Icebound Forest, Old Legends

The bitter cold of the Icebound Forest was an eternal, unbroken silence.

Day after day, wind and snow swept through the vast woodland. Thick snow weighed down the icy branches of ancient ten-thousand-year trees, while tiny ice chips occasionally rustled down, vanishing soundlessly into the white snowdrifts.

"The Icebound Forest is quite dangerous. Soul Beasts roam everywhere, so our range of activity will be limited to the outer regions."

As the group walked through the Icebound Forest, Gu Dalong led the way, turning back from time to time to explain things to Lin Mo, their wealthy patron.

"The Soul Beasts on the outskirts generally aren't that old. Thousand-Year Soul Beasts occasionally wander through, but we're here to gather herbs. We should avoid fighting Soul Beasts whenever possible and conserve our strength."

"We also need to watch out for Soul Beasts that live in groups."

"Don't underestimate them just because some are only Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. Their numerical advantage can make a war of attrition quite terrifying," Gu Dalong explained to Lin Mo in detail.

He had encountered some particularly stubborn patrons in this line of work.

Things like this had to be made clear beforehand. Better safe than sorry.

Lin Mo nodded along.

He understood all of this.

He had come here to survive, so naturally, he would not go looking for trouble with Soul Beasts.

"Besides Soul Beasts, we also need to guard against other Soul Master adventuring parties. Unless necessary, it's best to avoid contact," Gu Dalong said, gazing into the distance.

"Only under special circumstances, such as a disaster or someone being surrounded by Soul Beasts, will we offer help within our capabilities."

Not every Soul Master team was honest.

Hunting Soul Rings was one thing—whoever killed the beast absorbed it.

But spiritual herbs and medicinal plants could be stolen.

Lin Mo understood that as well.

He had experienced such things himself, so of course he remained wary.

"The Icebound Forest covers an enormous area. Do you see that snow mountain in the distance?"

"That is the core region of the Icebound Forest, called Dragon Spine Snow Mountain. It got its name because its range resembles a crouching giant dragon," Gu Dalong said.

Lin Mo followed his gaze.

At the end of the dark forest stood a towering snow mountain. Thin mist and clouds shrouded its mountainside, while its peak was covered in pristine white snow.

"Dragon Spine Snow Mountain runs east to west through the Icebound Forest, dividing it into north and south. It also blocks most storms from moving southward, making the environment south of it relatively stable."

"Once you cross Dragon Spine Snow Mountain, you'll find an endless expanse of snowy ice plains. That is where the true danger lies, where you face natural disasters head-on," Gu Dalong said.

"North of Dragon Spine Snow Mountain, once you leave the Icebound Forest, is the Extreme North. It is a forbidden zone of life, an insurmountable place."

"Legend has it that a powerful Title Douluo once ventured deep inside, seeking to uncover the secrets of the Extreme North. He encountered countless dangers there. That land was home to many powerful Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, and Soul Beasts capable of surviving such harsh conditions were far more dangerous than those outside."

"The Title Douluo even encountered an incomparably enormous and terrifying Snow Demon King in the Extreme North," Gu Dalong said, recounting legends of the Northern Territory to Lin Mo.

"They say that monster alone stood more than fifty or sixty meters tall. Every step shook the earth and mountains, while wind and snow howled around it. It was absolutely within the ranks of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."

"The Snow Demon King?" Lin Mo was somewhat surprised.

The image of the Titan Snow Demon King surfaced in his mind.

Which Title Douluo had been that brave?

Not only did he dare venture into the Extreme North, he even came into contact with the Snow Demon King?

"You know about Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, right? Red Soul Rings. Kill one, and it will definitely drop a Soul Bone," Gu Dalong said.

"Yes. Could it be..." Lin Mo nodded and looked at him.

"Under normal circumstances, a Title Douluo's strength is comparable to that of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

"Unfortunately, the Extreme North's environment is incredibly hostile, putting us humans at a tremendous disadvantage. That Title Douluo did not dare fight the Snow Demon King on the ice plains. He had intended to retreat, but the monster set its sights on him, forcing him to fight. Fortunately, his strength was extraordinary, and he ultimately escaped by sheer luck."

"That was how the Snow Demon's name spread," Gu Dalong said.

Lin Mo nodded in deep agreement.

A scene surfaced in his mind: from several hundred meters away, some paper-thin figure threw a shuriken at the approaching Titan Snow Demon King, then immediately turned and fled.

That made much more sense.

The Titan Snow Demon King was not merely a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

For that Title Douluo to escape while the opponent held the home-field advantage, his escape techniques had truly been remarkable.

"What about the Icebound Forest? Does it have any legends?" Lin Mo asked.

He vaguely remembered that in the original story, after Xiao Wu sacrificed herself and died, Tang San had sought a way to revive her.

The Titan Giant Ape had mentioned the Ten-Thousand-Year Nine-Rank Ginseng King, saying that its ten-thousand-year cultivation could rival a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and that it was most likely in the Icebound Forest of the Northern Territory.

He wondered whether that ten-thousand-year divine herb was still there.

Even if it was, however, he had no way of dealing with it at present.

A ten-thousand-year divine herb was comparable to a hundred-thousand-year cultivation base.

Even if its combat power was low, its ability to escape would be extremely strong.

"The Icebound Forest?"

"Legend says that Dragon Spine Snow Mountain was once ruled by a Frost Dragon. But after it was slain by a hero, it was never seen again."

"That hero never appeared again either."

"Therefore, the Frost Dragon's remains may be hidden somewhere on Dragon Spine Snow Mountain," Gu Dalong said.

"A Frost Dragon? A hero?!" Lin Mo felt strangely pulled out of the moment upon hearing that.

"What was the Frost Dragon's cultivation level?" he pressed.

"No one knows. These are all ancient legends, and it is difficult to tell truth from fiction," Gu Dalong said.

"Besides, Dragon Spine Snow Mountain is part of the Icebound Forest's core region. It's best not to go anywhere near it. That legend is probably false, right?" Gu Dalong added.

He was afraid this wealthy patron might get inspired and decide to try his luck at Dragon Spine Snow Mountain. That would be troublesome.

Lin Mo said nothing.

He was calculating the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in his mind.

The Star Dou Great Forest had the Titan Giant Ape, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and the Silly Rabbit—three in total.

Sunset Forest had the Death Spider Emperor and the Purple Winged Spider Emperor.

In the original plot, it seemed Bibi Dong had killed both of those Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

It had been mentioned that Bibi Dong had hunted a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with the same Martial Soul as hers: the Death Spider Emperor.

The Purple Winged Spider Emperor had dropped an External Soul Bone, the thing Bibi Dong used to fly.

The Icebound Forest was as famous as those two.

The Titan Giant Ape had said the Ten-Thousand-Year Nine-Rank Ginseng King was here.

That information was questionable and required verification.

Judging by this pattern, there was a strong possibility that the Frost Dragon, whose fate remained unknown, had been a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

If it had truly perished together with the hero who slew it, then finding its burial site would mean obtaining a free Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

At that thought, Lin Mo's eyes lit up.

Gu Dalong noticed that his patron's eyes were growing brighter and brighter.

This is bad!

We're in danger!

"Cough, cough. Well... this really is just a legend. You can't take it seriously," Gu Dalong explained, scratching his head.

Lin Mo smiled faintly.

You talk. I'm listening.