"This Ice and Snow Flying Luan is exactly 11,000 years old."
"Since Miss Bing'er, you've just reached level 50 and need to absorb a Spirit Ring…"
"This Ice Snow Flying Luan is perfectly suited for you."
After using the roots of his Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree Martial Soul to tightly bind the Ice Snow Flying Luan and drag it down into the snow pine forest, Ye Yu smiled at Shui Bing'er and said:
"Ye Yu, thank you!"
Looking at the exceptionally handsome Ye Yu before her, Shui Bing'er felt a deep surge of gratitude.
In truth, she had always harbored a good impression of Ye Yu.
It was just… there were far too many women around him.
As a calm and rational woman, Shui Bing'er had forcibly suppressed the feelings in her heart.
But this time—facing the Ice Snow Flying Luan and the relentless attacks from countless Spirit Beasts of the Extreme North—she had been driven to the brink of despair.
Never could she have imagined that at the final, desperate moment, Ye Yu would appear here… and not only save her life but also help her hunt her fifth Spirit Ring.
The warmth that flooded her heart at that moment was overwhelming.
Looking at Ye Yu felt like seeing a ray of salvation itself.
Her heart eased completely.
So what if Ye Yu was handsome, talented, and surrounded by women?
A fragrant flower will always draw bees and butterflies.
Life is too short—better to pursue the one you truly like than to settle for someone you don't and carry regrets for the rest of your days.
Even if he has many women, in matters of the heart, what matters most… is liking someone yourself.
Having made up her mind, the gentle beauty's face showed a faint expectation as she drew a sharp dagger and walked toward the fallen Ice Snow Flying Luan.
Sensing danger, the Ice Snow Flying Luan struggled violently, trying to break free of the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree's binding.
But it was useless.
Shui Bing'er plunged the dagger into one of its eyes, ending its life instantly.
A cloud of faint black light motes drifted from its corpse.
A moment later, a pitch-black ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring formed above the body.
Shui Bing'er sat cross-legged beside it, summoning her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul and entering meditation.
The Ice Snow Flying Luan's Spirit Ring was immediately drawn toward the Ice Phoenix, settling onto it in an instant.
A surge of immense Spirit Power erupted from the ring, pouring into Shui Bing'er's body.
Since the ring's age was only eleven thousand years, she could still withstand it.
Several hours later, she successfully absorbed and refined the Spirit Ring, breaking through to level 51—Spirit King.
"Ye Yu, thank you! I've broken through to Spirit King!"
She stood up, icy blue eyes sparkling with excitement and joy.
"Congratulations," Ye Yu said with a light smile.
"Let's see what your fifth Spirit Ability is."
Testing her new Spirit Ability, Shui Bing'er found it was exactly as she'd hoped—Ice Snow Storm—and its power was formidable.
She was delighted.
But after the test, she hesitated and spoke:
"Ye Yu, could you come with me to rescue Yue'er and the others? After encountering this Ice Snow Flying Luan, we got separated, and I don't know how they are now. The Spirit Beasts of the Extreme North have been unusually aggressive… I'm afraid I can't save them alone. I have to ask for your help. Don't worry—when we return, Skywater Academy will make sure to thank you properly!"
Her sincerity was evident.
"Alright," Ye Yu replied with a smile, not refusing.
He had already searched the ice cavern and found no more ice-attributed treasures, so he was ready to leave.
And since his earlier actions—seeking out the Ice Empress and forcing her to offer herself in sacrifice—had indirectly brought danger to Shui Bing'er and the others, he wasn't stingy about lending a hand.
"Ye Yu, thank you!"
Her heart swelled even more when Ye Yu agreed so readily. She almost wanted to throw herself into his arms and give him a fierce kiss or two.
But unlike Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er was far more reserved.
She blushed deeply, merely imagining embracing Ye Yu and kissing him to show her gratitude… but in reality, she didn't even dare to take his arm.
"Let's go."
With that, Ye Yu activated his Spirit Core Field, rising into the air.
"You… you can fly?!"
Earlier, Ye Yu hadn't revealed any Spirit Rings, so Shui Bing'er was utterly shocked to see him flying unaided.
Now, Ye Yu no longer had any need to hide his strength.
On the Douluo Continent, there was no one who could match him.
Even if a god descended from the Divine Realm, facing his True Thousand Hands summoning of the Blue Silver Thousand-Hand Buddha, boosted by electromagnetic propulsion and a flurry of Pegasus Meteor Fists, they would be crushed.
Ye Yu chuckled lightly and revealed his nine Spirit Rings: two purple, four black, and three red.
"For a Titled Douluo to be able to fly—isn't that normal?"
"Titled… Titled Douluo?!"
Seeing the nine Spirit Rings around Ye Yu, Shui Bing'er was stunned speechless.
Just three years ago, during the Continental Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, Ye Yu had only been a Spirit Emperor.
In just three years, he had reached Titled Douluo, with the terrifying two-purple, four-black, three-red configuration.
Was this a joke?
It took her a long moment to recover, her admiration for him soaring even higher.
"Ye Yu, how did you do it? In three years, going from Spirit Emperor to Titled Douluo?"
"Heh."
Ye Yu only smiled faintly at the question, not answering in detail.
"I just developed my Martial Soul and found a faster way to cultivate. Let's go meet up with your sister and the others."
"Alright."
Though a little disappointed, Shui Bing'er understood—this was clearly a matter of great importance.
Still, she found Ye Yu even more unfathomable.
Carrying Shui Bing'er, Ye Yu flew swiftly over the snowy expanse, using his Second Martial Soul: Spirit Eyes to scan the ground.
Before long, he spotted Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the others being chased by a pack of Extreme North Spirit Beasts.