"What? A millennium-level second ring? You're insane! Don't you know the fundamental difference between a hundred-year soul ring and a thousand-year soul ring?"
Though Dean Shui had long expected Ignaz to request a thousand-year second ring, he couldn't help but be a little shocked when the exact number was finally spoken.
In the entire history of soul masters on the continent, no one had ever hunted a thousand-year soul beast to claim their second soul ring.
"I know," Ignaz replied calmly. "A thousand-year soul ring is a qualitative leap—the energy it contains far surpasses that of a hundred-year ring. Over the years, I've been taking soul beast meat and undergoing water pressure body tempering to better endure the immense energy of a thousand-year soul ring."
He didn't mention the specific effects of the whale glue he'd been using, but his eyes turned steely with resolve as he continued,
"Dean, I believe in my body constitution theory. Only by pushing beyond my physical limits can a soul master like me, with innate third-level soul power, become number one in the world someday."
Dean Shui looked at the determined Ignaz in front of him and said, "Alright then. What kind of soul beast do you want to target?"
"The Tribulation Fierce Eagle. Even if its age is a hundred or two hundred years less, it's okay."
Dean Shui nodded silently. Ignaz's choice of soul beast was sharp, but he still voiced a bit of concern:
"The Tribulation Fierce Eagle suits you well, but don't you think the age you're aiming for is a bit too high?"
According to Ignaz's body constitution theory, the number was on the edge—almost twice that of a normal soul master's second soul ring.
"Don't worry, Dean. The 1,600-year soul ring falls within my calculated limits. It won't be a big problem."
"That's good. But Tribulation Fierce Eagles usually only appear in thunderstorm-prone sea regions. If we head into those frequent storm zones, there are countless soul beasts thousands of years old—it'd be like walking into a death trap. So we'll have to try our luck in other sea areas. If a thunderstorm breaks out, maybe we'll encounter a few."
Dean Shui's face showed a hint of worry. Ignaz knew the challenge was tough, especially now that they needed to find a flying, lightning-attribute soul ring—the odds of encountering one would be even slimmer.
"Dean, it's fine. I can wait."
"Alright, let's go now."
After handing off some academy duties to Director Lu and other teachers, Dean Shui set out to sea with Ignaz, searching for the right lightning storm.
...
After nearly a month of searching and waiting, they finally caught a thunderstorm at the boundary between shallow and deep sea. The fishing boat wouldn't dare enter the storm's eye, so they dropped them off there.
"Let's hope this medium-sized thunderstorm can attract some Tribulation Fierce Eagles!"
Dean Shui activated his third soul skill and flew with Ignaz into the storm's heart. The sea surface around them was littered with burnt fish carcasses, and every so often, the bodies of Tribulation Fierce Eagles rained down.
"Aren't Tribulation Fierce Eagles pack animals? How come so many died at once? Is the thunderstorm too strong?"
Before Dean Shui could finish speaking, thunder rumbled from the lightning clouds thousands of meters above, and an eagle wrapped in purple electric arcs with blood-red eyes appeared at the storm's center. Dean Shui's face brightened.
"That Tribulation Fierce Eagle is surrounded by purple electricity—it's reached the thousand-year soul beast level."
The age of a Tribulation Fierce Eagle's soul ring is easy to tell: yellow electric arcs mean a hundred years, purple arcs mean a thousand, and so on. Its size corresponds to age, growing a meter every 200 years. By the thousand-year mark, its body shrinks to five meters, and a feather grows on its head.
As for a ten-thousand-year Tribulation Fierce Eagle, it's consumed by the lightning power inside and turns to ash. That's why ten-thousand-year Tribulation Fierce Eagles rarely appear on the continent.
At that moment, the eagle in the sky detected two humans and shrieked loudly as it dove down, ready to kill Ignaz and Dean Shui.
As the eagle got closer, its full form came into view. Dean Shui's face tightened, serious and grave.
"No, this isn't a Tribulation Fierce Eagle—it's a Tribulation Blood Eagle. It's the one that killed all the Tribulation Fierce Eagles here. It's over eight meters long, probably between 1,600 and 1,700 years old. That's too old—we should pick another."
"Tribulation Blood Eagle!" Ignaz's excitement was palpable. The Tribulation Blood Eagle was violent and bloodthirsty; only one could exist during a thunderstorm. No wonder so many fish and Tribulation Fierce Eagle corpses floated on the water.
Its killing instinct had already pushed it beyond the limits of a Tribulation Fierce Eagle. If it could become a ten-thousand-year soul beast, its level of slaughter would rival that of an evil demon orca pod.
"Dean Shui, if there's no better option, I'll choose it."
"What? This—"
Before Dean Shui could ask more, a piercing eagle cry put them on high alert. Countless purple electric feathers suddenly shot at them.
"Second Soul Skill: Ice Feathers!"
From Dean Shui's back, countless icy crystal feathers blasted toward the diving Tribulation Blood Eagle.
The eagle spread its wings, purple electric arcs growing wilder. It fired a volley of feathers at the ice crystals. The two types of feathers collided with tremendous force.
The Blood Eagle didn't flee; it grew even more excited. It slowed its dive, concentrating purple electricity at its beak.
"First Soul Skill: Ice Freeze!"
Dean Shui soared high and cast his first soul skill just before the Blood Eagle could unleash its strongest attack. The eagle was frozen solid and fell from the sky.
But as a dominant lightning-attribute soul beast, how could it be held back by mere control skills? The purple glow from the ice intensified and the freezing effect quickly weakened. The ice cracked faster and faster.
"Fifth Soul Skill: Ice Spike Explosion!"
A black soul ring beneath Dean Shui's feet activated. To avoid killing the eagle too quickly, shards of broken ice rapidly condensed into dozens of sharp ice spikes.
As the Blood Eagle broke free from the ice, hundreds of spikes shot into its body.
"Boom—"
A thunderous strike of purple lightning blasted one of the ice spikes, followed by a second and third bolt.
But how could a thousand-year soul beast's skill withstand a ten-thousand-year soul skill's power? The first spike pierced through the purple lightning and into the eagle's body.
It let out a terrible scream, and its skill activation weakened.
"Shshsh—"
More and more spikes stabbed into the Blood Eagle. Dean Shui smiled with satisfaction.
"Explode!"
The ice spikes inside the eagle shattered, sending shards exploding throughout its body. Blood stained the water.
"Bang—"
The Blood Eagle was gravely wounded and plummeted toward the sea. Dean Shui quickly called out,
"Little Iggy, this is your chance! Finish it!"
Without hesitation, Ignaz unleashed his first soul skill, seizing the moment as the eagle fell. A blood spear shot through its head, piercing its entire body. The Tribulation Blood Eagle was dead.