"No need to get so tense," Ning Rongrong said, spreading her hands. "I just need some of the Ice Empress's blood. That's enough."
"The Ice Empress's blood?" the Snow Empress asked.
"My blood?" the Ice Empress echoed.
The two exchanged glances.
The Ice Empress frowned. "Ning Rongrong, what do you need my blood for?"
"Have you heard of god-bestowed soul rings? I plan to create something similar for Sister Yan. Modifying a soul ring is tricky, but I have some experience with creating them."
Crafting soul rings was familiar territory for Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan's unique constitution bolstered her confidence.
That was her perspective, but the other side wasn't convinced.
"That's impossible," the Ice Empress said sharply. "God-bestowed soul rings are created by gods. You're just a Soul Douluo-level soul master."
"Strange," Ning Rongrong tilted her head. "Did I ever say I was a soul master? Most of my soul rings were self-condensed. Having the ability to help others condense soul rings—is that so unbelievable?"
"How do you plan to do it?" the Snow Empress asked, cutting off the Ice Empress's retort. "A soul ring isn't just about piling up soul power. As the Ice Empress said, you're not a god. Even if you can condense your own soul rings, that doesn't mean you can do it for others."
"Even if you could," the Snow Empress paused, "a soul ring made from the Ice Empress's blood wouldn't carry poison attributes."
The Ice Empress had long abandoned her poison ability, so her blood contained virtually no toxins.
Ning Rongrong looked at the Snow Empress and replied, "By using the Ice Jade Scorpion's venom to reactivate the poison attribute in the Ice Empress's blood."
"That's impossible!" the Ice Empress declared firmly.
"Theoretically, it's not feasible, but…" Ning Rongrong paused. "The Ice Jade Scorpion clan's venom and strength are tied to their tail's color. Even if the Ice Empress abandoned her poison attribute, that's hard to change—or rather, impossible to change. The body and blood have memory. How can you know without trying?"
Ning Rongrong glanced at the Ice Empress. "Like how I sometimes want to tug on your twin tails. They look pretty fun."
The Ice Empress: "…"
The Snow Empress: "…"
Even after abandoning her poison, the Ice Empress's physical appearance remained unchanged. Could blood alone recall that attribute?
The Snow Empress asked skeptically, "Using the Ice Jade Scorpion's venom to awaken the poison in the Ice Empress's blood—leaving aside whether it's possible, how would you create the soul ring?"
If soul rings were that easy to make, why would soul masters risk their lives hunting soul beasts? They'd be lounging instead.
"I've got plenty of resentment and souls," Ning Rongrong said. "I'm confident because I have a basis for it."
Over the past two and a half years, Tokisaki Kurumi hadn't fully consumed Hypnos's energy, storing a significant portion. That energy, beyond soul power, wasn't needed by Kurumi. The killing aura sealed in the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, along with Hypnos's lingering soul fragments, could be used to craft a soul ring without issue.
In the Five Elements Continent, Ji Dong could suppress Hypnos's soul in the Fire God Sword. Ning Rongrong could similarly use this to condense a ring for Dugu Yan, purging the excess and chaotic energy from the pagoda.
For an ordinary soul master, Ning Rongrong wouldn't dare try this. But Dugu Yan's current constitution could erase the resentment in souls. The Misfortune Poison Body's toxicity could completely devour unrelated resentments.
Ning Rongrong's confidence stemmed from observing the Silver Dragon King use an avatar to condense a 100,000-year soul ring for Ning Fengzhi two and a half years ago.
"Everything's ready; we just need the final push."
Without trying, how could they know if it would work? Hypnos's combat experience and lingering resentment were sealed in the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda for Sword Douluo to study later. For now, this was the appetizer.
Days later, under the Ice Empress's command, the Ice Jade Scorpion clan injected more venom into the pool. The entire valley was covered in a faint green glow. If not for Ning Rongrong and the others' strength, ordinary soul masters couldn't even approach.
Ning Rongrong drew a vial of the Ice Empress's blood. Looking at the flowing scarlet liquid, her expression grew serious.
To be honest, condensing a soul ring wasn't something she was entirely confident about. Her own soul rings were different from creating a complete one externally. The Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda's soul rings were merely to counter this world's rules, allowing her to use her power—they had little practical significance. The pagoda's soul skills were inherent, unrelated to absorbed soul beast rings.
This was, in essence, Ning Rongrong's first attempt at a true soul ring condensation. Though she had knowledge of soul ring creation from later Douluo series, a 100,000-year soul ring still worried her.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Rongrong raised her left hand, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda gleamed. The Ice Empress and Snow Empress stood nearby, watching quietly, curious about how she'd condense the soul ring.
She removed the stopper from the vial. Drops of bright red blood flowed out, hovering silently before Ning Rongrong as the pagoda's glow seemed to confine their movement.
Black, black, black, black, black, black, radiant gold, deep red.
Eight soul rings appeared.
Simultaneously, Ning Rongrong's pupils changed. Her once dark-brown eyes transformed into two clock-like patterns: one gold, one silver-white.
"Ah—"
Zzt zzt zzt—
Black mist poured from the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, accompanied by wails like those of malevolent spirits. The chilling sensation seemed to lower the icy temperature of the snow-covered land by several degrees. Even the Ice Empress and Snow Empress shuddered instinctively at the haunting cries.
"Is this… resentment?" the Ice Empress asked uncertainly.
"Yes," Ning Rongrong nodded. "This is the resentment from the City of Slaughter—or from those who died there. This power is enough to make up for the energy needed to create a soul ring."