Six months later, the Cold Pool region.
"Splash—splash—splash—"
As three splashing sounds rang out, three figures shot out from the cold pool and landed at its edge.
These three figures were undoubtedly Water Wuhen, Water Bing'er, and Articuno. However, compared to six months ago, subtle changes had occurred in the aura they emitted.
Water Wuhen glanced back at the cold pool and said with some regret, "What a pity. Now that the Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow has been taken by us, this place will probably soon become no different from anywhere else."
To be honest, Water Wuhen was quite satisfied with this cultivation environment. If it could have been maintained indefinitely, there was a high chance there would be no better place in the world for his cultivation.
"There's nothing we can do about it. At least we've gained enormous benefits, haven't we?" Water Bing'er immediately comforted him upon hearing his slightly regretful words.
Hearing this, Water Wuhen nodded. "That's true."
After six months of cultivation, the Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow and the extreme cold energy within the cave had basically been refined by the siblings.
As a result, Water Wuhen had now reached Level 70, and he still had a considerable amount of accumulated energy within him, waiting to erupt once he absorbed his Spirit Ring.
As for his younger sister Water Bing'er, her gains were even greater than Water Wuhen's.
Not only had she leapt to Level 60, but even her Martial Soul had undergone evolution under the nourishment of the Ten-Thousand-Year Mysterious Ice Marrow.
The most obvious change was that Water Bing'er's talent had improved. Although she was still not as good as Articuno, Water Wuhen was certain that her ice element had reached a certain extreme level.
There was no official name for such a level of ice element in the Spirit Master world yet, but Water Wuhen called it Extreme Ice!
"Brother, where are we going next? Are we still hunting Spirit Rings in the Icebound Forest, or are we going to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
At this moment, Water Bing'er suddenly asked.
The Icebound Forest was currently the best place for ice-attribute Spirit Masters to hunt Spirit Rings, and it was also the only large ice-attribute Spirit Beast habitat on the continent.
Aside from the Icebound Forest, there were hardly any places that contained so many high-year ice-attribute Spirit Beasts.
As for the Star Dou Great Forest, although it was not a gathering place for ice-attribute Spirit Beasts, it was the largest Spirit Beast forest on the entire Douluo Continent, with a vast variety and enormous numbers of Spirit Beasts. It even contained ten-thousand-year-level Spirit Beasts, and if one searched carefully, they could almost certainly find suitable targets.
Upon hearing this, Water Wuhen shook his head. "Neither. After helping you obtain your Spirit Ring, I plan to go to the Extreme North Forbidden Zone."
Although the Icebound Forest was good, the highest-year Spirit Beasts there were only around fifty to sixty thousand years. That would be enough for Water Bing'er, but it was far from sufficient for Water Wuhen.
Water Wuhen's sixth Spirit Ring was already at the fifty-thousand-year level. Now that he was absorbing his seventh Spirit Ring, it would need to be at least seventy thousand years—or even higher.
One must know that the power of the Martial Soul True Body was strongly correlated with the age of the Spirit Beast. Many people would rather choose a higher-year Spirit Beast even if its attribute didn't match, but Water Wuhen naturally could not lower his standards.
As for the Star Dou Great Forest, although it did contain high-year Spirit Beasts, finding ice-attribute ones that met his requirements would also be extremely difficult.
Water Wuhen not only required high age, but also matching attributes. Only then could he maximize his potential and avoid future regret.
"The Extreme North Forbidden Zone?"
Upon hearing this, Water Bing'er immediately exclaimed, "Brother, that place is a death zone! From ancient times until now, very few people who entered the Extreme North Forbidden Zone ever came out!"
Her first reaction was to try to dissuade Water Wuhen. This was extremely rare for Water Bing'er, who usually listened to everything he said.
However, she had no choice but to react this way. The Extreme North Forbidden Zone was simply too dangerous.
The survival rate was as low as one percent. In terms of danger, it was second only to the Killing City.
Moreover, that one percent who survived mostly only explored the outer edges and never truly went deep. Water Bing'er did not want her brother to be trapped inside.
"I know. But I still have to go, because on this continent, there's a high chance only the Extreme North Forbidden Zone can provide Spirit Beasts that meet my requirements."
Water Wuhen's expression remained extremely calm. This was not a moment of impulse, but the result of long consideration.
On the current continent, the strongest ice-attribute Spirit Masters were only at the Spirit Douluo level, not even reaching the threshold of Titled Douluo. This might also be related to the difficulty of obtaining later-stage ice attribute Spirit Rings.
At the Spirit Sage level, the seventh Spirit Ring only required up to fifty thousand years, leaving room for choice. However, once reaching the Spirit Douluo level, it became extremely difficult for ice-attribute Spirit Masters to find suitable Spirit Rings, because there simply were not enough high-year ice-attribute Spirit Beasts on the Douluo Continent.
Although one could settle for Spirit Beasts of other attributes, many people did so—but that would undoubtedly affect the potential of ice-attribute Spirit Masters.
From the very beginning, Water Wuhen believed that only specialization could lead one to the peak.
Trying to have everything would ultimately result in having nothing.
His words made Water Bing'er lower her head and sigh. She knew her brother's temperament well—once he made a decision, not even ten Thunderous Giant Strength Bears could pull him back.
Then, Water Bing'er raised her head and looked directly at Water Wuhen with unwavering determination. "If that's the case, then I'm going with you!"
Water Wuhen looked at his younger sister and at her resolute gaze, and finally nodded.
Seeing him agree, Water Bing'er immediately smiled brightly. At that moment, it seemed as though even the surrounding ice and snow were melting.
Seeing this, Articuno on the side couldn't help but curl her lips. It was just going to some Extreme North Forbidden Zone—why act like they were going to die?
If it had been before, she might have been a little worried, but now? Did they really think those forty-something Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrows she had absorbed were for nothing?
Since they did not know how long they would stay after entering the Extreme North Forbidden Zone, Water Wuhen first returned to Dragon City to stock up on supplies before boarding Articuno and flying toward the Extreme North Forbidden Zone.
The Extreme North Forbidden Zone was located at the northernmost part of the continent. It was covered in ice and snow year-round, and apart from a few ice-attribute Spirit Beasts, nearly all other life forms were extinct. It was a true forbidden land for humans.
After flying for more than a day, the siblings finally arrived at the edge of the Extreme North Forbidden Zone.
And then, Water Wuhen was greeted with the first test of the Extreme North.
A burst of extreme cold gale swept through the sky, striking Articuno with power nearly comparable to a full-strength attack from a Spirit Elder.
And this… was only the outer perimeter.
No one knew what awaited them deeper inside.