"Help?" the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit asked. "What kind of trouble are you in that you need my help for?"
"I need to borrow your Profound Ice Particles to save someone," Ye Tian said. "You might be the only one who can do it. My own control over Profound Ice Particles isn't refined enough, so I wanted to ask you specifically."
"Of course. You've been very good to me, giving me such a wonderful place for my Cultivation. Anyone else would have probably just absorbed my Profound Ice Energy by now. Since you need something, I'll naturally help."
"To be honest, I've always seen you as my big brother. Since my big bro needs help, how could I possibly refuse? But you'll have to wait a moment!" the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit said.
Ye Tian was thrilled to get the Profound Ice Pearl's agreement. He just didn't know what it was about to do, so he could only wait quietly.
Although Ye Tian had only entered the Storage Ring with his Divine Sense, the experience was no different from being there in person—in fact, it felt even more real.
Ye Tian stood motionless in the secret chamber, leaving Xiao Wenjie and Xiao Yaoyao to wonder what he was doing. He seemed to have entered a state of Meditation, and they both watched him with confusion.
After a long moment, the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit spoke up. "Alright, Big Bro, you can take me out now! I just had to seal my Profound Ice Qi to avoid hurting you."
"When you first found me, the Beiming Li Fish had absorbed some of my Energy, which is why I didn't harm you. But I've recovered now, and the Profound Ice Particles on my surface are terrifyingly potent. Even a Tier Five Demon Beast would be frozen into icy shards if it touched me."
"But the Beiming Li Fish is a Tier Six Demon Beast, and an Ice Attribute one at that, so it wasn't afraid of my Profound Ice Particles. You should understand what I'm saying, right?"
Ye Tian understood at once. 'The Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit is only doing this because it trusts me completely. This is the same as leaving itself completely defenseless. Anyone could take it... It must have taken tremendous courage to do this.'
"I understand. And since you call me Big Bro, I'll give you a name. Maybe you can use it when your spirit form is able to take on a human shape! But time is tight right now. I'll tell you after you've saved him."
"But rest assured, since you trust me this much, I won't let you down. From this day forward, you are my brother—a brother I would protect with my life!" Ye Tian said with a solemn expression.
"Thank you, Big Bro! I won't let you down! You're my family—my only family in this world! Let's go. Saving your friend is what's important!" said the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit.
Ye Tian knew they couldn't delay any longer. With a single thought, the Profound Ice Pearl appeared from his Storage Ring, and he held it firmly in his palm.
Only then did Ye Tian open his eyes. Seeing Xiao Wenjie and Xiao Yaoyao staring at him, he said, "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just bringing him out, which took a moment."
As Ye Tian finished speaking, Guan Tianshui, who was sitting on the floor, opened his eyes as well. "You're all here... I never expected this Fire Poison to be so potent. I really underestimated it. I don't think I can hold on for much longer."
"Don't worry, Dean Guan," Ye Tian said. "I can get rid of the Fire Poison soon. But it's going to be extremely painful. I hope you can endure it."
Forcing himself to endure the agony of the Fire Poison, Guan Tianshui said to Ye Tian, "Ye Tian, your progress has been truly immense. You haven't disappointed me! I know my own condition. At this point, not even an Ice Attribute Elixir from the Imperial City could cure this Fire Poison. You shouldn't waste your effort."
"Dean Guan, thank you for always looking out for me! But rest assured, I can heal your injuries. It's just Fire Poison, nothing to worry about!" Ye Tian said with a smile.
"Stop joking," Guan Tianshui said. "I know you want to save me, but this is simply impossible. I appreciate the thought, but just being able to witness a prodigy like you has made it all worthwhile. I hope you continue your Cultivation well and become a true expert in the future!"
"Dean Guan, please don't say any more. I'm starting your treatment now. You'll have to do your best to endure the intense cold you're about to feel," Ye Tian said.
He then opened his palm and spoke to the Profound Ice Pearl within it. "I'm counting on you for this. I assume you can feel the Fire Poison in his body. Whether or not it can be neutralized is all up to you!"
Ye Tian's actions took Xiao Wenjie, Guan Tianshui, and Xiao Yaoyao completely by surprise. They couldn't understand why he was speaking to a white pearl. The pearl looked somewhat unusual, but they couldn't pinpoint what was special about it, as it gave off no particular energy fluctuations.
"Ye Tian, what is that pearl?" Xiao Wenjie asked in confusion. "You don't actually intend to use it to treat Dean Guan, do you?"
Guan Tianshui and Xiao Yaoyao shared the same question, looking to Ye Tian in hopes that he would clear up their confusion.
"Don't worry, Big Bro," the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit suddenly said. "It's just a measly Fire Poison. This is the simplest kind. For me, this is child's play. He doesn't need to do anything. I'll just absorb the Fire Poison directly. He will, however, have to endure the agony of being frozen."
This time, the voice of the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit wasn't directed at Ye Tian alone, but at everyone in the room. This proclamation gave Xiao Wenjie and the others quite a shock.
"This... what on earth is this pearl? How can it talk?" Xiao Wenjie, being a dean, was quite knowledgeable. "Could it be... that an Artifact Spirit has formed inside?"
"That's right. This is the Profound Ice Pearl," Ye Tian said with a smile. "You can't feel its temperature because he's intentionally concealing it. An Artifact Spirit has indeed formed within it. He's the reason I said I could remove the Fire Poison from Dean Guan. Now you don't have to worry, right?"
It was incredible that Ye Tian possessed such a rare Divine Object. But if it could save Guan Tianshui, that was more important than anything else.
Ye Tian then released the Profound Ice Pearl. It shot straight up into the air above the secret chamber, and in the blink of an eye, it unleashed a dazzling white light.
After the light faded, an unprecedented chill instantly descended. The temperature in the once-scorching secret chamber plummeted, and a layer of frost began to coat the surfaces.
The sudden drop in temperature caught Xiao Wenjie and the others off guard. As the air grew colder and colder, it felt as though their very blood was about to freeze, forcing them to circulate their Spiritual Power to resist the chill.
Guan Tianshui, however, felt a wave of refreshing coolness spread through his body, significantly easing his unbearable, death-like agony.
"Big Bro, you should have them leave," the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit suddenly said. "I'm about to release my Profound Ice Qi, and it might affect them. You, however, can absorb some of it. It will be very beneficial for you. This is my Innate Profound Ice Qi, you know! It's extremely rare!"