Three hours later, Xu Tianyang changed into a fresh set of clothes.
His mental force subtly sensed that Xu Nianshuang had not yet emerged from her cultivation, so Xu Tianyang quietly sat by the window. By then, the sky outside had begun to darken. The sunset over the sea painted the sky a fiery red, as if the entire firmament was ablaze.
His spirit power had now reached level twenty-four. This speed could be considered fast, but on second thought, perhaps not that fast.
The thousand-year second spirit ring had directly propelled him to level twenty-two. With the hundred-thousand-year whale glue, coupled with so many precious medicinal baths, breaking through two levels in half a year was actually a normal pace.
He took out a piece of metal from his spirit tool and began to attempt engraving a three-level core array.
There was no shortcut to engraving core arrays; one could only try repeatedly. However, Xu Tianyang, possessing a mental attribute Spirit as his body, held a significant innate advantage.
This talent allowed him, even though his cultivation focus was not on spirit tools, to complete all recorded two-level spirit tool arrays some time ago. Now, he had begun researching three-level spirit tool arrays.
Day turned to night. In the blink of an eye, the sky outside had completely darkened. The night sea breeze blew through the window, carrying a faint refreshing sensation.
Putting away the materials damaged by failed engravings, Xu Tianyang walked out of the room. He saw a cool, elegant figure leaning against the railing in the corridor, looking down at the undulating waves of the sea.
The sea breeze ruffled a few strands of blue hair on her forehead. Her delicate face held a hint of heroism, truly a picture of valiant grace.
"You've made a breakthrough in your cultivation!" Xu Tianyang smiled as he walked over and sat on the railing beside her. Together, they gazed at the sea, feeling the incoming sea breeze, which dispelled the frustration caused by the failed engraving of the three-level spirit tool array.
"I just broke through. At least I won't fall too far behind you now." Xu Nianshuang turned to look at Xu Tianyang's profile, her face filled with seriousness and stubbornness.
He hummed softly. Xu Nianshuang had her own pride and didn't need excessive verbal comfort. A year ago, the spirit power gap between them was one level, but now it had reached four levels. While he had the two-level advantage from his second spirit ring breakthrough, he still cultivated faster than her.
"Have you decided what Spirit Beast you want for your second spirit ring?" Xu Tianyang asked, looking at Xu Nianshuang.
For both of their spirit rings, all the way to the Spirit Saint stage, Xu Yunxiao and Mu Mengyu had already dispatched people to select the most suitable Spirit Beasts for them to choose from, and were gradually sending people across the entire World to search for the locations of these Spirit Beasts.
Currently, for the first four spirit rings, at least a dozen types of Spirit Beasts had their locations identified. They were just waiting for them to break through one by one, then they would choose to hunt and absorb them.
"Hmm…" After a moment of thought, a rare look of indecision appeared on Xu Nianshuang's face.
"You don't want to follow the path of a control system Spirit Master?" Xu Tianyang turned to look at Xu Nianshuang, whose small face was scrunched up. He chuckled softly. Having been together for a year, how could he not know the conflict in her heart?
According to the development path Mu Mengyu had planned for Xu Nianshuang, it was to develop into a control system Battle Spirit Master. This path would strengthen the Spirit's powerful control abilities, supplemented by the powerful firepower of spirit tools to eliminate enemies.
However, Xu Nianshuang herself wasn't very keen on being a control system Spirit Master. She preferred an attack system Spirit Master. From her usual sparring, it was evident that she was a highly aggressive Spirit Master who had no interest in controlling the field; she only wanted to defeat enemies with a torrent of powerful attacks.
But because this was the path Mu Mengyu had planned for her, she felt awkward refusing, so she had been torn.
"Shuang'er, if you can't face your true self, even if you fulfill Mother's expectations and become the continent's number one control system Spirit Master, your combat style will likely be neither here nor there," Xu Tianyang said to Xu Nianshuang, his expression serious and earnest.
"I want to become an attack system Spirit Master." Feeling the encouragement in Xu Tianyang's words, Xu Nianshuang's resolve immediately solidified, and she said with a serious tone.
"The Northern Sea, a thousand miles to the north, is perpetually shrouded in extreme ice, almost a Jedi (absolute land). However, this special environment has given birth to various powerful ice-attribute Spirit Beasts. After investigation, these include Vajra Ice Apes, Freezing Birds, Arctic Lion Kings, and even Dragon species. It is absolutely perfect for you. Go there to hunt for your second spirit ring. This time, we'll go together." Xu Tianyang looked at Xu Nianshuang and handed her a few papers, which documented the various Spirit Beasts contained in the Northern Sea.
"Okay!" Xu Nianshuang looked at the several powerful Spirit Beasts listed. They could definitely provide a powerful offensive Spirit Ability, making them more suitable for the attack system. Xu Tianyang had known her choice all along, so he had specifically found these suitable Spirit Beasts, which deeply touched her heart.
Unbeknownst to them, the moon had already risen above their heads. The bright moonlight streamed down, and under its glow, their shadows had merged together at some point.
"Sister Yingying has prepared hundred-thousand-year whale glue and whale soup for you. Remember to eat it later. This level of Spirit Beast meat is a rare find. The whale glue has the effect of body tempering. After you've digested it, you can also try a thousand-year spirit ring for your second one."
"Okay, I'll go eat it soon!"
"…"
"Get some rest early tonight and recharge your Spirit. It's not close to the Northern Sea from here."
"Okay, I'll sleep after I eat!"
"…"
"It's late, you really should rest!"
… Seven days passed in a flash. Above the vast sea, a colossal steel vessel sped northwards. The oncoming waves caused it not the slightest hindrance.
"Your Highness, we've reached the Northern Sea!"
Xu Tianyang and his party exited the ship's cabin. In just this short time, the ship's deck was already covered with a thick layer of snow. Everyone looked ahead, only to see a vast expanse of white, a complete World of ice and snow. The raging cold wind howled like vicious wolves, proclaiming the dangers of this icy World.
This was not a sea at all; it was a massive continent of ice, much like the Arctic and Antarctic of his previous life.
"What a harsh region."
The moment he spoke, white mist exhaled from his mouth and nose, immediately turning into ice shards that scattered in the air.
Unlike Min Yingying, Meng Tao, Li Ran, and others who wore thick clothes, Xu Tianyang and Xu Nianshuang were not dressed heavily. One possessed the Sun Pupil, close to extreme fire, and the other possessed an ice element Spirit, close to extreme ice. This level of cold had no effect on them.
"Your two Highnesses, the ship can't go any further. Next, we will proceed by flying spirit tool. Your Highnesses must stay close to us. Besides the harsh climate here, the Spirit Beasts inside are also exceptionally powerful." Min Yingying reminded Xu Tianyang and Xu Nianshuang with a serious expression.
Xu Tianyang and Xu Nianshuang were not people who didn't know the gravity of the situation. Knowing the dangers of the place, they nodded seriously.
"According to the collected information, there are quite a few target Spirit Beasts in the outer perimeter. Which one does Your Highness prefer?" Meng Tao asked Xu Nianshuang and Xu Tianyang, taking out a map and looking at the red-marked areas.
Xu Tianyang and the other exchanged glances, then pointed to a spot on the map.
"That one, the Profound Ice Dragon Jiao!"