The Three's Cultivation Soars

Ling Xiao also sensed the gossiping curiosity of those sentient Immortal Herbs.

Their looks were far too obvious.

Like a group of village aunties at the entrance, they were wildly discussing the relationship between Ling Xiao and the Snow Empress.

Several black lines appeared on Ling Xiao's forehead. He felt it was necessary to explain.

There was some helplessness in his voice. "What exactly are you Immortal Herbs thinking?"

"She was only picked up by my mother. There's no real mother-son relationship between us."

Ling Xiao's expression was extremely serious.

When the Immortal Herbs learned that Ling Xiao and the Snow Empress had an adoptive mother-and-son relationship, their curiosity instantly plummeted again.

Jiao Jiao's flames dimmed somewhat, and her tone carried obvious disappointment.

"Oh, so they're only adoptive mother and son. I thought there was some juicy gossip..."

An Immortal Herb nearby said dejectedly.

"What a waste of anticipation..."

The veins on Ling Xiao's forehead throbbed, and his voice rose several notches.

"Can you act normal? Why do you all sound so regretful?"

The Immortal Herbs all shrank back their branches and leaves. They no longer dared make a sound.

But their eyes... were still secretly sizing up the Snow Empress and Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao: "..."

Forget it. Why argue with a bunch of Immortal Herbs? Soon, they would not even have consciousness anymore.

As for the Ice Empress nearby—

Her little face was full of disbelief as she repeatedly looked between Ling Xiao and the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress met her gaze, and that look seemed to say that it was indeed true.

The Ice Empress looked pitifully at the Snow Empress. Even now, she still found it difficult to accept.

How she wished the Snow Empress would shake her head.

Then look firmly in her direction and tell her that the one she had been thinking about was her.

But the Snow Empress did not.

The Ice Empress's tone was somewhat desolate. "So, I was the one who gave everything for nothing?"

However, before the Ice Empress could work up her emotions, a light flick landed on her forehead.

"Ah~ Xue'er, what are you doing?"

"What do you mean, gave everything for nothing? You were given the first chance, and you still failed to seize it."

After being exposed so directly by the Snow Empress, the Ice Empress could only laugh awkwardly.

"Hehe..."

That brought the matter to an end.

After Lovesick Heartbreak Red acknowledged the Snow Empress as its master, she did not absorb it immediately. Instead, she kept Lovesick Heartbreak Red on her person.

Once Lovesick Heartbreak Red acknowledged a master, it would never wither as long as it remained nearby. It could also grant its master an Indestructible Vajra body and the ability to automatically protect its master.

Simply carrying it on her already gave the Snow Empress enormous benefits.

As for when she would absorb it, she could wait until it was needed. Perhaps that chance would never come.

Over the next few months, the three of them remained within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

They used the Immortal Herbs to cultivate and break through.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had a unique environment that helped them better absorb the medicinal effects of the Immortal Herbs.

After the three chose their respective Immortal Herbs, they began a long period of secluded cultivation.

The Snow Empress's Immortal Herb combination was: Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Spirit Lotus, and Narcissus Jade-Muscle Bone.

The Snow Empress cultivated beside the Ice Spring.

With the assistance of the Ice Spring, the Ten-Thousand-Year Frost Spirit Lotus was perfectly absorbed by the Snow Empress.

The Snow Empress's greatest gain was this:

The balancing power between the Ice Spring and Fire Spring gave her tremendous inspiration.

Yin and yang complemented each other; ice and fire, yin and yang, the perfect balance between ultimate yin and ultimate yang.

The Snow Empress had previously failed in her attempt to condense a Yin-Yang Complementary Soul Core because she could not simultaneously contain two completely opposing powers within her body.

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, she comprehended how the two could achieve perfect balance.

The Snow Empress was thus suddenly enlightened.

Inspired by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the Snow Empress successfully condensed a Yin-Yang Complementary Soul Core.

The Snow Empress's cultivation had now directly reached seven hundred and seventy thousand years.

The Ice Empress's Immortal Herb combination was: Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Narcissus Jade-Muscle Bone, and Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

She completely absorbed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, causing her Ice Origin to undergo a qualitative transformation.

Narcissus Jade-Muscle Bone remade her physical body, while Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew enhanced her spiritual power.

The combined effects of the three Immortal Herbs—

Caused the Ice Empress's cultivation to soar, bringing it to four hundred and ninety thousand years.

Then, the Ice Empress voluntarily suppressed her cultivation and did not directly break through to five hundred thousand years.

She needed to make sufficient preparations before facing the five-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation.

So it was not yet time.

As for Ling Xiao's Immortal Herbs, they were: Thunderclap Hell Vine, Thunder-marked Dragon Saliva Grass, and Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

As for Aromatic Silk Beauty—

Since it needed to remain in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, this Immortal Herb was required to dispel all kinds of toxins.

After several months of secluded cultivation, Ling Xiao's cultivation successfully reached five hundred thousand years.

Five hundred thousand years.

If news of Ling Xiao's strength spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Douluo Continent.

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Ling Xiao and the other two formally met again.

The already breathtakingly beautiful Snow Empress became even more beautiful after the enhancement of the Immortal Herbs.

Seven hundred and seventy thousand years of cultivation.

Combined with the condensation of her Yin-Yang Complementary Soul Core, it caused her strength to undergo a qualitative leap.

Her long hair was more translucent than before, and faint light woven from yin and yang flickered within her eyes.

The Ice Empress's aura was even more imposing than before, and the bearing of a king upon her body had become more solid.

As for Ling Xiao—

He appeared to have grown considerably again.

Faint lightning flickered in his eyes, while the purple thunder mark between his brows shone more brilliantly than ever.

Five hundred thousand years of cultivation—

Had transformed him from an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy into one who looked fifteen or sixteen.

He stood tall and straight, handsome in appearance, carrying a calmness and sharpness that did not belong to a youth.

The Ice Empress watched Ling Xiao's changes, and a trace of complicated emotion flashed through her eyes.

"Little Ling Xiao, you've grown taller again."

"If you keep growing like this, your little aunt will have to tilt her head up to talk to you."

Ling Xiao smiled slightly upon hearing that. "Little Aunt, you can grow taller too."

"When taking human form, can't you choose your own height?"

"Shut up!"

The Ice Empress snorted coldly.

She and the Snow Empress had the cutest height difference. How could she casually change her height?

Looking at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well now—

The basin that had once resembled a fairyland had become completely barren.

Most of the Immortal Herbs had been harvested.

Not a single Immortal Herb over one hundred thousand years remained. Ling Xiao and the other two had taken them all away.

As for the remaining Immortal Herbs of lower age, Ling Xiao had left their roots behind.

Still, there were some hundred-thousand-year Immortal Herbs that Ling Xiao and the others truly had no use for at present.

But they certainly could not leave them for Tang San.

Besides, if Tang San used them to cultivate his own people, would that not be creating trouble for themselves?

These Immortal Herbs were all important chess pieces. Taking them away was equivalent to tearing down Tang San's foundation.

These Immortal Herbs before them—

Were all what Tang San had prepared to groom Huo Yuhao and for the rise of the Tang Sect.

For every Immortal Herb missing from this place, Tang San's ten-thousand-year plan lost another measure of leverage.

"Tang San, I wonder whether you'll like this surprise after you finish drinking feces water."

Ling Xiao glanced at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Then the three of them turned and left.