Skywater Academy Team Reserve Member

Chen Xiaoling circulated her Soul Power and waved her hand, dispersing the icy mist that filled the arena.

She then suppressed her surprise and looked at Yu Tianshuang. "In more than twenty years of teaching, I've seen many brilliant and exceptionally gifted talents. But without a doubt, you're the first person I've seen develop a variation of a Soul Skill at the one-ring Soul Master level. As far as I know, even that genius with the Mutated Martial Soul from Godwind Academy couldn't do this at your age. You truly have something exceptional about you, as expected of someone Shui Xinrou accepted as her disciple."

Chen Xiaoling's voice was full of wonder, with a trace of envy that was hard to put into words.

"Ahem, hey, blockhead, how did you do that? Wasn't your first Soul Skill just those ice walls? How can you use it like that? You have to teach me. I want to learn too. That was so cool!"

The icy mist had only just dispersed when Shui Yue'er came running over like the wind and grabbed Yu Tianshuang's arm as she spoke.

Yu Tianshuang unobtrusively pulled his arm free and took a small step back. Looking at Shui Yue'er, who was a little embarrassed that she had gotten so excited and grabbed his arm in front of everyone, he said, "You can do it as long as you deepen your understanding of your Soul Skill and practice using it. My first Soul Skill summons one or more ice walls that can defend against or control an opponent. Once summoned, the walls won't disappear unless they're broken or I run out of Soul Power. Even if they're shattered, they leave pieces of ice behind. Summoning the walls already uses up my Soul Power, so I wondered whether I could make them move or keep sending Soul Power into them to make them shatter. Once I had that idea, I developed this variation of my first Soul Skill."

Shui Yue'er listened to Yu Tianshuang's explanation. It sounded simple enough, but when she thought about it carefully, she was as utterly lost as the other students, as though wandering in the clouds and mist.

That little fellow Yu Tianshuang makes it sound simple, but quite a few people know the principle behind it. Only by trying it yourself can you understand how difficult it is. He really is astonishing. At such a young age, he hasn't grown arrogant and complacent because of his talent. Instead, he trains hard and studies diligently. Shui Xinrou really is lucky. Sigh.

At that thought, Chen Xiaoling couldn't help sighing inwardly.

She waved her hand and summoned another Ice-Armored Black Tortoise. Her authoritative voice rang out. "Continue. Those who haven't released their Soul Skills yet and those who failed earlier, keep practicing. Anyone who doesn't practice properly today won't be allowed to eat. Keep at it until you succeed."

"Ah!!!" As soon as Chen Xiaoling finished speaking, a chorus of wails rose from the crowd.

At the entrance to Skywater Academy's cafeteria, Yu Tianshuang was about to go in for a meal with Shui Yue'er when a gentle voice called out from behind him.

"Tianshuang."

Yu Tianshuang turned and saw Shui Xinrou's gentle, water-like face.

"Hello, Teacher."

Yu Tianshuang greeted Shui Xinrou respectfully.

Shui Xinrou walked over to Yu Tianshuang, looked at him, and nodded.

"Good. Teacher Chen told me what happened this afternoon. I really didn't expect you to have developed a variation of your Soul Skill so soon, turning a defensive and control-type Soul Skill into an offensive one, when you only obtained it a few days ago."

As she spoke, she patted Yu Tianshuang on the shoulder in encouragement.

"Oh, right. Come find me at my dormitory building after you've eaten."

With that, Shui Xinrou went up to the second floor.

"Auntie, I kicked that lousy tortoise over too! Praise me as well!"

Shui Yue'er called after Shui Xinrou as she watched her head up to the second floor.

"Hey, blockhead, get up early tomorrow morning and line up for me at the cafeteria's egg-filled roll counter, okay? They were all gone when I went yesterday. Ugh, coming back only to find I couldn't get an egg-filled roll really made me mad. Do you know how good they are? There's a layer of egg roll wrapped around the filling, and one bite makes the whole world feel wonderful. Mmm~"

Shui Yue'er swallowed again as she spoke.

Looking at Shui Yue'er behaving like such a greedy cat, Yu Tianshuang said somewhat helplessly, "You must have gotten up late this morning. All right, I'll go line up for you tomorrow morning."

After parting with Shui Yue'er, Yu Tianshuang took a shortcut to Shui Xinrou's dormitory building.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in. The door isn't locked."

Shui Xinrou's gentle, refined voice came from inside.

Yu Tianshuang entered Shui Xinrou's dormitory building and took a quick look around. The living room was almost identical to his own, except that some of the furniture was arranged differently. Shui Xinrou was sitting on the sofa, savoring a cup of tea.

She pointed to the sofa opposite her, indicating that Yu Tianshuang should sit down.

"Do you know about Self-Created Soul Skills?"

Seeing Yu Tianshuang shake his head, Shui Xinrou continued, "Strictly speaking, the Soul Skill you used this afternoon to move and explode those walls could be called a Self-Created Soul Skill, though it doesn't quite meet the standard definition."

"A Self-Created Soul Skill is a Soul Skill unique to its creator, developed by a Soul Master through a full understanding and use of their Martial Soul's abilities and the characteristics of Soul Skills they have already mastered. The skill you used this afternoon to move and then explode the stationary ice walls summoned by your first Soul Skill was, strictly speaking, built entirely on that first Soul Skill. It was one of several ways of using it that you developed from it. A true Self-Created Soul Skill is an independent Soul Skill, entirely separate from the Soul Skills one already possesses, that combines the abilities of one's Martial Soul with the characteristics of one's Soul Skills."

Shui Xinrou's explanation made everything suddenly clear to Yu Tianshuang.

That's right. My Ice Blast Burial is based entirely on my first Soul Skill and isn't separate from it, so it can't be considered a Self-Created Soul Skill. It's a way of using my first Soul Skill.

Yu Tianshuang thought for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Shui Xinrou. She gave him an appreciative look and nodded.

"I'm pleased that you understood so quickly. For now, though, you should focus on cultivating your Soul Power. Raising your Soul Power Level is the most practical thing you can do."

"Yes, Teacher. It's just that there's something that might cause my Soul Power Level to rise very slowly." As he spoke, he rubbed his head in embarrassment.

"Teacher, do you remember the purple seal that appeared when I was fighting that Ice Jade Scorpion on the outskirts of the Frozen Forest? It's called the Big Dipper Seven Primordial Purple Extremity Seal. By channeling Soul Power into it, I can increase my physical strength and Soul Power capacity. I was thinking that at every level, I'd use the seal to raise myself to the limit of that level before obtaining a Soul Ring. That way, I'd be able to withstand a Soul Ring far older than other Soul Masters at the same level could."

Hearing Yu Tianshuang's words, Shui Xinrou knitted her picturesque brows. After pondering for a moment, she said, "If you don't mind falling too far behind Soul Masters your age, I think you can do it. And each time you're about to obtain a Soul Ring, I'll test you to see exactly how old a Soul Ring your strengthened body can withstand."

Yu Tianshuang felt a warmth in his heart when he heard that his teacher didn't object, even though doing this would slow his Soul Power cultivation.

After all, he was Shui Xinrou's disciple now. If his Soul Power Level fell too far behind those of his peers, Shui Xinrou would also become the target of a great deal of gossip.

"All right. Since you've made up your mind, we'll settle it that way. I called you here mainly for two things. I've already explained the first. The second is that you're to join the Skywater Academy Team Reserve Team and prepare for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament."