Inviting Shui Bing'er

Xue Tianxing saw her embarrassment and smiled as he invited her:

"Bing'er, would you like to come in and sit for a while? I happen to have some questions about Martial Soul Fusion Skills that I'd like to discuss with you."

Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded.

"Sure!"

The two entered the room and sat down. Xue Tianxing took the initiative to speak.

"The Martial Soul Fusion Skill we triggered today, Frost Sky Phoenix Dance, was truly astonishingly powerful. This is the first time I've encountered someone whose Martial Soul resonated so intensely with mine."

"Me too."

Shui Bing'er's cheeks reddened slightly. "Before this, I had only ever triggered a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with my younger sister, Shui Yue'er. I never expected that I could do it with you too..."

Her voice grew softer and softer, and she lowered her head.

Seeing this, Xue Tianxing got an idea and continued naturally.

"Actually, when two people with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill cultivate together, their cultivation speed can increase dramatically, and their fusion skill can grow stronger as well. I've encountered some bottlenecks in my cultivation lately. If I had a partner like you to cultivate with, I might be able to break through them.

"Would you be interested... in coming back to my home and cultivating together for a while? My family definitely has sufficient cultivation resources, and I can guarantee your safety."

Shui Bing'er suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of surprise.

"Go to your home?"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Teacher Sun's voice.

"Little Brother Xue, Bing'er, dinner is ready. Shall we go downstairs to eat?"

Xue Tianxing and Shui Bing'er exchanged a glance, each seeing complicated emotions in the other's eyes.

After dinner, Xue Tianxing returned to the inn room with Shui Bing'er.

They sat cross-legged on opposite sides of the bed. As they circulated their Soul Power, their ice-attributed energies of the same origin naturally drew together and merged, making their cultivation far more efficient than when they cultivated separately.

Xue Tianxing could clearly feel that the sluggishness in cultivation brought by his Ultimate Spirit had eased considerably as it intertwined with Shui Bing'er's Soul Power. Shui Bing'er likewise felt her Soul Power growing increasingly swift under the influence of Xue Tianxing's.

Teacher Sun watched this through the crack in the door, and the corners of her lips could not help but rise. The two were so compatible. As long as she worked a little harder, recruiting Xue Tianxing into Skywater Academy would be as good as certain.

Another day passed in the blink of an eye.

That afternoon, while Xue Tianxing and Shui Bing'er were immersed in cultivation, he suddenly sensed two familiar Soul Power auras approaching from outside the town—one thick with poison attribute energy, sinister yet domineering; the other as piercing as a cold wind, filled with the pressure of a Titled Douluo.

"It's Grandpa Liu and Elder Dugu!"

Xue Tianxing abruptly opened his eyes, delight rising in his heart as he immediately ended his cultivation.

Seeing him suddenly stop, Shui Bing'er asked in confusion:

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"My family elders are here!"

Xue Tianxing rose to his feet, unable to conceal his excitement. "I'm going to see them!" With that, he headed for the door.

"Wait for me, I'll come with you!"

Shui Bing'er hurried after him. She wanted both to meet Xue Tianxing's elders and to use the opportunity to make a favorable impression on them.

The moment the two stepped out of the room, Teacher Sun in the neighboring room keenly picked up on the commotion.

She immediately opened her door and followed them at a brisk pace, already calculating rapidly in her mind.

When I meet Xue Tianxing's elders, I'll first mention how he saved us, then emphasize how powerful his Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Bing'er is. Finally, I'll reason with them and explain that Skywater Academy can provide Xue Tianxing with better cultivation resources...

In her view, Xue Tianxing was still so young, yet he had been wandering alone through the Land of the Extreme North. His elders' Soul Power surely could not be very high. They might even be ordinary Soul Masters. With a little persuasion, they would certainly agree to let Xue Tianxing join Skywater Academy.

Xue Tianxing led Shui Bing'er quickly out of the inn. Looking up, they saw two figures flying toward them from the entrance of the town. One wore a dark green robe, faint green mist swirling around him—it was Dugu Bo. The other wore a silver-white cloak—it was Liu Tianfeng, who had just broken through to become a Titled Douluo!

"Grandpa Liu! Elder Dugu!"

Xue Tianxing waved at the two and shouted, his voice brimming with excitement.

Upon hearing him, Liu Tianfeng and Dugu Bo immediately sped up and arrived before Xue Tianxing in an instant.

Liu Tianfeng grabbed Xue Tianxing by the arm and looked him over from head to toe as he asked anxiously:

"Tianxing, are you all right? Where did you go these past few days? We were worried sick!"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry for making you worry."

Xue Tianxing smiled and shook his head before giving a simple explanation.

"I was taken away by a powerful person before, but they meant me no harm. They even helped me obtain my fourth Soul Ring."

Dugu Bo frowned, his gaze falling on Shui Bing'er behind Xue Tianxing before sweeping over Teacher Sun, who had followed them out. A trace of vigilance flashed through his eyes.

"And these two are?"

Before Xue Tianxing could introduce them, Teacher Sun stepped forward first. A smile filled her face as she cupped her hands toward Liu Tianfeng and Dugu Bo.

"Greetings, Seniors. I am Sun Rui, a teacher from Skywater Academy, and this is my student, Shui Bing'er. Earlier in the Land of the Extreme North, young friend Xue Tianxing saved my student and me. We have been accompanying him here while waiting for you two Seniors."

As she spoke, she secretly observed the fluctuations of their Soul Power. When she sensed the pressure radiating from Liu Tianfeng, her pupils abruptly contracted.

Not good! This man is incredibly strong!

Sun Rui's gaze fell upon Dugu Bo. After studying him closely for a moment, her pupils shrank sharply. That face, carrying a hint of laziness and detachment, was identical to the Poison Douluo she had glimpsed from afar years ago when she had accompanied a team to Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Soul Masters!

Her heart jolted, and she hurriedly composed herself before bowing respectfully.

"Greetings, Poison Douluo."

Dugu Bo merely glanced at her and nodded indifferently, saying nothing more.

Though the pressure of a Titled Douluo had not been deliberately released, Sun Rui already felt tremendous strain. Even her breathing unconsciously softened.

Seeing this, Xue Tianxing turned to Liu Tianfeng and asked with a smile:

"Grandpa Liu, how did the absorption of your ninth Soul Ring go? You should have completely stabilized your strength as a Titled Douluo by now, right?"

At the mention of this, the concern on Liu Tianfeng's face was instantly replaced by joy. He patted Xue Tianxing on the shoulder and declared loudly:

"Not only did Grandpa successfully absorb the Blizzard Wind Wolf King's Soul Ring, I also completely stabilized my realm. I'm now a genuine Titled Douluo!"

Before his words had even faded, Soul Power erupted around him. His Martial Soul, the Frosty Cold Wind Sword, instantly possessed him—nine Soul Rings arranged neatly around him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black. The final black Soul Ring, representing more than eighty thousand years of cultivation, was especially eye-catching. A vast pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo spread outward, making even the air before the inn seem to freeze.