The icy airflow swirled around Haote, who sat cross-legged on the snow. Tiny, sharp ice crystals condensed within the frigid current, falling around him like silver needles, forming a protective ring of natural ice crystals.
Not far from Haote, Zhou Zhuo was also meditating and regulating his breathing.
Despite Tang Sui’s second spirit ability, the mental and psychological exhaustion still required him to self-adjust.
The only one idle was Tang Sui, who was busy making a snowman.
The spiritual power that enveloped a ten-mile radius and the pressure, perceptible only to spirit beasts, would deter any foolish human spirit masters who stumbled upon it, making them retreat and reroute.
Two hours later, frost coated Haote’s forehead and even his eyebrows, his brow furrowed. The chaotic, icy aura surrounding him finally stabilized, coalescing into a deep black halo that circled him as his expression gradually relaxed.
"Boom—!"
The powerful spirit energy shattered the frost on his face and body into dust, which fell with a rustling sound.
The thick waves of energy blasted the surrounding ice crystal ring several meters away, and even the thick snow layer was churned into a sea of undulating mounds.
If each additional spirit ring represented a qualitative leap, then the seventh spirit ring was undoubtedly a sublimation of the soul for a spirit master, subtly transforming their entire aura.
Sensing the sudden surge of spirit power, Zhou Zhuo opened his eyes, his gaze filled with joy. He ended his meditation, pushed off the snow with his palm, and stood up neatly, quickly walking towards Haote.
"Brother Haote, you succeeded!"
He called out to Haote, who slowly opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Haote looked at him with bright, keen eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He felt a surge of energy throughout his body and heartily nodded, "Yes. Thanks to Senior Tang, I was able to obtain my seventh spirit ring so smoothly and reach the level of Spirit Sage!"
Tang Sui, whose seniority had suddenly increased, paused imperceptibly and nodded nonchalantly, "It's good that you succeeded."
The spirit master world was one where strength spoke and recognition was earned.
In the face of absolute power, seniority mattered little; only cultivation and ability were considered.
Coupled with the life-saving grace, Haote felt that addressing Tang Sui as Senior was not disrespectful.
Zhou Zhuo also hurried to cup his hands towards Tang Sui.
Tang Sui waved her hand, "There's no need. We are all spirit masters, and you two are not the sort to backstab, so mutual help is only natural. You should just call me Tang Sui."
With his thirty-plus years of experience, Zhou Zhuo swore that this Spirit Douluo was clearly unaccustomed to being called Senior.
Although his personality was somewhat simple, to have lived this long and possess the cultivation of a Spirit King, he was not truly foolish. He immediately agreed and, with a somewhat thick-skinned grin, said, "Then I'll call you Miss Tang. By the way, Miss Tang, you don't look like you're from around here. Are you here in the snow plains alone to search for suitable spirit beasts? Although my spirit power is low, if there's anything I can help with, please don't hesitate to ask!"
After all, Tang Sui had mentioned her spirit power level when she introduced herself earlier.
If she wasn't local and wasn't seeking suitable spirit beasts for advancement, who would come to such a remote place?
Haote looked over and said equally sincerely, "Me too."
Tang Sui smiled and said, "Since you both say so, I won't beat around the bush. I am indeed here for my ninth spirit ring. However, I arrived first. My family told me to investigate the spirit beasts distributed throughout the snow plains myself, and then I would send word back for them to make their move once I've chosen."
Although the character of the two in front of her was good, when it came to greater interests like treasure, or spirit bones that held immense allure for spirit masters, it wasn't unbelievable for an angel one moment to turn into a devil the next.
To be safe, she would use the ninth spirit ring as a cover to deflect their inquiries.
"I see." Haote believed Tang Sui's lie, delivered with a poker face.
Zhou Zhuo understood that there was nothing for them to do here after hearing about the ninth spirit ring, but he could still provide information for Tang Sui.
Thus, the subsequent conversation naturally turned into Haote and Zhou Zhuo recounting the various traps they had encountered after entering the Ice Plains Forest, as well as the locations of different types of spirit beasts they had discovered, babbling on and on.
Tang Sui listened intently, and Hei Mian, dependable as ever, sketched a vivid and accurate general map in her spiritual space.
Combining the information on spirit beast distribution narrated by Haote and Zhou Zhuo with the hand-drawn map from the village chief, a new, detailed map of the outer to middle regions was hot off the press.
By the time they finished sharing all the information they knew and had personally experienced, the sky had already begun to darken.
The nights in the far north were not as pitch black as those in the inland regions; instead, they were like a cloudy day, with only the light becoming dimmer.
Here, it was "daylight" all year round.
However, many dangers still lurked beneath the pure white snow.
Zhou Zhuo used a long branch to stir the small campfire he had set up, while Haote and Tang Sui skewered fish on the side.
Having witnessed Haote catching fish with her own eyes, Tang Sui remarked that he truly lived up to his spirit, the Snow Soul Demonic Bear, as he was a master at catching fish.
The warmth of the fire always brought a sense of security.
"I never expected Miss Tang's attack power to be so strong, yet you're a support-type spirit master. I don't think I can underestimate support-type spirit masters ever again."
Zhou Zhuo said with a sigh of emotion.
Tang Sui flipped her fish skewers and, upon hearing his words, thought for a moment before replying, "Strength is not divided by class. My older brother is a control-type spirit master, but his close-combat ability is no less than that of an attack-type spirit master, his movement techniques are extremely fast, and he has even defeated pure speed-type spirit masters."
Zhou Zhuo gasped, "Are all spirit masters so strong now?!"
As expected, monsters, no, geniuses, all came from the same family.
Haote, also stimulated by this, had something to share, "Zhou Zhuo, aren't you an attack-type yourself, yet your speed is no less than that of speed-type spirit masters? And, I think Miss Tang is right."
A hint of remembrance flickered in his eyes, "A few years ago, when I led another hunting team on a mercenary mission in the snow plains, I had a good brother who was already a Spirit King at a young age. Like Miss Tang, he was also a support-type spirit master, but of the food system.
"When he first approached me wanting to venture and train with me in the snow plains, he was just an ignorant, impetuous lad. Who would have thought that the impetuous lad back then would later become the undisputed strongest in the team, with close-combat abilities no less than, and even surpassing, combat-type spirit masters.
Thinking of that incredibly talented youth, he chuckled, "I wonder if that fellow got what he wished for after returning."
Zhou Zhuo listened, dumbfounded, while Tang Sui looked over thoughtfully.
Hmm...
Support-type spirit master... food system... young spirit master... at a young age...
Too many overlapping elements with someone she knew.
This world is a little small.
Immersed in his memories, Haote did not notice Tang Sui's gaze towards him held a trace of subtle emotion.