Core Circle of the Extreme North

Along the way, Jiang Liang learned a great deal from Shui Lingyun about the Soul Beasts of the Extreme North.

Shui Lingyun's Martial Soul was ice-elemental as well, called the Ice Luan, a very powerful beast-type Martial Soul.

All of her Soul Rings had been obtained in the Extreme North, which was why she was so familiar with this place.

"Shadow Ice Leopards live in the Core Circle of the Extreme North year-round."

"Without exception, every Soul Beast capable of staying in the Core Circle is powerful."

"For example, Ice Jade Scorpions, Titan Snow Demons, and so on."

"So once we enter the Core Circle, remember to stay close to me. Don't act on your own, understand?"

When Shui Lingyun said this, she was especially reminding Shui Yue'er.

The girl was good in every way, except she was not as steady and composed as her older sister, Shui Bing'er.

If she got lost in the outer region, there was still hope of surviving.

But if she got lost in the Core Circle, she might truly die.

Shui Yue'er tightly clung to Jiang Liang's arm and fearfully shrank her neck.

Jiang Liang gently patted her back and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll protect Bing'er and Yue'er."

Shui Bing'er's pretty face flushed faintly. She pursed her lips without saying anything, but the way she looked at Jiang Liang quietly gained a little more trust and shyness.

"Big brother is so nice."

Shui Yue'er giggled, rubbing against Jiang Liang's arm as though she were a little kitten.

Watching this, Shui Lingyun covered her mouth and laughed softly.

Those two children really were close.

If they had not both still been so young, she would have wanted to arrange their engagement.

After all, Jiang Liang's talent was indeed impressive. With him protecting Yue'er in the future, she would be much more at ease.

Actually, Bing'er would work too.

She just did not know whether Jiang Liang liked girls older than himself.

Shui Lingyun did not dwell on the thought any longer and led Jiang Liang and the other two toward the Core Circle of the Extreme North.

The closer the group drew to the Core Circle, the lower the temperature in the air became.

For Jiang Liang, Shui Lingyun, and Shui Bing'er, all of whom possessed ice-elemental Martial Souls, this temperature was nothing much.

However, Shui Yue'er's Martial Soul was the water-elemental Lustrous Jade Dolphin, which could not withstand the frigid weather.

Sure enough, she was already shivering in Shui Lingyun's arms from the cold.

Seeing this, Shui Lingyun quickly took out thicker clothes from her storage Soul Tool and put them on Shui Yue'er, finally warming her up.

On the way to the Core Circle of the Extreme North, Shui Lingyun had originally hoped that, if they were lucky, she could find a suitable second Soul Ring for Shui Bing'er.

Unfortunately, the closer they got to the Core Circle, the older the Soul Beasts they encountered became, with some even exceeding a thousand years.

Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul was the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, also an extremely powerful beast-type Martial Soul.

But limited by the level-twenty threshold, she could at most absorb a Soul Ring under seven hundred years old.

If the Soul Ring was any older, her body would not be able to endure it, so she could only give up.

Another day passed before the group finally stepped into the bounds of the Core Circle.

The chill here was several times fiercer than in the outer region. Even the air seemed frozen stiff.

Many enormous Soul Beast claw prints remained in the snow, while savage roars occasionally echoed from the distance, making their blood race.

Shui Lingyun's expression instantly turned solemn, and she instinctively shielded Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er behind her.

"Bing'er, Xiao Jiang, stay close to me. Don't get separated."

Shui Bing'er nodded gravely, reaching out to tightly grip the corner of Shui Lingyun's clothes as she warily watched their surroundings.

Jiang Liang, meanwhile, summoned the Cold Moon Sword Martial Soul, ready to unleash the Sword Qi within him at any moment.

"Let's go."

Shui Lingyun led Jiang Liang, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er onward.

The Core Circle of the Extreme North was indeed dangerous; everywhere was Soul Beast territory.

While searching for the Shadow Ice Leopard, they came under attack from several Soul Beasts close to ten thousand years old.

Fortunately, Shui Lingyun was a seven-ringed Soul Saint. Otherwise, Jiang Liang and the three little ones would have long become Soul Beast food.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.

After searching in circles all day, everyone was exhausted. They found a safe spot, set up a tent, and rested for the time being.

The frigid wind lashed against the tent like a whip.

Shui Lingyun, Jiang Liang, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er ate dry rations that had already begun to harden, not even daring to light a fire.

Fearing that the children might be afraid of the dark, Shui Lingyun told them stories of her past travels across the continent to distract them.

However, just as the story reached its most exciting part, Jiang Liang suddenly received a warning from Sword Mother.

"Xiao Liang, be careful. Something seems to be rapidly approaching your group."

At her words, Jiang Liang swiftly drew out the Cold Moon Sword Martial Soul and stood up.

His sudden action gave Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er quite a fright.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Shui Yue'er asked cautiously.

Jiang Liang said in a low voice, "Auntie Shui, a Soul Beast is approaching."

"Shh! Keep your voices down."

Shui Lingyun immediately released her spiritual power and sensed the surrounding area.

The wind outside was loud.

But as a seven-ringed Soul Saint, she quickly sensed a Soul Beast approaching them.

And it was a Soul Beast over ten thousand years old!

She looked at Jiang Liang in surprise.

This child had reacted even faster than she had!

Shui Yue'er had already shrunk into her sister's arms in fright. "Auntie, is there a Soul Beast?"

"That's right, and it's a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast." Shui Lingyun lowered her voice and warned, "You three stay here. Don't make a sound. I'll go take a look."

Jiang Liang nodded slightly. "Don't worry, Auntie Shui. I'll protect Bing'er and Yue'er."

He knew this was not his battlefield.

An unknown ten-thousand-year Soul Beast was already beyond what he could deal with.

Unless he used the Sword Qi Sword Mother had given him.

But he only had his last two strands of Sword Qi left. He did not want to waste them like this.

So it was better to leave it to Auntie Shui, the strongest among them.

After Shui Lingyun left, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er automatically huddled beside Jiang Liang.

Perhaps, in their hearts, only by Jiang Liang's side could they feel even a little safe.

"Big brother, I'm scared," Shui Yue'er said with tears in her eyes.

Seeing this, Jiang Liang raised his free hand and gently patted their backs.

"Don't worry. Auntie Shui is a seven-ringed Soul Saint. She won't be in danger."

"Mm!" Shui Yue'er nodded, her eyes still brimming with tears.

Shui Bing'er, however, worriedly watched the outside of the tent and silently prayed for her aunt.

Meanwhile.

The moment Shui Lingyun stepped outside the tent, she vaguely saw a nimble, slender afterimage in the snowstorm ahead, rapidly approaching them.

The icy-blue afterimage moved incredibly fast.

Pure speed.

And as it moved, it did not make a single sound.

In just a few blinks, it was less than ten steps from the tent.

Shui Lingyun's brows immediately furrowed. The Ice Luan Martial Soul instantly possessed her body, and pale-blue icy mist enveloped her.

At the same time, seven Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—rapidly rose from beneath her feet. Terrifying Soul Power fluctuations swept in every direction, scattering even the wind and snow in the sky.

The moment the shadow sensed her Soul Power, it immediately stopped, staring fixedly at her with a pair of dark-blue eyes.

Only then did Shui Lingyun finally see the shadow clearly.

It was a snow leopard, its entire body covered in fur of deep blue and icy white, gleaming with a faint cold sheen beneath the light of the ice plains.

Its limbs were sleek and powerful, while a faint black glow lingered around its body, entwined with icy coldness like a frost hunter stepping out of the shadows.

Shui Lingyun's pupils contracted slightly.

"Shadow Ice Leopard!"

Well, well.

They had searched all day for a Shadow Ice Leopard, yet it had actually delivered itself right to their door!