Six-Year-Old Soul Elder

He led Lin Yi toward the deeper reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Thirty levels of Innate Soul Power is a feat unheard of in history. Your first soul ring was three hundred years, providing a solid foundation. This second soul ring should be around five hundred years to truly honor your talent." Chen Xin's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness. He intended to lay the most solid foundation possible for this newly accepted disciple.

The two continued to traverse the dense, primeval forest. This time, finding a suitable target took much longer. It was no easy task to find a beast that matched the attributes of the Snow Lotus martial soul while keeping the age precisely around five hundred years.

Several days later, by a cold pool, they encountered a soul beast guarding a strange ice-crystal plant at the center: a five-hundred-year-old Mystic Ice Turtle.

This turtle-type soul beast possessed immense defensive power, its shell encased in thick, solid ice. Though its movements were somewhat sluggish, the icy breath it exhaled was enough to freeze a Soul Elder instantly.

"This beast's ice attribute aligns with your Snow Lotus martial soul, and its defensive traits may yield an excellent protective soul skill." Chen Xin spoke concisely, and the next moment, his Seven Kill Sword Intent soared into the sky.

The battle was almost a foregone conclusion. Before the sharp sword energy of Sword Douluo, which was capable of tearing through space, the Mystic Ice Turtle's prideful defense was like paper; it was precisely breached, and its spirit was crushed. A deep, ice-blue soul ring emerged from its carcass.

With the experience from the first time, Lin Yi absorbed this soul ring much more smoothly. The five-hundred-year soul power impact barely caused a ripple against his foundation of thirty levels of innate power.

As the soul ring settled, the light faded inward.

Lin Yi opened his eyes, a flicker of joy crossing his face. The second soul skill of the Snow Lotus martial soul was named Ice Lotus Protection! Its effect was to condense soul power into a blooming ice-crystal lotus shield. Not only could it effectively block physical and energy attacks, but more miraculously, it could convert a portion of the impact energy into a gentle healing light, feeding it back to the one being protected.

Offense and defense in one, protection combined with healing! The value of this second soul skill far exceeded the ordinary.

Chen Xin sensed the effects of Lin Yi's newly acquired skill, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his usually stoic face. The potential of this child's martial soul was truly astonishing.

"Very good. At over five hundred years for your second soul ring, your body's tolerance has already far surpassed your peers. But this third soul ring must be approached with extreme caution." Chen Xin looked at Lin Yi, his tone serious. "Normally, the limit for a Soul Elder's third ring is around a thousand years. But your constitution is special and your foundation deep; you may attempt to absorb a higher age. However, too high is dangerous, and too low is a waste of talent. Around fifteen hundred years would be optimal."

Thus, a two-month search began.

This time, the goal became extremely specific, yet even harder to find: a soul beast around fifteen hundred years old with attributes related to ice or healing.

Sword Douluo took Lin Yi to almost every habitat of ice-attribute soul beasts in the outer and mixed zones of the Star Dou Great Forest.

They did not fail to encounter suitable soul beasts during this time, but the ages were always unsatisfactory.

They once encountered a Frost Wolf that had just reached one thousand years. Its soul skill might have been decent, but Chen Xin only sensed it for a moment before shaking his head in rejection: "The age is too low; it offers limited gains for you and would waste your potential."

They also once sensed from afar an Extreme Cold Demon Spider with an aura approaching nineteen hundred years; the fierce and icy energy it radiated made the surrounding air almost solidify.

Chen Xin frowned, observing Lin Yi's state for a long time before finally leading him away quietly: "This beast's age is nearing that of a Soul Ancestor-level ring. Its soul vibration and energy impact are too violent. Although you have a foundation of thirty levels, your mental strength and the resilience of your meridians still need time to temper. Forcing the absorption carries too much risk. It is not suitable..."

As the days passed and even Lin Yi began to feel anxious, a turning point finally appeared.

Outside a subterranean cave beneath an ancient forest frozen for ten thousand years, they discovered their target: a sleeping Ice Plains Bear. This giant bear stood over four meters tall, its entire body covered in fur as translucent as ice crystals. Its snoring was like thunder, and every breath brought forth a thick icy mist. The energy fluctuations it radiated were exactly around fifteen hundred years—steady, heavy, and filled with extreme ice-type power and powerful vitality.

"This is it." A sharp light flashed in Chen Xin's eyes. "The Ice Plains Bear has excellent defense and strength, and its vitality is tenacious. Its soul ring is likely to grant you stronger protective capabilities or a wide-range auxiliary effect. The age is also just right."

Chen Xin's execution in hunting the fifteen-hundred-year-old Ice Plains Bear remained swift. With his Seven Kill Sword Intent locked on, a single stunning sword strike precisely pierced its body, leaving it for Lin Yi to deliver the finishing blow.

A deep purple soul ring, radiating vast energy fluctuations and bone-chilling cold, rose slowly from the massive body of the Ice Plains Bear.

"Clear your mind, guide your soul power, and guard your spirit," Chen Xin reminded him in a deep voice, standing guard at his side.

Lin Yi took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and extended his mental energy toward the deep purple soul ring.

He knew this would be the most critical and challenging absorption of his first three soul rings.

The fifteen-hundred-year soul power surged into his body like a bursting river, the extreme cold threatening to freeze his blood and soul power. At the same time, a wild will belonging to the Ice Plains Bear assaulted his mind; its roars and unwillingness almost tore his consciousness apart.

However, Lin Yi's foundation was truly immense. His thirty levels of innate soul power acted like the sturdiest dam, steadily bearing the impact of the soul power. The Snow Lotus martial soul spontaneously emitted a cool, gentle aura, soothing the swelling pain in his meridians, while his mental strength, which far exceeded that of his peers, allowed him to maintain a sliver of clarity amidst the soul-shaking turmoil.

He did not know how much time had passed, but when the last surge of wild soul power was tamed and the final trace of violent will was extinguished, the deep purple soul ring became completely one with him.

Third soul skill, awakened—Extreme Cold Domain!

The effect was to release a wide-range extreme cold field centered on himself. Within the field, friendly units received continuous, faint healing and an increase in ice-attribute resistance, while enemy units were eroded by the cold, their speed slowed and their soul power circulation hindered.

A powerful, wide-range auxiliary soul skill that combined healing, buffs, and debuffs!

Lin Yi opened his eyes, a flash of purple passing through them, and the aura around him was several times stronger than before. With three rings gathered on his Snow Lotus martial soul, he had officially achieved the rank of Soul Elder! And he had done so with the best possible soul ring configuration!

Chen Xin looked at his disciple, who had successfully absorbed the ring and possessed a stable aura, and the look of gratification in his eyes deepened. He nodded slightly: "Three soul rings, three top-tier auxiliary skills. The foundation of your Snow Lotus martial soul is set. It is time to return to the sect for the next stage of cultivation."