Xiao Wenjie's words left Xiao Yaoyao momentarily speechless. After thinking for a long while, she finally said, "Father, Ye Tian has a one-in-a-million constitution. I'm sure you don't need me to spell out the details!"
"In any case, I've accepted him as my man for this lifetime. No matter how he treats me, I'll never have any regrets!"
Seeing the blush on his daughter's face, Xiao Wenjie chuckled. "You won't regret it even if he uses you and then abandons you? Ye Tian is indeed outstanding—his talent is enviable. But you have to be careful. A man that exceptional is unlikely to have only one woman. You must keep a tight grip on his heart at all times, or you'll truly regret it one day."
Xiao Yaoyao smiled. "I trust Ye Tian wouldn't do that. He's a good man, a responsible man. Father, you don't need to worry so much. No matter how many women he has, there will always be a place for me in his heart."
But inwardly, Xiao Yaoyao thought, 'Ye Tian already has Ye Feifei and Lin Ling. Including me, that's three women. And it's unclear if Qin Xiaowan will become his woman, too. The idea of capturing his heart all by myself is just a fool's dream.'
Xiao Wenjie shook his head helplessly. "Since you feel that way, there's nothing more I can say! This is the path you've chosen. Since the heavens allowed you to meet Ye Tian, you must cherish the opportunity. I believe that one day, he will stand above all others. He is simply too formidable!"
The father and daughter, Xiao Wenjie and Xiao Yaoyao, waited for Ye Tian by the secret chamber. Meanwhile, Ye Tian was still in a state of Meditation, though his absorption speed had slowed considerably.
The Profound Ice Pearl floated above Ye Tian's head. The Innate Profound Ice Qi inside the secret chamber had grown extremely thin. Although the chilling air was still bitingly cold, the Profound Ice Element Particles within it were no longer of much use to Ye Tian.
It was like losing all appetite for plain food after having feasted on the finest delicacies.
An unknown amount of time passed before Ye Tian opened his eyes. He glanced around and saw that Guan Tianshui had already left the secret chamber. The room was still shrouded in frigid air; it seemed destined to become a permanent cryo-chamber.
Seeing Ye Tian awaken, the Profound Ice Pearl's Artifact Spirit immediately asked, "Big Brother, how do you feel? The Energy of the Innate Profound Ice Qi is incredibly powerful. I didn't dare release too much of it, for fear that you'd have an accident from absorbing too much. The Fire Poison in your friend has been successfully purged, so you can rest assured!"
"Thank you! I just came up with a name for you. My surname is Ye, so how about I call you Ye Bing from now on? You are the Artifact Spirit of the Profound Ice Pearl, so I believe this name suits you!" Ye Tian said.
"Ye Bing? That's a lovely name! Thank you, Big Brother! I finally have a name! Don't worry, I will work hard on my Cultivation and strive to take human form so I can be with you one day!" said Ye Bing, the Artifact Spirit of the Profound Ice Pearl.
"Then I'll look forward to that day's arrival. For now, you should go back inside the Storage Ring. I'm sure healing Dean Guan consumed a great deal of your power, so you need to recover properly."
"After absorbing your Innate Profound Ice Qi, I feel my comprehension of the Water Element has improved significantly. After a little more time, I might be able to completely master the Water Element Particles. When that happens, I'll have another Martial Skill," Ye Tian said with a smile.
Hearing this, Ye Bing, the Artifact Spirit of the Profound Ice Pearl, was overjoyed. 'My efforts weren't in vain, after all.' "In that case, I'll go recover. If you ever need me, Big Brother, just call. Ye Bing will do everything in her power to help you."
With a thought from Ye Tian, the Profound Ice Pearl returned to his Storage Ring. He gave the secret chamber one last look before opening the Stone Gate and walking out.
The moment he stepped through the Stone Gate, he saw Xiao Wenjie and his daughter looking at him, their faces lit with joyous smiles. Xiao Yaoyao, in particular, rushed toward him as if they'd been separated by life and death, her eyes overflowing with affection.
"Ye Tian, how do you feel? We've been waiting here for you for a full seven days. I'm sure you must be starving! How about we go get something to eat now?" Xiao Yaoyao said.
"Seven days? That really is a long time. I am feeling a little hungry, though. I'm sorry to have made you and the Dean worry," Ye Tian said, glancing pointedly at Xiao Wenjie as he spoke.
"Ye Tian, you can drop the act. I know all about you and Yaoyao. Over the past few days, she has told me everything. I am more than satisfied to have a son-in-law like you."
"However, I must warn you about one thing: Yaoyao is a good girl, and you cannot let her down. If you dare to use her and then abandon her, I will settle the score with you, even if it costs me my life," Xiao Wenjie said, his tone stern.
"Father, what are you saying? Ye Tian would never use and abandon me! Do you have so little faith in your daughter's judgment?" Xiao Yaoyao immediately protested.
"Dean, rest assured that I would never do such a thing. I am well aware of Yaoyao's feelings for me, and I, Ye Tian, am not that kind of man! When I've made a name for myself, I will undoubtedly marry her in a grand ceremony. The time is not yet right, so I ask for your forgiveness, Dean."
"To be honest, I would love to call you Father-in-law, but I simply don't have enough power yet. You don't blame me, do you?" Ye Tian said.
"I won't! I know you are destined for greatness. I will wait for you to call me Father-in-law on the day you achieve fame and success! We've spent enough time delayed by this secret chamber. Let's go!"
"The academy's outdoor activity is about to take place. I trust Dean Guan's injuries are fully healed by now, and I look forward to seeing your astonishing performance!" Xiao Wenjie said with a smile.
Soon, the three of them departed. Xiao Wenjie went to check on Guan Tianshui's recovery, while Xiao Yaoyao and Ye Tian returned to the elite students' area, whispering sweet nothings to each other along the way.
Upon returning to his dorm, Ye Tian found Zhou Xiang and the other two roommates inside. All three of them looked upset, and Chu Hongyuan even had a bruise on his forehead, as if he'd been beaten up.
The three of them looked up when Ye Tian entered, but they quickly averted their gaze. "Boss, you're back. We heard Instructor Xiao took you away from the secret chamber. Did something happen?" Zhou Xiang asked.
Ye Tian stared intently at them. It was obvious Zhou Xiang was deliberately trying to change the subject, a fact Ye Tian saw through in an instant.
"It was nothing important. I just went into seclusion in a secret chamber in the deans' area to speed up my cultivation. But what happened to you guys? Brother Chu, you have a bruise on your face. Did someone bully you?" Ye Tian asked.
"Someone did bully us. After you left—" Before Zhou Xiang could finish, Chu Hongyuan interrupted him.
"Zhou Xiang, you can't say it! You promised me!" Chu Hongyuan said angrily.
When Ye Tian heard this, his mood instantly soured. "What the hell is going on? Someone dared to bully my brothers? You three had better explain yourselves, right now!"