Ice Phoenix Sacrifice

The Ice Phoenix could speak?

Leng Jun was utterly shocked.

This was the first time he had encountered such a powerful soul beast.

He immediately moved Shui Bing'er behind him, cold air surging around his body.

Yet before this Ice Phoenix, he felt a suppression that came from deep within his bloodline. It was as though its mere existence made his martial soul tremble.

Once she confirmed that this Ice Phoenix was the one she had seen in her dream, Shui Bing'er calmed down.

She gently tugged on Leng Jun's sleeve.

"Grandpa, this is the Ice Phoenix that appeared in my dream. He means me no harm."

Leng Jun's heart skipped a beat as Shui Bing'er's account of her dream that morning swiftly flashed through his mind.

Could it have been more than just a dream?

What exactly was this Ice Phoenix after?

"Leng Jun, an eighty-seventh-rank Soul Douluo. Martial soul: Ice Crystal Phoenix. Not bad potential—you may become a Titled Douluo in the future."

That dreamlike voice rang out again, echoing clearly through the valley.

Leng Jun's entire body shuddered.

Not only could it speak, but it had seen through his martial soul and cultivation at a glance!

"Y-you... just who are you?"

Suppressing the storm raging in his heart, Leng Jun forced himself to remain calm as he asked.

Xu Feng slowly spoke.

"I was born in the Far North and raised in the Cold Abyss. My cultivation has now just reached one hundred thousand years, and I am searching for a successor capable of bearing my power."

"Searching for a successor?"

Rather than diminishing, Leng Jun's vigilance grew even stronger.

"You mean... Bing'er?"

Xu Feng gave a slight nod and turned his gaze toward Shui Bing'er.

"Last night, I entered her dream with my consciousness and had already met little Bing'er once. I came today to fulfill my promise—I will sacrifice myself to her and become her soul ring."

"What?!"

A look of shock appeared on Leng Jun's face, and his entire body froze.

A sacrifice?

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was voluntarily offering itself as a sacrifice?

What kind of fortune was this?

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were legendary existences in the world of soul masters.

And this Ice Phoenix before them had not only cultivated for one hundred thousand years, but also possessed the bloodline of a top-tier ice-element phoenix!

Such an existence was actually offering to sacrifice itself to a mere thirtieth-rank soul master?

Why would it do such a thing?

What was its true purpose?

"Senior Phoenix, forgive my bluntness."

Suppressing the shock in his heart, Leng Jun clasped his hands in salute, his tone respectful.

"Bing'er is only a humble thirtieth-rank soul master. How could she possibly deserve such favor from you?"

Xu Feng did not become angry at Leng Jun's doubts. He merely said calmly, "Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. This is a secret between little Bing'er and me. You need not know too much—just understand one thing: I bear her absolutely no ill will."

"But—"

"Grandpa."

Shui Bing'er gently tugged on Leng Jun's sleeve.

"I believe him."

Leng Jun lowered his head and looked into his granddaughter's clear eyes, as pure as an icy lake. Complex emotions welled up in his heart.

He remembered how peaceful Shui Bing'er had looked while sleeping last night, how excitedly she had described her dream that morning, and how his daughter had once possessed that same innocent gaze when she was still alive...

He had already lost his daughter.

If Shui Bing'er suffered any mishap because of this Fire Ice Phoenix's sacrifice, then even death would not absolve him of blame.

"Bing'er, do you know what a sacrifice means?"

Leng Jun crouched down, placed both hands on Shui Binger's shoulders, and looked directly into her eyes.

"This is not as simple as obtaining a soul ring. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's sacrifice will grant you unimaginable power, but at the same time, it will burden you with immense karma. Are you certain you wish to accept his sacrifice?"

Shui Bing'er nodded earnestly.

"I've thought it through. Grandpa, you know that I've always wanted to become stronger. Not only to carry on Mother's unfulfilled wish, but also to carry out the plan in my heart."

"A plan?"

Leng Jun frowned slightly.

Shui Bing'er continued:

"Grandpa, haven't you always hoped that I could protect myself? This is the best opportunity. I believe in Senior Phoenix. I can feel that he sincerely wants to help me."

Leng Jun looked at his granddaughter, then raised his eyes toward the Ice Phoenix in the distance, still struggling inwardly.

On one hand, he suspected there was something suspicious about this sudden stroke of fortune.

On the other hand, he could not deny that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Shui Bing'er.

A hundred-thousand-year soul ring!

Moreover, this Ice Phoenix would grant Shui Bing'er a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

If she truly succeeded, Shui Bing'er's future achievements would be limitless!

Leng Jun could clearly sense the Ice Phoenix's strength.

The spiritual force that had rendered him completely incapable of resistance last night still filled him with lingering fear whenever he recalled it.

If the other party truly meant them harm, there was no need to go through so much trouble.

Could he truly be sincere?

After pondering for a moment, Leng Jun let out a soft sigh.

"Fine. Bing'er, you've grown up and have your own judgment. Since you've made your decision, Grandpa... respects your choice."

After saying that, Leng Jun bowed deeply to the Ice Phoenix.

"Senior, regardless of why you chose Bing'er, I ask only one thing of you: please ensure Bing'er's safety. She's still young, and her capacity to endure is limited..."

Xu Feng nodded slightly.

"Rest assured. I will guide the sacrifice process, and it will not cause her any harm. On the contrary, I will use the gentlest method to ensure that both her body and soul merge perfectly with my power."

Hearing this, Leng Jun felt somewhat relieved.

But then he thought of another question.

"Senior, Bing'er is only level thirty at the moment. Can her body truly withstand the energy of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring?"

"An ordinary soul master naturally could not. But little Bing'er's martial soul and my origin come from the same lineage. Although she has yet to fully master her martial soul, she already possesses the qualifications to bear my power."

Leng Jun fell silent.

"Enough. There isn't much time."

Xu Feng interrupted Leng Jun's thoughts.

"The sacrifice will produce a powerful energy field. Once it begins, it cannot be stopped. Retreat a hundred meters away."

Shui Bing'er said:

"Grandpa, don't worry. Nothing will happen."

Leng Jun took a deep breath, glanced at Shui Bing'er, nodded, and turned to retreat.

He silently prayed in his heart.

He prayed that this was a genuine opportunity, and that his daughter's spirit in heaven would bless Shui Bing'er with safety.

Before long, Leng Jun had retreated to a hillside a hundred meters away.

From there, he could clearly see everything in the valley.

Only Shui Bing'er and the Ice Phoenix remained in the valley.

Xu Feng stood upon the snow, looking down at Shui Bing'er.

"Little Bing'er, are you ready? Once this begins, there will be no turning back."

Shui Bing'er raised her little face and met Xu Feng's gaze.

Although her heart was pounding wildly, her eyes were incomparably firm.

"Senior, I'm ready."

"Very good. Then let's begin."

A trace of approval flashed through Xu Feng's eyes. Then his entire body began to radiate a dazzling icy-blue light.

The light grew brighter and brighter, gradually illuminating the entire valley as though it were daytime.

Countless ice crystals condensed out of thin air, swirling around him and Shui Bing'er to form a massive vortex of ice and snow.