Meteoric Ice's Blessing, Kin & Affection, Younger Brother

A secluded corner of the park.

Centered on the martial soul fusion skill "Herrscher of Meteoric Ice," formed from Xu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan's fusion.

Heavy snow suddenly swept through a fifty-meter radius.

The wind and snow cut like blades, continuously surging toward the surroundings.

As the howling blizzard passed through, the extreme cold within it covered the branches with icicles, while the fallen leaves on the ground were frozen brittle and shattered.

Even Ouyang Zixin, standing some distance away, turned slightly pale.

"How is this possible? A martial soul fusion skill at the Soul Master level can actually make me feel such bone-piercing cold. Could it already be approaching Ultimate Ice?"

Sensing the power surging within him, Xu Yue was astonished.

"I never expected my martial soul fusion skill with Xiaoyan to manifest in this form."

"Herrscher of Meteoric Ice... Is it because of our elemental compatibility, or because of the influence of my memories?"

Although the martial soul fusion skill had taken the form of a woman, he was still the true one in control.

A martial soul fusion skill formed by a thirteenth-level Soul Master and an eleventh-level Soul Master had erupted with an aura that instantly rose to the Soul Grandmaster level.

That was enough to prove just how high their martial soul compatibility was.

However, Great power often came with tremendous consumption.

With their current soul power, they could not maintain it for long.

Xu Yue immediately examined the state of the "Herrscher of Meteoric Ice."

Limited by the fusion users' levels and soul skills, the "Herrscher of Meteoric Ice" could only perform the most basic elemental manipulation at present.

Its only soul skill

was the "Jade Shield" bestowed by Xu Yue.

However, under the influence of the martial soul fusion skill, this soul skill had also undergone considerable changes.

With that thought, Xu Yue raised the staff in his hand overhead and let out a clear, ethereal shout:

"Meteoric Ice's Blessing!!!"

In an instant, an ice shield made of countless crystalline facets formed around him, refracting a cold gleam.

Every two seconds or so, the shield released a ring of frost across a five-meter radius around him.

"It differs greatly from the Jade Shield. It has been specifically enhanced for ice-element defense."

"Against ice-element attacks of the same level, it can weaken them by at least fifty percent."

Just as Xu Yue was about to test the shield's effects further, the soul power light surrounding him began to tremble violently.

The figure of the "Herrscher of Meteoric Ice" instantly dissipated, separating into Xu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan as they landed on the ground.

The weakness of depleted soul power made Xu Xiaoyan's legs go soft, and she nearly stumbled and fell.

Fortunately, a warm hand caught her in time.

"Are you all right?"

Xu Yue's concerned voice sounded by her ear.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Class Monitor."

Xu Xiaoyan's fair little face flushed faintly. Her long lashes fluttered as she spoke with excitement.

"Was that our martial soul fusion skill just now?"

"It was so beautiful!!!"

"It really was beautiful." Xu Yue smiled in agreement. "It even looks somewhat like what Xiaoyan will look like when she grows up."

As he said this, a trace of regret appeared on his face.

"Still, that one martial soul fusion skill alone drained all our soul power. As for the fusion involving the Star Staff, it seems we'll have to wait until later."

"Mhm, mhm..." Xu Xiaoyan nodded rapidly, her deep-blue eyes seeming to sparkle with starlight.

Today's invitation had brought her far more than she had ever expected.

Not only had it solved the mystery behind the inexplicable attraction they had felt when they first met, but it had also allowed her martial soul to undergo a complete transformation.

All of it was because of the person before her.

"A martial soul fusion skill... Doesn't that mean that Class Monitor and I will someday..."

The thought inexplicably made her heart race, but she quickly forced it back down.

Her gaze shifted away from Xu Yue and toward Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin in the distance.

In the end, it settled on that dazzling golden figure.

Xu Yue did not notice Xu Xiaoyan's thoughts. He simply supported her as they walked toward Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin.

"Sister Mu Xi, Sister Zixin, we're done here. Let's go."

Ouyang Zixin smiled and nodded, but the corner of her eye glanced at Mu Xi, who stood silently beside her.

Just as they had on the way here, Xu Yue led the way with Xu Xiaoyan, while the two girls followed behind.

The four of them remained silent the entire way.

As they reached a corner at the intersection, an ice cream shop caught Xu Xiaoyan's attention.

A sweet smile appeared on her face as she suggested to Xu Yue beside her, "The class monitor helped my martial soul evolve today, and I still haven't thanked him. How about I treat everyone to ice cream first?"

Xu Yue smiled and nodded, then turned back to ask.

"Sister Mu Xi, Sister Zixin, what flavor would you like? The same as before?"

"The same, the same." Ouyang Zixin quickly replied. She then glanced at Mu Xi beside her and added, "Little Xiaoyan might not be able to carry everything herself. Why don't you go help her, Little Yue?"

Mu Xi remained silent, her golden eyes seeming to have lost focus as she blankly watched Xu Yue support Xu Xiaoyan's retreating figure.

Suddenly, a sensation struck her chest, startling her back to her senses. She instinctively threw her arms up in front of herself.

"Zixin, what are you doing? You pervert!!"

Seeing her close friend looking so guarded, Ouyang Zixin curled her lips. "What pervert?! You weren't like this back in the dorm."

"Then what were you doing?"

Mu Xi slowly lowered her arms, her voice weakening again.

"I was feeling your heart!" Ouyang Zixin leaned close to Mu Xi's ear and lowered her voice. "You haven't said a word this whole time. I wanted to know if you were feeling unwell somewhere."

"You... what nonsense are you talking about?" Mu Xi stammered in rebuttal, but her gaze wandered uncertainly.

"Little Yue is my little brother, and he and Xu Xiaoyan are classmates. Isn't it perfectly normal for them to walk together?"

"I... I wasn't feeling bad because of that!"

Ouyang Zixin wore a teasing expression, a strange grin rising on her lips.

"I never even mentioned Little Yue and Little Xiaoyan! Little Xi... you just gave yourself away."

"Zixin, you...!" Mu Xi immediately became flustered and angry.

"Alright, alright." Ouyang Zixin gently patted Mu Xi's back, her tone turning soft. "I just want to ask what you really think."

"I... Little Yue is only my little brother... that's all..."

Mu Xi still stubbornly refused to admit it, but by the end, her words carried a faint trace of guilt.

"Really?" Ouyang Zixin did not believe her at all.

As friends for many years, she knew Mu Xi far too well.

She heard plenty from Mu Xi about everything concerning Xu Yue almost every day.

Whether it was praising him for being handsome and saying how extraordinary his future would surely be, or complaining that his occasional little-adult mannerisms were not cute at all.

In short, whenever Xu Yue was mentioned, a smile would always unconsciously appear on Mu Xi's lips.

Perhaps the person involved did not realize it herself.

But Ouyang Zixin, as an observer, saw it clearly.

Seeing this, Ouyang Zixin's tone became more solemn.

"Little Xi, you actually understand it in your own heart."

At that moment, she saw Xu Xiaoyan paying in the distance. She leaned close to Mu Xi's ear again and spoke lightly and quickly.

"Family or love, Little Xi—you should make a choice."