I observed the ongoing battle with careful attention—the Silver-eyed Leopard was clearly struggling against its opponent. Several explanations could account for its weakened state: perhaps it had recently birthed cubs, depleting its strength reserves; it might have faced previous battles that left it vulnerable; or it could have only recently crossed the 10,000-year threshold before suffering an unfortunate injury. The Ice-scaled Python appeared to be exploiting this weakness, likely seeking to absorb enough energy from its prey to advance its own power level.
"Baixue, stay here and watch carefully—there's much to learn from observation," I instructed, guiding my disciple to a hidden vantage point. After ensuring her safety, I emerged from concealment, summoning my blade Shimotsuki into my left hand while activating my martial spirit, the Herrscher's Eye of Truth.
The winter landscape stretched before me—ice formations creating disorienting light patterns that I could use to my advantage. I moved silently across the frozen ground, utilizing the environment to close the distance undetected.
The Silver-eyed Leopard showed clear signs of exhaustion—labored breathing created small vapor clouds in the cold air. Its signature silver eyes had dulled considerably, its movements grown sluggish. Blood matted its beautiful fur where the python had landed successful strikes. The magnificent creature hovered near death, its power nearly depleted.
By contrast, the Ice-scaled Python moved with precision, its massive coils sliding gracefully across the frozen ground despite its enormous size. Its ice-blue scales reflected light hypnotically as it prepared for what would surely be its killing strike.
I chose that critical moment to reveal myself. With a burst of speed, I intercepted the python's attack, using Shimotsuki to deflect its lunge. The impact sent shocking force through my arm—I had underestimated the raw power of an 8,000-year-old soul beast. Its strength suggested it approached a breakthrough of its own.
Despite this, my technique redirected its strike away from the vulnerable leopard. The python's massive head crashed into a nearby ice formation, shattering it into thousands of glittering fragments.
Without hesitation, I activated a short-range teleportation technique, repositioning myself atop a small rise that offered better battlefield visibility. The python's attention shifted completely from the leopard to me, its vertical pupils constricting as it assessed this new threat. I had successfully drawn its aggression—exactly as planned.
Recognizing the advantage of ranged attacks, I manifested a Deagle on my left hand and used its bullet for ranged attack. Taking careful aim at the python's left eye, I steadied my breathing. As the massive creature began moving with surprising speed, I squeezed the trigger at precisely the calculated moment.
The bullet found its mark with unerring accuracy, penetrating deeply into the creature's eye. Ichor erupted from the wound as the python reared back in pain, emitting a piercing screech that vibrated nearby ice formations.
The injury drove the python into a berserk state—its massive body thrashing wildly, shattering small trees and throwing snow into the air. Yet I noted that it now approached more cautiously, its remaining eye tracking my weapon warily. Its primitive intelligence had quickly assessed and adapted to this new threat.
When its powerful tail swept through my former position—an attack that would have shattered bones—I had already calculated its movement pattern. I executed a perfectly timed leap over the appendage, landing lightly on the opposite side.
Using this advantage, I quickly circled to the python's blind side. There, I adopted the proper stance for a quick-draw technique, right hand hovering near Shimotsuki's hilt, muscles perfectly tensed for the ideal moment.
Activating my first soul ring's ability—Freeze—I projected concentrated spiritual energy at the python's consciousness. The technique wasn't designed to physically immobilize such a large target, but rather to momentarily disrupt its thought processes, creating a crucial window of opportunity.
In that brief opening, I executed my draw. Shimotsuki cleared its sheath with blinding speed, transforming the ambient light into a brilliant azure arc as I performed "Shimotsuki, Frost Bloom."
The strike carved a precise, deep cut into the python's armored body—the blade parting scales with a sound like breaking glass. Crystalline fragments erupted from the wound alongside viscous blood that began freezing upon contact with air. Penetrating the python's natural armor represented a remarkable feat for a Soul Grandmaster of my level, particularly given my classification as a support-type soul master rather than a combat specialist.
The python's body convulsed in response. Before it could recover, I shifted my weight and burst into lateral movement, positioning myself at another blind spot.
This time, I targeted its remaining functional eye. I channeled energy into my blade, infusing Shimotsuki with my second soul ring's power, Ether Spirit Ray. The sword's edge took on an ethereal quality, seemingly existing in multiple dimensions simultaneously.
From the optimal striking position, I executed "Shimotsuki, Reaping Petal"—a complex double-draw technique requiring the blade to be partially resheathed and drawn again mid-sequence. The cross-shaped slash connected perfectly with the python's remaining eye, disrupting both physical tissue and spiritual energy pathways.
While I lacked the overwhelming physical strength of pure power-type soul masters, I compensated through tactical awareness and flawless technique. The python's predictable pain response created another opportunity I was ready to exploit.
As anticipated, the creature reared back with a deafening roar of agony, jaws stretching wide to reveal rows of crystalline fangs. Rather than retreating from this intimidation display, I seized the opening. Dismissing Shimotsuki, I manifested a massive two-handed greatsword directly into my grasp.
With a powerful thrust, I drove the blade into the python's exposed mouth and deep into its throat, bypassing its external armor. Using this momentum and channeling additional soul force, I executed a devastating downward slice along the entire length of its body in one continuous motion.
The python convulsed violently as the blade carved through its internal structures. Ice-blue blood sprayed from the massive wound, instantly freezing upon the surrounding snow. Its spiritual energy leaked into the environment in visible pale blue wisps.
Only when a dark purple soul ring emerged from the creature's body did I know with certainty it had been defeated. The ring hovered momentarily above the rapidly deteriorating corpse, pulsating with eight millennia of accumulated spiritual energy.
Turning from the python's remains, I focused on the Silver-eyed Leopard collapsed nearby. Its beautiful silver-flecked coat rose and fell with shallow breaths. Extending my spiritual perception, I confirmed life remained in its battered form, though fading rapidly. Recognizing both opportunity and the need for specialized assistance, I called upon Tian Meng.
"Tian Meng, I need your help," I directed my thoughts toward the entity within my spiritual sea. Almost immediately, a figure materialized—a being with the appearance of a Femb..*Cough* *cough* young man with delicate, ethereal features in a hoodie.
"Sister Qingxue, how may I help you?" he inquired, his melodious voice barely above a whisper.
"Could you communicate with the leopard about sacrificing itself to my disciple Baixue? You would certainly know better than I how to persuade a soul beast in such matters," I requested, knowing Tian Meng's nature as a former soul beast made him uniquely qualified for this delicate negotiation.
"Haha, leave that to me, Sis," he replied cheerfully, approaching the fallen leopard. Though no audible words were exchanged, I sensed the complex spiritual communication occurring between them—Tian Meng explaining the concept of conscious soul ring sacrifice, the benefits to both parties, and the honor in contributing to a worthy soul master's development.
During this exchange, Baixue emerged from hiding, approaching with undisguised wonder.
"Master, where did that girl appear from?" she asked, confused by Tian Meng's sudden manifestation and androgynous appearance.
Tian Meng interrupted his communion with the leopard to cast an indignant glance her way. "How can you mistake a handsome individual like myself for a girl?" he protested. "I am a one-million-year-old soul beast—a Platinum Ethereal Butterfly—currently Sister Qingxue's second soul ring."
"What he says is true," I confirmed, noticing Baixue's amazement. "Through a specialized technique I've developed, I can absorb soul rings from beings far beyond what would normally be compatible with my level. This allows me to incorporate more powerful soul rings and gradually unseal their full potential as my own strength increases. This is precisely why I brought you here—to establish a stronger foundation by acquiring more powerful spirit rings from the beginning."
I then congratulated her: "You now have the distinction of being the first person in the entire Douluo continent to absorb a 10,000-year soul ring as your very first."
"Incidentally, my own first soul ring comes from a 100,000-year soul beast. Xiao Wu, please appear," I added, deciding complete disclosure would benefit Baixue's development. At my request, Xiao Wu emerged in human form.
"Hi there little Baixue." Before she could continue, anything *SKIP*. She disappeared into my spiritual sea, well I can hear her cursing me, but who cares. Its just that I fear she will infect Baixue with her idiotic remarks.
"Sister Qingxue, I believe your disciple might be experiencing cognitive overload—her brain appears to be short-circuiting," Tian Meng remarked jokingly, drawing my attention to Baixue's overwhelmed expression.
"In any case, I've convinced the leopard to offer itself as a sacrifice to your disciple," he reported. "It recognizes its imminent death and prefers contributing to a promising young soul master rather than having its energy dissipate uselessly."
"Excellent. Let us proceed," I responded. "Continue monitoring the leopard's spiritual state while I supervise Baixue during the sealing of excess energy."
As Baixue recovered from her initial shock, she assumed a meditative posture according to my instructions. Her face reflected apprehension, excitement, and solemn respect for the sacrifice being offered.
"Remember the specialized cultivation technique I taught you," I reminded her. "Focus on creating a spiral energy flow pattern rather than the standard circular circulation. This will help distribute the incoming spiritual energy more effectively and reduce strain on your meridians."
As Baixue established the proper meditative state, I positioned myself behind her, ready to intervene if necessary. The leopard's form began to shimmer with increasing luminosity as it surrendered to transformation. Unlike the violent extraction that typically characterized soul ring acquisition, this willing sacrifice produced a gentle process—the leopard's physical form gradually dissolving into pure spiritual energy that coalesced into a perfect ring of light.
Without resistance from the soul beast, the absorption proceeded much more smoothly than typical. As energy permeated Baixue's body, a white soul ring materialized around her, gradually transitioning to yellow and then to a deeper golden hue before stabilizing.
Observing the intensity of the energy flow and Baixue's increasingly strained expression, I recognized the need to intervene. I carefully initiated the process of sealing excess energy, employing my Spiritual sharing soul ring to establish a direct connection with Baixue's circulation. This ability allowed me to receive detailed feedback from her perceptions and sensations—rendering visible the complex network of energy pathways throughout her body.
With precise control, I redirected portions of incoming spiritual energy, temporarily storing some within specialized compartments in Baixue's spiritual sea while guiding the rest through safer pathways. The process required constant adjustment—too aggressive an intervention would disrupt natural bonding, while too little risked spiritual damage from energy overflow.
Beads of sweat formed on my brow as I maintained this delicate balance, but gradually the turbulent energy stabilized. The soul ring deepened to its final shade—rich gold. Eventually, the procedure concluded successfully, the ring fully integrating with Baixue's martial soul as she opened her eyes, immediately aware of the transformative changes within herself.
"How do you feel?" I asked, watching carefully for adverse effects.
"Different," she replied breathlessly. "Stronger, but also... more connected to everything. I can sense the cold in a way I never could before."
"Now, describe what specific abilities you've gained," I prompted.
With excitement, Baixue replied, "Master, my first soul ring provides me with a 10% enhancement to my speed, soul recovery rate, soul power, and ice damage amplification. Furthermore, these enhancements will increase by an additional 5% with each new spirit ring I add."
"This represents perhaps the optimal spirit ring you could have acquired," I assessed, impressed by the synergistic benefits. "While the soul skill might appear merely average initially, it will become increasingly powerful as you progress—truly a game-changer in later development stages."
"And Master," she continued enthusiastically, raising her hand in a summoning gesture, "I can now summon the Silver-Eyed Leopard to fight alongside me." A small leopard cub materialized beside her—a miniature version of the majestic beast that had sacrificed itself, its silver-flecked coat gleaming with health, its eyes bright with intelligence.
"The cub is certainly charming," I acknowledged, "but remember to refrain from summoning it until I explicitly permit you to do so. Its presence might attract unwanted attention and potential danger." The cub playfully pawed at the snow, seemingly oblivious to the significant spiritual energy it represented. "By the way, what level of soul power have you achieved?"
"Master, after absorbing the soul ring, I've reached level 17. Is that unusually high?" she inquired, aware this represented significant advancement.
"I would say you've now reached what would be considered normal genius level," I evaluated. "However, you still possess significant potential to transcend your current limitations."
Afterward, I returned my attention to the battlefield, particularly the python's remains. Such a powerful creature would likely yield valuable materials beyond its soul ring. During my inspection, I discovered a 10,000-year right leg soul bone embedded within—a significant find gleaming with concentrated spiritual energy.
"How fortunate—you've acquired a soul bone," I observed, carefully extracting the crystalline object. Its surface reflected light with a bluish hue, patterns of frost spreading across its surface in rhythm with its contained energy. "However, I intend to sell this particular soul bone rather than have you incorporate it. My preference would be for you to only equip soul bones from creatures at least 75,000 years old."
"Don't worry, Master. I understand that this soul bone would be insufficient for my needs," Baixue replied, demonstrating her grasp of maximizing potential through selective enhancement rather than accepting immediate but limited gains.
The soul bone represented significant marketplace value—enough to fund our continued training and resource acquisition for some time. More importantly, Baixue's first soul ring had exceeded even my optimistic expectations, establishing a foundation for her development far beyond what would normally be possible for a soul master at her stage.
(A/n- Currently my End semester is ongoing, so just gonna upload 1 chapter which was ready. And don't forgot to put power stone and comment.)