On the morning of the fifth day of the exchange competition, Godwind Academy faced off against the Skywater Academy.
Even before the match started, the stands were already packed. Godwind Academy, the host team, had never lost a game since the start of the tournament; Skywater Academy had just pulled off a stunning upset against a stronger Elephant Armor, and Shui Bing'er's commanding ability and calm judgment had been privately praised by many of the team leaders. This clash between the two teams was considered by the audience to be the most anticipated match of the exchange tournament.
Feng Xiaotian originally planned to continue watching from the sidelines, allowing his team members to rotate into the game. However, during their conversation yesterday Shui Bing'er brought up something. "Tomorrow, against you, I hope you can go all out. I want to see how well Skywater Academy's formation can function when facing an opponent close to level 60. It's not just about winning or losing—I need to know the gap between us and you."
Feng Xiaotian agreed.
After a brief introduction, the referee announced that both sides had released their Martial Soul.
Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix spread its wings behind her, its icy blue light gleaming coldly in the sunlight. On the Godwind Academy's side, Feng Xiaotian stood at the very front, five Soul Ring lighting up simultaneously beneath his feet—yellow, purple, purple, black, and black.
There was a moment of silence in the stands, followed by an uproar.
" His Fourth Soul Ring is an eternally black one? How did his physique withstand it?"
"Absorbing ten thousand years' worth of power across a level for the Fourth Soul Ring —such a Soul Ring is extremely rare, you can't find more than a handful on the entire continent."
On the sidelines, Yu Leiting paused, holding his teacup, Huo Xiao sat up slightly, and Huyan Zhen's ever-present smile faded somewhat. They weren't unaware that Feng Xiaotian level 58—but seeing his Soul Ring configuration with their own eyes was another matter entirely. Feng Xiaotian stood amidst the aura of five Soul Ring, cyan wind patterns swirling around him, and the phantom of the Gale Twin-Headed Wolf slowly coalesced behind him.
"The match begins."
Feng Xiaotian struck first. He used the Gale Flash Step, transforming into a streak of blue light as he charged straight at the front of the Skywater Academy formation. His first Soul Skill, Wolf Strike - Wind Blade, was unleashed from his palm, sending five arc-shaped wind blades slicing towards the front of the Skywater Academy formation. Shui Rou's Ice Shield was struck head-on by the wind blades, causing ice shards to shatter. She was forced to take a half-step back, but the Ice Shield remained intact.
Shui Qing circled around to the side the instant Feng Xiaotian made his move, and the Ice Butterfly silently clung to Ji Ning's wrist. Just as Ji Ning was about to cut in from the right, the chill of the Ice Butterfly made his fingers stiffen, slowing his movements by half a beat. Shui Qing's Ice Butterfly then flew towards Lu Qing Lu Qing, who blocked it with the back of his right scythe, deflecting the Ice Butterfly.
Xue Wu's Slender Dancing Snow Satin wrapped around Lu Qing's ankle, while at the same time, Shui Ling's Ice Spear thrust out from the front, aiming straight for Su Mei'er. Three lines of defense, two layers of control, and one layer of defense, from Shui Rou raising her shield to Xue Wu's ribbon to Shui Qing's Ice Butterfly wrapping around her wrist, all three attacks were completed in the same second.
Feng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow slightly. This teamwork was even more seamless than in the Elephant Armor match. He didn't give Skywater Academy any more time to react, and his Fourth Soul Ring lit up—Double-Headed Wind Howl Formation. The phantoms of the two-headed wolves roared simultaneously, and fan-shaped sound waves mixed with azure wind pressure swept over Skywater Academy's formation. Shui Rou's Ice Shield was pushed back two inches by the wind pressure, and Shui Qing was shaken off course by the sound waves, causing cracks to appear in the formation.
Lu Qing's twin scythes slashed in from the left, Zhong Yue's defense advanced from the front, Ji Ning's bare-handed thrust precisely pierced through the gaps in the Ice Shield, Su Mei'er's chains blocked Xue Wu Wu's movement, Ye Qingyu's amplification spread out, and Bai Yu's precise enhancement landed on Feng Xiaotian. The entire Godwind Academy team pressed forward, and Skywater Academy was constantly forced back.
But Shui Bing'er was still giving orders. Her voice wasn't loud, and each command was given the instant the cracks appeared in the formation—"Left side, seal the position." " Shui Rou, move the shield forward half a step." " Xue Wu, entangle Lu Qing's left hand." The Skywater Academy formation was pushed back several times, but it never broke apart. The Ice Shield shattered and then solidified, the Ice Butterfly were scattered and then gathered again, and the Slender Dancing Snow Satin wove a blue light and shadow in the air. Shui Bing'er was breathing heavily in front of Feng Xiaotian, and the light of the Ice Phoenix had dimmed considerably, but she was still standing, still giving orders.
Feng Xiaotian withdrew his Martial Soul. "That's enough."
In the end, Godwind Academy won with a higher overall score. But the result was no longer important—all eyes in the stands were on Shui Bing'er. Under the siege of the entire Godwind Academy team, especially facing the full pressure from a level 58 Power Attack System captain, Shui Bing'er led the Skywater Academy team members and never let their formation collapse. The captain's calmness and resilience exceeded everyone's expectations.
Shui Bing'er retracted her Ice Phoenix. Sweat streamed from her forehead to her chin, dripping onto the ground. She breathed heavily, looking up at Feng Xiaotian. "Thank you."
Feng Xiaotian walked up to her and extended his hand. "You two had a very good match; you are a worthy opponent."
Shui Bing'er grasped his hand. Her fingers still carried the lingering chill of the Ice Phoenix, making her grip feel cold yet firm. "Next time, we'll do better."
Feng Xiaotian nodded slightly. The handshake between the two lasted a little longer than a typical post-match handshake.
Huo Wushuang walked down from the stands and stood next to Feng Xiaotian, casually asking, " Xiaotian, where's your brother? I haven't seen him today?"
"He's in the alchemy room and hasn't come out since yesterday afternoon," Feng Xiaotian said helplessly.
Huo Wushuang nodded without asking any further questions. Huo Wu didn't follow; she remained seated in the stands, her gaze fixed on Feng Xiaotian and Shui Bing'er's clasped hands for several seconds before looking away.
At noon that day, Feng Xiaotian pushed open the door to the alchemy room.
Feng Lingtian was squatting on the ground, holding a prototype of a Resonance Stone in his hand, with seven or eight sheets of paper scattered around him, covered in Soul Power patterns. Hearing footsteps, he didn't even look up. "Brother, wait until I finish this—"
"No rush." Feng Xiaotian squatted down beside him, remaining silent for a few moments, as if carefully choosing his words. "That Primordial Martial Awakening Pill - Ice—if I wanted to give it to someone else, could that be alright?"
Feng Lingtian paused, looked up, and stared at Feng Xiaotian's face for two seconds. Then, a slow smile curved his lips, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "For someone else? Let me guess— Shui Bing'er?"
Feng Xiaotian didn't speak, a faint blush creeping onto his ears. He reached out and ruffled his younger brother's hair, as if trying to stop him from continuing. Feng Lingtian tilted his head to the side, quickly raising his hands above his head in a gesture of surrender.
"Stop, stop, stop! I won't say anymore!" Feng Lingtian took a small porcelain bottle from the shelf next to him, stuffed it into Feng Xiaotian's hand, and grinned, "Anyway, Father was planning to announce the pills after the exchange competition anyway, so it doesn't matter if I give them to you now. Give them to me if you want."
Feng Xiaotian took the porcelain bottle, a slight smile playing on his lips.
That evening, Feng Xiaotian arranged to meet Shui Bing'er alone and handed her the porcelain bottle. "This is the Primordial Martial Awakening Pill - Ice, made from the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. It matches your Ice Phoenix attribute; after consuming it, your Martial Soul may evolve."
Shui Bing'er took the porcelain bottle, uncorked it, and glanced inside. An icy blue pill lay at the bottom, its surface shimmering with frost-like patterns, and a chill emanated from the opening, causing a thin layer of ice crystals to form on her fingertips. "Such a precious thing—why give it to me?"
"Your efforts and talent are worthy of this pill." Feng Xiaotian paused, as if considering how to continue, "And—I hope there will be another opportunity like this to spar with you in the future."
Shui Bing'er was silent for a moment, a faint blush creeping onto her ears. Suddenly remembering something, she looked up and asked, "If you give me the pill, won't you get into trouble when you go back?"
"No. I can make my own decisions about the pills."
Shui Bing'er was finally relieved. Holding the porcelain bottle, she solemnly said, "Thank you. I'm looking forward to it too," then turned and ran away quickly, her long, ice-blue hair swaying gently in the evening breeze.
Feng Xiaotian stood there, watching Shui Bing'er's figure disappear into the twilight.
But Feng Xiaotian didn't notice that not far behind him, in the shadow of an old tree, someone had seen everything.
The woman leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed, a cold smile playing on her lips. Night had swallowed most of her figure, leaving only a glimpse of her fiery red hair.