The Far North

"Teacher, my Sharingan martial spirit isn't actually in its final form. I can feel that it has the potential for further evolution," Han Yu explained, choosing his words carefully. He believed that, as the owner of the martial spirit, he could sense its specific abilities just as some soul beasts could unlock inheritance memories when they reached a certain strength.

"Evolution?" Du Bu Si looked surprised. He had initially thought Han Yu's dynamic vision was already exceptional, akin to top-tier martial arts.

"Yes, teacher. Look at my eyes," Han Yu said, pointing to the black tomoe slowly rotating within his scarlet pupil. "If it evolves again, another tomoe will appear. I sense that there could be up to three."

"Does that mean that for each additional tomoe, you gain an additional ability?" he asked, intrigued.

Du Bu Si, a true Super Douluo, quickly grasped the implications. "Yes, but I don't know the specific abilities yet, and evolution should be quite challenging."

Han Yu frowned, realizing he didn't have any other options and could only attempt the original method.

"What do you need? Treasures from heaven and earth? Soul rings or soul bones? I can get them for you!" Du Bu Si exclaimed, suddenly standing up.

Han Yu shook his head. "You don't need those. To evolve a martial soul, what's really needed is intense mental stimulation—something particularly strong. Generating a lot of negative emotions, like hatred, can facilitate the evolution. But you can't know about my subjective consciousness; otherwise, you might feel defensive."

Han Yu paused, hoping Du Bu Si would understand.

Du Bu Si frowned, realizing the difficulty of the situation. This method required a kind of mental stimulation that Han Yu was still uncertain about.

"Master, now that you know, I can focus on my practice. I'll figure this out," Han Yu said, nodding as he settled into a cross-legged position. Instead of resting, he intended to train, knowing that practice was essential.

Five months later.

Boom! Waves crashed repeatedly, rising and then receding. In the midst of the tumultuous water stood a determined yet somewhat thin figure. Despite the relentless tide, the young man's expression remained calm, even revealing a hint of enjoyment.

"Such an impact can no longer trouble me. It's time to increase the difficulty," Han Yu declared, realizing that this stage of practice no longer offered significant improvement.

Over the past five months, he had trained tirelessly. From initially standing at the edge of the island, he had made considerable progress.

The impact of the waves had intensified, but Han Yu had fully adapted to the challenge.

"Boy Han Yu, you've reached level ten! Have you considered getting any soul rings?" Du Bu Si smiled at the now shirtless Han Yu.

Compared to a few months ago, Han Yu's physical fitness had improved significantly. He had grown taller and gained some muscle, no longer looking so thin; his body now appeared well-rounded.

"Teacher, I'm not sure about that. Theoretically, spiritual types are better," Han Yu replied hesitantly. Du Bu Si had shared some knowledge about soul beasts over the past few months, but it was limited, and he wasn't an expert in that area. Most of what he shared were beasts he was personally familiar with.

"Well, that's good to hear. It seems you've retained the theoretical knowledge from these past few months," Du Bu Si acknowledged, pleased with Han Yu's progress.

"For soul rings, it's important to choose soul beasts that are compatible with your martial soul attributes," Du Bu Si explained. "The best option for you is undoubtedly a spiritual type, though they are relatively rare."

"I plan to take you to the far north, where there's a spirit beast known as the Snow Demon. It's a spiritual soul beast that possesses a unique soul skill called mental tremor."

"It has good control abilities, and combined with your Sharingan, it should produce excellent results," Du Bu Si said with a smile, clearly pleased with his plan to help Han Yu obtain his soul ring.

"I trust you, teacher. When do we set off?" Han Yu asked, putting on his clothes and sitting cross-legged.

"Let's not delay. We'll rest now, and I'll take you there early tomorrow morning. However, once I drop you off at the outskirts of the Far North, you'll need to continue on your own," Du Bu Si replied.

Han Yu's expression shifted slightly but quickly returned to calm. Over the past few months, he had not only engaged in daily tidal body training but also sought Du Bu Si's guidance on physical skills. Sparring with his teacher every day had provided him with valuable practical experience, even if he had never won a match.

The enhancement from the single tomoe Sharingan wasn't as significant as he had hoped, but it had still contributed greatly to his strength.

After a restful night, Du Bu Si took Han Yu to the outskirts of the Far North. This area was not far from where he trained, adjacent to the sea, but instead of water, it was surrounded by a vast expanse of ice. The entrance to the Far North was wide, revealing a snowy, desolate landscape.

"Han Yu, it's up to you now. The Snow Demon resides in the Howling Cave on the outskirts. If you continue along this path, you should find it soon," Du Bu Si said, pointing in the direction before turning to leave.

Of course, Du Bu Si didn't truly leave; he followed Han Yu from a hidden vantage point, ready to intervene only if Han Yu faced real danger. This arrangement suited Han Yu perfectly; he saw it as a chance to test his strength without the pressure of constant sparring that had shaken his confidence.

The Far North lay at the northern border of the Tianhun Empire, growing colder the further he ventured. To prepare, Han Yu had purchased thick clothing in the city before his journey.

He walked slowly, clutching a rough map drawn by Du Bu Si the night before, which only indicated the location of the Howling Cave.

"It's so cold!" he muttered after about fifteen minutes of walking. The temperature continued to drop, and the biting wind seeped through the gaps in his clothing, making him shiver. He pulled his cotton coat tighter around himself.

Steeling his resolve, Han Yu pressed on toward the marked location. "I hope I don't encounter any powerful soul beasts; my combat power would be severely hampered in this environment."

As he exhaled, a white mist formed, quickly crystallizing into tiny ice particles in the frigid air.

The water simply transforming in to ice

Even though his muscles wer stiff he walked forward with a firm step.