tian Meng continue to absorb it and waste these opportunities meant for his mother and Aunt Ice Emperor.

As his thoughts raced, Xue Chen reached a decision.

He wore a smile that looked shy but actually hid calculated intent, feigning hesitation before speaking:

"Brother Sky Dream is truly straightforward! Then I won't stand on ceremony.

As for my demands... actually, there aren't many, just two."

He held up one finger:

"First, it's very simple: you must safely send me out of this godforsaken place."

Sky Dream Ice Worm nodded; this request was reasonable. Even if Xue Chen hadn't mentioned it, he would have had to take this guide out anyway in order to see Bingbing.

Xue Chen then held up a second finger, his smile unchanged, though his tone carried a hint of "it's only natural":

"As for the second... look at all this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow in the cave... splitting it half and half, that's not too much to ask, right?"

"What?! Half?!!!"

Sky Dream Ice Worm jumped up as if his tail had been stepped on, his voice so shrill it nearly shattered the ceiling of the ice cave!

He waved his short, fat front limbs, his entire body of blubber trembling with agitation:

"You kid is asking for the moon!!!

Do you know how precious this Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow is?

It took Brother thousands of years to find this treasure trove! And you want half just by opening your mouth?! Why don't you just go rob someone!!!"

His heart ached so much it felt like it was dripping blood.

This Profound Ice Marrow was the key to him increasing his cultivation and breaking through the million-year bottleneck; having half of it taken away was like cutting off his own flesh!

Xue Chen had long anticipated this reaction from Tian Meng. He remained unhurried, still wearing that harmless smile, but his words struck precisely at Tian Meng's weak spot:

"Brother Sky Dream, you can't put it that way.

This Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow is a masterless object born of heaven and earth; it's not like you planted it yourself, so whoever sees it gets a share! Besides..."

He deliberately drew out his tone, glancing at Tian Meng with a hint of subtle threat:

"Do you still want to see Aunt Ice Emperor smoothly?

Do you still want me to put in a good word for you and create opportunities?

Without me as your inside man, even if you go there clutching the entire cave's worth of Profound Ice Marrow, what if Aunt Ice Emperor is in a bad mood and... wouldn't you be suffering a huge loss then?"

Xue Chen's words were like a demonic incantation, once again striking the vital point of Sky Dream Ice Worm.

A battle between heaven and man raged in his mind:

On one side was the Profound Ice Marrow that caused him unbearable heartache, and on the other was the Bingbing he dreamed of day and night, along with the threat of potential romantic rivals...

Thinking of those two guys, Po King and Han King, potentially fawning over Bingbing, and considering the awkward or even dangerous situation he might face without Xue Chen's help... Sky Dream Ice Worm steeled his heart, his chubby face wearing a tragic expression, as if a warrior were cutting off his own wrist:

"Damn it! I'm going all in! For Bingbing! Everything is worth it!"

"Fine! Half is half! Kid, you're ruthless!

Brother agrees! But you have to promise to put in a good word for me in front of Bingbing!

Otherwise, I won't let you hear the end of it!"

Watching Sky Dream Ice Worm's pained yet resigned expression, Xue Chen was overjoyed, though he kept a perfectly straight face:

"Don't worry, Brother Sky Dream! I, Xue Chen, always keep my word!

I guarantee you'll meet Aunt Ice Emperor in style and without a hitch!"

Far North Ice Plains.

Red King, that beast king from the Star Dou Forest, was struggling to search the vast, snowy expanse, relying on his powerful sense of smell and keen perception of energy fluctuations.

His three ferocious heads turned constantly, six eyes scanning every inch of the ice like searchlights.

The command from his master, Silver Dragon King, was branded into his consciousness—find the target and bring it back!

Just as he swept past the edge of a seemingly unremarkable Ice Rift Valley, the Silver Dragon Scale he kept tucked against his chest suddenly emitted an extremely faint glow without any warning!

Red King's massive body came to a sudden halt, his three heads lowering simultaneously to stare intently at the glowing scale.

The middle head let out a low, excited hiss:

"A reaction! There's a reaction! The target... is right nearby!"

He carefully cradled the dragon scale in his giant claws as if it were the most precious holy relic in the world.

Although the light on the scale was faint, it pointed steadily toward a certain direction in the Ice Rift Valley, and its intensity shifted slightly as he moved.

"It can't be wrong... The aura the Master sensed is right beneath this area!"

Sharp light flashed simultaneously in all three pairs of Red King's eyes.

No longer blindly crashing about, he began to use the scale as a compass, carefully narrowing his search range inch by inch within the complex Ice Rift Valley.

His powerful spiritual energy, mixed with his soul power perception, permeated the surrounding area.