The Ice Empress gave a slight nod and no longer paid attention to the heavenly screen. Together with the Snow Empress, she turned around and headed toward the core region of the Extreme North.
At this moment, they needed to focus on cultivation and stabilize their own strength in order to respond to the changes sweeping across the continent. Tang Yuehua's appearance on the list was nothing more than a minor interlude to them.
Within the Evil Demon Forest, the Evil Emperor's massive eyeball stared intently at the heavenly screen. A trace of disdain flashed through his purple-black pupil.
"A piece of trash who cannot cultivate can still make the list. The threshold of this Goddess Ranking is far too low. Relying on nothing but a bit of talent and looks to gain the continent's recognition is simply laughable."
Even as he spoke, a hint of contemplation flickered in his eyes. Tang Yuehua had no combat power yet still made the list, which meant the ranking's judgment of "talent" was extremely broad.
Perhaps among his clan there were female soul beasts with weak combat strength but possessing other special abilities who also had a chance to make the list.
Black mist quietly churned around him as the Evil Emperor's tentacles swayed slightly, his tone carrying a calculating edge.
"Later, have the female soul beasts of the clan perform well. If we can find similar special talents, perhaps they too can enter the ranking and raise the clan's prestige."
"Even if we cannot contend with the Star Dou Forest or the Extreme North, at the very least the continent will know of the existence of my Evil Demon Forest."
Outside the hall, the sinister soul beasts let out low roars, as if responding to the Evil Emperor's command. Yet fear still filled their eyes. Their dread of the Dragon God's pressure far outweighed any anticipation of making the list.
Across the entire continent, the reactions of all factions varied. Some felt joy, some praise, some disdain, and some wariness. Yet because of Tang Yuehua's appearance on the list, there were suddenly far more topics of discussion.
Inside Moon Pavilion, Tang Yuehua's shyness and panic gradually settled. She slowly raised her head and gazed at the list characters on the heavenly screen as they gradually faded away. Complex emotions filled her eyes, surprise, bashfulness, and a quiet expectation for the future.
She gently plucked the strings of her zither. Clear and resonant notes flowed out, carrying more lightness and joy than before. Outside the elegant chamber, the maids and disciples listened in silence, their eyes full of pride and admiration.
Above the heavenly screen, Tang Yuehua's ranking information had not yet completely dissipated when a dazzling golden pillar of light poured down from the sky. Like a tether linking heaven and earth, it carried vast yet gentle energy and directly enveloped Tang Yuehua within the elegant chamber of Moon Pavilion.
In that instant, Tang Yuehua felt an indescribable warm current surge into her body. Her previously calm and dormant dantian suddenly rippled.
Her Noble Ring martial soul, which had been unable to cultivate, began to tremble violently. Even the surrounding air seemed to flow in response to the changes of the martial soul.
She subconsciously closed her eyes and sensed the earth-shaking transformation within her body. The lingering shyness on her cheeks was replaced by shock and awe. Her long eyelashes trembled constantly, and her fingertips curled slightly.
"This really is… martial soul evolution?"
Tang Yuehua was shaken to the core. Under the nourishment of the golden energy, her Noble Ring martial soul gradually shed its original archaic patterns and transformed into an ancient zither of pure white jade, its strings shimmering with seven-colored light.
Intricate cloud patterns were carved into the body of the zither. A round sapphire was set into the head of the instrument, emitting faint fluctuations of spiritual power and resonating intensely with her soul.
[Reward Issued: Martial soul evolved into the Zither of Emotions (Spiritual Attribute), level 0.5 to 10, first soul ring granted (Thousand-Year)]
Gilded script lit up on the heavenly screen, clearly conveying the reward information. Upon seeing this, all factions across the continent were instantly thrown into an uproar.
Inside Moon Pavilion, within the golden pillar of light, Tang Yuehua's aura surged rapidly. The soul power bottleneck that had been stuck at level nine was shattered with ease, like paper. Ten, eleven… until it finally stabilized at level fifteen.
At the same time, a dense yellow soul ring condensed within the pillar of light and slowly rotated around her body. The thousand-year patterns engraved upon the ring were clearly visible, emitting thick and powerful soul power fluctuations.
"A thousand-year soul ring! Lady actually obtained a thousand-year soul ring right away!"
The maids outside the elegant chamber cried out in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Normally, after breaking through level ten, a soul master's first soul ring was mostly at the hundred-year level. A thousand-year soul ring was simply a fantasy for someone newly entering the world of soul masters. Yet Tang Yuehua had soared straight to the peak through the ranking reward.
Tang Yuehua slowly opened her eyes and looked at the Zither of Emotions floating before her. She gently touched the strings, and a wondrous sensation arose within her.
She could clearly feel that this zither was closely connected to her spiritual power. With a single thought, she could stir the emotions of those around her.
She tried plucking a soft note. Instantly, the maids outside the chamber felt warmth spread through their hearts. Their previously excited emotions became calm and joyful.
When she played a sharp and urgent note, the maids immediately felt a surge of panic. Even their breathing grew rapid.
"So this is the power of the Zither of Emotions… it can easily manipulate human emotions, and can even kill without leaving a trace."
Tang Yuehua murmured softly, her eyes filled with complex emotions. There was delight, reverence, and a trace of apprehension toward this power.
She had always been gentle and refined, never imagining she would possess such formidable strength.
Yet at this moment, the aura emanating from the Zither of Emotions made her understand that from now on, she was no longer the Tang Yuehua who could only rely on talent and refinement to stand her ground. She was now a spiritual-type soul master with powerful combat strength.
The music within the elegant chamber suddenly turned sharp, carrying invisible killing intent. The surrounding air seemed to freeze. Outside the chamber, the maids' faces instantly turned pale as they trembled uncontrollably, as if invisible blades had seized their throats.
Tang Yuehua was startled and hurriedly stopped playing. The sharp aura vanished in an instant. Only then did the maids recover, gasping for breath, their eyes filled with fear.
"This power is far too overbearing. I must control it properly."
Tang Yuehua took a deep breath and forcibly calmed the turmoil in her heart. Her fingertips gently brushed over the Zither of Emotions as she sensed the spiritual power contained within.
She knew that this power could protect herself and Moon Pavilion, but it could also bring disaster. Only by focusing on cultivation and mastering this power could she live up to the recognition of the ranking.
Within the council hall of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao stared at the golden pillar of light in the sky and the reward information on the ranking. He abruptly stood up, his face filled with excitement and relief, his voice trembling slightly.
"Martial soul evolution! A spiritual-type Zither of Emotions! And she directly broke through level ten and obtained a thousand-year soul ring! Yuehua… she can finally cultivate!"
The First Elder stroked his snow-white beard, his eyes full of amazement. "The Zither of Emotions, a spiritual type, capable of manipulating emotions to kill. Such a martial soul is simply heaven-defying!"
"Yuehua's original Noble Ring possessed a domain but could not cultivate. Now that it has evolved into the Zither of Emotions, not only can she cultivate, she also has such powerful abilities. From now on, our Clear Sky Sect has gained another top-tier spiritual-type soul master!"
The Second Elder said excitedly, "A thousand-year first soul ring! Even genius soul masters can hardly reach such a height. Yuehua has taken a single step that directly surpasses the dreams of countless soul masters!"
(TL/N: Just a little teaser, MC academy will make an appearance in chapter 106.)
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