In the far north!
In the Phoenix Ice Cave, only a dozen or so ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow Pillars remained.
The Ice Soul Dragon Soul had now become incredibly solid, resembling an ice crystal dragon.
It was still coiled on a ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow, its entire body radiating cold air, and its four soul rings had undergone different changes. The
platinum soul ring had become even more crystalline, and the plump Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm had absorbed enough Xuanbing power, residing in the heart of the dragon soul as if it were a real entity.
Two golden patterns appeared in the red second soul ring, and the Purple-Backed Xuanbing Centipede, now a soul spirit, finally broke through. With the help of the dragon soul, after absorbing enough ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow, it truly became a two-hundred-thousand-year-old ferocious beast, its purple, icy soul spirit body lying happily in the dragon's claws, almost like a physical entity.
The divinely bestowed soul ring remained unchanged, its bright blue-gold hue mirroring and connecting with the frozen dragon soul within the dragon spirit, completely merging into one. The blue ice crystal power sealing the dragon soul had slowly dissipated, merging into the soul ring, and the dragon soul and dragon spirit gradually became one.
With the dragon soul's recovery, the dragon soul gathered for him by the Phoenix God was also completely fused with it.
The dragon soul was gradually recovering, and now, using the power of ice to reshape its body, it could return to its former peak, albeit on a different path.
The Ice Crystal Snow Lotus's soul ring still had two golden stripes, but it was beginning to develop intelligence, like a newborn child. However, Little Snow Lotus was now with Tianmeng and Xiao Zi, especially Tianmeng, whose intelligence was particularly developed, teaching Little Snow Lotus to slowly learn things.
These spirits within the dragon soul were also part of its power.
As for the Vermilion Bird King and Queen, they were also in a deep slumber. Their souls were originally the strongest, but within the Dragon Soul's body—an ice-attribute Dragon Soul space—it wasn't suitable for their activity, so they had to preserve their souls by falling into a deep sleep.
Currently, only the Dragon Soul is still absorbing the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow within the ice cave.
The Ice Emperor has reached the four hundred thousand-year mark; without breaking through this barrier, she can no longer absorb and cultivate.
At this moment, she is organizing her power, awaiting the arrival of the Heavenly Tribulation.
However, she seems to still be wary of Ma Hongjun
and hasn't truly entered a meditative state.
The Ice Emperor is somewhat conflicted, wary of Ma Hongjun's apparent goodwill.
Because of the natural antagonism between humans and soul beasts, it's difficult for the Ice Emperor to immediately accept this peaceful coexistence with a human.
However, she now knows the relationship between Ma Hongjun and these soul spirits, and she knows that Ma Hongjun's purpose in wanting her sacrifice is to obtain her offering.
But Ma Hongjun hasn't forced her; he's even willing to let her try to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation,
as if he thinks she can't survive it.
In the original story, Ice Empress's fourth tribulation wouldn't arrive for another 20,000 years. She didn't even survive that tribulation before becoming someone else's martial soul.
At that time, Ice Empress wasn't confident about her tribulation and knew she wouldn't survive it, which is why she made her choice.
Now, Ice Empress's tribulation has arrived 20,000 years early, and Ma Hongjun believes it's even less likely she'll survive.
If she didn't have confidence even with 20,000 years of accumulated experience, wouldn't she be even less confident now that it's happening 20,000 years early?
Of course, nothing is certain; the tribulations of soul beasts are inherently mysterious and full of uncertainty.
However, regardless, Ice Empress needs to be given a chance to try, otherwise, her pride might not allow her to yield.
Ma Hongjun is simply giving her a choice
. After learning that Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er had both received divine inheritances, Ice Empress was already tempted, and she understood the choices of Tianmeng, Xiao Zi, and Xiao Xuelian in their sacrifices.
Actually, Ma Hongjun didn't force her to stay, but he also didn't tell her to leave.
Ice Empress didn't ask; she simply stayed silently.
She also wanted to leave herself a way out. She always feared the Heavenly Tribulation and couldn't guarantee she could survive it.
Even if she survived this time, tens of thousands of years later, there would be another, and the time after that—who knew when she would perish?
The path of the Soul Beast was a path without end.
And not every time could she make the choice Ma Hongjun made.
Sacrificing herself to Ma Hongjun, while not guaranteeing his godhood, at least put her on the path.
It was a gamble.
Gambling on Ma Hongjun, if she won, meant eternal life.
If she lost, there was still a way out; as long as their souls didn't dissipate, they could reshape their bodies.
It wasn't a loss either way.
Ma Hongjun and the Ice Emperor were both aware of this, but they didn't reveal it.
This was his respect for the Ice Emperor as a future partner.
Because Ma Hongjun was 100% confident he could subdue the Ice Emperor.
Shui Bing'er and her four teachers were all in deep meditation, absorbing a considerable amount of Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, and now they were digesting this power.
Shui Bing'er had already advanced to level seventy.
The four teachers all advanced from level 70 to level 80.
Most importantly, their martial souls were upgraded to the level of ultimate ice.
Now, all five of them need to acquire soul rings.
Tianshui Academy has really struck gold this time. These four teachers have broken through to the Soul Douluo level, and with their dean, that makes five Soul Douluos.
If they really merge with Shrek Academy, it's hard to say who will merge with whom.
With the Yin dominating the Yang, Ma Hongjun worries that the skinny Cat-Owl Soul Saint won't be able to hold on.
Ma Hongjun is currently absorbing the Profound Ice Marrow with the Dragon Soul. He needs to personally experience the power of the Profound Ice and merge it with the Dragon Soul's aura.
After the initial frenzied absorption, the Dragon Soul's absorption speed has slowed down. While the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow is indeed a great treasure, absorbing the same amount of icy power will eventually reach a saturation point.
The Dragon Soul is now gradually reaching that saturation point.
"My strength has recovered considerably. Regarding your relationship with the Ice Emperor, besides sacrifice, there's another way to choose,"
the Dragon Soul transmitted to Ma Hongjun while absorbing.
"Oh, what way?"
Ma Hongjun asked curiously. Having another way to connect with a Soul Beast is always a good thing.
"Convert the Soul Ring into a Soul Contract!"
"A Soul Contract? What's that?"
"A Soul Contract exists on the Five Elements Continent; it's a profession called Soul Pet Master.
Instead of hunting Soul Beasts, they form a Soul Contract with them, becoming battle partners.
On the Five Elements Continent, people and Soul Beasts get along much better, unlike on the Douluo Continent where they are naturally hostile. They are interdependent partners.
My Soul Power has recovered considerably; I can help you and your Soul Beast complete the Soul Contract."
"What effect does a Soul Contract have on Soul Masters and Soul Beasts?"
"A soul contract, to be precise, is simply a relationship between a human and a soul beast, much like a man and woman becoming husband and wife through marriage.
In the Five Elements Continent, when a soul pet master chooses to sign a soul contract with a soul beast, they are completing a certain ritual, thus creating a soul bond between them.
In other words, it's like beast taming!
However, a soul contract is an equal contract; the soul pet master and the soul beast need each other.
The soul pet master needs the soul beast to help them fight, and the soul beast needs the soul pet to increase its cultivation speed. It's
just that humans are more intelligent, and it's generally humans who command the soul beasts.
This is a freer relationship for the soul beast than sacrifice.
The downside is that you can't obtain the power of a soul ring, soul bones, or soul skills to enhance yourself.
The advantage is that you gain a soul beast companion."
Soul pet master—this is a completely new concept!
(End of Chapter)