A normal dragon clan member couldn't possess two types of Origin Powers, and it was especially impossible to have two diametrically opposed ones — ice and fire simply couldn't coexist. If Zhu Qing had harbored both of these Origins within her body from the start, she likely wouldn't have survived until now.
In a flash of insight, a bold speculation surfaced in Yang Kai's mind.
That Ice Dragon Origin — it might well be the power left behind by the dragon that had perished in the Frozen Earth.
The reason Zhu Qing had come to the Frozen Earth wasn't to search for her clansmen's remains, because Li Jiao had made it clear long ago that the dragon's bones had long since crumbled to dust, with nothing left behind. Zhu Qing had insisted on making the trip solely to retrieve the Origin Power her clansman had left behind.
Now it seemed she had found it, but had been harmed by the Ice Dragon Origin in the process.
Origin Power had no thoughts and no reason — it was merely a force of nature. When two such powers coexisted within Zhu Qing's body, they instinctively generated tremendous rejection and conflict, using Zhu Qing's physical form as a battlefield to wage an unending war against each other.
Yang Kai couldn't see this internal struggle unless the two forces manifested openly, just as they had moments ago.
And while he was still reeling from shock, both dragon silhouettes roared in unison once more before plunging back into Zhu Qing's body and vanishing.
Zhu Qing let out a pained wail. In her current state, she had lost all awareness and was effectively unconscious. The eyes that had opened moments ago weren't under conscious control but were simply an instinctive response of the body.
A thin layer of frost became visible on the surface of Zhu Qing's skin, wisps of cold seeping out from within her flesh as though attempting to freeze her solid.
But soon a scorching force radiated outward, scattering the chill in every direction, turning Zhu Qing's entire body as if she were being licked by flames — her skin flushed red, her body burning hot, even the ground beneath her scorched to blackened earth.
The two forces cycled through Zhu Qing's body in alternation, over and over again, as if they would never stop. Zhu Qing's moans grew ever more anguished.
Yang Kai was completely at a loss, having no idea what to do.
If it were merely a matter of injuries, no matter how severe, he could always think of some way to deal with it. But in truth, after the nourishment of the Ageless Tree's essence, Zhu Qing didn't bear any significant wounds — the only problem was that two Origin Powers were fighting uncontrollably within her.
As the battlefield, her physical body would inevitably suffer catastrophic damage.
Origin Power, Origin Power… A light flashed in Yang Kai's eyes. He surged forward in a single step, scooping Zhu Qing up once more and cradling her against his chest. Then, silently, he activated his own Golden Holy Dragon Origin Power.
A resplendent golden dragon silhouette materialized behind him, flashed once, and dove back into his body, disappearing.
The temperature on Zhu Qing's body fluctuated wildly — one moment burning like fire, the next as bone-chillingly cold as if she'd been pulled from the depths of a frozen wasteland.
But once the aura of the Golden Holy Dragon Origin leaked out, the pace of this oscillation between hot and cold abruptly slowed.
It was working! Yang Kai rejoiced inwardly. He had merely been experimenting, testing whether his Golden Holy Dragon Origin could exert any suppressive effect. Now it seemed it truly made a difference.
The most critical thing now was to wake Zhu Qing. Only if she regained consciousness could she fully mobilize the power of her own Origin to suppress the Ice Dragon Origin — either driving it out or destroying it.
So Yang Kai braced his tongue and prepared to channel his spiritual power, but just as he was about to cast the technique, Zhu Qing suddenly reached back and clung to him tightly, as though she had tasted something sweet. Yang Kai's aura had prompted her subconscious into making the right response.
Zhu Qing's frame was petite and delicate, but she was a dragon clan member after all — her strength was in no way inferior to Yang Kai's. He had experienced the ferocity of her power the very first time they met.
This squeeze nearly cracked his ribs, and his face couldn't help but turn green.
Yet the softness pressing against his chest made his heart flutter.
It didn't end there. Zhu Qing actually began nuzzling against him like a little puppy, burrowing back and forth in his embrace, sniffing constantly, strange sounds rumbling in her throat — as though she had found some delicious morsel and wanted to feast on it to her heart's content.
Yang Kai froze as though struck by lightning, his entire body going rigid. It wasn't until a sharp pain shot through his chest that he snapped out of it and angrily pushed Zhu Qing's head away, pressing his palm against her face as he hissed, "Are you a dog? Why are you biting people?"
Zhu Qing's eyes were hazy and unfocused, shimmering with an unusual glow. Her breathing had inexplicably quickened, and Yang Kai could clearly feel the breath she exhaled from her nostrils was hot enough to scald his skin. Her delicate features were flushed with an almost dewy crimson, radiating a bewitching allure that made one want to throw caution to the wind.
Yang Kai's heart felt as though tens of thousands of ants were crawling across it — an itch he could barely suppress.
Zhu Qing opened her mouth again, her white teeth sinking into the web of skin between Yang Kai's thumb and forefinger. She bit down hard, actually leaving a mark, and from the wound welled up golden blood.
The blood seemed to be the most delectable food imaginable. Zhu Qing swallowed it in great gulps, and her small, warm tongue continuously lapped at Yang Kai's palm, sending waves of tingling numbness through him.
Yang Kai had originally wanted to pull his hand away, but after being treated to this, he found himself somewhat reluctant to let go.
But soon Yang Kai noticed something peculiar — after swallowing his blood, Zhu Qing's condition seemed to improve considerably. The frequency of the hot-cold alternation slowed even further, and the icy chill persisted for shorter and shorter periods, flashing briefly before being overwhelmed by the heat each time.