"You alright?" Skydream asked, looking at the despondent Huo Yuhao.
"...Yeah, I'm fine." After a short pause, Huo Yuhao replied, a calm expression on his face.
"Well, if you say so." Staring at his master for a moment, Skydream reluctantly accepted his response.
Huo Yuhao wryly smiled, knowing what he was thinking. He then tried to reassure Skydream Iceworm, "Trust me, brother Skydream. I just fell into a deep thought is all."
"... About your revenge? Are you having second thoughts about it?"
Huo Yuhao snorted almost imperceptibly. "No, not at all. I am more determined than ever to seek justice for my mother. But I have also come to realize that I must not let revenge completely consume me just like what happened to the Crimson Spirit Ape, or I would fail and die just like it did."
Skydream nodded and asked, "So, what are you going to call your second soul ring ability?"
Huo Yuhao hummed, thinking about it for a moment. "Well, at first I was going for Tsukuyomi... but then this is a skill I got from the Snow Deer King's soul ring, not from my Sharingan. It just feels... shameful to do? I guess. So I'm thinking of going with... Snow Dream. The snow from Snow Deer King's name and the dream from the skill; as it drags the target into a dream-like state."
Skydream Iceworm nodded in approval. "Not a bad name, Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao smiled then looked down at the black soul ring forming above the Crimson Spirit Ape's corpse and closely inspected its corpse before letting out a disappointed sigh.
'Looks like I can't get lucky twice. Even when it died with resentment, the Crimson Spirit Ape didn't manage to drop a soul bone. Disappointing but expected. Well, it doesn't matter. I still have its soul ring.'
"Brother Skydream, protect me."
"Aye, aye. Man, if people knew that under a day someone managed to absorb two ten thousand year old soul rings..." Skydream softly chuckled and appeared around Huo Yuhao's body.
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes began absorbing the Crimson Spirit Ape's soul ring.
And just like with the Snow Deer King, it didn't take him too long to absorb the soul ring.
'Hm? His soul power...' Skydream blinked and turned towards Huo Yuhao.
Skydream had long since known that Huo Yuhao had a lot of soul power locked in his body, inaccessible due to his bottleneck, and he guessed that his soul power would send him straight to rank 30 when he gets his second soul ring.
And due to that, he forgot about two other variables.
One was the Ice Empress, as a soul beast who transcended past a hundred thousand years old, her soul ring and her soul bone would certainly increase Huo Yuhao's soul power.
The other was obviously the bone of the Ice God. Although it had been sealed in a small dimension in Huo Yuhao's left arm, every time he uses it a very small portion of its divine power leaks out into Huo Yuhao's body; permanently slightly strengthening his body, purify his soul power and spiritual power, and increase his affinity with Ice and Snow.
So Skydream was surprised to see Huo Yuhao's soul power reach rank 40!
'Oh no! Although the increase of Yuhao's soul power is great, it's still too fast! His body can't handle such a rapid growth! It could even affect his foundation. If I don find a way to stabilize his soul power soon, it could result in severe consequences.'
Just as Skydream was about to communicate with Huo Yuhao, something unexpected happened.
Rank 40, Rank 39, Rank 38...
Huo Yuhao's soul power was dropping.
No, it was being compressed! Huo Yuhao was consolidating his soul power into a denser and more stable form.
Skydream watched in awe as Huo Yuhao's soul power decreased in rank but became more refined and powerful.
Rank 37, Rank 36...
Huo Yuhao's soul power continued to compress, reaching unprecedented levels of concentration.
Finally, at Rank 35, Huo Yuhao's soul power stabilized.
Skydream couldn't help but exclaim, "Incredible! Yuhao, you... you've consolidated your soul power! I didn't think that you would've been able to do it on your own."
Huo Yuhao smiled, opening his eyes. "I've actually... expected this for a while now Brother Skydream. My soul power had increased far too quickly. My soul power and strength would've been shallow and unstable if I hadn't taken the time to consolidate it. It was necessary to ensure that I have a solid foundation."
Skydream nodded, impressed by Huo Yuhao's foresight and determination. "Well done, Yuhao. I didn't think that you'd know about compressing your soul power, it's typically only known for people with at least four soul rings to begin consolidating their soul power."
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Thank you, Brother Skydream. As for how I knew, I read it in one of the Academy's books about soul power."
'Just by reading it, he manages to understand and apply such advanced soul techniques? This kid truly is a genius.' Skydream couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for his master.
Huo Yuhao stood up and stretched his body. "Well, now that I've got my third soul ring, it's time to start my six month long training in the Extreme North."
Also obviously, he took the Crimson Spirit Ape's corpse into his storage belt. It was a waste not to use valuable material and emergency food.
....
Phase one of training, mastering new skills to the maximum for one month.
"Alright, out of every new abilities you have, I'm going first." Ice Empress said, appearing in a much smaller version of her Ice Jade Scorpion Empress form.
Of course, after a few days of resting in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, she regained some of her strength. Huo Yuhao nodded and gestured for her to proceed.
Ice Empress extended her scorpion tail, which was now covered in a layer of ice, towards Huo Yuhao. "Let's start off with the basics. Tell me, can you spot the difference between regular ice and mine?"
"Uh, it's much more colder?" Huo Yuhao questioned, taken aback by the simplicity of the question.
The Ice Empress chuckled. "Well, yes, it is colder. But that's not all. My ice possesses a unique attribute, with an ability that reign supreme over all ice and flames couldn't easily melt it. An ice that could freeze energy, and space and time as well. It's called Ultimate Ice."
"Ultimate Ice?" Huo Yuhao repeated and asked. "That unique attribute you said, is it something about Ultimate?"
Ice Empress nodded. "Yes. As you know, there are quite a few differences between soul beasts. Normally it would just be their cultivation or their bloodline."
Her eyes shined. "However, there is another way that greatly differents one from another. And that is, their strength. And I'm not just talking about physical strength. I'm talking about their innate abilities and attributes. Some soul beasts are born with a unique attribute, a power that sets them apart from others. For me, that attribute is the Ultimate Ice."
"Eh, but you haven't explain much of what the Ultimate attribute does."
Ice Empress snorted. "It's called the Ultimate attribute, there's not much explanation to it. It's simply means the element attached to it has reach the pinnacle of power and capabilities. In my case, Ultimate Ice means that my ice possesses the highest level of freezing ability. It can freeze almost anything to the lowest temperature, which also gives absolute suppression to all Ice and fire elements making them useless against you, including poisons which uses ice/fire elements. It is the strongest form of ice."
Huo Yuhao's gulped and excitedly asked. "And I have this?"
"Yes... But your level of Ultimate Ice is still far from my former strength. Just keep getting stronger and you'll reach it." Ice Empress waved her tail. "But enough with that, let's start getting you to master its uses then we'll move on with your soul skills."
"Um, okay. But how am I going to train it? Should I just freeze the snow and create some ice statues or something?" Huo Yuhao rubbed his head, confused.
Unexpectedly, Ice Empress nodded. "Indeed. As you know, ice is solidification of water. And freezing the snow into ice and creating a fine ice statue is one way to train your control over Ultimate Ice. But it's not just about freezing the snow; you also need to focus on the temperature and the precision of the freezing."
Huo Yuhao nodded, understanding the concept. "So, it's more about honing my control over the ice and being able to manipulate it precisely?"
"Yes, exactly. After all, isn't your soul master path the 'control' system? This should be quite easy for you to do. Let's start with something small." Ice Empress smiled encouragingly at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and focused his attention on the snow around him. A blood red soul ring appeared under his feet, the scorpion tattoo on his back began to let out a soft glow. He extended his right hand and concentrated his soul power on his palm, infusing it with his Ultimate Ice attribute. Slowly, a white mist covered the snow in his palm and began to freeze, forming into a small ice sphere.
Ice Empress nodded in approval. "Good. Now try something... bigger."
Huo Yuhao nodded, taking a deep breath, he extended both hands this time, his concentration deepening. He focused his soul power and Ultimate Ice attribute into his palms, causing the surrounding snow to freeze rapidly. With careful control, he molded the frozen snow before him into a ice sculpture of Ice Empress in her original form, intricately detailed and perfectly formed.
The Ice Empress observed Huo Yuhao's progress, her eyes shining with satisfaction. "Excellent job, Yuhao. With that level of control, I'm sure we can proceed to your soul skills in a day or two."
By the side, Skydream began to pout. "I won't deny Bing'er's beauty... But why sculpt her first? You're breaking your good brother's heart, Yuhao."
Ice Empress went into a rage, turning to kick Skydream. "Didn't I say not to disturb me when I'm teaching Yuhao?! I still haven't forgotten those words you said to me!"
"I-I said I was sorry–"
"Hmph! And you think I'll easily forgive you? You know what. Yuhao, just continue on improving your control over Ultimate Ice for now and tell me when you feel like you've hit your limit." Her eyes began to shine maliciously, her fangs gave off a cold glint.
"I've got something important to do first."
"N-No! Bing'er, wait a minute. Let's talk about this.... Yuhao, save me!" Skydream called out, tears flowing out of his eyes.
Huo Yuhao turned his head, whistling, as he began creating a sculpture of Skydream. Only, it looked sad and lonely.
"What the–? Are you making my grave?!"
"Rest in peace, Brother Skydream."
For the next 30 days, Huo Yuhao increased his mastery over Ultimate Ice as well as his second martial soul skills and his soul bone skills. The latter was specifically difficult to train in, as the two skill; Permafrost Domain and Ice Empress' Wrath, would quickly drain his soul power. Ice Empress had advised him that unless he reaches at least rank 50, he shouldn't use these two skills too frequently.
.....
AN: I won't be posting a chapter next, I'll be taking a week off. See you all on Dec. 12.
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