Martial Soul Evolves Again: Ultimate Ice-Fire Phoenix

"Ultimate Ice?!"

Shui Bing'er cried out in shock.

Ultimate ice-element power far surpassed ordinary frost power.

She understood that deeply.

It was only thanks to the sacrifice of the hundred-thousand-year Ice Phoenix that she had gained Ultimate Ice.

She had never expected that her grandfather would also obtain Ultimate Ice after consuming a suitable immortal herb.

"Bing'er, you just said... Ultimate Ice?"

"Yes. Senior Phoenix said that after your ice-element Soul Power was purified by the medicinal effects of the Primordial Immortal Herb, it evolved into Ultimate Ice."

"So that's how it is. No wonder..."

Leng Jun was both shocked and delighted.

He subconsciously spread open his palm.

A wisp of icy-blue Soul Power rose from his palm.

That Soul Power was no longer the slightly murky pale blue of the past. Instead, it was as clear as the core of ten-thousand-year-old black ice, crystalline and translucent, emanating an ultimate chill that instantly froze the surrounding air.

The lush grass beneath his feet was covered in a layer of white frost in an instant, which quickly spread outward.

"This... this feeling... The very nature of my Soul Power has truly undergone a qualitative change! Cold, pure, controllable... stronger than ever before!"

Leng Jun found it hard to believe, his voice trembling.

Shui Bing'er was also somewhat excited.

"Congratulations, Grandfather! Your strength has risen another step!"

Leng Jun withdrew his Soul Power, and the chill around them gradually faded.

"Bing'er, I owe this opportunity to you."

As he spoke, his expression turned serious.

"Grandfather doesn't know whether you are Bing'er now, or Senior Phoenix."

"Grandfather, it's me, Bing'er."

Shui Bing'er looped her arm through Leng Jun's and said playfully, "What? You found out?"

Leng Jun smiled.

This was the granddaughter he knew.

"Bing'er, was the person who confronted Dugu Bo just now Senior Phoenix?"

"Yes. Senior Phoenix not only exists in my mind, but he can also borrow my body. However, he usually won't do that unless necessary. So don't worry."

Leng Jun nodded slightly and let out a long breath.

"Then thank Senior Phoenix for me. Without his help, I could never have come this far."

"Grandfather, Senior Phoenix has already felt your sincerity. He also hopes that you can advance to Title Douluo as soon as possible."

"I will cultivate diligently and not disappoint Senior Phoenix's expectations."

"Mm, let's work hard together."

Half a year passed quietly.

Under Xu Feng's guidance, Shui Bing'er detoxified Dugu Bo.

In truth, the best antidotes were the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, but Shui Bing'er had already consumed both of them.

Alternatively, Dugu Bo could consume immortal herbs to strengthen his body with their medicinal effects, thereby suppressing the poison.

However, Xu Feng was in no hurry to do so.

Under his treatment, the symptoms of Dugu Bo suffering a backlash from his own poison gradually eased.

As a result, Dugu Bo gradually lowered his guard and acknowledged Shui Bing'er. His relationship with the grandfather and granddaughter became quite good.

Over the past half year, Leng Jun had also cultivated near the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well, doing his utmost to break through the bottleneck at level ninety.

Though there seemed to be only a thin line between the peak of level eighty-nine and the threshold of a level ninety Title Douluo, it was like an insurmountable chasm.

Crossing that chasm was no easy task.

Fortunately, the spiritual energy emitted by the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well aided cultivation.

That day, Leng Jun awoke from cultivation, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

"I succeeded!"

"I finally condensed a Soul Core!"

Shui Bing'er hurried over, her face full of delight.

"Grandfather, you condensed a Soul Core? What about your soul power? Did it break through?"

Leng Jun nodded.

"My soul power also broke through the bottleneck and reached level ninety."

"That's wonderful! You only need one soul ring to earn a title!"

"Yes. Don't tell Dugu Bo about this yet."

"Mm."

As the two spoke, a green figure descended from the sky.

Dugu Bo had come as promised to collect the antidote.

Shui Bing'er temporarily suppressed the excitement in her heart and turned toward Dugu Bo.

"Senior, after half a year of treatment, your body is much better than before. It's time to move on to the next stage."

After saying that, Shui Bing'er stepped forward, found the fist-sized golden melon, and plucked it directly.

She then returned and held the golden melon out before Dugu Bo.

"This is an Earth Dragon Golden Melon. It can strengthen one's control over the earth element and is highly suitable for snake- or dragon-type Martial Souls. After consuming it, it can raise your Soul Power Level and make up for flaws in your foundation. It may even trigger your Martial Soul Evolution. Eat it raw, then cultivate and absorb its medicinal effects."

Dugu Bo froze for a moment.

"Trigger Martial Soul Evolution? This tiny golden melon actually has such miraculous effects?"

"This is an immortal-grade treasure. You'll know once you eat it."

Leng Jun joked from the side.

"Brother Dugu, it's been so long. Why are you still so suspicious? If you won't eat it, I will."

"In your dreams! Didn't little Bing'er say it's suited for snake- and dragon-type Martial Souls? What's a bird-type Martial Soul like yours joining in for?"

As soon as Dugu Bo finished speaking, he stuffed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon into his mouth and began chewing in large bites.

He then found a secluded corner, sat down cross-legged, and entered a cultivation state.

Just then, Xu Feng's voice rang out in Shui Bing'er's mind.

"Bing'er, now that your grandfather has broken through his bottleneck, it's time to leave. Go pick the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and consume it according to the method I told you before."

"Now?"

"Yes. The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is very suitable for a phoenix Martial Soul. Although it is a pure-yang, fire-attributed immortal herb, completely opposite to our ice attribute, our soul power contains both ice and fire. After half a year of cultivation and experimentation, we can already fully control that delicate balance. With your current physical condition, I can release more soul power to you at any time. Once you refine the medicinal effects of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, you can go hunt soul beasts with your grandfather and obtain soul rings."

Xu Feng had told Shui Bing'er about every immortal herb he could identify.

The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower had distinctive features and was easy to recognize.

Its crown resembled a rooster's comb, and its leaf veins were crimson gold.

Shui Bing'er found the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and turned to Leng Jun.

"Grandfather, this is called the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. It is an immensely nourishing pure-yang herb. I'm going to take it now."

"Alright. Since Senior Phoenix told you to do this, he must have his reasons. Take it without worry. I'll stand guard for you."

Shui Bing'er nodded, then plucked the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and swallowed it whole.

She immediately sat down cross-legged and entered a cultivation state.

"Bing'er, the medicinal properties of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower are fierce and blazing, but don't worry. We have ultimate ice, and I'll refine its medicinal power with you."

"Mm, I'm not afraid."

The instant the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower entered her stomach, its violent, scorching pure-yang power erupted.

Shui Bing'er felt as though her internal organs had been thrown into a furnace. Her skin instantly flushed crimson, and the fine beads of sweat that had just emerged evaporated at once.

Just as that torrent of blazing heat was about to run rampant, a deep, vast chill of ultimate ice silently spread from the source of her Martial Soul.

The chill was gentle yet forceful, enveloping every strand of fiery medicinal power that tried to go berserk.

The searing pain ebbed away like a receding tide, replaced by a strange sense of balance where ice and fire intertwined.

Shui Bing'er could clearly feel that the immense, pure icy soul power was circulating through her body, stripping away, transforming, and absorbing the violent medicinal power of the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower bit by bit.

She seemed to feel that young man's presence again.

Warm yet domineering arms and chest held her tightly within their embrace.

The raging fire was tamed by ice, and the blazing heat was soothed by extreme cold.

All external impacts and pain were shut out and dissolved...

Leng Jun watched anxiously from the side.

He saw red light first surge from his granddaughter's body. Then, a pure and crystalline icy-blue radiance shone out from within her, swiftly intertwining with the red light.

As time passed, the red and blue lights gradually formed a cocoon of light.

The two extreme auras somehow achieved harmony under a strange rhythm.

"Bing'er, can you feel it?"

"Mm, it feels so strange..."

"Just as I expected, your Martial Soul—that is, me—has evolved again. It has become an Ice-Fire Phoenix possessing both ultimate ice and ultimate fire!"