The Third Soul Ring, Ten Thousand Year Snow Domain Thunder Leopard!

He pondered for a moment, opened his eyes, and shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of realization:

"Mother, this time seems different from the first."

"It didn't condense that strange spirit ring that usually circles my body."

He raised his right hand, and with a flick of his thoughts, a cluster of blue and purple intertwined lightning crackled in his palm. Though the purple at the core of the lightning was thin, it caused the surrounding space to distort slightly, emitting a destructive fluctuation far beyond anything he had felt before.

"The power of this lightning tribulation seems more 'focused'."

Xue Chen organized his thoughts, attempting to describe his sensations:

"The vast majority of its power, along with the essence left behind by the tribulation, has almost entirely merged into my existing lightning attribute."

A flash of excitement crossed his eyes:

"I can feel that my Thunder Origin has been greatly strengthened and sublimated!"

"It is no longer pure blue lightning, but has evolved into this blue-purple hue."

"Its power, speed, and especially its penetrative and destructive nature are far stronger than before!"

"This is more like an... essential improvement, rather than the granting of a brand-new skill."

Snow Emperor carefully sensed the cluster of blue-purple lightning in Xue Chen's palm and nodded slightly.

With her level of cultivation, she could naturally perceive the qualitative change contained within this lightning.

That touch of purple made even her feel a faint sense of threat.

"That is fine as well."

Snow Emperor said softly, her tone filled with gratification:

"Solidifying your foundation and sublimating your essence is far more important than gaining one or two more spirit skills."

"The quality of this evolved lightning of yours is extremely high; I fear it has already far surpassed ordinary Ultimate Lightning."

Snow Emperor continued to Xue Chen:

"Let us go, Chen'er. Let us take advantage of today to obtain your third spirit ring."

"I have already scouted one out for you."

Upon hearing this, excitement and anticipation erupted in Xue Chen's eyes, and he nodded immediately:

"Alright!"

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he followed up by asking:

"Mother, what kind of spirit beast have you chosen for me?"

Snow Emperor looked at his eager expression, a faint, gentle smile appearing on her beautiful face:

"A Snow Domain Thunder Leopard approaching twenty thousand years."

"A Snow Domain Thunder Leopard?"

Xue Chen searched his memory rapidly.

This was an extremely rare spirit beast, possessing not only ultimate speed and fierce attacks but also the ability to hide within wind, snow, and lightning, making its movements mysterious and unpredictable.

If he could successfully absorb its spirit ring, he would very likely obtain a powerful spirit skill that combined speed and explosive power!

"We depart now."

Snow Emperor said no more. A soft white halo swirled around her, gently enveloping Xue Chen before she transformed into a streak of light, speeding toward the eastern region of the Far North.

At Snow Emperor's speed, it took less than a quarter of an hour for the two to arrive at a range of towering, continuous snow-capped mountains.

Snow Emperor had a clear target; she flew straight with Xue Chen toward one of the most precipitous peaks, finally hovering before a cave entrance covered in thick layers of ice.

Cold winds whistled at the entrance, and one could faintly see tiny purple electric sparks flickering within, remnants of the unique aura belonging to a Snow Domain Thunder Leopard.

Snow Emperor flew directly into the cave with Xue Chen.

The space inside was more expansive than expected, but the light was dim. The walls were made entirely of black ice that never melted, and the cold was bone-chilling.

Snow Emperor landed gracefully, her peerless divine sense sweeping across the entire cave like an invisible ripple, precisely locking onto an extremely weak aura in the depths.

She did not strike to capture it immediately, but instead transmitted a clear intent through her spiritual power.

After a moment of silence, a suppressed, painful rustling sound echoed from the depths of the cave, followed by heavy, labored breathing.

Immediately after, a figure emerged from the dark shadows, trembling and stumbling.

It was indeed a Snow Domain Thunder Leopard!

Its body, which should have been sleek and graceful, now appeared gaunt and wretched.

Its magnificent purple and white fur had lost all luster, becoming dull and filthy, covered in shocking charred marks and deep, bone-revealing frostbite wounds.

Its leopard eyes, which once flickered with lightning, now held only endless exhaustion and a deathly stillness nearing extinction.

It walked extremely slowly, as if every step exhausted the last of its life force. Its body swayed uncontrollably, and its aura was withered to the extreme.

Anyone could see that it was on the verge of death, its flame of life like a flickering candle, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Xue Chen looked at the dying Snow Domain Thunder Leopard before him, which seemed as if it would perish at any second, and could not help but ask Snow Emperor:

"Mother, what is wrong with this Snow Domain Thunder Leopard?

Why is its aura so withered, as if... as if its life force has completely dried up?"

Snow Emperor's gaze fell upon the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard's scarred body, and she let out a soft sigh, her ethereal voice tinged with melancholy:

"It previously encountered a group of formidable human soul masters who hunted it. Although it fought back fiercely and wounded several of them, it suffered fatal injuries itself.

It was Aunt Ice who intervened, saving it and bringing it back to the Far North.

Unfortunately, its injuries were too severe and its origin had already collapsed. Although Bing'er used her own soul power to sustain its life, it only delayed the process; in the end, it was beyond saving."

She paused, looking at Xue Chen:

"I observe that your attributes are highly compatible with it. Rather than letting it suffer and fade away naturally, with its soul ring dissipating into the heavens and earth, it would be better for it to fulfill you. It could be considered a more meaningful conclusion to its arduous life."

Just then, a soft light flashed in Snow Emperor's eyes, and an invisible mental force was transmitted once more to the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard, which lay prostrate on the ground with dim eyes.

The Snow Domain Thunder Leopard's massive body trembled slightly; it struggled to lift its head, looking at Snow Emperor before slowly turning toward Xue Chen.

In its eyes, filled with deathly stillness, a complex emotion seemed to flicker—unwillingness, relief, and finally, a strange sense of calm.

It nodded ever so slightly, as if it had made a momentous decision.

Then, to Xue Chen's astonishment, this Snow Domain Thunder Leopard, which should have struggled even to stand, suddenly summoned a surge of strength from somewhere. Trembling, it took a step at a time, moving toward Xue Chen of its own volition.

Xue Chen was bewildered and instinctively took half a step back, watching it warily, unsure of what this dying soul beast intended to do.

However, the next moment, a sudden change occurred!

When the Snow Domain Thunder Leopard was only three paces away from Xue Chen, it abruptly stopped.

It raised its head and let out a low, mournful howl that seemed to pierce the soul!

Immediately following, its massive body suddenly erupted with an incomparably brilliant blue light!

This light was not an attack, but the condensation of its entire life force, soul power, and lifelong cultivation!

The light, like blue flames, enveloped and burned its entire body!

Its already weak aura faded rapidly.

But at the same time, a pure, vast, and gentle energy actively separated from those blue flames.

Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it surged toward Xue Chen continuously and without obstruction!