The air inside the cave dwelling, colored by one strange story after another, seemed to carry a faint warmth.

The giant boulder blocking the entrance could no longer completely keep out the outside world. Sunlight squeezed through the cracks, casting mottled shadows.

Luo Bingning leaned against Lin Xi’s shoulder, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if still immersed in the story of the sword immortal and the goddess, the corners of her lips holding the faintest smile.

Lin Xi lowered her gaze to her peaceful sleeping face. Beneath the warmth in her heart was an unshakable sense of urgency.

Elder Xue Lian’s retreat had only been temporary.

Those sinister eyes clearly promised he would not let them go.

The next time, it would surely not be as simple as a late Core Formation cultivator.

This tranquility was like a pavilion built on quicksand, ready to collapse at any moment.

‘She must grow stronger as soon as possible.’

Lin Xi repeated the thought silently in her heart.

Such reliance might soften the heart, but only absolute strength was the foundation for survival in this cruel cultivation world.

She sank her awareness into her mind and opened the system shop.

A light screen unfolded before her, filled with dazzling treasures, from pills to magical artifacts, everything imaginable.

Her target was clear.

Her finger slid across the screen, locking directly onto the section of cultivation techniques.

‘Filter: cold attribute, heaven-rank and above, most compatible with the Ice Phoenix Bloodline.’

A series of commands were issued.

The display refreshed rapidly, until finally, one technique’s name floated at the top, shining with a deep blue radiance.

Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art.

[Technique Description: Draws upon the utmost yin and cold energy from above the nine heavens, condensing Cold Soul divine light. Works in perfect harmony with the Ice Phoenix Bloodline, able to maximize its potential. At mastery, one thought can freeze thousands of kilometers, one word can freeze the soul.]

[Required Points: 10,000.]

Seeing that number, Lin Xi’s eyes twitched.

That was nearly all the points she had accumulated so far.

But she did not hesitate in the slightest.

‘Exchange.’

[Points successfully deducted. Item has been placed into system space.]

Lin Xi felt her little treasury instantly drained. Her heart ached, but even more than that, she felt it as an investment for the future.

With a thought, a jade slip of pure ice blue, like it had been carved from ten-thousand-year profound ice, appeared silently in her palm.

The moment it touched her hand, a chill seeped into her bones, sharpening her spirit.

“Bingning-jie.”

She called softly.

Luo Bingning’s eyelashes trembled and she slowly opened her eyes.

Those ice-blue eyes were still hazy with sleep at first, but the moment they saw Lin Xi, they instantly cleared, filled with gentle light.

“Mm?”

“I have something that may help with your cultivation.”

Lin Xi said as she handed her the jade slip.

At first Luo Bingning only looked at it with curiosity.

But the moment her fingertip brushed it, her body stiffened.

She took it, sending a wisp of divine sense into it.

The next instant, her whole body froze.

On her always cool and serene face appeared an expression called shock.

Even her breathing halted for a moment.

The temperature inside the cave dwelling plummeted around her, frost rapidly forming on the stone walls.

Her power had spilled out uncontrollably, stirred by her shaken mind.

“This… this…”

Her voice trembled with disbelief. She clutched the jade slip so tightly her knuckles went white.

“Xi’er, where did you get this technique?”

Her eyes, locked on Lin Xi, roared with crashing waves.

The profundities recorded within Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art, its discourse on the Cold Laws, completely surpassed anything she had ever known.

Even in her prime, as the Frost Empress of the Tianshuang Divine Palace, the sect’s town-guarding technique paled like a firefly before the bright moon in comparison.

This should not even exist in this realm.

Facing her shocked gaze, Lin Xi smiled innocently and gave the explanation she had already prepared.

“It was left to me by my mysterious master. I thought it suited you.”

Again with that master.

Luo Bingning gazed into Lin Xi’s clear eyes and suspicion gave way to another emotion.

So she had done all this for her.

A warmth surged from her heart, scattering the shock of the technique.

She did not question further, but instead held the jade slip like a priceless treasure.

“Xi’er, thank you.”

She said solemnly.

Without wasting a moment, Luo Bingning sat cross-legged, ready to cultivate the peerless technique.

She closed her eyes. Following the method of Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art, the world’s spiritual energy began to surge madly toward her.

Streams of ice-blue power, visible to the naked eye, poured into her body. The entire cave dwelling became pure and crystalline.

Lin Xi exhaled softly in relief.

She quietly rose, intending to move to another corner so as not to disturb Luo Bingning.

But as soon as she lifted her foot, the stable vortex of spiritual power around Luo Bingning faltered.

Her body trembled. Her eyes flew open, fixing directly on Lin Xi.

But this time her ice-blue gaze held no coldness, only grievance and unease.

Like a kitten suddenly waking to find its owner leaving.

Lin Xi froze in place.

The steel straight man’s soul within her roared madly.

‘What the hell! Cultivation needs a babysitter now? What is this, kindergarten naptime where the teacher can’t leave? How am I supposed to study my herbs and plan my next moves?’

Yet sarcasm aside, when she saw Luo Bingning on the verge of tears, Lin Xi’s heart melted instantly.

With a resigned sigh, she put back on a gentle smile and sat down beside her.

“I won’t leave. I’ll stay here with you.”

She soothed softly.

“I’ll guard you.”

At those words, the unease vanished from Luo Bingning’s eyes. She closed them again in peace, her lips curving in a smile she could not suppress.

The vortex of spiritual power steadied, even becoming more solid than before.

Lin Xi: “…”

‘Fine, you win.’

* * *

So the days passed with a peculiar scene inside the cave dwelling.

Luo Bingning sat in meditation on the stone bed, cold energy coiling around her, phantom ice lotuses blooming, sacred and powerful.

And beside her, Lin Xi sat, bored out of her mind, wearing a façade of seriousness as if guarding, while in truth her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

After each cycle of cultivation, when Luo Bingning rested, she would immediately turn into a clingy little kitten.

Sometimes she silently slid her cool fingers between Lin Xi’s, lacing their hands together.

Sometimes she leaned her head against Lin Xi’s shoulder again, closing her eyes to savor the warmth and breath that comforted her so deeply.

The little man in Lin Xi’s heart had completely given up resisting.

‘How is this still the ruthless Frost Empress who could freeze the world? This is obviously just a giant cat I’ve raised—one with a ridiculously soft personality at that!’

Yet feeling the chill of her palm and the heavy trust resting on her shoulder, a strange sense of responsibility welled up within Lin Xi.

‘So be it. A pet empress must be spoiled, even if it kills me.’

And so, in this strange “companionship cultivation,” Luo Bingning’s strength recovered at terrifying speed.

Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art resonated perfectly with her Ice Phoenix Bloodline. Her comprehension of the Cold Laws soared at an astonishing pace.

Finally, one day, when Luo Bingning awoke from deep meditation, a force more pure and vast than ever before exploded from her.

Thick ice crystal condensed on the cave walls, etched with mysterious law patterns.

At that moment, the system’s notifications rang in Lin Xi’s mind one after another.

[System Prompt: Luo Bingning’s heart is tranquil. Her reliance on the host has reached a new peak. Affection +5!]

[Current Affection: 98/100 (Bound by Life and Death)!]

[System Prompt: Luo Bingning’s cultivation of Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art has taken effect. She imprints her trust upon the host’s soul. Loyalty +4!]

[Current Loyalty: 99/100 (Absolute Obedience)!]

[System Prompt: Luo Bingning successfully comprehended the first layer of Nine Heavens Cold Soul Art. Her Ice Phoenix Bloodline has greatly awakened! Host’s reward: Cultivation rises to Mid Core Formation!]

As the last message fell, a flood of spiritual power more refined and immense than ever before erupted within Lin Xi’s dantian.

It nourished her newborn golden core like sweet rain.

The golden core, spinning within, did not grow larger, but became denser, its glow subdued, faint lines of profound patterns beginning to appear on its surface.

Her spiritual power did not increase in volume, but its quality transformed utterly.

If before it was like a stream, now it is like mercury.

Heavy, condensed and bursting with explosive strength.

Lin Xi felt the abundant force filling her body, joy surging in her heart.

Though her realm’s name had not changed, she knew her combat strength had doubled at least.

‘This investment really paid off!’

Suppressing her excitement, she looked at Luo Bingning, who had just retracted her aura, her face full of genuine joy.

“Bingning-jie, how do you feel?”

Luo Bingning opened her eyes, an icy-blue divine light flashing within. Feeling the unprecedented strength inside her, she revealed a long-lost confidence.

But she did not answer Lin Xi’s question first.

Instead, she reached out and gripped Lin Xi’s hand tightly, very tightly.

“Xi’er.”

Her voice carried the relief of one who had survived a calamity and a bone-deep dependence.

“With you here, it’s truly wonderful.”