"The second day." Dugu Yan counted on her fingers. "Rongrong and Kurumi… they didn't run into any trouble, did they?"
Dugu Yan gazed at the bright sun over the icy landscape. The Extreme North was a place rarely visited by humans.
Even in the middle of the night, within the so-called "safe zone," all sorts of soul beasts could be seen scurrying about.
Though they were only around ten-year soul beasts—posing no real threat to a Soul Master—their presence was enough to keep one on edge.
Suddenly, several hundred meters ahead, the empty space trembled slightly before splitting open into a pitch-black, oval-shaped rift.
"Oh? They're back." Seeing what looked like a spatial portal, Dugu Yan's face lit up with joy.
However, in the next moment, a giant worm was tossed out, its head clearly bearing a bullet hole.
"What the hell is this?!" Dugu Yan immediately activated her Martial Soul and retreated.
Shui Cangyue and the others also noticed the disturbance. As a top-tier Soul Douluo at level 90—only a single soul ring away from becoming a Title Douluo—she instantly summoned her Dolphin Martial Soul.
But after about ten seconds, two familiar figures stepped out of the portal, and everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Ning Rongrong instinctively reached out to pat the giant worm behind her, but her body shuddered suddenly.
"Ew…"
Why did she instinctively recoil from this slimy thing?
She awkwardly retracted her hand and coughed lightly to mask her discomfort.
Walking up to Shui Cangyue, she said,
"After bargaining with the Snow Empress and Ice Empress all night, this is the best I could get. A 100,000-year soul beast was beyond my reach."
"This soul beast is called an Ice Silkworm, or maybe Dream Ice Silkworm?" Ning Rongrong glanced at the massive worm behind her—roughly the size of a one-story building in length, width, and height.
"It's 98,000 years old, with ice and mental attributes. If you're not satisfied, you'll have to find one yourself later."
"Satisfied? I'm extremely satisfied!" Shui Cangyue exclaimed excitedly.
98,000 years—how far was that from 100,000?
If she had gone looking for a soul ring herself, she'd have been lucky to find one even at 70,000 or 80,000 years. She might've had to call in favors from friends to help hunt it down, all while guarding against potential backstabbing.
The world of Soul Masters was far from harmonious—betrayals and schemes were all too common.
"I do have an idea that might allow you to push this soul beast's age to 100,000 years when absorbing its ring."
"However… there's some risk involved."
Ning Rongrong fell silent, waiting for Shui Cangyue's response.
"This…" Shui Cangyue hesitated.
Her personal experience told her that the girl in front of her had little reason to deceive her.
But the memory of those dozen or so torturous cycles—nearly driving her to mental collapse—still haunted her.
Even now, the thought sent chills down her spine, as if she'd been broken beyond repair.
"Is… is it absolutely necessary?" Shui Cangyue's gaze at Ning Rongrong was tinged with fear.
"Not at all. I just think 100,000-year soul rings look prettier."
Shui Cangyue: "…"
"Actually, 90,000 years is already amazing, Grandma." Shui Yue'er stepped forward, noticing the sweat soaking her grandmother's back.
"Missing this chance might mean a lifetime of regret," Shui Bing'er murmured softly. "The Young Master went through so much trouble to bring back a near-100,000-year soul beast. She must've paid a steep price."
They had met the Snow Empress and Ice Empress before, and from Dugu Yan's explanations the previous night, they knew those two stood at the absolute peak of the continent.
Hearing Shui Bing'er's words, Shui Cangyue snapped out of her thoughts, feeling a mix of resignation and amusement.
This granddaughter of mine… is like a winter coat with a built-in ice pack.
But she wasn't wrong.
This wasn't just about whether she was willing—it was about what Ning Rongrong wanted.
Ning Rongrong had said the experiment was optional, and given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's reputation, there'd be no retaliation. But if she wanted to be valued in the future…
Fine. I'll agree. The risks can't be that high, right?
Surely it won't be as bad as last time, when I nearly died over a dozen times?
With that thought, Shui Cangyue steadied herself and spoke firmly:
"I also believe a 100,000-year soul ring would be magnificent. Legends say it's the true mark of a Soul Master's strength. I'd like to strive for that honor."
"Good." Before Ning Rongrong could respond, Tokisaki Kurumi interjected.
"Since Master went through such lengths to secure this soul beast, it seems worth it after all."
"Kurumi, it wasn't that costly," Ning Rongrong said helplessly.
"You gave the Ice Empress one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's secret manuals. That's not costly?"
"Huh?" Ning Rongrong's eyelid twitched before she nodded. "Right… there was some cost."
"Dean Shui, don't worry too much. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has plenty of treasures. But now that you've agreed… no take-backs."
If Kurumi was playing the strict enforcer, she might as well roll with it.
But was that thing even a secret manual? It was just a guide on how the nobles of Heaven Dou had their fun.
No wonder Ning Fengzhi liked catgirls… He must've been influenced. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's archives held more than just one "manual."
"Don't worry. Once I make a decision, I never go back on it. That's always been my way as a Soul Master."
"Good. Honestly, there's no need to overthink it. The worst-case scenario is just losing this soul ring and finding another."
Ning Rongrong continued,
"Dean Shui, deliver the final blow to this time-frozen soul beast, then begin absorbing its ring. Leave the rest to me."
"Understood, Young Master."
The moment Tokisaki Kurumi released the time-stop, Shui Cangyue fired an ice arrow straight through the bullet hole, freezing the Ice Silkworm's brain.
Within moments, the colossal creature collapsed, shaking the ground beneath them.
A black soul ring rose from its body, tinged with faint traces of red.
Guided by Shui Cangyue's soul power, the ring floated toward her as she sat cross-legged.
"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—go!"
Ning Rongrong's pagoda soared into the air, hovering above Shui Cangyue and radiating a golden glow.
Time passed minute by minute.
Though the Ice Silkworm's cultivation was formidable, Shui Cangyue—strengthened by the Ancient Ice Phoenix's power—had significantly enhanced physical and spiritual endurance.
Gradually, she suppressed the Ice Silkworm's lingering resentment. The massive soul ring shrank, settling into the lowest slot of her soul ring array.
At that moment, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda trembled, and the phantom of an Ice Dragon King emerged.
Tiny flecks of white, frost-tinged light began to drift down, merging into Shui Cangyue's ninth soul ring.
The restrictions of the confinement were broken, and the black color of the ninth soul ring slowly faded away.
One minute, two minutes… until half an hour later.
Shui Cangyue's ninth soul ring had turned red. Though not as vivid as a true 100,000-year ring, it was unmistakably at that level.
However, strengthening the ring's age had also amplified the Ice Silkworm's unrefined resentment.
But this boost was insignificant—nothing more than a minor nuisance to the victor at this stage.
Ning Rongrong retracted the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, watching Shui Cangyue intently.
"So it is possible. As long as the energy tier is superior, the soul ring's age limit can be broken."
By borrowing the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's frost energy—absorbed from the Ancient Ice Phoenix—she had reinforced the soul ring.
Just as she'd theorized, it could be done, but it was complicated. The two forces needed a degree of compatibility.
For instance, pre-strengthening Shui Cangyue with the same energy source made absorption feasible. Otherwise, rejection—or even ring explosion—could occur.
As the pagoda vanished from her hand, Ning Rongrong turned to the anxious Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er.
"Your grandmother will wake up in half an hour to an hour."
Relief washed over the sisters' faces.
Then, Ning Rongrong glanced toward a massive ice boulder a hundred meters away.
"Come out. Shouldn't the ruler of the Extreme North have better things to do than play peeping tom?"