Ten days later.
Northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire, Icebound Forest.
This place is located in the north, with a cold climate, quite close to the extreme northern regions.
Most of the beings living in this area are either Ice-attribute Spirit Masters or Spirit Masters who come here to hunt Spirit Beasts for Spirit Rings.
Of course, there are also many Spirit Hunting teams making a living in this place.
Su Wen, in the past, had indeed considered seeking the help of a Spirit Hunting team to hunt and kill Spirit Beasts for his first Spirit Ring when he was in Nuoding City.
Later, he encountered Su Yuntao, and only then did he abandon his initial plan.
Genuine Spirit Hunting teams are well-equipped, with at least several Spirit Ancestor-level forces, and the usual ones have a Spirit King overseeing them.
Some powerful Spirit Hunting teams may even have Spirit Emperor experts among them.
With such a lineup, a team like this can ensure a year or even several years of worry-free livelihood.
In the small towns outside Icebound Forest, affiliated staff from various Spirit Hunting teams are enthusiastically calling out and attracting customers.
The appearance of Su Wen and Dugu Bo has drawn many curious glances.
However, Dugu Bo's demeanor makes it clear that he is not someone to be trifled with at a glance.
Even the astute fellows don't dare to approach and provoke him. At most, they politely inquire if assistance is needed.
Su Wen naturally declines each one.
Jokes aside, with Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, around, hunting a Spirit Beast for a ten thousand years old Spirit Ring is like dealing with a trivial matter.
However, these fellows have their uses. Su Wen selects one of them and asks, "How is your team's strength configured?"
Speaking on this matter, the Spirit Grand Master with the appearance of a waiter proudly puffs out his chest and says, "Dear guest, not to hide anything from you, our White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team is the largest within a radius of ten miles. Our team leader is a genuine Spirit Emperor powerhouse."
"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Su Wen continued to inquire, "Is your Spirit Hunting team responsible for assisting people in hunting Spirit Beasts in Icebound Forest throughout the year?"
Su Wen and Dugu Bo are not to be messed with, and the waiter doesn't dare to be presumptuous. Without showing any impatience, he says, "Certainly, our White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team has been rooted in Icebound Forest for ten years."
Su Wen nods.
"Do your Spirit Hunting team engage in the trade of intelligence?"
"Intelligence?" The waiter glances at Su Wen and Dugu Bo.
Indeed, such a business does exist.
However, compared to leading teams in hunting Spirit Beasts, making money by providing relevant intelligence is much less lucrative.
Nevertheless, the waiter shows no discontent, still wearing a smile, and says, "I don't know, sir. What kind of information are you interested in?"
"I heard there are traces of a Mirror Image Beast in Icebound Forest. Do you happen to know anything about it?" Su Wen looks at the waiter, inquiring about information on the Mirror Image Beast.
The waiter took in a sharp breath.
Mirror Image Beast.
Oh my goodness.
That is a rare Spirit Beast, extremely powerful in combat. Moreover, rumors about the Mirror Image Beast in Icebound Forest suggest that they are at least ten thousand years old.
Do these two individuals dare to hunt down a Mirror Image Beast on their own?
Seeing the waiter in a daze, Su Wen woke him up and asked again.
"Ah, yes, but specific information needs to be reported. I don't have much information within my authority," the waiter replied.
With that, the waiter led Su Wen and Dugu Bo to the headquarters of the White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team.
Even if it's not a team request, when it comes to intelligence about the Mirror Image Beast, the price won't be low. The profits he can earn won't be lacking, so he is naturally eager.
"Oh? Someone wants to know the whereabouts of the Mirror Image Beast?" The deacon of the White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team, hearing the report from the waiter, looks towards Su Wen and Dugu Bo.
His gaze noticeably tightened when he looked towards Dugu Bo.
"I cannot sense even the slightest aura from him? This person is undoubtedly inscrutable and should not be provoked."
The deacon withdrew his gaze, pondered for a moment, and then stated a figure.
"Three thousand."
"Three thousand gold spirit coins. The intelligence from our White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team won't disappoint you."
Seemingly confident in the information held by their Spirit Hunting Team, he directly quoted a price of three thousand gold spirit coins.
Naturally, this is far less than the value of a Mirror Image Beast of ten thousand years or more, but it's just information about a being capable of infinite replication.
"Three thousand gold spirit coins?" Su Wen frowned.
He felt it was a bit high.
"Not high at all. Our White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team has undertaken hunting operations against the Mirror Image Beast. We've clashed with it at least three times. I believe our information is worth this price," the deacon calmly stated.
Su Wen's eyes lit up.
With this information, it should be sufficient.
However, regarding the three thousand gold spirit coins—
"Hurry up." Dugu Bo impatiently tossed out a black card.
The deacon took the black card, his eyes brightening.
A black card, not only requiring proof of assets of over ten thousand gold spirit coins but also at least Spirit Emperor-level cultivation to obtain.
"Senior, it's like this."
The deacon quickly briefed Su Wen and Dugu Bo on the information he had about the Mirror Image Beast.
Leaving the White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team, Su Wen and Dugu Bo headed straight into Icebound Forest.
"Ice Crystal Valley."
According to the White Wolf Spirit Hunting Team's information, the Mirror Image Beast often lingered near Ice Crystal Valley throughout the year. Even if encountered and besieged, it would secretly return to Ice Crystal Valley after some time.
A full year had passed since their last siege of the Mirror Image Beast, and it should have returned to Ice Crystal Valley by now.
"Xiaowen, according to what the deacon said, this Mirror Image Beast likely has cultivation close to twenty thousand years old. Are you sure you still want to absorb its Spirit Ring?"
Su Wen nodded firmly.
A Spirit Ring of around twenty thousand years old is something he could manage!
He now has enough confidence in himself.
The improvement in Spiritual Power is just one aspect. The breaking illusion ability evolved from the Phantom Eye also gives Su Wen full confidence in dealing with Soul Shock in the future.
As for enduring the impact of the Spirit Ring's Soul Power.
Su Wen believed that after the Ice and Fire Alchemy Body Refinement, his physical fitness is incomparable to the past.
He didn't just rely on medicinal power during the period of Ice and Fire Alchemy Body Refinement.
In the following ten months, he also practiced near the spring, occasionally even jumping into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to absorb the power of the spring for body tempering.
On several occasions, Dugu Bo was almost scared to death by Su Wen's actions, so Su Wen assured him that everything was fine.
Therefore, Su Wen is not worried about the impact on his physical fitness when absorbing a Spirit Ring of around twenty thousand years old this time.
"Good."
Dugu Bo didn't waste any words and continued leading Su Wen towards Ice Crystal Valley.
...
On the third day.
Ice Crystal Valley.
In this vast valley stretching for ten miles, Su Wen marveled at the incredible craftsmanship of nature.
He also understood why the Mirror Image Beast lingered in this area.
Mimetic cultivation.
Not only human Spirit Masters but also Spirit Beasts choose their practice environment, selecting the most suitable place for their cultivation.
Many Spirit Beasts don't live for as many years as their cultivation age; mimetic cultivation is one of the reasons.
The ice and snow on the valley's cliffs have transformed into patches of ice mirrors, and the vast ground appears as if shattered into countless pieces of giant mirrors.
"With such a large area, coupled with the light refracted by the ice mirrors, finding it will be even more challenging," Su Wen remarked.
"However, I have the Phantom Eye!"
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