Ice Phoenix!

Xue Tianyu nodded slightly, having no complaints about the accommodation arrangements.

"You have been thoughtful."

A flush of shy joy appeared on Shui Bing'er's cheeks, but hindered by the murderous gaze of Ice Emperor, she dared not linger.

"Then you two get some rest; we have full-team integration training tomorrow morning."

With that, she turned and hurried away.

Not long after she stepped out of the courtyard gate, several dark shadows suddenly darted out from behind the rockery nearby.

Shui Bing'er was startled, but upon closer inspection, she saw it was Xue Wu, Shui Yue'er, and several other core members of the team.

"What are you all doing lurking around here?"

Shui Yue'er giggled and stepped forward, hooking her arm through Shui Bing'er's.

"Big sister, we're just concerned about the new captain's living arrangements, aren't we?"

Xue Wu stood to the side with her arms crossed, her face full of playful mockery.

"Oh my, someone is the Dean's prized pupil, usually so fair and impartial in all matters."

"How is it that today you're abusing your power to arrange for someone to stay right next door to you?"

"We could hear your scheming all the way from the Soul Fighting Arena!"

Caught red-handed, Shui Bing'er's face turned red to the roots of her ears, and she hurriedly waved her hands in denial.

"Don't talk nonsense! It just so happens that this is the only vacant independent courtyard in the academy!"

The girls exchanged glances and let out a long, synchronized scoff.

"Tch—your face is red as a beet, yet you still refuse to admit it."

"Exactly, exactly. Should we go give the new captain a heads-up tomorrow and tell him that someone might come knocking on his door in the middle of the night?"

Shui Bing'er was embarrassed to the point of exasperation and lunged at her mischievous friends with claws outstretched.

"Looking for a beating, are you? See if I don't tear your mouths shut today!"

In the quiet night, a burst of silvery, bell-like laughter erupted as the group of youthful, beautiful girls descended into a playful scuffle.

Returning to the dormitory, Xue Tianyu pushed open the door and lit the soul lamp on the table.

Before he could even loosen his clothes, a dainty figure naturally brushed past him and dove straight onto the large, soft bed.

Ice Emperor rolled around on the silk quilt like a lazy cat before burrowing comfortably under the covers, leaving only a pair of bright, spirited eyes exposed.

Xue Tianyu looked at Ice Emperor, who had usurped his nest, and was left speechless.

"Shui Bing'er arranged a room for you next door; go sleep there."

Ice Emperor didn't move; instead, she wrapped the quilt tighter around herself and retorted with righteous indignation.

"Why should I go next door?"

"Back in the Far North, didn't we always sleep together during those long, endless nights?"

She poked half her body out, resting her chin on one hand, her eyes shimmering with a hint of seduction.

"What? Now that we've left the Far North, has the senior become shy?"

Faced with such blunt remarks, Xue Tianyu found himself at a loss.

This girl was clearly trying to provoke him on purpose.

"Suit yourself."

Xue Tianyu couldn't be bothered to waste his breath, so he walked to the other side of the bed and lay down fully clothed.

No sooner had he closed his eyes than a slender, smooth arm silently wrapped around his waist.

Immediately following, a warm, jade-like body pressed directly against him.

Through the thin fabric, Xue Tianyu could clearly feel the breathtakingly soft curves, and those straight, beautiful legs were resting on his without the slightest restraint.

The unique, icy fragrance belonging to Ice Emperor drifted into his nose; this kind of highly seductive, close-contact touch was enough to make any man with insufficient willpower feel his blood surging instantly.

Xue Tianyu opened his eyes, his tone flat.

"Behave yourself, don't go too far."

Ice Emperor immediately closed her eyes, her breathing becoming steady and long, and she even deliberately let out a faint snoring sound, pretending she had fallen fast asleep.

However, the arm wrapped around his waist showed no signs of loosening.

Xue Tianyu let out a helpless sigh.

This girl, relying on the fact that he indulged her, was becoming increasingly audacious.

Shaking his head, he cast aside all distracting thoughts, closed his eyes, and entered a state of meditation.

The next morning.

Sunlight poured through the glass dome onto the Soul Fighting Arena of Skywater Academy.

The entire Skywater Team had finished assembling.

The gazes of all the girls were fervently focused on the youth in white, who looked as pristine as snow, standing before them.

Although everyone had been convinced of his strength yesterday when Xue Tianyu forced Xue Wu to concede using nothing but his soul power pressure, they still harbored immense curiosity.

Shui Yue'er could not help but be the first to speak up and ask.

"Captain, you only released your soul rings yesterday; you didn't even reveal your martial soul."

"What exactly is your martial soul? With such a heaven-defying soul ring configuration, your martial soul must be incredibly powerful!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding girls nodded one after another, their eyes filled with inquisitive light.

Xue Tianyu did not offer much explanation, merely raising his right hand slightly.

Within his palm, an extremely pure and chillingly cold aura suddenly surged upward.

Accompanied by a phoenix cry that rang clear through the heavens.

A phantom of a phoenix, crystalline and translucent as if carved from the purest ice-blue crystal, proudly spread its wings behind him.

The attribute of extreme ice instantly permeated the entire Soul Fighting Arena.

The Ice Phoenix was noble and majestic, with every feather radiating a sacred aura that compelled one to prostrate in worship.

All the girls were so stunned by this magnificent sight that they were left speechless.

This was not just a manifestation of strength, but an absolute visual feast; it was beautiful to the extreme.

Shui Bing'er widened her beautiful eyes, her face filled with shock and trepidation.

Though they both possessed the Ice Phoenix martial soul, the grade of Xue Tianyu's martial soul was countless tiers higher than her own top-tier Ice Phoenix.

Under that supreme, superior pressure, the soul power within her body trembled uncontrollably—it was a submission stemming from the instinct of her martial soul!

Xue Wu watched from the side with her eyes fixed, then suddenly turned to look at Shui Bing'er, her tone filled with sour jealousy.

"No wonder you insisted on dragging him into the team!"

"The two of you have martial souls that look like they were carved from the same mold."

"So it turns out you two are a match made in heaven!"

Shui Bing'er was so embarrassed by these words that her face turned beet red, and she stomped her feet repeatedly.

"Xue Wu, if you keep playing matchmaker, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Xue Tianyu ignored the girls' bickering and turned his gaze toward Shui Bing'er.

"Shui Bing'er, release your martial soul."

Shui Bing'er was stunned for a moment, but she obeyed obediently, channeling her soul power.

A slightly more youthful phoenix cry rang out, and a smaller Ice Phoenix phantom appeared behind her.

Yet, in front of Xue Tianyu's martial soul, this Ice Phoenix appeared timid and trembling, like a subject paying homage to a monarch.

"Close your eyes, clear your mind, and do not resist my soul power."

Xue Tianyu took a step forward, instantly arriving in front of Shui Bing'er, and placed his hand directly onto her delicate shoulder.

A domineering yet extremely pure ice soul power flowed from his palm, continuously pouring into Shui Bing'er's body.

Shui Bing'er's delicate body trembled violently.

She felt an irresistible, massive force directly take control of the meridians within her body.

Under the guidance of this power, her previously calm soul power began to surge wildly like boiling water.

The Ice Phoenix martial soul within her body let out a joyous cry, like a greedy infant desperately absorbing this higher-level energy of the same origin.