Abyssal Tide Hunter! Hunting Blade

Before the words had even faded, twelve wings of pure, flawless white suddenly unfurled behind him!

A sacred, radiant, and majestic aura instantly flooded the entire hall, forming a stark contrast to the cold, murderous intent radiating from the "shark boy."

"Twin... Twin Martial Souls?!"

Ice Empress was truly shocked this time; she stood up, her face filled with disbelief.

Lan's consciousness sank into his sea of spirit.

He could clearly feel that the Martial Soul named "Lan" possessed a growth potential far more terrifying than this Twelve-Winged Angel. It was a connection stemming from the depths of his soul, so powerful it seemed to have no upper limit.

It also came with an innate soul skill.

Devour.

It could promote the growth of the Martial Soul by absorbing energy of different attributes, or even life force, and would feedback the purest energy to him.

At the same time, a growth-type domain named "Darkness Domain" was born alongside the awakening of his Martial Soul.

As for this Twelve-Winged Angel...

Although it was countless times stronger than the so-called Six-Winged Angel of Martial Soul Hall, this Martial Soul made him feel a sense of innate repulsion and... shame.

He did not want anyone to know that this Martial Soul might have some connection to that woman, and to that place he loathed.

He would not use this Martial Soul lightly.

Snow Empress recovered from her shock, looked at Lan, and said gently:

"Lan'er, place your hand on this crystal ball. Aunt Snow will test your Innate Soul Power."

Lan nodded, retracted the phantoms of his two Martial Souls, stepped forward, and placed his small, fair hand gently upon the crystal-clear sphere.

Hum--!

The next second, a beam of light so brilliant it was impossible to look at shot up from the crystal ball, illuminating the entire Ice Crystal Palace as bright as day!

The crystal ball, unable to bear the burden, emitted a "crack" as it shattered.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress stared at the dazzling light, completely frozen in place.

"In... Innate Full Soul Power... level twenty?!"

The sound of the shattering crystal ball was as crisp as the announcement of a new era's beginning.

The entire main hall was so quiet that only the howling of the wind and snow outside the ice crystal dome could be heard.

Ice Empress's dark green pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks due to extreme shock.

For the first time, an expression of astonishment appeared on Snow Empress's cold, aloof face.

Innate Full Soul Power level twenty?

What kind of concept was this?

Throughout the history of the entire Douluo Continent, not to mention seeing it, no one had even heard of such a thing!

After a brief, dead silence, Ice Empress suddenly let out a shriek.

"Good heavens!"

She flashed forward, rushed in front of Lan, scooped up the six-year-old little one, and held him tightly in her arms.

"Hahaha! My Lan'er! My treasure! Are you trying to scare Aunt Ice to death!"

Ice Empress was so excited she was incoherent, planting several kisses on Lan's small face with her warm lips, regardless of anything else.

Lan's body stiffened slightly.

He was not used to such sudden intimacy, but the embrace was warm, carrying a faint, familiar fragrance.

Snow Empress, standing to the side, also regained her composure. She walked over to Ice Empress, her cold eyes filled with an unmelting tenderness and joy.

She reached out and gently stroked Lan's back, her movements so soft as if she were afraid of breaking some rare, priceless treasure.

"Lan'er, you really... have given us too great a surprise."

Snow Empress also leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss, carrying the scent of ice and snow, onto his other cheek.

Just then.

A cold, emotionless mechanical prompt sounded in Lan's mind.

[Ding!]
[Host's Martial Soul awakening detected. 'Unprecedented' achievement reached. Hunting System officially activated.]

Lan's expression did not change; he simply remained quietly in the arms of the two ecstatic women.

[This system aims to assist the host in becoming the strongest hunter.]
[Hunt enemies to receive rewards.]
[First-time activation detected. Issuing one Newbie Gift Pack. Open it?]

"Open."

Lan recited in his heart.

[Newbie Gift Pack opened successfully.]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the divine artifact: Abyssal Tide Hunter (Dagger).]

The moment the voice faded.

A deep blue light flashed before Lan, followed immediately by a soft "clatter."

A uniquely shaped dagger landed on the crystalline ice floor in front of the three of them.

Its entire body was the deep azure of the ocean, and the blade seemed to have tides slowly flowing across its surface, emitting an ancient and profound aura.

The movements of Ice Empress and Snow Empress froze simultaneously.

Their gazes fell in unison upon the dagger.

"This is..."

Ice Empress released Lan and carefully picked up the dagger, feeling a chill seep into her palm. The power contained within it was enough to startle even a 700,000-year-old soul beast like her.

Lan broke free from Ice Empress's embrace and calmly reached out his hand.

"Aunt Ice, this is mine."

Ice Empress was stunned for a moment, then smiled and handed the dagger to him.

"Alright, alright, it's yours, it's all yours."

As the dagger entered his hand, a sense of blood-linked connection welled up, as if it had always been a part of Lan's own body.

Lan issued another command in his mind.

"Check panel."

A concise blue light screen, visible only to him, floated before his eyes.

[Host: Lan]

[Soul Power: Level 20]

[Martial Soul: Lan (Shark Boy), Twelve-Winged Angel]

[Soul Skill: Devour (Innate), Darkness Domain (Growth-type)]

[Soul Bone: None]

[Equipment: Abyssal Tide Hunter (Divine Artifact)]

The information on the panel was clear at a glance.

Lan's gaze lingered on it for a moment, and he understood everything in his heart.

This so-called system was his greatest trump card.

Hunt enemies, and he would grow stronger.

The rule was simple, direct, and... very much to his liking.

He raised his head to look at Ice Empress and Snow Empress, and for the first time, a flame called "desire" ignited in his pitch-black eyes.

"Aunt Ice, Aunt Snow."

His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

"I need a soul ring."

Martial Soul Hall.

Inside the Pope Palace, the atmosphere was as solemn and grave as ever, yet carried a lingering, pervasive chill.

Beneath the high dome, Bibi Dong wore magnificent robes, her eyes hollow as she pondered something unknown.

Just then.

"Clack, clack, clack..."

A crisp, hurried sound of footsteps shattered the deathly silence of the hall.

A golden figure, like a cheerful little butterfly, fluttered into the hall.

The newcomer was a little girl of about six years old, her long golden hair neatly combed, her delicate face like a porcelain doll, and her eyes filled with pure joy and adoration.

She ran straight to the throne, looked up, and called out in a crisp, melodious voice:

"Mom!"

The two words were filled with childlike excitement.