The moment Shui Bing'er's martial spirit shattered, Dugu yan and Ye Lingling both cried out in fear.
"Her spirit broke apart just like that? Ignaz, the immortal herbs you gave her ruined her! Her career as a spirit master is over!"
"What do we do now? With her martial spirit destroyed, isn't she going to become a cripple?"
"I don't care—there *has* to be a way to save her. Ignaz, you *must* have a solution!"
...
Seeing their panic, Ignaz leaned forward, gesturing for them to look more closely at Shui Bing'er.
"Don't be so hasty. Bing'er is fine. She's just entering the final stage of her spirit's evolution."
He had been monitoring her changes the whole time, and his understanding of martial spirit transformation went far deeper than theirs.
Behind Shui Bing'er, the scattered shards of her martial spirit were being drawn back together, fusing into her body. Layers of icy-blue frost encased her, sealing her like a statue within a block of solid ice. Through the translucent ice, a strange power could be seen forming, growing denser and stronger with each breath.
"Rrrooarrr—"
A piercing phoenix cry rang out. The block of ice exploded outward, shattering the four defensive soul arrays in an instant.
From her back, a majestic blue phoenix emerged, streaked with golden feathers. Its noble aura radiated holiness and power, making even Dugu yan instinctively want to bow down in awe.
"Wh-what kind of phoenix spirit is that?"
For a long moment, Dugu yan and Ye Lingling could only stare in shock. Even Ignaz, though calm, spoke with measured seriousness:
"This evolved Ice Phoenix has surpassed even the category of top-tier martial spirits. How strong it truly is… only Bing'er can show us when she wakes."
At last, Shui Bing'er opened her eyes. Feeling the transformation within her, she leapt up and hugged her two sisters tightly, overflowing with gratitude.
"Bing'er, how has your martial spirit changed? Tell us," Dugu yan asked eagerly.
Shui Bing'er didn't hold back. "It's become far stronger. Even my first three spirit abilities have grown tremendously in power!"
Then, glancing at Ignaz, she added, "And besides the Ultimate Ice attribute he mentioned, my spirit also gained an additional water attribute."
"Ice and water together—perfectly compatible," Ignaz explained. "Once you obtain a ten-thousand-year fourth ring, your spirit power will likely leap straight to Rank 48 or even 49. Before the tournament ends, you may already reach Spirit King."
Dugu yan was thrilled, but then a serious thought struck her. She frowned at Ignaz.
"Why is it that Bing'er's martial spirit evolved to the point she can absorb a ten-thousand-year ring, but Lingling and I, even after taking immortal herbs, can't? Our fourth rings are still only millennial."
Ignaz chuckled awkwardly.
"Well… that's because you two never took Whale Rubber. Bing'er has been consuming it regularly ever since her awakening."
At that, Shui Bing'er's face turned crimson with embarrassment. Dugu yan and Ye Lingling also flushed bright red as they recalled the, ah, particular effects of Whale Rubber. The atmosphere in the dorm grew thick with unspoken tension.
"Brother Ignaz, I didn't expect you to be *that* kind of person," Dugu yan muttered, half-shy, half-annoyed.
"I'm serious," Ignaz protested. "Whale Rubber strengthens the body, allowing spirit masters to absorb higher-level rings. Combined with immortal herbs and other methods, it makes a ten-thousand-year fourth ring possible. Without all these conditions together, it wouldn't be safe."
Still, even he admitted that letting Shui Bing'er take such a high-level ring for her fourth was a bold, almost arrogant choice. But with her newly evolved spirit and strengthened body, it would be a waste not to.
Even so, Shui Bing'er shook her head. Her expression grew troubled.
"Brother Ignaz, thank you for your kindness. But absorbing a ten-thousand-year fourth ring is too shocking. For the sake of my Shui family, and my loved ones, I can't take that risk. A six-thousand-year ring is more than enough."
Her family wasn't like Dugu yan's, backed by a Title Douluo, or Ye Lingling's, protected by the entire Heaven Dou royal clan. The Shui family was only a middling Spirit Emperor lineage. If news of a ten-thousand-year fourth ring leaked out, greedy enemies might target them and bring destruction to her kin.
"Besides," she added softly, "there's not much difference between a 9,900-year ring and a ten-thousand-year one in actual power. And our clan still has that frozen Phoenix Beast waiting."
Ignaz sighed, letting the matter drop. But Dugu yan's curiosity was piqued.
"Bing'er, with your martial spirit becoming so noble, it deserves a new name. What do you think of… Frostfeather Ice Phoenix?"
"Frostfeather Ice Phoenix…" Shui Bing'er smiled. "I like it. Since it's a name from my sisters, I'll gladly accept it."
"Ignaz, do you have anything else?" Dugu yan asked.
"No, why?"
She immediately shoved him toward the door.
"Then leave already. We sisters have much to discuss."
"What? I just helped Bing'er evolve her martial spirit, and now you want to chase me away? At least let me rest here for the night!"
"Y-you—sleep here? In our dorm? What if others saw? They'd get the wrong idea!"
With her face burning, Dugu yan gave one last mighty push.
"OUT!"
The door slammed shut with a *bang*, leaving Ignaz standing helplessly in the hall.
——
Three days later, Heaven Dou Academy's arena was packed to the brim. The stands were filled with excited students, especially girls, all buzzing in anticipation of the upcoming battle.
When Ignaz led the Royal Academy team into the arena, the crowd erupted, countless female students gasping in awe at his presence.