"Knock knock knock——"
Just as Water Wuhen was preparing to rest for a bit and, tomorrow, take Water Bing'er to the boundless sea to search for a suitable ten-thousand-year soul beast as her seventh soul ring, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door.
Hearing this sound, Water Wuhen immediately released his previously restrained spiritual power again and scanned outside the door.
The next moment, a hint of surprise flashed in Water Wuhen's eyes. "Dean? Why is she here so late?"
However, since the other party had already arrived, Water Wuhen could not refuse her entry, so he motioned to Water Bing'er.
Water Bing'er immediately understood and quickly walked to the courtyard gate, opening it.
There stood a figure completely wrapped in a black robe, making it impossible to see their appearance, which puzzled Water Bing'er.
"Ice'er, long time no see."
Suddenly, the person raised their head—it was Shui Yueruo.
After seeing Shui Yueruo's appearance, Water Bing'er was immediately startled and covered her mouth. "Dean, what happened to you?"
In Water Bing'er's eyes, Shui Yueruo's originally elegant and composed demeanor was gone, replaced with visible exhaustion.
Seeing Water Bing'er open the door, Shui Yueruo forced out a faint smile and said, "Ice'er, where is your brother? I have something to tell him."
"My brother is inside. Dean Yueruo, please come in."
Hearing that Shui Yueruo was looking for Water Wuhen, Water Bing'er immediately invited her inside.
After entering the courtyard, Shui Yueruo's first glance fell upon Water Wuhen sitting within the yard, and she immediately walked over.
"Wuhen, sorry. The Ice Soul Spirit Pill you gave me… has been discovered."
When saying this, Shui Yueruo's tone was full of apology, as if she deeply blamed herself.
After all, such a heaven-defying item like the Ice Soul Spirit Pill, once exposed, would inevitably cause a bloody storm. Water Wuhen trusting her with it was already a sign of faith, yet she had failed that trust.
"Oh."
Hearing Shui Yueruo's words, Water Wuhen merely responded lightly, as if he did not care at all.
Just as Shui Yueruo was surprised by his calmness, Water Wuhen suddenly asked, "With your Soul Douluo level of strength, you should already be among the top powerhouses on the continent. Who could possibly force you into such a state?"
Compared to the exposure of the Ice Soul Spirit Pill, Water Wuhen was more concerned about this matter. Although a Soul Douluo would be instantly killed in front of him, in reality, Soul Douluo-level soul masters were extremely rare across the continent.
There were currently fewer than a hundred known on the surface, and many of them were only lower-level Soul Douluo.
Aside from forces like the Upper Three Sects, Spirit Hall, and the two great empires, most other powers would have to consider whether they could withstand the retaliation of a Soul Douluo before targeting one.
So Water Wuhen was curious—who could have pushed Shui Yueruo into such a weary state? Could it be some hidden sect?
Hearing this, Shui Yueruo gave a bitter smile. "You should know that behind the Four Elemental Academies, there are corresponding sects providing support, right?"
"I do." Water Wuhen nodded. "But I only know that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is behind Thunderclap Academy. As for Tianshui Academy and the other two, I'm not too clear."
The sects behind Blazing Fire, Divine Wind, and Tianshui Academies deliberately conceal their existence and rarely reveal themselves. Coupled with Water Wuhen's lack of interest in such matters, he did not know much about them.
"Behind Blazing Fire Academy is the Blazing Fire Sect. Behind Divine Wind Academy is the Divine Wind Sect. And behind Tianshui Academy… is the Water Sky Sect."
Shui Yueruo explained.
"These three sects, although not comparable to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, are still top-tier forces in the world. Even compared to the lower four sects like the Elephant Armored Sect, they are only slightly weaker.
For example, the Water Sky Sect has three Soul Douluo-level grand elders, and nearly ten Soul Sage-level elders. Its strength cannot be underestimated."
Shui Yueruo rubbed her forehead, looking somewhat exhausted. "Some time ago, the three grand elders of the Water Sky Sect came to Tianshui Academy for inspection. They kept subtly probing into the reason for my breakthrough to Soul Douluo. Now… they've probably already noticed something."
"Not likely, right?" Water Bing'er interjected. "Dean, you are already a Soul Douluo. It's normal for a soul master to have opportunities they don't wish to disclose. How could they dare treat you like this?"
"Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't," Shui Yueruo sighed again. "But I've seen that the Water Sky Sect's Great Elder has likely reached level eighty-nine. For someone aiming to break through to Titled Douluo, there is nothing they wouldn't do. A newly advanced Soul Douluo like me is nothing in their eyes."
If it were just a Soul Douluo, she could still maneuver around them. But with three Soul Douluo—one of them a peak level eighty-nine expert—unless she completely left Tianshui Academy and became a lone cultivator, or joined a major force like the Upper Three Sects or Spirit Hall, the secret of the pill would eventually be exposed.
Most importantly, this would also implicate Water Bing'er and Water Wuhen. Both were extremely talented children and would become top-tier powerhouses within a few years. It would be a waste to have their futures affected like this.
"So, Dean, your decision is?" Water Wuhen asked calmly after listening.
Shui Yueruo did not hesitate. "I came here today to say goodbye. I plan to leave Tianshui Academy to lay low for a while. I likely won't return for a long time."
At these words, Water Bing'er's eyes widened in shock.
Shui Yueruo had been the principal of Tianshui Academy for over ten years. The academy was practically her second home—yet now she was leaving. It was hard to imagine how much determination that required.
Even Water Wuhen felt a slight shock, but he still shook his head. "No need. Dean, you don't have to worry. Merely three Soul Douluo—they cannot affect us at all."
Let alone Water Wuhen himself, who could even kill a Titled Douluo.
Even Water Bing'er now possessed the strength to face a Soul Douluo head-on.
Her extraordinary physical constitution and spiritual power, soul rings far beyond normal standards from her fifth and sixth rings, several top-grade ten-thousand-year soul bones, and even an external soul bone with a domain were not decorations.
Combined with the self-created soul skills Water Wuhen had given her, as long as she wasn't facing someone like Qian Renxue with a divine martial soul or natural domain suppression, even a peak Soul Douluo would not intimidate her.
The only one who might make her cautious would be that level eighty-nine peak Soul Douluo.
"Such arrogance. You actually dare say we cannot affect you at all!"