After the excitement faded, Xue Tianxing suddenly thought of a crucial problem. The smile on his face instantly vanished as he turned to Bing Xuan and said:
"Senior, my Martial Soul Evolution this time was actually a fluke—I consumed the Phoenix Tree Fruit from the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, which accidentally triggered the evolution. I have no idea how to continue it afterward. What should I do?"
Xue Tianxing's tone carried a hint of anxiety, afraid that this hard-won opportunity would be cut short because he lacked the proper method.
Hearing this, the Ice God smiled gently and reassured him:
"You need not worry about that.
The most difficult part of evolving a Martial Soul beyond 'ultimate' is taking the first step. As the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning. Being able to initiate it at level forty already puts you beyond what I achieved back then.
Though I have been reduced to a mere remnant soul over these past several hundred thousand years, I have continued researching how to steadily advance this kind of evolution. I have long since worked out a complete path.
Since you have already crossed the most crucial threshold, the steps afterward will be much simpler."
Upon hearing this, the weight in Xue Tianxing's heart finally lifted. He hurriedly asked:
"Since you already have a method, Senior, why not tell me now?
I will certainly cultivate with all my strength and complete the evolution as soon as possible!"
In Xue Tianxing's view, the sooner the evolution was completed, the faster his strength would rise and the closer he would be to his goal.
However, Bing Xuan shook his head and said solemnly:
"It is still too early. Cultivate in peace for now. Once your Soul Power breaks through level seventy, return here. I will teach you both the specific trials for inheriting the Divine Seat and the method for Martial Soul Evolution."
Xue Tianxing's face immediately filled with confusion.
"Why do I have to wait until level seventy?
I can understand if inheriting the Divine Seat has level requirements, but isn't Martial Soul Evolution supposed to be better the sooner it happens?
If I learn the method in advance, perhaps I can achieve a breakthrough earlier."
"You do not understand."
Bing Xuan explained patiently:
"Martial Souls with ultimate attributes share a common trait—between levels thirty and seventy, their cultivation speed is considerably slower than that of ordinary Martial Souls. This is because ultimate power must continuously refine its foundation; it cannot be achieved overnight.
If you forcibly advance the evolution before level seventy, you will only further increase the burden of condensing your Soul Power, slowing your cultivation even more and possibly even destabilizing your foundation. Only after you break through level seventy, when the foundation of your ultimate power has completely stabilized and your cultivation speed begins to increase again, should you begin the subsequent evolution. That way, you can achieve twice the result with half the effort, without affecting your progress while also ensuring the quality of the evolution."
Xue Tianxing suddenly understood. So there was such intricacy involved.
He no longer hesitated and nodded solemnly.
"I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I will follow your advice, focus on increasing my Soul Power first, and come find you again after reaching level seventy."
"Mm."
The Ice God nodded in satisfaction and raised his hand, preparing to use the power of teleportation to send Xue Tianxing back to the altar. However, as though he had suddenly remembered something, he spoke again:
"Oh, right. The Snow Empress and Ice Empress outside are both people I left behind in the Land of the Extreme North. They have guarded the Ice God Crystal for hundreds of thousands of years with unwavering devotion.
If you are willing, then once you are strong enough in the future, have the two of them offer themselves as sacrifices to you."
Xue Tianxing froze for a moment, then a surge of wild joy flashed through his eyes. The Snow Empress was a Spirit Beast nearly seven hundred thousand years old, while the Ice Empress possessed nearly four hundred thousand years of cultivation. If they sacrificed themselves to him, not only would he gain two top-tier Soul Rings, he would also obtain the corresponding Soul Bones. For any Soul Master, that was an irresistible temptation!
The Ice God seemed to see through his thoughts and continued:
"Furthermore, once you ascend to the God Realm in the future, with the power of the Ice God and the God Realm, you can fully revive them and take them in as your Subordinate Divine Beasts.
That way, they can help you grow, and they can also follow you into the God Realm as Divine Beasts. The people of the God Realm will have no grounds to object—after all, Subordinate Divine Beasts and Spirit Beasts becoming gods are two entirely different matters."
This was simply the best of both worlds!
Xue Tianxing did not hesitate in the slightest and repeatedly nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior! I understand. Once the time is right in the future, I will discuss this matter with them."
Bing Xuan nodded slightly and said no more. With a wave of his hand, a gentle wave of ice-attribute energy enveloped Xue Tianxing.
Xue Tianxing only felt his vision blur. The next moment, he was standing once again upon that ancient ice-jade altar, while the Ice God Crystal still floated there.
As the blue-white radiance surrounding Xue Tianxing gradually dispersed and he reappeared atop the altar, the Ice Empress immediately rushed forward impatiently, her tone filled with urgency.
"Kid, how did it go? Did you receive Lord Ice God's recognition?"
Xue Tianxing looked down at her and saw that not only was the Ice Empress watching him intently, but the Snow Empress beside her was also staring at him with blazing eyes full of anticipation and nervousness.
When speaking of the Ice God, these two rulers of the Extreme North had shed all their usual dominance, leaving behind only reverence for their faith.
Xue Tianxing nodded and said solemnly:
"Senior Ice God acknowledged me. He told me to return here once I reach level seventy and formally inherit the Ice God's Divine Seat."
"Inherit the Divine Seat..."
The Snow Empress and Ice Empress both sucked in a sharp breath, their eyes instantly revealing intense envy.
For Spirit Beasts, becoming gods meant eternal life. It meant no longer having to undergo a near-certain death Heavenly Tribulation every hundred thousand years. This was the ultimate goal they had dreamed of.
Yet they also understood that they had guarded this place for so many years, and the Ice God Crystal had never reacted. It was destined that they had no connection to the Divine Seat. Now that they saw Xue Tianxing receive such an opportunity, aside from envy, what they felt more was obedience to the Ice God's will.
Xue Tianxing took in their expressions and slowly spoke:
"By the way, Senior Ice God asked me to pass along a message to you."
"Lord Ice God has words for us?"
The eyes of the two Ice and Snow Empresses instantly lit up. Their bodies leaned forward slightly, their faces filled with devotion.
To receive a personal message from the god they worshipped was an immense honor to them.
The Ice Empress urged impatiently:
"Say it quickly! What does Lord Ice God want to tell us?"
Xue Tianxing cleared his throat and conveyed Bing Xuan's words exactly as they had been spoken:
"Lord Ice God said that he has always watched as you guarded the Ice God Crystal for hundreds of thousands of years. He feels fortunate to have such devout people as you.
It is only because of the rule that Spirit Beasts cannot become gods that he cannot pass the Divine Seat to you.
However, he also said that if you wish to obtain eternal life and touch the realm of gods, there is another way—that is, to offer yourselves as sacrifices to me in the future while retaining your soul imprints.
Once I inherit the Ice God's position and ascend to the God Realm, I can use divine authority to revive you in the God Realm, turning you into Subordinate Divine Beasts. From then on, you will possess eternal life and never again suffer the pain of Heavenly Tribulations."
Before you continue