Join Tang San and Get Xiao Wu

"What kind of look is that? Do you think I'd be interested in a kid like you?" Liu Erlong snapped.

Meng Bei shrugged. "Who knows? You're not married yet despite your age, and you even went out of your way to burn my clothes…"

The more he spoke, the darker Liu Erlong's expression became. Before he could finish, there was a loud boom as she punched a tree, thick enough for three people to hug, which crashed to the ground in splinters.

Liu Erlong retracted her fist, her eyes cold.

"If you don't come over here now, you'll end up like that tree."

Seeing this, Meng Bei quickly scampered over, looking as though he feared a moment's delay would seal his fate.

The two rested against the fallen trunk, sitting so close they almost touched. Despite the proximity, there was no physical contact.

After a while, Liu Erlong opened her eyes, glaring at Meng Bei.

"Well? Do you believe now that I have no improper intentions toward you?"

Meng Bei glanced at the broken tree and nodded furiously.

"I believe you, Aunt Erlong, I believe you."

Liu Erlong snorted coldly and resumed her meditation.

Meng Bei, seated nearby, spoke softly, "You know, Aunt Erlong, I actually liked the elegant image of you playing the zither when we first met. Could you go back to being that way?"

Liu Erlong's brow twitched as she gritted her teeth.

"Oh? Are you saying I'm not elegant now?"

Before he could answer, she grabbed his collar with one hand, her other fist cracking ominously as she clenched it.

"Looks like you need a good lesson!"

"Wait! Aunt Erlong, let's talk this out!" Meng Bei pleaded, flailing.

Liu Erlong narrowed her eyes at him.

"Fine. Any last words?"

Meng Bei quickly surrendered, offering a deal.

"Aunt Erlong, don't hit me! When Master arrives in a few days, I'll put in a good word for you. If you injure me, who will advocate for you?"

Hearing the mention of Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong hesitated. After a moment of consideration, she let go, though her expression remained stern.

Despite the tension, their banter brought them closer without either realizing it.

"Aunt Erlong, do you think I could sit on your back instead of being carried?" Meng Bei suggested tentatively.

Smack! Liu Erlong swatted the back of his head.

"Keep dreaming, kid!"

With that, she transformed into a red dragon once more, grabbing Meng Bei and soaring toward the Extreme North at high speed.

Unbeknownst to them, Tang Hao followed in secret, keeping a close eye on their progress.

As the weather grew colder and the wind harsher, Liu Erlong landed and reverted to her human form.

"This kind of weather is the worst. Let's find a soul beast quickly and finish this."

Her fire-attribute Scarlet Dragon spirit was at a disadvantage in the Extreme North, where the icy environment suppressed such abilities.

Meng Bei, meanwhile, swapped out his damaged clothes for a thicker snow robe from his soul tool. He also handed one to Liu Erlong.

"Aunt Erlong, here, for the wind."

Liu Erlong waved him off.

"I have spirit power to keep me warm. I don't need it."

Meng Bei didn't argue, merely holding onto the robe. He knew she'd change her mind soon enough.

Sure enough, after walking a while, Liu Erlong's face reddened as she grabbed the robe and quickly put it on.

Though she was resistant to the cold, the relentless wind and snow were a different matter. Her flowing dress was repeatedly lifted by gusts, leaving her no choice but to accept the extra layer.

"Looks like long skirts aren't the best choice for the cold," Meng Bei teased.

Liu Erlong, her cheeks flushed, smacked him on the head again.

"Keep walking! This is all for your soul ring, remember?"

Trudging through the snow, the pair ventured deeper into the icy wilderness. Liu Erlong occasionally took to the skies, scouting for suitable soul beasts. However, their findings were scarce, and when they did encounter soul beasts, they were often unsuitable.

The best they found was a pack of snow wolves led by a three-thousand-year-old alpha. While promising, Meng Bei deemed it insufficient, and Liu Erlong respected his decision.

Reluctantly, they pressed further into the frigid expanse. The deeper they went, the harsher the conditions became. The snow was no longer powdery but mixed with sharp ice particles, cutting through flesh like tiny blades.

Weak soul masters would have been flayed alive in such an environment.

Meng Bei relied on his spirit's natural resistance to cold, while Liu Erlong pushed through with her sheer strength and spirit power.

One day, they encountered an enormous Icefield Bear. The creature was brutish and ferocious, its physical strength on par with Liu Erlong's martial spirit avatar. Despite being less than ten thousand years old, the bear's advantage in its icy domain made it a formidable foe.

After a fierce battle, Liu Erlong emerged victorious, only for an unseen attacker to hurl a stone, forcing her to retreat momentarily. The Icefield Bear seized the opportunity, smashing through the ice and escaping.

Furious, Liu Erlong stomped and raged, the veins in her forehead bulging.

On another occasion, she faced an airborne adversary—a ten-thousand-year-old Icefeather Hawk.

Liu Erlong had been chasing a snow rabbit for food, craving something other than dry rations. Just as she cornered the rabbit, the hawk swooped down, snatching it away.

Enraged, Liu Erlong transformed into her Scarlet Dragon form and pursued the hawk. However, despite her strength, the hawk's superior speed allowed it to escape.

Both encounters left Liu Erlong fuming.

Days passed without finding a suitable soul beast. Meng Bei appeared contemplative, secretly plotting his next move.

Finally, as the sun rose on yet another frozen day, the icebound wilderness revealed a glimmer of hope.

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