Skywater Academy was a perfect fit for Sea Soul Beasts like them. Sea Soul Beasts were either water- or ice-aligned, which was exactly what Skywater Academy looked for in its students!
Xiao Bai would definitely be accepted. The main problem was that Ye Wen and Evil Tiger were both boys, and they probably wouldn't be allowed in!
"Let's try first. If we can't get into Skywater Academy, we'll figure something else out," Ye Wen thought.
Shui Bing'er smiled faintly. "I'll thank Teacher Xiuzhen on their behalf, then."
"Anyway, let's hurry and leave. I don't know what's gotten into the Star Dou Great Forest today, but there's been a small-scale Soul Beast wave. Something must be wrong. We should leave as soon as possible to avoid getting caught up in it."
"Okay."
"Come along, children."
Shui Xiuzhen quickly led Ye Wen, Evil Tiger, Xiao Bai, Shui Bing'er, and another Skywater student away.
They had entered the Star Dou Great Forest this time to get a Soul Ring for the other student. The student had already absorbed one, so there was no reason to stay.
With Soul Sage Shui Xiuzhen protecting them, the five of them successfully fought their way out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
By the time night was approaching, they had reached a small town near the Star Dou Great Forest.
There were quite a few towns like this around the Star Dou Great Forest. They mainly served the Soul Masters who came and went through the forest.
Soul Masters came to obtain Soul Rings, or entered the forest to hunt Soul Beasts for a living and make money, selling materials from their bodies.
The value of towns like this lay in providing Soul Masters with places to rest.
Since night was approaching, Shui Xiuzhen decided they would stay here for the night.
"By the way, I still don't know what you three little ones are called." Shui Xiuzhen smiled warmly.
She was a gentle woman who treated them kindly, without the slightest hint of a Soul Sage's arrogance. After all, a Soul Sage was a major figure in a city, even in an entire province.
Shui Xiuzhen's character and attitude put Ye Wen at ease.
"I'm Ye Wen."
"Evil Tiger."
"Xiao Bai."
"Mm, hehe. Ye Wen, Evil Tiger, Xiao Bai. All right, I'll remember your names." Shui Xiuzhen smiled, then introduced herself. "I'm Shui Xiuzhen, a level 71 Soul Sage and a teacher at Skywater Academy. Have you heard of Skywater Academy?"
"Yeah. Skywater Academy is one of the Five Elemental Academies on the continent, along with Thunder Academy, Elephant Armor Academy, Godwind Academy, and Blazing Fire Academy," Ye Wen said.
"Looks like you know quite a lot." Shui Xiuzhen smiled.
Shui Bing'er held out her hand. "Hello, I'm Shui Bing'er, a third-year student at Skywater Academy."
The other girl introduced herself as well. "I'm Xue Yan, a fourth-year student at Skywater Academy."
"Nice to meet you."
Ye Wen and the other two reached out amicably and shook their hands.
After a brief round of introductions, they had all gotten acquainted. Shui Xiuzhen also found a hotel suite for them.
It had six bedrooms and a living room, so everyone could have a room to themselves.
At that moment, Shui Xiuzhen called everyone into the living room.
She was a responsible person. Since she had brought Ye Wen and the other two out of the Star Dou Great Forest, she would honor her promise and find a Soul Master Academy for them if they couldn't get into Skywater Academy.
So she needed to learn about Ye Wen, Evil Tiger, and Xiao Bai's Soul Power, Martial Souls, and talents first. Then she could find a suitable academy for them and provide letters of recommendation.
"Ye Wen, Evil Tiger, Xiao Bai, don't worry. I promised to find you a Soul Master Academy, and I will. Once you start studying there, I can even cover your tuition."
"Think of it as an investment in you. When you're older and able to earn money, you can pay me back," Shui Xiuzhen said.
She's such a good person. No wonder Skywater Academy had raised so many kind girls.
Ye Wen's impression of Skywater Academy came from his memories of the Soul Master Tournament, when the Skywater Team had competed.
The main members of the Skywater Team were all kind, beautiful girls with lovely personalities. Thinking about it now, they must have had such a good teacher behind them.
Shui Xiuzhen continued, "Before I recommend an academy, though, I need to learn about your Soul Power, Martial Souls, and Innate Soul Power levels."
"Big Sister Xiuzhen, can't we join Skywater Academy?" Ye Wen asked, looking very well-behaved.
Shui Xiuzhen was already forty, but Soul Masters tended to look younger.
A forty-year-old woman looked only a little over thirty. She looked quite young, and wore a light blue dress with white stockings. She was fairly pretty—by Earth's standards, she'd be considered a beauty.
Her figure was also very curvy, with a full bust and rounded hips. At a guess, she was a D cup.
And at forty, she was a level 71 Soul Sage. Her talent was no worse than that of the graduates of Shrek Academy who were hailed as among the youngest Soul Emperors on the continent!
Hearing Ye Wen call her Big Sister made Shui Xiuzhen very happy.
Ye Wen could have called her Auntie, but what woman liked being called that?
The word "Sister" made her feel wonderful. She chuckled. "I'm afraid not, Ye Wen. Skywater Academy only accepts girls."
"Boys really can't join?" Ye Wen asked.
"Well, if you're talented enough and your Martial Soul's element matches ours—ice or water—then I suppose there's a chance. But you can't just be an ordinary genius. You'd have to be a genius among geniuses, like Shui Bing'er!"
Xiao Bai asked, "Is Bing'er a genius among geniuses?"
Xue Yan proudly replied, "Of course she's a genius! Bing'er is the most talented student at Skywater Academy!"
"Hehe, Bing'er, why don't you tell them yourself?" Shui Xiuzhen smiled, looking with great satisfaction at her most prized student at Skywater Academy.
Shui Bing'er smiled modestly. "My Martial Soul is the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, Ice Phoenix. My Innate Soul Power is level nine. I'm nine years and five months old, and my Soul Power is currently level 22."
Xiao Bai exclaimed in delight, "Wow, Bing'er, you're really amazing!"
Hmph, she's not all that, Evil Tiger grumbled inwardly.
Ye Wen had already expected Shui Bing'er to be above level 20. Of all the students from all the academies in the future Soul Master Tournament, she would be one of the very most talented.
Apart from Tang San, none of the Shrek Seven Monsters could compare with Shui Bing'er in Ye Wen's eyes if they hadn't taken Immortal Herbs. Not even Oscar, with his Innate Full Soul Power!
Having Innate Full Soul Power didn't necessarily mean you'd cultivate faster. There wasn't much difference between level nine and full Soul Power.
Feng Xiaotian was about ten years older than Tang San. During the Soul Master Tournament, he was twenty-four and only level 44.
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