After successfully capturing the Ice Emperor, Tian Meng signalled for me to emerge from hiding, indicating that the first phase of our plan had reached completion. I carefully removed my camouflage and stepped into view, revealing myself to both the captured Ice Emperor and Tian Meng, who had now fully transformed into his human form. The Ice Emperor's yellow diamond eyes fixed upon me with a mixture of surprise and contempt, clearly wondering what role a mere human could possibly play in this extraordinary situation.
"So, Ice Emperor," Tian Meng began, gesturing toward me with an elegant sweep of his hand, "this is the human I discovered as the key to our plan for ascension. You will undoubtedly be impressed by her capabilities once you understand them fully." His voice carried unmistakable pride as he continued. "Not only is her first soul ring from a 100,000-year soft bone rabbit, but with my million-year-old soul ring added to her collection, her martial soul has achieved strength on an entirely different level—comparable even to those of gods themselves, possessing the fundamental ability of creation."
He paused dramatically before adding, "And she is merely level 40 in soul power at the tender age of 9 years. There exists no potential rival to her talent in this generation, or perhaps any other."
The Ice Emperor's restrained form trembled slightly, whether from continued resistance or reaction to this information remained unclear. When she responded, her voice dripped with scepticism and disdain.
"That's not sufficient evidence of worthiness," she declared coldly, those yellow eyes narrowing as they examined me more carefully. "Even if she possesses all the natural talent you claim, she is clearly just relying on borrowed power from exceptional soul rings and innate talent to overcome opponents. That means she has developed nothing truly impressive through her own efforts that could possibly astonish one such as myself who has witnessed millennia of prodigies rise and fall."
Though the Ice Emperor's assessment contained elements of truth, I felt an unexpected flare of indignation at being so summarily dismissed. My expression remained neutral, but internally I bristled at the underestimation of my capabilities and dedication. Still, I recognized the tactical advantage in allowing powerful beings to underestimate me, so I channelled my emotional response into focused determination rather than wasteful outrage.
Without warning or preamble, I withdrew my pseudo martial spirit, Ice Blade, from its dimensional storage. The weapon materialized in my hands, its surface gleaming with subtle patterns that resembled frost formations. I assumed a proper combat stance, the movements precise and economical—evidence of countless hours of practice regardless of my young apparent age.
Without hesitation, I unleashed a deliberate and precisely calculated blow toward the snow field before us. This was no ordinary attack—it represented the culmination of my understanding of soul power manipulation. The strike contained the entirety of my available soul power, compressed into a singular perfect expression of destructive potential. I had spent years refining my control over my energy, compressing and purifying it repeatedly through processes comparable to how blacksmiths fold and refold metal to remove impurities.
Like a master craftsman folding steel dozens of times to create the perfect blade, I had folded and refolded my soul power countless times, condensing its essence into something approaching perfection. This meticulous process had enabled me to contain astonishing amounts of energy within my relatively small frame by reducing its volume while maintaining its potency.
The attack connected with the ground near the Ice Emperor's restrained form, creating a shockwave that sent snow and ice fragments flying in all directions. When the crystalline dust settled, a small but unmistakable 1-centimeter deep scratch was visible on the Ice Emperor's exoskeleton—a seemingly insignificant mark that represented something truly extraordinary.
The Ice Emperor's yellow eyes widened almost imperceptibly, the only indication of her shock. She understood better than anyone the legendary durability of her own shell—a defensive structure that had withstood attacks from beings far more physically imposing than myself. That a human child could inflict even this minor damage using purely personal soul power, without relying on martial soul fusion or other external enhancements, represented something exceptional indeed.
For the briefest moment, the Ice Emperor seemed to perceive something else—perhaps a shadow or echo of another being superimposed over my form. The impression vanished almost instantly, but it had clearly registered in her ancient consciousness.
"So, how is it, Ice Emperor?" I addressed her directly, my voice betraying the strain of having expended so much energy in a single attack. "A mortal, using her own soul skill which I developed just over 2 years ago, managing to place even a small dent on your legendary defence, without any external support or enhancement." I straightened my posture despite my fatigue, meeting those yellow diamond eyes directly. "I, Qingxue, promise that I will never betray your expectations. Even with all your support and the advantages of exceptional soul rings, I will continue to work diligently to become truly worthy of my talent through personal development and discipline."
The Ice Emperor remained silent for several moments, her gaze shifting between Tian Meng and myself as if reassessing previous assumptions. Finally, she spoke with slightly less hostility than before.
"Tian Meng, I may believe in the girl's potential, but I remain deeply sceptical regarding the process of creating a conscious soul ring. Such a transformation defies the fundamental laws of soul beast evolution and human cultivation alike." Her tail twitched despite its restraints, indicating her continued unease.
Before she could elaborate further on her concerns, Tian Meng stepped forward dramatically, his expression solemn as he placed his right hand over his heart. "I, Tian Meng, in the sacred name of the Ice God himself, solemnly promise that if the Ice Emperor willingly releases her spirit origin to us, I will successfully guide her transformation into a conscious spirit ring, preserving her identity and awareness intact. If I fail in this sacred obligation, I shall forfeit my entire consciousness as penalty for my presumption."
The gravity of this oath hung in the frozen air between them. Soul beasts of their calibre understood the binding nature of promises made invoking higher powers—such oaths created metaphysical constraints that even beings of their level couldn't circumvent without severe consequences.
After what seemed an eternity of consideration, the Ice Emperor responded, "Very well. I will release my spirit origin as requested." Her voice had become surprisingly business-like considering her predicament. "However, before proceeding with that irreversible step, it would be significantly more efficient if she were to absorb my soul bone first. This preliminary integration will facilitate the subsequent absorption of the spirit ring with greater ease and stability."
Following a detailed explanation of the procedure from Tian Meng, who outlined both the benefits and risks with clinical precision, I approached the Ice Emperor's massive form and assumed the lotus position on the snow nearby. The necessity of the next step suddenly occurred to me, causing unexpected embarrassment despite the gravity of our circumstances.
"Tian Meng," I questioned hesitantly, "is it absolutely necessary for me to be... strip for this process?" The prospect of removing my upper garments in this setting, regardless of the practical justification.
The Ice Emperor made a sound that might almost have been interpreted as scornful amusement, while Tian Meng maintained his professional demeanor despite my evident embarrassment.
"The soul bone must establish direct contact with your physical body," he explained matter-of-factly. "Any barrier, even clothing, would interfere with the energy transfer and potentially cause rejection complications. The trunk bone particularly requires unobstructed access to your central meridians."
I felt slightly ridiculous for raising such mundane concerns in the midst of this momentous undertaking. While Xiao Wu was female and the Ice Emperor herself was technically female in essence, Tian Meng was undeniably male despite his somewhat feminine appearance. Still, wasn't I ultimately here to increase my strength regardless of temporary discomfort or social conventions? Making an issue of such matters seemed absurdly trivial in the context of our greater purpose.
"Very well," I conceded, beginning to stripped the necessary garments while preserving as much dignity as possible. "Let's proceed with the integration."
As Tian Meng established control over the Ice Emperor's spirit origin through complex manipulations of spiritual energy, the Ice Emperor began her sacrifice, directing her trunk bone toward my prepared form. The process began immediately and painfully—a sensation of my muscles being simultaneously stretched and compressed, as if something foreign were forcibly creating space for itself within my physical structure.
I gritted my teeth against the overwhelming pain, determined not to cry out despite the agony. This represented my first of the six major soul bone parts, and I understood that due to its direct integration with bodily systems, the process would be especially traumatic if the soul bone's power significantly exceeded my current limitations—which it unquestionably did.
Tian Meng retrieved the soul bone we had previously harvested from the 10,000-year-old silver-eyed leopard, from soul beast sacrificed to Baixue. Now, new task added that I have find something suitable soul bone for Baixue. He now employed it as a catalyst to facilitate the fusion of the Ice Emperor's trunk bone with my body. Under his expert guidance, the two soul bones began to interact, the lesser one gradually dissolving to ease the integration of the greater.
My entire body had turned an alarming shade of red due to the tremendous strain caused by the fusion process. Blood vessels stood out prominently against my skin as my circulatory system struggled to accommodate the transformative energies coursing through me. Recognizing the potential danger, I activated my martial spirit—Herrscher's Eye of Truth.
This extraordinary ability wasn't limited to creating inorganic substances as most assumed; it could also be employed to recreate and restructure living tissue under certain circumstances. Similar to how Welt Yang had used the Reason Core to fashion a new body for himself during his confrontation with Sirin. I could direct limited regenerative capabilities to prevent catastrophic damage during the integration process.
Though my control over this aspect of my power remained imperfect, even partial effectiveness represented a significant advantage in this dangerous procedure. Following my internal understanding of anatomy and energy flow, I carefully directed my body's responses, encouraging tissues to regenerate and adapt rather than rupture under the strain of the foreign power.
As the fusion with the soul bone approached completion, the core essence of the Ice Emperor—her spirit origin—began flowing into my body, forming the structure of a new spirit ring. The additional stability and strength provided by the newly integrated trunk bone enabled me to accommodate this influx of power with less distress than would otherwise have been possible.
Unlike my previous soul rings from Xiao Wu and Tian Meng, which had required specific sealing techniques to prevent them from overwhelming my system, this ring manifested immediately as a genuine crimson ring. As it stabilized around me, I noticed an unusual feature—four golden lines encircled the red ring, creating an effect I hadn't previously encountered in any documentation regarding soul rings.
My confusion must have been evident, though I soon realized that Tian Meng had contributed a portion of his own essence to elevate the ring's effective age to approximately 400,000 years, significantly enhancing its potential benefits despite the Ice Emperor's actual age being slightly lower than this threshold.
As the absorption process concluded successfully, I became aware of a strange sensation at the base of my spine. The external soul bone I had previously received from Xiao Wu—a graceful rabbit's tail—suddenly emerged briefly before dissolving into particles of light. In its place, a much larger structure began to materialize—a magnificent scorpion tail identical in appearance to the Ice Emperor's, though proportioned to my smaller human form. The appendage gleamed with the same jade-green coloration that had characterized the original, complete with five distinct segments tapering to a dangerous point.
The Ice Emperor's consciousness manifested nearby, temporarily separated from her physical form during the integration process. When she spoke, her voice carried a hint of reluctant admiration.
"I must acknowledge that you are exceptionally strong for a human," she conceded, her projected form observing me with analytical interest. "And regarding the rabbit soul bone you're concerned about, don't worry—I have absorbed and merged it with my trunk bone during the transformation process. Both abilities have been preserved and significantly enhanced through the merger."
"Enhanced?" I questioned, still adjusting to the strange sensation of my new appendage.
"Indeed," she confirmed. "The original skills—Nothingness and Invincible Golden Body—have been improved substantially. Their initial duration has been extended by three seconds at the baseline level, and with every additional spirit ring you acquire, their duration will increase sequentially. The first soul ring adds 2 seconds, then 3, then 4, and so forth in sequence."
I quickly calculated the implications of this progression. By the time I reached the Titled Douluo level with nine rings, the cumulative duration would be 6+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10, totalling an astonishing 60 seconds—a full minute of invulnerability during combat. The tactical advantages were immediately apparent: I could potentially use the initial activation to force opponents to exhaust their most powerful soul skills against an invulnerable target, then counter-attack with my full arsenal while they were depleted. The potential for exploitation bordered on being fundamentally unbalanced—practically a bug in the system of soul master combat.
The Ice Emperor continued her explanation, seemingly unaware of my internal calculations. "Additionally, the scorpion tail can assist you both offensively and defensively during combat situations. My trunk bone grants you two significant abilities: Domain of Perpetual Ice, also known as Permafrost Domain—a spatial ability that rapidly freezes the surrounding area. When combined with the Frigid Dance of Ice and Snow technique, its effectiveness increases dramatically."
She paused briefly before adding, "You've also gained the Ice Empress' Wrath—an exceptionally powerful ice-based ability accompanied by an overwhelming pressure projection emanating directly from the user."
Her form gestured toward the newly manifested spirit ring hovering around me. "My soul ring provides an attribute enhancement to your existing rings, imbuing them with Ultimate Ice properties, along with two additional skills: Ice Empress' Armor, a purely defensive ability that covers your entire body with extremely durable ice crystals; and Ice Empress' Crown, which provides a 50% enhancement to all ice-related attacks, increasing by an additional 15% with each subsequent soul ring you acquire."
Again, I quickly processed this information. At maximum development with nine rings, that would translate to 50+15*9, equalling a 185% boost to ice damage output. Effectively, this provided the equivalent of a 285% critical damage multiplier with a guaranteed 100% critical rate whenever the skill was activated. The combat implications were staggering.
"And every time you activate my soul ring, a jade crown will materialize on your head as visible manifestation of my power," she added as a final note, her tone carrying a hint of pride despite her circumstances.
"Thank you, Ice Empress, for believing in both me and Tian Meng," I responded sincerely, recognizing the tremendous sacrifice and trust she had demonstrated despite our initial approach as adversaries.
As I turned to face the Ice Empress's manifested form more directly, I was surprised to observe that her chosen spiritual projection resembled a petite, youthful female with striking golden eyes and vibrant green hair that cascaded to her waist. This appearance stood in dramatic contrast to her imposing scorpion form. Something about this unexpectedly cute manifestation triggered an almost instinctive desire to pat her head affectionately, though I exercised sufficient self-control to suppress this inappropriate impulse.
Unfortunately, my momentary thought must have leaked through my mental shields, because Tian Meng suddenly glanced in my direction with a deadpan expression that clearly communicated he had detected my undignified impulse. His look silently warned against treating the ancient and formidable Ice Emperor with such casual familiarity, regardless of her current adorable appearance. I quickly composed my features and refocused on the serious matter at hand, though I couldn't entirely banish the amusing image from my mind.
(A/n- Here three chapters for missing chapter of previous week, and I hope you keep supporting and commenting. Please give power stones before Thanos take it from you, I am greedy for power stones. And, I have seen some readers have little minor issues, I will not specify who is it, unless it has impact on stroryline and seems brainless, comment on it to correct it, I found some reader pointing to useless thing which have no significant affect on the plot. And even asking doubt, which was already explained. And don't take it to heart, I am happy to see your comments. ANd I would even like to spam more memes, comments on the chapters.)