Emerald spirit power wrapped around the two as they flew rapidly. Not until she confirmed there were no other Spirit Beasts in the vicinity did the Ice Empress command her spirit power to a halt, subsequently releasing the hand she had been holding Kong Mingan's with.
She paused slightly, turned her head away, her voice seemingly trying to remain calm, yet carrying a hint of awkwardness: "Long time no see."
Kong Mingan watched her appearance and smiled slightly: "Long time no see."
His gaze swept over the Ice Empress's body, the configuration of seven red and two ice-blue spirit rings coming into view.
Those two ice-blue "Star Ring"s, inside which seemed to flow icy vortex nebulae, indicated that she had not slacked off in the slightest during this time; her progress could be called rapid.
However, the Ice Empress waited for a moment, only to find that after greeting her and glancing at her, he had nothing further to say, causing her to frown slightly without realizing it.
With golden eyes carrying a hint of obvious dissatisfaction, the Ice Empress stared at Kong Mingan and frowned: "Do you not have anything else to say to me?"
Kong Mingan looked at the Ice Empress's expectant yet feigned indifferent expression, blinked, and suddenly, as if recalling something, realized with a start: "Oh, right! Where is the Snow Empress? I have something to ask her."
"..." The Ice Empress was silent.
Almost the next moment, her aura became unstable, and the temperature plummeted.
The Ice Empress bared her teeth, her hair standing on end as she hissed: "Kong Mingan, I— Ugh?!"
Her threatening words were not yet finished when she felt something soft and sweet stuffed into her mouth.
She chewed subconsciously. Hmm? Sweet? She chewed again. Hmm, the taste was actually quite good? She couldn't help but chew again, and then... she swallowed it.
The Ice Empress froze in place, her expression somewhat dull, as if a cat hissing in threat had suddenly been stuffed with a cat strip; the underlying code for "enjoying the delicacy" and "continue hissing" conflicted, causing her brain to crash and become unresponsive.
Kong Mingan's gaze was calm, yet he very naturally took the hand she had just released and gently placed an exquisitely designed spirit guide Storage Ring onto her slender finger.
"These are pastries and snacks I had people collect from various places before I came here. They were all chosen according to your favorite flavors and should last you for a few months. They have all been sealed using spirit guide technology for you to snack on."
The Ice Empress blinked, looking at the ring on her finger that still carried the warmth of his palm, and subconsciously sensed what was inside. Then, she saw a mountain of neatly stacked snacks and pastries, and even a special cabinet containing bags of melon seeds.
The Ice Empress was speechless for a moment, silently pulling her hand back from Kong Mingan's, then turned her head away, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "I'll forgive you for now."
"Hmm, thank you?"
"Hmph."
The Ice Empress snorted softly, her tone becoming fierce again: "Let's go! I'll take you to find the Snow Empress!"
As she spoke, she took the lead and began to guide the way, yet unconsciously, she took out a small, exquisite snowflake-shaped cream ice cream cake from the ring and took a small bite.
The delicate cream melted in her mouth, the sweetness was just right, and the cool sensation made her squint her eyes in comfort.
Hmm. Not bad. Like it. Very much like it.
Under the Ice Empress's guidance, Kong Mingan soon followed her to the mountainside of a towering snowy mountain.
A cave entrance half-covered by ice and snow came into view. The two entered directly, then followed the naturally formed ice cave all the way down.
The surrounding temperature became lower and lower, as if even the air were about to freeze. However, they finally arrived at a wide, suddenly spacious ice cave.
Inside the ice cave, it was not pitch black. The dome and walls were embedded with countless seemingly naturally formed, self-illuminating ice crystals, illuminating the entire space as if it were daytime, yet carrying a kind of cold, quiet serenity.
And in the center of the ice cave, atop a huge piece of ten-thousand-year profound ice, a pure and peerless figure was sitting quietly.
She had snow-white long hair that seemed to be condensed from ice and snow, cascading down to her waist. Those ice-blue eyes were pure and cold, carrying a bone-chilling, profound frostiness.
She was dressed in a simple and elegant white dress, her temperament ethereal and otherworldly, as if she had merged into the extreme cold surrounding her.
And around her, three blood-red and six ice-blue spirit rings, inside which seemed to flow icy vortex nebulae, were quietly floating, emitting a heart-palpitating, majestic aura.
However, if one were to observe carefully, one could discover that the interior of one of the ice-blue spirit rings was slightly empty, not yet carrying a spirit core.
Seeming to sense their arrival, the Snow Empress slowly raised her eyes. That ice-blue gaze passed over the seemingly good-spirited Ice Empress and then fell directly onto Kong Mingan.
"You've come." Her voice was cold and clear, yet carried a hint of imperceptible warmth, and ripples began to stir within her icy eyes.
Kong Mingan naturally passed the Ice Empress, walked to her, and extended his hand: "Since it concerns you, I could not fail to come."
The Snow Empress naturally raised her hand, gently resting it in his palm, and used his strength to rise from the prayer mat.
However, the moment she stood up, she did not release his hand. Instead, she took a step forward, gently wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressed her cheek against the side of his neck.
Slowly closing her eyes, the Snow Empress pressed her lips close, as if carefully feeling the aura on him, absorbing the comforting warmth. Yet at one moment, the Snow Empress's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she had sensed something, her gaze becoming dark and unclear.
The Ice Empress, watching the two suddenly embrace from the side: "..."
No, I'm still here! You two aren't even trying to be discreet, are you?!
"According to your previous arrangements, I have not yet attempted to condense the sixth spirit core myself, only further shaping and stabilizing the spirit rings themselves."
The Snow Empress's voice rang in his ear, the tone sounding like a business-like report, but the arms wrapped around his neck tightened slightly.
Kong Mingan lowered his eyes slightly, feeling this piece of cold jade in his arms, and a strange feeling arose in his heart. How did he feel that the Snow Empress seemed to be more clingy than before? Was it an illusion?
Kong Mingan was not sure, but his hands very naturally supported her waist with one while gently holding her other free hand.
Lowering his eyes, he said slowly, "Then leave the rest to me."
The Snow Empress closed her eyes, as if confirming her territory, rubbing her nose gently against the side of his neck, her warm, soft lips brushing against his earlobe, her voice faint, yet clear: "Mm."
The Ice Empress, ignored on the side, remained silent, just standing quietly to the side.
Don't misunderstand, she didn't have no opinion on this; she was simply helpless. It wasn't that she didn't want to intervene and interrupt the scene before her, but looking at the Snow Empress and then at Kong Mingan, she suddenly didn't know who to direct her frustration towards, and didn't even know what to say!
Should she just rush up and wedge herself between the two of them? What would that count as!
At this moment, she felt just like a super-sized spirit guide floodlight running at full power, the super bright kind!
(End of Chapter)
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