"Xiaoyang, what's wrong?"
Having just left the Ice Crystal Palace, the Ice Empress noticed that Beiming Lieyang had zoned out. "Don't tell me you still need Auntie Bing to carry you?"
"That's not it." Snow Empress's gaze narrowed slightly. "The aura around him... has doubled."
Beiming Lieyang closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, then opened them. "It's my Martial Soul, Solar Star God Apollo. Under the sun, all my attributes are boosted by one hundred percent."
"?!" Ice Empress's eyes widened. "What level is that Martial Soul of yours? It doubles under the sun? Solar Star God... Kid, you really are connected to a god!"
Beiming Lieyang did not deny it.
Snow Empress raised her eyes toward the faint sun hanging above the Far North.
Even though the sunlight was thin to this extent, as long as he was beneath the sun, all this child's attributes could still double.
The quality of this Martial Soul was simply too powerful.
"Void Mysterious Ice, Solar Star God Apollo... How are all your Martial Souls so strong?"
Ice Empress muttered, then immediately grew excited again. "Forget it, who cares! Let's get you Spirit Rings first! Your Martial Souls are already this terrifying. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you'll grow into!"
Ice Empress led Beiming Lieyang deep into the territory of the Ice Emperor Scorpion clan, arriving before a deep, secluded ice cavern.
Some Ice Jade Scorpions lived here. They had suffered devastating injuries while fighting other Soul Beasts for food in their early years, leaving them unable to continue growing and with little lifespan remaining.
This time, Ice Empress intended to have them offer sacrifices.
They would become Beiming Lieyang's First Spirit Ring while retaining a trace of their souls, so they would not disappear completely.
A Soul Beast's sacrifice ignored the physical and mental limits of what a Soul Master could endure. It was far safer than hunting a Soul Beast to obtain a Spirit Ring.
As the king of the Ice Emperor Scorpion clan, protecting her people was Ice Empress's duty, and she cared deeply for her clan.
Now that she had to ask her people to sacrifice themselves, she could not help feeling conflicted.
Ice Empress paused for a moment, drew a deep breath, and entered alone.
When she emerged, an Ice Jade Scorpion made entirely of ice crystals followed behind her. Its massive pincers gleamed with cold light, while its tail hook was jade-green.
Under normal growth conditions, this Ice Jade Scorpion should have possessed thirty thousand years of cultivation. Yet because its origin had been damaged in its early years, it could no longer grow. Now, it had only a few hundred years of life left, and its cultivation had fallen to around eleven thousand years.
"Begin."
The Ice Jade Scorpion gave a low cry, and crystalline radiance ignited across its body. The light of sacrifice surged entirely into Beiming Lieyang's body.
Soul Power frantically washed through his meridians, carrying him from level ten to level twenty.
Part of that Soul Power gathered within the External Soul Bone at his brow.
A pitch-black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring rose beneath his feet.
At the same time, his height shot up from one meter forty to one meter fifty.
After all, he had eaten and lived well for the past six years, unlike Tang San, who had ended up with a useless father and drank rice water every day.
Snow Empress examined him. "The soul of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast is too weak. Only a trace remains, sleeping within the External Soul Bone."
Ice Empress relaxed.
After all, ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts only just began to develop intelligence. Their wisdom was not particularly high, and their souls were weak. Retaining even a trace was already fortunate.
"Level twenty! We can get the Second Spirit Ring too!" Ice Empress hurriedly darted back into the cavern.
This one was even older than the last. The sheen on its shell had already faded, clearly showing that it had lived longer.
Under normal growth, it should have possessed fifty thousand years of cultivation. Yet its origin had likewise been damaged in its early years, leaving it with only around fifteen thousand years of cultivation and little life remaining.
The light of sacrifice surged forth once more, and his Soul Power skyrocketed.
The External Soul Bone devoured even more energy, pushing his Soul Power directly to level twenty-nine.
Beiming Lieyang's height rose again to one meter sixty.
He was now even taller than the one-meter-fifty Ice Empress.
"Good grief, absorbing Spirit Rings can make you taller too?" Ice Empress measured their heights and puffed out her cheeks.
"Normal." Snow Empress reached out and patted Beiming Lieyang's head, then casually patted Ice Empress's as well.
"Xue'er, don't pat my head!" Ice Empress bristled. Being treated like a child in front of a kid was too embarrassing.
"I grew taller so I can protect Auntie Bing." Beiming Lieyang grabbed Ice Empress's hand.
"Hmph, at least you have a conscience." Ice Empress pinched his cheek. "What about your Spirit Abilities? Hurry up and show me!"
"First Spirit Ability, Mysterious Ice Myriad Manifestations." Void Mysterious Ice floated above his palm. "Energy purity, hardness, and Soul Power reserves are increased by two hundred percent. It can freely change form."
Ice-blue liquid poured from his palm like a living thing, instantly transforming into swords, nets, cauldrons, bells, spears, bows... every one of them radiating biting cold.
As Beiming Lieyang demonstrated, he suddenly felt something strange in his right arm.
He lowered his head.
His entire right arm had somehow become covered in a layer of ice-blue armor that fit tightly over flesh and bone, cold light flowing across it.
Beiming Lieyang froze.
True Form Armor?
That was something that only existed in the comic version of Douluo Continent!
After obtaining Spirit Rings and becoming a Soul Master, True Form Armor would gradually appear on one's body. With every additional ring, its coverage would expand.
He looked again at Snow Empress and Ice Empress before him.
Their appearances, clothing, and mannerisms all closely matched the comic he remembered.
Beiming Lieyang's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that I transmigrated into the comic version of Douluo Continent?
"Energy purity and Soul Power reserves increased by two hundred percent!"
Ice Empress stared at the Void Mysterious Ice before her, drooling with envy.
It smelled so good. She wanted to eat it so badly.
"What about the Second Spirit Ability?" Snow Empress glanced at the drooling Ice Empress and shook her head with an amused smile.
Seeing Ice Empress looking as though she wanted to pounce on the Void Mysterious Ice and take a bite, Beiming Lieyang barely held back his laughter.
"Second Spirit Ability, Ice Explosion Technique. Any place with ice can be detonated. The stronger the target frozen in ice, the greater the explosion's power. Void Mysterious Ice's energy purity, hardness, and my own Soul Power reserves are increased by two hundred percent."
The moment he finished speaking, Ice Empress went completely still.
"Ice Explosion Technique?!" Her eyes flew wide open. "Ice Explosion Technique?! You actually have the Ice Explosion Technique?!"
As the king of the Ice Jade Scorpion clan, Ice Empress was more familiar than anyone with the words "Ice Explosion Technique."
This ability was extraordinarily rare among Ice Jade Scorpions. It could be called a talent among talents; only one lucky individual in ten thousand might awaken it.
Even she, an Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, did not possess this ability among her innate talents.
She had lived for countless years and seen innumerable Ice Jade Scorpions, yet those who had awakened the Ice Explosion Technique could be counted on one hand.
And now, this little brat had obtained an Ice Explosion Technique just from absorbing a Spirit Ring?
"I... I knew it!" Ice Empress suddenly sprang forward, grabbed Beiming Lieyang's head, and vigorously ruffled it. "Xiaoyang, you really are a monster! Twin Martial Souls, all attributes doubled beneath the sun, and the Ice Explosion Technique as your Second Spirit Ability—"
The more she spoke, the more excited she became. Her golden eyes shone brilliantly. "How are anyone else supposed to live?! Even your little auntie doesn't have this thing, but you got it from your Second Spirit Ring!"
Beiming Lieyang was tossed about by her rubbing, his expression becoming utterly comical.
Ice Empress's cravings had been completely stirred up. She leaned close to the floating Void Mysterious Ice and swallowed.
"Um... Xiaoyang, this Mysterious Ice of yours... licking it once still gives a threefold boost, right? Oh, right, don't—don't use the Ice Explosion Technique."
Snow Empress looked teasingly at Ice Empress. "Bing'er, think this through. Last time, you were controlled after just one lick. Are you planning to do it again?"
Ice Empress stiffened, remembering the humiliating "beastmen shall never be slaves" pose she had performed while under Beiming Lieyang's control. The excitement on her face immediately faded somewhat.
But when she looked again at the crystal-clear Void Mysterious Ice, its enticing fragrance still washed over her. In the end, she could not resist. "Whatever! Now that there are Spirit Rings, it'll definitely taste even better!"
As she spoke, she stretched out her head and quickly licked the piece of Void Mysterious Ice.
In an instant, the aura around her surged wildly.
Beiming Lieyang: "..."
Snow Empress: "..."
Ice Empress smacked her lips, savoring the taste. "Mm! It really is even more fragrant! The energy is purer! It's so delicious!"
"Mm, it's still a threefold boost to all attributes. That hasn't changed, but it lasts a little longer."
A moment later, Ice Empress's aura subsided, but her golden eyes remained fixed on the Mysterious Ice. "Would swallowing the whole piece make it last longer?"
Beiming Lieyang did not know whether to laugh or cry. He condensed several pieces of Mysterious Ice and stuffed them into her arms, then handed several more to Snow Empress.
He could freely choose whether to activate the control ability. If he did not activate it, it would not consume mental power.
He had strengthened Void Mysterious Ice in the first place so he could grow quickly and reach the rank of Title Douluo. Only then could he attach Spirit Rings to his Solar Star God Apollo Martial Soul.
At the same time, it was also to increase their strength.
This cheat was incredibly useful.
When he had sufficient energy, it could continuously heal injuries and even create the Void Illusion Realm.
Though he could not trap a Title Douluo for long right now, that might not be the case in the future.
In addition, he discovered that Void Mysterious Ice seemed to have solidified several core attributes.
Energy purity, hardness, and his own Soul Power reserves.
Otherwise, the Ice Explosion Technique would not have inherited those traits.
"Delicious!" Ice Empress was already hugging the Mysterious Ice and gnawing on it without the slightest regard for her image. "This is Void Mysterious Ice with five hundred percent purity! It's unbelievably delicious!"
She swallowed a mouthful, then suddenly froze. "Huh? This energy... like Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow, it can increase cultivation!"
Snow Empress had been smiling, but her expression changed slightly at those words.
Before you continue