She was a woman of breathtaking beauty and an otherworldly bearing.
Her long silver hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her ankles, gleaming enchantingly in the sunlight.
Her figure was graceful and alluring, her skin fairer than snow, and her violet eyes cold, proud, and fathomless.
This was the true ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Soul Beast Co-Ruler-Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena's gaze rested on the Snow Empress and Ye Wuchen. She nodded slightly, her voice ethereal and commanding:
"Snow Empress, as fellow members of the Soul Beast Clan, I already know why you have come. An alliance will benefit both sides. I can agree to all your conditions: high-age Soul Bones and gold of life."
Then Gu Yuena looked at the aloof, blue-haired girl hiding behind Ye Wuchen.
Her expression turned curious. "This little girl is the one the Firmament is about to feature... Shui Bing'er, isn't she?"
Under this mysterious Soul Beast's gaze, Shui Bing'er felt immense pressure.
She forced herself to remain composed and bowed respectfully.
Gu Yuena smiled faintly and instructed Di Tian, "Di Tian, choose another Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone with a compatible attribute for this little girl."
"Since she is someone the Firmament is featuring, she is bound to accomplish something in the future."
"As you command, my lord." Di Tian respectfully accepted the order.
Hearing that she would receive a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone for nothing, Shui Bing'er was overwhelmed by the favor. "This... this is far too precious. I haven't done anything..."
"Bing'er." The Snow Empress gently patted the back of Shui Bing'er's hand, interrupting her. "Since this is a gesture of goodwill from Her Excellency the Silver Dragon King, just accept it with peace of mind."
With her grandmaster having spoken, Shui Bing'er calmed her excitement and bowed to Gu Yuena again. "Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Senior Silver Dragon King."
Di Tian went to fetch the Soul Bones and gold of life. Beside the lake, Gu Yuena, the Snow Empress, Ye Wuchen, and Shui Bing'er all raised their heads to look at the enormous screen of light in the sky.
[The review continues.] [Subject of this review: the disciple of the continent's finest master-Shui Bing'er.] [Bone age: 15.] [Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix.] [Current cultivation: Level 52 Power Attack System Battle Soul King.]
As those lines of large golden text appeared, countless Soul Masters stared at the information on the Firmament, too shocked to speak.
A fifteen-year-old Level 52 Soul King?
Qian Renxue, Spirit Hall's young master, who had been born with Level 20 Soul Power, had only reached Level 65 at twenty-two.
Shui Bing'er was even more astonishing than her.
[Life history:] [Age 7: First showed her brilliance at Skywater Academy. Through a chance encounter, she became Ye Wuchen's disciple.] [Age 11: Led and protected by her master, Ye Wuchen, she ventured deep into the poison formation in Sunset Forest and reached nature's treasure basin-the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. She perfectly absorbed the immortal herb "narcissus jade muscle bone," cleansing her marrow and purging her impurities, undergoing a complete transformation. Her Soul Power increased greatly, laying a flawless foundation.] [Age 13: Her accumulated efforts bore fruit. Tempered by the immortal herb's medicinal power and the bitter cold of the Far North, her top-tier Beast Martial Soul, Ice Phoenix, evolved, successfully gaining the "Ultimate Ice" attribute and absolute suppression over ice attributes within the same rank.] [Age 15: At the fifth Soul Ring stage, she absorbed a twenty-thousand-year Soul Ring, formally advancing to a Power Attack System Battle Soul King.] [The Firmament's overall assessment: Shui Bing'er was already a rare genius on the Douluo Continent, possessing considerable comprehension and talent. Under the guidance of an excellent master, Ye Wuchen, her potential was developed to its utmost, ultimately transforming her into a peerless prodigy capable of dominating an era.] [Review rewards issued:] [Reward one: top-tier External Soul Bone-Ice Phoenix Wings.] [Reward two: Soul Power Level increased by 5 levels without side effects.] [Reward three: one God-bestowed Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring (can automatically adapt to the Martial Soul's attributes).]
Three dazzling pillars of light descended from the sky, enveloping Shui Bing'er's petite figure on the shore of the Lake of Life.
"Screee!" A clear, soaring phoenix cry rang out within Shui Bing'er's body.
Two enormous, magnificent ice-blue wings sprouted from Shui Bing'er's back.
The wings were formed entirely from condensed Ultimate Ice, and every feather radiated an intensely cold aura.
Fully unfurled, the Ice Phoenix Wings spanned more than three meters, making Shui Bing'er look like a goddess of ice and snow descended to the mortal world.
Another pillar of light flowed into every limb and bone, and Shui Bing'er's Level 52 Soul Power aura began to climb.
Level 53... Level 54... Level 55... Level 56...
It finally broke through to Level 57.
Last came a scarlet Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Rather than settling around Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul, it transformed into a streak of red light and sank into the center of her forehead.
Because Shui Bing'er's current cultivation was only Level 57, she had yet to reach the Level 60 threshold required to absorb a Sixth Soul Ring. Considerately, the Firmament's reward sealed this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring within her spiritual world for safekeeping.
Once her cultivation reached the required level, she could absorb it perfectly.
The light faded, and irrepressible ecstasy sparkled in Shui Bing'er's ice-blue eyes.
With a thought, the Ice Phoenix Wings on her back beat gently, lifting her lightly into the air.
"Master, Grandmaster."
Shui Bing'er excitedly landed before Ye Wuchen and the Snow Empress, sharing her joy. "My Soul Power has risen to Level 57! And this External Soul Bone, the Ice Phoenix Wings, is so powerful!"
"When this External Soul Bone is unfurled, it increases my defense by 100%, and boosts my flight speed and the power of my ice-attribute Soul Skills by 200%."
"It also comes with an offensive Soul Skill-Ice Phoenix Wing Slash. I feel that its destructive power rivals a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill."
As he always did, Ye Wuchen affectionately ruffled Shui Bing'er's blue hair. "Our Bing'er just keeps getting more outstanding."
Two lovely blushes rose on Shui Bing'er's aloof face.
She lowered her head, her girlish shyness laid completely bare in that moment.
"Master..." Shui Bing'er raised her head, her limpid eyes filled with gratitude and attachment.
Suddenly gathering her courage, she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed Ye Wuchen's handsome cheek, as lightly as a dragonfly touching the water.
The touch was cool, carrying a young girl's distinctive softness and sweetness.
"Even the Firmament said it was thanks to an excellent master's guidance that I could achieve what I have today."
Blushing, Shui Bing'er spoke very softly. "Without all these years of your devoted teaching, Master, I might still be just an ordinary Soul Elder. Master, thank you..."
The Snow Empress had been happy that her granddisciple had received such a tremendous opportunity, but when she saw Shui Bing'er rise onto her tiptoes and kiss Ye Wuchen's cheek, the smile on her face stiffened slightly.
How perceptive the Snow Empress was.
At the hint of romantic feeling in Shui Bing'er's shy gaze, then Ye Wuchen's slightly startled expression, alarm bells rang loudly in her mind.
The way this girl looks at Wuchen... it definitely isn't as simple as mere respect for her master! the Snow Empress muttered inwardly.
No, with them acting like this, I'm in real danger.
At that thought, the Snow Empress's exquisite face regained its dignity and authority.
Without betraying anything, she stepped forward and naturally extended her fair arm, wrapping it around Ye Wuchen from the side and pulling him a little closer to her.
"Bing'er, you needn't belittle yourself."
Before you continue