Upon hearing this, Shui Bing'er frowned. "If that's the case, we can only use it as we obtain it."
"That's right. However, fortunately, because of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow here, the ice element is extremely dense. It's a great place for cultivation."
Shui Wuhen nodded.
In fact, this cave could be considered Shui Wuhen's dream cultivation ground. The surrounding mist was not ordinary water vapor, but ice elemental energy so dense it had almost condensed into a tangible form.
In such a place, even the most ordinary ice-type Spirit Master could cultivate at a speed comparable to top geniuses.
Of course, that was only if they could endure the temperature here.
"That's true."
Shui Bing'er nodded in agreement.
At this moment, Shui Wuhen turned to Articuno, who was drooling at the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow beside them, and asked curiously, "Articuno, I remember you really wanted the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow. Why aren't you in a hurry now?"
"Wu~~ wu~~"
Hearing this, Articuno glanced around somewhat guiltily. Could she say that before this, she had already secretly eaten one stalk?
Seeing this, Shui Wuhen laughed. "It's fine. There's so much Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow here. You can eat as much as you want, just leave a few for us."
Although he did not know why Articuno was so eager for this Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, Articuno was his Martial Soul, so it would definitely not harm him in the end.
Moreover, after absorbing these Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows, Articuno might undergo some changes.
Upon hearing this, Articuno immediately flew toward the largest stalk of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, pecking open its outer layer and directly swallowing the essence inside.
Seeing that Articuno had already started, Shui Wuhen no longer watched and immediately chose a smaller stalk nearby, taking it down.
Then he turned to Shui Bing'er beside him and said, "The energy contained in the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow is extremely vast. At our current level, it's best not to absorb too much of its essence, or we may fall into a deep sleep.
The energy from this single stalk is enough for us to refine for a long time."
With that, Shui Wuhen broke open a small opening in the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow in his hand, guiding a portion of its essence into his mouth. Instantly, an extremely pure ice energy erupted within his body.
"What a vast and pure energy. With this Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, I might soon break through level 70."
Shui Wuhen's eyes lit up as he quickly sat down cross-legged to fully refine the energy within his body.
Shui Bing'er also took some of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow's essence, circulating her meditation technique as she crazily absorbed the pure energy within it.
In an instant, the entire cave was left with only Articuno continuously absorbing stalk after stalk of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow. During this process, Articuno's body became increasingly solid, and her aura grew increasingly terrifying.
Two hours later, Shui Wuhen was the first to wake up. After sensing the changes in his body, he said in surprise, "I've reached level 64 already. As expected of a treasure for ice-type Spirit Masters. Truly extraordinary. Moreover, I can faintly feel that the quality of my soul power has improved slightly."
Two hours of cultivation had saved Shui Wuhen at least half a year of hard training, and the cost was merely consuming one-fifth of a single Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow—moreover, this one was already relatively small.
And there were more than forty such Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows in this cave. Shui Wuhen could already imagine the scene of himself breaking through to Title Douluo.
However, when he looked again into the cave, his expression froze instantly.
Because he discovered that the crisscrossing Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows in the cave had now been reduced to only two or three lonely stalks, while all the others had disappeared.
Only Articuno, with a belly swollen round, lay on the ground.
"You ate more than forty stalks of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow just like that?"
Shui Wuhen stared wide-eyed at Articuno, his tone filled with disbelief.
Originally, he thought that even Articuno would only be slightly faster than him at most. He never expected it to be this much faster.
That was more than forty stalks of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, and it was all gone in such a short time. Shui Wuhen even suspected that if he had not told her to leave two stalks, even those last three might not have been spared.
Articuno nodded matter-of-factly. Although the quantity was a bit large, in the end it was just ice elemental energy—it was nothing to her.
Seeing this, Shui Wuhen helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Although he knew Articuno's consumption should be high, he did not expect it to be this outrageous.
Moreover, with such a massive amount of energy, could Articuno even digest it?
Shui Wuhen glanced at Articuno. Well, she should be fine.
It was just that for a short time, Shui Wuhen probably would not dare to recall her into his body anymore—he was afraid she might explode something.
"However…"
Shui Wuhen looked at Articuno, somewhat puzzled inwardly: "After absorbing so much Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, why does it feel like Articuno hasn't changed much?"
After a while, Shui Bing'er also woke up, equally excited.
"Brother, I feel like I'm about to break through to level 56. No wonder you value this Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow so much. With this, we could break through to Title Douluo in a few years."
With the enhancement of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow, her cultivation speed felt like it was flying. One cycle of meditation was equivalent to several days of normal cultivation.
In theory, as long as their bodies could endure it, they could even level up once per day.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Shui Bing'er noticed something was off. Why were so many of their Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows gone, leaving only three stalks?
Shui Wuhen explained helplessly, "The rest were eaten by Articuno."
"What?"
Shui Bing'er looked shocked. Articuno was actually this fierce—she had eaten so many Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows in such a short time?
At this moment, Shui Wuhen waved his hand. "Alright, even these remaining ones are enough for us to refine for a long time. Next, let's strive to fully absorb them as soon as possible.
With the help of these Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrows, breaking through to the next realm will be easy."
"I understand, brother."
Shui Bing'er nodded obediently.
Although most of the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow had been consumed by Articuno, she did not feel any complaint in her heart.
Articuno was Shui Wuhen's Martial Soul—her use was equivalent to Shui Wuhen using it. How could she possibly blame her brother?
She was only happy for Shui Wuhen, after all Articuno would not absorb so much Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow without reason. Such a massive amount of energy might even cause unexpected changes in Articuno.
Afterward, the siblings began refining the remaining Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Ice Marrow in the cave.