The Night Before the Exchange Competition

"Where is Yan Zheng!"

Murong Ci shouted at the young man who had been watching Huo Wu's battle just a moment ago.

Immediately, a tall figure stepped out from the crowd.

Murong Ci hadn't noticed it before, but he now had to tilt his head back to look at him.

"Captain!"

Yan Zheng cupped his hands and bowed, his attitude sincere.

Such a person...

Murong Ci shelved his plans for discipline and returned the salute.

"Good brother, please introduce yourself briefly."

"My name is Yan Zheng, seventeen years old this year. My Martial Soul is the Flame Scale Rock Lizard, a power-attack type with dual fire and earth attributes. I am currently a level 42 Soul Ancestor with two yellow and two purple soul rings."

Yan Zheng's voice was deep and heavy, his words concise; he was not one for idle chatter.

He raised his hand and tensed his arm slightly, causing fine, dark-red rock scales to faintly emerge on the surface of his skin.

"In the team, I am responsible for holding the front line and breaking through defenses. You just need to focus on attacking, Captain."

As his voice fell, he dropped his hands and stood perfectly straight.

Murong Ci felt a complex mix of emotions.

"Actually... you don't need to be so formal..."

At this moment, Teacher Yan Yan walked over and handed Murong Ci a glass of water.

"Thank you, Teacher."

"No need for formalities, Xiao Ci. My son is just used to being reserved; you will naturally find a suitable way to get along."

Murong Ci nodded slightly, though in his heart, he had already decided on a different method of discipline...

"Let's go. We'll eat first, and after we're done, we'll go train!"

Murong Ci called out and turned to walk toward the cafeteria.

"Yay!"

Skywater Academy, at the Cold Ice Spirit Spring.

"Ah!"

The blue-haired girl let out a sharp cry.

She was sent flying backward.

"That's the one hundred and twenty-first failure. Why do you keep fighting?"

The green-haired girl snorted coldly, ignoring her as she plunged back into the Cold Ice Spirit Spring.

"I... refuse to accept this!"

The blue-haired girl gritted her teeth, her face filled with defiance and unwillingness.

Both girls were stunningly beautiful, possessing looks that could topple kingdoms.

The blue-haired girl carried an air of maturity, with a tall, slender, and upright figure.

The green-haired girl leaned more toward a petite, adorable, and charming appearance, yet her strength was severely at odds with her image.

The blue-haired girl was none other than Shui Bing'er, whose Martial Soul was the Ice Phoenix, possessing a half-step Ultimate Ice attribute.

She was currently a level 38 power-attack type Soul Elder, ranking among the best at Skywater Academy.

However... she had encountered Bing Bi'er.

When they first met, she thought the name was strange and didn't pay it much mind.

When they fought, she discovered that Bing Bi'er was a level 43 power-attack type Battle Soul Ancestor. They were about the same age, yet Bing Bi'er was already a Soul Ancestor...

And now, Bing Bi'er had humiliated her to the point of suppressing her own soul power to the Soul Elder level just to fight her.

Yet, she still couldn't win...

Bing Bi'er's Martial Soul was the rare Ice Jade Scorpion, something no one on the continent had ever heard of; it was only through her own account that others gained any concept of it.

The current definition of the Ice Jade Scorpion Martial Soul at Skywater Academy was...

A top-tier ice-attribute beast Martial Soul!

Its quality was even higher than Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix!

Every time Shui Bing'er faced Bing Bi'er, she felt a sense of powerlessness, unable to unleash the full might of her Martial Soul.

"I'm asking you, aren't you annoyed? You can't beat me, yet you keep disturbing my cultivation. I have no interest in you."

Bing Bi'er spoke coldly, her tone filled with immense impatience and disdain.

"So what! To pursue with a trembling body, to challenge with a heart of reverence—this is what I must strive for!"

Bing Bi'er paused slightly, filled with curiosity about this statement.

"Then... what is your take on the exchange tournament in a week?"

Shui Bing'er stood up tremblingly, clearly still reeling from the shock of a moment ago, and spoke with a stutter.

"Cooperation. The glory of Skywater Academy must not... must not be violated! With you, our chances of winning are much higher!"

Bing Bi'er pondered for a moment; this was the first time she had felt a flicker of interest in someone like Shui Bing'er, who was inferior to herself.

"Since that is the case, then come along. Do you wish to cultivate with me?"

Shui Bing'er nodded, her meaning self-evident.

At Blazing Fire Academy, Yan Zheng lay on the ground, gasping for air and drenched in sweat.

Looking closely, one could still see ice shards that had yet to fully melt clinging to his arms, which were covered in flame patterns.

Murong Ci withdrew his hand and walked over with a cheeky look on his face.

"So, this counts as being able to withstand it? We still need extra training. Do you submit?"

"I submit... Captain... you're awesome!"

Yan Zheng gave a thumbs-up.

However, this exclamation of "awesome" finally broke the composure of everyone present, and they burst into laughter.

After all, it had taken three hours of "coaching" from Murong Ci for him to finally say those words.

The stiff atmosphere was finally broken.

However, the expression on Yan Yan's face to the side was inevitably somewhat unsightly; his mouth twitched, but he felt it inappropriate to say anything...

A week later, the exchange tournament arrived as scheduled.

Murong Ci and his group had set off for Skywater Academy three days prior.

The team leader was Yan Yan, who spent the journey joking and teasing, though his eyes would occasionally fixate on Yan Zheng, his fingers curling and uncurling.

Heaven Dou City could be considered one of the most prosperous cities on the Douluo Continent.

Among them, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was situated at the center, governing all directions.

The Four Elements Academies were located at the four cardinal points of Heaven Dou City, forming a pincer-like encirclement.

The Earth-attribute element academy among them—Elephant Armor Academy—was centered within the Elephant Armor Sect, making it different from the other elemental academies.

The south is associated with fire, so Blazing Fire Academy was located in the south; the north belongs to water, so Skywater Academy was located in the north.

But for Murong Ci and the others...

This meant crossing the entire Heaven Dou City...

Fortunately, they had arrived with plenty of time to spare. Since the competition wouldn't start until the next day, Murong Ci and his group had ample time to rest.

That evening, Shui Canglan, the dean of Skywater Academy, personally arranged their accommodations.

The best rooms at Skywater Academy were completely booked.

However, students were permitted to stay in hotels outside, which created opportunities for couples to spend time alone.

"A-Ci, the exchange tournament has two purposes. First, to spar and learn, and to arrange subsequent exchange student matters. Second, to foster affection between the male and female students; after all, they can compete and coordinate, providing more opportunities for contact."

Huo Wu naturally collapsed into Murong Ci's arms, and the system had already set up a barrier to isolate them; any sounds from within, whether discussing tactics or matters of the heart, could not be heard by the outside world.

Murong Ci tightened his grip on her, a mischievous idea springing to mind.

"Oh? So it could be called a matchmaking event?"

"Pretty much. Why? Are you looking for someone else? Murong Ci, let me tell you, we are in the honeymoon phase right now, don't you dare..."

Before she could finish, Murong Ci sealed her lips, preventing a single sound from escaping.

After a long while, Huo Wu stared at him, her face as red as a ripe apple.

"Your answer... silence speaks louder than words, but if you really want to go matchmaking, I can help you."

"Hey, hey, hey, don't, you absolutely must not. I don't trust your terrible ideas; I'll handle it myself."

"Oh my, my best friend at Skywater is Shui Bing'er. We are truly very close. Haven't you seen the letters we've written? If you really want to..."

The two of them argued back and forth.

Outside the door, Shui Bing'er was pressed against the door frame, listening to the movement inside.

This was a task assigned to her by Bing Bi'er, who said the captain of Blazing Fire Academy interested her greatly, and she wanted Shui Bing'er to scout out the truth.

But...

Shui Bing'er heard nothing at all.

"Strange, what on earth are those two talking about?"

Shui Bing'er muttered to herself, but no one paid her any mind.

The night grew dark, and the lights went out.

Yet, the argument inside was still going strong.