Soul Ring Absorption Successful, Martial Soul Evolution

Shui Yue'er grinned and slung an arm around her sister's shoulders, deliberately rubbing her face against Shui Bing'er's fair cheek.

"But you look so grown-up, it's adorable! You're just a little thing yourself, yet you lecture people like a pro~"

Shui Bing'er's small face tensed slightly as she tried to maintain a serious expression, but a blush spread across her earlobes at a speed visible to the naked eye.

She reached out, attempting to push her sister away.

"Sister Yue'er, stop messing around. This is important."

"Hahaha, see, your ears are red. Bing'er is cutest when she's analyzing things so seriously."

A student with an oval face also chuckled.

"Exactly, exactly. She clearly wants to help this little brother, but she insists on acting like she's considering the academy's best interests~"

Another student chimed in, her tone teasing.

"Sister Xuewu, look at Bing'er, her face is all stiff, but she's really soft-hearted inside."

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 flickering gaze betrayed her embarrassment.

This childishness, befitting her age, formed a stark contrast to her calm analysis just moments before.

Lin Ming watched the scene, his guard lowering slightly.

These Skywater Academy students, at least for now, didn't seem malicious.

Although Shui Bing'er's analysis was direct, she was indeed considering his well-being.

Before Lin Ming could respond, a gentle yet steady female voice came from above and to the side of the group.

"Bing'er is right."

Everyone looked up and saw a woman in her thirties, wearing a light blue teacher's robe, gracefully descending from the branches of a large tree.

She had a beautiful face and a serene demeanor, her eyes gentle yet revealing wisdom. A soft fluctuation of Soul Power emanated from her.

She was at least a Soul Emperor.

"Teacher Shen!"

The girls from Skywater Academy greeted her respectfully.

Teacher Shen nodded at them, her gaze landing on Lin Ming. She smiled.

"Little one, being vigilant is a good thing. I heard your conversation just now. Bing'er's judgment was correct; absorbing a Soul Ring alone in your current state is indeed dangerous."

"If you're willing, our Skywater Academy can provide a safe escort for you, as recognition of your talent and courage."

"Of course, this is not without conditions. Afterward, we hope you will truthfully tell us your origins."

"And... if your Martial Soul is indeed special, perhaps we can have further exchanges in the future."

Teacher Shen's words were forthright, clearly stating her intentions and conditions.

Her strength and status were enough to make Lin Ming believe she had no need to scheme against a weak child like himself.

Lin Ming looked at Teacher Shen's gentle but serious eyes, then at Shui Bing'er, who stood nearby with a clear gaze despite her lack of expression.

And at the Skywater girls, who, though curious, harbored no ill will.

His guard finally began to recede.

His current condition was too poor; this was the optimal choice.

Besides, Skywater Academy's reputation wasn't bad in the original work.

"...Alright."

Lin Ming finally nodded, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

"Thank you, Teacher Shen, and everyone."

He walked back to his chosen spot and sat down cross-legged. This time, he didn't hide anything.

He closed his eyes, sinking his consciousness into his body, communicating with the partner intrinsically linked to his life.

A faint golden light emerged from his chest, quickly condensing before him.

Within the light, a human-shaped silhouette about ten centimeters tall slowly took form.

Its blue eyes looked at Lin Ming, conveying a sense of worry.

"Yi..."

This was Little Lei Yi, his unique detached Martial Soul.

"Wow!"

Shui Yue'er couldn't help but gasp, her eyes shining.

"A detached Martial Soul! So cute."

"What a peculiar detached Martial Soul, it's almost like a real life form..." Xuewu also showed a look of surprise.

"Energy contained, form stable, full of spirit."

Teacher Shen's eyes flashed with brilliance as he praised softly, his gaze toward Lin Ming becoming even more discerning.

Shui Bing'er remained silent, merely watching Lei Xiao Yi quietly. Her ice-blue eyes reflected the golden entity, as if meticulously analyzing something, her small face filled with concentration.

Lin Ming gave Lei Xiao Yi a gentle nod, signaling he was fine.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Lin Ming opened his eyes and nodded slightly at Teacher Shen and the others.

He then took a deep breath, adjusted his state, and slowly drew in the hovering yellow Soul Ring.

The yellow Soul Ring drifted over slowly, its light flowing, finally settling around Lin Ming's body.

The most crucial moment had finally arrived.

Teacher Shen quietly stepped forward a few paces, positioning herself in front and to the side of Lin Ming.

A gentle yet powerful Soul Power spread out faintly, covering an area of tens of meters, forming an invisible barrier of vigilance.

She simultaneously made several gestures to Xuewu and the others.

The girls immediately understood, each taking up a key position, their expressions serious as they entered a state of alert.

Even the most lively Shui Yue'er closed her mouth, observing the surrounding movements intently.

The absorption process was smoother than expected.

After the yellow Soul Ring settled around him, its color was not constant.

Instead, it was like constantly refined gold.

It gradually shifted from a somewhat dull earth yellow to a bright, brilliant light yellow.

The light grew stronger and stronger, and the arcs of electricity flowing within became clearer and denser.

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

"Buzz~~~"

A low, oppressive buzzing sound erupted from within Lei Xiao Yi.

Its small body suddenly burst with intense golden lightning, the light converging into a pillar, shooting straight up.

Though the range was not large, it contained an ancient will of thunder.

Within the light pillar.

Lei Xiao Yi's form began to change drastically. Its usual ten-centimeter size transformed into a combat form of sixty-six centimeters.

And its rounded body continued to lengthen and reshape.

Its silhouette became slender and agile, its lines full of explosive power.

In the blink of an eye, a Lei Yi, one meter and twenty-nine centimeters tall, like a thunder god of war, hovered in the air.

The golden light pillar retracted, and the evolved Lei Yi hovered quietly, its gaze majestic.

Lin Ming opened his eyes. His Soul Power stabilized at level fifteen. His connection with Lei Yi deepened into his soul, and a clear Soul Skill had already taken shape.

With a slight shift of his mind, the combat-form Lei Yi transformed into golden light, shrinking back to its ten-centimeter daily size as Lei Xiao Yi, landing on his shoulder and nuzzling him affectionately.

Silence fell.

"Martial Soul... evolved?"

Shui Yue'er murmured, her eyes wide.

"And it's an evolved form that completed alongside the absorption of the first Soul Ring..."

Xuewu's shock was evident on her face.

"This..."

Shui Bing'er said nothing, her ice-blue eyes fixed on Lei Xiao Yi on Lin Ming's shoulder and on Lin Ming himself. Beneath her calm gaze was deep thought.

What was happening before her surpassed her understanding of Martial Soul theory.

Teacher Shen was the first to recover. She walked up to Lin Ming, her gaze intense as she asked, "Child, how do you feel?"

Lin Ming bowed.

"Thank you, Teacher Shen and everyone. Everything went smoothly."

"Can you let big sister see your Soul Skill?"

Shui Yue'er couldn't hide her curiosity.

A Soul Ring that could cause a Martial Soul to evolve, she was incredibly curious.