A pair of multicolored dragon eyes reflected the firelight. Everyone who saw them drew in a sharp breath.
Su Hui's current form, covered in silver scales, was especially awe-inspiring—sacred and majestic!
Shui Furong frowned, searching her memory for the name of this Martial Soul.
"Silver Dragon King... I've never seen this Martial Soul mentioned in any text."
"..."
Shui Bing'er stared at Su Hui, dazed.
His silver hair stirred gently in the night breeze, and his dragon scales reflected the flames. His multicolored, slit-pupil eyes radiated an indescribable majesty.
So this is his Martial Soul... What a powerful presence.
Even her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul seemed dim in comparison.
The silver sheen slowly faded.
His horns, scales, and tail vanished one after another.
Su Hui's silver hair fell away, turning back into short black hair, and his multicolored slit pupils returned to their usual dark hue.
The bonfire continued to crackle.
Shui Yue'er pressed both hands to her flushed cheeks and sprang up with an excited cry.
"Boss Su looked so handsome when he transformed just now! His dragon horns were glittering, his scales were glowing, and he looked like a heavenly god come down to earth!"
Shui Bing'er stood frozen in place, her fingertips trembling faintly.
Her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul hummed softly within her, and that feeling of being suppressed had yet to fade completely.
When I face him, my Ice Phoenix actually feels afraid... Just what level is his Martial Soul?
Shui Furong looked the most solemn.
As a Soul Douluo, her senses were far sharper than the others'.
When Su Hui had revealed his Silver Dragon Body, the Ice-element Martial Soul within her had trembled with an urge to bow before him.
My Ice-element Martial Soul actually feels an urge to submit to this boy's dragon form... That isn't the bloodline suppression of a Beast Martial Soul. It's suppression by the power of ice itself.
She tamped down the turbulent waves in her heart and took a deep breath. "Boss Su, is your Martial Soul really a dragon?"
Su Hui nodded and casually brushed the stray hair away from his forehead.
"The Silver Dragon King Martial Soul should be a kind of True Dragon Martial Soul, and one that controls several elemental powers."
"That's also why I can absorb both fire-attribute and ice-attribute Soul Rings."
The girls were shaken.
Shui Yue'er counted on her fingers.
"Several elements? Fire and ice... Does that mean Boss Su can absorb Soul Rings of other attributes too?"
Su Hui smiled faintly without denying it.
Shui Bing'er pressed her lips together, her ice-blue eyes reflecting the flickering firelight.
"Then why... does my Ice Phoenix Martial Soul tremble when it faces you?"
"The Ice Phoenix and dragons aren't closely related by blood. Is this bloodline suppression?"
She couldn't help asking.
The other female students nearby perked up their ears.
Su Hui pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his temple.
"I don't think the Silver Dragon King Martial Soul itself is necessarily the cause. It might be because of the Ice Jade Scorpion."
Everyone stared at him. "The Ice Jade Scorpion?"
Su Hui lowered his hand.
"After those two scorpion Soul Beasts sacrificed themselves to me, I gained information about them in my mind along with their Soul Rings. Their species is called the Ice Jade Scorpion."
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu frowned at the same time.
They had faced the Ice Jade Scorpions before. Back then, the ice elements within them had been suppressed, making them difficult to circulate.
Su Hui continued, "Ice Jade Scorpions are naturally dual-attribute, with both ice and poison."
"But as they evolve, they deliberately abandon the poison attribute and focus solely on ice."
"This choice transforms them completely, and their ice attribute ultimately evolves into 'Ultimate Ice.'"
Shen Xinshui tilted her head. "Ultimate Ice?"
There was no such term in this era.
Su Hui swept his hand through the air. The remaining ice element at his fingertips condensed into a tiny ice crystal.
"I learned about it after the Ice Jade Scorpions sacrificed themselves."
"Ultimate Ice is the king among ordinary attributes like ice and snow."
"Any Soul Master with an ordinary ice attribute will be naturally suppressed when facing Ultimate Ice."
"It isn't suppression in terms of Soul Power, but suppression of rank."
He paused.
"You can compare it to the bloodline suppression of Beast Martial Souls. It's like a house cat encountering a tiger. No matter how big the cat is, it can't escape the suppression rooted in its blood."
The girls listened, dumbfounded.
Shui Furong stared at the ice-blue Soul Power flickering in Su Hui's palm.
"An ordinary ice attribute is like a commoner standing before an emperor when faced with Ultimate Ice..."
It was a fitting comparison.
That was exactly how her own Ice-element Martial Soul had felt.
"So that's why my Ice-element Martial Soul was afraid."
She couldn't help giving a wry smile. "The world is vast, and it's full of wonders. I've lived this long, but this is the first time I've heard of Ultimate Attributes."
"..."
Shui Bing'er lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows across her cheeks.
Ultimate Ice... Does that mean my Ice Phoenix Martial Soul will always be a step below his?
It wasn't just awe. Deep in her heart, Shui Bing'er also felt a stubborn desire to prove herself.
Shui Yue'er hadn't thought that far ahead. She grabbed Su Hui's sleeve and shook it vigorously.
"Boss Su, you're incredible! Ultimate Ice! I want it too. Then I could just beat any ice-attribute Soul Master I ran into, right?"
Xue Wu pulled her back. "Stop shaking Boss Su. Besides, are Soul Rings really that easy to get? Didn't you hear what Su Hui said? Ice Jade Scorpions live in the heart of the snowfields. They're the overlords there."
This was a forbidden zone for humans.
Even Skywater Academy only dared hunt Soul Beasts in the outer regions.
They said there might be a legendary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in the heart of the icefield.
Su Hui nodded. "With Ultimate Ice, Ice Jade Scorpions are practically invincible among Soul Beasts of the same rank. They can even hunt opponents above their level."
"Those two Ice Jade Scorpions appeared in the outer regions back then because of some special circumstances."
Gu Qingbo sucked in a sharp breath. "Hunting opponents above their level... That kind of Soul Beast is terrifying."
Shui Bing'er silently made up her mind.
One day, I'll find an Ultimate Attribute Soul Ring of my own. I can't let him suppress me forever!
Shui Furong took in everyone's expressions.
She didn't press Su Hui about his Soul Skills or the details of his other trump cards.
It was too early. Pushing too hard would only make him wary.
She clapped her hands. "All right, it's late. Everyone, go get some rest. We'll head back to Skywater City first thing tomorrow morning."
The girls answered and dispersed.
Shui Furong watched Su Hui's retreating back, her eyes shining.
"No matter what, we have to make this boy stay at Skywater Academy."
His talent, his Martial Soul, and his knowledge of Soul Beasts were all priceless treasures.
Take it slowly. Don't rush. We absolutely mustn't let him think we're after something.
In Su Hui's Sea of Consciousness.
The Ice Empress lounged on an ice platform conjured from a Soul Bone, her jade-green Scorpion Tail swaying gently.
"These people are so easy to fool. They believe whatever you tell them."
Su Hui walked to the edge of the tent and looked up at the star-filled sky.
"After all, they really don't know what I told them, and they have no way to find out the truth."
"With a living example like me right in front of them, they have to believe it."
"Tsk."
The Ice Empress gave a light snort, three parts haughty and seven parts pleased.
"They only understand a fraction of how powerful Ultimate Ice is."
"If this empress released her aura at full strength, that Soul Douluo named Shui Furong probably wouldn't even be able to stand."
Su Hui's lips curled. "So please bear with it, Your Majesty the Ice Empress. You'll have to hole up in my Sea of Consciousness for now."
"Eh, at least it's pretty quiet in here."
The Ice Empress didn't feel particularly put out.
In fact, not having to face a Heavenly Tribulation left her in a rather good mood.
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