At Skywater Academy's plaza, Shui Bing'er's decisive rejection and the sight of her turning away had landed like a resounding slap across Yan's face—and the face of all Spirit Hall.
The hundreds of onlookers fell briefly silent. Then the plaza erupted in even more heated discussion.
"She really turned them down! That was the Spirit Hall Golden Generation!"
"She said she was already engaged to the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? How come nobody's ever heard of that?"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may be rich, but when it comes to power and military strength, how can they compare with Spirit Hall? Is Shui Bing'er out of her mind?"
"Exactly! Young Master Yan is such a catch. He's talented, accomplished, and a direct disciple of His Holiness the Pope. His future is limitless! What could she possibly gain from sticking with that Ning Xiaochun?"
Some female students, jealous of Shui Bing'er's beauty and talent, couldn't resist making snide remarks. "Hmph, why pretend to be so pure? Maybe she's just playing hard to get! She's only trying to raise her price!"
"Exactly! Spirit Hall's being so sincere, and she's still putting on airs. She really doesn't know what's good for her!"
Their voices weren't loud, but in the quiet plaza, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er heard every word.
Shui Yue'er bristled in an instant! She whipped around to glare at the girls making those snide remarks, her brows drawn together in fury as she shouted:
"What did you say?! Go on, say it again! What my sister does is none of your business! If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll rip your mouths off!"
The girls flinched at Shui Yue'er's fierce demeanor and shrank back, not daring to say another word. But their eyes still flashed with resentment.
Shui Bing'er acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. She didn't slow her steps for even a moment, continuing toward the academy at an unhurried pace. She had never cared about the opinions of people who meant nothing to her.
Yan, however, wasn't about to let her leave so easily.
"Stop!" His voice carried barely restrained anger and urgency as he hurried forward and blocked Shui Bing'er's path.
Shui Bing'er stopped, her brow furrowing slightly as she regarded him with cold, ice-blue eyes. "What is it now?"
Yan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He forced a smile onto his face, one he thought looked heartfelt.
"Miss Bing'er, I know you may not understand me very well yet, which is why you've made such a rash decision. But please, give me a chance! I, Yan, truly admire you! If you'll just give me a chance, you'll see that I'm the one who suits you best!"
He spread his arms wide, as if he meant to embrace the whole world.
"Just look at me! I'm twenty-one years old, and already a Five-Ring Soul King! The leader of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation! A direct disciple of His Holiness the Pope! In the future, I may even reach the realm of a Titled Douluo—or surpass it!
"That Ning Xiaochun? What is he? A second-generation wastrel, living off his ancestors' legacy and hiding under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's protection! What can he give you? Can he give you glory, status, and strength like I can?"
The more he spoke, the more worked up he became, his voice rising higher and higher. "Miss Bing'er, don't let a moment's impulse cloud your judgment! Choosing me is your best path! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is nothing before Spirit Hall!"
Shui Bing'er listened in silence, her expression unchanged from beginning to end.
Only after Yan had finished did she speak. Her voice was as cool as a spring of ice, yet it carried an unquestionable force. "Are you done?"
Yan faltered.
Shui Bing'er looked at him, her clear, ice-blue eyes holding no anger or contempt—only a calm so detached it was almost indifferent.
"You say you're stronger than me. You say you're stronger than Ning Xiaochun. You say Spirit Hall is stronger than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... Those are all just your side of the story."
She paused, holding Yan's gaze with a hint of challenge. "If you want to be Shui Bing'er's man, there's one requirement: you have to be stronger than me. Beat me, and then you'll have the right to say all that."
The whole plaza erupted!
No one had expected Shui Bing'er to set such a condition. Was she challenging Yan to a duel?!
"Beat you?" Yan paused, then a playful smile appeared on his face.
"Miss Bing'er, are you sure? I'm a Five-Ring Soul King, and you... probably haven't even reached level forty, have you? I don't want to hurt you."
Shui Bing'er ignored his disdain and simply repeated, "Beat me, and I'll accept you. Lose, and you'll get lost. Don't ever show your face in front of me again."
Her tone was calm, but her resolve was as sharp as a blade.
As Yan met her clear, unwavering gaze, a desire to conquer her suddenly stirred in his heart.
He liked a challenge! He liked the feeling of taming a wild horse! The more stubborn Shui Bing'er was, the more he wanted to make her submit!
"Good!" Yan laughed, his eyes shining with excitement. "I accept! Since you're in the mood for this, Miss Bing'er, I'll play along! But fists and feet have no eyes. If I hurt you, don't blame me!"
He stepped back to put some distance between them, and the red Soul Power surging through him began to churn!
"Flame Lord, possess me!"
With a low growl, Yan's body suddenly grew several inches taller. His muscles swelled and his skin turned red, like iron fresh from the forge.
His short, fiery-red hair stood on end, blazing with flames. A wild, scorching aura swept outward, forcing the people around him to retreat as the heat became unbearable.
Two yellow, two purple, and one black!
Five Soul Rings rose slowly from beneath his feet, radiating powerful fluctuations of Soul Power!
A Five-Ring Soul King!
And his fifth Soul Ring was actually black—a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring!
The crowd erupted in another wave of gasps.
"Good heavens! A Five-Ring Soul King! Young Master Yan is only twenty-one, right? His talent is terrifying!"
"A ten-thousand-year fifth Soul Ring! No wonder he's from the Spirit Hall Golden Generation! He's absolutely invincible among his peers!"
"That Shui Bing'er is in for a rough time! No matter how strong she is, there's no way she can challenge a Soul King across several ranks, is there?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo stood to the side, both smiling with satisfaction. They had absolute confidence in Yan's strength.
As far as they were concerned, Shui Bing'er had only invited humiliation by setting such a condition.
Yet, faced with the pressure of Yan's powerful Soul Power, Shui Bing'er showed no fear.
She slowly raised her right hand, and ice-blue Soul Power surged like an incoming tide.
"Ice Phoenix, possess me."
A clear phoenix cry seemed to ring down from the heavens. Behind her, the graceful phantom of an Ice Phoenix spread its wings, its feathers sculpted from ice crystals. Endless cold radiated outward from her, and a thick layer of frost swiftly coated the ground, meeting the waves of heat from Yan head-on.
Then, under the stunned gazes of everyone present, the Soul Rings beneath Shui Bing'er's feet lit up one after another.
The first was yellow. The second was yellow.
The third was purple!
The fourth was black!
The fifth was black!!
The sixth was black!!!
Two yellow, one purple, and three black!
Six Soul Rings revolved slowly beneath her feet, radiating a terrifying pressure that made it hard to breathe.
Six rings! A Soul Emperor!
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