Guang Ling felt Qian Lingche's ice and light entwine around his arrows, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
The Invisible Arrow in his hand gradually solidified amid the intertwining ice and light, becoming a crystal-clear ice arrow.
Suddenly, a powerful aura burst from Guang Ling.
Even Qian Lingche, hovering in midair, was buffeted by the force. He flew several yards backward before managing to steady himself.
Guang Ling locked onto a distant mountain peak, then lightly released his fingers. The ice arrow shot from the bowstring in an instant.
It tore through the sky, trailing a brilliant, icy-blue streak. Along its path, it left behind traces of ice that radiated waves of cold.
A deafening roar rang out. The mountain peak was pierced clean through, and then ice crystals spread across it, freezing the entire peak in the blink of an eye.
Qian Lingche slowly descended beside Guang Ling and gazed into the distance.
The mountain peak had been shattered into pieces. Huge chunks of ice and broken stone littered the ground, and the air was filled with biting cold.
He frowned slightly and murmured, "Hmm... It looks like it works. It's just that my Soul Power is too low, so it only boosted the power by about fifteen percent."
He raised a hand. A faint, icy-blue glow appeared in his palm as he felt the flow of Soul Power within him.
Hearing his words, Guang Ling turned to look at him. "Xiao Che, this is already pretty good. If anyone else tried a fusion across so many levels, their Soul Power would've been drained dry."
The little guy doesn't seem satisfied. Surely this isn't not powerful enough?
Qian Lingche nodded, a tired look crossing his face. "Got it, Brother Ling. That took quite a lot of Soul Power. I think I've gotten a bit of inspiration for a breakthrough, so I'll head back and cultivate."
No wonder he'd felt stuck at a bottleneck before. He'd been practicing in isolation for a long time. It seemed he needed more real combat experience.
Guang Ling glanced at him, his voice tinged with concern. "Go on. Get some rest, and don't rush your cultivation. Taking it step by step is the right way."
After returning to his room, Qian Lingche sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. A faint, icy-blue glow began to surround him as Soul Power slowly circulated through his body.
A month slipped quietly by.
Deep in Sunset Forest, the trees towered into the clouds, and the air was thick with the aura of Soul Beasts.
Qian Lingche warily scanned his surroundings, ready for battle at any moment.
His goal this time was to break through level fifty through combat.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead.
A massive Ten-Thousand-Year Iron-Armored Rhino charged out of the brush. Its hulking body was like a small mountain as it barreled straight toward him.
The Iron-Armored Rhino's hide was as hard as iron, and the horn on its head gleamed with a cold light. It was clearly no easy opponent.
Almost at the same time, a shrill howl came from the treetops. A Ten-Thousand-Year Gale Two-Headed Wolf pounced down from above, its claws aimed at Qian Lingche's throat.
A Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Lion also sprang out of the grass to his right. Flames blazed around it as it opened its enormous jaws and spat out a stream of scorching fire.
Qian Lingche's eyes turned cold. He flew backward, narrowly dodging the attacks of the Iron-Armored Rhino and the Gale Two-Headed Wolf.
But the Flame Lion's attack came right on their heels. The scorching flames grazed his body, and the searing heat made his skin sting.
"Second Soul Skill—Angel Wings!" Qian Lingche called out in a low voice. Icy-blue wings spread behind him, and the hundred-percent boost to all his attributes increased his speed, strength, and defense at once.
He flashed away, quickly widening the distance between himself and the three Soul Beasts. "First Soul Skill—Angel Assault!"
His first Soul Skill grew stronger as his Soul Power increased. For every ten levels of Soul Power, he could condense twelve more ice cones, and their power grew as well.
Ice cones formed before him, then shot toward the three Soul Beasts.
They struck the Iron-Armored Rhino with a series of clangs. Though they failed to pierce its defenses, the cold they carried slowed its movements.
Qian Lingche froze for a moment. The Iron-Armored Rhino's defenses really were formidable...
The Gale Two-Headed Wolf nimbly dodged the ice cones, but several still grazed its body, leaving streaks of blood.
The Flame Lion growled and spat out a stream of fire, melting the ice cones. But the cold they carried also affected its movements, slowing it down.
Qian Lingche didn't linger. He flashed to the Iron-Armored Rhino's flank and threw a punch. The powerful blow knocked it back several steps.
"Looks like I'm pretty strong now, huh?"
But the Gale Two-Headed Wolf pounced again, swinging its claws at his back.
Qian Lingche turned quickly and crossed his arms in front of his chest, taking the wolf's claws head-on. At the same time, he kicked out and forced it back.
"Third Soul Skill—Angel Protection!" Qian Lingche called out in a low voice. Golden light enveloped his body, increasing his defense by a full two hundred percent.
He took the Flame Lion's fiery breath head-on. Though it knocked him back several steps, he suffered no substantial injuries.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Angel Holy Light!" Qian Lingche raised both hands. Brilliant icy-blue light descended from above, enveloping all three Soul Beasts.
The power of the holy light caused ice crystals to spread rapidly across the three Soul Beasts, slowing them even further.
Seizing the opportunity, Qian Lingche used his first Soul Skill again. Ice cones fell like raindrops, forcing the three Soul Beasts back step by step.
But the three Soul Beasts were Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, after all. Rather than fall, they only grew more enraged.
The Iron-Armored Rhino and the Gale Two-Headed Wolf growled and charged at Qian Lingche again.
The Flame Lion spat out a scorching stream of fire, blocking his escape route.
But Qian Lingche simply leaped into the air without a hint of panic.
"Angel Domain—Ice Pole Domain!" The temperature around him suddenly dropped, and countless tiny ice crystals formed in the air.
Under the Domain's power, the scorching flames quickly went out, and the Iron-Armored Rhino and Gale Two-Headed Wolf began to slow down.
Within the Domain's range, all his attributes increased by twenty percent, while the three Soul Beasts' attack power and speed were weakened by thirty percent.
Qian Lingche pressed his hands together, condensing Soul Power in his palms. A crystal-clear Ice Crystal Holy Sword quickly took shape.
He flashed to the Gale Two-Headed Wolf's flank and kicked out hard. The powerful blow sent it tumbling away and crashing heavily into a tree.
He spun around, sending a sharp sword aura straight at the Flame Lion.
Suddenly, a piercing whistle cut through the air above him.
He looked up and saw two enormous balls of wind hurtling toward him like meteorites, moving so fast they were almost upon him in the blink of an eye.
Qian Lingche's gaze sharpened. He swiftly raised the Ice Crystal Holy Sword and held it before him to block.
The moment the wind balls collided with the blade, a powerful shockwave erupted. The force sent Qian Lingche stumbling backward, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground.
"The Gale Two-Headed Wolf really is cunning," Qian Lingche murmured, quickly locking his gaze on the Gale Wolf nearby as it gathered its strength.
The wind balls had clearly been its handiwork. A strange light glimmered in the Gale Wolf's eyes.
Qian Lingche drew a deep breath. His four wings beat fiercely, and he shot toward the Gale Wolf.
Seeing him charge, the Gale Wolf tried to dodge, but Qian Lingche was faster. His blade skimmed its body, leaving a streak of blood.