Gu Wuchen grasped the ice pearl that had landed in his hand and was wondering how to absorb it.
But the Snow Empress said, "Just swallow it."
"Are you sure?" Gu Wuchen asked.
The Snow Empress smiled and nodded. "Of course. Don't worry!"
Gu Wuchen gave it a wary look and, after making sure there was no danger, swallowed the ice pearl.
The power of Ultimate Ice erupted in an instant, filling every limb and bone, every organ in Gu Wuchen's body.
The sheer strength of it made Gu Wuchen let out a muffled groan.
His breath turned into icy mist and dispersed.
Gu Linchuan placed a hand on Gu Wuchen's shoulder and examined the changes within his body, discovering that his body had been tempered once again.
"I told you, how could I possibly harm this little fellow?"
The Snow Empress saw how anxious Gu Linchuan was. "I know you parents worry about your child, but only he can benefit from this opportunity."
"Although I don't know why you're helping Wuchen so much, thank you all the same."
Gu Linchuan was immensely grateful.
For Wuchen, this opportunity was unquestionably a great blessing.
For now, the ruler of the Far North taking a liking to Wuchen was a good thing.
She probably needed Wuchen's help.
Surely she hadn't taken a liking to Wuchen and given him benefits just to wait until he grew up.
Then the Snow Empress would say, "I'm your Sister Xue. Do you remember me? We should get married!"
Wouldn't that be exactly like those stories in novels about a little fox and a book boy?
Something like that couldn't possibly happen to his own son.
He had read plenty of novels in his spare time.
The Snow Empress continued, "I hope you'll protect this child well. His Extreme Cold Physique is very special. Nurture him well, and he might surpass you in the future."
"How did you discover it?" Gu Linchuan asked, puzzled.
Even he hadn't noticed his son's Extreme Cold Physique. He had only felt that his Martial Soul was somewhat special.
"I am the Heavenly Snow Woman, the ruler of the Far North. I'm very sensitive to physiques like this. It's just that this boy hasn't fully awakened yet; he only needs time."
"I don't know whether your human world has any records of his Extreme Cold Physique, but if he masters it well, even I might not be his match in the future."
Of course, everything the Snow Empress said was true. The Extreme Cold Physique was special, and no ordinary person could possess it.
"The Extreme Cold Physique is that powerful?"
Gu Linchuan was somewhat surprised.
"When this child truly begins to stand out, you'll understand," the Snow Empress said.
Snow fell thick and fast, and the Snow Empress naturally had her own plans. If they worked, she would truly need this child's help with her seven-hundred-thousand-year tribulation.
The Seven Hundred Thousand Year Heavenly Tribulation was no simple matter. The one at six hundred thousand years alone had been utterly terrifying.
She had gone to considerable trouble to obtain the Far North Origin Ice Marrow. This little fellow had really gotten a bargain.
The Snow Empress looked again at Gu Wuchen, who was still absorbing it, another thought in her heart.
Although her true body couldn't leave the Far North, as its ruler, she had plenty of ways to keep an eye on this little fellow.
Just then, a faint white ripple spread out from Gu Wuchen.
It rippled outward like water.
"It worked!" Gu Wuchen opened his eyes, delighted.
The Far North Origin Ice Marrow had raised him another level beyond the improvement he had gained from the Whale Rubber.
He had never expected it to improve him so much.
Gu Linchuan breathed a small sigh of relief. "Many thanks for this, Snow Empress."
"We each got what we needed, that's all. And you, little fellow, come here," the Snow Empress said, beckoning with a finger.
Gu Wuchen walked up to the Snow Empress and raised his little head to look at her, as beautiful as a flower.
He had never imagined that he would become involved with the Snow Empress.
"Snow Empress?" Gu Wuchen asked, puzzled.
"Don't call me Snow Empress. Call me Sister Xue."
The Snow Empress corrected him.
Gu Wuchen nodded and called out in a clear voice, "Sister Xue!"
"That's more like it." Delighted, the Snow Empress formed a tiny snowflake pattern at her fingertip and pressed it directly between Gu Wuchen's brows.
The instant her finger touched him, a power entered Gu Wuchen's body and directly established a connection with him.
Gu Wuchen didn't feel the connection being established, but the Snow Empress felt it clearly. Seeing that it was done, she immediately withdrew her hand.
She was secretly pleased with herself. It worked. Just what I'd expect of myself.
"Sister Xue, what does that power do?" Gu Wuchen asked.
The Snow Empress said coolly, "A child shouldn't ask so many questions. It's good for you."
Then she looked at Gu Linchuan. "Take the little fellow and leave."
The Snow Empress said no more. She turned and walked away, quickly vanishing into the wind and snow.
Gu Wuchen went over to Gu Linchuan. "Father, what did you and the Snow Empress talk about?"
"We talked about you, and the Extreme Cold Physique you possess!" Gu Linchuan said.
"The Extreme Cold Physique?" Gu Wuchen paused in surprise.
"The Snow Empress was the one who told me about it. It was my first time hearing of it too. Perhaps it's never appeared on the continent before. You might be the first."
Gu Linchuan patted Gu Wuchen's shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. Let nature take its course. Since the Snow Empress has taken a liking to you, she must think very highly of you. Besides your mother and me, the ruler of the Far North is also your backer."
Gu Wuchen nodded. "That's right. If I were arrogant, I'd even slap every dog that passed me twice."
"Let's go. You really do have a way with words." Gu Linchuan smiled.
Taking Gu Wuchen by the hand, he vanished from the spot.
The scene shifted. When the two returned to Ice Arrival City, they saw a handsome man with long golden hair in front of the city gates.
"Father, is that the Great Enshrined you told me about?"
Gu Wuchen patted Gu Linchuan's leg and pointed toward the city gates ahead.
Gu Linchuan looked in that direction and saw Qian Daoliu at the gates.
"That's the Great Enshrined. Come on, let's go over!" Gu Linchuan walked toward him.
He and Qian Daoliu hadn't seen each other for more than seven years.
Qian Daoliu had just been standing there, stunned by how quickly the city had developed. Sensing someone approach, he turned to look. "Linchuan, fancy meeting you here."
Qian Daoliu was delighted.
"Great Enshrined, long time no see." Gu Linchuan held out his hand and shook Qian Daoliu's.
"Why haven't you gone in, Great Enshrined? Why are you still standing here?" Gu Linchuan asked.
Qian Daoliu explained, "I was thinking about how, when I came to Ice Arrival City seven years ago, it was still a poor little frontier city. I never imagined that in a little over seven years, it would develop into a city that rivals a country's capital."
"Your Gu Clan's business has really grown bigger and bigger."
Qian Daoliu's voice was full of emotion. So much had changed in seven years, and the city's prosperity truly left others in the dust.
"It developed quickly, mainly thanks to the suggestions and ideas Wuchen put forward a few years ago. Otherwise, the Gu Clan wouldn't have grown so quickly, and Ice Arrival City wouldn't be so prosperous."