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After all, even the massive commotion caused by so many rewards from the Heavenly Rankings had failed to expose the academy's location. Yet now, the sacrifice of a soul beast with not even two hundred thousand years of cultivation was somehow enough to reveal it.
That was… honestly a little speechless.
Still, speechless or not, Li Tianyi did not dwell on it too much.
After all, setting aside himself and the Yun Ming couple, relying solely on the immortal herbs within the academy and Xiao Hongchen alone, there were very few people on the continent capable of breaking in.
Just as Li Tianyi was venting inwardly, the ranking continued to update.
[Soul Beast Ranking No. 15: Ice Bear King]
[Age: 285,000 years]
[Affiliation: Far North]
[Evaluation: Wields Ultimate Ice. The soul skill "Ice Bear Blizzard" can unleash an absolute zero storm with a diameter of one thousand meters. "Ice Meteor" and "Shattering Ice Trample" combine ferocious offense with wide-area destruction.]
[Reward: Cultivation increased by eighty thousand years. The diameter of "Ice Bear Blizzard" increases by two thousand meters.]
As the fifteenth-ranked soul beast was revealed, the Ice Bear King's age fell like a massive stone into the hearts of all the forces across the Douluo Continent, sending up waves of shock.
...
Papal Hall.
Bibi Dong abruptly rose from the Papal Throne. Purple-black soul power surged out of control, twisting the air within the hall.
"Two hundred eighty-five thousand years…"
She growled softly, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
As the Pope who commanded the Spirit Hall and overlooked the entire continent, she knew all too well that ten-thousand-year soul beasts were already legendary existences.
Yet in such a short time, the Soul Beast Ranking had first revealed a sixty-thousand-year Dark Devil God Tiger, and now an Ice Bear King approaching three hundred thousand years. This completely overturned her understanding of the continent's pinnacle powers.
If it were multiple immortal herbs from Heavenly Path Academy making the list, she could still accept it. With a God King backing them, it was at least reasonable.
But the Far North, a land of eternal ice and snow, to possess such a foundation was utterly unexpected.
"The Far North… to think it still hides such a monster."
A flash of greed passed through Bibi Dong's eyes, but it was quickly drowned by deeper wariness.
She raised her hand sharply. "Issue the order! Immediately send more people to monitor the Far North. Investigate every detail about this Ice Bear King!"
However, what followed was a deep, gnawing sense of fear.
A ferocious beast with nearly three hundred thousand years of cultivation ranked only fifteenth. Then what kind of strength did the top ten, the top three, or even the first place possess?
...
Star Dou Great Forest, beside the Lake of Life.
Gu Yuena gazed at the snow-white giant bear on the light screen. A trace of puzzlement flickered in her cold eyes as she asked softly,
"The Ice Bear King? Two hundred eighty-five thousand years? Di Tian, do you remember this soul beast?"
Di Tian stepped forward, brows tightly furrowed, his gaze fixed on the screen as he replied in a deep voice,
"My Lord, I traveled to the Far North fifty thousand years ago and encountered this Ice Bear."
His thoughts drifted back to that desolate frozen wasteland. "At the time, it only had two hundred thirty thousand years of cultivation. It was a trusted subordinate of the Ice and Snow Twin Emperors of the Far North. It appeared simple and honest, but its combat strength was astonishing. It controlled Ultimate Ice, and even the Titan Snow Demon King was unwilling to provoke it lightly."
"Oh."
Gu Yuena raised an eyebrow slightly and responded with just that single word. After all, not even three hundred thousand years was not enough to truly catch her attention.
Her fingertip traced across the surface of the lake beside her, sending ripples spreading outward.
"My Lord," Di Tian said gravely, "the Far North already has the Ice and Snow Twin Emperors holding the line. Now, with this newly advanced Ice Bear King at two hundred eighty-five thousand years, their overall strength is already considerable. Should we attempt to draw them over?"
"No need. Once this seat reaches the top of the ranking, the Far North will naturally submit."
...
Heavenly Path Academy.
Shui Bing'er stared at the soul beast displayed on the light screen. Her delicate face was filled with shock and nostalgia as she suddenly turned toward Li Tianyi beside her, her voice trembling slightly.
"Teacher! It's it! The big bear we encountered back then in the Far North!"
Li Tianyi nodded faintly, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to still remember."
Shui Bing'er nodded vigorously, her thoughts instantly returning to several years ago.
At that time, she had just broken through to Soul Ancestor and urgently needed a powerful fourth soul ring. It was her teacher who personally accompanied her to the Far North.
On a frozen wasteland, they encountered a massive white bear soul beast, towering like a mountain.
When Little White saw them, it immediately released the pressure of Ultimate Ice, attempting to drive them away. Yet Li Tianyi casually suppressed it with a strand of golden pressure, leaving it completely unable to move. All it could do was lie there pitifully, looking at the two of them with its large, pale-blue eyes.
"Teacher, it looks so pitiful. Let's spare it."
That moment of soft-heartedness left a deep impression on her.
Li Tianyi had chuckled softly back then and spared the Ice Bear. Little White, as if granted amnesty, scrambled up and fled headlong into the depths of the ice plains.
"So it really is the Ice Bear King,"
Shui Bing'er murmured, her eyes filled with amazement. "I never imagined that in just a few short years, it would grow to two hundred eighty-five thousand years, and even make it to fifteenth place on the Soul Beast Ranking."
Li Tianyi looked at the light screen and said calmly, "The extreme environment of the Far North naturally benefits ice and snow soul beasts. Moreover, it is a junior favored by the Ice and Snow Twin Emperors, with resources tilted toward it. Such growth speed is only natural. However, in its current state, it is still not enough."
His gaze shifted from the screen to Shui Bing'er, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable authority. "Bing'er, you are now level seventy. Your seventh soul ring is of utmost importance."
"The Ice Bear King controls Ultimate Ice, perfectly matching your martial soul's attributes. Its age has already reached three hundred sixty thousand years. If you can use it as your seventh soul ring, not only will you directly break through to Soul Douluo, but the power of your Ultimate Ice will rise to an entirely new level."
He paused briefly, then continued, "Do you want me to take you to the Far North right now, capture it, and make it your seventh soul ring?"
Shui Bing'er's entire body trembled upon hearing this. A trace of struggle flashed through her eyes, but it quickly turned into resolve.
She took a deep breath and bowed respectfully to Li Tianyi. "Disciple… is willing!"
She raised her head, determination shining in her eyes. "Teacher, I know this is cruel. But in order to become stronger and to live up to your expectations, I am willing to do this."
"Moreover, the Ice Bear King's Ultimate Ice is precisely the greatest aid for my breakthrough!"
Li Tianyi nodded, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes, and gently patted her shoulder.
"Good! Worthy of being my, Li Tianyi's, disciple! Since you have decided, then we depart immediately!"
As his words fell, Li Tianyi raised his hand. A strand of golden light enveloped Shui Bing'er's body.
In the next second, the figures of the two vanished beneath the pavilion. In the very next instant, they appeared directly in the Far North.
...
The Far North.
When the Ice Bear King's information appeared on the light screen, the entire Far North erupted into fervor.
Countless ice and snow soul beasts howled toward the sky. Snow on the frozen plains was shaken loose in waves, and cheers rose one after another.
Inside the Ice Emperor Palace, the Ice and Snow Twin Emperors, the Titan Snow Demon King, and the Ice Bear King, Little White, stood side by side. Gazing at the light screen in the sky, joy was written across all their faces.
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