Ice Attribute Control, Charging toward Level Five

"Splash splash splash—"

From the secluded valley came the sound of towering waves crashing against the rocks, which also sounded like many pieces of ice breaking in a dense, shattering noise.

Countless invisible, deep blue veins emanated from the valley, leading to a massive, snow-white vortex at its base. Accompanied by the mournful, distant cry of a whale, a figure slowly emerged from the center of the vortex.

Ronan stood above the valley, stretching his body. His well-proportioned, not particularly imposing physique exuded a sense of boundless depth and vastness.

His fair, frosty hair was casually draped over his shoulders, and his originally pure and azure eyes had turned into a deeper, richer blue-gold, which, combined with the whale pattern on his brow, made him appear even more noble.

Opening his Character Panel, the words "[Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline]" appeared prominently in the Talents section. Although the concentration was only 1%, it gave Ronan a feeling of being reborn from the inside out, both in his soul and body.

"Call--"

Ronan exhaled softly, looking at his hands, which appeared excessively pale.

Yet, within it surged an indescribable, terrifying [Great Strength], as if it would burst forth from every pore with the slightest thought.

The Grandmaster- level [Ascetic Body Forging] proficiency remained unchanged, entirely due to the physical enhancement brought by the Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline.

The fusion with Hecalto's bloodline had a similar effect back then, but it's completely incomparable to what's happening now.

Of course, compared to the other improvements brought by the Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline, the change in physique is almost negligible.

Ronan scanned the Character Panel and noticed that in addition to the [Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline] talent, there was another new talent added to the talent list—[Ice Attribute Control]!

He once possessed the talent of [Ice Attribute Affinity], but lost it after losing the Ancient Frost Hydra Bloodline. Now, he has regained this talent in a higher-level form.

[Ice Attribute Control]!

Now, in Ronan's eyes, the world is filled with streaks of blue and white light, some bright and some dark, just like the blood vessels that grow naturally in Ronan's body.

He can "see" them and touch them whenever he wants.

"The power of the rules concerning frost"

This is the most direct benefit of the Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline and the [Ice Element Control] talent – he has become a complete darling of the ice element. Any Ice Magic in his hands will awaken the instinct of his bloodline, allowing him to control it as easily as breathing.

They could even skip the Extraordinary Magic Domain stage and enter the forbidden realm directly.

His skill panel, which was currently stuck at "Master Level 1600 points" for perfect-level Ice Magic, is now undergoing a transformation, gradually being modified by the buffs brought by the Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline.

Ronan casually tapped his finger to summon a small ice crystal. The insignificant mobilization of his mental energy caused countless free energy particles to rush in rapidly.

That single ice crystal expanded rapidly in the void like an inflating balloon, accumulating power quickly like a snowball, and also possessed additional magical effects such as ice spikes and Ice Ring!

If Ronan used Ice Magic in the past, it was by forcibly "recruiting" those free ice energy particles to assist him using his mental power.

Now, with just a thought, he can summon ten or even a hundred times more ice energy than before, eager to resonate with Ronan and hoping to be chosen by him.

"Is this the power of an ancient bloodline?"

Suddenly, Ronan's eyes transformed into a blazing, Snowy Sun, and a powerful Spiritual Force Field emanated from his body.

In an instant, a swirling frost nebula appeared, directly drawing in a vast and terrifying cold wave. Countless snow-white arcs of light fell from the sky, presenting a terrifying scene of the Ice River turning upside down and the world collapsing.

In the blink of an eye, the void and land within a radius of tens of miles around Ronan were completely frozen, turning into a small, snow-white, crystalline world that continued to expand outwards.

"Call--"

Ronan exhaled gently, gathering back the power he had released.

It is foreseeable that his original Ice Magic combat system will undergo a huge leap and change after the addition of the Primordial Frost Whale Bloodline.

Right now, he's just using his instincts to do whatever he wants. He's still exploring many of the deeper abilities that come from his bloodline, but at this stage, he probably doesn't have time to test them all.

The most urgent task is to reach level five as soon as possible.

Ronan composed himself, put the Dawn Mask and the Magma Embrace Gauntlet back on, and then flew swiftly toward the Valley of Gilded Doors.

The Valley of Gilded Doors.

Inside the makeshift palace, Serena sat quietly at a red oak table.

At one end of the oak table, which appears to have grown naturally, there are vibrant branches covered with palm-sized, lush, and fresh leaves.

Each leaf seemed to shimmer with runes and writing. Serena plucked a leaf, read the words that appeared on it, and the lush green leaf immediately turned yellow and withered. She then casually set it aside.

Serena slowly looked at each leaf, occasionally furrowing her brows and sometimes falling into deep thought.

As she reached out to pluck another fresh leaf from the oak branch, the silence in the room was suddenly broken. An ordinary-looking, slightly dark-skinned, Silver-Haired Witch quickly entered, approached Serena with a joyful expression, and whispered a rapid report, "Your Highness, that one... has returned."

"Where?!"

Serena, who was engrossed in her work at the desk, suddenly brightened up.

"It's right where the Spirit Shaping Array was originally set up."

As soon as the Silver-Haired Witch finished speaking, she looked up and found that Serena had disappeared from her sight, leaving only oak leaves rustling in the wind.

Serena rushed to the location she had personally chosen to set up the Spirit Shaping Array.

The dense foliage blocked her view, and without even responding to the salutes from the Life Royal Court wizards on duty, Serena pushed aside the last clump of bushes in front of her, her gaze immediately locking onto a tall figure standing directly in front of her, facing the Spirit Shaping Array.

Serena's eyes widened slightly upon seeing the other person.

Compared to a year ago, the person in front of me had transformed from an arrogant and fiery, Keen Edge and edgy aura into a deeply restrained one.

But she felt that he had become even stronger.

Serena walked towards the man step by step, feeling as if she were walking on an endless Ice Sea, her whole being gradually swallowed by the cold.

The man's casual turn and glance, the aura he exuded in that instant, was as if some indescribable behemoth was casting a cold, overlooking gaze upon her. Serena's delicate body trembled slightly, a feeling of infinite insignificance emanating from her very soul.

But this aura vanished in an instant, making Serena wonder if what she had just sensed was some kind of illusion.

Suppressing the unease welling up inside her, Serena took a deep breath and quickly walked up to the other person. The questions she had prepared ended up being just a soft greeting.

"Your Majesty."

"Um."

Ronan glanced at Serena, and seeing no sign of displeasure on her face, he thought for a moment and casually explained, "Something unexpected happened, and we were delayed for a while."

Serena nodded and said, "I've verified it. The person who led you away a year ago was the Frost Leader Wizard behind Katie, a woman Elsa."

This wasn't Katie's idea, and she also...

Has that woman come back?

Serena was interrupted by Ronan's question before she could finish speaking.

"Currently... there shouldn't be any."

Serena shook her head.

Ronan's eyes flickered.

While he was receiving the Ice Emperor Inheritance and hunting Hecalto, Elsa was always within the bloodline of the Primordial Frost Dragon.

It's still unknown whether the tradition has ended, but that's not a question Ronan needs to consider.

Ronan abruptly changed the subject, looking at the Spirit Shaping Array before him, and casually asked, "How long until the start of the Holy Grail Proof?"

"Eight months."

"Advance?"

Ronan frowned slightly.

"Yes."

Serena's brow furrowed, and she replied with a grim expression, "The situation is becoming increasingly chaotic. In the past year alone, there have been numerous incidents of the Ancient Witch Society instigating unrest. They have even dared to openly appear within the empire's sphere of influence."

The council elders, unwilling to wait any longer, moved the trial forward by six months.

"Eight months"

Ronan murmured to himself, and soon he spoke softly.

"I'm entering the pool now."

He calmly walked past Serena and headed straight for the nearby Spirit Shaping Array.

Serena immediately gave the wizards beside her a look, the magic circle was activated, and she watched as Ronan took off his robe and slowly immersed his body in the milky white Spirit Shaping Liquid.

Serena's gaze swept lightly over Ronan's ever-present Dawn Mask, sensing the gradual activation of the magic circle. Her beautiful eyes flickered slightly before she finally turned and left.

Inside the Spirit Shaping Pool, Ronan was immersed in countless Spirit Shaping Liquid in a meditative posture.

The moment the Spirit Shaping Array was activated, the Spirit Shaping Liquid in the pool began to actively drill into his body. As the tangible Spirit Shaping Liquid [Penetration] his flesh, it transformed into strands of strange energy, which eventually surged toward the spiritual core within his Consciousness Space.

Today, Ronan's spiritual core, which nurtures the primordial spirit, has grown to an unprecedented scale.

Its volume is almost ten times that of when it first ascended to the Dawn. The Primordial Spirit Writing on its surface, which resembled blood vessels, have long since disappeared into its core. On the smooth blue-gold core surface, only mysterious whale patterns brought by the power of bloodline remain.

The Elemental Spirit Light nurtured within the core, thick and liquid, released even a slight trace, its immense weight seemingly about to crush the void.

The power of countless strands of Spirit Shaping Liquid seeped into the core, and the only remaining crack on the core's surface began to close completely under the influence of this power.

Ronan had consulted with Alazan beforehand and learned that, theoretically, there was no possibility of Level Four Wizard failing to break through to the fifth level; the only difference was the grade of the resulting elemental spirit.

This is a natural process, and also a "test" to examine what a wizard has learned and accumulated from his apprenticeship to his Dawn. The final "result" will naturally vary from person to person.

The power of the Spirit Shaping Liquid diligently filled the gaps in Ronan's spiritual core, while the already powerful primordial Elemental Spirit Light continued to grow little by little, ultimately strengthening Ronan's primordial spirit foundation.

Just as the crack in the core was about to completely close, suddenly the power of the Spirit Shaping Liquid became sparse and even intermittent.

"What happened?"

Ronan withdrew from the Consciousness Space and suddenly opened his eyes.

He then realized that he was sitting cross-legged in the empty Spirit Shaping Pool. The Spirit Shaping Liquid that was originally enough to completely submerge him was now reduced to a thin layer at the bottom of the pool, and it was rapidly being consumed and dried up.

Several Life Royal Court wizards responsible for maintaining the magic array stood by the pool, exchanging bewildered glances. Ronan frowned, about to speak, when one of the wizards spoke up, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment. We have already sent someone to inform Princess Serena..."

"Tell your Princess."

Beneath the Dawn Mask, Ronan's blue-gold eyes gleamed slightly as he calmly said, "From this pool onward, every Spirit Shaping Liquid I use will be repaid to her tenfold."

"Yes."

The wizard who was speaking nodded in trepidation.

Perhaps Ronan's words had some effect, because a new Spirit Shaping Liquid was quickly delivered, filling the entire Spirit Shaping Pool once again.

Ronan closed his eyes with relief as he sensed the cracks in his spiritual core slowly closing and eventually disappearing.

Time flies, and seven months have passed in the blink of an eye.

"Your Highness!"

The Silver-Haired Witch rushed into Serena's temporary palace, the wind chimes hanging at the door tinkling in the breeze stirred by her footsteps.

"What's up?"

Serena was slowly polishing a beautifully crafted bronze arrow covered in dense runes when she calmly raised her head and said, "Speak."

"Lord Tirions."

"Has he finally achieved a breakthrough?"

Serena let out a soft breath, slowly stood up from in front of the bow stand, and a relieved expression appeared on her face.

But the moment the silver-haired witch uttered her next sentence, she suddenly staggered and almost fell over.

"No."

The silver-haired witch shook her head with a bitter expression. "Not yet."

"We're running out of Spirit Shaping Liquid again; we have no more stock."

"What?!"

Serena stared in disbelief at the silver-haired witch before her. The silk handkerchief she was using to wipe the runic bronze arrows slipped silently to the ground. She exclaimed in shock, "The Spirit Shaping Liquid is gone again."

If I remember correctly, this should be the eighth pool, right?

"Yes."

The silver-haired witch nodded with a similarly complicated expression.

Serena's expression shifted, her face grim, as she gripped the bronze arrow tightly in her hand, creating bursts of runic light.

Finally, she raised her hand and tossed something at the silver-haired witch, gritting her teeth as she quickly said, "Take this to Princess Katie and borrow a batch of Spirit Shaping Liquid from her. If that's still not enough, then borrow more!"

The silver-haired witch responded, took the token given to her by Serena, and quickly turned and left.

Once the silver-haired witch was completely gone, Serena slowly took two steps back as if most of her strength had been suddenly drained. Her gaze turned in a certain direction, as if she had overcome many obstacles in space, and saw a figure sitting cross-legged without moving.

"The process of creating a spirit alone consumes nearly a hundred times more resources than a normal Level Four Wizard breaking through to level five."

"Misha Tirions, what level of elemental spirit are you currently cultivating?"

"Hopefully, we can make it in time."

Serena's murmurs slowly faded into the air of the room.