A snow-white streak flashed!
The razor-sharp Snow Sword instantly pierced through the Ice-Spine Hedgehog's body and vanished in a flash.
Its keen sword hum still rippled through the air.
The Snow Sword, stained with traces of blood, had most of its blade deeply embedded in the bluestone floor.
Only half the hilt remained above the bluestone, trembling faintly as it continued to emit a sharp hum.
Even after the Snow Sword pierced its body, the Ice-Spine Hedgehog remained curled into a ball.
Not until a pale purple soul ring slowly rose did it finally unfold its body.
Even upon death, its inhuman face still bore disdain and ridicule toward Xue Mingqing.
Having slain the Ice-Spine Hedgehog in a single strike, Xue Mingqing, whose Soul Power was already exhausted, immediately sat cross-legged and began recovering on the spot.
If the Ice-Spine Hedgehog had retained even a shred of consciousness and could still see what Xue Mingqing was doing, it would surely have exploded with rage.
Because Xue Mingqing's current behavior was practically like winning a lane duel in his past life, then stepping on the other guy's corpse while recalling to base.
The damage was low, but the mockery was off the charts!
Unfortunately, it could no longer see.
Nearby, Xue Ningxian, who had watched the entire battle, had her beautiful eyes widened round, while her soft cherry lips hung open as though they could swallow an entire egg.
Heavens, what had she just seen?
A level-ten Soul Master without a soul ring had soloed a thousand-year soul beast?
Even storybooks would not dare write something like that!
Had the world gone mad, or had Xue Ningxian gone mad?
Raising a brow, Xue Ningxian took a step forward. Her graceful, alluring figure arrived before Xue Mingqing, carrying a fragrance like an orchid blooming upon a snowy plain.
Extending her jade-like hand, she placed it on Xue Mingqing's shoulder and sent the vast Soul Power of her level eighty-two Soul Douluo cultivation into his body.
First, to help Xue Mingqing quickly recover his Soul Power.
Second, to examine Xue Mingqing's body. The fact that he had killed a thousand-year soul beast alone already said a great deal.
If Xue Mingqing's level-ten Soul Power had truly been built up by consuming pills, he absolutely could not have accomplished this.
Yet after examining Xue Mingqing's body, Xue Ningxian's expression became somewhat strange.
In her perception, every meridian in Xue Mingqing's body was unobstructed. Even the strength of his physical body had risen by more than a level, and furthermore—
Xue Mingqing's martial soul seemed to have evolved as well, changing from a single Snowflake into Snow Wind, carrying a light, flowing breeze.
Raising a brow, Xue Ningxian's emerald eyes met Xue Mingqing's black eyes as he opened them.
The meaning in her gaze was obvious.
"Care to explain?"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The moment he woke and met Xue Ningxian's emerald eyes, Xue Mingqing choked and coughed several times.
Naturally, he understood what Xue Ningxian was asking. She merely wanted to know why his body had suddenly undergone such drastic changes.
With that in mind, Xue Mingqing lowered his gaze slightly and brought out the explanation he had prepared beforehand.
"Among the pills the Ling Family sent was one called the Wind-Snow Body Tempering Pill. After taking it, I entered deep meditation, and when I woke up, I was like this."
Among the cultivation resources provided by the Ling Family as compensation, there really was a pill known as the Wind-Snow Body Tempering Pill. It was not unreasonable for Xue Mingqing to attribute his changes to it.
As for whether its effects could truly match the Hurricane Body Tempering that Feng Qingyang had provided, Xue Mingqing had no idea.
After all, he had never taken it.
After hearing Xue Mingqing's explanation, Xue Ningxian's emerald eyes narrowed slightly, a faint and nearly imperceptible mockery appearing within them...
"Heh... the Wind-Snow Body Tempering Pill...?"
Murmuring softly, Xue Ningxian shook her head with a half-smile.
"Forget it. In any case... it is not a bad thing."
"Go on, absorb your first soul ring, you little monster with a thousand-year first ring..."
"Hehe..."
Scratching his head with a soft laugh, Xue Mingqing mobilized the Soul Power within him and connected with the pale purple soul ring.
The moment his Soul Power linked with it, the soul ring floating in midair seemed to find its destination. It flew toward Xue Mingqing and slipped down over his head.
The process of absorbing the soul ring was swift, taking less than half an hour.
As for the pain brought about by absorbing a soul ring beyond his limit, Xue Mingqing paid it no mind at all.
After all, compared to Hurricane Body Tempering, the pain of absorbing a thousand-year soul ring was so weak and pathetic that it was practically a little girl.
He, Xue Mingqing, had endured Hurricane Body Tempering. Would he be afraid of this little pain?
What a joke. He completely ignored it!
Yet as Xue Mingqing refined the final trace of Soul Power within the soul ring and opened his eyes, a hint of strangeness and confusion appeared between his brows.
Noticing this, Xue Ningxian, who stood beside him with her arms folded, spoke.
"What is it? Is something wrong?"
Hearing Xue Ningxian's soothing, ethereal voice, Xue Mingqing instinctively froze. Once he recovered, he spoke with a strange expression.
"Mother... have you ever heard of a soul ring mutating?"
"...?"
Xue Ningxian raised her delicate brows slightly in confusion.
"What kind of mutation?"
Recalling the description of the soul skill in his mind, Xue Mingqing's expression grew even stranger.
"My first soul skill is called Myriad Changes Absolute. Its effects change according to the form of my martial soul."
Seeing the doubt gradually rise in Xue Ningxian's eyes, Xue Mingqing coughed before stating it plainly.
"For example, when my first soul skill is used in Snow Wind's original form, it simply inflicts an eighty-five percent slow on the target."
At this, Xue Ningxian's expression turned strange as well.
"Don't tell me that after you use Snow Transforms Into All Things to change your martial soul's form, your soul skill changes too...?"
Xue Mingqing nodded.
"When it becomes a Snow Sword, the skill increases attack by ninety percent. As a Snow Bow, it grants fifty percent armor penetration. As for a Snow Shield, it provides one hundred percent defense, and so on..."
Upon hearing this, even Xue Ningxian could not stop the corner of her mouth from twitching.
What kind of soul skill was this? It was clearly a divine skill!
Infinite transformations represented absolute versatility and unmatched adaptability. Looking at the soul skill alone, it might not seem like much.
But—this soul skill happened to synergize with Xue Mingqing's Self-Created Soul Skill, Snow Transforms Into All Things.
To Xue Mingqing, such a golden combination was no less formidable than betel nut and cigarettes from his past life—limitless power!
Drawing in a sharp breath, Xue Ningxian closed her beautiful eyes briefly. She steadied herself and spoke calmly in her ethereal voice.
"Not a bad soul skill, but—"
"You must remember this: before you have grown strong enough, never reveal the secrets of your soul skill or your Self-Created Soul Skill. Do you understand?"
At her words, Xue Mingqing nodded.
He was no ordinary child. As a transmigrator, he understood all too well just how terrifying an omnipotent powerhouse capable of endless transformations could be.
What did omnipotence mean?
It meant that he alone was a perfectly coordinated team!
He would be absolutely invincible in a one-on-one fight, and even group battles would struggle to counter him effectively.
If Xue Mingqing were facing such an enemy, he too would definitely eliminate them before they had the chance to grow!
Having weighed the stakes in his heart, Xue Mingqing nodded. Then he blinked mischievously at Xue Ningxian.
"What endless transformations? Hasn't my martial soul always been an ordinary Snow Sword?"
Xue Ningxian was stunned for a moment. Once she understood, the corners of her lips lifted in helpless affection. Extending a jade-like finger, she lightly tapped Xue Mingqing's forehead.
"You little rascal are quite clever. Yes, your martial soul has always been an ordinary Snow Sword."
"Hehe..."
Xue Mingqing chuckled softly. He rubbed the spot between his brows where Xue Ningxian had tapped him, instinctively about to say something else.
But—
When he saw a loose lock of hair hanging before his forehead, he froze on the spot!
Because...
His originally pure black hair had somehow turned a faint grayish-black!
"!!!"
Before you continue