Seven days later.
Ye Feng and Ice Empress arrived once more at the enormous crater.
By now, the massive pit had long been buried under thick layers of snow and ice.
However, the area around the Giant Cocoon that Snow Empress had transformed into remained relatively free of snow.
The phantom image of the 100,000-Year Snow Lotus that had once hovered above the cocoon had already dissipated.
Fine, intricate cracks had begun to spread across the snow-white surface of the Giant Cocoon.
"Mmm, she's about to come out. I've never seen what Snow Empress looked like as a child..." Ice Empress rubbed her hands together, her small face brimming with anticipation.
Crack—crack—crack—
After a brief wait, the Giant Cocoon shattered with a resounding explosion.
Fragments of the cocoon cascaded down, kicking up swirling mists of frost.
The next moment, a pair of tiny, snow-white feet emerged from the icy haze, followed by a petite figure stepping out slowly.
Snow Empress now appeared to be no older than five or six. Her slightly curled white hair cascaded over her shoulders, the tips shimmering with a faint blue icy glow.
Her body was wrapped in delicate ice crystals, covering only the essential areas.
Her round cheeks glowed with the pristine whiteness of freshly fallen snow, her nose tinged pink from the cold, and her eyelashes dusted with tiny frost crystals.
Only her ice-blue eyes retained a trace of the authority and dominance befitting the leader of the Land of Extreme North's Three Heavenly Kings.
Snow Empress stared blankly at her own chubby little hands, momentarily lost in thought.
She clearly hadn't expected to end up in the form of a small child.
Not a shred of her former power remained.
Even the frigid temperatures of the Land of Extreme North now felt slightly chilly to her.
This was the first time she had ever experienced such weakness.
After all, she had been born of heaven and earth, emerging into the world with the strength of a Ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Now, after undergoing Shape-shifting, this was undoubtedly the most vulnerable state she had ever been in—both physically and mentally.
"Wow~ Snow Empress, you're so adorable~"
Just then, an exclamation rang out beside her—Ice Empress.
In the next instant, Ice Empress transformed into a streak of green light, darting forward and scooping Snow Empress into her arms, vigorously rubbing her cheeks.
"Mmm... Ice Empress, let go! There's someone else watching!"
Snapping out of her daze, Snow Empress immediately tried to push Ice Empress away with her soft little hands, pressing against her chest.
But in her newly transformed state, her Source Power was completely sealed. She was nothing more than a helpless child now, utterly powerless to resist Ice Empress.
"Giggle~ Who told you to be this cute? Uuu~ Look at these soft little cheeks~ Mwah~ Mwah~ Mwah~"
Ice Empress had always adored Snow Empress, but seeing her like this now awakened a deep maternal instinct within her. She proceeded to smother Snow Empress's face with a flurry of kisses.
"Ye Feng... control your Ice Empress! Get her away from me!"
Unable to endure Ice Empress's antics any longer, Snow Empress could only turn to Ye Feng for help. Gone was her usual commanding presence—now, she was nothing more than a delicate, utterly adorable little loli.
"Alright, alright, Ice Empress, that's enough."
Ye Feng descended into the crater at this point, forcibly pulling Ice Empress away before gently draping a snow-white mink coat—sized for a child—over Snow Empress.
"Thank you..."
Snow Empress murmured softly, her face flushed, her voice sweet and tender—utterly enchanting.
Originally, Ye Feng had thought Ice Empress was the one who qualified as the loli.
But now, compared to the Snow Empress, Ye Feng realized that the Ice Empress seemed to have grown quite a bit.
At this moment, the Ice Empress was a full head taller than when she had first shape-shifted. Though still petite, she was much larger than the Snow Empress.
After all, in this world, the growth speed of creatures was related to their cultivation.
The faster one's cultivation improved and the better they ate, the quicker they matured.
As for the Snow Empress, she truly was tiny. And after being thoroughly manhandled by the Ice Empress, she looked even more pitiable and adorable.
"Hehe, Snow Empress, from now on, I'll protect you! No one will bully you!" The Ice Empress giggled, hugging the Snow Empress tightly again and greedily inhaling her scent.
"Other than you, who else would bully me…"
The Snow Empress was utterly speechless.
She was, after all, the Ice and Snow Maiden—a seven hundred-thousand-year Great Beast. Yet here she was, reduced to being bullied by the Ice Empress.
This was just too tragic…
"Alright, alright, enough fooling around. Since the shape-shifting is complete, let's head back first."
Ye Feng waved his hand, intending to leave this place.
After all, it was still quite cold here.
The Snow Empress had just shape-shifted and was still very fragile.
Especially since, after shape-shifting, she had completely become human—prone to hunger. Without food, no matter how strong her talent was, she might just drop dead.
This was the downside of Soul Beasts shape-shifting. Without a "guardian" like a friend, they could perish shortly after transforming.
If they were unlucky enough to encounter hostile Soul Beasts, they might die on the spot.
Perhaps this was one of the reasons most ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts were unwilling to shape-shift.
"Okay…"
The Snow Empress nodded, instinctively shrinking her neck.
Without summoning her Martial Soul, her current body truly couldn't handle the extreme cold here.
"In that case, then…"
As he spoke, Ye Feng crouched down, gently cupping the Snow Empress's bottom and lifting her into his arms.
"Ah… you…"
The Snow Empress gasped, her balance thrown off as she quickly clung to Ye Feng's arm, her face flushed with embarrassment but unsure what to say.
"Hold on tight. Space Teleportation can be dangerous," Ye Feng said with a serious expression.
"O-okay…"
Though shy, the Snow Empress blushed and wrapped her small arms around Ye Feng's neck.
"Me too! I want a hug too~"
The Ice Empress tugged at Ye Feng's sleeve, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"You're too big. I can't carry you."
Ye Feng replied offhandedly.
"Ah! Ye Feng, how dare you call me fat?! I'll fight you!"
The Ice Empress immediately flew into a rage, leaping onto Ye Feng and straddling his shoulders.
Ye Feng: "…"
"Hmph, hurry up, let's go!"
The Ice Empress tugged at Ye Feng's hair, pouting angrily.
"Got it, got it."
Ye Feng sighed, then activated the teleportation.
A flash of Spatial Power later, the three of them vanished without a trace.
...
...
Star Sect.
"Whoosh—"
The trio reappeared in Ye Feng's courtyard in less than five seconds.
"Yay~ We're back~ Ye Feng, give me allowance! I'm taking Snow Empress out for a feast~"
The Ice Empress cheered, inexplicably excited as she jumped down from Ye Feng and immediately held out her hand for money.
In the Land of Extreme North, though there were snacks, there was no fresh, hot food—she had been starving.
This time when we return, we must have a proper feast, and bring Snow Empress along to let her taste the delicacies of the human world!
"Don't be hasty. Snow Empress has just undergone Shape-shifting—she needs time to adjust at the very least," Ye Feng said helplessly.
"Hehe, you're right... Then I'll take Snow Empress to my place for a bath first. You can treat us to something delicious tonight~" Ice Empress chuckled with a grin.
Her passion for food remained as strong as ever.
"Alright, alright, go ahead." Ye Feng waved his hand resignedly, letting Ice Empress settle Snow Empress in first.
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