"Sigh, why are you here?"
Wang Dong'er opened her eyes and found Su Wen sitting at her bedside, expertly taking a tea brick from the cabinet to brew. Her pale blue eyes were full of surprise.
This was the core of Shrek Academy; even some elders might not have access. It was like the Clear Sky Sect's rear sanctum—only her First and Second Uncle could enter.
But Su Wen acted like he was at home…
"Before I entered the Outer Court, this was my room." Su Wen flopped into a rattan chair and exhaled. Elder Mu's recovery was now in Elder Yi's hands; one worry off his chest.
"You lived here?!" Wang Dong'er's eyes widened.
"Mm."
Su Wen lifted a hand; the rattan chair seemed alive and tilted up.
"…"
Wang Dong'er stared, stunned.
No wonder!
Shrek really was his home!
No one here could say that—not even Ma Xiaotao—but he could!
At that level, it meant he practically represented Shrek. Of course, Wang Dong'er didn't know Su Wen was already the Sea God Pavilion's heir two generations down…
The mysterious Sea God Pavilion where he'd once lived daily—Su Wen's standing at Shrek likely surpassed her standing in the Clear Sky Sect. Thinking of that, she remembered a painful matter.
"Right, Su Wen—my First and Second Uncle want me to return to the Clear Sky Sect over summer…" Wang Dong'er put on her shoes, walked to him, and bit her lip, worried.
Ever since the Silver Dragon King and Su Wen helped remove the divine sense in her spiritual sea, her trust in the Clear Sky Sect plummeted—especially with Su Wen's confirmed suspicions.
Too many red flags.
Where had her earlier memories gone?
What secret was the Clear Sky Sect hiding? If she went back in summer, would there be a more terrifying conspiracy waiting?
All of it left the girl unsettled.
"Clear Sky Sect?" Su Wen focused, looking at the worried girl.
"Mm!" Wang Dong'er nodded, hoping for his decision. Unknowingly, she already saw Su Wen as her pillar…
"Don't go," Su Wen said after a pause.
"But if I don't, my uncles might come to Shrek and I…" Wang Dong'er was fearful. After seeing their true faces, the gentle masks shattered. They were so strong—could Shrek really stop them?
"Relax. Let them come," Su Wen snorted.
Er Ming dared to kill Tang San's divine sense to curry favor, begging the Silver Dragon King to spare him. Those two beast-traitors still dare come knocking?
Of course, there was no need to tell Wang Dong'er all that—at least not yet.
As for the Silver Dragon King's identity—everyone quietly understood. In Wang Dong'er's eyes, "she's one of us," and that was enough…
"Want to cultivate for a bit? A few times during the tournament I snuck over late at night, but your room was locked," Wang Dong'er pouted.
"Come here."
Su Wen wrapped her slender waist and pulled her up.
The girl duck-sat on his lap, face flushing. "Don't—someone might walk in…"
"They won't. The Golden Tree has many rooms, but few have access. Elder Mu's in another room with serious business; that leaves just us here," Su Wen said, hands behind his head, smiling.
"Ah…"
Wang Dong'er went soft.
This was her first time lying fully against him. Before, they sat side-by-side, or just held hands—never this close.
It was summer; both wore shorts and shirts—her fair, straight legs were bare. The contact made her blush deeper.
"Let's do it, then."
Wang Dong'er's cheeks were rosy as she leaned forward. Su Wen encircled her soft waist; soul power flowed from both of them, cycling again and again.
"…"
The vines seemed a bit embarrassed. After a moment's hesitation, they twined up and covered the two as well, golden energy stirring, quietly giving their martial spirit fusion a little boost.
…
…
"Inner Court evaluation?" Su Wen blinked.
"Yes, Inner Court evaluation." Yan Shaozhe smiled like a fox.
"As long as you pass, you're Inner Court, enjoy… ahem, you can join the Inspection Team… uh, and…" He tried to tempt him, only to realize Su Wen already had everything he could offer.
Awkward silence.
"Fine. I accept the Inner Court evaluation." Su Wen nodded.
He simply hated evil soul masters and wanted to wipe the Holy Spirit Cult.
They'd tried to kill him several times; he'd survived by luck. The grudge was blood-deep. Slaying them would also build his prestige… Shrek respects strength. Though many in the Inner Court already recognized him, if he wanted to soon steer the whole ship.
How did Elder Mu suppress the Sea God Pavilion elders? With fists in his youth. Who did he punch? Anyone who defied Shrek—especially evil soul masters.
And if he thought the Inner Court was weak, he couldn't just complain—he needed to change it with action.
Join the Inspection Team, gather a true elite unit, and fix the culture from within—that was his aim.
"Uh… good! Deal. Your evaluation… next month! I'll talk to Mu Jin; we'll count the quota under her. The New Class Two is steamrolling anyway—even without you," Yan Shaozhe muttered.
"So late?" Su Wen was surprised.
"Of course. To set your evaluation, we must craft a specific, effective plan. Too hard and you might fail; too easy and it's pointless. Being dean is hard," Yan Shaozhe griped.
"Okay." Su Wen nodded. "Happens I need to visit the Extreme North."
"Sure, just be back next month." Yan Shaozhe propped his chin, waving him off.
Su Wen rushed to the Extreme North.
If not for the Snow Empress's reminder, he'd have forgotten—the true ruler of the Extreme North had vanished. He wondered if they'd noticed.
But with the Snow Empress's status, she didn't need to report her movements. Even if they couldn't find her and saw no battle traces, they wouldn't be too suspicious…
…
Extreme North.
A cruel, cold wind.
Su Wen exhaled a plume and gazed over the white expanse, sighing. "We're in your Extreme North, and I still have to beat a drum to call those geniuses over."
"…The Extreme North is vast," the Snow Empress said blandly.
"Ice Empress!"
Su Wen smacked his lips.
An exquisitely crafted, gemstone-like giant scorpion appeared, about seven meters long including the tail and three meters tall. Strangely, after ascending, the Ice Empress was several times larger than the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion had been.
Her pincers towered above Su Wen's head.
"Bzz!"
The Ice Empress understood at once.
A sovereign's aura spread. The previously silent snowfield instantly boiled as countless ice-attributed soul beasts burst from beneath and fled in all directions.
The Ice Jade Empress Scorpion had already been a queen; this Ice Extreme Empress Scorpion bloodline was even nobler.
Among soul beasts, higher bloodlines dominate lower ones—that's also why Di Tian could summon a beast tide.
Su Wen's only curiosity was whether the final phase "Lord of Winter" would take human form—or just become a super-sized scorpion…
"Su Wen!"
Voices echoed from all directions.
Avalanches rolled up layer by layer, three to four meters high.
The sky soon turned emerald.
"Su Wen, what do you want!"
An emerald twin-tail loli popped up in front of him, gnawing on a chunk of Myriad-Year Cold Ice Marrow, slurping twice before asking curiously.
"Where's Xiao Bai and Ah Tai?"
Su Wen smiled.
"They're sleeping too. With the Cold Ice Marrow they absorbed, both can break through to five hundred thousand years," the Ice Empress said cheerily.
"By the way, I reached four hundred thousand years—surprised?"
"Um," Su Wen hesitated, "have you seen the Snow Empress?"
"Snow? Oh, right—she's gone somewhere recently. But she's always like that, appearing and vanishing. She's literally part of ice and snow—using the whole Extreme North as a bed is normal."
"I'll tell you a secret—don't tell her." The Ice Empress leaned in conspiratorially. "Snow actually likes you. After you left last time, she stood on the plains watching your back for a long time."
"You know Ah Tai confessed to Snow once and got his bones shattered—took months to recover. He's been honest since. If you end up with the Snow Empress… ahem… don't provoke her. She looks gentle, but she's vicious! Deadly!"
"…" Su Wen's expression turned odd.
He glanced past the Ice Empress at the Snow Empress slowly appearing and winced.
"And if you like the Snow Empress, leave it to me!" The Ice Empress puffed her chest. "What she likes, her measurements, what kind of under—"
"Ahem!" Su Wen's eyes widened. "Where did you learn that? Aren't you afraid she'll beat you?"
"Human towns on the border. I've been sneaking out to play. Anyway, don't tell Snow Empress. If she finds out, she'll kill me," the Ice Empress said seriously.
"Do you think she'd sign a contract with me?" Su Wen shifted the topic—he wanted to save the Ice Empress's life.
"She's very aloof. As an empress, her pride won't let her bow to anyone—except the Silver Dragon King. But if you can pry open her heart, she'll be absolutely devoted," the Ice Empress said smugly.
"I'm done asking." Su Wen turned away, unable to watch.
"Huh? Done asking what?" The Ice Empress was confused—then felt a chill at her back. She turned slowly; her face froze while the Ice Marrow fell from her mouth.
"S-Snow… I can explain," the Ice Empress whimpered.
"Who likes to talk my secret?" the Snow Empress asked coolly.
"Me." The Ice Empress shrank.
"What color is my underwear?" the Snow Empress continued.
Su Wen's ears twitched.
He was curious too.
"Um, blue? Ow…"
"Pink? Ouch…"
"Black? Wuwuwu…"
She guessed a circle, dead inside—never hitting the right answer.
"Am I very fierce?"
The Snow Empress asked flatly.
"No, you're kind, benevolent—ow why hit me again," the Ice Empress sobbed.
"Do I look old?" The Snow Empress narrowed her eyes.
"Not old—a peerless beauty." The Ice Empress hurried to mend it.
Having finally placated the Snow Empress, the loli bared her little tiger teeth, then turned to Su Wen, seething. She lunged.
"Su Wen!!!"
But minutes later—
She was teary-eyed in the Snow Empress's arms.
"Wuwu… you almost got taken by humans. I almost never saw you again…"
The two were like sisters.
She wasn't afraid of the Snow Empress being taken; she was more afraid she'd never even know it had happened.
"And you—thanks."
The Ice Empress looked sincerely at Su Wen.
She offered the half-sucked Ice Marrow. "Want a stick?"
"Ice Empress, you're so stingy…"