The Frozen Forest was locked in winter all year round, a world of frost and silence.
Soul beasts here were mostly ice-type, or those with a pure yang constitution—tiger-type beasts roamed these lands as well.
This time, Gu Han's group had a clear objective. With two high-level Soul Douluo present, no beast dared approach. Before long, they stood beneath a sheer cliff.
High above, rooted in the very peak, a massive snow lotus bloomed. Its purity was breathtaking—like a lonely masterpiece of nature itself.
"What a peerless snow lotus!" Yueguan's eyes lit up, his love for plants ignited in an instant.
"It's… beautiful…"
Even Bibi Dong was stunned. In such a harsh place, something so flawless could exist. Its solitary elegance drew the eye, refusing to let go.
Even Gu Han was moved. In the depths of his mind, the wordless book that was his martial soul seemed to stir in response.
"This is a true spirit of heaven and earth," Yueguan murmured. "Given enough time, it might become a fairy soul beast… even reach a hundred thousand years."
He spread his arms as if he could embrace the lotus.
"Then let's hunt it," Ghost said bluntly, unmoved by beauty. To him, the lotus was perfect for Gu Han's third soul ring, and that was all that mattered.
"Old ghost, you really have no eye for beauty!" Yueguan glared, full of wounded pride.
Ghost rolled his eyes. "Pretty or not, it's our target. You want to just leave it here for someone else?"
"…Fine." Yueguan sighed. He knew Ghost was right—if they didn't take it, someone else would. "Pity… If you weren't a soul beast, I'd find you a better home."
Bibi Dong's gaze softened with regret, but she agreed. Leaving it here only risked danger later. Better to let her junior brother claim it.
Gu Han, however, stood silently, staring at the snow lotus.
"Xiaohan?" Yueguan called. "Don't just stand there—let's go."
"Wait," Gu Han replied. "This lotus… it has a faint consciousness. My martial soul is resonating with it. We're… communicating."
He summoned the Xuan Shuang Sword. The blade hummed, and far above, the snow lotus swayed, its icy glow pulsing in rhythm.
Even Yueguan and Ghost, seasoned as they were, had never seen such a thing.
Then—light erupted. The lotus dissolved into purest energy, condensing into a purple soul ring that floated down to him.
A willing sacrifice.
Only hundred-thousand-year beasts were said to do such a thing, yet here an eight-thousand-year lotus offered itself freely. A miracle.
The energy flowed through Gu Han's meridians, settling in his dantian. His black hair turned snow-white, his blue robes fluttering—like a sword immortal stepping out of legend.
Bibi Dong's eyes shone. This was exactly the image she'd imagined.
His height rose from 1.75 to 1.8 meters, his clothes stretching but holding thanks to the Hall's special fabric.
Yueguan couldn't help but think the youth's temperament resembled a certain someone… though if Gu Han knew he'd been compared to Chen Xin again, he'd have protested.
"Xiaohan," Ghost said suddenly, "when a soul beast sacrifices, a soul bone appears. Check."
Gu Han shook his head. "No soul bone. But my martial soul's attributes increased permanently by twenty percent—closer to the ultimate form."
"Pity. Then what about the skill?"
"Yes, brother," Bibi Dong added. "What's the soul skill? It must be extraordinary."
Yueguan stepped forward. "I'll be your target. Try it on me."
"Alright. Be careful." Gu Han smiled. Against an eighty-eighth level Soul Douluo, he had no worry of harm.
The third soul ring under him lit.
"Third Soul Skill—Immortal Lotus Sovereignty!"
A great lotus bloomed, twelve petals turning into cold, razor-edged swords. Frost radiated from them as they shot at Yueguan.
"Good! Han Ying Gathering!" Yueguan's fifth ring flared, petal-knives meeting icy swords in a ringing clash.
Ghost shielded Bibi Dong from the shockwave, frost forming over his robe.
"It's not over!" Gu Han's ring flared again. Another lotus—this time birthing a massive sword of ice. Wherever it passed, frost sealed the ground and chilled the air.
The strike carried the might of a Soul King's full blow.
"Good sword!" Yueguan's fifth ring flared once more, meeting the giant blade with a three-leaf flying knife.
Crack—! Ice split apart under greater soul power, the sword cleaving in two.