The Golden Ranking's Twelfth Exposure!

At the very front of the crowd.

A young girl with long, water-blue hair stood quietly.

Her appearance was exquisitely beautiful, her temperament cold and aloof.

The name displayed on the Continent Powerhouse Ranking was none other than hers.

[Continent Powerhouse Ranking · 12th Place]

[Name: Shui Bing'er]

[Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix (Ultimate Ice), Storm Spirit (Ultimate Wind · Not Fully Awakened)]

[Level: 97th-level Titled Douluo]

[Evaluation: Peerless in both ice and wind, gifted with extraordinary talent. Hidden within her body is the seed of an ancient wind element, existing in a state of mutual generation and restraint with her Ultimate Ice. If she can guide its awakening, she will become the absolute master of both ice and wind control.]

[Due to the descent of the Wind God, the wind elements of the continent have become active, triggering the dormant Storm bloodline within her.]

Seeing these lines of text.

The Dean of Skywater Academy was so excited she nearly fainted.

A divine realm!

Their Skywater Academy had actually produced a promising seedling with the potential to become a god?

This was truly a miracle of ancestral proportions!

Immediately following, golden light condensed, and the rewards were distributed.

[Ranking Reward]

[1. Breath of the Wind God: Completely awaken the second Martial Soul "Storm Spirit" and grant the first and second soul rings (Age: 50,000 years)]

[2. Heart of Ice and Wind: Perfectly fuse the dual elements of ice and wind, eliminating Martial Soul conflict!]

Two brilliant pillars of light descended from the sky, directly enveloping Shui Bing'er's body.

Screech--!

A clear, resonant phoenix cry rang through the heavens.

Behind Shui Bing'er, that Ice Phoenix suddenly grew in size; upon its originally pure blue wings, several streaks of cyan patterns had unexpectedly appeared.

And in her left hand.

A mass of cyan whirlwind was condensing frantically, eventually transforming into a petite Storm Spirit that danced joyfully around her.

Terrifying soul power fluctuations radiated from Shui Bing'er as the center, spreading wildly in all directions.

At this moment.

Soul Masters across the entire continent fell silent.

This kind of reward was practically like having the food fed directly into one's mouth, with someone else even chewing it up and swallowing it for you.

It was too unreasonable!

It was too infuriatingly enviable!

Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy residence.

Tang San stood before the window, watching the golden text on the Sky Curtain gradually dissipate, his hand gripping the window sill tightening abruptly.

Crack.

The sturdy rosewood window frame was actually crushed by him, leaving a fissure.

His expression was terrifyingly gloomy, his Purple Demon Eye flickering uncontrollably.

"Twin Martial Souls..."

"Ultimate Wind..."

Tang San's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"How is this possible?"

"Twin Martial Souls are a one-in-ten-thousand talent; how is it that now they are popping up one after another like common cabbages?"

First, that Bai Chenxiang.

Now, this Shui Bing'er.

Moreover, they were both related to that so-called "Wind God."

Especially that reward.

One had to know that he had consulted Yu Xiaogang countless times to solve the problem of his Twin Martial Souls, yet he still lacked a perfect solution to this day.

Yet that Venti had solved it with a casual wave of his hand?

"San, what's wrong?"

Yu Xiaogang pushed the door open and entered, frowning slightly as he saw Tang San's current state.

Tang San took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the restlessness in his heart, and turned around.

"Teacher."

"I just feel... that the world is changing too fast."

"The foundation displayed by that Godwind City is terrifying."

Yu Xiaogang sighed and walked to the window with his hands behind his back.

"Indeed."

"Bai Chenxiang, Shui Bing'er, and those few fierce beasts."

"This Venti is breaking the original balance of the continent with a barbaric posture."

"Moreover..."

Yu Xiaogang paused, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

"The influence of Godwind City is expanding too rapidly."

"If this continues, I fear even Martial Soul Hall will have to avoid its edge."

A cold glint flashed in Tang San's eyes.

"Teacher."

"Those rewards, those God's Gift treasures..."

"If they could be used by us, the establishment of the Tang Sect, or even confronting Martial Soul Hall, would be as easy as turning over one's hand."

His tone carried a hint of undisguised greed.

Tang San never considered himself a villain.

In his view, treasures belong to those with the virtue to possess them.

And this Wind God who suddenly appeared, with an unknown origin and eccentric behavior, was clearly a massive variable.

Since it was a variable, it should be controlled, or... eliminated.

"San, watch your words."

Yu Xiaogang gave his disciple a stern look.

"Before we figure out the opponent's true strength, we must not act rashly."

"That Venti is unfathomable."

Tang San lowered his head, hiding the gloom in his eyes.

"This disciple understands."

"This disciple is just... somewhat unwilling."

Why?

Why should others receive opportunities while sitting at home, when he had to cultivate painstakingly and endure life-and-death trials to obtain his own?

That Shui Bing'er was nothing more than a student from an ordinary academy.

What right did she have to be ranked twelfth?

"Godwind City..."

Tang San silently repeated the name in his heart.

"One day, I will go and see exactly what secrets you are hiding."

Martial Soul City, side hall of the Pope Palace.

There was none of the usual tense atmosphere.

At this moment, the room was filled with the curling fragrance of tea.

Bibi Dong was not wearing the Pope's robes that symbolized supreme power, but had changed into purple casual attire.

She looked less majestic, but more graceful and luxurious.

Opposite her, Qian Renxue sat upright, holding a teacup with both hands, her eyes lowered, appearing somewhat uneasy.

This pair of the most noble, yet most complicated mother and daughter on the continent, were unexpectedly sitting together drinking tea.

"That scorpion made the list."

Bibi Dong took a light sip of tea, breaking the silence.

"Ice Empress of the Far North, four hundred thousand years."

"Coupled with that Shui Bing'er."

"The forces around Venti have already become a climate."

Qian Renxue's fingers tightened slightly, causing ripples to dance on the surface of the water in her teacup.

"He... has always been incredible."

Qian Renxue whispered, her tone carrying a hint of pride she hadn't even noticed herself.

Bibi Dong set down her teacup, looking at the daughter before her with a complex gaze.

Once upon a time.

She had felt nothing but disgust and indifference toward Qian Renxue.

But ever since that Venti appeared, and ever since Qian Renxue obtained the Gnosis of Wind.

Many things had changed, subtly and imperceptibly.

That Venti was despairingly strong.

Even that old man in the Worship Hall feared him to some degree.

Rather than being his enemy, it would be better to...

"Xue'er."

Bibi Dong suddenly changed how she addressed her.

Qian Renxue snapped her head up, her golden eyes filled with astonishment.

This was the first time that woman had ever called her that.

"You and that Venti..."

Bibi Dong looked into her daughter's eyes, her tone softening in a rare moment of peace.

"How far have things progressed?"

Clatter.

The teacup lid in Qian Renxue's hand dropped onto the table with a crisp sound.

That stunning face, usually so imposing and unflinching even in the face of a Titled Douluo, turned red to the tips of her ears in an instant.

"W-what do you mean, how far?"

"What... what nonsense are you spouting?"

Qian Renxue's eyes darted away, her speech stuttering.

"We... we are just..."

"Just friends?"