Ice-Sealed Forest.
Shen Hanyu carried Shen Liuyu as they shuttled through the snow-covered forest, searching for soul beasts in the surroundings.
Regarding the Ice-Sealed Forest, Shen Hanyu didn't have a specific concept; he only knew that almost all forests covered in ice and snow were called Ice-Sealed Forests, like a general term.
This forest hadn't suffered any damage; its ecosystem was extremely intact, with the highest number and variety of soul beasts within a hundred miles nearby, naturally favored by some low-level soul masters.
Shen Liuyu's martial soul, the Enamel Lucky Crocodile, was only suitable for the assault system, so the soul beasts needed were naturally those with powerful attack power.
Actually, the crocodile martial soul didn't have too many requirements for obtaining soul rings; as long as the soul beast had strong attack power or outstanding defense, it could be considered. Anyway, the soul skills obtained would either be assault-type or augmentation-type, with a certain chance of obtaining defense-type skills.
The brother and sister walked and looked around along the way, seeing quite a few soul beasts.
For example, ordinary soul beasts like Ice Plain Elephants, Chill Ice Wild Boars, Ice Core Flowers, and the like, but there were no suitable, powerful soul beasts.
After walking for half a day, Shen Hanyu held the little girl in his arms and pointed to a white soul beast under a tree ahead, saying:
"Ayu, that's an Ice-Snow Male Lion, with cultivation probably around five hundred years. What do you think?"
Shen Liuyu poked her head out, thought carefully, and said:
"Brother, no, I have a soul beast in mind."
Shen Hanyu was stunned, then said:
"Tell brother what soul beast it is, so brother can pay attention to you."
Shen Liuyu took out a piece of paper from her soul guide and handed it to Shen Hanyu, gesturing for him to look.
On the paper, in cute handwriting, it was written:
Snow Domain Demon Ape group, located thirty kilometers north of the Ice-Sealed Forest, with the ape king of the race at three thousand years of cultivation, and about fifty in the group.
Shen Hanyu's brow raised; he had some impression of this soul beast.
The Snow Domain Demon Ape was a typical warlike soul beast, with extremely strong attack and defense power, a rare, balanced soul beast in the extreme north.
"Ayu, can you tell your brother your reasons? As far as the brother knows, there are choices better than the Snow Domain Demon Ape."
"For example, powerful soul beasts like the Chill Ice Unicorn Rhino, Heavenly Ice Butterfly, Ice Plain Mammoth Elephant, Chill Ice Blood Tiger, and the like are not inferior to the Snow Domain Demon Ape, and some even surpass it."
Shen Hanyu said.
Shen Liuyu thought for a moment and said:
"This was discussed with Dad before. Dad said his martial soul is the Chill Ice Crocodile, and his first soul ring came from a Snow Domain Demon Ape, which gave him an augmentation skill that increases both attack and defense by thirty percent. Dad said my martial soul is stronger than his, so the soul skill obtained naturally won't be bad."
Shen Hanyu tapped the little girl's head and smiled, saying:
"Ayu, don't believe Dad's words in the future. That was purely luck. The quality of a soul skill depends on the quality of the soul beast from which the soul ring is obtained, or if the martial soul has a direct relationship with the soul beast from which the soul ring is obtained. For example, if the Blue Silver Grass martial soul obtains a soul ring from Blue Silver Grass or the Blue Silver Emperor, the soul skill obtained would be the most suitable."
After Shen Hanyu's explanation, the little girl nodded as if she understood, but not really, and stopped talking.
Shen Hanyu thought for a moment and said:
"The biggest advantage of the crocodile is that it has almost no weaknesses; whether it's attack, defense, or speed, none are lacking. Brother will take you to look for traces of ice bears. If that doesn't work, besides the Chill Ice Crocodile in the extreme north, many other crocodile soul beasts are more suitable for you than the Snow Domain Demon Ape."
"Mm! I'll listen to brother~."
......
Snowflakes slowly fell, and the chill wind howled toward the distance.
In a patch of low shrubs, two heads, one big and one small, slowly emerged from it. Their gazes met, then simultaneously looked toward a group of soul beasts by the river valley not far away.
"Ayu, look, that's a group of Chill Ice Crocodiles, with years probably between 300 and 700. They're not very powerful, but they're one of the top soul beast groups in the extreme north."
Shen Hanyu smacked his lips, recalling the grilled crocodile meat he'd eaten during his training journey. It really had a unique flavor.
Shen Liuyu nodded innocently and said:
"Then... brother, are they our target?"
Shen Hanyu shook his head and pointed to three upright figures walking in the distance, saying:
"They are our targets. I sensed the terrifying killing intent on them from far away."
Through the vast wind and snow, three shadows could vaguely be seen approaching from the opposite shore, at a considerable speed.
"What are they, brother?"
Shen Liuyu asked curiously.
"I don't know either, but they don't look like the ice bear clan; they're too slender. Maybe humanoid soul beasts like the Titan Snow Demon or something."
Shen Hanyu made a rough guess and signaled Shen Liuyu not to speak anymore, just to watch quietly.
As the three figures gradually approached, Shen Hanyu and his sister finally saw their appearances clearly.
They weren't tall; the largest was just over two meters, but their bodies were robust, covered in snow-white, long fur. Their faces were shrouded in fur, making it hard to see clearly, but the cold killing intent from their blood-red eyes was still visible.
"This is... a miniaturized version of the Titan Snow Demon?"
Shen Hanyu was a bit dumbfounded; he really hadn't seen this soul beast in the "Douluo Soul Beast Encyclopedia."
Shen Liuyu stared intently at the three soul beasts that were already poised to strike, somewhat nervous.
With a roar from the three unknown soul beasts, they leaped down from the low cliff and began slaughtering the Chill Ice Crocodiles.
Shen Hanyu watched the bloody scene below without covering his sister's eyes, and Shen Liuyu showed no discomfort; instead, she watched with great interest.
After a bloody massacre, the three unknown soul beasts looked at the Chill Ice Crocodile corpses all over the ground and finally slowed down, sitting down on the spot to devour them in large bites.
Shen Hanyu watched and couldn't help swallowing saliva, earning a strange look from his sister.
"Ahem, Ayu, although I don't know what these soul beasts are, they seem related to the Titan Snow Demon somehow, so they shouldn't be bad. Brother will go catch the one emitting soul power fluctuations around six hundred years for you. Stay here and don't move around casually. I've checked the area; there are no other soul beasts nearby."
Shen Liuyu nodded obediently, ran under the nearby shrubs to hide, and poked out just a small head.
Shen Hanyu: ...
So cute. Who knows which yellow-haired... bah, if anyone wants to abduct my sister in the future, they have to get past me first; otherwise, no exceptions!
Looking at the three soul beasts below, still obliviously feasting, Shen Hanyu seemed to see future yellow-haired guys trying to trick his sister. A nameless fire rose in his heart.
The Cold Heaven Spear gripped tightly in his hand, four soul rings flashing under his feet, Shen Hanyu smiled with ill intent, then leaped straight down.
Then, a one-sided beating unfolded...
Hiding in the shrubs, Shen Liuyu's eyes sparkled brightly, thinking who knows what...