"Sigh... I, the Tianmeng Iceworm, am truly a tragic figure... Breaking through to the million-year level is indeed a double-edged sword... Although I barely managed to escape their control, my lifespan was drastically reduced due to the Heavenly Tribulation. If this continues, my life won't last much longer, and it just so happens that I ran into you. Even though you are incredibly weak, I have no other choice. Since you possess the mental attribute, I have to fuse with you. No matter what, I won't let those bastards take advantage of me."
Hearing the Tianmeng Iceworm's story, Huo Yuhao was no longer afraid. He said indignantly:
"They are truly disgusting, actually imprisoning you, Brother Tianmeng, for nearly ten thousand years!"
The Tianmeng Iceworm gnashed its teeth:
"Tell me about it! I'm just a bit too handsome and a bit too powerful, yet those bastards actually turned me into food. Fortunately, they can't get their hands on my body now. Huo Yuhao, although you are still young, you seem to have a pure heart. I will bear with this for now, but once you become powerful in the future, you must avenge me! They wanted to absorb my Soul Power to evolve? Fine, in the future, we'll turn all of them into Soul Rings and Soul Bones!"
"Alright, once I grow up, I will definitely help you get revenge, Brother Tianmeng."
Huo Yuhao agreed without hesitation. The somewhat delicate relationship between the human and the beast suddenly drew much closer.
In truth, although the Tianmeng Iceworm had lived for a million years, it had very little contact with humans, having only ever interacted with a few Soul Beasts. While its intelligence was not inferior to a human's, it did not understand the concept of the wickedness of the human heart. Had it been anyone else, it would never have shared its story so easily. Meeting Huo Yuhao could be considered its stroke of good fortune.
"Brother Tianmeng, there's still something I don't quite understand. You are so powerful, yet when you entered my Soul Ring, you sealed your own power. What is that about? If you've sealed it, can I still get any Soul Skills?"
Having overcome his fear, Huo Yuhao's curiosity began to take over.
The Tianmeng Iceworm chuckled and said:
"Of course I have a way. I've been planning this for many years. For humans, personal safety is the most important thing. I have no way back now anyway—if you die, I die too, so I might as well go all in! Most of my Soul Power was already drained by those Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. Otherwise, even if I sealed my power, your body wouldn't have been able to withstand it. What I fused into your body is my origin power and mental power. Look at these ten glowing spheres; I have placed ten seals on them. In other words, this is the power of your first Soul Ring, it's just that you can't use it yet."
"Or look at it this way: although your first Soul Ring is a Million-Year Soul Ring, it doesn't possess its true power right now. As your cultivation level increases, the seals on my power will gradually unlock, and the power of the Soul Ring will increase. It might even strengthen your future Soul Rings. After all, the accumulated power of my Million-Year Soul Ring is simply too massive for you."
Huo Yuhao widened his eyes:
"This... I still don't really understand..."
The Tianmeng Iceworm barked in frustration:
"You really are a dummy, let me put it simply. Right now, you have obtained your first Soul Ring, and since your body can only withstand four hundred years, it is a four-hundred-year Soul Ring. Later, when you break through and your body can withstand a thousand-year Soul Ring, it will become a thousand-year Soul Ring. As your capabilities grow, the power of your Soul Ring will also increase. In other words, this Soul Ring of yours can evolve, and so can your future Soul Rings. Of course, this evolutionary power is limited; if you find stronger Soul Rings in the future, it will save my evolutionary power. With the power sealed within your body, it can support at most ten hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings."
"Wow, that many? Isn't it said that a Soul Master can only have a maximum of nine Soul Rings?"
Huo Yuhao was startled.
The Skydream Iceworm snorted coldly and said proudly, "That's for ordinary people. With this brother's help, you are no longer an ordinary person. One Martial Soul can indeed only absorb nine Soul Rings, but you currently have more than just one Martial Soul. Killing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast yields a Soul Bone and two Soul Skills from a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, you probably already know this!"
Huo Yuhao nodded.
The Skydream Iceworm continued, "A million-year Soul Ring becoming a first Soul Ring is unprecedented. By becoming your first Soul Ring, not only can I evolve along with your body, but I can also grant you four Soul Skills. Although I don't have a Soul Bone for you, I can help you gain an additional Martial Soul."
Huo Yuhao knew that obtaining a million-year Soul Ring would bring immense benefits, but he had not expected it to be this terrifying. Putting aside the fact that a single Soul Ring could evolve almost infinitely, there were even more surprises: four Soul Skills and an additional Martial Soul—what kind of concept was this?
These four Soul Skills, obtained thanks to his first Soul Ring, would naturally increase in power as the Soul Ring evolved. As for gaining an additional Martial Soul, it could only be described by two words: a miracle! He could now call himself a peerless genius with Twin Martial Souls. Having an extra Martial Soul meant at least nine more Soul Rings, which also meant adding nine more Soul Skills. This potential for growth was something a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring could not compare to. Although his current strength was still extremely weak, a massive door had opened before him. As long as he kept working hard, his future would be limitless!
"The Martial Soul I'm giving you is Ice, but for now, it doesn't have an ice soul yet."
The Skydream Iceworm's voice pulled Huo Yuhao back to reality.
"What do you mean by no ice soul?"
Huo Yuhao asked in confusion.
The Skydream Iceworm replied, "To put it simply, the Martial Soul I am giving you right now only has the attribute but no form. Only when you absorb an ice-attributed Soul Ring can this Martial Soul take shape. Since you absorb Soul Rings from Soul Beasts, your second Martial Soul will definitely be a Beast Martial Soul. There's no need to rush. I've thought it through; your current cultivation is still insufficient. Once your strength improves, I will help you attach the ice attribute to your first Soul Ring. Now do you understand why I said the growth potential of the Soul Ring power I gave you is insufficient? Therefore, when choosing Soul Rings in the future, you must listen to me carefully!"