I Need Thirty-Five Thousand Years of Soul Beasts

"Teacher." Lin Yi rose, bowing respectfully, his expression composed.

"Mm." Chen Xin nodded slightly, cutting straight to the point. "After a long search, we have discovered a soul beast that meets your requirements on the edge of the God-Burial Ice Valley, seven hundred miles to the northwest.

Its cultivation is approximately nineteen thousand five hundred years. It is an Extreme Cold Dragon Lizard possessing a faint trace of dragon bloodline. The ice-attribute energy contained within its soul ring is extremely pure and domineering. If you can successfully absorb it, it will be of great benefit to your Snow Lotus Martial Soul, potentially granting you a powerful area-of-effect crowd control or defensive soul skill."

Nineteen thousand five hundred years—this was already the absolute limit Chen Xin deemed acceptable based on his assessment of Lin Yi's previous performance; it was even slightly beyond it, which spoke volumes about the high expectations he held for this disciple.

However, the moment he finished speaking, the lazy yet slightly haughty voice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm echoed within Lin Yi's sea of consciousness: "Tch, nineteen thousand five hundred years? A little lizard? Kid, you're really underestimating the benefits that my million-year cultivation has brought you!

Your body, after being baptized by my origin power, has increased in strength by at least fifty percent! The resilience of your meridians and the capacity of your soul power are no longer what they once were! And that spiritual power of yours—heh, even an ordinary Soul Douluo might not be stronger than you in terms of spirit now!"

"In your current state, absorbing a soul ring of around thirty-five thousand years is perfectly safe! If you push the limit, thirty-seven thousand years isn't impossible to attempt, but there's no need to take that risk. Thirty-five thousand years is just right; it will maximize your strength without leaving any hidden dangers."

Lin Yi felt a massive shock in his heart.

Thirty-five thousand years! This was a seventy-five percent increase over the twenty-thousand-year limit he had originally estimated! The sacrifice of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had brought not only a qualitative change to his Ice Phoenix Martial Soul but a comprehensive sublimation of his entire physical foundation!

He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and looked up at Chen Xin with clear, resolute eyes. "Teacher, this disciple has something to report."

"Speak."

"This disciple feels... that upon breaking through to level sixty, perhaps due to the Twin Martial Souls, my spiritual power has grown far beyond expectations." Lin Yi weighed his words carefully, needing to propose higher requirements without revealing the existence of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. "This disciple is confident that I can attempt to absorb... a higher-year soul ring."

A hint of surprise finally appeared on Chen Xin's calm, unruffled face. "Higher? By how much?"

Meeting Chen Xin's sharp gaze, Lin Yi slowly uttered a few words: "This disciple believes that around thirty-five thousand years should be manageable."

"Thirty-five thousand years?!" Even with Chen Xin's composure, his voice rose a notch, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Lin Yi, do you know what a thirty-five-thousand-year soul ring signifies? That is a level most peak Soul Emperors, or even those who have just entered the Soul Saint realm, would dare to attempt! The energy and soul shock it contains far exceed that of a twenty-thousand-year ring! Though you are gifted, you have only just entered the Soul Emperor realm!"

"Teacher, please observe." Lin Yi remained calm; he knew words alone were insufficient. "This disciple does not speak lightly. Please, Teacher, use your soul power to examine the resilience of my meridians and use your sword intent to test the strength of my spiritual power before making a decision."

Chen Xin looked deeply at Lin Yi, seeing his gaze was frank and full of confidence, not feigned. After a moment of contemplation, he reached out a finger and gently tapped the center of Lin Yi's brow.

A strand of pure, gentle, yet incomparably sharp soul power cautiously probed into Lin Yi's body, traveling along his meridians.

At the same time, a trace of extremely faint Seven Kill Sword Intent, like the finest silver needle, pricked at the periphery of Lin Yi's sea of consciousness.

As he probed, the shock on Chen Xin's face grew increasingly intense!

He clearly felt that Lin Yi's meridians were wide and resilient, like iron pipes covered in ice crystals; their toughness far exceeded that of an ordinary Soul Emperor, even rivaling some Soul Saints who specialized in physical tempering! Soul power surged and flowed within them, solid and majestic.

What startled him even more was the sea of consciousness! The moment his probing sword intent made contact, it felt as if a clay ox had entered the sea, swallowed by a vast, cold, yet supreme spiritual power of a higher life form.

Chen Xin abruptly withdrew his finger, his gaze toward Lin Yi changing completely, filled with shock, confusion, and a hint of indescribable gratification.

"Your foundation... when did it become so profound? And this spiritual power..." he murmured, as if meeting his disciple for the first time.

He knew the boost that Twin Martial Souls provided to spiritual power, but it was impossible to reach such a shocking level at level sixty! This kid must have had some secret fortuitous encounter he knew nothing about.

But Chen Xin was not one to pry; he only looked at the results.

Lin Yi's physical and spiritual state had indeed reached an inconceivable strength; theoretically, absorbing a thirty-five-thousand-year soul ring was not impossible!

He remained silent for a long time, the only sound in the ice cave being the howling wind. Finally, he looked up, his eyes regaining their previous sharpness and decisiveness. "Are you certain you want to take this risk?"

"This disciple is certain!" Lin Yi replied firmly. "The path of a soul master is one of defying the heavens.

If there is a stronger path, this disciple does not wish to take the safe route. Please, Teacher, grant this!"

Looking at the unquestionable firmness and the desire for strength in Lin Yi's eyes, Chen Xin seemed to see his younger self. He slowly exhaled a breath and nodded. "Good! Since you have such determination and foundation, this master will gamble with you!"

He cast his gaze toward the northwest, his tone murderous. "Deep within the God-Burial Ice Valley, there is an Extreme North Ice Spirit Deer. Its cultivation matches your requirements, at approximately thirty-five thousand years! Although this beast is not a power-type, it possesses high intelligence, masters the power of extreme cold to perfection, is incredibly fast, and excels in soul attacks and illusions. It is extremely troublesome.

Its soul ring may grant you more powerful area-of-effect support, purification, or even soul-defense skills, making it far more valuable than that Extreme Cold Dragon Lizard!"

"Let this beast be your sixth soul ring!"

"Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Yi felt a sense of certainty, a surge of heroism rising within him. A thirty-five-thousand-year Extreme North Ice Spirit Deer! This would be another solid cornerstone for his Snow Lotus Martial Soul to reach its peak!

"Let's go." Chen Xin said no more. His sword intent erupted, enveloping Lin Yi and transforming into a stunning rainbow that tore through the wind and snow, heading straight for the more dangerous depths of the God-Burial Ice Valley.