Seeing the atmosphere freeze over, Mu Xi sighed lightly. She knew that, given their feelings for Skywater Academy, her words would inevitably displease her teacher and senior sister. But if she didn't push for this, Skywater would only slowly decline. She couldn't stand by and watch the academy vanish into history.
With that in mind, she shook her head and said in a deep voice, "Senior Sister, that's not what I meant. I'm giving Skywater a better path."
As she spoke, a powerful aura surged from her, resisting Shui Qingmei's pressure.
Sensing that aura, Shui Qingmei frowned. Mu Xi was indeed strong now—likely not far from level 80. But with Skywater's survival at stake, how could she back down? Her aura grew fiercer, and a shadow of the Condensed Water Flying Bend manifested behind her.
"A better path? Don't be ridiculous! Skywater Academy has stood in the north for two hundred years, ranked among the Five Great Elemental Academies, a sacred place for soul masters of the Heaven Dou Empire. And a reclusive Body Sect dares claim it can offer us something better?"
The more she spoke, the wilder Shui Qingmei's aura became, as she scolded coldly, "You've been bewitched by that Chen Zhen! You've completely forgotten Skywater raised you."
The Body Sect was indeed formidable, but because of the secret at its core it didn't dare parade itself around the soul master world. A power that couldn't stand in the open—what did it matter how strong it was?
Besides, Skywater Academy was no pushover. Their master was level 87—top-tier beneath Title Douluo. Shui Qingmei herself could likely challenge Soul Douluo within fifteen years. By then, even against the Seven Great Sects, they could speak as equals. What more could the Body Sect give? Laughable!
Moreover, Skywater's future would only shine brighter!
Looking at her resolute senior sister and the silent Qingyun, Mu Xi said quietly, "What if the Body Sect comes out of seclusion?"
A year ago, Chen Zhen told Mu Xi that Chen Yi had provided the legacy of that Thunder God. The sect's power would skyrocket, and their original plan to emerge remained unchanged.
Qingyun trembled. It sounded unbelievable. "The Body Sect is coming out? How? Aren't they afraid of drawing the Spirit Hall's attention?"
The Body Sect's foundation—the second awakening—couldn't see the light of day. Without overwhelming strength, it couldn't be exposed. If they were emerging, did that mean they no longer feared the Spirit Hall or the two empires?
At that, both Qingyun and Shui Qingmei's expressions turned ugly. If the Body Sect emerged, Skywater would no longer matter to them. They wouldn't need Skywater as an external help anymore.
This blindsided them. They'd planned to leverage the Body Sect to help Shui Bing'er rise. Now that was clearly impossible.
Regaining her composure, Shui Qingmei still looked icily at Mu Xi. "So, the Body Sect gets stronger and now wants to annex Skywater?"
Mu Xi shook her head, meeting Shui Qingmei's furious eyes.
"Not annexation. We want to use Skywater as a springboard to radiate influence across the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Heh!" Shui Qingmei sneered, sarcasm on her face at her once-closest junior. "What's the difference? Using Skywater as a springboard—how is that not annexation? Even if you don't swallow us outright, we'll become the Body Sect's vassal with no hope of turning over!"
Bang!
Her anger flaring, Shui Qingmei slammed the table and leaned in, her dignified face thrust close.
"Mu Xi, without Skywater you would have been eaten by stray dogs on the roadside long ago! Without Skywater, how would you have earned the title 'Ice Thorn Enchantress'?!"
Mu Xi stood and faced her, voice low. "The academy's kindness, Master's kindness—I will never forget."
She'd been a troublemaker since childhood. Without Qingyun and Skywater backing her, she would have been torn apart long ago.
"But you already have forgotten—Mu Xi, you're ungrateful!" Shui Qingmei's roar echoed in the room, showing just how furious she was.
"I'm telling you, Skywater will never be merged into the Body Sect. Mark my words—Skywater does not fear war."
She looked at Mu Xi, voice calm yet resolute. "At Skywater there are only ghosts who die in battle—never people who surrender."
"Oh, and you're not one of us anymore—you're a thankless wretch!"
Mu Xi bristled, pointing at Shui Qingmei's nose. "I'm not Skywater? I'm ungrateful? Shui Qingmei, how noble you are, how lofty! Do you have any idea what I went through to win this opportunity?"
When she learned the Body Sect would emerge, Mu Xi knew their rise would be unstoppable. She thought of her alma mater and wanted to secure them a share, so Skywater could climb even higher.
Thinking of how aggrieved her husband had looked, and how she'd practically talked her throat dry before the Grand Elder, only to be called ungrateful now—her eyes reddened and her voice choked.
"I've spent decades at Skywater. If anyone knows what kind of person I am, it's you, Shui Qingmei!"
The more she spoke, the more wronged she felt, tears falling like broken pearls.
"You don't know how harsh these times are. Only by hitching onto the Body Sect can we go further. And the Body Sect won't annex Skywater—I swear it."
Seeing her little disciple crying, Qingyun's heart ached, but the purpose of her visit crossed her bottom line. She steeled herself and looked away.
Shui Qingmei snorted. "You swear? If the Body Sect truly makes a move, what good is your oath? Mu Xi, have you forgotten how many people and forces have perished on the Douluo Continent because of oaths? Since when did the Ice Thorn Enchantress become so naive?"
She paused, then added with disdain, "As for how harsh these times are—I don't know, and I don't care. Because Skywater fears nothing."
At that, Mu Xi laughed, making Shui Qingmei's face flush. Only when the latter's gaze grew darker did Mu Xi relent.
"Fear nothing? Shui Qingmei, did becoming dean make you lose your head—and your basic grasp of reality?"
"You—" Shui Qingmei flared, ready to curse.
"You what?" Mu Xi cut her off, looking at her like she was an idiot. "If Skywater truly feared nothing, why does Bing'er's martial soul get reported externally as the Condensed Water Flying Bend?"
Before Mu Xi's words even finished echoing, Qingyun's eyes snapped open. A cold gleam seemed to shoot out as her gaze locked onto Mu Xi, brooking no argument.
In the same instant, an invisible, razor-sharp sword intent erupted and swept the room. The air itself seemed sliced apart; beams and walls were instantly etched with dense, deep sword scars—shocking to behold.
Shui Qingmei pointed at Mu Xi in disbelief, her voice trembling.
"H-how do you know?"
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