"Hey, you. You vanished for more than half a year. Do you know how worried Ah Yin and we were about you?"
Ice Empress's tone held unconcealed delight. With her hands on her hips and her lips puffed out in irritation, she was as sharp-tongued as ever.
She wore a light green short dress, her dark green hair tied into two high ponytails atop her head. She turned her face away, carrying herself with the pride of a little princess.
Yet her emerald eyes kept drifting toward him, glistening with surprise and joy.
Dugu Chen smiled as he took it all in. His gaze swept over Ice Empress and Snow Empress, then Bi Ji and Zi Ji, before he said with a smile,
"Didn't I come back safely? Sorry for making you worry!"
Ah Yin tightly wrapped both arms around his waist, her face brimming with excitement and happiness.
"Xiao Chen, it's good that you're back. I'm already very happy that you returned safely!"
A long-lost smile appeared on Snow Empress's face as well. She looked at Dugu Chen.
"Welcome back. It seems you gained a great deal from this journey?"
Dugu Chen smiled faintly. "Yes, my cultivation has already broken through to Rank 95. I'll catch up to you soon!"
Snow Empress smiled knowingly, faint ripples stirring in her eyes as she said gently,
"I have never doubted that."
A few days later.
Dugu Chen brought Ah Yin to the boundary deep within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He instructed her to sit cross-legged, close her eyes, and begin adjusting her condition.
"Xiao Chen, what are we doing here?"
Ah Yin looked at Dugu Chen in confusion and asked doubtfully.
"Ah Yin, I'm here to help you condense a Soul Core. Look at this..."
With a