Shui Bing'er's heart raced and her face flushed: Could my Soul Power actually merge with his?

"This absolutely shouldn't be a first Soul Skill!"

"Rapid attacks, flames, temporal erosion on this scale... an ordinary Soul Master would need at least a fourth Soul Ring, or even a fifth, to possess something like this!"

Was he really only six? This was ridiculous.

Xue Wu eyed Shi Meng suspiciously.

Unlike Xue Wu, Shui Yue'er's eyes shone as she looked at Shi Meng.

"Big brother, you're amazing..."

Hu Liena raised an eyebrow at what she heard.

Big brother?

Who's your big brother?

She instinctively stepped forward, shielding Shi Meng behind her.

The chrysanthemum in Chrysanthemum Douluo's hand fell yet again. He bent to pick it up, his mouth twitching.

"Old Ghost, did you see that?"

"I'm not blind."

All they could say was that Lord Time Douluo truly lived up to his name, acquiring such a divine skill with effortless ease.

Seeing Hu Liena approach, Shi Meng withdrew his Martial Soul, trotted over to Bibi Dong, and casually took her hand again.

[Energy +1]

Bibi Dong seemed to sense his little gesture. Though she did not look down, the corners of her lips curved almost imperceptibly.

Seeing her junior brother take their teacher's hand of his own accord again, Hu Liena started pouting once more.

Why did her junior brother always gravitate toward their teacher...

She wanted to hold her junior brother's hand too!

But this time, she did not step forward to steal him away. Instead, she continued using her body to separate Shi Meng from the girls of Skywater Academy.

Bibi Dong was fine. She was their master, after all, a mature adult who could not possibly compete with her over her junior brother. There was nothing to worry about.

But she had to keep an eye on these little hussies from outside.

Seeing this, Shui Yue'er snorted inwardly.

Who are you trying to keep away, blocking him like that? I'll remember you.

Once that student finished absorbing her Soul Ring, the Skywater Academy instructor brought everyone over to offer their thanks.

"Thank you to Spirit Hall for your assistance. Skywater Academy will remember this kindness."

Bibi Dong gave a faint nod.

The instructor hesitated, then looked at Shui Bing'er and sighed.

"Actually, there is one more matter, Your Holiness. Our Shui Bing'er has already reached rank ten, but we still haven't found a suitable first Soul Ring for her."

Bibi Dong glanced at Shui Bing'er.

An Ice Phoenix Martial Soul, with innate full Soul Power?

What a promising seedling!

Such a promising seedling ought to belong to her Spirit Hall.

Ideally, she could become Shi Meng's future teammate, or even his subordinate.

At that moment, Bibi Dong was already entertaining thoughts of poaching her.

She turned her head toward Shi Meng and spoke gently.

"Meng, didn't you say you sensed several ice-attribute Soul Beasts nearby? Help this little girl take a look."

Shi Meng understood Bibi Dong's intentions perfectly.

So he pretended to close his eyes and sense his surroundings while sifting through memories of his previous life.

An ice-attribute Soul Beast on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, suitable for the Ice Phoenix's first ring...

Got it!

"There's a Cold Cavern here with an Iceheart Snow Silkworm inside. It's over four hundred years old and has an ice attribute. It suits you very well."

Shi Meng opened his eyes and looked at Shui Bing'er.

Over four hundred years was just right for her.

"I'll take you there."

Shui Bing'er glanced at her instructor.

The instructor said nothing, merely nodding lightly.

Bibi Dong, too, offered only a quiet remark.

"Be careful."

No one stopped them.

Nor did anyone question them.

The Cold Cavern was not deep. After walking a little over a hundred paces inside, they saw a snow-white, silkworm-shaped Soul Beast resting on a rock.

An Iceheart Snow Silkworm, four hundred and twenty years old.

"Bing'er, I'll handle the attacks. Use your ice-attribute Soul Power to help restrain it."

"It's afraid of fire, so my flames are the perfect counter."

Shui Bing'er asked no further questions and immediately released her Martial Soul.

Ice Phoenix possession!

Shi Meng released the Hour and Minute Hand as well.

The two charged forward side by side.

The Iceheart Snow Silkworm suddenly sprang up and spat out an ice spike.

Shi Meng twisted aside to dodge. The hand turned into a sword, and a blue arc struck its target precisely.

The power within the Iceheart Snow Silkworm began draining rapidly under the Weight of Ages.

Shui Bing'er seized the opportunity and formed seals with both hands.

An icy-blue force rose from the ground, winding around the Iceheart Snow Silkworm like strands of thread.

Their teamwork flowed seamlessly.

But just then, the Iceheart Snow Silkworm suddenly let out a piercing shriek.

Every strand of white fuzz on its body bristled, and a cold surge far stronger than before erupted all at once.

Her pupils contracted sharply. She could not dodge this attack!

Just as she thought it was game over for her, a figure suddenly rushed toward her.

It was Shi Meng!

"Hold on to me!"

He slipped his left arm around Shui Bing'er's waist and pulled her into his arms, swinging the hand upward with a backhand stroke.

"First Soul Skill, Time's Continuous Slash!"

The hand swiftly formed an enormous sword and cleaved viciously down toward the Iceheart Snow Silkworm's head.

Slash!

[Do you dare take this blow?]

The Iceheart Snow Silkworm let out a mournful cry and crashed heavily to the ground.

It struggled twice before finally losing consciousness.

Silence soon settled over the Cold Cavern.

Held in Shi Meng's arms, Shui Bing'er's heart raced so fast that she felt flustered.

"Are you all right?"

Shi Meng looked down at her.

Shui Bing'er parted her lips, but no words came out.

All she could feel was the fierce heat in her face, while her ears burned crimson.

Seeing that she was unhurt, Shi Meng breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to step away, the Soul Power in their clasped hands merged, transforming into an entirely new force!

Noticing this anomaly, Shui Bing'er glanced down at their joined hands.

Compatible Soul Power...

Her heart immediately skipped another beat.

She had experienced this kind of Soul Power compatibility with Xue Wu before.

But that feeling had been nowhere near as profound as this.

Could she and Shi Meng also perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?

Could it even be stronger than the one she shared with Xue Wu?

Xue Wu: No love left for me~

"Bing'er?"

Shi Meng called to her twice, only to find Shui Bing'er still staring blankly at him.

With no other choice, he applied a little force and pulled his hand free.

Only then did Shui Bing'er come to her senses. Her little face flushed as she hurriedly apologized.

"Sorry, sorry! I lost my composure."

Shi Meng waved a hand.

"It's fine. Hurry and check on that Soul Beast. It should be close to death."

The Iceheart Snow Silkworm had already been steadily drained by the Weight of Ages, then struck by the enormous clock. It had long since reached its limit.

Shui Bing'er nodded, jogged forward, summoned an ice spike, and drove it into the Iceheart Snow Silkworm.

The next second, a deep yellow Soul Ring rose into the air.

Shi Meng stepped back twice to give her room.

Shui Bing'er sat down to absorb the Soul Ring.

But even with her eyes closed, she could not calm herself.

The lingering warmth remained in her palm.

The sensation of their Soul Power merging was like a seed that had quietly fallen into her heart.

And there was the way he had wrapped his arm around her waist and saved her just now...

Shui Bing'er squeezed her eyes shut.

Calm down!

The two walked out of the Cold Cavern.

The Skywater Academy instructor came forward and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that Shui Bing'er had successfully acquired her Soul Ring.

Xue Wu came over as well, but as soon as she drew close, her brow furrowed slightly.

"Bing'er, why does your Soul Power feel a little strange?"

Shui Bing'er froze.

"Does it?"

"It does."

Xue Wu stared at her for two seconds.

"Did something happen in there just now?"

"No."

Shui Bing'er answered very quickly, but the tips of her ears quietly reddened.

Xue Wu: "..."

Shui Yue'er came closer, tilting her head as she looked at her sister, then at Shi Meng.

"Sis, why is your face so red?"

"It isn't."

Shui Bing'er turned her face away.

When her sister refused to answer, Shui Yue'er turned toward Shi Meng with a bashful expression: