Encounter and the Search for Soul Beasts

"Mm, Bing'er broke through to level 30 a year ago," Shui Xinrou said helplessly.

They had searched for an entire year without finding the Soul Beast they needed. Only when they were about to reach the Mixed Ring of the Extreme North Land did they give up, planning to return to the academy and figure out another way.

Liu Yanyang took out a map of Soul Beast distribution around the outskirts of the Extreme North Land and handed it to them.

"I do know a good place. In the northeastern outskirts of the Extreme North Land, there are many flying Soul Beasts."

After taking the map, Shui Xinrou and Shui Bing'er studied it carefully, barely able to conceal their excitement. At last, they had a lead.

"Aunt Shui, take Shui Bing'er and let's fly there directly. The sooner we go, the sooner we return. Skywater Academy is anxiously waiting," Liu Yanyang said.

"Fly?" Shui Xinrou and Shui Bing'er looked confused. The next second, they saw a pair of brilliant golden wings spread from Liu Yanyang's back.

"Th-That's an External Soul Bone." The two spoke in unison, clearly stunned.

However, Shui Xinrou quickly recovered, her face breaking into a smile as her eyes filled with gratification. She said gently, "It seems Xiao Yang has grown much stronger. And to have encountered such a fortunate opportunity... Aunt Shui is happy for you!"

"Y-You... what level are you?" Shui Bing'er asked eagerly. Because of Cheng Ying, neither of them could accurately sense Liu Yanyang's Soul Power Level.

"Level 43," Liu Yanyang replied calmly.

Shui Bing'er took a step back, disappointment and unwillingness appearing on her face before vanishing in an instant. Her gaze remained fixed on Liu Yanyang, gradually becoming resolute.

Seeing those icy blue eyes staring at him, Liu Yanyang coughed twice. Then, with a beat of his wings, he flew toward the northeast.

Shui Xinrou smiled, summoned her Martial Soul, picked up Shui Bing'er, and followed Liu Yanyang.

In the northeastern region of the Extreme North Land stood a towering mountain that pierced the clouds.

A sharp cry rang through the entire mountain range. A three-meter-long bird with intermingled blue and white feathers

covering its entire body and an illusory ice-crystal crown atop its head flew out from the clouds. Its entire body was stained with blood as it desperately flapped its wings and flew southwest.

Behind it, a pure-white bird over ten meters long was rapidly closing in. Its eyes burned with desire as it cried out excitedly.

The three people flying through the air stopped and looked at the Soul Beasts before them.

"Is that an Ice Phoenix?" Liu Yanyang asked in surprise. He could not believe that Ice Phoenixes still existed in this era.

At the side, Shui Xinrou stared intently at the blood-covered bird.

Then, she said excitedly, "Atavism! It's a Condensing Water Flying Luan with an ancestral bloodline!"

Her own Martial Soul was a Condensing Water Flying Luan, which was why she could identify it so accurately.

"It's around 3,000 years old. Just right," Liu Yanyang said lightly.

Shui Xinrou and Shui Bing'er nodded at the same time, their expressions becoming even more excited.

"The one behind it is actually an Ice Phoenix Subspecies—White Phoenix. It's just over ten thousand years old. Now Bing'er's fifth Soul Ring is taken care of too!"

"Then, Aunt Shui, that White Phoenix is yours. I'll deal with this Condensing Water Flying Luan," Liu Yanyang said calmly.

Shui Xinrou was about to tell him to be careful, but when she saw the one yellow, two purple, and one black Soul Rings beneath Liu Yanyang's feet, she was instantly dumbfounded.

"A... a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!"

Liu Yanyang nodded without saying anything. With a beat of his wings, he charged toward the Condensing Water Flying Luan.

Shui Xinrou followed close behind, preparing to intercept the White Phoenix. Shui Bing'er followed Liu Yanyang, doing her best to support him.

The battlefield was split into two.

When the Condensing Water Flying Luan saw Liu Yanyang rushing toward it, its phoenix eyes immediately filled with murderous intent, and it let out a cry.

A ring of icy-blue light spread out from its body, covering an area thirty meters in radius.

The moment Liu Yanyang rushed inside, he immediately sensed the temperature plummeting. The Soul Power within him rapidly drained away, while pain from frostbite spread across his skin.

A Half Domain! Liu Yanyang cursed inwardly. As expected of an ancestral bloodline. If it were allowed to grow, it might truly become an Ice Phoenix.

"Third Soul Skill—Unyielding!"

Holding Dragon's Roar in one hand, Liu Yanyang felt all the discomfort from before disappear.

He rushed forward at once and, before the Condensing Water Flying Luan could react, struck its back with his spear.

With a mournful cry, the Condensing Water Flying Luan plummeted at high speed and crashed heavily into the snow.

It tried to force itself back up and take to the skies again.

But a long spear pierced straight through its wing, pinning it firmly to the ground and leaving it unable to move.

Liu Yanyang landed on the ground and looked at Shui Bing'er behind him.

"Get yourself into proper condition, then you can absorb the Soul Ring."

Shui Bing'er nodded and followed Liu Yanyang to the Condensing Water Flying Luan.

As it looked at them, its phoenix eyes were filled with hatred, as though it wanted to swallow them both alive.

"Summon your Martial Soul and use its Martial Soul pressure on it. Suppressing its resentment will make it easier for you to absorb the Soul Ring," Liu Yanyang told Shui Bing'er steadily.

Shui Bing'er nodded. Then the Ice Phoenix possessed her, and the suppression of its high-level bloodline directly bore down on the Condensing Water Flying Luan's soul and body.

It could only cry out mournfully again and again, as if begging for mercy.

Shui Bing'er drew a dagger. With a swift, clean stroke, she ended the Condensing Water Flying Luan's life.

A bright purple Soul Ring emerged. Shui Bing'er immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing it.

Liu Yanyang stood guard nearby, turning to look toward the other battlefield.

Soul Power raged over there. White Phoenix burst out of the dust and mist, flew straight into the sky, and vanished into the distance.

A few breaths later, the smoke dispersed. Shui Xinrou walked over to him and said regretfully.

"It got away. I'd clearly already beaten it badly, but I didn't expect its innate skill to restore all the damage it had suffered. The moment I let my guard down, it ran!"

"An innate talent similar to nirvana. It truly is an Ice Phoenix Subspecies," Liu Yanyang said with a sigh.

Shui Xinrou agreed. They could only wait until Bing'er reached level fifty before returning here to search for it.

The two said no more and quietly remained at Shui Bing'er's side, protecting her as she absorbed the Soul Ring.

Morning light began to break, sunlight shining across the earth.

Shui Bing'er slowly opened her eyes and rose to her feet. Her face was radiant, and she looked at the two of them with delight.

Rip!

Shui Bing'er's Blue-white Dress tore apart, and a pair of ice-blue wings spread from her back. Her delicate body trembled slightly.

Liu Yanyang hurriedly closed his eyes and turned around, but the image of that fair, supple, graceful figure lingered in his mind.

"Bing'er, focus and draw them back into your body," Shui Xinrou called out.

A few minutes later, Liu Yanyang heard the rustling sound of clothes being changed behind him.

"Alright, Xiao Yang, you can turn around now," Shui Xinrou said.

Liu Yanyang slowly turned around, not daring to look at Shui Bing'er.

Seeing one of them lowering her head with a flushed face while the other looked up at the sky in utter helplessness, Shui Xinrou found it rather amusing and slowly asked, "Bing'er, how does it feel?"

Only then did Shui Bing'er dare raise her head. But the moment her gaze met Liu Yanyang's, the two hurriedly turned their heads away in opposite directions.

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