Chapter 259: Huo Yuhao Reaches Level 20, Journey to the Extreme North
"You're welcome. I promised I'd help you before, didn't I?" Ye Chen said with a faint smile, leaning down to kiss Ling Luochen on the cheek.
A hint of salt touched his lips—she was sweating slightly after the process, even though absorbing the Ice Essence Gel had been relatively smooth.
Ye Chen didn't seem to mind. His hands were already resting on her hips.
"Ugh… let me take a bath first. I'm all sweaty," Ling Luochen murmured shyly, twisting slightly in his arms.
She wasn't resisting his advances—on the contrary, she'd been anticipating this for quite a while.
After all, it had been some time since she'd last been alone with Ye Chen.
But still, she felt sticky and warm from exertion and didn't want him feeling she wasn't clean.
"I don't mind. Makes it more… natural," Ye Chen teased with a grin.
"Pervert… at least go inside. What if someone hears us?" she whispered, voice trembling from embarrassment.
Ye Chen didn't let her go. Instead, he suddenly pushed her gently down into the soft grass.
"Ah~"
Caught off balance, Ling Luochen gasped, instinctively reaching out, but Ye Chen's strong arms caught her.
The cool blades of grass brushed through the thin fabric of her light-blue dress, damp with evening dew, chilling her skin.
Ye Chen covered her completely, their faces close enough for their breath to mingle.
In his eyes, she saw her reflection—cheeks flushed, gaze trembling. Her heart raced.
Turning her head slightly, she whispered softly, "Alright then… you win this time."
"Haha~ Luochen, you're the best."
His grin widened, and before she could respond, his lips pressed down on hers.
There was no hesitation, no teasing anymore—just heat meeting coolness.
His hands slid to cradle her head and waist, drawing her tightly against him as his lips moved more firmly over hers.
"Mmm…"
A soft, muffled sound escaped her throat as her lashes trembled. The resistance melted quickly into surrender.
She opened her lips, allowing his tongue to slip in, tracing the tender lines of her lower lip, tasting every breath she gave.
His movements were practiced and fluid, coaxing her into the rhythm, their tongues entwining in a slow, heated dance.
Every grazing lick sent tiny tremors through her body.
Their mingled breaths filled the night air, punctuated by faint, damp sounds between their mouths.
Ye Chen's free hand began to wander, tracing along the curve of her slim waist, then lower—down the smooth plane of her stomach to the silken length of her stocking-clad legs.
"Mmm…"
The deepening kiss and his absorption against her body left Ling Luochen breathless, chest heaving lightly, her face glowing crimson.
Her eyes were hazy, her lips parted slightly as Ye Chen whispered against them, "So soft… your lips feel incredible."
He brushed a thumb gently across her swollen lower lip, gazing at her as if savoring a delicacy.
Ling Luochen's heart fluttered, unable to meet his intense stare. She turned her face away, softly grumbling.
But her legs curled up instead, drawing him closer—pressing lightly against his chest before sliding higher, hooking around his neck…
Days passed.
Ye Chen and Ling Luochen stayed at the Tang Sect for several days, enjoying their time together—especially when Ye Chen later called Ma Xiaotao to join them.
After a few days of "ice and fire dual cultivation," Ye Chen finally let the two return, while he himself entered a period of secluded cultivation.
By now, he had given away all the immortal herbs, drastically increasing the strength of everyone in his circle.
Under this massive boost, their progress at Shrek Academy skyrocketed.
The strongest among them, Xian Lin'er, had broken through level 95 and begun developing nine-tier soul devices—on track to become the only nine-tier soul engineer in the three empires within half a year.
Zhang Lexuan was closing in on the Title Douluo rank, bolstered by the herbs' energy.
Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen had both grown terrifyingly strong as well—especially Ling Luochen, now vice-captain of the Shrek Seven Monsters after defeating her predecessor.
That predecessor, Dai Yueheng, the White Tiger Douluo, had impressive talent but still crumbled before the might of her Ultimate Ice.
According to Ye Chen's communicator, Dai Yueheng hadn't even touched her clothing before being utterly defeated.
Ling Luochen's overwhelming return drew attention from Shrek's faculty and Title Douluo mentors, many of whom now wanted to contact Ye Chen directly.
But Ye Chen had withdrawn from public view, devoting himself entirely to cultivation and managing the Tang Sect's affairs, leaving them unable to find him.
Meanwhile, in the outer court, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Wu Feng, and Ning Tian's strength skyrocketed.
Even Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan showed rapid power growth, stirring curiosity across the academy.
The faculty quickly realized Ye Chen was behind all of it. Rather than trouble the girls, they tried contacting him relentlessly—often through Xian Lin'er or Yan Shaozhe—to ask if he had more "treasures" to share.
Even Yan Shaozhe himself grew tempted.
Xian Lin'er, however, made sure no one got anything. She drove off every teacher who asked—kicking out even Yan Shaozhe when he tried.
Given his debt to her, he could only accept defeat—especially now that Xian Lin'er had reached Super Douluo level. When they fought, she easily overpowered him.
Time passed swiftly.
Months later, only one month remained before the semester's end.
Perhaps inspired by Ye Chen's dominance—or perhaps driven by fate itself—Huo Yuhao suddenly broke through to level 20.
In the outer dormitory, Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes, excitement flickering brightly within.
"Tianmeng, I did it… I reached level 20!" he exclaimed, eyes shining.
"Really?!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm materialized as a faint spectral glow, buzzing happily around Huo Yuhao's head.
With this breakthrough, its long-deferred plans could finally begin.
Even though the Ice Empress had been taken, there was still the Snow Empress.
The Snow Empress was far smarter than the Ice Empress, not easily deceived.
Tianmeng knew that relying on itself alone would never be enough for Huo Yuhao to reach godhood.
At this rate, if he wasn't expelled next semester, that would already be a miracle.
If Huo Yuhao failed to ascend to godhood, Tianmeng's fate was sealed as well—its soul would fade within decades.
For a soul beast, only living a few decades more was the same as dying tomorrow.
So Tianmeng decided to gamble.
Maybe, just maybe, the Snow Empress's sense of reason would slip—and it could trick her yet.
(END CHAPTER)
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