Chapter 49: Ice–Fire Venom — Crimson Ice Toad

Hao Yue City, located in a key province of the Star Dou Empire near Sunset Forest, is a secondary-tier city with a formidable military presence.

After Yang Wudi received the Fragrant Tulip of Qiluo, he swiftly fulfilled his promise—assembling the Po Zhi Tribe and relocating them to the Star Dou Empire. At first, the migration followed a schedule, but after witnessing the Ice‑Fire Two‑Trials Eye, Yang Wudi urgently expedited the move.

"I wanted us to head to the far north—to try our luck at finding a rare soul beast."

"A rare soul beast? For you—or one for Yan Yan?"

Yun Yibai smiled faintly before replying:

"The Crimson Ice Toad."

"The Crimson Ice Toad!" Yang Wudi's expression shifted to surprise.

Dugu Bo said: "I believe I've heard that name before."

Over time, poison-based soul beasts—centipedes, vipers, scorpions, geckos, and toads—become sources for poison soul rings. But the Crimson Ice Toad was unique: an extremely toxic ice-element soul beast.

"It's rare and elusive, a true apex predator in the border regions of the Far North. Its toxic venom, honed by the freezing climate, remains potent and enduring. Even more powerful soul beasts struggle to harm it."

Yang Wudi recounted what he'd learned from old records—he'd never seen the creature himself.

The toad avoided the Far North's core territory not only because of the legendary 100,000‑year beasts there, particularly the Ice‑Blue Scorpion, but also because the Crimson Ice Toad has fiery eyes. It channels both fire and ice to cultivate a hybrid toxicity that's near impossible to neutralize.

"Legend says it carries a hint of divine beast bloodline. Truly an excellent candidate," Yang Wudi concluded.

"It stays on the Far North's edge, not deep inside—so we won't have to go full bore to find it."

Dugu Bo, sensing Yun Yibai's pattern, turned to him. He already guessed Yun Yibai was aiming for another northern beast.

Yun Yibai said:

"The Frost‑Thunder Dragon."

"Its soul ring has appeared in the Blue‑Electric Tyranno's sect before. The skill merges frost and thunder—ice for control, and with superconducted thunder, the lightning becomes stronger."

"After absorbing the Fiery Apricot Blossom and Eight‑Pointed Ice Grass, I feel I can wield both those forces." Yun Yibai flexed his fist, and the Soul‑Power dragon wings behind him confirmed his transformation.

After Yun Yibai walked away, Dugu Bo looked at Yang Wudi and asked:

"Yang Wudi, that Soul‑Breaking Crimson—is it reliable? Does it truly boost a soul's power by ten levels instantly?"

Dugu Bo was excited by the Crimson Ice Toad's promise. Since Dugu Yan had consumed the Soul‑Breaking Crimson, now his concern was whether she could draw a ten‑thousand‑year soul ring from it—far superior to a mere thousand‑year ring.

"Never underestimate immortal herb treasures, especially the kings of them. For an ordinary person to get one is life-altering—they might even become a soul master."

The Three Major Fauna Regions of Douluo Continent are the seas, Star Forest, and the Far North.

The Far North is in the northern reaches of the Star Dou Empire, a forbidden zone. Its extreme cold and powerful beasts have earned it that status.

"In my entire life, I've never come to the Far North," Dugu Yan said, tightening her warm clothing.

Though she had gear prepared by Dugu Bo, even he, along with Yang Wudi, had never ventured this far. Their prior soul rings didn't require it.

"The more extreme the place, the bigger the surprises," Yang Wudi observed.

"The deep cold has already kept many beasts away. Even ice-elemental ones may hesitate to venture further."

"Tomorrow we leave. Yun Yibai—do you have any clues on that Frost‑Thunder Dragon?" Yang Wudi turned to Yun Yibai, unfamiliar with thunder beasts until now.

Yun Yibai replied:

"I've seen records in the Blue‑Electric Tyranno sect—there are leads, and each one involves thunder."

"They're at most ten-thousand-year beasts. We don't need to go into the very core. With our combined strength, we can navigate regions of ten-thousand-year beasts."

Yun Yibai had already told them he intended to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring before they left.

Dugu Bo was unsurprised—since Yun Yibai's third soul ring had similarly exceeded its age limit.

Yang Wudi had been shocked: he'd never heard of anyone absorbing such an advanced soul ring at the fourth ring. But, knowing Yun Yibai wasn't doing it recklessly—and seeing the herbs—he came around.

Soon, Yang Wudi, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan accepted the plan: Yun Yibai would go for the ten-thousand-year ring. They trusted not just him, but the immortal herbs he consumed.