Zhu Lu's Fourth Soul Skill, the Auspicious Beast's Little Parting Gesture
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion tilted its head and thought for a moment, its vertical pupils darting around twice.
"Ice attribute... Agility-based attack... Forever..."
She muttered something, then suddenly looked up.
"There's a nest of Shadow Ice Weasel in the Ice Valley west of the Core Area! I saw them last month when I passed by; one of them was 20,000 years old. They were incredibly fast; I chased them for a while but couldn't catch them, so I gave up."
Dai Huabin patted the Auspicious Beast's head:
"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."
The Scarlet King snorted beside him:
"The Shadow Ice Weasel, that thing is indeed fast. But a 20,000-year-old Soul Master, that's probably not enough for a level 40 Soul Master, right?"
He said this while looking at Zhu Lu.
In the Scarlet King's perception, Zhu Lu was someone who had just broken through to level 40.
A 20,000-year-old Shadow Ice Weasel has a speed and attack power far exceeding that of an ordinary Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. It would indeed be difficult for Zhu Lu to withstand it with her cultivation level.
Zhu Lu didn't speak, but simply stood up, her eyes filled with determination.
Dai Huabin glanced back at her; no further words were needed between them.
Let's go.
The Ice Valley is located in the northwest of the Core Area. It is a low-lying area with snow that never melts.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion led the way, its four dragon claws treading on golden flames. Although its speed was fast, it deliberately slowed down, waiting for the people behind to catch up.
Bi Ji did not come; she and the Scarlet King remained where they were. Before leaving, Bi Ji only said one sentence to Dai Huabin:
"Take good care of the Auspicious Beast."
Dai Huabin nodded.
The Scarlet King added, "Don't let the Auspicious Beast get hurt, or I'll skin you alive."
The reason the two trusted Dai Huabin was because of the Ice Empress and Snow Empress beside Dai Huabin. These two rulers of the Far North knew the importance of Auspicious Beast to the Soul Beast Clan race.
Similarly, this was intentional on the part of Bi Ji and the Scarlet King, and could be considered a test.
An hour later, they arrived at the Ice Valley.
The temperature at the valley entrance plummeted, and the vapors released by Zhu Lu instantly turned into white mist.
Her Ice Shadow Spirit Cat Martial Soul automatically manifested, black cat ears and a tail appeared, and her whole body was shrouded in a thin layer of ice mist.
Since signing Blood Pact with the Snow Empress and Martial Soul Evolution into the Ice Shadow Spirit Cat, Zhu Lu's tolerance to cold has increased significantly.
"It's just ahead."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lowered its voice, its vertical pupils turning red as it locked onto a direction deep within the valley.
"That 20,000-year-old Shadow Ice Weasel is in the innermost ice cave."
Dai Huabin turned to Zhu Lu: "Ready?"
Zhu Lu took a deep breath, and the claw blades between her ten fingers popped out, covered with a layer of icy, cold light.
"Ready."
Dai Huabin patted her on the shoulder:
"Go. Be careful with your First Soul Skill. The Shadow Ice Weasel is extremely fast, so don't chase it head-on. Use Hell Hundred Claws to block its movement, force it into a corner, and then use Nether Slash to finish it off. I'll cover you from the outside."
Zhu Lu nodded, then leaped into the Ice Valley without a sound.
Ice Empress leaned close to Dai Huabin and lowered his voice:
"You're really willing to let her go alone? A 20,000-year-old Shadow Ice Weasel isn't any slower than her."
Dai Huabin leaned against the valley wall, his hands in his pockets:
"She consumed the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and Muscle Strengthening Elixir, and with the Snow Empress's Blood Pact enhancing her Ultimate Ice attribute, she has more than enough to deal with a 20,000-year-old Shadow Ice Weasel with absolute attribute suppression."
Then he added:
"Besides, she has to fight for herself. The Soul Ring are hers, and the experience points are hers too. If I do everything for her, how will she grow stronger?"
Ice Empress pursed their lips and said nothing more.
A sharp, beastly roar echoed from within the valley.
Immediately following was the sound of dense claw strikes tearing through the air; that was Zhu Lu's second Soul Skill, Hell Hundred Claws.
After receiving the blessing of the Snow Empress's bloodline, each strike of the Hell Hundred Claws was imbued with the powerful chill of the Ultimate Ice.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay at the valley entrance, its vertical pupils fixed on the inside, its tail wagging nervously back and forth.
The battle did not last long.
About fifteen minutes later, Zhu Lu emerged from the depths of the Ice Valley.
Her sleeve was torn, and there was a shallow scratch on her left arm, but she was in excellent spirits.
Behind her, a silver-white Soul Beast with a body like a mink lay lifeless on the ice.
With its slender body and fur that reflected a pale blue, icy light in the sunlight, it was none other than the 20,000-year-old Shadow Ice Weasel.
"It's all settled." Zhu Lu walked up to Dai Huabin, her tone flat.
Dai Huabin reached out and pinched her left arm to examine the wound. It wasn't deep, and it was already scabbing over.
"Pretty."
Zhu Lu's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly suppressed it again.
Then comes the process of absorbing the Soul Ring.
Zhu Lu sat cross-legged beside the corpse of the Shadow Ice Weasel. A black, Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring rose from the corpse and slowly fell into her body.
Two hours later, the Soul Ring was completely absorbed.
Fourth Soul Ring: Ice Shadow Instant Kill.
Zhu Lu closed her eyes, feeling the changes brought about by the integration of the new Soul Skill into her meridians.
He transformed into several icy afterimages, launching a surprise attack at extreme speed. The afterimages exploded upon contact with the enemy, releasing icy slowing effects, while his main body's attack was accompanied by an ice-attribute tearing effect.
This Soul Skill perfectly matches the Ice Shadow Spirit Cat's fighting style.
Snow Empress stood not far away, sensing the changes within Zhu Lu's body through the Blood Pact, and nodded slightly.
Ice Empress grabbed an icicle, took two bites, and spat out the crumbs.
"A black Soul Ring that's 20,000 years old, Lulu's luck is pretty good."
"How are you feeling?" Dai Huabin handed him a pot of water.
Zhu Lu took the water, drank a couple of sips, and then flexed her fingers.
When the claw blades between the ten fingers popped out, a faint black pattern appeared on the blade surface, which was the external characteristic of the Ice Shadow Instant Kill Soul Skill.
"Very good." Zhu Lu stood up.
"I'm past level 41, and not far from level 42..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion sniffed Zhu Lu's scent, then nodded in satisfaction. "You've become stronger! Much stronger than before!"
Dai Huabin rubbed the Auspicious Beast's head. "Thanks to you for leading the way."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion swished its tail triumphantly.
For the next two days, Dai Huabin did not rush to leave.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion clung to him, demanding two meals of roasted meat every day and dragging him around the Core Area.
The Auspicious Beast was full of curiosity about the outside world and kept pestering Dai Huabin with questions.
What do human houses look like? What do human academies teach? Besides roasted meat, what other foods do humans eat?
Dai Huabin patiently answered each question, and occasionally told stories about his past life.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion would fall silent for a while after each listen, its golden eyes and red vertical pupils reflecting the light of the campfire.
On the morning of the third day.
Dai Huabin packed his bags and stood up.
"My Auspicious Beast, I have to go. Shrek Academy is about to start its semester."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's tail stopped wagging.
She lay on the ground, her huge head resting on her front paws, and remained silent.
Dai Huabin squatted down and reached out to touch her forehead. "I'll come see you again next time I have a holiday, and I'll bring you some barbecue."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion raised its head, its golden eyes staring at Dai Huabin for a long while, its eyes filled with conflict.
After a while, she stood up.
"Huabin, lower your head."