Murong Ci headed toward the heart of the Extreme North. All along the way, he caught sight of all kinds of ice-attribute Soul Beasts.
But how could any of them catch his eye?
He was after an Ultimate Ice Soul Ring, after all.
"Brother System, do you have a search function...? Wandering around aimlessly like this isn't working. It's way too cold!"
[I can't do anything with you...]
The system replied helplessly.
Murong Ci was growing more and more convinced that something was off about this system.
It was far too human. It was almost as if he were face-to-face with a real person.
[Ding—The system has detected a target: a 1,100-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Beast, one kilometer northeast of the host.]
"You should've told me you had something this useful, Brother System. What's my first Soul Skill? I'm fire-attribute—will it work against an ice-attribute opponent?"
[Your first Soul Skill is called Blazing Sun Scorching Heaven. It releases flames within a five-meter radius, centered on you.]
"Whoa, that's pretty powerful! Ning Fengzhi actually found me a decent Soul Beast."
Murong Ci felt rather pleased with himself.
[That's because I enhanced it for you. Did you really think he'd bother finding you a good Soul Beast? This kind of beast is the most common one.]
Murong Ci: "..."
Well, at least he had someone to bicker with now. He wasn't alone.
[The target is less than a hundred meters away. It's foraging. I recommend concealing your presence and striking to kill while it's eating without a care.]
Murong Ci nodded, forcing down his nerves. His All-Encompassing Martial Soul was already released in his right hand, ready to strike at any moment.
[Fire and ice counter each other. You'll need to time your attacks carefully in actual combat.]
Murong Ci didn't answer the system. He simply held his breath and stared intently at the Ice Jade Scorpion.
The Ice Jade Scorpion truly was the most beautiful kind of scorpion-type Soul Beast. Its whole body glowed green, and the hook at the end of its tail was crystal clear.
No wonder Tian Meng had liked the Ice Empress. What man could keep his heart from stirring at the sight of her?
The Ice Jade Scorpion lived up to its name as an Ultimate Ice Soul Beast. Ordinary poison couldn't harm it at all. The little snake it was eating looked like a highly venomous Soul Beast, too, but its poison was utterly useless against the Ice Jade Scorpion.
"Why is it eating so slowly?" Murong Ci clicked his tongue.
For the first time, he saw the word "elegant" in a scorpion.
At last, it finished eating and slowly rose, preparing to leave.
Murong Ci seized his chance!
"First Soul Skill! Blazing Sun Scorching Heaven!"
In an instant, blazing flames erupted all around. The Ice Jade Scorpion screamed in agony, able only to frantically unleash its ice-spike Soul Skill in every direction.
But Murong Ci was only level eleven. How could he possibly take on a thousand-year Soul Beast?
His flames roared fiercely, but against the Ice Jade Scorpion's ice spikes, they were useless.
"System, I've overdone it. I don't think I can beat it."
[Honestly, you're hopeless. The All-Encompassing Martial Soul doesn't need Soul Skills to be useful. You can use your thoughts to launch fireballs, ice spikes, and so on. Do you even know how to fight?]
Murong Ci's face instantly flushed, but he was clever. He immediately understood how to fight.
He spun around in midair and used his thoughts to make the All-Encompassing Martial Soul form a fireball, hurling it at the Ice Jade Scorpion.
[The All-Encompassing Martial Soul has an Ultimate Attribute, but your Soul Power Level isn't high enough to support it. So, for now, it's only half a step from the ultimate. Even so, that fireball can hurt the Ice Jade Scorpion. Its pincers are its weapons, so you can start by knocking them off.]
It seemed the system didn't just hand out rewards. It could also act as a battle companion.
Though its laid-back attitude was infuriating.
Murong Ci's pupils narrowed. The All-Encompassing Martial Soul produced thread-thin strands of flame that whipped toward the Ice Jade Scorpion's pincers.
He snapped his fingers. The two strands cinched tight, severing both pincers.
The Ice Jade Scorpion cried out in pain. Its gaze turned icy as it spat a ball of ice-blue light at Murong Ci.
Murong Ci dodged to the side and activated his first Soul Skill at the same time!
This time, he tried condensing and releasing the first Soul Skill, shrinking its area of effect to increase the flames' purity!
Sure enough, the flames enclosed only the Ice Jade Scorpion, leaving no gaps, sealing it in as if behind an impenetrable wall.
"Now, all I have to do is channel Soul Power into the flames and temporarily turn them into Ultimate Fire."
With that thought, Murong Ci poured all his Soul Power into the flames.
The fire instantly surged. The Ice Jade Scorpion cried out several times, then fell silent.
Before long, a purple Soul Ring slowly took shape.
[The Soul Ring will remain for one hour. You can rest for a while first. Forcing your Martial Soul to produce Ultimate Fire has taken a lot out of you. Rest easy. I'll remind you when time is almost up.]
Murong Ci was indeed exhausted, nearly drained. Those few strands of flame and the Ultimate Fire at the end had almost used up all his Soul Power and strength.
All he wanted now was to lie down and sleep for a long, long time.
But he couldn't. He had just fought a battle, and his meridians and bones were still adapting to the changes.
If he gave up now, the losses would be immeasurable.
So he gritted his teeth and held on, choosing to absorb the Soul Ring before sleeping.
[You've got a pretty strong will, kid. I like that. Don't worry—I'll put up a barrier around us. The Soul Beasts nearby won't be able to sense what's happening here. You could even take a nap inside it.]
As it spoke, a silent barrier spread out in a three-meter radius around Murong Ci.
Seeing this, Murong Ci steadied himself and headed straight for the thousand-year Soul Ring.
He could sense the intense resentment within it. After all, it had been a Soul Beast that had just finished a meal.
Too bad. This was the Douluo World, where the strong preyed on the weak. Rest in peace.
That was what Murong Ci thought.
[All-Encompassing, all things contained. If you pity it, you can store its soul inside your All-Encompassing Martial Soul. Then, when you ascend to godhood, you can bring it back to life.]
[That'll benefit you, too. You'll be able to use your All-Encompassing Martial Soul to simulate the image of an Ice Jade Scorpion. It could come in handy later.]
[In other words, if you're discreet enough, the All-Encompassing Martial Soul can simulate other Martial Souls without anyone noticing.]
Those three remarks from the system left Murong Ci stunned. If that was true, then it was outrageously powerful!
It really could benefit him without harming anyone.
"Brother System, you're the best!"
Murong Ci couldn't help praising it.
[When you get stronger, I benefit, too. Don't worry—my future abilities will be even more impressive than you can imagine.]
The system replied, with just a hint of pride in its voice?
Murong Ci didn't argue with it further. He turned and summoned the All-Encompassing Martial Soul. A mass of Grey Light appeared in his hand, and he pressed it against the Soul Ring.
Murong Ci held his breath and focused on communicating with it.
A thousand-year Soul Beast had yet to gain true intelligence and couldn't speak, but it had already developed the beginnings of thought.
This communication would let the Ice Jade Scorpion understand what Murong Ci meant.
At first, the purple Soul Ring resisted, releasing a frightening chill. But as their communication deepened, it seemed to gradually accept Murong Ci.
After all, it was already dead. But if it chose to trust this human now, it could live for decades longer—and might even be reborn.
And so, in its final moments, the Soul Ring gradually quieted. It even willingly floated into Murong Ci's arms...
The absorption went smoothly.
Afterward, Murong Ci felt refreshed and invigorated. Deep within the All-Encompassing Martial Soul, there seemed to be a chattering bustle, full of new life.
All things contained, all things united.
It could fuse countless attributes while also encompassing all things and simulating Martial Souls.
That was the truly astonishing part of the All-Encompassing Martial Soul: its transformations were unpredictable, leaving people unable to guess what its Martial Soul or Soul Power really was.
[Ding—Congratulations, host, on completing the task. You have obtained one Thousand-Year Soul Ring!]
[Reward—Thousand-Year Soul Skill: Ice Scorpion Pincer! The All-Encompassing Martial Soul simulates the pincer of an Ice Jade Scorpion and unleashes a strike of Ultimate Ice.]
[It is Ultimate Ice in its own right, not something the host has raised to that level by forcibly circulating Soul Power. So, in theory, using it won't consume as much of your Soul Power.]
[Later, when the host comprehends the origin of ice, this can be upgraded to the power of Huo Yuhao's Soul Skill—Ice Empress Pincer.]
[Second reward—Soul Power increased by three levels. The host's current Soul Power Level is twenty-four.]
Murong Ci sensed the changes in his body and felt a surge of delight, especially when he heard that it could eventually evolve into the Ice Empress Pincer.
He was so happy he jumped right up.
Finally! I'm not useless anymore!
He was level twenty-four now, not too far behind the Shrek Seven Devils from the original story.
And he would defy the heavens!
[Ding—New task released. The host may choose one of the following three options.]
[One: Go to Shrek Academy for the entrance examination and join the protagonist's group.]
[Two: Since your first Soul Skill is fire-attribute, you can join Blazing Fire Academy. Huo Wu is a fiery beauty, you know~]
The system's tone sounded a little flirtatious as it said this... Well, Murong Ci was into that sort of thing.
[Three: Join Skywater Academy. With your Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, you meet the basic requirements. But Skywater Academy is special: it only accepts female students. So if you choose this option and get in, you'll find a great romance. If you don't... the task will fail.]
[The host may choose any one of these three options. The reward will increase your affinity and ability limit for ice and fire, and raise your Soul Power by one level.]
Murong Ci pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I choose... option two!"