An Unexpected Development

Ye Fan descended into the Undead Demiplane, and Kong Deming immediately pulled him over.

"Xiao Fan, your fourth Soul Ring has been secured."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Fan feigned surprise.

"Master Ancestor, you succeeded?"

"Mm!"

Then, under Kong Deming's arrangements, Ye Fan became the first test subject for the Soul Spirit Method.

Ye Fan was not entirely confident. "Master Ancestor, did you really succeed in developing it?"

"Of course. You don't believe me?"

"We could find a prisoner and test it first."

Kong Deming frowned slightly, feeling that Ye Fan's concerns were not without reason.

Thus, Kong Deming took Ye Fan out of the Undead Demiplane.

They arrived at the Sun-Moon Imperial House's prison.

Inside, they found a death-row prisoner on the verge of obtaining a Soul Ring. Then, they brought in a low-level soul beast from within the imperial house and conducted a Soul Spirit experiment.

The experiment was exceptionally successful.

This delighted both Kong Deming and Ye Fan.

In the end, the two returned to the Undead Demiplane once more.

Kong Deming spoke first. "Xiao Fan, are you ready?"

"I'm ready."

Kong Deming immediately began chanting the incantation for the Soul Spirit Method and controlled the God-Sealing Platform.

As Kong Deming chanted the Soul Spirit Method's incantation, black mist surged from the God-Sealing Platform. The Snow Empress Spirit, frozen within, broke free from the platform. Extreme cold instantly swept across the entire Undead Demiplane, while countless icicles rampaged through the air. Fury roiled within the Snow Empress Spirit as icy-blue frost, carrying the mania to destroy everything, madly battered the restraining formation.

Ice Empress's expression tightened. She hurriedly tried to dissuade him. "Ye Fan, something seems wrong with the Snow Empress Spirit. If you can't handle it, don't force yourself."

Ye Fan gave a faint, bitter smile, his heart filled with helplessness. The experiment with the death-row prisoner and the low-level soul beast had clearly gone so smoothly. Yet when it came to him, he had encountered a berserk, out-of-control Snow Empress Spirit.

He dearly wanted to withdraw, but the process of turning a soul beast into a Soul Spirit had already begun. If he rashly backed out now, he and the Snow Empress soul beast embryo would likely both die.

Helpless, Ye Fan could only grit his teeth and endure.

Kong Deming's expression was grave as he continued casting. His hands formed seals without pause to stabilize the formation. His cultivation was at the pinnacle, but his attainments in matters of the soul were ultimately shallow. Cracks had already spread across the formation's barrier under the assault of the frigid aura.

Seeing this, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, Ice Bear King, and Dark Demon Ape immediately stepped forward. Three layers of spiritual barriers unfolded one after another, completely sealing off every route of escape for the Snow Empress Spirit.

This encirclement completely enraged the Snow Empress. The bone-piercing cold surged again, freezing Ye Fan's body until it cracked. His soul was wracked with unbearable pain, and he was on the verge of collapse.

At the critical moment, the ring on Ye Fan's right hand suddenly burst with dazzling purple light. An aged and weary sigh slowly rang out.

"Ah, you really are a troublesome brat. Didn't we agree that you'd wait until I woke up before reviving the Snow Empress for you? Fine. I rested for nothing these past six months. Once I finish this job, I'll have to go back to sleep."

It was the God of Destruction, sleeping within the ring. He exhausted his remaining divine power and pointed from afar at the berserk Snow Empress Spirit. While doing so, the God of Destruction thoughtfully knocked Ye Fan unconscious.

A supreme divine might suppressed the entire area. The Snow Empress Spirit shuddered, and the extreme cold instantly receded. The fury filling her vanished completely. She finally resigned herself to her fate and gently floated before Ye Fan, transforming into a Soul Spirit.

Behind Ye Fan, the Death Angel Martial Soul spread its wings. His fourth Soul Ring lit up with a bang, while the vacant slots for his fifth and sixth Soul Rings were all occupied by the Snow Empress Soul Spirit. However, due to his insufficient cultivation, the two Soul Rings remained dim and could not yet be activated.

When the ritual finally ended, Kong Deming immediately stepped forward to examine Ye Fan.

"Xiao Fan, are you all right?!"

Kong Deming held the sleeping Ye Fan, his face full of worry.

At the side, Ice Empress, Ice Bear King, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, and Dark Demon Ape were equally concerned for Ye Fan's safety.

"Old Kong, look at the mess you've made."

Among them, Ice Empress was the first to direct hostility at Kong Deming.

Hearing that, Kong Deming looked deeply ashamed as well.

"I..."

"I didn't know either..."

"You all saw the experiment just now. It was clearly successful. Why did something go wrong when it came to Xiao Fan...?"

Kong Deming looked utterly ashamed.

Ice Empress did not accept Kong Deming's explanation and continued sharply, "Old Kong, if anything happens to Ye Fan, I'll hold you accountable."

"He moved..."

Just as Ice Empress and Kong Deming were arguing.

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm spoke up. "Ice Empress, Old Kong, stop arguing."

"I just saw Ye Fan's eyebrows move."

"What?"

"What?"

Ice Empress and Kong Deming hurriedly leaned close to Ye Fan and carefully watched his eyebrows.

"They moved, they moved!"

Soon, Ice Empress also cried out in excitement.

Kong Deming was likewise moved to tears. He had nearly harmed his own peerless grand-disciple.

At that moment, he was filled with lingering fear.

"If Xiao Fan had truly died because of my mistake, how could I ever face Jing Hongchen?"

As he imagined it, Ye Fan's consciousness gradually recovered.

"Master Ancestor, Ice Empress, Tianmeng, Demon Ape, Ice Bear King, why do you all look like you're at a funeral?"

"I can feel that this Soul Spirit conversion was very successful."

As he spoke, Ye Fan forced himself upright and released his Death Angel Martial Soul.

Three golden Soul Rings appeared atop his fourth, fifth, and sixth Soul Rings.

However, the fifth and sixth Soul Rings were temporarily dim.

At the same time, Ye Fan did not forget to summon the Snow Empress Soul Spirit.

"Snow Empress, is that you?"

When Ice Empress and Ice Bear King saw the Snow Empress again, their eyes turned red, and they could not calm themselves for a long time.

They wanted to step forward and touch the Snow Empress Soul Spirit, but she nimbly dodged them.

Then, the Snow Empress affectionately threw herself into Ye Fan's arms, avoiding Ice Empress and Ice Bear King's touch.

At the same time, the Snow Empress did not forget to babble "aba aba" at Ye Fan for help.

This left Ice Empress and Ice Bear King completely confused.

Ye Fan explained, "Ice Empress, Ice Bear King, the Snow Empress's soul suffered severe trauma. She has only just been revived through the Soul Spirit Method, so she still needs time to recover her memories."

Only then did Ice Empress and Ice Bear King understand. "Is that so?"

"Thank you, Ye Fan!"

As they spoke, Ice Empress and Ice Bear King both bowed to Ye Fan.

At the same time, Ice Empress deliberately bowed to Kong Deming as well. "Elder Kong, thank you for saving the Snow Empress."

Hearing that, Kong Deming's mouth twitched slightly. "Damn savage soul beasts. You were calling me Old Kong just moments ago, yet now you've changed your tune and call me Elder Kong."

"Mm! For Xiao Fan's sake, I'll forgive your rudeness."

In the end, Kong Deming accepted Ice Empress and Ice Bear King's bows. "No need for such courtesy. It was all for Xiao Fan's sake."

Kong Deming changed the subject and asked Ye Fan, "Xiao Fan, what is going on with your fifth and sixth Soul Rings?"

"Also, will this Soul Spirit grant you soul skills?"

Ye Fan raised a hand to gently soothe the timid Snow Empress in his arms before answering, "Master Ancestor, this is the wonder of the Soul Spirit Method. Ordinary soul beasts can only provide a single Soul Ring, but the Snow Empress is a top-tier Soul Spirit with ultimate ice attributes and more than a hundred thousand years of cultivation. Her foundation is immense, allowing her to bear three Soul Rings for me at once."

Kong Deming's eyes were full of astonishment. "She can occupy three Soul Ring slots at the same time?"

"That's right. It's only because my cultivation is insufficient that the fifth and sixth rings are temporarily dim."

Ye Fan continued explaining, "The benefits of a Soul Spirit go far beyond that. During battle, the Snow Empress can act independently and assist me against enemies, unleashing the power of ultimate ice. Furthermore, each of the three Soul Rings corresponds to a unique soul skill. Once my cultivation reaches the required level, all three ring skills can be unlocked."

Ice Empress agreed from the side. "Such an ability far surpasses the traditional method of obtaining Soul Rings."

Kong Deming nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration for this Soul Spirit Method.