Shui Yue'er grinned and draped an arm over her little sister's shoulders, deliberately rubbing her cheek against Shui Bing'er's fair one.
"But you look so cute acting like a grown-up! You're still just a little kid yourself, yet you lecture people like a pro~"
Shui Bing'er's little face tensed as she tried to stay serious, but a blush spread visibly across the tips of her ears.
She reached out to push her sister away.
"Sister Yue'er, stop fooling around. We have more important things to deal with."
"Hahaha, look, your ears are red. Bing'er is cutest when she's seriously analyzing things."
A student with an oval face laughed, too.
"Exactly! She obviously wants to help this little guy, but she still has to pretend it's all for the academy~"
Another student chimed in, teasingly.
"Sister Xue Wu, look at Bing'er. Her face is all scrunched up, but she's actually so softhearted."
The girls' good-natured teasing eased some of the tension and suspicion in the air.
Shui Bing'er tried to keep a straight face, but her slightly puffed cheeks and darting eyes gave away her embarrassment.
The childishness befitting her age was a striking contrast to the cool-headed analysis she'd just given.
Watching them, Lin Ming felt his guard ease a little more.
At least for now, these Skywater Academy students seemed to mean him no harm.
Shui Bing'er's analysis had been blunt, but she really had been looking out for him.
Before Lin Ming could respond, a warm, steady female voice came from above and to the side.
"Bing'er is right."
Everyone looked up. A woman who appeared to be in her thirties, dressed in a light blue instructor's robe, gracefully descended from the branches of a large tree.
She was beautiful and composed, with warm eyes that held a hint of wisdom. A gentle Soul Power fluctuation surrounded her.
Her cultivation was at least that of a Soul Emperor.
"Teacher Shen!"
The girls from Skywater Academy hurriedly bowed.
Teacher Shen nodded to them, then turned to Lin Ming and smiled.
"You're right to be cautious, young man. I heard your conversation just now. Bing'er's assessment was spot-on: absorbing a Soul Ring on your own in your current condition would indeed be dangerous."
"If you're willing, Skywater Academy can provide protection while you absorb it. Consider it recognition of your talent and courage."
"Of course, there are conditions. Afterward, we hope you'll tell us the truth about where you came from."
"And... if your Martial Soul really is special, perhaps we can discuss it further in the future."
Teacher Shen spoke frankly, laying out both her intentions and the conditions openly.
Given her strength and status, Lin Ming had no reason to believe she'd resort to schemes against a weakened child like him.
Lin Ming looked at Teacher Shen's warm but serious gaze, then at Shui Bing'er beside her, whose expression was calm and whose eyes were clear.
He also glanced at the Skywater girls, curious but seemingly well-intentioned.
At last, his guard slowly came down.
He was in terrible shape. This was the best choice.
Besides, Skywater Academy did have a good reputation in the original story.
"...All right."
Lin Ming finally nodded, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.
"Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Shen, and everyone."
He returned to the spot he'd chosen earlier and sat cross-legged. This time, he didn't hide anything.
He closed his eyes and sank his awareness into his body, reaching out to the companion whose life was bound to his own.
A faint golden light appeared at his chest, quickly gathering in front of him.
Within the glow, a human-shaped silhouette about ten centimeters tall slowly took form.
Its blue eyes turned toward Lin Ming, and a thought filled with concern reached him.
"Yi..."
This was Little Lei Yi, his one-of-a-kind Detached Martial Soul.
"Wow!"
Shui Yue'er couldn't help exclaiming, her eyes lighting up.
"A Detached Martial Soul! It's so cute."
"What a fascinating Detached Martial Soul. It's almost like a real living being..." Xue Wu looked astonished, too.
"Contained energy, stable form, and so much spirit."
Teacher Shen's eyes flashed as she murmured her assessment. The look she gave Lin Ming changed even more.
Shui Bing'er said nothing. She simply watched Lei Yi, the golden figure reflected in her ice-blue eyes as if she were carefully analyzing something. Her little face was intent.
Lin Ming gave Lei Yi a slight nod to show he was fine.
An incense stick's time later, Lin Ming opened his eyes and nodded slightly to Teacher Shen and the others.
Then he took a deep breath, steadied himself, and slowly drew in the Yellow Soul Ring hovering nearby.
The yellow Soul Ring floated toward him, its light flowing as it finally settled around Lin Ming.
The crucial moment had arrived.
Teacher Shen quietly stepped forward, taking a position just ahead and to the side of Lin Ming.
A gentle yet powerful Soul Power spread out, covering an area dozens of meters across and forming an invisible barrier to keep watch.
She also gave Xue Wu and the others a few hand signals.
The girls immediately understood. They took up positions at key points and entered a serious state of alert.
Even the usually lively Shui Yue'er fell silent and watched their surroundings carefully.
The absorption went more smoothly than expected.
Once the yellow Soul Ring settled around him, its color did not stay the same.
Instead, it was as if the gold were being refined again and again.
Its somewhat dull, earthy yellow gradually shifted to a brilliant, bright yellow.
The light grew stronger, and the arcs of electricity coursing through it became clearer and denser.
Suddenly, something changed.
"Vmmm~~~"
A deep, imposing hum burst from within Lei Yi.
His small body erupted in brilliant golden lightning. The light gathered into a pillar and shot straight upward.
It covered only a small area, but contained an ancient will of thunder.
Within the pillar of light,
Lei Yi's form began to change dramatically. His everyday ten-centimeter body grew into a sixty-six-centimeter combat form.
His rounded body continued to lengthen and take shape.
His outline became lean and nimble, his lines full of explosive power.
In the blink of an eye, Lei Yi hovered in the air, 1.29 meters tall and resembling a god of war forged from thunder.
The golden pillar of light faded. The evolved Lei Yi hovered silently, his gaze imposing.
Lin Ming opened his eyes. His Soul Power had stabilized at level fifteen, and his connection with Lei Yi had reached deep into his soul. A clear Soul Skill had taken shape.
With a thought, Lei Yi's combat form turned into a streak of golden light, shrinking back to his everyday ten-centimeter Little Lei Yi. He landed on Lin Ming's shoulder and nuzzled him affectionately.
Silence fell.
"His Martial Soul... evolved?"
Shui Yue'er murmured, her eyes wide.
"And it evolved as he completed his First Soul Ring absorption..."
The shock was written all over Xue Wu's face.
"This..."
Shui Bing'er said nothing. Her ice-blue eyes remained fixed on Lin Ming and Little Lei Yi perched on his shoulder, her calm gaze full of thought.
What had just happened went beyond everything she understood about Martial Soul Theory.
Teacher Shen was the first to recover. She walked over to Lin Ming and asked, eyes shining,
"How are you feeling, child?"
Lin Ming bowed.
"Thank you, Teacher Shen, and everyone. Everything went smoothly."
"Could you let me see your Soul Skill?"
Shui Yue'er could barely contain her curiosity.
She was dying to know about the Soul Ring that had caused a Martial Soul to evolve.
Before you continue