I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the latest chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/NineClouds69
--- Chapter 411 ---
Meanwhile, in the Icebound Forest.
"Students, run!" A blue-robed female figure fiercely clashed with a spirit beast, her back facing a group of young ladies.
"These 30,000-year-old Ice Devouring Demon Spiders are beyond your current level, and I can't protect all of you while fighting two of them!"
"B-But teacher—!" Some of the young ladies in matching attire trembled.
"GO!" The blue-robed teacher conjured an icy longsword, and seven spirit rings of standard configuration appeared around her, indicating that she was a Spirit Saint Expert.
"Everyone, follow me," commanded a beautiful young lady in a white-blue robe. She led the group away from the fight, summoning her martial soul, the Ice Phoenix, in case of further danger.
"Sister, what should we do?" Another young lady, looking very similar to her, asked.
After running for a while, the group managed to leave the battlefield but remained deep in the Icebound Forest, an area fraught with dangerous spirit beasts.
"Let's get out of the forest first," said the leading young lady firmly, and the others nodded in agreement. They trusted her leadership because she was the captain of their Skywater Academy team, Shui Bing'er!
Shui Bing'er not only possessed remarkable talent but also had stronger mental fortitude than her peers.
Among the seven of them, only Shui Bing'er could hold her ground against the elite team from Dao Academy.
Her cultivation level was also the highest among them, at Level 47 Spirit Ancestor, with her third and fourth spirit rings being 2300 and 7,000 years old, respectively.
It was 'naturally' made possible due to the small incentives and theories provided by Dao Academy.
Unfortunately, Shui Bing'er was quite stubborn in her pursuit of becoming a control-system spirit master.
"Sister Bing'er, watch out! There is a 3,000-year-old Frostbite Serpent to your left!" warned a young lady, whose martial soul was the Enamel Lucky Crocodile.
Shui Bing'er grunted, "Third Spirit Skill: Repelling Ice Ring!"
A frost halo formed around Shui Bing'er and her companions, preventing the Frostbite Serpent from launching an ice-based, poisonous attack on them.
While the serpent got caught off-guard, it allowed Shui Bing'er to execute another of her control and attack skills. "First Spirit Skill: Frost Seal."
"Second Spirit Skill: Ice Armor - Crystal Arrow."
A thin layer of frost enveloped the 3,000-year-old Frostbite Serpent at a very fast rate, sealing its movements.
Then, a crystallized ice element gathered around Shui Bing'er, creating an ice armor that abruptly transformed mid-way into a slender, sharp arrow, which she fired in a flash.
Stab!
ROAR!!
The Frostbite Serpent shrieked in agony as the icy crystal arrow pierced deep into its skull.
"Yue'er, Ruoshui, finish off the spirit beast," Shui Bing'er sighed, needing to recover her spirit energy.
"Yes, Sister!" Shui Yue'er responded, activating her martial soul, the Dolphin.
"Okay!" Qiu Ruoshui followed suit, using her martial soul, the Green Lotus Perch.
Unknown to Shui Bing'er and the others, they had been under observation by a group of powerhouses for some time.
"What do you think, Senior Ice Phoenix?" Han Yuan asked, leaning against a frost-covered tree.
Ice Phoenix Lord watched Shui Bing'er calmly and remarked, "Well, she is barely passable."
"Her heart and nature are good, steady, and cautious. Even when abruptly faced with danger, she didn't freeze. She made the correct judgment to protect her allies while striking back."
"However, her mastery of the ice element is lacking. She wasted too much time on that ice condensation, and her last counterattack didn't finish off her enemy instantly. It appears her spirit energy reserves are quite low if she needed to recover after using just three spirit skills."
"Jeez, give that little girl some slack, Ah Bing." Jade Phoenix Lord shot her cold, indifferent sister a speechless look.
White-Eyed Phoenix Lord added, "From the perspective of average spirit masters in this era, this girl is actually pretty impressive."
"Mm, she's not bad indeed. Xiao Wu remembers she has defeated several of the Dao Academy's elite students," Xiao Wu nodded in agreement with the White-Eyed Phoenix Lord. "Too bad, when she met the core students, she lost to Zhuqing, then disappeared for a while to acquire her fourth spirit ring."
"Zhuqing?" Han Yuan tilted his head in confusion. "I didn't know the two ever met."
Ah Yin giggled. "I think that little kitten wouldn't tell you this kind of thing because it didn't seem important. She probably knows you have more pressing concerns."
"Zhuqing is indeed a sensible child," Xiao Rou praised, momentarily feeling pity that her own daughter couldn't be like that. But this feeling was fleeting.
On the other hand, Bi Ji was perplexed by the whole discussion. After all, she doesn't know much about the 'human' race aside from some of them being very evil and greedy, she furrowed her brow at the mention of 'Zhuqing' and quietly listened.
Regardless, Bi Ji still maintained her composure as a professional maid, standing beside Han Yuan with a solemn look.
Ice Phoenix Lord gazed at Shui Bing'er calmly. "This girl actually has the bloodline of the Phoenix Clan, but it is unfortunately thin and impure that even upon awakening the Ice Phoenix martial soul, she did not awaken Ultimate Ice."
Jade Phoenix Lord sighed. "What do you expect? The Phoenix Clan hasn't gone public for numerous eras. Those who awaken the 'Phoenix' martial soul are merely the descendants of branch members through countless generations."
"By then, awakening a 'Phoenix' martial soul is simply a matter of luck," and the girl is lucky!" added White-Eyed Phoenix Lord with a helpless sigh.
"But a thin and impure bloodline does have its merits," Ice Phoenix Lord suddenly interjected.
"Hm??" Jade Phoenix Lord and White-Eyed Phoenix Lord were surprised, thinking she was still looking down on the girl, but she took a different turn.
Han Yuan's eyes flashed with realization and said, "Plasticity, huh? Are you planning to do with her what I did with Bi Ji?"
"If the Young Lord wills it, then it will happen," Ice Phoenix Lord replied confidently.
Han Yuan could only stare at her blankly and laugh. The meaning behind her words was clear. If Han Yuan wanted Shui Bing'er to become the Ice Phoenix Lord's disciple, he needed to help her a little.
And that little help would be Bloodline Purification.
"Very well," Han Yuan answered decisively. "I'll just need to do a bit of work on my side. I leave the task of cultivating a powerful apostle to you, Senior Ice Phoenix."
A faint smile formed on Ice Phoenix Lord's small face as she replied with determination, "Then, I won't disappoint you, Young Lord."
Afterward, the group continued to watch Shui Bing'er and her companion struggle in the Icebound Forest until they encountered a troublesome opponent.
A nearly 20,000-year-old Mirror Image Beast!
Han Yuan narrowed his eyes. "This fellow... Is he perhaps the one Oscar hunted for the fifth spirit ring and then dropped a head spirit bone?"
"The first breakthrough for Oscar, despite being a food-system spirit master."
"The skills the Mirrow Image Beast provided are quite powerful, too."
"What should I do..." Han Yuan rubbed his chin, glancing at Xiao Wu and the other women in his group.
White-Eyed Phoenix Lord then said solemnly, "If the Young Lord wants to help them, wait until they are fighting to the very end."
"This will allow Ah Bing to see more of the girl's potential and will help you gain more loyal subordinates or even concubines."
Cough! CougH!
"Pardon?" Han Yuan immediately choked on his words, giving White-Eyed Phoenix Lord a bewildered look.
She tilted her head innocently. "Isn't it normal for a capable man to have multiple wives? I thought the Young Lord wanted Ah Bing to take that human girl as her disciple because you fancy her beauty."
"Isn't that what you wanted, Young Lord?"
"I am not!" Han Yuan denied immediately. "What kind of person do you think I am? I just wanted to recruit her!"
"I am doing it for my 'future' plan!"
"Oh..." White-Eyed Phoenix Lord and the other women in the group rolled their eyes at Han Yuan.
Of course, yeah, your 'future' plan.
We definitely don't misunderstand you!