Gu Wuchen came to his senses and looked at the Snow Empress, who was inches away. He was a little dazed, but immediately focused on guiding the three mingled powers within him, washing them through every corner of his body.
With the Snow Empress's origin power, the tempering from the ice and fire's medicinal power went incredibly smoothly. He could clearly feel his physique undergoing an earth-shaking transformation.
Time passed bit by bit, and Gu Wuchen successfully finished refining all the power within him, formally gaining a body impervious to ice and fire.
After a little teasing, he looked at the Snow Empress before him, her face glowing.
"Sister Xue! Actually, you didn't need to use your mouth to transfer the power," Gu Wuchen said awkwardly.
"Why not use my mouth? Don't you like it, Little Wuchen?"
The Snow Empress swayed her waist as she moved behind Gu Wuchen and began stroking his body with both hands.
"Let me see just how much your body has been strengthened."
The infusion of the three powers was a little stronger than what Gu Wuchen had absorbed before.
Uncomfortable with her touching him, Gu Wuchen quickly broke free of the Snow Empress's grasp and put some distance between them.
"Sister Xue, a woman should be reserved. You're acting like a female hooligan."
"Little Wuchen, I don't like the sound of that," the Snow Empress protested coquettishly. "How can you compare your Sister Xue to a female hooligan?"
"I was checking how hard your body is. From what I just felt, it really has improved quite a bit."
The Snow Empress rolled her eyes at Gu Wuchen. He was making her out to be a different woman. As she had felt him up, she had also noticed that the changes to Gu Wuchen's body had taken him beyond the level of a Soul Master, into that of a Soul Grandmaster and close to that of a Soul Elder.
Gu Wuchen knew so much, so it was no surprise that he had undergone such a change.
Someone with the Extreme Cold Physique really was extraordinary.
"Little Wuchen, your Sister Xue did you a huge favor this time. If I ever need it, remember to warm my bed and be my body pillow!"
The Snow Empress giggled.
"What? Warm your bed?"
Gu Wuchen immediately shook his head and refused.
"Look at you. You think I'd really make you do something like that? Even if you wanted to, I wouldn't let you."
The Snow Empress wore a half-smile as she turned her gaze toward the bottom of the lake. "Little Wuchen, do you know what's down there? When I was transferring power to you, something at the bottom of the lake kept making my heart tremble for no apparent reason."
Gu Wuchen said, "Just as you thought, Sister Xue, there really is something beneficial at the bottom of the lake. It's also the reason the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well formed."
"What is it? Tell me," the Snow Empress asked curiously.
Little Wuchen knew so much. Delighted, she immediately hugged Gu Wuchen and leaned closer, afraid she might miss a single word.
"The Ice and Fire Dragon Kings are at the bottom of the lake. The two Dragon Kings fell here, and after a long time, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well formed. Their power nourished the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees, creating this beautiful scenery!"
"Even though they fell, there are still two enormous dragon skeletons down there. I planned to come back and absorb them once I grew stronger, because I'm not strong enough yet."
Gu Wuchen wanted to absorb them now, but he was afraid remnants of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings' souls or consciousness might still linger in their skeletons.
Even though they had fallen, the power of their remnant souls would definitely be no weaker than that of a Peerless Douluo, and might even reach the level of a Demigod.
He couldn't take that risk. If something happened to him, he would be in trouble.
"You've thought it through. Once you're stronger, I'll bring Bing'er along, and the three of us can dive to the bottom together. That way we'll have an extra safeguard."
The Snow Empress was very pleased with Gu Wuchen's consideration. Nor had she been blinded by this power and become overconfident.
"That should be about it. I'll go back first and come out again when you return to the courtyard residence."
With everything settled, the Snow Empress turned into a streak of light and entered Gu Wuchen's forehead.
Gu Wuchen glanced at the bottom of the lake, then immediately swam toward the surface.
At that moment, the maid pacing back and forth on the shore was sick with worry.
Just then, Gu Wuchen's figure leaped out of the water.
"Young Master!"
Seeing Gu Wuchen return safely, Ye Yuan'er breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to check his body.
After examining him, Ye Yuan'er was surprised to find that Gu Wuchen's body, appearance, and mental state were all better than before he had leaped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Sister Yuan'er, you don't need to check anymore. The power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well changed me for the better," Gu Wuchen said.
"I was just worried," Ye Yuan'er said with a smile.
"Young Master Gu, what did it feel like to jump into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
Dugu Bo was very curious. He knew only that the Immortal Herbs and the surrounding world origin power came from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well at the center, but he had never experienced its effects or sensations himself.
"Extreme heat and icy cold, two sensations. It was extraordinary."
Gu Wuchen spoke.
"Extreme heat and icy cold?"
Dugu Bo recalled that Gu Wuchen's Martial Soul had the extreme cold attribute, so by comparison, Gu Wuchen only had to endure the extreme heat.
If Gu Wuchen hadn't explained it, he really wouldn't have known the mystery within.
While everyone was talking, Dugu Yan's Martial Soul also completed its evolution.
A ripple spread out as Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorus Snake evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.
The Jade Phosphorus Snake had successfully completed its transformation. The green dragon whiskers that had grown beside its mouth had a touch of earthy yellow.
"It's done!" Dugu Bo beamed.
Dugu Yan's evolution was different from his. His own Jade Phosphor Poison Dragon looked highly venomous, whereas Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorus Dragon Emperor possessed an exceptionally formidable offensive power.
With the evolution complete, draconic might spread out, and a pair of emerald-green dragon horns gradually grew atop Dugu Yan's head.
The dragon horns slowly extended from her forehead.
Only after reaching a certain length did they stop growing.
Dugu Yan opened her eyes as well. The process of Martial Soul Evolution had felt like a dream: long, yet comfortable throughout.
After opening her eyes, Dugu Yan hadn't even had time to feel delighted before she sensed an itch on top of her head. She reached up to touch it. "Horns? I have them too?"
Gu Wuchen said, "Of course. Your Martial Souls evolved, so naturally you have dragon horns too. Miss Yanyan, your Soul Power has also broken through to rank thirty. You can have Senior Dugu take you to obtain a Soul Ring."
Dragon-type Soul Beasts existed, but sub-dragons were extremely rare. Obtaining a sub-dragon Soul Beast would undoubtedly benefit her.
With a thought, Dugu Yan withdrew her dragon horns and Martial Soul into her body, then rose and bowed respectfully to Gu Wuchen.
"Thank you, Young Master Gu. Yanyan will remember this in her heart."
"If you ever need me, just say the word!"
Seeing Dugu Yan's determined expression, Gu Wuchen said, "There will be a chance later."
Once everything was settled, Gu Wuchen said, "Senior Dugu, Sister Yan'er and I will take our leave first. When seeking a Soul Beast, try to find one of the strong assault type!"
"Rest assured, Young Master Gu. There are quite a few dragon-type Soul Beasts in the Sunset Forest as well."
The Sunset Forest was not as large as the Star Dou Great Forest, but among its dragon-type Soul Beasts, there were also some suitable for Dugu Yan to absorb.