Xue Chen felt a warm, boundless force wrap around him in an instant. There was no impact at all; instead, it felt incredibly soothing.
A word that existed only in legends of the Douluo Continent flashed through his mind. He couldn't help exclaiming in shock:
"A sacrifice?! You... you actually chose to sacrifice yourself to me?!"
He whipped around, staring at Snow Empress in disbelief.
Snow Empress met his gaze. Her stunning face was solemn and resolute as she gently nodded.
Xue Chen understood at once!
Knowing its life had reached its end, the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard had chosen, with Snow Empress's guidance and help, the most complete way to give Xue Chen everything it had: a sacrifice!
It had given Xue Chen all that it possessed, without reservation!
This would not only let him absorb the Soul Ring with one hundred percent success, but also allow him to break through the limits of its cultivation and gain its most fundamental power!
Just as the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard's soul-light was about to burn out completely and merge into the black Soul Ring that was gradually taking shape, Snow Empress moved.
Her jade-white fingers formed an extremely intricate, profound seal, precisely enclosing the fading speck at the Soul Ring's core—the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard's most fundamental soul imprint.
"Ice Seal Soul Mark, condense!"
Snow Empress's cool voice carried the power of law.
When the faint soul imprint touched that power, it seemed to freeze inside a block of perfectly transparent, ten-thousand-year-old ice.
It stopped fading away at once. Though it sank into the deepest slumber, it was perfectly preserved, quietly hidden in the depths of the dark black Soul Ring.
"Chen'er, I've sealed a strand of its origin soul imprint inside the Soul Ring.
"If you're fortunate enough to reach the pinnacle someday, perhaps... you might be able to help it regain its soul-consciousness and be reborn."
Snow Empress's voice sounded in Xue Chen's mind.
Xue Chen's heart shook. He looked at the black Soul Ring drifting slowly toward him, his feelings tangled.
He felt gratitude and astonishment, but also the weight of a new responsibility.
He didn't hesitate any longer. Sitting cross-legged, he opened himself completely.
The black Soul Ring contained nearly twenty thousand years of cultivation, and had been offered up willingly. It settled lightly onto him, merging perfectly with his body and his Thunder Dragon Emperor Martial Soul.
The process went more smoothly than he could have imagined.
There was no rejection, not a hint of pain—only a vast, gentle energy coursing through him, widening his meridians, nourishing his Martial Soul, and raising his Soul Power.
When Xue Chen opened his eyes again, a powerful aura surged from him before he could restrain it.
He had successfully broken through the bottleneck at level thirty and reached level thirty-four, officially becoming a Soul Elder!
Three Soul Rings rose around him: one purple and two black!
Such an extraordinary Soul Ring configuration on a child who had only just advanced to Soul Elder was utterly astonishing!
Feeling the surging power within him, Xue Chen was overcome with excitement!
Snow Empress watched him successfully absorb the Soul Ring. A trace of relief flickered in her eyes, but she soon returned to her usual cool composure and reminded him:
"Chen'er, don't get carried away. Hurry and see what Soul Skill this Soul Ring gave you."
Snow Empress's words snapped Xue Chen out of his joy. He nodded firmly, his eyes alight with anticipation.
With a sweep of her sleeve, Snow Empress carried Xue Chen out of the cramped cave in an instant and onto a vast, snow-covered plain.
The biting wind howled, sweeping up heaps of snow. It was the perfect place to test his new Soul Skill.
Xue Chen drew in a deep breath of the icy air, and his gaze instantly sharpened.
At a thought, the majestic, imposing Thunder Dragon Emperor Phantom appeared behind him once more. Blue-violet lightning coiled around its dragon form as it hovered in the air, releasing an intimidating draconic might.
At the same time, three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, pulsing with light.
He fixed his gaze on an ice mound several people tall in the distance.
Then the third, pitch-black Soul Ring around him suddenly blazed with light!
"Third Soul Skill, Pale Thunder Shattered Shadow!"
As his words fell, the majestic Thunder Dragon Emperor Phantom behind him let out a low dragon's roar.
Vast thunderous power gathered and took shape before him with astonishing precision.
"Bzz—"
Blue-violet lightning crackled and flickered as a figure made entirely of thunder rapidly took form just ahead of him.
The phantom looked exactly like Xue Chen.
Its entire body was translucent blue-violet, with countless tiny bolts of electricity racing through it.
It emanated the same thunderous aura as Xue Chen himself.
Standing motionless, it looked like a mirror forged from thunder, reflecting Xue Chen's current state.
Xue Chen shifted his gaze toward a solitary ice mound standing dozens of meters away.
He hadn't even given a clear command when the Thunder Phantom seemed to understand his thoughts. Its figure blurred in an instant;
with a sharp clap of thunder, it had already shot forward as a twisting, leaping streak of blue-violet lightning.
It was so fast that only a string of connected afterimages lingered in its wake!
Without a flashy move, the Thunder Phantom slammed straight into the ice mound!
"Boom-crack—!"
A violent explosion rang out. Blue-violet lightning instantly swallowed the mound's upper half.
The berserk thunderous force rampaged, shattering the hard ice in a flash under its fierce, blazing power.
The ice exploded into a storm of glittering powder that scattered through the air.
After that one strike, the Thunder Phantom had dimmed considerably, its outline beginning to blur.
Xue Chen willed it back and called out softly, "Disperse."
The Thunder Phantom stood beside the ruins of the ice mound, its light already flickering unsteadily. At his command, it became one final, dazzling streak of blue-violet lightning.
It crossed the distance in an instant and shot back, silently merging into Xue Chen's body once more.
Xue Chen sensed the change within him and gave a slight nod.
The phantom he had formed perfectly replicated his own state. It shared his thoughts, moved like thunder, and vanished without a trace when dispersed.
Whether used to launch a surprise attack, lure in an enemy, or distract an opponent, it was a peerless skill.
Snow Empress watched Xue Chen demonstrate his third Soul Skill. Approval flickered in her eyes, and she nodded slightly.
"Not bad. This Soul Skill is already excellent on its own.
"If you can combine it with your first two Soul Skills—especially your evolved Thunder Origin and Dragon Transformation—your attacks and defenses should flow together even better, leaving your opponents unable to guard against you."
Xue Chen was still immersed in the joy of his newfound power. Hearing Snow Empress's advice was like a sudden spark of insight; his eyes lit up.
"That's right! I can use my clone to confuse my opponent, then have my real body unleash a powerful Thunder Dragon Emperor Soul Skill or launch a close-range surprise attack with Dragon Claw!
"I could even use the clone as a lightning fuse or a marker...
"Brilliant! Mother, you're so clever! I never would've thought to combine them like that!"
He looked at Snow Empress with admiration.
Snow Empress's lips curved into a faint smile. She was just about to say more when her beautiful face suddenly turned stern!
She had clearly sensed a familiar aura—extremely subtle, yet imbued with supreme authority and overwhelming draconic might.
The aura was lingering in the direction of Ice Crystal Palace, completely undisguised, as if announcing the arrival of some mighty being.
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