It was also while Yu Tianchen and his grandfather were strolling around Skywater City.
At a bustling spot near the city center, in front of Skywater Academy.
"Big sister, is it really okay for us to enter the academy without Mother's permission?"
A slightly younger blue-haired girl with striking features looked at the playful girl in front of her, whose short hair was a deep shade of green, and asked hesitantly.
"Oh, it's fine, Bing'er."
The playful girl giggled.
"In a few years, we'll be coming here to study anyway. What's wrong with taking a look ahead of time?"
"This..."
Shui Bing'er watched her sister Shui Yue'er, who was brimming with enthusiasm, and ultimately said nothing more that might dampen her sister's spirits.
They were only going in for a look around. It should be fine, right?
Then Shui Yue'er went up to speak with the guards at the entrance to Skywater Academy.
Shui Bing'er waited where she was.
As she watched Shui Yue'er haggle with the guards,
a familiar voice came from a nearby street.
"Grandpa, that should be Skywater Academy over there, right?"
That voice sounds so familiar...
Shui Bing'er's heart stirred faintly. She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew that voice.
She instinctively turned her head, and her eyes met those of a young man nearby.
Both of them froze for a moment.
Two years had passed, but Yu Tianchen's appearance hadn't changed all that much.
He still looked as handsome and well-proportioned as before, but whether it was because he'd been struck by lightning or because he'd been cultivating the Great Sun Thunder Body, there was now a hint of steely resolve on his handsome face.
His cultivation had also made him a little taller. Rather than becoming a hulking mass of muscle from his body-tempering training, his physique complemented his height, giving him a powerful yet balanced appearance.
Compared to Yu Tianchen, Shui Bing'er had clearly matured much more.
The childishness of her younger years had faded from her features, leaving her even more strikingly beautiful. She was tall, with the beginnings of a curvaceous figure.
She still looked a little youthful overall, but she was already a graceful beauty.
Since Yu Tianchen's appearance hadn't changed much, Shui Bing'er recognized him first.
"Yu Tianchen?"
At the sound of her somewhat familiar voice, and seeing her signature blue hair,
Yu Tianchen snapped out of his daze at her beauty, his face filling with astonishment.
"Shui Bing'er?"
"It really is you!"
Seeing that Yu Tianchen still recognized her, Shui Bing'er's face lit up with delight.
She hurried over. When she noticed Yu Yuanzhen approaching behind Yu Tianchen, she straightened up and greeted him politely.
"Hello, Grandpa Yu."
"Hahaha, you're a Shui Family girl, aren't you? It's been two years, and you've grown into an even more lovely young lady."
Yu Yuanzhen laughed, then glanced discreetly at Yu Tianchen.
Seeing Yu Tianchen standing there in a daze, Yu Yuanzhen's smile deepened. He said with a grin,
"Since we're here, Tianchen, weren't you planning to stop by and see her?"
"Well, now that you've run into each other, you two can chat."
"This old man will wander around somewhere else. I'll come find you directly later."
"Eh? Wait..."
Yu Tianchen suddenly realized that Yu Yuanzhen was planning to slip away on his own. He was just about to say something
when Yu Yuanzhen vanished from his sight in a flash.
Yu Tianchen: "..."
Seeing Yu Tianchen's awkward expression, Shui Bing'er couldn't help laughing softly.
She stepped closer and smiled at him.
"Yu Tianchen, it's been two years, and you've grown so much taller!"
"Cultivators tend to grow fast, don't they? It's only natural."
Yu Tianchen smiled.
"You've changed quite a bit, too. When we first met, I almost didn't recognize you."
He really had almost failed to recognize her.
Shui Bing'er was already beginning to take on the makings of a mature beauty.
She looked quite different from the adorable girl he'd met in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yu Tianchen knew that people on the Douluo Continent tended to mature early.
Children also generally developed faster physically after becoming Soul Masters.
But surely they couldn't change this much in just two years?
Yu Tianchen and Shui Bing'er chatted as they walked, eventually reaching the entrance to Skywater Academy.
"By the way, are you studying here now? Aren't you still too young for Skywater Academy?"
Looking at the academy's sign, Yu Tianchen asked Shui Bing'er in confusion.
"No. My parents plan to send me to Skywater Academy when I turn twelve. Until then, I can study at home."
Shui Bing'er said,
"My big sister dragged me here today to look around."
"By the way, Tianchen, what level are you now?"
"Don't forget our promise back in the Star Dou Great Forest. I still want to spar with you again."
"I'm level eighteen. Your talent is so much better than mine, so you must have reached the second ring by now, right?"
"Of course."
Yu Tianchen nodded with a smile.
"I'm level twenty-seven now."
"How much?!"
Shui Bing'er's beautiful eyes widened, her face filled with shock.
"T-Twenty-seven?!"
"How did you manage that?"
She'd thought that gaining six levels in two years was already impressive.
Even her parents had praised her talent.
But she'd never imagined that the young man before her, who was about her age,
was already a level-twenty-seven Soul Grandmaster!
If she remembered correctly, Yu Tianchen had only been level fifteen when they'd met in the Star Dou Great Forest two years ago.
That meant he'd gained twelve levels in two years!
And it was entirely possible that next year, when they were both nine,
he would break through to the Soul Elder realm!
A nine-year-old Soul Elder...
Shui Bing'er looked at Yu Tianchen as if he were a monster.
"I just got lucky, that's all. Pure luck."
Yu Tianchen laughed, then gave her a teasing look.
"Well, do you still want to spar with me?"
"Nope, nope. What's the point? I'd just be asking for a beating."
Shui Bing'er shook her head at once.
If Yu Tianchen had only been a little over level twenty, she might have had the courage to try taking him on.
But he was level twenty-seven.
She'd have to be an idiot to fight him.
"Bing'er!"
Just then, someone called out from nearby.
The two of them turned toward the voice at the same time.
Shui Yue'er was waving in Shui Bing'er's direction.
"Come on! I've already convinced the guard!"
"Got it!"
Shui Bing'er called back with a smile, then looked at Yu Tianchen.
"Come on, I'll take you around Skywater Academy."
"Are visitors allowed inside?"
Yu Tianchen asked, puzzled.
"I thought only girls were allowed into Skywater Academy."
"That's just for enrollment. Visitors can still come in and look around."
"Let's go."
Shui Bing'er smiled, took Yu Tianchen's hand, and led him toward the entrance to Skywater Academy.
Before you continue