Shui Bing'er's Means of Keeping People

Lin Yi was speechless upon hearing Shui Bing'er's words.

[What do you mean, if I don't like the Guest Elder status, I can take on another identity?]

[I don't want to get involved with you people at all, okay?]

[Besides, a teenage Guest Elder—who would believe that?]

[And if I go to Skywater Academy as a Guest Elder, how am I supposed to keep a low profile?]

[I need to think of a way...]

Just as he was trying to figure out how to politely decline, Xiao Wu had already excitedly chimed in.

"Sister Shui, does your Skywater Academy really only accept female students? Doesn't that mean it's all girls?"

Shui Bing'er nodded and smiled. "Yes, that is a unique feature of our academy, as well as our tradition."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, what do you think?"

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment before asking softly, "How are the cultivation resources?"

Although she wanted to follow Lin Yi, what she cared about most was becoming stronger.

"Very good." It was Shui Yue'er who answered. Her personality was livelier than Shui Bing'er's, and she jumped in, "Although most of our resources are focused on ice and water attributes, the others are also excellent. For instance, our Mimicry Fields are fully equipped..."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded thoughtfully and asked again, "Is the competition intense?"

"Competition certainly exists," Shui Bing'er took over, her tone sincere. "But we never engage in internal strife. The tradition of Skywater Academy is for sisters to be of one mind—we compete against outsiders and help one another internally."

Zhu Zhuqing's expression flickered slightly at these words.

She thought of the cutthroat infighting within the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire, and the unbridgeable chasm between her and her sister.

Sisters of one mind?

The term felt far too foreign to her.

Xiao Wu noticed the change in her expression, reached out to squeeze her hand, and then looked at Shui Bing'er. "Sister Shui, if we join, we won't be bullied by students from other academies, right?"

Shui Bing'er smiled faintly. "At Skywater Academy, we are the only ones who bully others; there is no such thing as others bullying us."

Lin Yi listened from the side, his heart filled with more internal complaints.

[Listen to that—the way she says it, you'd think this was some kind of criminal syndicate.]

[But Skywater Academy really does have the confidence to back it up. They are perennial top-eight finishers in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, and occasionally even make the top four. They're definitely not weak.]

[But the problem is, you're all chatting so enthusiastically—have you considered my feelings at all?]

[I'm a man who intends to live a carefree life in Heaven Dou City, not someone here to accompany you to a girls' academy.]

Just as he was thinking this, Xiao Wu suddenly turned her head and looked at him with a beaming smile.

"Lin Yi, what do you think?"

Lin Yi's mouth twitched. "What do I think about what? You guys chat amongst yourselves; what does that have to do with me?"

"How could it not have anything to do with you?" Xiao Wu said as if it were obvious. "We go wherever you go."

Lin Yi: "So?"

"So, if you don't join Skywater Academy," Xiao Wu blinked, "then we won't go either. You can think about that yourself."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently from the side, signaling her agreement.

Lin Yi took a deep breath.

[So, in the end, it still comes down to me?]

[But I don't want to! I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life on my own.]

He rubbed his temples, feeling helpless. "Xiao Wu, Zhuqing, you really don't need to consider me. Skywater Academy is truly suitable for you both; going there will be beneficial for your respective development."

"And what about you?" Xiao Wu countered.

"Me?" Lin Yi spread his hands. "I'll just find some random place to drift along. I'm a support-type anyway; my future is pretty much set. It's all the same wherever I go."

[My plan is actually just to find a place, open a small shop, and live a quiet life.]

[After all, aside from my Twin Martial Souls, I don't have a cheat code like Tang San.]

Xiao Wu secretly laughed to herself upon hearing this, but kept a serious expression on her face. "That won't do. You're my exclusive support; how can you just go find some random place to drift?"

Lin Yi looked at her, speechless. "When did I become your exclusive support?"

"Ever since the day you recharged me," Xiao Wu said matter-of-factly. "Look, you helped me break through my bottleneck; I have to be responsible for you, don't I?"

Lin Yi's mouth twitched even more violently.

[Responsible for me? Why does that sound so strange?]

Just as he was about to retort, Shui Bing'er spoke up.

"Student Lin Yi, I can understand your concerns," her tone was very sincere. "A teenage Guest Elder is indeed rare, but it is not without precedent. Our Skywater Academy once invited a gifted support-type Soul Master to serve as a Guest Elder, and he was only fifteen at the time."

Lin Yi was stunned. "For real?"

[The original story never mentioned this?]

She must have taken a liking to the little rabbit and Zhu Zhuqing's talent, and wants to drag me into this mess.

But come to think of it, if they go to Skywater Academy, their future cultivation might see miraculous results.

Shui Bing'er was stunned for a moment, then reacted, saying indifferently, "Of course it's true. We have no reason to lie to you."

She paused, then continued, "If that really doesn't work, you could also join under a different status, such as an external student, or become a personal disciple of our Dean..."

Lin Yi couldn't help but complain inwardly upon hearing this.

A personal disciple of the Dean?

Sister, aren't you using a few too many tactics to keep people here?

The key is, what kind of ability or potential do I have to become your Dean's disciple?

Could it be just because of my Twin Martial Souls?

But if this secret is exposed before I have enough strength, ten lives wouldn't be enough to keep me alive.

As he was thinking, Shui Yue'er suddenly leaned in and asked curiously, "Classmate Lin Yi, what is your Martial Soul? Can you show it to us?"

Lin Yi looked at Xiao Wu, then at Zhu Zhuqing, and finally nodded, extending his right hand.

The Myriad Star Core appeared in his palm, and a soft, silvery-white light spread outward.

"Myriad Star Core," he introduced simply. "The first soul skill is Starlight Sharing, which can boost a teammate's overall attributes. The second soul skill is Starlight Charge, which can replenish a teammate's soul power."

Although he didn't go into too much detail, it was enough to pique the interest of everyone from Skywater Academy.

Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up slightly. "Boost overall attributes? Replenish soul power?"

"The effect is limited," Lin Yi quickly added. "The boost is about ten percent, and as for the charge... it consumes a lot and can't be used often."

That should be low-key enough, right?

A ten percent boost sounds okay, but in reality, it can play a decisive role at critical moments.

Not to mention the charging; it's basically a mobile power bank.

But I definitely can't say that out loud.

Shui Bing'er nodded thoughtfully and looked at Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, when you said Lin Yi helped you break through just now, you meant..."

Xiao Wu nodded, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Yeah, after he gave me a charge, that level twenty-nine bottleneck of mine loosened, and it wasn't long before I broke through."

Since everyone could hear Lin Yi's inner voice anyway, none of this was a secret anymore, so there was no harm in saying it.

Most importantly, if she didn't say it, Lin Yi might refuse to go to Skywater Academy.