Developing a Martial Soul Fusion Skill

Early the next morning, Shui Bing'er woke up before dawn.

After a night's rest, she had returned to peak condition.

After breakfast, she headed to the academy with her younger sister.

Skywater Academy was located beside a lake in the northwestern corner of Skywater City, sprawling across a vast area.

The academy buildings were predominantly ice-blue, glittering beneath the morning light.

Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er entered the academy together.

Quite a few students greeted them along the way.

"Senior Bing'er is back!"

"Good morning, Junior Yue'er!"

As the headmaster's daughters, the sisters attracted plenty of attention at the academy.

Especially Shui Bing'er.

Possessing the top-tier beast Martial Soul, the Ice Phoenix, she was the academy's publicly acknowledged genius girl.

By the time the two arrived at the training grounds, the other team members had already gathered.

"Bing'er, you're finally back!"

A tall, fair-skinned girl with black hair came forward to greet her.

She was Xue Wu, the team's vice-captain.

Xue Wu had a calm, steady temperament and was the oldest member of the team.

"Sister Xue Wu, long time no see."

Shui Bing'er responded with a smile.

The other team members also gathered around.

"Captain, congratulations on obtaining your third Soul Ring!"

A girl said excitedly.

She was Yu Hairou, whose Martial Soul was the Coral Barracuda.

"Captain, what is your third Soul Skill?"

The girl who asked was Gu Qingbo, whose Martial Soul was the Azure Sailfish. She was an agility attack-type Soul Master.

Shen Liuyu and Qiu Ruoshui also leaned closer, their faces full of anticipation.

Shen Liuyu's Martial Soul was the Enamel Lucky Crocodile, making her a power attack-type.

Qiu Ruoshui's Martial Soul was the Green Lotus Smoked Bass, also a power attack-type.

Looking at these familiar faces, warmth welled up in Shui Bing'er's heart.

"No rush. First, let me hear about your progress over the past month or so. Then I'll demonstrate my third Soul Skill."

Xue Wu spoke first.

"My Soul Power has reached the peak of level twenty-nine. I'm currently trying to break through to level thirty."

Yu Hairou followed, "I've reached the peak of level twenty-eight."

Gu Qingbo said, "Mid-level twenty-five."

Shen Liuyu said, "Early level twenty-five."

Qiu Ruoshui said, "Peak level twenty-four."

Shui Bing'er nodded, looking at her teammates with satisfaction.

"Very good. Everyone has improved. My Soul Power is now level thirty-two. My third Soul Ring came from a thousand-year-old Ice Phoenix Bird, and it gave me a Soul Skill that combines control and attack—Eye of the Ice Phoenix."

"The captain isn't even thirteen yet, and her Soul Power is already level thirty-two!"

Everyone cried out in amazement.

Surprise flashed through Xue Wu's eyes.

"Bing'er, this thousand-year Soul Ring truly is different. It directly raised your Soul Power by two levels."

Shui Bing'er smiled slightly and explained, "More importantly, it's because that soul beast was exceptionally compatible with my Martial Soul."

"That's true. Hurry and show us your third Soul Skill."

"Alright."

Shui Bing'er walked to the center of the training grounds and released her Martial Soul.

The phantom of an Ice Crystal Phoenix emerged. Yellow, yellow, and purple Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath her feet.

As the third Soul Ring lit up, an ice-blue mark appeared on Shui Bing'er's forehead.

Third Soul Skill, Eye of the Ice Phoenix!

A beam of icy blue light shot from the mark between Shui Bing'er's brows, striking a wooden post in the center of the training ground.

The post was instantly Ice Sealed, frost spreading rapidly until it completely encased it.

With a thought from Shui Bing'er—

Boom—

The ice shattered!

"What incredible power!"

Gu Qingbo exclaimed.

Shui Bing'er explained, "The Eye of the Ice Phoenix has two modes. One is area control, capable of freezing multiple targets at once and restraining them mentally; the other is attack, compressing ice-element energy to an extreme degree before releasing it, giving it immense penetrating power."

As she spoke, another beam shot from her eyes.

This beam was even more solid. When it struck another wooden post, it pierced straight through it.

"It has both control and offense. That's perfect!"

"Yeah, the captain's soul skill is amazing!"

The others applauded and praised her repeatedly.

Xue Wu seemed thoughtful. "Bing'er, your martial soul seems a little different now. Its aura is much stronger."

"It's because I'm highly compatible with the Ice Phoenix Bird. It really has brought me quite a significant improvement."

As they spoke, Leng Qinghuan walked over.

She was the leader of the team.

Shui Bing'er and the others quickly lined up.

"Hello, Teacher!"

Leng Qinghuan nodded slightly.

"Children, Bing'er has returned. Starting today, we'll undergo a month of special training to prepare for the Three Academy Exchange Tournament one month from now."

Leng Qinghuan briefly explained the Three Academy Exchange Tournament to them before beginning their training.

After training ended, Shui Bing'er went to the academy library.

Following Xu Feng's advice, she needed to study herbs.

The library housed a large collection of books on soul beasts, medicinal materials, and the continent's geography.

Shui Bing'er found the herb classification section and began reading.

Atlas of Hundred Herbs, Record of Rare Herbs, Analysis of Medicinal Properties...

An hour later, Xu Feng's voice suddenly sounded in her mind. "Bing'er, today's special training was fairly intense. Let's stop studying herbs here for today. There's no need to rush; we have plenty of time."

"Mm."

Shui Bing'er closed her book, rubbed her slightly sore eyes, and then left the library.

"Phoenix Brother, what do you think of my teammates?"

"They're all pretty good. They have some strength and aren't just pretty faces. Since they can be your teammates, they must have been carefully chosen."

"Yes, they've all been tested."

During today's training, everyone had displayed their soul skills.

Xu Feng had gained a deeper understanding of those girls' abilities.

"Phoenix Brother, your experience is far greater than ours. Do you have any suggestions for our team?"

"You're thinking about the Three Academy Exchange Tournament, aren't you? You want to rely on the team's strength to defeat them?"

"Mm."

Xu Feng thought for a moment.

"As for suggestions... not for now. However, I've discovered a key person who can greatly raise your team's overall strength."

"You mean?"

"Xue Wu."

"So it really is Sister Xue Wu."

Shui Bing'er was both surprised and delighted. She had already guessed as much.

"Among all my teammates, Sister Xue Wu and I have the best understanding. Our coordination is even better than mine with Yue'er."

"Mm. I could already sense that from your training. Xue Wu has the ability to control the weather. Her first soul skill is dark clouds, and her second is rainfall, which provides you with limited support. If she can unlock a snowfall skill, it will create excellent synergy with your ice attribute. Given the understanding between you two, even without my involvement, you may be able to develop a Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"

Shui Bing'er was startled.

A Martial Soul Fusion Skill was far more powerful than ordinary soul skills and demanded an extremely high level of coordination between its users.

With a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, a team could gain an even greater advantage in battle.

"Phoenix Brother, can Xue Wu and I really do it?"

"Of course. Your Martial Soul Fusion Skill will be led by you, and you'll control the fused power."

"That's wonderful! Sister Xue Wu had originally planned, when obtaining her third soul ring, to hunt a soul beast capable of releasing ice and snow, so she could gain a snowfall-type soul skill to support me."

"That works out perfectly. However, your Martial Soul Fusion Skill won't be ready in time for this Three Academy Exchange Tournament."

"It's fine. Sister Xue Wu hasn't even broken through Rank 30 yet."

Shui Bing'er was not in a hurry.

The chance to join forces with Xue Wu and use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill was an unexpected delight. She was already satisfied.

Although she had the powerful hundred-thousand-year Ice Phoenix as her backing, she still hoped to do her utmost to grow stronger.