Journey to the Extreme North

"What is Exploding Ring?" Tian Meng was taken aback by Xiao Qiang's abrupt change of subject.

"Simply put, it means shattering a spirit ring and using the sudden surge of Soul Power from its destruction to unleash an explosive burst. Normally, this is practically exclusive to a small number of Titled Douluo. But with Brother Sky Dream here, it shouldn't be difficult. After all, Brother Sky Dream is far stronger than a Titled Douluo."

"That's true. My million years of cultivation are not something a mere Titled Douluo can compare to. But your physical condition seems far from sufficient to withstand the energy released by shattered spirit rings. After all, I modified your first two spirit rings to the thousand-year level. Even if I help guide your Soul Power, this won't be easy."

Tian Meng did not say that he was incapable of guiding the destruction of spirit rings. His cultivation was there for all to see. Even the non-Mental Type Titled Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect could pull off something like this, so for Tian Meng, who specialized in spiritual power, controlling spirit rings was even easier.

"My physical condition truly isn't good enough, but what if I add these?" As he spoke, Xiao Qiang took out several pieces of Whale Rubber, nearly all of them at the ten-thousand-year level.

Xiao Qiang did not have Huo Yuhao's Fortune, so it was practically impossible for him to rely on Tian Meng to stumble across a weathered ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber by chance. Fortunately, after taking Jing Hongchen as his teacher, Xiao Qiang truly did not lack money.

If he could not snag a bargain, then he would not bother trying. He could just buy whatever he wanted. Ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber was expensive, but Mingde Hall had plenty of money.

If he could not rely on absurd Fortune to pick up weathered goods on the cheap, then he would simply use the rich man's method and eat the best. Xiao Qiang was quite satisfied with that.

"If we add this Whale Rubber..." Tian Meng pondered for a while before reaching a conclusion. "It can barely be done, but I feel the risk is rather high. I don't think taking that risk is worth it."

"No, Brother Sky Dream, this risk is absolutely worth taking. After all, you and I will be heading to the Extreme North later. On the way there, I'll only have forty levels of Soul Power. With Soul Tools and the soul skills Brother Sky Dream gave me, I can use forty levels of Soul Power to kill a Soul Master at level fifty. But if I run into a level-sixty Soul Master who wants to kill me on the road, then I'll be in trouble."

"If it weren't for your power last time, Brother Sky Dream, we might have both died there. Brother Sky Dream, you wouldn't want us to have an accident on the way to the Extreme North that we can't handle, right?"

Xiao Qiang knew that he was not Huo Yuhao and did not have his Fortune, so he had to be cautious in everything. Huo Yuhao had made a round trip to the Extreme North with only two spirit rings without any problems, but that did not mean Xiao Qiang would not run into trouble along the way.

Xiao Qiang remembered that Huo Yuhao had been abducted by an Evil Soul Master when he had two spirit rings. Because of Ma Xiaotao, Huo Yuhao's ultimate killing move left behind by Tian Meng had been wasted, leaving Huo Yuhao contemplating perishing together with that five-ring Evil Soul Master.

Even Huo Yuhao had ended up in such a situation, so Xiao Qiang had to find a way to avoid it and leave himself a few trump cards.

Only after Snow Empress protected him could he truly be considered safe. Before then, he had almost no ability to withstand risks.

"I understand. Leave the matter of Exploding Ring to me. Creating a Wisdom Spirit Ring may be troublesome, but I don't take something as trivial as Exploding Ring seriously. Don't worry."

"As expected, I knew Brother Sky Dream was the best."

With Sky Dream Ice Silkworm controlling the Exploding Ring to occasionally make Xiao Qiang's Soul Power surge, combined with the medicine Meng Hongchen had given Xiao Qiang from Xiao Hongchen, Xiao Qiang's Soul Power grew rapidly. The Sun Moon Empire had two semesters a year. When there was still one week before the end of the first semester, Xiao Qiang's Soul Power had already reached level thirty-eight.

On the day before the holiday began, Jing Hongchen summoned Xiao Qiang to his side.

"Teacher."

"Mhm. Take these two Sun Moon Divine Pills."

"Sun Moon Divine Pills?" Xiao Qiang thought back and immediately recalled that these were a super-enhanced version of the Black Tortoise Divine Pill. They were top-grade pills capable of allowing an ordinary person to become a Soul Master with Innate Soul Power at level five. Even the imperial family could not obtain such things whenever they pleased.

"It seems you already know what these pills are, so I don't need to explain much. Take them. I may not be able to obtain the Body Sect's secret methods anytime soon, but I can still get the Sun Moon Empire's means of raising Innate Soul Power."

"Your Innate Soul Power is only level five, but after taking these two pills, your Innate Soul Power will be no worse than that of those with Innate Full Soul Power."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Xiao Qiang said nothing more. He could not yet do anything for Jing Hongchen, but with his foreknowledge, once he obtained Snow Empress, that state of being unable to do anything would not last long.

"Go. If you need spirit rings, you can find Ma Teng or Jingyun. I don't have much time to teach you for now, but if you need my resources, tell me directly."

"Alright."

After bidding Jing Hongchen farewell, Xiao Qiang looked at the two pills Jing Hongchen had given him, yet he had no intention of taking them.

Xiao Qiang knew how precious these pills were. If he had received them a few years earlier, he would have swallowed them without hesitation. But Xiao Qiang was already level thirty-eight. He was prepared to use a Soul Ascension Pill to reach level forty directly, then head to the Extreme North during the holiday.

Once Ice Empress's spirit ring, spirit bone, and martial soul became Xiao Qiang's power, he would have no need for these two pills to raise his potential.

A top-tier martial soul and top-tier spirit rings would be enough to solve Xiao Qiang's current talent issue. Still, the two pills would not go to waste. Xiao Qiang had already decided where they would go.

When Xiao Qiang returned home, two small figures ran toward him. They were Xiao Qiang's younger brother, Xiao Sheng, and younger sister, Xiao Lan.

"Brother."

"Big Brother."

Xiao Qiang casually rubbed both their heads and took out the two Sun Moon Divine Pills Jing Hongchen had given him.

"Sun Moon Divine Pills. They can give ordinary people Innate Soul Power at level five. If Soul Masters take them, they can also raise their Innate Soul Power to a certain extent. One for each of you."

Upon hearing the effects of the Sun Moon Divine Pills, Xiao Lan pushed away the pill Xiao Qiang offered her. She did not know much about pills, but Xiao Qiang's explanation alone had let her understand how powerful they were. To obtain such top-grade pills, Xiao Qiang must have paid an enormous price. She knew how difficult things had been for him. Without parents, it had already been hard enough for him to give them their current life. Now that her eldest brother had finally obtained two top-grade pills, yet would not take them himself, how could she simply eat them and burden Xiao Qiang further? "Big Brother, you and Second Brother should take these pills. I can cultivate on my own, and I'm almost level ten already."

Xiao Sheng shook his head. His thoughts were similar to Xiao Lan's. He had begun remembering things earlier than she had, so he understood Xiao Qiang's hardships even better. "You and Xiao Lan should take them. I'm already twelve. Even if I gain Innate Soul Power at level five now, I won't get very far in this life. There's no need to waste resources."

"No, Second—mmph!"

Before Xiao Lan could say anything, Xiao Qiang had already stuffed the two pills into their mouths. "The pills I gave you are yours. I naturally have my own plans. Eat!"

Having the pills forcibly pressed into their mouths only to spit them out for someone else to eat was not appropriate either. Moreover, Xiao Qiang was the head of the household and had always made the decisions in family matters, so the two could only follow his instructions and swallow the pills.

After settling the matter of the two pills, Xiao Qiang watched them absorb the medicinal effects. He waited until the next day, when they had finished absorbing the medicine, then gave them a few instructions before heading to the Extreme North.

PS: I saw some people criticizing the protagonist for having relatives. How should I put it? Mainly, after fusing with Ice Empress, the protagonist will soon reach level fifty. The protagonist cannot go to Dragon Valley himself, but he needs that Torso Bone, so he still needs a relative to do the work. There would be no reason for anyone else to give the Torso Bone to the protagonist.