Ice and Fire Phoenix

"I came to see you this time mainly because of this new student."

Director Su patted Ye Feng on the shoulder. "Ye Feng's Martial Soul is rather special. It's a top-tier fire attribute, but... his flames are too powerful, and sometimes he can't withstand them himself. He needs a powerful ice-attribute Soul Master to help balance them out. In the entire academy, after thinking it over, I believe only your Ice Phoenix might be able to help."

"I also know that your Martial Soul affects you during cultivation. Perhaps the two of you can solve each other's problems."

Ice-attribute Soul Masters all faced a drawback during cultivation: the higher their Soul Power, the colder and more detached their personalities became.

Shui Bing'er had not originally reached that point.

But perhaps due to the influence of her Martial Soul, the girl had grown colder by the day.

Director Su was truly worried that if this continued, Shui Bing'er would become a Soul Master devoid of emotion.

Shui Bing'er stared at Ye Feng for a few seconds, a trace of curiosity flashing through her azure eyes. "Does your Martial Soul also backlash against you?"

Ye Feng was taken aback. "You have that too?"

"My Ice Phoenix's chill is too deep. The longer I cultivate, the fainter my emotions become."

Shui Bing'er said calmly, "I can still control it now, but I don't know about the future."

"I see."

Ye Feng nodded. "Maybe I can help you."

As Director Su listened to their conversation from the side, her eyes widened unconsciously.

It was her first time seeing Shui Bing'er speak so much in front of a stranger.

Perhaps...

Director Su's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, "Since you both have problems, why not try it first? Bing'er, Ye Feng, release your Martial Souls at the same time and see whether your attributes resonate."

The two exchanged a glance and nodded together.

"Martial Soul, possess!"

The instant the words fell.

"Screech—!"

A clear phoenix cry rang out as crimson-gold flames erupted around Ye Feng, forming the phantom of a majestic and imposing Crimson Gold Fire Phoenix.

Almost at the same time, another phoenix cry sounded.

A freezing mist rapidly gathered beside Shui Bing'er, and icy-blue radiance burst forth.

The phantom of an Ice Phoenix, crystalline all over with wings seemingly carved from ice crystals, appeared behind her.

One crimson-gold, one icy-blue.

The two phoenix phantoms faced each other from afar as blazing heat and bitter cold violently collided in midair!

"Sizzle—!"

Red and blue waves of energy intertwined and churned, producing a violent sound as ice and fire merged.

The grass and trees on the left side of the lakeshore were scorched and curled, while those on the right were coated in frost and ice. The scene was bizarre yet breathtaking.

Director Su had already retreated more than ten meters, yet she still felt one side of her body burning hot and the other freezing cold. She could not help rubbing her arms.

"Good heavens... putting these two kids together is practically ice and fire at once."

Yet Ye Feng and Shui Bing'er, standing in the field, were both stunned.

The instant their Martial Souls appeared, both their hearts trembled.

An extraordinarily subtle, indescribable sense of resonance seemed to pass faintly through the connection between their Martial Souls.

The two almost simultaneously raised their heads and looked at each other.

It seemed their Martial Souls possessed an innate, inexplicable affinity.

"No, it's still not enough..."

Ye Feng frowned slightly.

Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix was already very powerful, but before the Nether Karma Fire Phoenix after Atavism, it was still somewhat lacking.

Shui Bing'er sensed this as well. Facing the overwhelming heat waves of the Nether Karma Fire Phoenix, the Ice Phoenix phantom began flickering uncertainly.

The next moment, Ye Feng withdrew his Martial Soul, and the flames around them instantly dissipated.

Shui Bing'er only felt the pressure on her body vanish, and even her breathing became easier.

She pursed her lips and said softly, "Sorry, I may not be able to help you."

She could clearly sense that both Ye Feng's Martial Soul and attribute surpassed her own.

Ye Feng could solve her problem, but she could not help him resolve the backlash from his flames.

This sense of defeat was something she had never experienced since awakening her Martial Soul.

Seeing this, Director Su was about to smooth things over when Ye Feng gently stopped her with a hand.

"Director, could you let us speak alone for a moment?"

Ye Feng gave her a meaningful look, a harmless smile on his face.

"Heh, you little brat. You just got here and you're already ordering teachers around?"

Director Su shot him a mock-displeased glare, but said nothing more. Turning, she walked into the distance. "Fine, fine. You young people talk among yourselves. I won't be a third wheel."

Only after Director Su disappeared from sight did Ye Feng turn back and step over to Shui Bing'er.

The distance between them instantly closed.

Shui Bing'er instinctively wanted to retreat, but her feet seemed frozen in place.

The lingering warmth around Ye Feng carried a fresh scent like sunlit grass, washing over her.

She raised her eyes and met those crimson-gold pupils just inches away.

They were clear and bright, and she could even see her own reflection within them.

For some reason, Shui Bing'er suddenly recalled the flutter in her heart from earlier, and the tips of her ears grew faintly hot.

"Do... do you have to stand so close?"

Her tone was slightly unnatural, carrying a faint hint of coquettishness.

Ye Feng grinned and stepped back half a pace. "Classmate Shui, I think we're quite fated. Our Martial Souls both involve phoenixes, and we both have a few little problems. So... how about I help you out?"

Shui Bing'er's icy-blue eyes flickered slightly, but she did not reply.

Ye Feng did not beat around the bush. "I'll be direct. I have a way to let your Ice Phoenix... go a step further, while also resolving the problem of your emotions fading."

"Go a step further?"

Shui Bing'er's eyelashes trembled lightly. Her voice remained cool, but there was now a trace of fluctuation in it. "You mean... Martial Soul Evolution?"

"That's right."

Ye Feng nodded, confidence showing in his smile. "I have the ability to evolve your Martial Soul, and there won't be any negative effects!"

Shui Bing'er fell silent for a moment, her gaze resting on his face as if judging whether his words were true.

A few seconds later, she spoke softly. "What are the conditions?"

Ye Feng froze. "What conditions?"

"You wouldn't help me for no reason."

Shui Bing'er's tone was calm. "Martial Soul Evolution is no trivial matter. If you can do it, you must want something. Tell me, what do you want?"

Ye Feng looked deeply at her, and a smile returned to his face. "I like dealing with smart people. Actually, it's not difficult. Just one thing."

"Join my faction."

Shui Bing'er's icy eyes narrowed slightly. She did not answer at once, her gaze lingering on Ye Feng's candid face for a moment.

"Your faction?"

"Right."

Ye Feng crossed his arms and smiled. "The scale may not be large, but we have two Titled Douluo. The prospects are still very bright!"

"Two Titled Douluo?"

Shui Bing'er's icy eyes widened slightly, and her voice finally showed emotion. "Are you serious?"

What did having two Titled Douluo mean?

Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the upper three sects, only had two Titled Douluo, didn't it?

"Do I look like someone who enjoys joking around?"

Ye Feng's expression gradually turned serious. "I may be young, but once I say something, it's as irreversible as spilled water. My word is my bond."

Shui Bing'er tilted her head, a trace of confusion appearing on her pretty face.

"What's the reason? Why should I believe you, and why should I... join a faction that already sounds rather unreliable?"

"Because you need me, and I need you."

(P.S.: Asking everyone, do you want to see academy arc content? If not, I'll skip straight past it...)