Leaving the Academy for Training, Target: Great Soul Arena

Surprise appeared in Gu Qingbo's seductive eyes. "A cultivation art? What's a cultivation art?"

Shui Bing'er explained, "You can think of it as a meditation method—a meditation method more efficient than Skywater Academy's."

The girls were astonished at her words.

Then Yu Hairou was the first to react.

"More efficient than our meditation method? Sister Bing'er, aren't all meditation methods about the same? Is there really one more efficient than our academy's?"

Shui Bing'er nodded, then took out the cultivation art scroll Meng Chen had given her and passed it around for Xue Wu and the others to read.

The moment the cultivation art was revealed, its quality was unmistakable.

Before long, the profound theoretical system from the Fierce-Flame Continent, along with its practical cultivation methods, left Xue Wu and the others stunned.

"Th-this, this..."

Even the usually composed Xue Wu could not help stammering.

Gu Qingbo's eyes widened as well, completely shattering her mature, alluring bearing.

Shui Yue'er, Yu Hairou, Qiu Ruoshui, and Shen Liuyu looked at Shui Bing'er with pure admiration in their eyes.

Oh my God, our captain—our sister—was amazing!

But Xue Wu quickly raised a question. "Bing'er, where did you get this 'cultivation art'? I've never seen such a profound cultivation method."

Gu Qingbo nodded. "Forget Skywater Academy—I dare say even Heaven Dou Royal Academy wouldn't have something like this."

Shui Yue'er leaned closer and asked curiously, "Sis, where did you get this cultivation art?"

"Uh..."

Shui Bing'er became hesitant under their questioning.

"I... I happened to find it when I was in the Extreme North Ice Plains."

"The Extreme North Ice Plains?" Gu Qingbo raised a brow. "That godforsaken place has something like this?"

Shui Bing'er truly wanted to beg Gu Qingbo to stop asking. She really was not good at lying to her teammates. "Y-yes..."

Gu Qingbo looked at Shui Bing'er with a faintly amused smile, clearly unconvinced.

Yu Hairou and the others also looked at Shui Bing'er curiously, obviously wanting to know the answer.

Seeing Shui Bing'er hesitate like this, Xue Wu knew she had some reason she could not speak of, so she came to her aid. "All right, stop dwelling on where the cultivation art came from. We're lucky enough to have it to cultivate. This art is extraordinary, and Bing'er wouldn't harm us."

"Bing'er, hurry and tell us exactly how to cultivate it."

Looking at Xue Wu, gratitude welled up in Shui Bing'er's heart.

Xue Wu was always like this—steadfast and considerate, always speaking up for you when you needed it most.

"All right. Then I'll start from the beginning."

Shui Bing'er took a deep breath and began explaining the general principles and fundamentals of the Cold Clarity Art.

Though she had never cultivated this art herself, she had cultivated the Nine Revolutions Ice Phoenix Art, which was far more profound than the Cold Clarity Art.

With Shui Bing'er's experience cultivating the Nine Revolutions Ice Phoenix Art, explaining the Cold Clarity Art to Xue Wu and the others was more than easy enough.

She spoke slowly and in great detail, making sure everyone could understand.

Only after two hours did Shui Bing'er finish explaining the basic principles of the Cold Clarity Art.

Yet Xue Wu and the others were still immersed in it. Only then did they realize that cultivation could be so profound and exquisite...

Over the following days, Shui Bing'er's life became exceptionally fulfilling.

During the day, she led Xue Wu and the others in cultivating the Cold Clarity Art, answered all sorts of questions, and continued teaching them the Frost Soul Palm.

At night, she shut herself in her room, organizing her thoughts from that day's lessons, recording the new problems Xue Wu and the others had encountered, and considering solutions.

Sometimes Meng Chen floated beside her, watching her write and draw, occasionally offering a suggestion or two.

Shui Bing'er wrote down every one of them, and when she taught Xue Wu and the others the next day, the results were remarkably good.

Watching others grow rapidly under his disciple's guidance, Meng Chen could not help feeling proud of Shui Bing'er.

Still, they could not keep training behind closed doors forever. How could delicate flowers raised in a greenhouse withstand the raging storms outside?

They could not coddle Shui Bing'er and the others simply because they were delicate flowers.

So, once Xue Wu and the others had mastered the Frost Soul Palm and the Cold Purity Art, Meng Chen said, "Bing'er, I think you should go out and gain some experience."

Shui Bing'er was organizing her notes. At his words, she looked up. "Gain experience?"

"Yes. No matter how well you train at Skywater Academy, you're still in your comfort zone. You need to step beyond it. In a real battle, your enemies won't stand there waiting for you to strike."

Shui Bing'er nodded thoughtfully.

"Your Soul Power will grow quickly with the help of the cultivation art, but if your combat experience cannot keep up, you may not be able to display your proper strength in a real fight."

"It would be like having a fine blade in your hand but not knowing how to use it."

"Yes, Master. But where should we go to gain experience?"

"The Battle Soul Arenas. The soul battle competitions in the major cities have all kinds of opponents and vastly different fighting styles. They're the best places to hone practical combat ability."

Shui Bing'er's eyes lit up.

"All right. I'll speak to Mother tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Shui Bing'er went to see Leng Qishuang.

Leng Qishuang was handling documents in her office. When she saw Shui Bing'er enter, she set down her pen and looked at her daughter gently.

"What is it?"

Shui Bing'er threw herself at her, acting spoiled in a rare display. "Mother, I want to take Xue Wu and the others out to gain experience."

Leng Qishuang was slightly startled. "Gain experience? Where?"

"The Battle Soul Arenas in the major cities. If we only cultivate Soul Power, we'll lack too much practical combat experience. By the time our levels rise, we may not be able to bring out our full strength in a fight."

"I want to take them to fight a few matches at the Battle Soul Arenas and hone our combat ability."

Leng Qishuang's first instinct was to worry.

Shui Bing'er was right, but Battle Soul Arenas were still dangerous. They were not like sparring matches at the academy, where people could stop before things went too far.

But if it was Bing'er's Master who had suggested it...

Could it be that, no matter what...

Since the Heavenly Emperor was there, what was there for her to worry about?

Leng Qishuang made up her mind to agree. There was no need to send any teachers along either. With the Heavenly Emperor there, Bing'er and the others could have a little more freedom!

So Leng Qishuang nodded. "You may go, but I have one condition."

"What condition?"

Leng Qishuang's tone turned serious. "Whenever you reach a city, you must send me a message first. Tell me where you are and where your next destination will be. Also, dress warmly and don't go hungry."

Shui Bing'er smiled. "Mother, do you take us for children?"

"In my eyes, you will always be children." Leng Qishuang reached out and ruffled Shui Bing'er's hair, her eyes full of tenderness. "Go on. Stay safe."

After a full day of preparations, the Seven Maidens shouldered their packs and stood at the gates of Skywater Academy. Leng Qishuang and several academy teachers stood beside them to see them off.

Leng Qishuang walked up to Shui Bing'er and reached out to straighten her daughter's collar. Then she stepped back, her gaze gentle yet firm.

"Go. If you encounter anything you can't resolve, send word back at once."

"I understand, Mother."

Shui Bing'er turned around, took a deep breath, and swept her gaze over her six sisters.

"Let's go!"

The Seven Maidens set off, walking out through the gates of Skywater Academy.

Ahead of them lay unknown challenges...