Seeing this, Shui Bing'er stepped forward at just the right moment and surveyed the whole arena.
"Since everyone has witnessed Tian Yu's strength, I hereby formally announce..."
"Starting today, Xue Tianyu is the new captain of Skywater Team!"
No one objected. The girls all looked at Xue Tianyu with awe—and, even more, with an undisguised fervor.
With a captain of this monster's caliber leading them,
Skywater Academy could finally wipe away the shame of the past and reach the summit of this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament!
While everyone was still reeling from his terrifying talent,
Xue Wu suddenly drew a deep breath and strode toward Xue Tianyu on her long, shapely legs.
Before Xue Tianyu could say a word,
Xue Wu abruptly rose onto her toes and grabbed his shoulders with both hands.
Her youthful, vivacious, curvaceous body pressed right against Xue Tianyu's chest without the slightest hesitation.
Smack!
Under the stunned gaze of everyone in the arena,
Xue Wu's soft, warm red lips landed squarely on Xue Tianyu's cheek.
After the brief kiss, she quickly stepped back.
Her fair cheeks were red enough to bleed, but her beautiful eyes gleamed with bold, stubborn resolve.
"I, Xue Wu, always keep my word. I lost the bet, so I'll pay up!"
"Captain, from now on, we'll be counting on you to protect the team!"
Feeling the lingering warmth on his cheek and catching the faint, delicate fragrance unique to a young woman,
Xue Tianyu was unusually taken aback for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.
This woman really was adorably straightforward.
Yet to Shui Bing'er, watching from the side, the scene struck like a bolt from the blue.
She stared blankly at the spot where Xue Wu had kissed Xue Tianyu, feeling as if a great void had opened in her heart.
A fierce pang of bitterness mingled with regret and surged through her.
She had brought him here, only for someone else to make the first move!
And Ice Empress, standing behind them, was so furious that the Three Corpse Gods leaped and the Five Qi boiled.
"You shameless woman!"
"How dare you!"
A murderous glint flashed in Ice Empress's eyes.
A mere human insect had dared to lay hands on her Tian Yu!
Killing intent surged from her in an instant, and a towering blaze of fury welled in the depths of her emerald eyes.
An overwhelming aura beyond the limits of ordinary understanding erupted from her petite body.
In a single breath, the temperature throughout the Soul Fighting Arena plunged below absolute zero, and the moisture in the air condensed into countless razor-sharp ice crystals that hung suspended overhead.
Every member of Skywater Team present was instantly robbed of the ability to breathe.
The pressure was like being fixed in the gaze of some ancient primordial beast; even their souls trembled uncontrollably.
Sensing something amiss behind him, Xue Tianyu turned his head slightly.
His gaze, calm as still water, settled on Ice Empress. It held no trace of emotion—just a brief meeting of eyes.
The ice crystals swirling through the air instantly disintegrated, as if an invisible hand had forcibly swept them away.
Ice Empress shuddered all over.
She bit her lip in frustration. The murderous intent in her eyes receded like the tide, and she became once more the well-behaved little girl, with a hint of grievance about her.
In the blink of an eye, that terrifying, crushing pressure vanished without a trace.
Everyone gasped for air, their chests heaving.
The suffocating sensation from that moment had felt all too real. Even the shadow of death had truly descended over their heads.
Shui Yue'er patted her ample chest, still shaken.
"What just happened? Why did it feel even scarier than when the dean loses her temper?"
Xue Wu was sweating too. She glanced suspiciously at Ice Empress, who stood behind Xue Tianyu.
The little girl looked barely more than ten years old. How could she possibly possess such earth-shaking cultivation?
They exchanged bewildered looks, then could only chalk it up to some lingering aftershock from the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring Xue Tianyu had released.
Shui Bing'er couldn't spare a thought for the oppressive aura just then.
She saw the clear red lip mark on Xue Tianyu's cheek, and jealousy surged through her as her pretty face flushed crimson.
"Xue Wu! You're a girl. How can you be so forward?"
"Kissing him in front of so many people—aren't you embarrassed?"
Xue Wu pouted, looking aggrieved and unconvinced as she folded her arms and retorted.
"What did I do? We agreed on the bet beforehand."
"A bet's a bet. If I didn't follow through, how could I ever show my face at the academy again?"
"Besides, what's wrong with a kiss? Are you just jealous because someone else got there first?"
Having hit a nerve, Shui Bing'er flushed even redder. Embarrassed and annoyed, she pointed at Xue Wu.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm just protecting the team's reputation!"
Xue Tianyu raised a hand to wipe the lip mark from his cheek, cutting off their argument.
"Enough. This farce ends here."
"Don't let it happen again."
When Xue Wu saw that Xue Tianyu had spoken, she didn't dare push her luck. She simply stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"Got it. Whatever our captain says, I'll do."
The scene shifted to the dean's office at Skywater Academy.
Shui Xinrou had been reviewing documents with her head bowed, but she suddenly sprang to her feet.
The gold-trimmed fountain pen in her hand was crushed to pieces, splattering ink across the desk.
Horror filled her face as she stared toward the Soul Fighting Arena, her ample figure trembling uncontrollably.
Just moments ago, she had clearly sensed a terrifying aura flash through the academy and vanish.
Its power, its icy chill—it had already surpassed the realm of a Soul Douluo entirely!
It was even a hundred times mightier than the Titled Douluo she had once encountered!
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Shui Xinrou's forehead, and her heart pounded like a drum.
When had a monster of this caliber infiltrated Skywater Academy?
If such a peerless powerhouse harbored hostility toward the academy, all of Skywater could be flattened in an instant.
Suppressing the tempest in her heart, she hurried to the window.
Unfortunately, the aura had vanished too cleanly and swiftly. When she tried to pinpoint its location, it had already disappeared without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.
Shui Xinrou clenched her teeth. Her eyes were filled with worry and wariness, and all she could do was pray that the mysterious powerhouse wasn't targeting Skywater Academy.
Night fell over the depths of Skywater Academy.
Shui Bing'er led Xue Tianyu and Ice Empress through a quiet garden to a secluded courtyard, exquisitely decorated in every detail.
The courtyard was filled with plum trees that gave off a faint, delicate fragrance. The surroundings were peaceful and elegant.
"Tian Yu, this is your dormitory."
"The bedding and everything else are brand-new. No one will disturb you here."
Shui Bing'er pointed to the largest master bedroom in the middle. Her gaze darted aside as she spoke softly.
"I live in the courtyard next door. There's only a single wall between us."
"If you need any help, you can come to me anytime."
Ice Empress stood beside Xue Tianyu and shot Shui Bing'er a cold glance.
She had already cursed the girl with ulterior motives a hundred times over in her mind.
Little vixen, arranging your room this close is obviously your way of getting in first from the neighboring tower. Did you really think I was just here for decoration?
Before you continue