Shui Bing'er was not a twin martial soul user, and at her current soul power level, it was not yet the time for her to attach another soul ring for advancement. So how could she possibly experience a sharp increase in soul power and a sudden surge in strength within a short time?
Upon seeing the "ransom" that Qian Renxue had handed over on behalf of the Spirit Hall, Muyang thought of one path — refining soul bones.
Excluding external soul bones, a soul master could refine up to six soul bones: the head, torso, left arm, right arm, left leg, and right leg.
Currently, Shui Bing'er already possessed the one-hundred-thousand-year Ice Phoenix Skull, leaving five soul bone slots empty.
Soul bones… Muyang had no shortage of them. Setting aside the harvests he gained from the Slaughter City and the destruction of the Clear Sky Clan, just Tang Hao alone had possessed a complete set of soul bones.
Unfortunately, luck had not been entirely on his side. Though he had many soul bones in hand, there were none among them with a high year count in the ice attribute — thus, not suitable for Shui Bing'er to refine.
Yet, while he himself lacked high-aged ice attribute soul bones, that didn't mean the Spirit Hall didn't have them.
Other than Azure Luan Douluo, who was both light and ice attribute, there were no other ice-attribute geniuses or powerhouses in Spirit Hall. But with the heritage Spirit Hall had accumulated over ten thousand years, even if the proportion of ice soul bones wasn't large, their reserves would certainly still be considerable.
Leeching a complete set of high-aged ice soul bones for free? Spirit Hall definitely wouldn't agree.
But if he proposed an exchange of soul bone for soul bone, and the soul bones he offered were of no less value than the ice soul bones from Spirit Hall, then they should not refuse.
By arranging for Shui Bing'er to refine a set of high-aged ice attribute soul bones, she could rely on the soul power increase brought about by soul bone refinement to elevate her level from a seventy-fifth level Soul Sage to an eightieth level quasi-Soul Douluo. After that, with the addition of a god-bestowed eighth ring, she would become an eight-ring Soul Douluo.
And if the ages of the soul bones weren't high enough, unable to reach one hundred thousand years?
That was no problem either. Once he deduced the secret art to increase soul bone age, this issue would be solved naturally.
By then, he himself would advance to nine-ring Titled Douluo, and Shui Bing'er would advance to eight-ring Soul Douluo. If things went smoothly, the two Martial Soul Fusion techniques — Iceflame Phoenix and Ice Phoenix Flame Shadow — would both be capable of reaching god-level combat strength.
After all, in the original story during the Jialing Pass battle, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, whose soul power levels were not even above ninety-five, unleashed the Martial Soul Fusion Technique "Hell White Tiger" and directly achieved god-level strength.
Though when he advanced to nine rings and Shui Bing'er to eight rings, their raw levels might not quite match Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing at Jialing Pass, with the amplification of their Spirit Forged Battle Armor, their boosted soul power foundations would already surpass Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's. Achieving god-level combat power would absolutely be no problem.
At that time, with god-level strength, aside from deities who had surpassed Level one hundred and ascended to divinity, he would have no opponent to fear.
Thinking along these lines, Muyang turned toward Qian Renxue and said: "How about making a trade? If you can agree to it on behalf of the Spirit Hall, then Yue Guan can be included as part of this deal."
As soon as he spoke, everyone present turned their eyes toward him.
"A trade? Younger brother, speak freely."
Qian Renxue was stunned for a moment, then responded.
"The Spirit Hall's foundations are deep. Besides this Extreme Ice Soul Bone, you should also have other high-aged ice attribute soul bones, right?
As it happens, I hold quite a few high-aged soul bones myself. I'd like to exchange for a set of ice attribute soul bones, aside from the head bone.
If the Spirit Hall is willing, this Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone can also be counted as part of the trade."
Muyang pointed to the Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone as he spoke.
Hearing this, Qian Renxue raised her eyebrows and said: "There are no high-aged ice attribute torso bones in the Spirit Hall's treasury. And as for the four limb bones, this Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone is the one with the highest age. The rest of the ice attribute bones don't exceed eighty thousand years. Are you sure you want them?"
If Muyang had asked about soul bones of other attributes, Qian Renxue might not have been able to say with certainty.
But with ice attribute soul bones, it was different. Before coming to the Element Academy, Qian Renxue had deliberately gone to the Spirit Hall's treasury to review the catalog of ice attribute soul bones. From that, she had chosen the highest-aged and relatively most valuable piece — the Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone.
Undoubtedly, Muyang's intent to exchange soul bones was for either himself or Shui Bing'er.
And in Qian Renxue's eyes, a ninety-thousand-year Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone could still be considered worthy of Muyang or Shui Bing'er. But anything below ninety-thousand years, especially if it wasn't a head or torso bone, would clearly seem beneath them.
After all, Qian Renxue's standards were not something ordinary soul masters could compare with.
"Certain."
Muyang nodded.
A smile appeared on Qian Renxue's face as she said: "This trade, I will agree to on behalf of the Spirit Hall! Later, I will trouble the two elders Fifteen Ton and Falling Devil to return here with the soul bones. At that time, the exchange can be conducted through them.
In addition, this Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone can be given to you. But Elder Chrysanthemum must be taken back first."
"Agreed."
Muyang accepted.
After all, this ninety-thousand-year Extreme Ice Left Arm Bone was already on the table. It didn't matter if Qian Renxue took Yue Guan back first. There was no chance of Spirit Hall going back on their word afterward and leaving the academy at a loss.
Moreover, if this trade went smoothly, Spirit Hall wouldn't actually lose — in fact, they might even profit.
If there had been no trade, Spirit Hall would have had to pay a ninety-thousand-year soul bone to ransom Yue Guan.
But with this trade, Spirit Hall wouldn't just avoid paying Yue Guan's ransom — they could even exchange four stored ice attribute soul bones for others with broader applicability and no lesser value.
And Muyang wouldn't lose either. Once the deal was complete, through refining high-aged ice soul bones, Shui Bing'er would soon advance to eight-ring Soul Douluo.
In fact, not long after, the Elements Academy would be able to boast god-level combat strength — a matter of enormous significance.
It could be said that this trade was a win-win.
With the soul bone trade settled and one of her two purposes for coming to the Element Academy accomplished, Qian Renxue quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As for the other purpose?
"Younger brother, the world hails you as the continent's number one genius. I may be a few years older, but I too am of the same generation. Might you offer me some instruction?"
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Muyang as she spoke.
There was no doubt — Qian Renxue was a proud woman.
With her unprecedented innate Level 20 of soul power, Qian Renxue had always regarded herself as the continent's foremost prodigy. Coupled with the explosive surge in her strength after the Angel God trials began, her mindset had swelled. Now, she intended to test Muyang, to see who was truly the continent's number one genius.
"Oh, and you're not allowed to use your Martial Soul Fusion Technique."
Before Muyang could refuse or accept, Qian Renxue added this condition.
Though proud, Qian Renxue still knew her own limits. Since Muyang could kill Tang Hao using a Martial Soul Fusion Technique, there was no way she could match him in her current state. Thus she added a restriction.
Without Martial Soul Fusion, Muyang should be beatable, right?
Qian Renxue thought so.
For additional chapters
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