At the bottom of the frigid spring, the temperature had plunged beyond absolute zero. Even with Zhu Ziyang unleashing the full might of his Ultimate Ice, resisting most of the chill, he still shivered uncontrollably, as though standing bare in a blizzard.
Yet the cold on his body could not diminish the exhilaration in his heart. When his feet touched the frozen soil at the spring's bed, his eyes fell upon the root of a plant—the root of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. Unlike its blossom above, this root was the true treasure, capable of spawning countless new plants of its kind.
But Zhu Ziyang paid it no mind. His attention had been captured entirely by something less than ten centimeters away.
A dragon.
A magnificent dragon of blue and white, lying motionless. Its form was so flawless it resembled a sculpture, every scale and limb carved with divine perfection. The oppressive aura Zhu Ziyang had felt upon entering the spring emanated from this very corpse.
"The Ice Dragon King…" Zhu Ziyang whispered in awe. "So powerful!"
He did not know how long this mighty dragon had lain dead. At the very least, ten thousand years. Any other hundred-thousand-year beast would have long turned to fossil. Yet the Ice Dragon King's body still retained flesh and blood—flesh that pulsed faintly with vitality.
This was the body of a god.
Step by step, Zhu Ziyang approached. Each pace brought a crushing pressure that weighed upon his soul, forcing even his Holy White Frost Dragon Martial Soul to tremble in submission. Only by sheer will did he resist kneeling.
It took him the time of a quarter hour to close the short distance of a few meters. When he finally stood within arm's reach, he felt his martial soul surge with conflicting emotions—grief, joy, reverence—like a wanderer returning at last to his homeland.
He bowed his head, offering a moment of silence and apology to the fallen king. Then, with solemn resolve, he placed his hand upon one of its icy scales.
A bone-deep chill pierced through his fingers into his chest. He hesitated, then let soul power flow from his palm into the dragon's corpse, probing within.
Though perfectly preserved, the Ice Dragon King's body had lain too long. Its divine power and soul energy had long since dissipated. Only the soul bones might still retain their strength. And so Zhu Ziyang searched.
Closing his eyes, he extended his senses until—yes. A surge of soul power answered him. Within his perception appeared a crystalline vertebra, gleaming like a jewel.
"I've struck gold!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes snapped open, joy flooding his face. It was no ordinary bone, but a Torso Bone—the most precious among the six major soul bone types.
Unlike arm or leg bones, the torso bone encompassed the spine itself, the pillar of the body. Its value was beyond measure.
Confirming its existence, Zhu Ziyang wasted no time. He bowed once more to the Ice Dragon King's corpse. "Forgive my offense."
Then he climbed onto the dragon's massive back. Positioning himself over the spine, he unleashed a surge of soul power. The corpse trembled violently, sending ripples through the still waters.
Above, the Snow Empress and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass both felt the disturbance. The latter quivered with dread.
"Please! Let me go down and stop him!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass pleaded. "The Ice Dragon King's body must not be disturbed!"
"As if you could stop Father," Snow Empress said coldly, disdain in her voice.
"I—I may be weak, but I could at least try to persuade him! Please! We mustn't let the King's remains be desecrated!" the herb begged desperately.
Snow Empress ignored the pleas, her gaze fixed upon the spring's depths, both worried and expectant. Suddenly, her eyes lit with relief. "Father is calling us below. I suggest you behave yourself."
"Truly?" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass gasped, both delighted and uneasy. "Could it be that he's already achieved his goal? But what use does he have for the Ice Dragon King's corpse? Its blood became this spring, its divine power formed the rules of the Yin-Yang Well—what remains is only flesh!"
"Why do you chatter so much?" Snow Empress scowled. "Father has his reasons. And you—if the corpse holds no value, why are you so agitated?"
"I…" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass faltered, unable to answer.
"Enough. Father has what he wanted. He now wishes to speak with you. Tread carefully—if you anger him, I won't be as merciful."
Resigned, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass followed her downward.
At the bottom, they found Zhu Ziyang seated atop the Ice Dragon King's corpse, one leg bent, an arm resting casually upon his knee. In his hand, he toyed with a crystal-clear spine bone, its luster dazzling.
"Xue'er, Ice Grass—you're here," Zhu Ziyang greeted them with a smile.
The Snow Empress swam to his side, her young face alight with joy. "Father, is that… the Ice Dragon King's torso bone?"
"Indeed," Zhu Ziyang said proudly, then turned to the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. "We need to talk."
But the herb was not listening. She had darted to the dragon's back, examining the fracture in the spine where the bone had been removed. Her voice rose in a furious cry: "Zhu Ziyang, return the Dragon King's bone at once! This is sacrilege!"
"Hm?" Zhu Ziyang arched a brow, but said nothing. The Snow Empress, perched on his shoulder, frowned in irritation.
"N-no, I mean…" the Ice Grass stammered quickly, softening her tone. "Please, don't take it away. What use could that bone possibly have for you?"
Zhu Ziyang laughed. "What use? Can you not see it's a torso soul bone? How could it be useless to me? But enough of that—I didn't summon you to argue over this. Tell me, Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass—if I were to take you as a soul spirit, would you be willing?"
"What?!" The herb froze, staring blankly at him. The sudden shift left her utterly stunned.
Zhu Ziyang chuckled, spinning the gleaming bone in his hands. It was no fragment, but an entire spine—neck to tail, a flawless treasure among treasures. Were it not for the Death God's Fifth Trial, he would already have fused with it.
Still, one thing was missing: his left leg bone. Without it, he could not risk fusing the torso bone. Which was why his gaze now lingered on the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. As a hundred-thousand-year beast of Ultimate Ice, she could grant precisely what he lacked.
A hundred-thousand-year left leg bone.
Yes—such a soul beast could, by will alone, create a soul bone. And with her as his soul spirit, that bone would be his.
How could Zhu Ziyang resist?
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