Chapter 11: The Thousand-Year Second Ring
Xiao Han informed Lin Zhiruo about his breakthrough to level 20, then went to find Shui Bing'er.
Shui Bing'er had always regarded Xiao Han as her biggest rival, but every time she advanced in soul power, she was always slightly behind him.
At the moment, Shui Bing'er was stuck at the threshold of level 20, just a step away from a breakthrough.
When she saw Xiao Han, she was happy.
"Xiao Han, what brings you here? Don't tell me you've already broken through to level 20?"
"Yep, just came to tell you that."
"You're so annoying! You beat me again."
Shui Bing'er pouted, clearly unhappy.
Xiao Han smiled and said,
"So, how about you? You're almost there too, right?"
"Yeah, within a month, I'll definitely catch up to you."
"Perfect. Then we can go to the Icebound Forest together to hunt soul beasts. You can continue cultivating on the way—maybe you'll break through before we arrive."
"Alright, let's go together."
The next day, the three of them set off by carriage toward the Far North.
Along the way, Shui Bing'er focused on cultivation, only stopping to eat and sleep.
Half a month later, they arrived at the Icebound Forest.
It had been nearly three years since their last visit, and both Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er felt different—stronger and more mature.
While walking, Xiao Han suddenly said,
"Mom, my second soul ring has to be of the thousand-year level."
Lin Zhiruo furrowed her brows, thinking she'd misheard.
"A thousand-year soul ring?! Are you joking again?"
"Mom, I'm serious."
Then Xiao Han turned to Shui Bing'er and grinned:
"Bing'er, do you think I can absorb a thousand-year soul ring?"
"Maybe. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised by anything you do now."
Although she thought Xiao Han was acting a little mysterious, Shui Bing'er still chose to believe in him.
"You brat. Aren't you afraid your body will explode from the soul ring's power?"
Xiao Han replied calmly:
"Mom, don't forget—I took the thousand-year whale gelatin."
"Is whale gelatin really that magical?"
"Of course! Look at my physique—do I look like an average eight or nine-year-old?"
"Pfft, you just love showing off."
Lin Zhiruo rolled her eyes at him.
Hearing their conversation, Shui Bing'er was confused.
"Dean Lin, Xiao Han, what's this whale gelatin you're talking about?"
"It's a rare medicinal material, used to strengthen the body. But it's kind of..."
"It's fine, Xiao Han, if it's inconvenient to say."
"Mhm. I'll try to get some for you both in the future."
Xiao Han knew there were plenty of hundred-thousand-year sea soul beasts near Sea God Island. Maybe he'd go there someday to get soul rings—hunting such powerful beasts in the Icebound Forest was almost impossible.
The outer parts of the forest rarely had thousand-year beasts, so the trio ventured deeper toward the center.
They searched for several days. Though they encountered many soul beasts, none were suitable.
Some were too weak, under a thousand years.
Others were too strong, over two thousand years.
Lin Zhiruo wouldn't risk Xiao Han's life, so she would only allow him to absorb one that was barely over a thousand years.
As night fell, the forest grew darker, and the cold nearly pierced their bones.
Xiao Han, Lin Zhiruo, and Shui Bing'er were walking when they simultaneously noticed a soul beast.
It was lying quietly under a frost-covered tree, blending into the frozen world.
The beast was about two meters long, compact and agile, covered in translucent blue ice armor that shimmered faintly.
The armor looked extremely tough, adorned with countless sharp, snowflake-like ice spikes that gleamed in the fading light.
"Mom, is that an Ice Armor Spine Beast?"
"Yes."
Xiao Han had read about various ice- and water-element soul beasts in the Tian Shui Academy library.
The Ice Armor Spine Beast was a type of porcupine soul beast with both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Its hard armor provided defense, and its spikes served as weapons.
To defeat it, one had to first break through its defenses.
Lin Zhiruo's eyes sparkled with excitement.
With just over a thousand years of cultivation, this soul beast was perfect for Xiao Han's second ring.
"Xiao Han, after days of searching, we finally found the right one. This beast has just crossed the thousand-year mark."
"Awesome."
Xiao Han grinned at the Ice Armor Spine Beast.
"Little porcupine, you're the one."
Sensing the presence of human soul masters, the Ice Armor Spine Beast immediately went into defensive mode, curling up and raising all its spikes like a ball of ice thorns.
Lin Zhiruo promptly released her martial spirit and soul rings to prepare for battle.
This time, Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er didn't just stand by—they also released their martial spirits and first soul rings.
Even though they each had only one soul skill, their attacks weren't limited to that alone.
Fighting a soul beast stronger than themselves was also a valuable learning experience.
The trio launched a coordinated assault.
Lin Zhiruo nimbly darted through the forest, casting waves of ice energy—ice walls and spikes—to restrict the beast's movements rather than directly attack.
This helped create opportunities for Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er to strike.
The two flanked the beast and moved in.
Blue arrows shot from Xiao Han's Frost Bow, his first soul skill, Frost Shot, aiming precisely at weak spots in the beast's armor, trying to find a chink in the defenses.
Meanwhile, Shui Bing'er unleashed a barrage of ice blades.
But the Ice Armor Spine Beast, being a thousand-year soul beast, was no pushover.
It suddenly flew into a rage, launching a rain of icy spikes from its armor with piercing force and bone-chilling cold, targeting the two young attackers.
Lin Zhiruo quickly intensified her ice output, forming a thick ice shield to protect them.
After the spike attack, the beast tried to escape.
But Lin Zhiruo wasn't about to let it get away.
"Playtime's over!"
"Ice Seal!"
With her skill activated, the surrounding space froze—air itself seemed to solidify.
The beast's movements slowed drastically, and cracks began to form in its supposedly indestructible armor.
"Frost Slash!"
A powerful surge of cold burst from Lin Zhiruo's palm, forming a giant ice blade that slashed down onto the beast's back.
A sharp cracking sound echoed—the beast's defense was shattered.
Seeing the opportunity, Xiao Han drew his bo
w to full power and fired a gleaming blue arrow straight into the exposed area.
With a heavy crash, the Ice Armor Spine Beast collapsed to the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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