Along the way, the two encountered several ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts, but Lin Yan sensed most of them in advance and deftly avoided them. When they occasionally encountered one they could not avoid, Lin Yan would strike swiftly, using Blue Silver Grass to entangle the Soul Beast and restrict its movements, while Han Shuirou assisted with attacks, easily dispatching it. Han Shuirou's Martial Soul was the Mysterious Ice Creeper, a plant-type Martial Soul that could release cold air. Her first Soul Skill, Mysterious Ice Vine Tendrils, could instantly release ice-attribute vines to entangle and attack, with an added freezing effect and extremely powerful control. The two worked together with considerable coordination.
As they passed a winding forest stream, Han Shuirou washed the grime from her face, revealing her delicate, lovely features. She was a few years older than Lin Yan, with gentle features and a warm, graceful manner, truly living up to her name.
After following the stream downstream for roughly two hours, the sound of water gradually became a roar. They passed through a dense bamboo grove, and the view suddenly opened up. An enormous waterfall plunged from a hundred-meter cliff like the Silver River falling from the ninth heaven, crashing into the deep pool below and sending mist billowing into the air, where it reflected a brilliant rainbow in the sunlight. The pool was clear enough to see the bottom, and many moisture-loving plants grew amid the surrounding haze.
"What a beautiful waterfall!" Han Shuirou could not help exclaiming.
Lin Yan also drew a deep breath of the fresh, moist air. Just as he was about to express his admiration, a peculiar plant at the edge of the pool beside the waterfall caught his eye. The plant was ice-blue all over and shaped like a vine, winding around an enormous rock. A thin layer of white frost covered its surface, and wisps of cold air rose from it, making it seem somewhat out of place in the warm, humid surroundings.
"Is that... a Mysterious Ice Vine?" Han Shuirou followed Lin Yan's gaze and immediately gave a quiet cry, surprise and delight appearing on her face.
"Mysterious Ice Vine?" Something stirred in Lin Yan's mind. He had some recollection of this Soul Beast. It was a relatively rare ice-attribute plant-type Soul Beast that contained pure ice energy.
"That's right! It's a Mysterious Ice Vine!" Han Shuirou's voice trembled with excitement. "Lin Yan, look at the color of its vines and the frost patterns on them. It's about eight hundred years old! This... this is practically a second Soul Ring tailor-made for me! If my Mysterious Ice Creeper Martial Soul absorbs its Soul Ring, I'll definitely gain an extremely powerful ice-attribute Soul Skill! And this Soul Beast shares the same origin as my Martial Soul, so it's an excellent match for me."
Seeing the longing shining in her eyes, Lin Yan understood how she felt. A Soul Ring with both a matching attribute and a suitable age was something a Soul Master could only encounter by chance, not seek at will. He carefully examined the Mysterious Ice Vine. It seemed to be sleeping or cultivating, its energy drawn inward, but the cold air permeating its surroundings showed that its strength could not be underestimated.
"An eight-hundred-year Mysterious Ice Vine is no weak opponent, and its ice-attribute attacks have slowing and freezing effects. It won't be easy to deal with," Lin Yan analyzed calmly. "Your injuries haven't healed yet. How good are our chances if we work together?"
Han Shuirou forced herself to calm down and thought for a moment before saying, "The Mysterious Ice Vine is a plant-type Soul Beast, so its mobility is limited. Its attacks mainly rely on entangling vines and jets of cold air. My Martial Soul doesn't fear its cold air, but someone needs to hold off its vines head-on. Could you...?"
"I can try." Lin Yan understood what she meant. "Then let's make a plan."
The two discussed it in low voices. In the end, they decided that Lin Yan would lead the attack and draw its attention. Han Shuirou would move around on the sidelines, using her Mysterious Ice Creeper to weaken the Mysterious Ice Vine's field of cold air while looking for an opportunity to attack its core.
With their plan settled, the two readied themselves. Lin Yan took a deep breath. A yellow Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet, and his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul silently appeared. His gaze sharpened, and he channeled his Soul Power. Several deep-blue blades of grass shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, instantly hurtling toward the Mysterious Ice Vine on the rock to entangle it.
"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"
The Blue Silver Grass blades wrapped precisely around the Mysterious Ice Vine's main vine. Yet the instant they made contact, the Mysterious Ice Vine shuddered violently like a giant snake startled awake, and an intense blast of cold air erupted! Icy white frost raced along the Blue Silver Grass toward Lin Yan, instantly encasing the blades in a layer of ice.
"Such powerful cold air!" Lin Yan felt the circulation of his Soul Power falter slightly, but he did not panic. With a thought, he stirred the tremendous life force contained within the Blue Silver Grass blades. The thin ice shattered instantly, and the grass wound even tighter! At the same time, he strode forward with his longsword in hand. He needed to attack the Mysterious Ice Vine with his sword while keeping it entangled with Blue Silver Grass.
The Mysterious Ice Vine began struggling violently. Several secondary vines lashed toward Lin Yan like icy whips, bringing sharp whistles as they tore through the air and bone-piercing cold.
"Mysterious Ice Vine Tendrils!" Just then, Han Shuirou struck. A yellow Soul Ring rose beneath her feet, and several long vines extended from the Mysterious Ice Creeper Martial Soul in her hand, reinforcing the restraints on the Mysterious Ice Vine.
Seeing this, Lin Yan immediately seized the opportunity, sweeping his longsword from side to side and cutting the Mysterious Ice Vine's main vine into several sections.
"Miss Han, attack the junction at its roots!" Lin Yan called out.
Han Shuirou understood and immediately grew several more vines, driving them toward the roots where the Mysterious Ice Vine connected to the rock. The extreme cold continually eroded it, beginning to affect its source, and its struggles gradually weakened.
The battle lasted roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn. Under Lin Yan's tenacious restraints and Han Shuirou's precise attacks, the Mysterious Ice Vine's vitality was steadily depleted. Finally, under Han Shuirou's last powerful attack, it let out a soundless wail, its vines went completely limp, and a deep-yellow Soul Ring slowly condensed.
"We did it!" Han Shuirou was wild with joy and almost jumped up. Her gaze toward Lin Yan brimmed with gratitude and admiration. Without him, never mind killing this eight-hundred-year Mysterious Ice Vine-she might even have lost her life beneath the Ironback Wolf's claws.
"Hurry and absorb the Soul Ring. I'll stand guard for you." Lin Yan withdrew his Martial Soul, his face somewhat pale. The continuous, intensive manipulation of Blue Silver Grass had consumed a considerable amount of both his Soul Power and mental strength.
Han Shuirou nodded firmly without saying anything more in thanks, engraving this kindness in her heart. She immediately walked over to the Mysterious Ice Vine, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing the Soul Ring.
Although the process was somewhat painful, Han Shuirou had a firm will, and the matching attributes also helped. In the end, she successfully absorbed it with a scare but no mishap. Her Soul Power rose directly to rank twenty-two, and she gained a very practical second Soul Skill-Mysterious Ice Entanglement. It could summon ice-crystal vines carrying extreme cold to bind opponents, combining control and damage.
Lin Yan sighed. "What a pity. Your second Soul Skill has a similar effect to your first. A wasted Soul Skill."
Han Shuirou did not mind. "Finding a Soul Ring that suits me so well was already extremely difficult. Besides, with Mysterious Ice Entanglement, I can use my Martial Soul more freely. It's not as though it's useless."
Hearing Han Shuirou say this, Lin Yan said no more.
The two rested by the waterfall for a while. After advancing in rank, Han Shuirou's injuries had also mostly healed.
They continued on their way. Having successfully obtained her second Soul Ring, Han Shuirou was stronger. Although they went through several more battles along the way, they were much easier than before.
Two days later, just as they were about to leave the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, they finally encountered the Plant Academy teacher who had been anxiously searching for Han Shuirou-a female Soul Master who appeared to be in her forties, with a kindly face but sharp eyes. Her name was Su Ling, and she was a powerful Soul King above rank fifty. Several Plant Academy students accompanied her.
"Shuirou!" Teacher Su Ling was overwhelmed with excitement to see Han Shuirou safe and sound, and even having successfully obtained her Soul Ring. After hearing Han Shuirou describe how she had run into danger, been rescued by Lin Yan, and received his help in killing the Mysterious Ice Vine, Teacher Su Ling was even more grateful to him.
"Young man, thank you so much! Not only did you save Shuirou, you also did her such a tremendous favor! Our Plant Academy will remember this kindness!" Teacher Su Ling said solemnly, her gaze toward Lin Yan full of appreciation.
Lin Yan smiled and bade them farewell. "You're too kind, Teacher Su. It was only a small effort, so please don't dwell on it. We'll meet again if fate allows."
"Wait," Han Shuirou said. "I still don't know your name!"
"My name is Lin Yan."
Han Shuirou looked at Lin Yan, reluctant to part. "Thank you, Lin Yan. If you ever have the chance to visit Plant Academy, you must come find me!"
"All right, I will. Until we meet again!"
With that, Lin Yan said goodbye to everyone from Plant Academy. Traveling alone, he finally emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest after half a day.