Look closely. This sword strike is going to be awesome!
For some reason, a line he'd seen before crossing over suddenly popped into Lin Tian's mind.
It was a little chuuni, but in this situation, making himself seem like someone with a bit more presence would keep him safer.
"What kind of sword is that? It looks so sharp!"
The moment Lin Tian drew the Ganjiang Sword, Shui Bing'er's eyes filled with astonishment.
She hadn't expected the sword in this little brother's hand to be so sharp that it made her heart tremble.
"Boy, was this the sword you used to kill the Ice Demon Spider?"
Shui Lanlan looked astonished.
As a Soul Master who had traveled the world for many years, she had seen plenty of divine weapons, but this was the first time she'd encountered a sword like the one in Lin Tian's hand.
Its entire length was snow-white, a dragon pattern was engraved on the hilt, and its blade glimmered with a cold light.
In response to Shui Lanlan's question, Lin Tian didn't say a word. He simply swung the sword. A streak of cold light flashed, and a massive tree several people wide was instantly reduced to dust!
"Well, well, boy. Who exactly are you? Why are you carrying a divine weapon like that?"
Faced with the beautiful young woman's question, Lin Tian sheathed the Ganjiang Sword and answered candidly:
"To be honest, big sisters, I'm just a disciple of an ordinary sect. My father is Lin Erhe. He's a good blacksmith and a master swordsmith!"
Hearing this, Shui Lanlan eyed him suspiciously from head to toe. The fellow was dressed in fine silks and jade ornaments; he was probably a disciple of some hidden sect.
Since he didn't want to reveal his identity, there was no need for her to press him.
"Not bad, boy. You have excellent talent. Given time, you'll surely become a renowned figure on the Douluo Continent!"
Just from watching Lin Tian slice through that towering tree, she could tell he was nothing like he claimed. The boy was definitely hiding something.
Seeing that no one present believed his explanation, Lin Tian could only sigh helplessly.
"I'm a nobody in my sect. Nobody wants anything to do with me. The only person who ever looked after me, my mother, is confined to a secluded estate by the sect and has lost her freedom completely!"
"I left to train because I wanted to get stronger quickly, then return to the sect and save Mom..."
Before Lin Tian could finish, Shui Lanlan furrowed her brows, a strange look appearing on her face.
She hadn't expected a hidden sect to be so cold-blooded and terrifying!
"Boy, your... your fate really does seem rather unfortunate."
She had almost said that Lin Tian had a hard lot in life, but on second thought, with his fine clothes and handsome bearing, he seemed better off than the truly unfortunate people on the Douluo Continent.
"Teacher, why don't we help him? The Star Dou Forest is so dangerous. It's very risky for him to be here all alone."
Shui Bing'er was at the age when first love blossomed, and she couldn't stand seeing people suffer.
After hearing Lin Tian's heartbreaking story, she naturally wanted to help him.
"Teacher, let's help him, okay?"
Shui Bing'er's eyes reddened, sorrow rising in her heart. She began tugging at Shui Lanlan's arm, pleading with her.
Shui Lanlan was at a loss for words.
Help him?
How?
If the boy wasn't lying, then even someone carrying a divine weapon was being bullied by his sect. If ordinary people like them stepped in, wouldn't they just be walking into a death sentence?
With that thought, Shui Lanlan sighed and turned to Lin Tian.
"Very well. I'll keep watch while you absorb this Ice Demon Spider Soul Ring."
"As for everything else, we'll talk after you've absorbed it."
Lin Tian clasped his hands toward Shui Lanlan.
"Thank you for helping me, big sister."
After thanking her, he turned his gaze to Shui Bing'er. Seeing the young girl's eyes reddened over a complete stranger, he couldn't help feeling a little guilty.
"Miss, my name is Lin Tian. What's yours?"
When Shui Bing'er heard her teacher agree to help Lin Tian, her sadness quickly faded, replaced by a sweet smile.
"Little brother, my name is Shui Bing'er. You can call me Sister Bing'er!"
Shui Bing'er?
Was this the girl who'd become the captain of Skywater Team, the Ice Phoenix girl who'd frozen Tang San solid at the Soul Master Elite Tournament?
He'd never expected to meet her here.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Tian sat cross-legged beside the Ice Demon Spider's corpse and began absorbing its purple Soul Ring.
Shui Bing'er stood obediently to one side, quietly waiting for Lin Tian to finish.
She'd originally planned to use this Ice Demon Spider as her third Soul Ring, but who could've guessed Lin Tian would snatch it away?
If this had happened earlier, she definitely would've been furious.
But the little brother in front of her was so pitiful that Shui Bing'er couldn't bring herself to say anything.
She'd just have to work a little harder and find another suitable ice-type Soul Beast for her third Soul Ring.
"Bing'er, keep your composure."
Noticing Shui Bing'er acting strangely, Shui Lanlan gave a soft cough from where she stood nearby.
As a talented Soul Master from Skywater Academy, Shui Bing'er had the academy's highest hopes resting on her.
Shui Lanlan had brought her to the Star Dou Forest this time to hunt for a suitable ice-type Soul Beast to serve as her third Soul Ring.
Who could have guessed that the thousand-year Soul Beast they'd spent so long searching for would end up in Lin Tian's hands? It was enough to make anyone fume.
If Shui Lanlan didn't feel sorry for the boy, she'd freeze him into an ice sculpture and hang him from a tree for the whole day.
How infuriating!
"Teacher, don't be mad. Didn't Principal Liu Ruyan tell us to make an effort to befriend talented people when we meet them? Lin Tian reached the third ring at such a young age. Isn't he exactly the kind of genius the principal was talking about?"
"You little rascal. You're pretty good at making excuses for yourself."
Shui Lanlan glanced at Lin Tian, who sat cross-legged absorbing his Soul Ring, then at Shui Bing'er's flushed face. She couldn't help but guess what was going on.
"Once the boy finishes absorbing his Soul Ring, we'll ask what he plans to do. If he wants to leave, we'll take him back to Skywater Academy."
Shui Lanlan's words filled Shui Bing'er with excitement.
If she could bring this little brother back to the academy, then her trip to the Star Dou Forest wouldn't have been wasted.
A while later.
Lin Tian opened his eyes. His black pupils seemed to hold a trace more chill than before.
Frosty cold spread all around him with every movement.
After absorbing the Soul Ring, his Soul Power had reached level 32, bringing him another big step closer to the level 50 he'd promised his mother, the Pope, he would reach.
"You're awake? You absorbed a thousand-year Ice Demon Spider without any difficulty at all. Looks like your body is pretty strong."
"Boy, what's your third Soul Skill?"
Shui Lanlan's cool voice came from beside him.
Lin Tian rose and clasped his hands toward her in thanks.
"Thank you for keeping watch for me, big sister."
Then Lin Tian raised a hand and released his Soul Skill at an empty patch of ground.
"Third Soul Skill, Ice Age."
An Ice Demon Spider roared as it burst from the ground, and frigid power flooded the surroundings. In the blink of an eye, everything nearby was blanketed in ice and snow.
And that wasn't all. Countless frozen spears hovered in midair. At Lin Tian's gesture, a whole nest of Soft Bone Rabbits fleeing in panic was instantly frozen into ice sculptures.
This was simply heaven-defying!
Before you continue