57: Condensation Frost Bowing to Reality

For the next half month, the State Preceptors Residence fell into a strange silence.

Leng Ningshuang placed the "cold marrow precious jade" that Lu Yi had sent on the table in her bedroom.

She had thought that this jade, cool to the touch, would be as Lu Yi said.

It would help her calm her mind and soothe her recent frustrations.

However, things did not go as planned.

Not only did she not feel even a hint of "calmness".

Instead, the cold energy within her body, which had been relatively stable, began to grow increasingly restless.

Just five days later, before she was mentally prepared, the cold energy erupted violently for the first time.

Although Leng Ningshuang was very surprised, she relied on her deep cultivation and gritted her teeth to endure it.

She just didn't understand; the previous eruption cycle was at least once a month.

Why did it come so quickly this time?

Could it be that something had gone wrong with her cultivation?

But this was only the beginning.

Another five days passed, just as her Origin Qi had yet to fully recover.

The second eruption of cold energy arrived as scheduled.

This time, the intensity far exceeded the last, leaving her nearly exhausted.

To her horror, just four days later, a third eruption struck again!

Three eruptions in half a month!

This made her finally realize that the situation seemed to be spinning out of control.

The balance within her body had been shattered.

In a panic, Leng Ningshuang immediately entered the palace to see the new emperor, Wu Mingxu.

She pinned her only hope on the "mystic yin cold soul," a treasure hidden by the imperial family.

She hoped to use it to suppress the out-of-control cold energy in her body.

However, upon hearing her request, Wu Mingxu showed a look of great difficulty and guilt.

"State Preceptor, it is not that I am unwilling to help you."

He continued with a bitter smile:

"As you know, my father passed away too suddenly. I have just ascended the throne, and he... he never told me the true way to open the Imperial Treasury."

"I have also been worrying about this these past few days. I beg the State Preceptor to give me more time. Once I have full control of the imperial power, I will definitely retrieve the Cold Soul for you immediately!"

These words were reasonable and left no room for fault.

Hearing this, Leng Ningshuang's heart sank.

She also knew that Wu Mingxu wasn't lying; the transition of the throne was inherently dangerous.

In the short term, she couldn't count on him.

She could only suppress her disappointment and take her leave.

Coming out of the palace, Leng Ningshuang felt the world spinning.

Even the imperial path was blocked; she was truly at a dead end.

No... she suddenly thought of someone else.

Chu Qianqian.

That enchantress probably knew the reason why her cold affliction had suddenly worsened.

She didn't hesitate much.

Casting aside all her pride and dignity, she took the initiative to find Chu Qianqian's courtyard.

At that time, Chu Qianqian was leisurely pruning a potted plant in the courtyard.

When she saw Leng Ningshuang's face, which held a hint of paleness and humiliation.

She was startled at first, then triumphantly covered her mouth and chuckled:

"Oh my, what wind has blown our high-and-mighty State Preceptor to my little courtyard?"

"You..."

Leng Ningshuang suppressed her annoyance and asked directly:

"My cold affliction has become increasingly frequent and severe lately. Do you know why?"

"Oh? I thought you had already figured it out, State Preceptor?"

Chu Qianqian sized her up carefully before "kindly" explaining:

"State Preceptor, why do you think your cold energy suddenly went out of control?"

"Last time, in order to save you, Holy Son Lu consumed quite a bit of his extreme Yang Origin power. Your 'extreme cold fiend physique' is truly overbearing."

"Once it has tasted the sweetness of that pure Yang power, it naturally craves more and becomes dependent on it."

"Now that he's not by your side to satisfy the cravings within you, isn't it only natural that the eruptions are even worse?"

Chu Qianqian shrugged and looked at her as if she were a fool:

"I advise you to get over yourself sooner. Dual Cultivation is the only way."

"If you keep being so coy and can't let go of your pathetic pride, by the time the cold energy reaches your heart, I'm afraid even if you beg him, he won't bother with you."

"You... shameless!"

Leng Ningshuang trembled with rage at these words filled with humiliation and mockery.

Unable to take it any longer, she let out an angry retort, gritted her teeth, and stormed away.

"Hey, don't be in such a hurry to leave!"

Chu Qianqian called out from behind her with hidden meaning:

"If you ever figure it out, remember to come find me! I'm really looking forward to seeing you next time, State Preceptor..."

Leng Ningshuang returned to her residence, her heart filled with anger and resentment.

She resolved that even if the cold energy reached her heart and killed her, she would never bow to Chu Qianqian!

She didn't believe that with her Undying Realm cultivation, she couldn't survive a mere cold energy!

...But who would have known that that very night, just three days after the last eruption.

The fourth eruption of cold energy struck with an unprecedented, almost devastatingly terrifying intensity!

"Argh!"

Leng Ningshuang felt her internal organs and even her Divine Soul being completely frozen in an instant!

"Never... bow down!"

She gritted her teeth so hard they nearly shattered, using all her cultivation and willpower to frantically resist the extreme cold that threatened to consume her.

Inside the bedroom, all the tables, chairs, and decorations instantly turned into lifelike ice sculptures.

This brutal "victory" lasted for several hours.

Not until the next morning, when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Was that terrifying cold energy finally forced back down by her.

Leng Ningshuang could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the bed, which was also covered in frost.

Her face was as pale as paper, and she was so exhausted she didn't want to move even a single finger.

Looking at the frost-covered room, for the first time, her heart was filled with lingering fear and helplessness.

She realized that she... was becoming increasingly incapable.

This time, she was lucky and made it through.

But what about the next time?

She already had no confidence to endure the next eruption, which was bound to be even more violent.

In the face of "death," her lofty pride...

Finally bowed to reality.

She took a deep breath of the cold air, suppressing all the resentment, shame, and humiliation in her heart.

She slowly sat up, tidied her disheveled appearance, and called for the maid outside.

"Go..."

Her voice was hoarse and weary:

"Bring Holy Son Lu... here. Tell him I have important matters to discuss with him..."