Inside Jade Dragon True Person's cave abode.
Lin Ke abruptly opened his eyes, and the spiritual qi around him surged severalfold.
Over the past few days, he had become able to withstand the chill of the Winter Frostheart Pills with ease.
Before entering seclusion, Zong Ya had left more than ten Winter Frostheart Pills for him and Nan Shang.
The two had not divided them into allotted portions.
Instead, as though competing, neither yielded to the other, keeping the pills together and refining them side by side.
Whoever finished refining one first would refine the next, the two silently vying with each other.
Both their heads were covered in snowflakes and ice crystals.
Seeing that not a single pill remained on the ground before him, Lin Ke found it rather amusing.
When he saw Nan Shang wake as well, he asked with a smile, "Why were you in such a hurry? Can't Senior Sister Zong Ya refine more for you once she wakes?"
Nan Shang looked utterly serious. "If I reach the Nascent Soul Middle Stage sooner, I'll be able to protect you, Senior Brother Lin."
"So I have to refine a few more."
Both their mouths were numb as they spoke, their voices muffled and indistinct.
The scene was quite amusing.
"Senior Brother Lin, why were you refining them so quickly, too?"
"Aren't you afraid of hurting yourself?"
Lin Ke's expression stiffened at the question. To him, increasing his strength was the only way to gain a foothold in this world.
"Perhaps I've grown used to it. I always feel far too weak."
"So I always want to increase my strength as much as possible."
Nan Shang mobilized his Supreme Yang True Qi to disperse the crystals on his body, then drew closer and took Lin Ke's hand.
"Your