Lightning Battle Qi

"Speaking of which, besides our usual training, we actually have a specific mission coming to the Star Dou Great Forest."

Teacher Shen glanced at Shui Bing'er beside him.

"Bing'er has broken through to level twenty and needs to acquire her second Soul Ring."

"We are looking for a suitable Ice Attribute Soul Beast. If you're willing, you can travel with us for a while. Consider it a collaborative training session, how about it?"

Lin Ming understood perfectly that Teacher Shen's so-called collaborative training was more out of goodwill for his safety.

A ten-year-old child who had just absorbed a Soul Ring and hadn't fully recovered was still at considerable risk traveling alone through the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.

This subtle thoughtfulness warmed his heart.

"It's my honor to travel with all of you senior students. If I can be of any help, I will do my best."

Lin Ming didn't point it out, merely accepting solemnly.

After a brief rest, the group set off again, heading deeper into the forest towards the area where Ice Attribute Soul Beasts were active.

The afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled light through the gaps.

The group stopped to rest, and Shui Yue'er was busy distributing the candies she had brought, their sweetness filling the air.

"Bing'er."

Shui Yue'er sat down beside Shui Bing'er and handed her a light blue candy.

"Have you decided on the direction for your second Soul Ring? Teacher Shen must have already planned it for you."

This question drew everyone's attention.

Shui Bing'er took the candy but didn't unwrap it immediately. She sat up straight, her hands placed neatly on her knees. Her ice-blue eyes hesitated for a moment before filling with determination as she spoke.

"I've decided to choose a Group Defense Soul Skill."

Her voice was clear, and every word was spoken distinctly.

The air seemed to fall silent for a moment.

"Defense?" Qiu Ruoshui blinked.

"Bing'er, your Ice Phoenix is a top-tier Control System Soul Master."

Shui Bing'er pursed her lips.

"I've thought about it for a long time. If we are to participate in the Soul Master Competition in the future, the team will need someone to take on the defensive role. The most suitable would be a Control System Soul Master."

She spoke logically, but Lin Ming noticed that her hands, resting on her knees, clenched slightly.

Xuewu walked up to Shui Bing'er and crouched down, meeting her gaze.

"Bing'er, you're only nine years old. This decision could affect your future development path."

"I know."

Shui Bing'er nodded, her small face tense.

"But the team needs it. If we lose the competition because we lack defense, I will regret it."

Her serious tone when she said "regret" caused everyone present to pause.

Shui Yue'er hugged Shui Bing'er tightly, her voice choked with emotion.

"Silly Bing'er! You're so young, why are you thinking about so much?"

Shui Bing'er felt a little awkward being hugged but didn't struggle. Instead, she looked earnestly at Shui Yue'er with her ice-blue eyes.

"Sister Yue'er, I'm a Control System Soul Master. In battle, I'm the only one who can constantly monitor the flow of combat."

Teacher Shen had remained silent. She watched Shui Bing'er, her expression complex.

There was relief, heartache, and deep self-reproach.

As a teacher, she naturally wanted her students to choose the path most conducive to their personal development.

But as the guiding teacher of the Skywater Team, she knew better than anyone how precious a core Soul Master willing to sacrifice for the team was.

"Bing'er."

Teacher Shen finally spoke, her gentle voice a little hoarse.

"Are you sure? This decision means your growth in strength will be a step slower than your peers. Moreover, defensive Soul Skills might not truly show their value until you reach the Soul Ancestor or even Soul King rank."

"I'm sure."

Shui Bing'er's reply was without hesitation.

As she spoke these words, that sense of maturity beyond her years returned.

But Lin Ming saw a trace of exhaustion in her eyes.

This nine-year-old girl was already using an adult's mindset to weigh pros and cons, making sacrifices.

The others were clearly moved by her firm resolve, their eyes reddening one by one.

Shui Yue'er suddenly let out a chuckle, reached out, and ruffled Shui Bing'er's hair, her eyes still red. "Even though you're just a little thing, you always try to act like an adult."

"Sister Yue'er..."

Shui Bing'er's hair was tousled, and she awkwardly tidied it, her earlobes turning slightly red.

In that moment, she finally revealed a childlike innocence fitting for her age.

Lin Ming watched this scene, and a certain spot in his heart was touched.

He remembered Nuoding Academy; no one had ever treated him with such closeness.

Although Wang Sheng and the others were friendly, there was always an unspoken barrier between them.

And the mother-son interaction between Tang San and Xiao Wu made him instinctively want to stay away.

Just then, a thought uncontrollably surfaced.

Lin Ming knew he shouldn't butt in; choosing a Soul Ring was the most selfish decision a Soul Master could make.

Moreover, he had only known this group for a few hours.

But seeing Shui Bing'er's earnest little face, filled with "I must be responsible for the team," he recalled his own resolve to venture into danger alone for a suitable Soul Ring.

In a way, they were kindred spirits.

Or perhaps, the kindness in his heart hadn't completely vanished.

"If..."

Lin Ming spoke, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear in the quiet forest.

"If it's just to achieve the effect of an ice-attribute group defense, perhaps it doesn't necessarily require occupying a Soul Ring."

Everyone turned to look at him.

Teacher Shen's gaze sharpened.

A flicker of confusion crossed Shui Bing'er's ice-blue eyes.

"Not occupying a Soul Ring? How is that possible?"

Lin Ming extended his right hand and closed his eyes, his Soul Power beginning to circulate along the path of the Lightning Battle Qi.

At first, nothing happened.

Shui Yue'er was about to say something when she suddenly widened her eyes.

On the surface of Lin Ming's right palm, a faint golden membrane appeared.

Fine golden arcs danced and leaped across the membrane, emitting faint crackling sounds.

"This is..."

Xuewu instinctively took half a step back.

Teacher Shen had already stood up and walked to Lin Ming's side in a few strides.

She locked her spiritual power onto the structure of the membrane, and after a moment, she abruptly looked up at Lin Ming.

"Did you create this yourself?"

Lin Ming dispersed the Lightning Battle Qi and nodded.

"Little Lei Yi and I explored it together. I call it Lightning Battle Qi. The principle is to weave lightning-attribute Soul Power into a protective layer in a specific way. Soul Power of different attributes should also be able to do something similar."

He looked at Shui Bing'er and said, "Ice-attribute Soul Power can completely condense into Ice Armor on the body's surface, or form an Ice Shield in the air. Although the initial strength might not compare to a dedicated defensive Soul Skill, it doesn't occupy a Soul Ring, and it will strengthen as your Soul Power Level increases."

The air was eerily silent.

Shui Yue'er was the first to break the silence.

"My goodness... a Self-Created Soul Skill!"

Shui Bing'er had already walked up to Lin Ming. She stood very close, her ice-blue eyes fixed intently on Lin Ming's hand, as if trying to see the trajectory of his Soul Power circulation through his skin.

"Doesn't occupy a Soul Ring..."

She repeated in a low voice, then looked up, her eyes lighting up.

"Then what should I choose for my second Soul Ring?"