Shui Bing'er was stunned for a moment, then reached out and grasped a glass of water. A chilling cold surged through her, freezing the water in the glass into ice in an instant.
Xuan Ming picked up another cup of water, a chill surging in his palm, and froze it into ice as well.
Under Shui Bing'er's questioning gaze, Xuan Ming took the ice out of the two blankets.
"Look at these two ice cubes and see what the difference is."
"The difference?" Shui Bing'er was slightly taken aback, and immediately noticed the obvious difference upon looking at it.
"Color?"
The ice in her cup was white in the center and transparent around the edges, while the ice in Xuan Ming's cup had white edges but a transparent interior.
"Why?" Shui Bing'er asked, puzzled.
She hadn't noticed this issue before.
"The freezing methods are different," Xuan Ming said.
"You're freezing it from the outside in, and the air and impurities in the water are squeezed into the core, forming these white voids."
"I froze it from the inside out, so the air and impurities in the water were squeezed to the outside, which is why the outside is white."
Shui Bing'er was slightly taken aback. "From the inside out? How... how did you do that?"
"It's still about controlling ice energy," Xuan Ming said.
"When you activate your Martial Soul, the ice energy spreads outward from your body, so it naturally freezes from the outside in. However, the speed and intensity of the spread can be controlled. When freezing, manipulate the ice energy to avoid the air and impurities in the water, first let the ice energy condense in the center of the water, and then spread it from the inside out. This way, you can achieve freezing from the inside out."
Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, "But, this..."
"What's the difference?" Xuan Ming asked.
Shui Bing'er nodded hesitantly, " Ice Seal directly from the outside in is faster. As Control System Soul Master, what I need to consider is how to control the opponent more quickly. Speed is the most important thing. Not to mention that this method is extremely difficult, it will also greatly reduce the speed."
Xuan Ming nodded. "That's certainly true for third-rate Soul Master."
Shui Bing'er's expression froze for a moment, and a surge of anger rose in her heart, but it was extinguished in an instant.
She could retort if someone else said that, but she had to swallow it when Xuan Ming said it!
"This is a bit complicated to explain. Let me give you an example. Do you know Poison Douluo?" Xuan Ming asked.
Shui Bing'er nodded. "Yes, the supreme poison."
In the current Soul Master World, Poison Douluo's strength is not particularly strong, but his threat level ranks among the top even among all Titled Douluo.
"You haven't met Dugu Bo, so you don't know his abilities. Your ice and snow can restrain Dugu Yan, but it's meaningless against Dugu Bo. This isn't just a difference in Soul Power Level, but rather a difference in their skill in using poison," Xuan Ming said.
" Dugu Yan's poison skills are too superficial; she can only use some superficial poisons, which are good for scaring people, but against a true master, she's just easy prey."
"But with Dugu Bo, you wouldn't even know when you were poisoned, and you wouldn't even know how you died."
"His poison is invisible and colorless. If you are not on guard, by the time you realize it, it's too late."
"Similarly, your ice can too."
Shui Bing'er was taken aback, "Ice is okay too?"
"For others, it might be impossible to reach that level in their entire lives, but you have the top-tier ice-attribute Martial Soul, the Ice Phoenix, so it's not impossible for you to do this," Xuan Ming said.
"Like in today's match, the Auxiliary System Soul Master on your team first caused a rainstorm to prepare for your Martial Soul Fusion Skill. That rain greatly increased the power of the Ice and Snow Drifting."
What if you considered your opponent as this glass of water?
"Your control over ice energy is still very weak. Freezing water takes time, let alone freezing a person. But you can allow some of your ice energy to penetrate the other person's body each time you release Ice Seal. Repeat this process until enough ice energy has accumulated inside the other person, then you can activate it and freeze them from the inside. What do you think will happen?"
Shui Bing'er's expression changed slightly, "This... isn't it a bit too difficult?"
"It is indeed difficult. To completely Ice Seal the opponent in this way is not easy even for me, let alone for you," Xuan Ming said.
"But you don't need to freeze everything; freezing only a portion is more than enough."
Xuan Ming picked up another cup of unfrozen water and released his ice energy once more. Under Shui Bing'er's somewhat flustered gaze, tiny ice spikes condensed and formed in the water.
"Tell me, what would happen if this glass of water were replaced with a person?"
Shui Bing'er's expression stiffened, and she couldn't speak.
Just thinking about it, she could picture how cruel that scene would be!
"Have you... frozen someone like this before?" Shui Bing'er couldn't help but ask.
"No." Xuan Ming put the cup down.
"This fighting style is like playing with ice like you're playing with poison—it's too troublesome. Why use such complicated methods when I can kill someone with a single slap?"
Shui Bing'er asked with some doubt, "Then how could you have come up with such a... ruthless move?"
"Because I was under a lot of pressure for a period of time, and my inner world... was rather dark," Xuan Ming said.
"No one knows I have this skill, they don't even know I can manipulate ice. If I use this method to do something underhanded, no one will know."
"Once an ice spike freezes in the heart or brain, and there's no warning, you won't even know how you died. Besides, the ice melts in no time, so even an autopsy won't reveal anything."
Chapter 252 A person's greatest virtue is self-awareness.
As Shui Bing'er listened, she felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to her spine. She looked at Xuan Ming with a complex mix of emotions in her eyes, including awe and a hint of indescribable fear.
Xuan Ming sighed, "It's normal that you think this kind of move is insidious. I haven't actually used it on anyone. I have many other moves that I developed on Shi Xing and never actually used."
Shui Bing'er's eyes twitched slightly. "A lot?"
"Yes, I used to be too weak, and I lacked a sense of security. My physical strength was also improving slowly, so I could only resort to underhanded tactics," Xuan Ming said.
"However, even I find those moves a bit too insidious. I won't go into detail about a young lady like you."
Shui Bing'er's eyes held a complex expression. "Insecure? You..."
"My situation is rather complicated, so I won't go into details." Xuan Ming picked up his tea and took a sip.
"Release your Divine Power, and I'll give you something."
Shui Bing'er was slightly taken aback. Xuan Ming's finger touched the center of her forehead. Shui Bing'er felt a cool and mysterious power flow into her forehead, and instantly, a bunch of unfamiliar knowledge appeared in her mind.
" Ice Invasion, Ice Erosion..." Shui Bing'er's expression changed slightly.
"These are your Self-Created Soul Skill?"
"Most of them don't qualify as Soul Skill; they're more like techniques," Xuan Ming said.
Consider this a gift for all the time you've spent talking to me.
"I..." Shui Bing'er opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
It's no exaggeration to say that if she had to figure this out on her own, it would have taken her at least decades, half a lifetime. And now, someone has given her something so valuable so easily...
"Why is your Martial Soul so restless?" Xuan Ming asked.
" My Soul Power is also a bit unstable."
Shui Bing'er hesitated to speak, "Today I forcibly activated my Martial Soul Origin and unleashed that move, which severely overtaxed me..."
"Overdraft?" Xuan Ming raised an eyebrow slightly, placed his hand on Shui Bing'er's head, and a gentle surge of icy power flowed into her body.
Shui Bing'er felt a warm yet powerful force flowing through her body. Wherever it passed, her Soul Power, which had been somewhat disordered due to overexertion, gradually calmed down, and her restless Martial Soul also gradually quieted down.
She could clearly feel that this power was not only repairing the damage to her body, but also nourishing her Martial Soul Martial Soul, making it purer and more resilient.
"Don't play these risky games. You're so young, it's just a competition, it's not like it's going to kill you." Xuan Ming withdrew his hand.
Shui Bing'er lowered her head, her originally pale face now flushed with embarrassment. "I'll remember."
"Is there anything else?" Xuan Ming finished his tea in one gulp.
Shui Bing'er raised her head, looked at Xuan Ming, and said softly, "Thank you, I..."
"No need. I'm happy with what happened today, so you don't need to overthink it," Xuan Ming interrupted.
Shui Bing'er bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered up her courage to say, "Then... can I still come to ask you for advice on cultivation in the future?"
"I know this might be a lot of trouble for you, but I really want to become stronger, like..."
"Don't bother me," Xuan Ming interrupted.
"..." Shui Bing'er.
"..." Ice Dragon King.
"..." Fire Dragon King.
After listening for so long, the Ice Dragon King began to suspect that Xuan Ming might have suddenly changed his personality, and the Fire Dragon King even suspected that Xuan Ming might have been traumatized by the previous Nightmare. But just that last sentence instantly dispelled their doubts.
Xuan Ming is still the same Xuan Ming!
Not a Sisi change!
A hint of disappointment flashed in Shui Bing'er's eyes. "I... I understand. I was too hasty."
Shui Bing'er slowly stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you."
"No need, I remember about Tang San, I'll go see him later," Xuan Ming said.
Shui Bing'er nodded gently, "I will do my best."
"Is there anything else?" Xuan Ming poured another cup of tea.
Shui Bing'er opened her mouth, then hesitated, her gaze falling on the two exquisite ice sculptures on the table: one Ice Phoenix, the other a representation of herself.
"This... can I take it with me?" Shui Bing'er asked cautiously.
Xuan Ming was slightly taken aback. "Sure, you can take it back as a specimen for reference. You can also practice with a small ice hockey puck whenever you have free time."
"You shouldn't have gotten yourself into a fever like Ning Rongrong did."
Upon hearing this, Shui Bing'er couldn't help but chuckle, and the tension and restraint in her heart dissipated considerably.
She carefully picked up the two ice sculptures, feeling the Sisi coolness they emanated from them, her heart filled with gratitude and joy.
"Thank you," she said softly again, her voice full of sincerity.
"It's alright, you're exhausted too. Go back and rest, I'm going to sleep too." Xuan Ming collapsed onto the pillow and buried his head in it.
Shui Bing'er was slightly taken aback when she saw Xuan Ming's somewhat childlike demeanor. She smiled slightly, nodded gently, and, holding the ice sculpture, walked lightly but with a hint of reluctance towards the door.
Knock knock!
Shui Bing'er walked to the door, but before she could even put her hand on the doorknob, a heavy knocking sound suddenly rang out.
Shui Bing'er paused, a hint of panic flashing across her face. She instinctively turned to look at Xuan Ming, not daring to make a sound.
Xuan Ming raised his head again. "Who?"
"It's me, Huo Wu." Huo Wu's voice rang out from outside the door.
Shui Bing'er panicked even more. If Huo Wu, with her fiery temper, found out that she had run into Xuan Ming's room, what would people say?
Xuan Ming frowned, looked at Shui Bing'er, and lowered his voice, "You should hide for a bit."
Shui Bing'er nodded hurriedly, glanced around the room, and finally hid in the bedroom.
Xuan Ming sighed, got up, and opened the door. "What is it?"
"What technique did you use against the Skywater Academy today?" Huo Wu asked anxiously.
"The power of that Martial Soul Fusion Skill..."
"Stop, this is a complicated matter, I don't want to talk about it," Xuan Ming interrupted.
Is there anything else?
Huo Wu glanced around the room and found it empty. "Can I come in and talk?"
Xuan Ming sighed. "Come in."
Huo Wu entered the room, stretched out her hands, and two orange flames surged and rose, merging together. As Huo Wu concentrated and intensified, they gradually transformed into incandescent white.
"I did what you told me, but the temperature won't go up. If I raise the temperature any further, it gets very agitated, and I can't control it," Huo Wu said.
Xuan Ming's eye twitched slightly. "Big sister, why don't you ask your teacher about this?"
"But these are the moves you taught me," Huo Wu said.
"..." Xuan Ming.