Ling Luochen Fires Back at Ma Xiaotao, Leaving Both Ice and Fire Goddesses Feeling Guilty?

After the sparring session, Du Weilun announced that today's training was over.

The people on the field dispersed in twos and threes, each stretching their muscles.

Wang Dong'er came to Xiao Xiao's side, her long, light blue hair slightly disheveled by the wind. As she gathered her hair, she glanced in Dai Huabin's direction.

Ling Luochen was standing two steps to the right of Dai Huabin, the distance between them was much closer than yesterday.

"Don't you guys think...?" Wang Dong'er lowered her voice.

However, before Wang Dong'er could finish speaking, Xiao Xiao interrupted:

"Ling Luochen's cooperation today is completely different from before."

Cui Yajie crossed her arms, her long pink hair casually draped over her shoulders, her tone filled with gossipy excitement:

"It's more than just different. During previous joint training sessions, Senior Ling Luochen and Huabin barely communicated at all. But today, the Ice Prison positioning was so precise, it was like they had exchanged secret signals beforehand."

Ning Tian stood behind the four people, her short hair neat and clean. She didn't participate in the discussion, but her ears were perked up.

"Do you think something happened between them?"

Cui Yajie's tone was full of gossip.

Wang Dong'er twisted a strand of hair between her fingers, saying nothing, but her heart felt heavy.

Xiao Xiao patted Wang Dong'er on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it, it's probably just the tacit understanding that comes from training together."

"Getting used to each other?" Cui Yajie rolled her eyes. "You couldn't develop that chemistry in half a month, and it just happened overnight? Xiao Xiao, do you believe that?"

Xiao Xiao gave an awkward smile; she didn't believe it either.

After listening for a while, Ning Tian finally spoke up, "Ling Luochen's Ice Element Martial Soul is naturally compatible with Huabin's Ultimate Ice, making it easier for them to coordinate than for us."

That makes sense, but all four people present knew that this wasn't simply a matter of Martial Soul compatibility.

On the other side.

Ma Xiaotao withdrew from her flame form, shook off the remaining heat from her wrists, and strode towards Dai Huabin.

"Huabin."

Her voice wasn't quiet; both Ling Luochen and Zhu Lu heard it.

Zhu Lu glanced at Ma Xiaotao, then at Ling Luochen who was standing next to Dai Huabin.

She didn't say anything, but gave Dai Huabin a meaningful look, then turned and walked towards Wang Dong'er.

Dai Huabin returned a smile.

Ma Xiaotao walked up, hands on her hips, her long red hair cascading down her back. She was covered in a light sweat from training, and her tight-fitting clothes clung to her body, outlining an extremely exaggerated figure.

She was completely unaware, only tilting her head to look at Dai Huabin, and then glancing at Ling Luochen beside her.

"Huabin, what's going on between Ling Luochen and you?"

Ma Xiaotao asked a very direct question, which was very much in line with her personality.

Ling Luochen's expression remained unchanged; he simply turned his head slightly, waiting for Dai Huabin's reply.

Dai Huabin thought for a moment and said, "We're friends, I guess. Similar to how I am with Senior Xiaotao Tao."

Ma Xiaotao raised an eyebrow. "About the same as me?"

"Yes, about the same."

Ma Xiaotao responded with an "oh," her expression somewhat subtle.

She turned to Ling Luochen, lowering her voice but not deliberately avoiding Dai Huabin: "Luochen, you don't like Huabin, do you?"

Ling Luochen raised her head. Her hair, which had turned ice-blue due to the Martial Soul Possession, hadn't completely turned black yet, making her face appear as cold as ice.

She looked at Ma Xiaotao and said in a flat tone, "Aren't you the same?"

Ma Xiaotao's expression froze for a moment.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't immediately refute it.

Dai Huabin stood to the side, watching the scene with great interest.

Ma Xiaotao neither denied it nor became angry; instead, she guiltily looked away.

"That was..."

Ma Xiaotao hesitated for a moment.

"Huabin and I have a cooperative relationship. He helps me suppress the Evil Fire, and I protect him in the Inner Academy. It's a fair trade."

Ling Luochen didn't press further, but simply turned his gaze away.

Ma Xiaotao never expected that Ling Luochen, who was usually aloof and taciturn, would respond so directly.

In the past, Ling Luochen would always ignore Ma Xiaotao's questions with a cold face, but today he actually took the initiative to fight back.

Dai Huabin was somewhat surprised to see the two standing together calmly, without any tension or hidden rivalry.

These two didn't have a good relationship before.

He knew the reason.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire would get out of control every now and then. Before Dai Huabin and Snow Empress, Ma Xiaotao's way of suppressing her Evil Fire was simple and brutal: she would find someone to fight.

As the only ice-attribute Soul Master in the team, Ling Luochen naturally became Ma Xiaotao's first choice as a punching bag.

The Ice Element Soul King must have felt utterly awed facing the full force of the Evil Fire Phoenix Soul Emperor.

Therefore, Ling Luochen never really liked Ma Xiaotao.

But ever since Snow Empress froze Ma Xiaotao with one move, and Dai Huabin took over the task of suppressing the Evil Fire, Ma Xiaotao hasn't sought out Ling Luochen for "training" for a long time.

His temper has also calmed down considerably.

Ling Luochen's prejudice against Ma Xiaotao gradually faded away.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Ma Xiaotao waved her hand, reverting to her carefree self. "Huabin, are you free in a few days? The feeling of fighting at full strength is so exhilarating, and my Evil Fire are starting to stir again."

We'll see how things go then.

"Okay." Ma Xiaotao didn't press the matter, patted Dai Huabin on the shoulder, and left.

Ling Luochen stood there, waiting for Ma Xiaotao to walk away before speaking, "You personally suppress her Evil Fire every time?"

"Well, after all, Xue'er doesn't like these troublesome things," Dai Huabin replied.

Ling Luochen nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Dai Huabin looked at her and took the initiative to speak, "Senior, you cooperated very well today, very good."

Ling Luochen's expression didn't change much, but his tone was slightly gentler than usual:

"As long as you're satisfied."

Dai Huabin smiled, calculating Ling Luochen's value in his mind.

Ice Element Martial Soul, control type, level 55 Soul King.

In terms of pure combat strength, she's not top-tier among the Main Team, but her ability to control the battlefield is truly outstanding. Today, her use of Ice Prison combined with Ice Mist Ghost Chill steered the entire battlefield in her favor.

Changing terrain, manipulating weather, controlling large areas... If the Ice Element is upgraded to Ultimate Ice, Ling Luochen's potential will be greatly increased.

"I'm leaving, I'm going back to the Outer Academy." Dai Huabin snapped out of his thoughts.

Ling Luochen nodded and headed towards the Inner Academy dormitory.

Zhu Lu was already waiting there, and Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Ning Tian were all ready as well.

The six of them left the Inner Academy's Soul Fighting Arena together, passed through the bamboo forest path, and headed towards the Sea God Lake along the way they had come.

There's no need to cross Sea God Lake on the return trip; there's a dedicated passageway connecting the Inner Academy to the Outer Academy area.

Along the way, Cui Yajie and Xiao Xiao walked in front chatting, while Ning Tian followed behind quietly listening. Wang Dong'er walked to Dai Huabin's left, occasionally glancing at him, but never saying a word.

Zhu Lu walked quietly to Dai Huabin's right.