Dragon-Phoenix Clash

After dinner.

Leng Jun came to Shui Bing'er's room and handed her two small bottles.

"Bing'er, these are for you and Yue'er. Hundred-year Whale Rubber—one pill a day. Once you finish this bottle, I'll prepare more for you."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Shui Bing'er accepted the small bottles.

Each bottle contained dozens of amber-colored pellets.

"Train hard. The exchange tournament is a month away, and Grandpa is looking forward to your performance."

"I will."

After a few simple instructions, Leng Jun left.

Shui Bing'er called out to Xu Feng in her mind.

"Phoenix Brother, Grandpa sent over some Whale Rubber. Should I take it now?"

"Yes. First refine it with fire, then take it while it's hot. Whale Rubber is an extremely yang and fiery substance, so you'll feel hot after consuming it. But your natural attribute is cold, so you can easily withstand the heat of hundred-year Whale Rubber."

"Alright."

Following Xu Feng's instructions, Shui Bing'er took out a pellet of Whale Rubber, heated it, and swallowed it.

Soon, a warm sensation spread through her body.

"Sit cross-legged and cultivate. Guide this heat to temper your body."

Shui Bing'er did as instructed, circulating her Soul Power through her body and directing the heat of the Whale Rubber into her limbs and bones.

She could feel her muscles and bones trembling faintly under the heat, as though they were being forged.

Two hours later, her cultivation ended.

Shui Bing'er opened her eyes and felt the changes in her body. Her skin seemed even more lustrous and radiant.

"Phoenix Brother, this Whale Rubber really seems to work."

"This is only the beginning. Take it continuously for a month, then switch to thousand-year quality. Your physique will undergo a qualitative leap."

"Alright. I'll take the other bottle to Yue'er so she can use it too."

"Go ahead."

Over the following days, Shui Bing'er's life became structured and fulfilling once more.

During the day, she trained with the team and studied tactics aimed at Godwind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy.

Afterward, she went to the library to study medicinal herbs.

At night, she consumed Whale Rubber and cultivated.

The teamwork among her teammates grew increasingly seamless.

As the brains of the team, Shui Bing'er could precisely grasp the rhythm of the battlefield.

The other members each performed their own duties and played to their strengths.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Shui Bing'er had already finished a bottle of hundred-year Whale Rubber.

She could feel the changes in her body.

Her muscles had become firmer and stronger, her bone density had increased, and her meridians had become more resilient.

Her studies of medicinal herbs in the library had also borne fruit.

She had already mastered the identification and effects of dozens of medicinal herbs.

The day of the Three Academy Exchange Tournament finally arrived.

That morning, Skywater Academy had been freshly decorated.

Ice-blue banners fluttered throughout the academy. The training grounds had been converted into a competition venue, and the seats in the stands were arranged in neat rows.

Shui Bing'er and her teammates arrived at the training grounds early.

At nine in the morning, a commotion rose from the academy gates.

Two teams entered the academy one after the other.

The students from Godwind Academy came first. They wore matching green academy uniforms, their steps light and nimble.

The young man at the front was in his early twenties, with handsome features, short green hair, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

He was Feng Xiaotian, captain of the Godwind Academy team, a level thirty-seven assault-type Battle Soul Elder.

The team members behind him were no weaklings either. Several were three-ring Soul Elders.

The team from Blazing Fire Academy entered right after them.

Their fiery red academy uniforms were as eye-catching as flames.

The leading young man was tall and powerfully built, with short red hair standing on end and fiery eyes.

He was none other than the captain, Huo Wushuang, a level thirty-five assault-type Battle Soul Elder.

The girl beside Huo Wushuang had long red hair, delicate features, a tall figure, and a proud look in her eyes.

She was Huo Wu, a level thirty-four control-type Battle Soul Elder.

As the dean, Shui Yuanqiao personally came to receive them.

The two teams were led toward the resting area.

As they passed the Skywater Team, Feng Xiaotian stopped, his gaze falling on Shui Bing'er.

"Shui Bing'er, it's been two years. You've all changed quite a bit."

"You too. Your auras have grown stronger."

Feng Xiaotian smiled faintly.

"I'm looking forward to facing you on the field. I heard you obtained your third soul ring?"

"Yes."

"Then today's match should be more interesting than it was two years ago."

After saying that, Feng Xiaotian led his team away.

Huo Wu walked up to Shui Bing'er and looked her over from head to toe.

"Bing'er, this time, I won't let you use Ice Seal to restrain my flames again."

Shui Bing'er smiled calmly.

"I can tell that you've become much stronger as well. We'll meet on the field."

"Fine."

Huo Wushuang nodded to Shui Bing'er in greeting, then pulled his sister along to catch up with the team.

Watching their departing figures, Xue Wu said softly, "Godwind Academy still has the same people, but they've all become stronger, especially Feng Xiaotian. And those siblings, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu, aren't to be underestimated either."

Shui Bing'er's expression did not change.

"They have their advantages, and we have our preparations. Proceed according to plan."

"Understood."

The team members answered in unison.

Half an hour passed quickly.

The stands were filled with Skywater Academy teachers and students, and the atmosphere was lively.

Shui Yuanqiao and the other academy higher-ups sat in the main stands, with the teachers leading Godwind Academy and Blazing Fire Academy seated beside them.

The rules were simple: the three teams would fight in rotation, with each match being seven against seven until one side lost all combat capability or surrendered.

The first match was Skywater Academy versus Blazing Fire Academy.

Both teams entered the arena.

On Blazing Fire Academy's side, Huo Wushuang stood at the front, while Huo Wu and three others stood in the middle, with the remaining two members at the rear.

On Skywater Academy's side, Shui Bing'er stood at the front, followed by Shui Yue'er and Yu Hairou. Shen Liuyu, Gu Qingbo, and Qiu Ruoshui formed a triangular formation around Xue Wu in the center.

The referee walked to the middle of the arena.

"Prepare for the match! Both sides may release your martial souls and soul rings!"

The moment his words fell, all fourteen competitors released their martial souls and soul rings at the same time.

On Blazing Fire Academy's side, seven masses of flame ignited simultaneously, causing the temperature throughout the arena to soar.

Huo Wushuang's martial soul was the One-Horned Fire Tyrant Dragon, his entire body covered in flames.

Huo Wu's martial soul was Fire Shadow, her figure flickering in and out of the flames.

One person's martial soul was the Fire Leopard, an assault-type martial soul.

Two others had Fire Cranes as their martial souls, making them agility attack-types.

The remaining two had Fire Star martial souls, support-types.

Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu both possessed two yellow and one purple soul ring.

The other five each had two yellow soul rings.

On Skywater Academy's side, Shui Bing'er's Ice Crystal Phoenix spread its wings, cold air filling the arena and immediately offsetting part of the intense heat.

Xue Wu's Snow Satin danced in the air, and the sky gradually darkened.

Shui Yue'er and the others also released their respective martial souls and soul rings, ready for battle.

Other than Shui Bing'er, who possessed two yellow and one purple soul ring, the remaining six all had two yellow soul rings.

In terms of soul ring count, Blazing Fire Academy had one additional thousand-year purple ring, giving them the edge.

Of the fourteen people on the field, only Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and Shui Bing'er could use thousand-year soul skills.

In a contest of this level, having one more thousand-year soul skill was undoubtedly a tremendous advantage.

However, team battles were not decided solely by the number and quality of soul rings. Team tactics and the coordination between teammates were even more important.

In this match, the clash between Shui Bing'er and Huo Wushuang was undoubtedly the main attraction.

Ice Phoenix versus Fire Dragon.

It was both a collision of ice and fire.

And a battle between phoenix and dragon.