Feng Xiaotian stood at the entrance of the Godwind Academy, waiting for someone.
He carried an inconspicuous knapsack containing only a few changes of clothes and some dry food; the truly important items were stored in Mustard Seed Storage Ring.
A morning breeze blew by, causing the willow branches outside the college gate to sway gently. A few leaves fell onto his shoulder, but he didn't bother to brush them off.
The person he was waiting for was Shui Bing'er.
We agreed yesterday to meet at the entrance of the Godwind Academy this morning and head north together.
Feng Xiaotian arrived early, though not really early; it was just his habit to arrive early. Before leaving, he took a lap around the academy, greeted the gatekeepers, told the cafeteria staff not to cook for him for the next few days, glanced at the training ground, and then leisurely walked to the gate.
He wasn't in a hurry.
Shui Bing'er wasn't the type to be late. Skywater Academy and Godwind Academy weren't far apart, and at her pace, she should be almost there by now.
Feng Xiaotian leaned against the gatepost, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the long street leading to the city gate to the north, but his mind was elsewhere.
He remembered the night a year ago when Feng Lingtian came to find him.
That day, Feng Lingtian had just returned from the Blue Silver Forest. Feng Xiaotian thought his younger brother was going to bring up the Pill Pavilion again, but Feng Lingtian's first words were. "Brother, do you want to go to the Far North?"
Feng Xiaotian was taken aback. " The Far North?"
"Hmm." Feng Lingtian sat opposite him, holding a cup of tea. "You're already a level 67 Soul Emperor, and you've obtained the sixth ring, but let me ask you, have you thought about what your next step is?"
Feng Xiaotian did not answer immediately, but he had indeed thought about the question seriously.
In the year following the tournament, he first acquired his Sixth Soul Ring, then unleashed the power he had accumulated while suppressing his level, and with the help of the pills supplied by the Pill Pavilion, his strength surged like a flood breaking through a dam.
But starting from level 67, that rapid momentum clearly slowed down, and he knew that the real hurdle was coming, one that couldn't be overcome by pills and accumulation of experience.
"The environment in the Far North is extreme; the winds there are the most violent and primal." Feng Lingtian put down his teacup. "Your current bottleneck isn't insufficient Soul Power, it's that you haven't reached your limit. When you train in the academy, your opponents are all of similar level, and the battles are all fairly even. But the Far North is different; you're facing the entire world."
He paused, took another sip of his tea, and then continued:
"Furthermore, I always feel that something extraordinary is hidden in the Far North. If you decide to go, you should be very careful."
Feng Xiaotian looked at him and laughed, "Why don't you go by yourself?"
Feng Lingtian smiled as well, "I have my own path to walk."
The two brothers didn't discuss the matter further. Feng Lingtian was always like this; once he had said his piece, he wouldn't keep nagging or giving repeated instructions.
Feng Xiaotian had gotten used to it. His younger brother was good in every way, except that he sometimes overthought things and needed to arrange everything perfectly before he felt at ease.
This time, however, Feng Lingtian didn't "make arrangements," he just made a suggestion.
"Whether you go or not is your business," Feng Lingtian said finally. "I just think it's a good place for you."
Feng Xiaotian didn't agree immediately, but he went to find Shui Bing'er early the next morning.
Now he stood at the college gate, the wind making his clothes flutter, and he suddenly felt that he really should go out for a walk.
From the time he awakened his Martial Soul until now, he has been staying at the Godwind Academy, cultivating, competing, leading teams, and winning championships. His days are very fulfilling, but in the end, he is just going around in circles.
He had never been to the Far North, but he had heard that it was covered in ice and snow all year round, with ferocious Soul Beast and a harsh environment that even Titled Douluo dared not venture deep into.
"Isn't that perfect?" Feng Xiaotian muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.
At the end of the long street, a white figure appeared.
Shui Bing'er wore a moon-white outfit with a light blue cloak over it, and her hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked less aloof and more capable than usual at the academy.
She carried a bulging backpack on her back, walking at a leisurely pace. When she reached Feng Xiaotian, her gaze lingered for a moment behind him.
"Is that all you brought?" she asked.
Feng Xiaotian followed her gaze and glanced back at his pitifully flat backpack, a slight smile playing on his lips. He didn't rush to answer, but instead raised his left hand and shook the inconspicuous ring on his middle finger.
"My brother's new gadget is called Mustard Seed Storage." His tone was brimming with undisguised pride. " Storage Soul Tool that can hold quite a lot. Look—"
With a flick of his Soul Power, the baggage transformed into a beam of light and disappeared into the ring. With a gentle flip, it reappeared in his hand, completely intact.
"It's a self-contained space inside. Things put in will be exactly the same way when you take them out; they won't break or get messy." He said, then put the bag back. "This is just for show, to avoid drawing too much attention on the road."
Shui Bing'er stared at the ring, remained silent for a moment, then looked down at the heavy baggage on her shoulder.
Feng Xiaotian glanced at her in the direction of her gaze and casually said, "If you have anything important, you can leave it here. There's plenty of space."
Shui Bing'er hesitated for a moment. "... Okay." She handed over the luggage.
Feng Xiaotian took it, and with a flick of his Soul Power, Shui Bing'er's baggage transformed into light and disappeared into the Mustard Seed Storage. He clapped his empty hands and hummed in satisfaction, "Alright, let's go."
The two walked side by side toward the city gate.
After leaving the area of the Godwind Academy and getting onto the official road, Feng Xiaotian finally spoke, "Have you made all the arrangements with the Skywater Academy?"
"It's all settled," Shui Bing'er replied simply. "I told the dean I'm going to the Far North for training, for anywhere from half a month to one or two months."
"Didn't Shui Yue'er insist on coming along?"
Shui Bing'er's lips twitched slightly. "They made noise, but I silenced them."
Feng Xiaotian chuckled. He had met Shui Yue'er a few times; the girl was lively and unrestrained, the complete opposite of Shui Bing'er. If she came along, the journey would likely be anything but quiet. Feng Xiaotian thought for a moment, then asked, "And you? Do you want to go to the Far North yourself?"
Shui Bing'er didn't answer immediately. She walked beside Feng Xiaotian, her pace steady, her cloak fluttering slightly in the north wind. After a few moments of silence, she said, "I want to go."
"Because the Far North is suitable for ice-attribute Soul Master?"
"That's one reason." Shui Bing'er paused for a moment, "There's another reason I can't explain."
"Can't explain it?" Feng Xiaotian turned his head to look at her in surprise.
Shui Bing'er's gaze fell on the road ahead, her voice calm, but with a rare hint of hesitation in her tone. "It's just..."
I have a feeling that something is waiting for me there. It's blurry, like through a layer of icy fog; I can't see it clearly, but I know it's there.
Feng Xiaotian was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Shui Bing'er to say such a thing. In his memory, Shui Bing'er had always been a calm, rational, and taciturn person, rarely speaking of such "feelings." But she spoke very seriously, not as if it were just a casual remark.
"Then you should go even more," Feng Xiaotian said.
Shui Bing'er tilted her head and glanced at him. "Don't you think I'm overthinking things?"
"No." Feng Xiaotian shook his head. "Some things, you just sense in your heart. I've had those moments too... Before a match, when danger approaches, your Martial Soul will give you a warning. That's not just overthinking, it's instinct."
Shui Bing'er was silent for a while, then softly hummed in agreement.
The two continued walking. On both sides of the official road were open plains, and in the distance, farmers were working in the fields. The wind blew from the north, carrying a hint of coolness.
They walked at a moderate pace, Feng Xiaotian occasionally speaking a few words, Shui Bing'er responding a few times, but mostly remaining silent.
But that silence wasn't awkward; it was a quiet moment where both of them felt there was no need to fill the time with constant talking.
They passed through the market town Heaven Dou City and walked for most of the day. The terrain began to rise slowly, the trees by the roadside changed from broad leaves to needle leaves, and the chill in the air became more and more obvious.
Feng Xiaotian noticed that Shui Bing'er seemed more at ease than before—the lower the temperature, the more stable her breathing appeared.