Outside the far north, Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er bid farewell to their four teachers.
"Teacher Crystal, after you return, you must persuade the Dean to move the academy to the Frost Forest!"
Tianshui Academy isn't located in the far north. The north is too cold, much like the scorching deserts of the Southern Fire Domain; such extreme environments are unsuitable for human survival.
However, for Soul Masters of the corresponding attributes, it's a treasure trove of cultivation, only lacking the bustling activity of the human world. The
number of ice-attribute Soul Masters among Tianshui Academy's teachers and students isn't actually that high; water-attribute Soul Masters are the majority. However, water-attribute Soul Masters are mostly support and control-type Soul Masters, and their control abilities aren't as strong as ice-attribute Soul Masters.
Therefore, most of Tianshui Academy's powerful and famous Soul Masters are ice-type Soul Masters.
Persuading the entire academy to move to the Frost Forest won't be easy.
"Don't worry, we'll definitely handle this. This is a great opportunity for Tianshui to develop and rise. I believe the Dean will definitely agree!"
Crystal confidently assured them.
Crystal held a position in the academy equivalent to Zhao Wuji's in Shrek Academy. She handled many affairs of Tianshui Academy, and her strength was the second strongest in Tianshui.
She remained second, only now the first had been taken by Shui Bing'er.
All four teachers were stronger than the dean; with their return and demonstrations, there shouldn't be too many problems.
After saying goodbye, Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er headed directly to the depths of the far north, the Extreme Ice Domain!
Shui Bing'er sat atop the Ice Crystal Phoenix, while Ma Hongjun rode on the shoulder of the Titan Snow Demon King, traveling at the same altitude.
The Extreme Ice Domain was the area where the Snow Emperor lived, and also the core of the far north.
The two had two things to do here.
First, the Snow Emperor would pass on her decree to Shui Bing'er, granting her control over the far north.
Second, they came to the Extreme Ice Domain to find the source of the Ice River!
In the far north, there was an Ice River, the source of the soul beasts' destiny.
When the soul beasts of the far north reached the end of their lives, they would slumber in the Ice River, returning to the icy land.
This is an ancient and traditional way of dying for soul beasts. In their final moments, they can feel a primal call.
Their power comes from this, and their corpses return here!
The Source of the Glacier and the Heavenly Fire Pool of the Fire Domain share the same principle.
However, while the Heavenly Fire Pool might offer the possibility of rebirth, a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Source of the Glacier only allows the cycle of fate to begin anew.
Of course, these are matters of faith for soul beasts. For Ma Hongjun, the most practical thing is
soul bones!
The Source of the Glacier bears the return of soul beasts over the years; countless soul beast corpses dissolve here, and some soul bones are always left behind.
And what Ma Hongjun is looking for are these soul bones!
As an outsider, Ma Hongjun naturally doesn't know the secret of the Source of the Glacier. In fact, he has seen the glacier's basin in the far north, but he didn't discover these problems.
This was told to him by the Snow Emperor.
Ma Hongjun only thought of the Fire Domain because of its special characteristics; the far north and the Fire Domain are similar regions, so perhaps there are also burial grounds like the Heavenly Fire Pool.
So, Ma Hongjun asked the Snow Empress, who then revealed this secret to her.
However, the source of the glacier is in the extreme ice layer, and the soul bones of soul beasts after their disintegration flow to the source. Apart from the Snow Empress, no other soul beast knows these secrets.
Furthermore, to obtain these soul bones, one must possess the Snow Empress's token.
This is a sacred place for soul beasts, and the Snow Empress does not wish for anyone to tread upon it. Moreover, these accumulated soul bones are the energy wealth of the far north.
It's like turning into spring mud to nourish the flowers!
It's a virtuous cycle!
Ma Hongjun currently possesses more and stronger fire-type soul bones than ice-type soul bones.
She has one three-legged golden bone, one fire dragon right arm bone, one fire-eyed eagle bone, and twenty vermilion bird feather bones. These
twenty-three fire-type soul bones are all over 100,000 years old, with the highest being 700,000 years old and an average of over 200,000 years old.
Her ice-type soul bones are only three: two 200,000-year-old ice centipede foot bones and one 200,000-year-old snow lotus heart bone.
Soul bones directly amplify the body, but this severely unbalanced soul bone attribute has negatively impacted his physical development. Ma Hongjun needs to suppress his fire-attribute soul power excessively, leading to internal friction and preventing him from unifying his power.
This wastes his physical strength.
Furthermore, regarding his soul rings, the four ferocious beasts, including Xue Di, are soul pets; they haven't granted him soul rings, soul bones, or ice-attribute soul power.
He can only borrow their ice-attribute soul power after forming a contract to suppress his internal fire-attribute soul power, creating a balance.
However, this doesn't solve the problem; the borrowed power cannot be transformed into his own.
At this moment, he desperately needs an ice-attribute soul bone to fuse with!
After explaining his situation to Xue Di, she agreed to search for a suitable ice-attribute soul bone for Ma Hongjun in the Ice River Source.
Ma Hongjun currently has four of the six normal soul bone slots remaining.
Skull, right arm bone, left and right leg bones!
The skull isn't suitable for an ice-type soul bone; this slot needs to be reserved for fusing a spirit-type soul bone!
The skull is also best for a spirit-type soul bone, because the brain is the center of the soul. A spirit-type skull not only protects the soul but also amplifies it.
Furthermore, dragon soul martial souls also possess some spirit attributes, and powerful spirit attributes need a vessel. Ma Hongjun's bone slots are almost full, leaving only the skull as the most suitable, and it needs to be a powerful skull.
In Douluo Continent, the most powerful spirit-type skull should be the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm.
The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm's body is still in the Star Dou Great Forest, but Ma Hongjun has decided to retrieve its soul bone. That leaves three slots .
The right arm bone can be reserved because the right hand has already fused with a metal-attribute palm bone, and a metal-attribute bone might not provide a mutual benefit. The left and right leg bones don't need consideration; the foot bones have already fused with the ice-attribute Ice Centipede soul bone, and fusing with other attributes would be counterproductive. Therefore, both the left and right leg bones can be fused with ice-attribute soul bones. Ma Hongjun needed to fuse with at least two ice-attribute soul bones. Two soul bones were nothing to the far north. As the ruler of the far north, she knew it intimately; the source of the glacier had accumulated countless soul bones over millennia. Therefore, she even agreed to give Shui Bing'er her five soul bones! Entering the Extreme Ice Domain, they found themselves in a completely pure ice and snow world, filled with incredibly rich ice and snow elements. There wasn't the extreme, violent weather, but even ordinary soul beasts couldn't withstand the extreme cold. However, for soul beasts over 100,000 years old, this extreme cold was exceptionally comfortable. And the scenery was breathtaking! Like a mirror of the sky, with exquisite snowflakes drifting in the air, elegant and unique. The ground was covered with naturally formed ice sculptures of various shapes, making one marvel at the wonders of nature! This was far more beautiful than the naturally formed sand sculptures in the desert. Like those ice crystal flowers, rhomboid crystals, and ice souls! How beautiful! The sand sculptures Ma Hongjun had seen in the desert were like dogs and turtles, so rustic. Compared to this place, they had no aesthetic appeal whatsoever; this place was like a fairyland! "This place is so beautiful. Only a place as beautiful as this could give birth to a stunning beauty like the Snow Empress!" Ma Hongjun sighed inwardly. He mentally probed the Snow Empress in his soul space, who was meditating with her eyes closed, comprehending the cultivation method passed down to her by the Dragon Soul. Shui Bing'er was undoubtedly comfortable. The extreme cold here didn't affect her. Having already inherited the Phoenix's power, her ice-attribute abilities were already at their peak. She was also admiring the scenery. "So beautiful, even the place where the Snow Empress lives is so beautiful!" Shui Bing'er exclaimed. As a woman herself, Shui Bing'er was extremely envious of the Snow Empress's beauty. "You are beautiful too, Bing'er!" Ma Hongjun smiled at Shui Bing'er. Shui Bing'er wore a long, azure dress and rode an ice crystal phoenix. Her long, ice-blue hair flowed freely, catching the snowflakes falling like flower petals in the air—she was incredibly beautiful. Shui Bing'er smiled shyly, gazing tenderly at Ma Hongjun. The two looked at each other in the air, their gazes incredibly sweet. Suddenly, Ma Hongjun darted ahead, putting distance between them. "Hey! Da Bai, slow down, no rush!" Titan Snow Demon King was furious, running frantically, though it didn't know what dog food was. But it was clear that the taste was unpleasant; neither humans nor beasts liked it. So, not wanting to be immersed in the ambiguous atmosphere of others, Da Bai quickened its pace. "We're still a long way from the Source of the Glacier, we need to speed up!" Da Bai explained seriously, its speed increasing again. The Ice Crystal Phoenix behind them was having some difficulty catching up, even though it could fly. Titan Snow Demon King's leap was over a thousand meters, enough for it to flap its wings many times. Driven by its refusal to eat dog food, both Titan Snow Demon King and Ice Crystal Phoenix were rushing at full speed. The Source of the Glacier had arrived! "Huff huff~~" Titan Snow Demon King gasped for breath. "Why run so fast? Now look at you, exhausted like a dog!" Ma Hongjun showed no sympathy, muttering dismissively. Looking back, thankfully, the Ice Crystal Phoenix wasn't slow either, and soon they flew over. The source of the glacier was right before them, a valley-shaped ice lake connecting to two glacial channels.
However, the entire lake and river surface were frozen.
The actual water flow was beneath the ice.
"Is this the source of the glacier?"
"Yes!"
Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er walked hand in hand onto the lake surface.
Closer to the ice, they could indeed faintly hear the gurgling sound of water flowing beneath the ice.
"Dragon Soul, we've arrived!"
Ma Hongjun called out to the Dragon Soul.
Blue-gold light appeared, and an ice crystal dragon emerged from Ma Hongjun's body.
"Indeed, every world has some such treasure lands; this is where the energy of heaven and earth converges."
The Dragon Soul's weathered voice couldn't help but sigh.
Regardless of the world's level, there will always be one or two such uniquely blessed treasure lands!
After the Dragon Soul appeared, eight more spirit rings surrounded him.
Platinum, red, blue-gold, red, red-red-red-red!
However, these spirit rings were different. The first four spirit rings were normal, pure spirit ring power, light, and golden patterns.
But the latter four seemed somewhat illusory, although the shapes of the spirit rings could still be seen.
The most significant point was that there was an image within the spirit rings.
These are the forms of the Ice Bear King, the Titan Snow Demon King, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, and the Snow Maiden.
These four spirit rings were formed from the spirit power of the four ferocious beasts and Ma Hongjun.
They serve some of the functions of spirit rings and can also act as portals to the soul space!
This is a wonderful use that Ma Hongjun discovered during his seclusion.
As the first person to cultivate both a spirit master and a spirit pet master, this combination is full of unknowns that Ma Hongjun needs to explore and discover.
The Dragon Soul only taught the pure spirit pet master cultivation system, but he didn't know what changes would occur after combining with a spirit master.
Spirit pet masters could only command spirit pets in battle.
They didn't have much strength themselves; their power was mostly spiritual power, used to communicate with spirit pets and cultivate some soul skills, but these were not powerful. They mainly relied on spirit pets for combat.
However, after Ma Hongjun began cultivating both, he discovered that he could borrow the power of spirit pets.
That is, when needed, spirit pets like the Snow Empress could transfer their spirit power to Ma Hongjun.
This was a pleasant surprise for Ma Hongjun, perfectly solving the weakness of spirit pet masters' own insufficient strength.
Spirit power could continue to be cultivated.
Soul power is the foundation of a Soul Master's strength.
Furthermore, the combination of the Soul Master system and the Soul Pet Master system allows both Soul Masters and Soul Pets to cultivate to great power.
Soul power and Soul Spirit power are cultivated simultaneously; Soul power can be shared with Soul Pets, while Soul Skills can be learned from Soul Beasts or comprehended independently.
This broadens the path of cultivation; those with sufficient Soul Power and talent can comprehend and create powerful Soul Skills of their own.
The fusion of the two systems is equivalent to combining the Soul and Martial Soul. The Martial Soul becomes a concrete image for Soul Meditation cultivation, materializing the cultivation methods of Soul Pet Masters.
The combination of Soul Rings and Soul Imprints creates Soul Rings, the gateway for transmitting Soul Power and Soul Spirit power.
Soul Masters can access their Soul Pets' Soul Power through Soul Rings, and Soul Pets can directly exit from these Soul Rings without the Soul Master needing to re-form the Soul Imprint gateway.
"Snow Empress!"
Ma Hongjun summoned with his will, and the Soul Ring corresponding to the Snow Empress lit up. Within the Soul Ring, a white figure appeared.
The Snow Empress's jade feet stepped out!
The Snow Empress had been in seclusion for several months. Now, emerging to see her home again, she felt a profound sense of loss and change.
She had become Ma Hongjun's soul pet, destined to travel the world with him. She
would likely rarely return to this place.
It felt like a married daughter returning to her parents' home!
This was the place she had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.
After a brief moment of contemplation, the Snow Empress slowly raised her jade arm, and snowflakes gathered in her palm.
A blue light flashed, and a delicate, snow-white ice crystal jade token formed, rhomboid in shape like a crystal.
Inscribed within the token was a single word:
"Snow!"
This was the Snow Empress Token!
As soon as the Snow Empress Token appeared, the surrounding ice and snow elemental molecules became active, swirling and dancing in the air above the frozen lake, surrounding the Snow Empress and the others at the center.
The Titan Snow Demon King gazed at the Snow Empress and the Snow Empress Token with burning adoration.
Once upon a time, this Snow Empress Token had also been the object of the Titan Snow Demon King's pursuit.
With this decree in hand, one is virtually invincible below the gods in the far north.
This Snow Emperor's Decree was born from heaven and earth along with the Snow Emperor; it is the symbol of the far north and the decree that governs it.
By using the Snow Emperor's Decree, one can mobilize the ice and snow power of the entire far north.
In the far north, with the blessing of the Snow Emperor's Decree, the Snow Emperor's strength was on par with Emperor Tian, reaching the level of a pseudo-god.
She could even fight against a god!
This was also why Ma Hongjun feared the Snow Emperor; he had previously endured some grievances to accommodate her, precisely because he and the Dragon Soul were powerless against her.
The Snow Emperor ruled the far north not only because of her own strength but also because of the Snow Emperor's Decree.
With the Snow Emperor's Decree issued, all beasts submitted.
The Ice Crystal Phoenix looked at the Snow Emperor's Decree with the same reverence.
Unlike the Titan Snow Demon King, who possessed immense power and had access to the secrets of the far north, knowing its workings and thus harboring ambitions to control it, the
Ice Crystal Phoenix was merely a phoenix that had recently broken through 100,000 years, a newcomer to the upper echelons of society. Knowing the Snow Emperor's Decree only amplified its reverence!
Shui Bing'er watched with a solemn expression, following the plan previously devised by the Dragon God, Ma Hongjun, and the Snow Emperor.
From now on, Shui Bing'er will wield this Snow Emperor Token.
Therefore, Shui Bing'er's expression was serious; this Snow Emperor Token represented not only power and authority, but also the responsibility of protecting the region.
"Snow Emperor Token!"
The Snow Emperor stared blankly at the jade token in her hand, as if lost in memories.
The exquisite and pure Snow Emperor Token flew from the Snow Emperor's palm and into the air.
The Snow Emperor also took flight, a stream of snow-white soul power connecting her palm to the Snow Emperor Token. Suddenly, the character "Snow" within the Snow Emperor Token emitted light.
The light formed a pillar, shining directly onto the lake surface, instantly turning the frozen lake into water!
This beam of light opened a channel through the lake.
Guided by the snow light, countless crystal-clear jade bones flew out from the lake.
"Soul Bones!"
Ma Hongjun exclaimed in surprise, various kinds of soul bones floating within the pillar of light!
The soul bones weren't large, each only about the size of a palm.
Soon, the soul bones filled the space above the pillar of light, numbering in the hundreds.
There were even more soul bones than in the Heavenly Fire Pool of
the Fire Domain. Unlike those in the Heavenly Fire Pool, these soul bones weren't all over 100,000 years old.
Ma Hongjun released his spiritual detection, and these soul bones were undoubtedly all ice-attribute.
As for their age, it varied considerably, with most over 10,000 years old, but some were a thousand years old, and even a hundred years old.
The significance of the Glacier River differed from that of the Heavenly Fire Pool. The Heavenly Fire Pool was a place for soul beasts to undergo rebirth after reaching a certain level of cultivation, and it was designed by the gods; those soul bones were merely an accumulation of failures or transformations.
However, the Glacier River was the final resting place for soul beasts; regardless of their level, soul beasts could slumber here, hence the large number of them. The source of the Glacier River had stockpiled their remaining essence.
"Quickly choose the soul bones you need!"
the Snow Empress said calmly.
She actually refused Ma Hongjun's request for soul bones, because this was the burial ground for soul beasts, and she didn't want to disturb their peaceful slumber.
Moreover, these are all the origins of the far north. The far north's rich ice and snow attributes are due to the essence of the soul bones left behind by these soul beasts!
However, Ma Hongjun doesn't want much; just enough to satisfy him and Shui Bing'er is acceptable and won't affect the very foundation of the far north.
Giving Ma Hongjun soul bones will also enhance his strength. Now, the Snow Empress and other ferocious beasts are cultivating together with Ma Hongjun, essentially becoming one with him. Ma Hongjun's improvement will also benefit the Snow Empress and the others.
Choosing a suitable soul bone isn't difficult; as long as it's compatible with the body and doesn't create conflict, it can be fused.
However, with so many suitable ones, choosing which one to use becomes difficult.
Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er both released their auras to sense and choose.
This is a rare opportunity.
While people in the world still struggle to find a soul bone worth a fortune, they are here suffering from decision paralysis among hundreds of options.
Shui Bing'er still has five normal soul bone slots that haven't been fused; she currently only has a Phoenix Ice Wing Bone and an Ice Centipede Left Leg Bone.
This time, she will complete all the other slots!
With all six ice-attribute soul bones, Ma Hongjun felt Shui Bing'er could try for the Ice God's position!
Ma Hongjun focused his attention on the leg bones, recommending any good soul bones from other locations to Shui Bing'er to see if she liked them.
Since they were all ice and snow attribute, age was the main factor.
Those over 100,000 years old were rare, their aura was very obvious, and they were easy to select; naturally, he would start with those.
Before long, Ma Hongjun had selected two leg bones, both over 100,000 years old.
Considering he had more external soul bones than original ones, Ma Hongjun wasn't giving up and wanted to select more that didn't have external soul bones.
For humans, external soul bones are generally extra parts of a soul beast that distinguish it from the human body; they are particularly prominent and important soul bones on a soul beast.
Dragon Soul had said that soul bones are formed from the essence of a soul beast's body after death, and they can appear in any part of the body.
This essence is a representation of the soul beast's physical body.
Just like the Vermilion Bird's True Feathers, the Water Dragon's Scales, and the Human-Faced Demon Spider's Eight Legs, these are all the most precious and representative parts of a Soul Beast.
Soul Bones, these treasures, aren't only used for integrating into the body; they have other uses in the Five Elements Continent. For example, Vermilion Bird True Feathers can be used for refining weapons.
In short, they are excellent treasure materials!
With anticipation, Ma Hongjun continued selecting.
Shui Bing'er had already chosen five Soul Bones. Floating before her were five crystal-clear, jade-like Soul Bones radiating a snow-white light.
All were over 50,000 years old, with three being 100,000 years old.
Shui Bing'er was very happy, looking at the five Soul Bones, unusually unrestrained and excited.
Her heart was pounding, and her chest was heaving.
"Bing'er, don't get excited, don't upset the baby!"
Ma Hongjun said with a smile.
Shui Bing'er gave Ma Hongjun a shy, reproachful look.
Ma Hongjun chuckled and withdrew his attention, continuing his search.
New Soul Bones floated out of the lake.
Soon, Ma Hongjun made a discovery.
"Huh, what's this?"
Ma Hongjun discovered a special soul bone. Judging from its shape, it was definitely not in the normal six-soul-bone position; it was undoubtedly an external soul bone, and it even possessed an aura of over 100,000 years.
"This soul bone looks a bit like... a rib!"
Ma Hongjun muttered casually.
It did indeed resemble a rib, with rows of rib-like shapes, but it didn't look like a torso bone.
"The aura of the Ice Jade Scorpion!"
Upon closer inspection, this soul bone belonged to the Ice Jade Scorpion, a soul bone from the Ice Emperor clan.
"A chest ring bone!"
Recalling the shape of the Ice Jade Scorpion, their chest legs were similar in shape.
"An unexpected delight!"
Ma Hongjun said happily, accepting it for the time being.
"Snow Emperor, wait a little longer. Let me look around some more. Are there any other soul bones suitable for me?"
Snow Emperor smiled slightly and said,
"It's alright, there's plenty of time. I also want to see how many soul bones you can fuse!"
Snow Emperor wasn't impatient. After the soul contract, she and Ma Hongjun had become familiar and close, and she also knew about the various soul bones in Ma Hongjun's body.
She was quite curious about Ma Hongjun's soul bones.
Moreover, Ma Hongjun's fusion of soul bones to enhance his strength would benefit everyone.
It took a little while, but the persistent Ma Hongjun waited until the Snow Empress had thoroughly searched the entire frozen lake for soul bones.
Finally, he found two suitable external soul bones:
his left and right shinbones.
A leg's bones are divided into three parts: the thigh bone, the shinbone, and the foot bone.
The commonly referred to leg bone is the thigh bone; the two Ma Hongjun found were shinbones.
"Ah, that's good. Like Bing'er, five bones each, balanced! Haha!"
After obtaining these two bones, Ma Hongjun said to the Snow Empress with a hint of regret.
His shamelessness was on full display! He
had originally planned to find only two, but now he had found five.
And all of them were over 100,000 years old!
The Snow Empress finished her work, and the crystal-clear soul bones returned to the lake.
The pillar of light disappeared, and the Snow Empress commanded the light to recede.
The frozen lake froze again, and everything returned to normal!
The Snow Empress gracefully descended, her beautiful form reflected in the pristine, clear lake.
Both the person and the scenery were so beautiful!