Extreme North Ice Plains! Snowy Hunt!

The nights in the Extreme North were even colder than the days.

The howling wind swept snow and ice through the air, pelting the tent with a crackling din, as though countless hailstones were falling from the sky.

Zhao Tian sat cross-legged inside the tent, circulating the Radiant Divine Canon. Golden light flowed across his body, warding off the cold seeping in from every direction.

Even so, he could still feel the bone-deep chill.

The temperature here was far lower than he had expected.

Without Soul Power protecting their bodies, ordinary people probably could not survive here for even the time it took an incense stick to burn.

"Tian'er, how are you feeling?"

Chen Xin's voice came from the neighboring tent.

"I can still hold on."

Zhao Tian opened his eyes and exhaled a puff of white mist.

"The cold in the Extreme North is more overbearing than ordinary cold. It isn't merely a low temperature; it can also seep into Soul Power and corrode the meridians."

Chen Xin's voice carried a hint of gravity.

"You're using Soul Power with the Radiant Attribute to protect yourself. Light counters darkness, but ice doesn't completely belong to darkness, so the countering effect is limited."

"Conserve your Soul Power as much as possible. Don't overexert yourself."

"This disciple understands."

Zhao Tian nodded and closed his eyes again.

But he did not continue cultivating his Soul Power. Instead, he began tempering his body.

The body-tempering method in the Radiant Divine Canon had one advantage—it could be practiced in any environment. The more extreme the environment, the better the tempering effect.

Although the cold of the Extreme North consumed Soul Power, it was an excellent catalyst for tempering the body.

Zhao Tian guided the cold into his body, using the method from the Radiant Divine Canon to transform it into energy for tempering his physique.

The process was extremely painful at first, as though countless ice needles were traveling through his meridians.

But as time passed, his body gradually adapted to the stimulation. His muscles, bones, and meridians all became tougher under the tempering of the cold.

A night passed.

At dawn the next day, Zhao Tian opened his eyes, and a hint of pleasant surprise flashed through them.

After a night of tempering with the freezing cold, his physical strength had risen another minor level.

Although the increase was not large, small gains accumulated over time, and the results would become considerable with the passing of days and months.

"Teacher, this disciple is ready."

Zhao Tian walked out of the tent and spoke to Chen Xin.

Chen Xin glanced at his complexion and found that Zhao Tian was not only unwearied by the cold, but even more spirited than the day before.

"You didn't sleep all night and cultivated the entire time?"

"Mm."

Zhao Tian nodded.

"The cold in the Extreme North is very helpful for tempering the body."

A trace of approval flashed through Chen Xin's eyes.

"Not bad. Being able to find opportunities to cultivate in an extreme environment—that's the mindset of a strong person."

"Let's go. We'll continue searching today."

The three of them set out once more, advancing deeper into the Extreme North.

The next day, they still found nothing.

On the third day, they likewise found no trace of the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow.

The fourth day...

The fifth day...

On the sixth day, Zhao Tian stood atop an ice peak, gazing at the endless white world before him with a slight frown.

"Teacher, does the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow really live in this region?"

Chen Xin stood beside him, also frowning.

"According to the intelligence, the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow does indeed move around in the depths of the Extreme North, but no one can determine its exact location."

"This spirit beast is extremely rare and skilled at concealing its tracks, making it very difficult to find."

"Let's search for three more days. If we still can't find it, we'll change targets and look for the Golden Flame Luan Bird."

Zhao Tian fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. Then we'll search for three more days."

He rallied his spirits, leaped from the ice peak, and continued deeper into the ice plains.

By dusk on the sixth day, the sky had gradually darkened.

Zhao Tian was searching through an ice valley when his Radiant Phoenix Spirit suddenly trembled slightly.

That reaction only occurred when it encountered energy of the same origin!

"Teacher! There's movement!"

Zhao Tian immediately shouted.

Chen Xin appeared beside him in an instant, spreading his spiritual power to its full extent.

A moment later, a glimmer flashed through Chen Xin's eyes.

"We found it!"

"To the southeast, about thirty li away, there's a very faint energy fluctuation with the Radiant Attribute. It's extremely weak, but it definitely exists!"

The three of them immediately rushed southeast.

A distance of thirty li was no more than a few breaths of time at a Title Douluo's speed.

When the three of them landed atop an ice cliff, Zhao Tian finally saw the spirit beast's true form.

It was a snow-white bird-type spirit beast, two or three times larger than the Holy Light Phoenix. With its wings spread, it was seven or eight meters wide.

Its feathers were translucent like ice crystals, yet faintly radiated a golden sheen. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, they reflected a dazzling array of colors, like a frozen aurora.

A cluster of golden plumes crowned its head, resembling burning flames and standing out strikingly against the frozen landscape.

"Aurora Phoenix Sparrow... It really is one!"

A trace of excitement flashed through Chen Xin's eyes.

"Judging by its aura, it has cultivated for around four thousand years. It fits your needs perfectly!"

Zhao Tian looked at the beautiful spirit beast, and a powerful resonance surged within his heart.

The Radiant Phoenix Spirit inside his body rejoiced, as though urging him—This is it! This is the third spirit ring most suited to you!

"Teacher, I want to defeat it myself."

Zhao Tian took a deep breath before speaking.

"Although my current strength is somewhat inferior to that of a four-thousand-year spirit beast, with the superior suppression of the Radiant Phoenix, as well as the painstaking cultivation I've undergone this past year, I may not be without a chance of victory."

Chen Xin glanced at him and pondered for a moment.

"You want to fight it yourself. I have no objections."

"But I'll guard you from the side. If any danger appears, I'll intervene immediately."

"Good!"

Zhao Tian nodded, then leaped from the ice cliff and landed in the ice valley below.

The Aurora Phoenix Sparrow immediately sensed the newcomer's presence. It let out a sharp cry, spread its wings, and swooped toward Zhao Tian.

Its speed was astonishingly fast, like a streak of white lightning.

Zhao Tian showed no fear and directly released his spirit!

The Radiant Phoenix possessed him!

A golden phoenix phantom appeared behind him, and two yellow spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.

Golden radiance instantly spread outward, forming a stark contrast with the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow's crystalline light.

The Aurora Phoenix Sparrow sensed the superior aura of the Radiant Phoenix, and its movements visibly slowed by half a beat.

This was the suppressive power of a superior spirit against an inferior spirit!

Zhao Tian seized the opportunity and struck first.

"First Spirit Skill—Phoenix Holy Light Blast!"

A dazzling beam of light blasted toward the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow.

The Aurora Phoenix Sparrow let out a piercing cry and flapped its wings. An ice-crystal barrier appeared before it.

Boom!

The beam slammed into the ice-crystal barrier and exploded, sending ice shards flying in every direction.

Cracks appeared across the barrier, but it did not shatter completely.

Zhao Tian did not stop. His second spirit ring lit up right after.

"Second Spirit Skill—Phoenix Flame Slash!"

A crimson-gold blade of flame slashed toward the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow.

This time, the Aurora Phoenix Sparrow did not take the attack head-on. Instead, it twisted aside to evade.

The blade of flame skimmed past its feathers and left a deep scorch mark on the ice wall.

The Aurora Phoenix Sparrow seemed to be enraged. It let out a shrill cry and opened its beak, spraying a beam of white icy light.

That was its spirit skill, an ice-attribute attack!

Zhao Tian had been prepared. He rolled sideways to evade while once again gathering Radiant power in his hand.

A human and a beast engaged in a fierce battle within the ice valley.

Ice shards flew everywhere, golden light flashed, and white icy radiance intertwined with golden Radiant energy, blooming with splendid brilliance in the twilight.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong stood atop the ice cliff, watching the battle without blinking.

"Tian'er's combat experience has improved considerably compared to a year ago."

Gu Rong rarely spoke, but he offered his praise.

"Mm."

Chen Xin nodded.

"He can already use the coordination between his two spirit rings skillfully, and he continues adjusting his strategy throughout the battle."

"He has a chance of winning this fight."