"Um, little handsome guy, hi!"
Hearing the voice, Shui Yue'er turned awkwardly, seeing Chen Yi looking at her with a slight smile. She suddenly felt like a child caught stealing candy, her ears turning scarlet as she lowered her head and mumbled.
"Um, I—I—"
Seeing her flustered sister, Shui Bing'er shook her head helplessly, stepping forward half a step. Her cool voice carried just the right amount of politeness.
"This gentleman, we are students of Skywater Academy. I'm Shui Bing'er."
She pointed to Shui Yue'er beside her, who looked expectant, and said warmly: "This is my sister Shui Yue'er. She's just a bit lively; she didn't mean to provoke."
Shui Bing'er still needed to explain for her sister. The other was openly strolling in the academy, dressed luxuriously with an extraordinary aura—his identity must be significant. Better not offend lightly.
Chen Yi smiled indifferently: "This miss has a straightforward personality, speaking her mind. That's far better than many who are sweet-tongued but scheming."
Hearing Chen Yi's praise, Shui Bing'er smiled in response. Shui Yue'er nodded vigorously, fully agreeing. Yes, yes, I'm just straightforward, not what Mom calls scatterbrained.
After a few more words, Shui Bing'er, seeing how easygoing Chen Yi was, asked politely with a hint of inquiry: "This young master looks unfamiliar; you're probably not from Skywater City, right?"
"Half and half," Chen Yi's gaze fell on the distant lake, his tone relaxed: "My mother's name is Mu Xi, the last disciple of Senior Blue Sky Sword Qing Yun, and also the junior sister of the current Skywater Academy Dean Shui."
"I came with my mother to visit Grand Martial Aunt. Right now, she's talking with Grand Martial Aunt and Martial Aunt Shui. I felt I couldn't contribute, so I came out for a walk and ended up here."
Hearing that Chen Yi was Martial Aunt Mu Xi's son, Shui Yue'er's shyness faded mostly. Her tone became familiar: "So you're Martial Aunt Mu Xi's family! Mother always tells us legendary stories of her and Martial Aunt Mu teaming up to sweep the Northern Territory, crushing the Five Elemental Academies and winning first in the Heaven Dou division. It gets our blood boiling!"
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled at Chen Yi.
So he's one of us—why didn't you say so earlier? I wouldn't have been so shy.
Chen Yi showed a slightly surprised expression, looking astonished at the sisters: "Oh, so you two ladies are Martial Aunt's daughters. What a coincidence."
"Mm-hmm!" Shui Yue'er's eyes curved into crescents, even the ahoge on her head swaying slightly.
Shui Bing'er looked helplessly at her boisterous sister. Even if he's Martial Aunt Mu's family, you can't be so unrestrained.
"We haven't asked for brother's name yet. Is your martial soul Martial Aunt Mu's Ice Thorn?"
Shui Bing'er had only recently awakened her martial soul; Chen Yi was definitely a bit older than her.
Since Martial Aunt Mu brought her son to Skywater Academy, perhaps it was for his martial soul. In the past, outstanding graduates had brought talented sons here to study, but all were rejected. If Chen Yi was here to enroll, she figured he'd leave disappointed.
Chen Yi didn't say much; lightning flickered at his fingertips, displaying his thunder element ability to the sisters.
"Wow! Chen Yi, you have a thunder-attribute martial soul! Are you planning to go to Thunderclap Academy then?"
Thunderclap Academy, one of the Heaven Dou Empire's Five Elemental Academies, had deans historically from Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan elders, authoritative in lightning. In Shui Yue'er's view, Chen Yi's thunder-related martial soul made him a perfect fit for Thunderclap Academy.
The Five Elemental Academies might have hidden rivalries, but on the surface, relations were good. If Chen Yi joined Thunderclap, she could visit him naturally. Plus, Thunderclap was full of rough men—she could work hard and get the moon first by the water tower.
Shui Yue'er inwardly praised her own cleverness.
Chen Yi just smiled without answering. As the young master of the Body Sect and heir to the Thunder God, a mere Thunderclap Academy wasn't qualified to teach him.
Besides, his main cultivation was the Body Sect's blood qi power; he could start thunder aspects later during inheritance.
Shui Bing'er ignored her sister's schemes, her eyes warily on the lightning at Chen Yi's fingertips. It wasn't blinding or dazzling, but the moment it appeared, her Ice Phoenix martial soul began trembling slightly, as if sensing something terrifying.
Her Ice Phoenix was a top-tier beast martial soul, standing at the peak in both attack and elemental power. How could it be scared by a bit of lightning?
Though she didn't know Chen Yi's exact martial soul, Shui Bing'er was sure he was a top genius, likely innate full soul power like herself.
"Hey, Chen Yi, were you planning to go into Skywater Platform? Come on, I'll take you in. I'm super familiar with it—you can ask me anything you don't know." Seeing Chen Yi tacitly agree, Shui Yue'er's smile grew brighter. She grabbed his sleeve.
Chen Yi let Shui Yue'er pull him into Skywater Platform. Having a guide was even better, and with the Shui sisters, he'd save a lot of trouble.
"By the way, what are Sister Yue'er's and Sister Bing'er's martial souls?" On the way, Chen Yi asked curiously.
Hearing this, Shui Yue'er, pulling Chen Yi's left hand ahead, turned proudly: "My martial soul is Dolphin, inherited from my mother. Let me tell you, I'm already a level 16 Soul Master. In at most two years, I'll get my second soul ring and become a powerful Soul Grandmaster."
From earlier talks, Shui Yue'er was about eight and a half, not yet nine.
Level 16 at that age was indeed impressive. The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament age limit was twenty-five; if Shui Yue'er joined in her last eligible year, she'd at least be level 41, a standout among peers.
"As for Bing'er, she just got her first soul ring recently and became a Soul Master."
Shui Yue'er added.
"Is that so? Sister Bing'er is really amazing—becoming a Soul Master at just six. Her future achievements will be astonishing!" Chen Yi said with feigned admiration. With Shui Bing'er's innate full soul power, becoming a Soul Master was effortless.
Shui Bing'er looked speechless but kept a perfectly polite smile.
"It's just better luck than others, nothing special. I inherited my mother's Condensed Water Flying Bend martial soul, innate soul power level 8. This achievement isn't worth boasting about. But Senior Brother Chen, you're the surprising one!" (Note: Bing'er and Yue'er are half-sibling.)
Toward the end, Shui Bing'er's tone became ambiguous, her expression intriguing.
"Haha, I didn't expect Junior Sister to have such great talent. I've heard elders say innate level 8 soul power has potential to break through to Title Douluo—truly enviable. Unlike me, with only innate level 7.5 soul power. I'd be content reaching Soul Douluo in this life."
Little girl, acting with me?
Don't you know nine years of education turns everyone into an actor?
If I hadn't read the original, you might have fooled me.
Shui Bing'er's eye twitched.
Such a strong martial soul with only level 7 innate soul power? You're fooling a kid?
I thought claiming innate level 8 was low-key enough, but your family is even more cunning than my grand martial aunt and mother—total sly foxes?
"Ah, stop talking about this. Look, there are senior sisters sparring ahead!"
Shui Yue'er interrupted their invisible posturing with dissatisfaction.
One with innate full soul power claiming level 8, the other claiming level 7.5, and her with innate level 6—it was so awkward.
Following Shui Yue'er's direction, Chen Yi and Shui Bing'er turned their gazes to two girls sparring in the distance.
Seeing the two girls' appearances, Shui Yue'er said happily: "We came at the perfect time—it's Senior Sister Ding and Senior Sister Meng sparring. We can finally feast our eyes."
From Shui Yue'er's reaction, these two girls seemed like prominent figures in Skywater Academy.
Sure enough, Shui Yue'er excitedly introduced to Chen Yi: "Senior Sister Meng and Senior Sister Ding are main members of this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament team. They're exceptionally strong, famous geniuses in the soul master world. We'll definitely learn a lot from their spar."
PS: Read advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode