Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’
Chapter 283: Jade Phoenix Shape: A Fiery Ice Lump

In the suspended temple's aquatic realm, from the lowly seventh-grade demons who came to vie for the celestial jade to the mighty demon kings like Wu Qing and Manbo, all gathered before a grove, basking in the radiant glow of the Jade Phoenix's divine light, their faces filled with serene delight.

What was once a tranquil marsh now resembled a sunlit beach.

Thankfully, this wasn’t actual sunlight—otherwise, they’d all soon be turned into salted fish.

The baptism of their ancestors' spirits was a slow, subtle transformation.

Murong Xiao, half his face covered in the scales of a Mingjiao, wore an expression of solemn dignity. Though a half-demon, he now possessed the purest bloodline of the Mingjiao clan.

"My shell seems to be sprouting barbs..."

"Ah, how unbecoming. Too flashy."

The Profound Turtle Demon King sighed with a smug grin, flaunting his progress.

"I’ve only improved a little, but given time, I’ll rival even the finest human-forged weapons."

The Swordfish Great Demon pierced a rock with his nose, his face brimming with pride.

Why had their clan migrated to the southern borders?

Because one of their ancestors, whose body was as hard as divine steel, had once roamed the world alongside a legendary swordsman, earning such renown that countless warriors sought to wield a swordfish as their weapon.

"We’ll finally stand tall before the avian clans," Wu Qing chuckled before suddenly sneezing like she’d caught a cold.

(ACHOO!)

BOOM—

The aquatic realm’s mist thickened, dark clouds swirling with a hint of wind and thunder, and rain began pouring in an instant.

The demons gasped—Wu Qing’s bloodline power had visibly strengthened in such a short time!

Hands on her hips, Wu Qing relished their awe.

But before she could speak, a crackling voice buzzed in her ears:

"Looook~ at~ meee~"

"Wait, Manbo, don’t generate lightning here!"

It was already raining heavily.

As everyone knew, impure water conducted electricity, and Wu Qing’s summoned storm was far from pure.

Thus, amidst the downpour, crackles and flashes lit up the marsh, the water demons flickering like stars.

Fortunately, Wu Qing’s control over the rain was now precise, and the storm’s range was small. She stopped it swiftly—otherwise, when Li Mo emerged, he’d find the marsh littered with floating, belly-up demons.

"I’ve glimpsed the celestial jade from afar a few times, but it never had such an effect," the Profound Turtle Demon King mused, puzzled.

His rise to demon kingship was also thanks to the celestial jade, and having lived long, he’d encountered it by chance before.

"Rumor has it that when the avian clans held the jade, its light was dim as a candle, barely enough for two demons to meditate upon."

Wu Dameng scratched his head. "Exactly. If it had been this miraculous back then, the avian clans would’ve overrun our territory long ago."

Murong Xiao opened his eyes, his voice now carrying a thunderous resonance:

"They’re dual-cultivating inside."

"Eh? Wu Mo and the Qingluan Goddess?"

"Ah... So it’s the combined awakening of the true dragon and phoenix bloodlines that’s amplifying the jade’s power."

"Should we go in and thank them?"

The demons were deeply grateful.

Murong Feng, recalling his own reunion with his wife, flushed slightly.

"I think... that won’t be necessary."

"Hmm..."

Wu Qing glanced at Murong Xiao, who seemed on the verge of a breakthrough, then shifted her gaze toward the forest, her expression turning complex.

The supreme treasure of the demon race, yet it shone brilliantly in the hands of a pair of young human cultivators—who could have imagined such a thing?

But perhaps... it wasn’t a bad thing?

...

"What was all that racket outside just now?"

Li Mo cracked his eyes open slightly, but the light from the Jade Phoenix Deity was blinding, like holy radiance, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

The only thing he could make out was the owner of the cool, soft little hand covering his mouth—her serene beauty rivaled the Jade Phoenix Deity’s glow, her eyes dazed, her expression neither happy nor sad. No wonder they called her the Qingluan Goddess. Yet, her slightly pursed lips held a hint of crimson, glossy allure.

They looked... delicious.

What am I thinking? It must be the influence of the Roaring Dragon bloodline!

To calm himself, Li Mo instinctively licked his lips—forgetting one crucial detail.

And so, Ying Bing’s lashes fluttered as she opened her eyes.

The Ice Queen’s piercing stare.

"Ermmm..." Li Mo was about to tactically lean back.

But then Ying Bing arched an elegant brow, her other hand reaching over in annoyance.

And pinched the nose of a certain peerless Heavenly Dragon.

Li Mo: "???"

Let’s be real.

He wasn’t just a martial artist at the fourth aperture of divine observation, with seven mystic pills cycling autonomously in his body—he had also transformed into a Roaring Dragon. There was no way he’d be stifled by this. He could hold his breath till dawn without breaking a sweat.

Yet, the moment he saw her furrowed brows and the faint reproach in her eyes, he suddenly felt... suffocated.

"Stop getting distracted. Focus on your training."

Ying Bing withdrew her slender, jade-like hand, releasing Li Mo’s nose and mouth, then took hold of his wrist.

"Got it."

Li Mo nodded, shaking off his daze.

He had just condensed another transformation—already an impressive speed—but truthfully, he hadn’t been fully focused. Their spirits were linked, and the Ice Queen had clearly noticed, hence why she’d pulled her hand back.

Mostly because when he licked his lips earlier, her mental state had rippled too.

Come to think of it, she seemed to be comprehending some profound martial art herself.

"Jade Phoenix Form."

Ying Bing murmured softly.

Had Li Mo known of this divine technique, he might have found similarities to the Seventy-Two Transformations—except the latter was purely about physical changes, without altering the soul’s intent.

The ultimate goal of the Jade Phoenix Form, however, was to embody the divine essence of a hundred avian spirits, merging them into one to manifest the form of a phoenix.

"Sounds impressive."

"It is a divine technique."

Seeing his curiosity, Ying Bing summoned the Vermilion Bird spirit from the Jade Phoenix Deity.

The process resembled the last time she had invoked the King Peacock’s spirit.

Her plain robes, after a surge of fiery light, instantly transformed into a dazzling, noble palace gown—its design somewhat reminiscent of... the one his beautiful master wore?

Her raven-black hair turned into flowing flames, her pupils igniting with a beautiful yet deadly firelight.

"See it clearly now?"

Ying Bing leaned in closer.

"Uh... not inferior to... the divine abilities I cultivate."

Li Mo nodded. He didn’t remember ever being this close to the Ice Queen’s face before. He could feel her warm breath against his skin as she spoke...

Was this still the Ice Queen?

Suddenly, she was blooming unrestrained—no longer cold, but scorching enough to make him sweat.

"I’m having trouble concentrating," Li Mo admitted earnestly.

This was too much.

He felt his weakness being tested far more intensely than anything Murong Xiao could throw at him.

"..."

In truth, even if he didn’t say it, Ying Bing already knew.

It’s just that whenever she recalled those moments—sharing a bed, bathing together, being teased by him until she was utterly flustered—she couldn’t help but feel the urge to get back at him now.

The drawback of the "Jade Phoenix Form" was that it could slightly alter one’s temperament...

Yes, it must be because of this divine technique.

"Wait a moment."

The temperature in the air suddenly plummeted.

"This true spirit is..."

"The Frost Swan."