Top-Tier Soul Beast: Ice Jade Scorpion (Sorry, I got stuck writing today. I only managed to finish a chapter this late.)

Shui Qingyue cried out in alarm, calling the giant bear by name. At the same time, Shui Bing'er beside her took the initiative to explain.

"In the Ice Seal Forest, Blizzard Bears are considered powerful Soul Beasts.

"They have thick hides and incredible strength, and they can spew bone-chilling blizzards from their mouths. They're very difficult to deal with!"

After a pause, Shui Bing'er rubbed her little sister's head and said with a light laugh, "Judging by this Blizzard Bear's size, it's probably around five thousand years old. It would be a perfect Fourth Soul Ring for you, Yue'er."

At that, Shui Yue'er immediately smiled. "In that case, let's get started!"

"Of course!"

Shui Bing'er turned to Huo Wu and asked, "The three of us probably can't take down this Blizzard Bear quickly on our own, so Huo Wu, please help me fight it in a moment."

"Hehe, no problem. Brother, Ling Yun, let's go!"

"Okay!"

The two nodded in unison. As soon as the words left her mouth, Ling Yun summoned the Five Spirit Lock and gathered his Soul Power, ready for battle.

"Since our opponent is an Ice-attribute Soul Beast, I'll fight as a Flame Crane!"

As Ling Yun spoke, the Second Soul Ring beneath his feet flickered. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a Flame Crane and shot into the sky, then accelerated toward the Blizzard Bear and launched the first attack.

"Roar—"

The Blizzard Bear instinctively sensed a threat from Ling Yun and let out an angry roar.

Blue light shimmered in its mouth. Then it spat out a fierce, bone-chilling gust of wind, sweeping up the snow around it and turning it into a blizzard that howled toward Ling Yun.

"Heh, a cheap trick like that won't work on me. Fire Spirit Power!"

Ling Yun gave a low shout. Pure Fire-attribute Soul Power surged from his body, and a scorching aura spread instantly in every direction.

This was his Ultimate Fire!

At Ling Yun's command, the Ultimate Fire formed a protective barrier, easily stopping the oncoming blizzard and completely vaporizing the snowflakes within it.

Seeing that its ultimate move couldn't hurt Ling Yun, a trace of panic flashed in the Blizzard Bear's eyes. Just then, Ling Yun shouted,

"Huo Wu, Brother Wushuang, attack now!"

"Got it! Second Soul Skill: Explosive Fireball!"

"Second Soul Skill: Flame Jet."

In an instant, Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang both unleashed their Soul Skills. A blazing fireball and a torrent of flames shot toward the Blizzard Bear.

Seeing their fierce attack, the Blizzard Bear roared and raised its thick paw to claw at the oncoming fireball and flames. Bone-chilling Ice Power burst from its body!

Bang!

With a deafening crash, the Blizzard Bear easily blocked Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang's attacks. But in the next instant, its eyes flew wide, and it stared ahead in terror.

Before it stood a "Fire Phoenix," engulfed in towering flames and hurtling toward it at incredible speed.

That "Fire Phoenix" was Ling Yun, transformed into a Flame Crane!

"Finishing move: Fire Crane Sky Fall!"

As he spoke, the flames around Ling Yun surged even higher. Before the Blizzard Bear could dodge, a blazing sea of fire swallowed it whole. It let out a pained howl and rolled around on the ground.

Once the flames gradually died down, Ling Yun saw that the Blizzard Bear had suffered extensive burns. It was barely alive, on the verge of death.

Delighted, Ling Yun hurriedly said, "Good! It's about to die. Sister Yue'er, finish it off!"

"Got it!"

Shui Yue'er smiled faintly, drew a sharp dagger, and thrust it straight at the Blizzard Bear's throat.

Pfft!

The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out. The Blizzard Bear kicked a couple of times, then died for good.

Soul Power poured out of its body and gathered above the corpse, forming a bright purple Soul Ring.

Seeing this, Ling Yun immediately said, "Sister Yue'er, hurry and absorb your Fourth Soul Ring!"

"Okay!"

Shui Yue'er nodded firmly, sat cross-legged, and focused all her attention on absorbing the Soul Ring. The others stayed nearby to protect her.

And so, time passed by second after second.

Shui Yue'er had now safely made it through the dangerous period. Once she fully refined the Soul Power remaining in the Soul Ring, she would become a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.

Just then, Shui Bing'er moved closer to Ling Yun and thanked him sincerely. "Ling Yun, thank you for your help earlier. It's a good thing you were here. Otherwise, we'd have had to work much harder to take down that Blizzard Bear."

"Hehe, there's no need to thank me, Sister Bing'er," Ling Yun said with a faint smile. "I told you, we're friends."

"I didn't realize you'd become so strong. Not just your strength—even your cultivation has surpassed mine..."

As she spoke, Shui Bing'er's face fell. Ever since she lost to Ling Yun in the academy exchange tournament, she had trained hard, dreaming that one day she could defeat him.

But in just one short year, Ling Yun had grown stronger and stronger, and even his Soul Power cultivation had left hers far behind.

If Ling Yun hadn't given her the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, the gap between them would probably have become even wider, wouldn't it?

In the original story, Shui Bing'er had once driven Tang San to despair. Now, Ling Yun had dealt her the same blow.

Looking at Shui Bing'er's dejected expression, Ling Yun smiled and comforted her. "Cheer up, Sister Bing'er! You're the captain of the Skywater Academy Team. How can you let yourself get discouraged so easily?

"Life is like a race. Falling behind for a little while means nothing. As long as you keep training without giving up, one day you'll become a powerhouse who can look down on the whole world!"

As he spoke, Ling Yun suddenly lifted his gaze to the sky, as if he were talking to Shui Bing'er, or perhaps to himself.

"I'll keep climbing until I reach the pinnacle of the Soul Master World! When that day comes, I hope you can keep up with me, Sister Bing'er. Otherwise, charging ahead all alone would be so boring!"

"Hehe, is that so?" Shui Bing'er smiled, a hint of madness flashing in her eyes. "If you're going to reach the pinnacle of the Soul Master World, then I'll surpass you and become the new pinnacle!"

Though Ling Yun thought it impossible, he still smiled and said, "Is that so? Then you can't lose heart like you did just now, Sister Bing'er. I'm really looking forward to that day. When it comes..."

Rumble!

Before Ling Yun could finish speaking, a deafening rumble suddenly rose from the earth.

The ground split open, revealing a deep fissure. A long, ice-blue scorpion tail burst through the earth and shot straight toward Shui Bing'er's back like a spear!

"Watch out, Sister Bing'er!"

At that critical moment, Ling Yun threw Shui Bing'er to the ground, dodging the scorpion tail as it whistled past and saving her from disaster.

At the same time, Ling Yun ended up sprawled on top of Shui Bing'er, giving her a "facial."

Just then, the fissure in the ground widened, and the owner of the ice-blue scorpion tail slowly appeared before them.

It was a giant scorpion over three meters long, its entire body covered in ice-blue armor.

The moment he saw the Soul Beast, Ling Yun's pupils shrank. He cried out, "That's a top-tier Ice-attribute Soul Beast—the Ice Jade Scorpion!"