Shui Bing'er

Following Shui Wusheng's description, Yu Yuanzhen lowered his head and glanced at the bird Soul Beast in his hand.

Sure enough.

Aside from the obvious marks on the bird Soul Beast's wings,

there were indeed several distinct wounds on its belly.

Seeing that the other man truly hadn't lied, the Soul Power pressure Yu Yuanzhen had placed on Shui Wusheng instantly vanished.

"Very well. Since you've been fairly sincere and haven't lied to me..."

"Go catch another Soul Beast of roughly the same size and trade it for this one. Then it's yours."

As it happened, this bird Soul Beast, which was clearly of the ice element, wouldn't taste very good.

Yu Yuanzhen decided to do Shui Wusheng a favor and trade it for a Soul Beast with better flavor.

"No problem!"

Shui Wusheng said excitedly,

"May I ask if Your Eminence has any particular requirements for the Soul Beast?"

"As long as it tastes good. Oh, and leave that little girl here. I'll guarantee her safety."

"This..."

Shui Wusheng hesitated visibly.

Although the Titled Douluo before him seemed easygoing enough, they had only just met.

Shui Wusheng really didn't want to leave his daughter here.

But the other man's strength as a Titled Douluo was plain to see. He, a mere Soul Saint, didn't seem to have any room to resist.

"What, I'm the mighty Thunder Douluo. Do you think I'd do anything to a little girl?"

Seeing how reluctant the other man looked, Yu Yuanzhen glared at him.

"So it is the former clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. This junior was discourteous."

Hearing Yu Yuanzhen state his title, Shui Wusheng's expression changed in shock. He hurriedly bowed and saluted once more:

"I trust in the former clan leader's good name. I'll leave my daughter in Your Eminence's care for now. I'll be back shortly!"

With that, he turned to Shui Bing'er and said:

"Bing'er, stay with this grandpa for a little while. Father will be right back."

"Don't do anything to upset him."

"Okay."

Understanding her father's predicament, Shui Bing'er nodded obediently.

After giving Shui Bing'er his instructions, Shui Wusheng immediately took his leave and rushed into the woods.

Once Shui Wusheng had left, Yu Yuanzhen first glanced at Yu Tianchen, who was still sitting cross-legged as he recovered his Soul Power.

Only after confirming that the earlier altercation hadn't disturbed his beloved grandson did he turn his gaze back to Shui Bing'er.

"Little girl, come here."

He beckoned to her.

Shui Bing'er obediently stepped forward, looking nervous.

"Hello, Grandpa."

Yu Yuanzhen smiled.

He might not have much patience for adults like Shui Wusheng,

but he wasn't about to put on the airs of a Titled Douluo around a little girl of his grandchildren's generation.

"Did you awaken your Martial Soul this year, too?"

Yu Yuanzhen asked Shui Bing'er gently.

"Mm. I awakened it two months ago."

Shui Bing'er answered very obediently.

Awakened two months ago? And already at level ten?

That meant this little girl had quite a talent.

A hint of surprise appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's face.

His eldest grandson, Yu Tianheng, had had Innate Soul Power of level eight. It had taken him about two months to reach level ten, too.

Shui Bing'er's talent was actually on par with Yu Tianheng's.

That meant her Innate Soul Power was probably around level eight as well.

"What Martial Soul did you awaken? And what's your Soul Power Level?"

Though Yu Yuanzhen was a little surprised, he asked as casually as if nothing were amiss.

"Um..."

"My Martial Soul is an Ice Phoenix, and my Innate Soul Power is level eight."

Shui Bing'er hesitated slightly at the question, but still told him her Martial Soul and Soul Power Level.

She had no choice.

Facing a Titled Douluo, she could only answer obediently.

If she displeased Your Eminence, she and her father would be in trouble.

"An advanced Beast Martial Soul, too..."

Yu Yuanzhen's expression showed a touch of surprise.

An advanced Beast Martial Soul and level-eight Innate Soul Power.

Her talent couldn't match Yu Tianchen's, but it was already on par with Yu Tianheng's.

What a fine little seedling. And she was quite a pretty girl, too...

Yu Yuanzhen glanced at Yu Tianchen without making it obvious.

But thinking about how young the two children were, he let the thought that had just occurred to him die away.

Never mind. Xiao Chen had a mind of his own, and he was still too young. Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't try to play matchmaker.

Then he stood up, squeezed the Ice Bird he'd been clutching until it was barely alive, and tossed it down in front of Shui Bing'er.

"Since you and your father planned to use it for your First Soul Ring..."

"Finish it off now and absorb it here."

"With me here, I can stop anything from going wrong."

"Huh?"

Yu Yuanzhen's actions clearly left Shui Bing'er stunned.

"What are you standing there for? If you don't finish it off, it'll die on its own."

Seeing the Ice Bird's breathing grow weaker and weaker while Shui Bing'er still hadn't moved, Yu Yuanzhen reminded her outright.

"Oh, right!"

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

Shui Bing'er snapped out of it and hurriedly pulled a small dagger from her waist, plunging it into the Ice Bird's neck.

A look of release passed through the Ice Bird's eyes, and it breathed its last.

A pale-yellow Soul Ring slowly drifted up from its body.

Shui Bing'er sat cross-legged, released her Martial Soul, and entered a meditative state to absorb the Soul Ring.

Since its age was just right and the Soul Beast was highly compatible with Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul, it took hardly any time at all.

Shui Bing'er completed the Soul Ring absorption.

Feeling her Soul Power grow, Shui Bing'er stood up in delight and respectfully said to Yu Yuanzhen:

"Thank you for watching over me, Grandpa. Bing'er is deeply grateful."

"It was yours to begin with. No need to thank me."

Yu Yuanzhen waved his hand casually, his attention fixed on Yu Tianchen the entire time.

"Find somewhere to sit. Your father should be back before long."

"Then you can leave together."

"Okay."

Shui Bing'er nodded.

Following Yu Yuanzhen's gaze, she spotted Yu Tianchen sitting cross-legged in meditation not far away.

That must be the younger generation of Your Eminence's family, right?

He looked about the same age as her...

From Yu Tianchen's appearance, Shui Bing'er could almost immediately guess why this Titled Douluo had come here.

Most likely, just like her father had brought her along, this Titled Douluo had brought him here to hunt for a Soul Ring.

Was he cultivating now? Or doing something else?

Shui Bing'er sat down not far in front of Yu Tianchen and watched him meditating with curiosity.

Yu Tianchen was handsome, with regular features. As he circulated the Great Sun Thunder Body to meditate and recover,

a faint glow surrounded his body.

On top of that, his clothes had been worn and torn when he'd used his First Soul Skill on Yu Yuanzhen earlier, leaving the well-proportioned, powerful muscles beneath them faintly visible.

With all those buffs combined, Shui Bing'er's cheeks grew slightly warm as she watched him.

Not far away, Yu Yuanzhen watched the scene but said nothing.

Though he wasn't about to play matchmaker,

if the two children wanted to get to know each other, he wouldn't stop them.