Half a month later, Xiao Han's group of five arrived at the Ice Sealed Forest.
They first found a suitable Soul Beast for Shui Yue'er and helped her hunt it down.
After absorbing the Soul Ring, Shui Yue'er's Soul Power directly reached Level 35, and she gained a Soul Skill capable of dealing tremendous damage—Spear of Ice.
This time, besides Xiao Han, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er, Lin Zhiruo also needed to hunt a Soul Beast to obtain her eighth Soul Ring.
In addition, Xue Wu also had a chance to obtain her Fourth Soul Ring.
She was currently at the Level 40 bottleneck. After absorbing an Immortal Herb, her cultivation speed would increase, and she might achieve a breakthrough soon.
The group continued searching the forest for suitable Soul Beasts for Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er.
After several days of searching, they finally discovered an Ice Blue Phoenix Bird in a valley.
Lin Zhiruo was somewhat excited.
"It is an Ice Blue Phoenix Bird nearing ten thousand years of cultivation."
"Mom, it is perfect for Bing'er's Fourth Soul Ring."
Shui Bing'er had absorbed the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and could withstand it.
The Ice Blue Phoenix Bird rested quietly within the deep valley, surrounded by a faint chill that seemed capable of freezing the air.
Its body was slender and graceful, its feathers a deep blue that glimmered with an icy yet captivating sheen.
Its beak was sharp and slender, gleaming coldly like a razor-sharp Ice Blade.
Its deep eyes contained a chilling majesty that made people afraid to meet its gaze.
Xiao Han and the others' arrival caught its attention.
It abruptly spread its wings, soared into the air, and launched an attack at them.
"Everyone, be careful!"
As Xiao Han spoke, he released his Martial Soul and Soul Rings, becoming the first to charge forward.
Every feather of the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird seemed to contain endless power and frost. With a gentle flap of its wings, countless Ice Cones shot toward them.
Xiao Han drew his bowstring to its fullest. His Second Soul Skill, Ten Thousand Arrows Firing, activated.
Under Xiao Han's control, countless arrows instantly condensed into a dense rain of icy-blue arrows. They collided fiercely with the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird's Ice Cones in midair, producing crisp, piercing cracking sounds.
Cold Fire had been infused into Xiao Han's arrows, making their attacks even more powerful.
A faint mist immediately spread through the air.
As large flakes of snow drifted down from the sky, Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu quietly completed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
A massive Ice Phoenix soared into the air and sped toward the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird.
After absorbing the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, Shui Bing'er could completely control the power of her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul.
Her Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Xue Wu temporarily raised her strength to the Soul Emperor level.
Suppressed by her extreme cold power, the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird's speed plummeted. It flew only several dozen meters before being successfully intercepted.
Without hesitation, Shui Bing'er slashed at it through the air, taking its life.
The battle ended swiftly.
Lin Zhiruo and Shui Yue'er watched throughout without making a move.
"Big Sister, you were amazing!"
Shui Bing'er smiled faintly and modestly said:
"Thanks to Xiao Han using Ten Thousand Arrows Firing to block its attacks, Xue Wu and I had the chance to use our Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
Lin Zhiruo nodded approvingly.
"You are becoming more and more coordinated, and the power of your Martial Soul Fusion Skill has grown even stronger."
"Come to think of it, this is all because we absorbed the Immortal Herb Xiao Han gave us."
"Bing'er, you are too modest. All right, go absorb that Soul Ring. We will stand guard for you."
"Okay."
After adjusting her condition, Shui Bing'er began absorbing the Soul Ring.
Xiao Han and the others waited guard nearby.
Three hours later, Shui Bing'er completely absorbed the Soul Ring.
Feeling the surging Soul Power within her body, Shui Bing'er found it unbelievable.
Xiao Han was the first to walk over.
"Bing'er, how is it? Did your Soul Power increase a lot?"
"Yes. Just as you said, the Soul Power I had stored before manifested after I gained a new Soul Ring."
Shui Yue'er impatiently asked:
"Big Sister, what level is your Soul Power at now?"
"level 45."
"level 45?!"
Both Shui Yue'er and Xue Wu found it hard to believe.
"That Immortal Herb truly deserves to be called the King of Flowers. It brought Big Sister such an enormous improvement."
"Yes. More importantly, it will help me better control the Ice Phoenix's power."
Xiao Han teased:
"How nice. Bing'er's Soul Power has already surpassed mine."
"You have not obtained your Fourth Soul Ring yet."
"I know my limits. Even if I obtain my Fourth Soul Ring, I still will not reach level 45 unless it is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring. But obviously, that is impossible. Haha!"
Xiao Han was genuinely happy for Shui Bing'er. After taking the Immortal Herb, Shui Bing'er's fate would be completely changed.
Xue Wu asked:
"Bing'er, what is your fourth soul skill, then?"
"It is an offensive enhancement skill, similar to the attack the Ice Blue Phoenix Bird just used. When I activate this Soul Skill, I can fire Ice Cones from my wings with a freezing effect. At the same time, my speed, attack, and defense all increase by one hundred percent. I call it Phoenix Ice Thorn."
Xiao Han took over.
"This Soul Skill is great. Bing'er's offensive power has increased tremendously."
Lin Zhiruo nodded.
"Bing'er's fourth soul skill is indeed excellent. Used together with her earlier Soul Skills, it is practically perfect. Next, we should find a suitable Soul Beast for Xiao Han."
"Okay, then let us go."
The group slowly made their way deeper into the Ice Sealed Forest.
The surrounding air grew increasingly cold, while the snow between the trees lay deep. Every step produced a heavy crunch.
Just as everyone cautiously searched their surroundings for a Soul Beast suitable for Xiao Han, a faint yet unnerving rustling came from beneath the snow.
Xiao Han immediately stopped, his sharp gaze sweeping the area.
"Everyone, be careful. Something is here!"
Before his words had faded, the snow suddenly split open. A massive Soul Beast covered in crystalline blue-black scales burst forth and charged directly at Xiao Han.
Its eyes gleamed an eerie green, while the long, sharp stinger on its tail reflected a lethal icy glint beneath the sunlight. It clearly contained immense power.
"It is an Ice Jade Scorpion!"
Lin Zhiruo recognized the Soul Beast and released her Martial Soul at the same time, preparing to fight.
Scorpions were the foremost of the five poisons, their venom more threatening than that of poisonous Soul Beasts such as centipedes, spiders, venomous snakes, geckos, and toads.
However, in pursuing the path of Ultimate Ice, the Ice Jade Scorpion clan had abandoned venom cultivation and focused on ice-element abilities.
Even Lin Zhiruo did not dare let her guard down when facing this Ice Jade Scorpion with ten thousand years of cultivation.
"This Ice Jade Scorpion has reached ten thousand years of cultivation. Fall back!"
"Mom, this thing came at just the right time. Let it become my Fourth Soul Ring!"
Rather than being afraid, Xiao Han was thrilled.
"You brat, are you insane? This is a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
"A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is exactly what I want!"
Xiao Han was full of confidence.
He believed that given his current condition, absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring would not be a problem at all.
Before you continue