Hearing her sudden question, Yi Chen met her eyes and said, "I am."

"You are?... Then why is your face so calm?" Gao Zhen asked doubtfully.

Hearing her question, Yi Chen chuckled, "It’s just not to the point of showing on my face. However, the same couldn’t be said about you, Madam Gao."

At those words, Gao Zhen immediately became self-conscious and said with an embarrassed smile, "Was it that obvious?"

"Indeed." Yi Chen nodded and added with a smile, "And it’s not only because of your expressions."

He paused momentarily, enough for a curious glint to appear in Gao Zhen’s eyes before he continued.

"For the entirety of the last week, you’ve been pushing yourself to your limits, which was quite different from your usual self. And even after pushing yourself this much after the end of each session, there was never a satisfied expression on your face.

It was always as if you were disappointed with something. So, I would have to be blind not to notice that you are frustrated. It’s also because of this that I’ve already somewhat expected this news."

Yi Chen chuckled when he finished those words.

"I see...so it was like this. I guess I should have been more discreet," she answered with a pursed smile and explained.

"To be honest, I am a little curious. Didn’t Madam Gao state that it would take more than two years to master the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts, so why are you hurrying all of a sudden?" Yi Chen asked.

He had been suppressing this question in his mind for a while now.

"That’s because I couldn’t help myself..." Gao Zhen answered with a bitter smile.

"Couldn’t help yourself?" Yi Chen frowned and repeated her words with an inquisitive expression.

Hearing him, she nodded and continued, "That’s right. During this period, a certain possibility entered my mind...

A possibility that if I were to go through the details of the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts after changing my spirit root’s nature, then maybe...just maybe I’ll be able to grasp things which I wasn’t able to before."

"This..." Yi Chen couldn’t help but knit his brows when he heard her words and slowly nodded in thought, "Yes..."

As he said that, his expression brightened as another nod followed soon after. The next second, he said with an energetic expression, "Why didn’t I think of this possibility? That really might work!"

Excitement and hope brimmed in his eyes when he spoke.

Seeing this reaction, Gao Zhen also smiled as the hope in her heart was further reinforced by Yi Chen’s words.

"Indeed." Gao Zhen firmly nodded, "That’s why I pushed myself so much these days...I hoped to confirm this possibility as quickly as possible."

"If I were in Madam Gao’s place, I would have done the same," Yi Chen nodded and continued, "However, even though it takes another month, so what? It’s not like we have any other choice, and moreover.

After investing two months into this, if Madam Gao is able to master the Qi Absorption Art in less than a year’s time, then won’t it all be worth it? We’ll both be able to leave this place and handle our important matters."

"Yes, Young Master Chen is indeed right." Gao Zhen nodded and also realised that she had been a little short-sighted in this regard.

Her attention soon went to her food that was left untouched for a couple of minutes, and she began eating once again. Yi Chen also resumed eating.

After dinner, she went to her tent, and Yi Chen busied himself with cultivation.

’If everything goes well, then I’ll indeed be able to participate in the tournament...’ Yi Chen thought with a longing expression on his face before immersing himself in his cultivation.

From the next day onwards, with renewed spirits, they resumed the process.

Since Yi Chen shared the same desire as her now, Gao Zhen was able to push herself even further than usual, and finally, some changes began to appear on the crystal.

By day ten, twelve per cent of the blue crystal had turned black.

.

.

By day fourteen, that percentage had risen to thirty-five percent.

.

.

By day twenty-two, it was 67 per cent.

.

.

And finally, by day thirty, the entirety of the previously blue crystal was now black, and its surface exuded a black sheen.

The moment this happened, Gao Zhen’s firmly shut eyes slammed open.

Feeling Yi Chen’s hands that were still firmly placed on her back, circulating Qi into her Qi pool, she immediately turned around and said with excitement and anticipation apparent on her face.

"I did it! I changed my Qi’s nature!"

Hearing her energetic exclamation, Yi Chen’s expression also brightened up in anticipation.

"Great!" he exclaimed and asked a second later, "Do you want to rest a little before starting, or are you ready to test it out now?"

"Rest? No, I’ve never felt more energised." Gao Zhen grinned at his words and stood up the next moment.

Seeing this, Yi Chen nodded, clearly understanding her sentiments.

His heart brimmed with anticipation as he watched Gao Zhen stretch her stiff body a little before turning to face the stone tablet.

With rapt attention, she read through the entirety of the Abyssal Blackglacial Arts once again, making sure not to miss even a single word.

Time seemed to have slowed down for Yi Chen as he closely observed Gao Zhen’s expression.

Second after second, he began noticing some minute changes on her forehead, which little by little started wrinkling, and the moment Yi Chen noticed this, his breathing couldn’t help but quicken, not from anticipation but from anxiety.

’Why is she frow-’

Before he could even phrase the question properly in his mind, he saw Gao Zhen’s entire expression crumbling as she turned her head towards him.

The moment their gaze locked, she subtly tilted her head to the side while tightly pursing her lips.

"..."

Yi Chen’s heart turned heavy the very next instant, making it difficult for him to breathe. Retracting his gaze from hers, he glanced downwards at the icy ground and started breathing heavily.

The hope that had taken shape in his heart in the last few days shattered.