A secluded corner of the park.
Centered around the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, "Herrscher of Ice," formed by Xu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan.
Heavy snow suddenly swept through a fifty-meter radius.
The wind and snow were like blades, endlessly surging toward the surroundings.
As the howling blizzard passed, the extreme cold within it covered the branches with icicles, while the fallen leaves on the ground were frozen solid and shattered.
Even Ouyang Zixin, some distance away, went slightly pale.
"How is this possible? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill at the Soul Master level can make me feel such piercing cold. Could it already be close to Ultimate Ice?"
Feeling the power coursing through his body, Xu Yue was astonished.
"I never expected Xiao Yan and my Martial Soul Fusion Skill to manifest in this form."
"Herrscher of Ice... Is it because our elements are compatible, or because of my memories?"
Although the Martial Soul Fusion Skill had taken on a female form, he was still its true controller.
A Martial Soul Fusion Skill formed by a level-thirteen Soul Master and a level-eleven Soul Master had actually erupted with an aura that instantly rose to the Soul Elder level.
That was enough to prove just how compatible their Martial Souls were.
However,
Great power often came with great consumption.
With their current Soul Power, they could not maintain it for long.
Xu Yue immediately examined the condition of the Herrscher of Ice.
Limited by the levels and Soul Skills of its wielders, the Herrscher of Ice could only perform the most basic elemental manipulation at the moment.
Its only Soul Skill,
was the Jade Shield bestowed by Xu Yue.
Yet under the influence of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, this Soul Skill had also undergone considerable changes.
With that thought, Xu Yue raised the staff in his hand above his head and gave a clear, ethereal shout:
"Protection of Frozen Ice!!!"
In an instant, an ice shield made of countless crystalline facets formed around them, reflecting a cold radiance.
Every two seconds or so, the shield released a ring of frost throughout a five-meter radius.
"It's quite different from the Jade Shield. It has been specially enhanced for ice-element defense."
"Against ice-element attacks of the same level, it can weaken them by at least fifty percent."
Just as Xu Yue was about to further test the shield's effects, the glow of Soul Power surrounding him suddenly trembled violently.
The figure of the Herrscher of Ice instantly dispersed, turning back into Xu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan as they landed on the ground.
The weakness from exhausting her Soul Power made Xu Xiaoyan's legs go limp, and she nearly stumbled and fell.
Fortunately, a warm hand caught her in time.
"Are you all right?"
Xu Yue's concerned voice sounded by her ear.
"I'm fine. Thank you, Class Monitor."
Xu Xiaoyan's fair little face reddened slightly. Her long lashes fluttered as excitement filled her voice.
"Was that our Martial Soul Fusion Skill just now?"
"It was so beautiful!!!"
"It really was beautiful." Xu Yue smiled in agreement. "It even looked a little like what Xiao Yan might look like when she grows up."
As he said this, a faint trace of regret appeared on his face.
"Still, just that one Martial Soul Fusion Skill exhausted all our Soul Power. As for fusing the Star Staff, it looks like we'll have to wait until later."
"Mhm, mhm..." Xu Xiaoyan nodded quickly, as though starlight shimmered in her deep-blue eyes.
The results of today's invitation had far exceeded her expectations.
Not only had she uncovered the mystery behind their inexplicable attraction when they first met, but her Martial Soul had also undergone a complete transformation.
All of it was because of the person before her.
"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill... Doesn't that mean the Class Monitor and I will, in the future..."
The thought inexplicably made her heart race, but she quickly forced it down.
Her gaze moved away from Xu Yue and turned toward Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin in the distance.
It finally settled on that dazzling golden figure.
Xu Yue did not notice Xu Xiaoyan's thoughts. He merely supported her as they walked toward Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin.
"Sister Mu Xi, Sister Zixin, we're done here. Let's go."
Ouyang Zixin smiled and nodded, but the corner of her eye glanced at the silent Mu Xi beside her.
Just as on the way there, Xu Yue led Xu Xiaoyan in front while the other two girls followed behind.
The four of them remained silent all the way.
When they reached a corner at an intersection, an ice cream shop caught Xu Xiaoyan's attention.
A sweet smile appeared on her face as she suggested to Xu Yue beside her, "The Class Monitor helped my Martial Soul evolve today, and I haven't thanked him yet. How about I treat everyone to ice cream first?"
Xu Yue nodded with a smile and turned back to ask.
"Sister Mu Xi, Sister Zixin, what flavor would you like? The same as before?"
"The same, the same." Ouyang Zixin quickly replied. Then she glanced at Mu Xi beside her and added, "Little Yan might not be able to carry everything by herself. Why don't you go help her, little brother A-Yue?"
Mu Xi remained silent. Her golden eyes seemed to have lost their focus as she blankly watched Xu Yue support Xu Xiaoyan from behind.
Suddenly, a touch came from her chest, startling her back to her senses. She instinctively raised both arms in front of herself.
"Zixin, what are you doing? You pervert!!"
Seeing her best friend acting so guarded, Ouyang Zixin curled her lips. "What pervert?! You never acted like this back in the dorm."
"Then what were you doing?"
Mu Xi slowly lowered her arms, her voice weakening again.
"I was feeling your heart!" Ouyang Zixin leaned close to Mu Xi's ear and lowered her voice. "You've been silent the whole time, so I wanted to know if you were feeling unwell."
"You... What nonsense are you talking about?" Mu Xi stammered in rebuttal, but her gaze wandered uncertainly.
"A-Yue is my little brother. He and Xu Xiaoyan are classmates. Isn't it normal for them to walk together?"
"I... I wasn't feeling bad because of that!"
Ouyang Zixin wore a teasing expression, a strange smile rising at the corners of her lips.
"I never mentioned little brother A-Yue or little Yan! Xiao Xi... you just gave yourself away."
"Zixin, you...!" Mu Xi immediately became flustered and angry.
"All right, all right." Ouyang Zixin gently patted Mu Xi's back, her tone turning soft. "I just wanted to ask what you really think in your heart."
"I... A-Yue is just my little brother... that's all..."
Mu Xi still stubbornly refused to admit it, but by the end, a hint of guilt had slipped into her words.
"Really?" Ouyang Zixin did not believe her at all.
As her best friend for many years, she understood Mu Xi far too well.
She heard plenty from Mu Xi almost every day about everything, big and small, concerning Xu Yue.
Whether Mu Xi was praising how handsome he was and how outstanding he would surely become in the future, or complaining that his occasional grown-up manner was not cute at all.
In short, whenever Xu Yue was mentioned, a smile always unconsciously appeared on Mu Xi's lips.
Perhaps Mu Xi herself did not realize it.
But as an observer, Ouyang Zixin saw it clearly.
Seeing this, Ouyang Zixin's tone grew more serious.
"Xiao Xi, you actually understand it yourself."
At that moment, she saw Xu Xiaoyan paying in the distance. She leaned close to Mu Xi's ear again, speaking softly and quickly.
"Love or affection, Xiao Xi, it's time for you to make a choice."
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