Effortlessly Guiding Meng Hongchen

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean." Dai Huabin nodded approvingly.

Standing by the railing, Cui Yajie crossed her arms and tilted her head to look at the scene on the field.

"Is Huabin teaching her?"

Zhu Lu nodded.

"Huabin has a deep understanding of ice attributes. Although Meng Hongchen's Martial Soul is not the Ultimate Ice, the underlying principles are the same."

Cui Yajie pursed her lips.

"He's really generous in helping his opponent become stronger."

Xiao Xiao tugged at Cui Yajie's sleeve and whispered something.

"Yajie, stop being so sour. The class monitor must have his reasons for doing this."

"Who's being sour! I just feel sorry for him."

Wang Dong'er stood behind the group, a few strands of her long, light blue hair fluttering in the wind. She didn't say a word, but her attention was entirely focused on the center of the field.

Dai Huabin's manner of giving Meng Hongchen pointers was natural, neither condescending nor deliberately trying to get close.

She recalled when she first entered school, she was not convinced by Dai Huabin and even challenged Dai Huabin to Soul Fighting, from which she also learned a lot.

On the field, Meng Hongchen retracted the poison ring, a thin layer of sweat beading on her forehead. Continuously adjusting the ratio and spreading method of ice and fire had taken a considerable toll on her mental energy.

"Take a break." Dai Huabin tossed her a clean cloth.

Meng Hongchen caught it and wiped her forehead.

"Why do you understand ice attributes so well?" she asked. "You have the White Tiger Martial Soul; ice attributes are not your inherent nature."

"A few small opportunities."

Meng Hongchen stared at him for a while, then sighed.

"You always use this answer to brush off key questions."

"Because that's indeed the answer," Dai Huabin chuckled.

Do you still want to fight?

"Hit." Meng Hongchen stuffed the cloth into her pocket and stood up straight again.

"Then this time you'll use your third and fourth Soul Skill." Dai Huabin took five steps back. "I'll continue."

Meng Hongchen's Third Soul Ring and fourth Soul Ring lit up simultaneously. The thousand-year-old purple light was far more dazzling than that of the Hundred-Year Soul Ring.

Ice Refraction.

An ice mirror materialized beneath her feet, and she flashed across its surface, instantly appearing to Dai Huabin's right.

It's very fast.

Dai Huabin slightly turned his body and casually blocked Meng Hongchen's palm strike with his right hand.

The palm strike carried an icy chill and poison.

"Your positioning is good, but you hesitated too much in your first strike after landing." He blocked her wrist, feeling the cold poison seep in with the force of his palm, and a thin layer of ice crystals quickly formed on her skin.

Dai Huabin's first Soul Ring lit up, and the White Tiger Protection Barrier kept the cold poison at bay.

"The advantage of a movement-type Soul Skill lies in its surprise, but there is a 0.3-second pause between the end of your movement and the start of your attack. This 0.3-second pause may not matter in battles between opponents of the same level, but against a strong enemy, it can be enough to lead to your defeat."

He released Meng Hongchen's wrist.

"Try to build up power during the movement, and synchronize the landing point with the release."

Meng Hongchen took three steps back, and the ice mirror solidified once more.

This time, she activated her fourth Soul Skill, Ice Replenishment, the moment she entered the ice mirror.

Using fire as its source, it activates the Ice Toad Poison, transforming it into pure energy to nourish itself.

When she emerged from the ice mirror, her entire body was enveloped in a pale blue light that blended ice and fire, and she struck out with her right palm.

This palm strike was at least twice as fast as the previous one.

Dai Huabin did not block, but stepped aside to let him pass.

A gust of wind brushed past his ear, a chill running down his face.

That's more like it.

Meng Hongchen withdrew her palms and stood still, her chest heaving noticeably. The continuous use of four Soul Skills had taken a heavy toll, and the tips of her ice-blue hair had begun to frost over.

That's all for today.

Dai Huabin clapped his hands.

"After you go back, practice the natural flow of the ice and fire ratio. Don't try to control it; let your Martial Soul find the balance on its own. Come find me again when you can make the poison bead automatically adjust the ice and fire concentration while flying."

Meng Hongchen straightened up, her icy blue pupils reflecting Dai Huabin's image.

Why are you teaching me?

Dai Huabin had already turned and walked towards the sidelines.

"Because your ice attribute talent is quite good, it's a pity."

These words were spoken very casually, but Meng Hongchen stood still for a long while before moving.

Xiao Hongchen walked over from the railing and handed his younger sister a pot of water.

Meng Hongchen took it and drank two mouthfuls.

"Elder brother."

He said my ice attribute talent wasn't bad.

Xiao Hongchen patted her head.

"Don't be too happy yet. He didn't use his full strength with any of his Soul Skill today."

Meng Hongchen paused for a moment as she drank the water.

She recalled the entire exchange of skills...

Dai Huabin only used a White Tiger Protection Barrier of a hundred-year level; the rest of the time he relied solely on his movement and hand techniques to deflect her attacks.

Throughout the entire process, she handled it with ease.

"I know."

Meng Hongchen returned the kettle to Xiao Hongchen, her tone calm, but her fingers gripped the kettle tightly.

That's why I want to become stronger.

Xiao Hongchen looked at his younger sister's profile and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Dream, do you want to become stronger, or do you just want him to take a second look at you?"

Meng Hongchen did not answer this question.

She turned and walked towards the dormitory, her silver ponytail swaying behind her.

"Hmph! I'm going back to practice my skills."

Xiao Hongchen stood there, watching his sister's retreating figure, and shook his head.

On the sidelines, Zhu Lu leaned quietly against Dai Huabin.

"You really just think her talent is a pity?"

Dai Huabin looked down at her.

"Otherwise what?"

Zhu Lu didn't ask any further questions, but simply reached out and hooked her little finger with his.

Di Lingxi jumped over from the other side and grabbed Dai Huabin's arm.

"Huabin! I'm hungry!"

"You're hungry less than two hours after lunch?"

"I'm still growing!"

Cui Yajie rolled her eyes.

"Di Lingxi, are you a gluttonous beast?"

"No way! Taotie is so ugly!"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth and laughed.

Wang Dong'er walked at the very back, and hearing the noise ahead, her pace quickened involuntarily.

Meanwhile, Di Lingxi was still clinging to Dai Huabin's arm, her legs swinging back and forth, muttering to herself.

"Huabin, I'm really hungry, I'm not lying to you."

Dai Huabin thought for a moment, then turned to look at Ning Tian.

"Let's go to the Nine Treasures Pavilion."

Ning Tian nodded.

"Okay, my treat!"

Di Lingxi's eyes immediately lit up.

"Nine Treasures Pavilion! I've heard Sister Bing'er say that the food there is especially delicious!"

Ning Tian smiled and said, "Of course. Huabin, let's go."

"Wait a minute." Dai Huabin stopped in his tracks. "Bing'er and Xue'er are still in the dormitory. Let's call them together."

Zhu Lu nodded, turned around and jogged back to the dormitory building to call for help.

A few minutes later, Ice Empress and Snow Empress came out of the dormitory building.

Ice Empress wore her hair in bright green twin ponytails and a white and green dress, exuding a faint coolness. She glanced at everyone present and snorted.

"Where are all these people going?"

"Nine Treasures Pavilion, let's eat!" Di Lingxi skipped and jumped over to grab Ice Empress's hand, "Sister Bing'er, let's go, let's go!"

Ice Empress stumbled a step as she pulled him, looking somewhat displeased, but he didn't shake her off.