Long Yao lifted his teacup.
"His divine seal of the Angel God and Million-Year Soul Ring made up for his lack of divine power."
Shui Yue'er asked, "Can he truly become a god now?"
"Not yet."
Long Yao set down his teacup.
"The Angel Godhood already exists."
"Qian Daoliu can borrow angel divine power, but he cannot replace the Angel God."
Shui Yuerou looked toward the Golden Ranking.
"But his current power already surpasses that of an ordinary Peerless Douluo."
"That's right."
Long Yao looked at Qian Daoliu in the sky.
"A million-year god-bestowed soul ring allows his attacks to carry a sacred origin."
"The Six-Winged Angel Divine Seal connects him more closely to the Angel God Inheritance."
"In Spirit City, he is already qualified to contend with god-level powerhouses."
Shui Bing'er lowered her gaze to the lake.
The golden radiance in the sky was reflected on its surface.
"Then who's stronger, him or Bo Saixi?"
"Sea God Island and Spirit City each have their own advantages."
Long Yao said:
"Bo Saixi can mobilize the power of Sea God Island and the surrounding seas."
"Qian Daoliu can draw upon Spirit City's faith and the Angel Temple."
"If they leave their respective lands of inheritance, Qian Daoliu's power is more stable."
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"So that's why he's ranked fourth."
Long Yao nodded gently.
"The ranking compares overall strength."
"Qian Daoliu surpasses Bo Saixi in attack power, speed, and sacred attributes."
"If Bo Saixi wants to defeat him, she must draw upon all of Sea God Island's power."
The golden ripples on the lake gradually faded.
Shui Bing'er withdrew her gaze.
She looked again at the ice lotus in the center of the lake.
"Headmaster, shall we continue cultivating?"
"Continue."
Long Yao looked at her.
"Your control over the ice element has not yet reached your own limit."
Shui Bing'er nodded.
She stepped onto the lake again.
Her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul emerged from her body.
Ice-blue wings spread behind her.
Shui Yue'er also moved to the other side of the lake.
She raised both hands.
Transparent streams of water rose from the lake, slowly revolving around her.
The heaven and earth elements surrounding the True Dragon Tower gathered toward the two of them once more.
Long Yao sat beneath the tree.
He lifted his teacup and looked at the Golden Ranking high in the sky.
Qian Daoliu's name gradually dimmed.
The golden light belonging to third place began gathering above the ranking.
High in the sky.
The golden light belonging to third place slowly gathered.
The Golden Ranking did not reveal the name immediately.
Standing on the lake, Shui Yue'er glanced up several times.
"Headmaster, how much longer do we have to wait for third place?"
Long Yao glanced at the sky.
"It won't appear today."
Shui Yue'er withdrew her gaze.
"Does the Golden Ranking need to rest too?"
Shui Bing'er dispersed the ice crystals beside her.
"Every time the Golden Ranking announces a rank, it must stir the continent's origin power."
"The higher the rank, the more time it needs."
Long Yao nodded gently.
"Bing'er is right."
Shui Yue'er stepped along the flowing water and returned to shore.
She picked up the fruit wine on the table and poured herself a cup.
The moment the wine entered her mouth, she frowned.
"It really is too sweet."
Shui Bing'er also walked back from the lake.
The Ice Phoenix behind her gradually withdrew into her body.
The ice lotus on the lake did not immediately dissipate.
Wisps of cold rose from its petals and returned to Shui Bing'er's side.
The last ice crystal merged into her palm.
The entire lake returned to its original state.
Long Yao glanced at the lake.
"Ninety percent."
Shui Bing'er lowered her gaze to her palm.
"Still ten percent short."
"The final ten percent doesn't lie in soul power."
Long Yao raised his hand and pointed at the lake.
"When a drop of water falls into a lake, it becomes part of that lake."
"After you condense ice elements, they likewise retain your martial soul's imprint."
"If you want to retrieve them all, you must find every imprint."
Shui Bing'er closed her eyes again.
She did not release her martial soul.
Her spiritual power slowly spread across the lake.
A few breaths later.
Beneath a lotus leaf at the edge of the lake, a tiny ice crystal floated to the surface.
The ice crystal was only the size of a grain of rice.
Shui Bing'er raised her right hand.
The ice crystal crossed the lake and landed in her palm.
Long Yao said, "There's more."
Shui Bing'er continued sensing.
A second ice crystal slowly rose from a crevice between rocks on the lakebed.
Shui Yue'er crouched on the shore.
She watched closely for a moment.
"Why can't I sense the ice crystals my sister left behind?"
"Those are martial soul imprints left by the Ice Phoenix."
Shui Yuerou approached from a distance.
"Your martial soul is water."
"If you want to sense them, you must first merge your soul power into the lake."
Shui Yue'er reached into the water.
Pale-blue soul power spread from her fingertips.
The lake water stirred gently.
A few fish swam through the aquatic plants.
Shui Yue'er soon opened her eyes.
"I sensed it."
"There are lots of currents in this lake."
"The water at the bottom is cooler, and the water near the shore is warmer."
Long Yao lifted his teacup.
"Don't just look at the temperature."
"Sense where they come from and where they are flowing."
Shui Yue'er closed her eyes again.
Her soul power no longer expanded outward.
A transparent stream of water wound around her wrist.
The changes within the lake gradually appeared in her perception.
Mountain streams flowed into the lake from the north.
Lake water flowed out through a channel to the south.
There were also several tiny springs on the lakebed.
Every current was moving.
Shui Yue'er adjusted her soul power to follow the currents.
Her palm did not move.
Yet a passage naturally opened across the lake.
The passage extended from the shore to the lake's center.
Shui Yue'er opened her eyes.
"Headmaster, I did it."
Long Yao set down his teacup.
"You've only found the direction in which the lake water flows."
"To truly master the water element, you must also learn to change it by following its momentum."
Shui Yue'er looked toward the center of the lake.
She gently turned her wrist.
The previously straight water passage curved with it.
The lake water flowed around the lotus flowers in the center, forming a ring.
Just as Shui Yue'er was about to continue, the ring suddenly collapsed.
Water splashed all over her.
Shui Bing'er opened her eyes.
She had already retrieved the last few ice crystals.
"Yue'er, you changed the circulation of your soul power at the end."
Shui Yue'er wiped the droplets from her face.
"I wanted the current to spin faster."
"What you wanted exceeded your control."
Shui Bing'er walked to her side.
"Maintain the current speed first."
Shui Yue'er nodded.
She reached into the lake again.
Long Yao offered no further guidance.
The sisters had now found their direction for cultivation.
They needed to complete the rest themselves.
Shui Yuerou placed a roster on the table.
"Headmaster, the admissions assessment has been arranged."
"The first group of applicants will arrive at the academy tomorrow."
Long Yao opened the roster.
More than thirty names were listed on it.
Each person's age, martial soul, and soul power level were clearly recorded.
Most of their martial souls were related to water.
A few others possessed ice-attribute martial souls.
Long Yao finished reading the first page.
"There are more applicants than in previous years."
"After the Golden Ranking announced the academy, applications came in from all across the Heaven Dou Empire."
Shui Yuerou took out the pale blue crystal.
"As you requested, elemental affinity will be tested first."
"Anyone who fails to make the crystal react will not proceed to the remaining tests."
Long Yao closed the register.
"Higher elemental affinity isn't always better."
Shui Yuerou paused, slightly taken aback.
"Please enlighten me, Headmaster."
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."
Long Yao looked toward Shui Yue'er in the lake.
"Affinity only means the elements are willing to draw close to them."
"Whether they can master that power depends on their temperament and understanding."
"When conducting the assessment, you needn't keep only those with the greatest talent."
Shui Yuerou understood what he meant.
"I'll add a test of character."
"Don't make the test too complicated."
Long Yao raised his hand.
The pale blue crystal rose from the table on its own.
The water element within the crystal swiftly divided.
One side became a tranquil lake.
The other became surging waves.
Both scenes existed within the crystal at once.
"Have the applicants choose a side."
Shui Yuerou caught the crystal.
"Choosing the lake or the waves represents different temperaments?"
"Neither choice is right or wrong."
Long Yao picked up the teapot again.
"Have them explain their reasons."
Shui Yuerou nodded.
"I understand."
She put away the register and crystal, then turned and headed toward the outer courtyard.
In the middle of the lake.
Shui Yue'er once again shaped the flowing water into a ring.
This time, she did not rush to speed it up.
The ring circled the lotus once.
The water held together the entire time.
Delight shone in Shui Yue'er's eyes.
"Look, Sis."
Shui Bing'er raised her palm.
The last remaining ice crystal flew up from the lakebed.
Once the ice crystal merged into her body, not a trace of cold remained on the lake.
"I'm finished too."
The two returned to shore together.
Shui Yue'er spotted the pastries on the table and immediately reached for one.
After cultivating for half the day, she was already starving.
Shui Bing'er sat down beside her.
"Headmaster, what should we practice next?"
Long Yao looked at them.
"Eating."
Shui Yue'er stopped what she was doing.
"Just eating?"
"You've been cultivating since dawn. You've already used up more than half your soul power."
Long Yao rose and headed toward the True Dragon Tower.
"Cultivation requires a balance between exertion and rest."
Shui Yue'er followed with her pastry in hand.
"Headmaster, what are we eating today?"
"What would you like?"
"Fish."
Shui Yue'er answered immediately.
She glanced back at the lake.
"The fish in the lake are nice and fat."
Shui Bing'er came up beside her.
"Those are ornamental fish the academy keeps."
Shui Yue'er looked at the koi swimming through the lake.
"No wonder their colors are so pretty."
Long Yao entered the first floor of the True Dragon Tower.
The space inside was vast.
Dragon patterns covered the surrounding stone walls.
A long table stood in the center.
Several hot dishes had already appeared on it.
Steamed sea bass.
Lotus seed soup.
Crystal shrimp dumplings.
And a pot of freshly warmed tea.
Shui Yue'er hurried to the table.
"There really is fish here."
Long Yao sat at the head of the table.
"Not from the lake."
Shui Bing'er took a seat as well.
She glanced at the food on the table.
"Headmaster, did you prepare all this in advance?"
"There are formations inside the True Dragon Tower."
Long Yao poured himself a cup of tea.
"At the appointed time each day, the kitchen sends the food over."
Shui Yue'er picked up her chopsticks.
"Then could we have an extra dessert from now on?"
Long Yao looked at her.
"Isn't the Fruit Wine sweet enough?"
Shui Yue'er immediately abandoned the idea.
"Never mind, then."
Shui Bing'er picked up a piece of fish.
She removed the bones and placed it in Shui Yue'er's bowl.
"Eat first."
Shui Yue'er nodded at once.
Outside the tower.
An autumn breeze swept across the lake.
The Golden Ranking still hung high in the sky.
The radiance of third place slowly gathered, leaving the academy's tranquility undisturbed.
Long Yao sipped his tea.
Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er sat at the table.
None of the three continued discussing the Golden Ranking.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the tower doors and fell across the bluestone floor.
Lunch came to an end.
Shui Yue'er leaned back in her chair.
"Headmaster, can I keep practicing with the water this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Long Yao set down his teacup.
"But you'll need to go somewhere else."
Shui Yue'er sat up straight.
"Where?"
Long Yao raised a hand and pointed toward the upper floors of the True Dragon Tower.
"The third floor."
Shui Bing'er looked toward the stairs inside the tower.
"What's on the third floor?"
"The Heavy Water Formation."
Long Yao stood.
"Every drop of water there weighs ten times as much as ordinary lake water."
Shui Yue'er glanced at her hands.
"I have to control the water there?"
"Start by lifting a single drop off the ground."
Long Yao headed toward the stairs.
Shui Yue'er followed immediately.
"Just one drop?"
"Say that again once you've seen heavy water."
Shui Bing'er rose and followed them too.
The three figures ascended the stairs.
The doors of the True Dragon Tower slowly closed.
The lake grew calm once more.
High in the sky.
The golden light of third place continued to swirl.
The True Dragon Tower.
The third floor.
The stone door slowly opened.
A wash of deep blue watery light filled Shui Yue'er's eyes.
There was no lake inside the tower.
Only twelve fist-sized drops of water hovered in the center of the stone chamber.
Beneath each drop, the floor was slightly sunken.
Shui Yue'er entered the stone chamber.
She reached out to touch the nearest drop of heavy water.
The instant her fingertip touched it.
The drop plunged downward.
Shui Yue'er's arm sank with it, and fine cracks spread across the stone slab beneath her feet.
She immediately pulled her hand back.
"It's so heavy."
Long Yao stood outside the stone doorway.
"First, move a single drop of heavy water from its original position."
Shui Yue'er looked at the twelve droplets before her.
"Headmaster, may I use a Soul Skill?"
"No."
Long Yao raised his hand and pointed at the first drop of heavy water.
"Guide it using only Soul Power."
Shui Yue'er nodded.
She raised both hands.
Pale blue Soul Power approached the heavy water.
The droplet trembled slightly.
The next moment.
Shui Yue'er's Soul Power was crushed and dispersed.
The heavy water fell back into place.
She retreated two steps.
"Ordinary lake water flows along with my Soul Power."
"This heavy water completely ignores me."
Shui Bing'er stood beside the stone door.
"You're rushing your Soul Power."
Shui Yue'er looked at the heavy water again.
"I'll try again."
She did not release her Soul Power immediately.
A thread of pale blue water emerged from her palm.
The stream slowly approached the heavy water.
When the two touched, a tiny ripple spread across the heavy water's surface.
Shui Yue'er controlled her Soul Power, guiding it along the ripple.
The heavy water gradually rose from its original position.
One inch.
Two inches.
Before it could rise a third inch.
Shui Yue'er's Soul Power collapsed again.
The heavy water slammed into the ground.
Boom!
The entire third floor trembled slightly.
Shui Yue'er rubbed her wrist.
"So close."
Long Yao looked at her.
"If you can lift it three inches today, your training will be complete."
Shui Yue'er walked back up to the heavy water.
"All right."
Shui Bing'er did not enter the stone chamber.
She sat cross-legged outside the door.
Ice crystals gathered from all around, slowly revolving around her.
Long Yao went to the platform outside the tower.
The sky had already darkened.
High in the heavens.
The golden light belonging to third place was several times more intense than before.
Vast banks of clouds were dyed gold.
The oppressive aura emanating from deep within the ranking board was also growing steadily stronger.
Before you continue