The snow crunched softly under polished boots as the young man, who walked alone down a winding forest path some distance away from Winter City. The evening sky above was cloudless, scattered with stars, and the crisp wind carried the scent of pine and frost.
He halted with his hands remained behind his back, posture casual, but his voice was cold and indifferent.
"You don't need to hide. I've known you were following me since I left the auction."
The moment he spoke, several shadows leapt from the surrounding trees, their movements silent and practiced. Each wore a black mask to conceal their identity, but the tension in their stance and the quality of their gear made it obvious, they were no ordinary mercenaries.
The noble youth scoffed, eyes lazily drifting across them.
"Pointless theatrics. Do you think masks can fool my senses?"
The figures exchanged glances.
Then, without a word, they removed their masks—one by one.
Standing at the front were none other than Nalan Yan, the City Lord of Winter City, and Elder Bing Lan, a senior member of the Bing Clan.
Behind them stood several elite clan members, their eyes filled with suppressed anger and murderous intent.
Nalan Yan's expression was dark, his tone colder than the wind.
"You dare show arrogance within my city, boy? Did you think you could humiliate me and leave without consequence?"
Beside him, Elder Bing Lan's gaze sharpened.
"You dared cross both my clan and the city lord. Do you think your money can buy you safety here?"
In response, the noble youth simply raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk dancing on his lips.
"Quite the grand welcome. You flatter me."
Then, in a burst of pressure that rippled through the forest, Nalan Yan raised his hands, and a strange fusion of crimson flame and pale-blue frost exploded around him. The two forces twisted together into an unholy harmony, his martial soul: Ice-Fire White Flame.
It was like watching fire that froze and ice that burned.
His body was surrounded by eight soul rings , two yellow, two purple, four black ,their colors glowing like molten metal. It was the standard soul ring colour configuration .
With him were three trusted retainers. Two had the cultivation of Soul Kings, while one bore six rings, the signature of a seasoned Soul Emperor
"So flashy," the young man muttered.
Elder Bing Lan was not far behind. He stepped forward, his body subtly shifting. His mouth elongated, and pale white feathers sprouted from his forearms, forming wing-like extensions. Behind him circled his own eight-ringed configuration, the rings glowing in perfect sync.
"Snow Crane Martial Soul—Possession!"
Hovering above the ground, the elder's long sleeves fluttered in the air. Having reached Soul Sage level (Soul Rank 70+), his martial soul had undergone its True Body Transformation, granting him the ability of flight, a terrifying advantage in terrain like this.
Behind him floated four Bing Clan elites. Three emitted strong soul fluctuations of the Soul King level, each with five soul rings in the standard yellow-yellow-purple-purple-black configuration. The last figure, slightly older and sharper-eyed, was a Soul Emperor, his six rings shining steadily.
A freezing wind howled as the snow around them stirred unnaturally, condensing into needles and blades.
With a calm yet commanding voice, Nalan Yan spoke with arrogance.
"Enough theatrics. Kill him quickly. We'll split the spoils evenly afterward."
His voice rang out clearly, as if pronouncing a verdict.
Elder Bing Lan nodded coldly, eyes never leaving the young man still standing calmly below.
"Agreed. I'm more interested in his spatial ring. No one who throws money like that lacks background or treasures."
The noble youth's jade flute lightly tapped his palm, but he made no attempt to flee or even raise his weapon.
Instead, he smiled.
"So eager to kill for some soul bones and face. This is why small cities remain small."
That single sentence made a few of the younger spirit masters behind both elders grit their teeth in rage. But the city lord and Elder Bing Lan remained cold and focused. Arrogance was nothing without strength.
Elder Bing Lan raised his hand.
"Attack."
With a chilling cry, the four Bing Clan elites surged forward. Their martial souls materialized—ice snakes, frost sabers, and glacial spears burst forth as they charged.
The noble youth's gaze finally sharpened.
"Two Soul Douluos. One fire-and-ice freak and one overgrown bird... not a bad setup."
He continued again with contempt in his voice
"But did you really think just this would be enough?"
Nalan Yan's three subordinates unleashed their soul skills. One summoned twin wolves made of ice and fire, another launched a chain of blazing thorns, while the Soul Emperor condensed a giant wheel of frostfire light and hurled it forward like a meteor.
The combined assault tore toward the young man like a raging tidal wave of elemental fury. The air itself howled as a dozen spirit skills converged from both sides.
From Elder Bing Lan's side, the first attack came from a Soul King who stomped the ground, unleashing a third spirit skill: "Frozen Spikes Eruption",
Whish
Countless icicles surged from below like a blooming frost lotus.
Another Bing Clan member followed with "Arctic Shackles", sending out glowing blue chains made of condensed cold energy, seeking to bind the youth's limbs.
From above, a snowstorm descended, Elder Bing Lan's fourth ring lit up, his "Snowfall Realm" activated, calling forth a field of spiritual snow that suppressed enemy perception and drained soul power.
At the same time, Nalan Yan's Soul Emperor retainer unleashed his sixth skill: "Frostfire Judgment Wheel"—a burning disk of twirling fire and ice that rotated faster than the eye could track, whistling through the air with oppressive might.
Another shouted, activating "Flame-Thorn Lattice", raising a forest of burning brambles meant to lock the youth in place and scorch him alive.
The coordinated attacks, ice and fire, lock and burst, were overwhelming. The trees behind the youth had already turned to ash and ice by proximity alone.
And yet—
The young man didn't flinch.