Chapter 222: Campfire Night Talk

Shui Bing'er arrived at Ning Feiliu's side, then sat down without the slightest hesitation and said, "Let me keep watch with you; it's a bit impolite to let you keep watch all by yourself..."

But just as she sat down, she saw Xiao Jiu, who was still feasting in Ning Feiliu's hands.

She was stunned for a moment, but she did not scream like an ordinary girl.

"Is this your pet?" Shui Bing'er even wanted to reach out her finger to touch Xiao Jiu's emerald-green head.

However, the next moment, Ning Feiliu covered Xiao Jiu with his hand first, because Xiao Jiu had just seen Shui Bing'er reach out and had almost wanted to bite her.

The toxin of the Nine-Section Jade is not simple.

Although Ning Feiliu could help Shui Bing'er detoxify, being bitten and poisoned would be unpleasant after all.

So he immediately stopped Xiao Jiu's behavior.

"Xiao Jiu, don't make trouble." He first helplessly pacified Xiao Jiu, then said to Shui Bing'er, "Xiao Jiu can be considered my pet, but more accurately, it is my friend."

Xiao Jiu gradually calmed down, but it seemed to remain on guard against Shui Bing'er, watching her closely.

Ning Feiliu was left between laughter and tears.

Shui Bing'er smiled faintly and said, "It seems... Xiao Jiu doesn't quite take to me."

"It is like this with strangers; it won't be so guarded once it gets familiar," Ning Feiliu said.

"By the way, is Xiao Jiu a Soul Beast?" Shui Bing'er asked again.

"No, it is an Exotic Beast, a type of ancient beast distinct from Soul Beasts; most are currently extinct," Ning Feiliu said with a smile.

"So that's how it is... This is the first time I've seen a beast I've never encountered before, so I was a bit curious," Shui Bing'er nodded immediately and said.

"People are always curious about things they haven't seen before," Ning Feiliu could only say this.

"What I'm actually more curious about is Heaven Dou City." Shui Bing'er suddenly spoke about Heaven Dou City with great interest again, saying, "You and Xiao Jiu are both from Heaven Dou City; I've learned something new today."

"The teachers at the academy all say that the imperial capital Heaven Dou City and Wuhun City are the bigger stages. No matter how impressive we are at Tianshui Academy, once we go to Heaven Dou City or Wuhun City, we can only be considered ordinary genius Spirit Masters." She looked at the burning campfire and said, "Some merchants who have been to Heaven Dou City have also come to Tianshui City, and they all say the same thing: compared to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, the Tianshui City Soul Fighting Arena is really far behind."

Shui Bing'er looked at Ning Feiliu again at this moment, then gave a wry smile and said, "Now I finally know why that is."

"Don't think like that. Your talent, in particular, could rank in the top four among your peers even if placed in Heaven Dou City, and besides, how should I put it..." Ning Feiliu shrugged and said, "It's unfair to you."

Among the Spirit Masters of similar age in Heaven Dou City, including himself, he and Dugu Yan had significantly boosted their cultivation by cheating with Immortal Herbs and the Moonlight Breathing Method.

In fact, according to the talent and combat power of the genius Spirit Masters in Heaven Dou City in the original plot, the only ones who could firmly suppress Shui Bing'er were Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin.

Even Dugu Yan in the original work had talent similar to Shui Bing'er, but her strength should be inferior to Shui Bing'er's.

Therefore, the reason Dugu Yan is stronger than Shui Bing'er now is mainly because Ning Feiliu gave Dugu Yan an Immortal Herb and the Moonlight Breathing Method.

Shui Bing'er is truly strong. In Ning Feiliu's eyes, even among the Five Elements Academies, the only ones who could be stronger than Shui Bing'er are Feng Xiaotian and Yu Tianheng's cousin, Yu Tianxin.

Huo Wu can at most be on par with Shui Bing'er. Huyan Li, who absorbed a Head Bone because of his family background, doesn't count as real skill, and if he really led a team against Shui Bing'er, he might not necessarily be the opponent.

Shui Bing'er has a Spirit Fusion Skill with Xue Wu that is truly too outrageous.

And the fact that the target of her Spirit Fusion Skill could later change from Xue Wu to her own sister, Shui Yue'er, likely proves that this Spirit Fusion Skill, Ice and Snow Fluttering, is led by Shui Bing'er.

Just like the conditions for certain powerful fusion monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh, Shui Bing'er is the indispensable fusion material that cannot be replaced; as for the second fusion material, it might only need to be of the "Ice" attribute.

(The original setting was written incorrectly by the author himself who forgot the previous plot; it was originally written that Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu performed the Spirit Fusion Skill together, and later it became that she performed it with her sister Shui Yue'er.)

I am making a secondary setting here based on this retconned setting, mainly to highlight that Shui Bing'er's talent is very strong. This is enough to prove that the quality of Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix martial soul is extremely high. However, that makes sense; after all, it is a Phoenix martial soul. Even if it is an Ice attribute, it is just like the Frost Orchid Family's Ice Dragon Wuhun—if not a top-tier martial soul, it is at least a first-class one.

But Shui Bing'er's already has the quality of a quasi-top-tier martial soul. Coupled with her own truly strong talent, the fact that the Spirit Fusion Skill is absolutely led by her proves that she doesn't really need a fixed partner to perform a Spirit Fusion Skill.

This is almost equivalent to her own strength.

Therefore, in terms of this kind of talent, within the entire Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Feiliu believes that after Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianheng, and Yu Tianxin, it is Shui Bing'er.

Of course, this excludes Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy doesn't have those Immortal Herbs; it's hard to say if they can even participate in the next Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

Shui Bing'er's talent is truly very strong.

However, Shui Bing'er looked at him, sighed, and said, "You don't need to comfort me, Feiliu. With your strength, and that Miss Dugu and the Blue Lightning Young Sect Master you mentioned, all are much stronger than me, so others must not be weaker than me either. I can consider this as knowing that there is always someone better, and I can be a little more humble in the future."

Hearing what she said, Ning Feiliu shook his head and said nothing more.

After all, saying too much is of no use; he and Shui Bing'er are just passing acquaintances.

There is no need to say so much.

"But having you and your group is enough. By the way..." Suddenly, Shui Bing'er remembered something and asked curiously, "In less than half a year, the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will be held. Aren't you going back to participate in the competition?"

With Ning Feiliu's Soul King-level combat power, it can truly be said that he would have absolute crushing combat power in the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

Still the same point, the meaning of the title "Spirit Hall Golden Generation" is enough to prove that even the Spirit Hall cannot produce young Spirit Masters at the Soul King level in every generation of contestants for the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

The Spirit Hall Golden Generation has this title precisely because they all broke through to the Soul King level before the age of 25, when they could participate in the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

In fact, this is indeed the case. The information on the cultivation of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament contestants that Ning Feiliu could find is...

The highest cultivation Spirit Master in the previous Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was only level 47 soul power, still three levels of soul power away from the Soul King realm.

The other party belonged to the Spirit Hall.

However, even a level 47 Spirit Master leading a Spirit Hall Team of all Soul Ancestors was enough to crush other participating teams.

So if Ning Feiliu, a Soul King, participated, wouldn't that be a direct crush? In fact, it really is like that. Without the Shrek Academy with Tang San, without the Four Elements Academies that Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu decided to form together because they lost to Tang San, and without the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, his cultivation and combat power would truly be his to command without any scruples.

Because if the combat power of these three teams were truly replicated exactly according to the original plot, they would barely reach Soul Saint-level combat power. (This is what the original work said, it has nothing to do with me; this is not a secondary setting.) First, Shrek Academy used the secret technique of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill—to let Tang San bring out the Pseudo-Clear Sky True Body.

Feng Xiaotian was also impressive; the spirit skill combination he made with Huo Wu could forcibly fight against Tang San's Pseudo-Clear Sky True Body. The Spirit Fusion Skill of the siblings Xie Yue and Hu Liena, who had Soul King combat power in the Spirit Hall Golden Generation—Demonic Charm—was also powerful enough to rival Soul Saint combat power.

And later, Tang San, who didn't use the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, used the Tang Sect Hidden Weapon technique Bat Wing Reincarnation to severely injure the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, who had consumed too much energy.

So if these three teams appeared out of nowhere in advance and replicated the combat power of the original plot one-to-one, Ning Feiliu would still feel it was a bit tricky.

But being tricky doesn't mean Ning Feiliu thinks he absolutely cannot win.

He just wouldn't be able to crush them, but he should still be able to win, especially since he is on guard against Tang San's Hidden Weapons.

It's just that in this tournament, without the Four Elements Academies team, without the Shrek Academy team, and without the Spirit Hall Academy team of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, Ning Feiliu could truly crush his way through.

Unfortunately... he is not participating.

"Uh, I don't have any thoughts of participating; I haven't even joined any Spirit Master academy," Ning Feiliu chuckled, then said truthfully.

"You have no intention of participating? You don't even mean to join any Soul Academy? Why?" Shui Bing'er said in disbelief.

The Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is, after all, the tournament that young Spirit Masters across the Douluo Dalu dream of.

Almost all talented young Spirit Masters choose to participate in the tournament to showcase their talent and powerful stance.

Yet Ning Feiliu did not participate.

Especially with his talent, he is truly, without a doubt, the best among the young Spirit Masters of the last ten years.

It is like a student who gets first place in every mock exam, final exam, and competition, yet in the end, chooses not to take the college entrance exam.

In the real world, if such a student doesn't take the college entrance exam, it might be because they were recommended for admission.

But there is no such thing as a recommendation for the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

"It looks like everyone isn't as strong as me, and there aren't any good prizes either," Ning Feiliu said, shrugging his shoulders casually.

"It is said that if you can achieve a higher ranking in the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, you can receive imperial titles and high monetary rewards... The senior sisters who participated last time entered the final stage and each received a Viscount title and a reward of ten thousand Gold Soul Coins," Shui Bing'er said with bright eyes, feeling somewhat envious.

A Viscount is the second-tier title of the empire—Prince, Duke, Marquis, Count, Viscount, Baron—generally speaking, a Spirit Master at the Soul Ancestor level who joins the empire and serves it can obtain at least a Baron title.

Then, at the Soul King realm, one can naturally obtain a Viscount title.

That is indeed true, but as the saying goes, obtaining a title early is much the same as reaching the Soul Saint realm early.

It's like playing a game where you start a new character and know you'll reach level 30 eventually, but who doesn't want their account to reach level 30 sooner?

When you play DNF, back in the level 70 version, you were going to reach level 70 anyway, so why work so hard? You're going to retire at 65 anyway, so it's inevitable... uh, that's not actually inevitable.

Some people are just ridiculous; they feel there is no need to work hard just because the ceiling is already there.

Anyway, you can reach that level by lying around until you're old, so why work hard? Why distinguish between disciples with different talents and give them different treatment? But Shui Bing'er didn't think that way; she felt that as long as she entered the final stage of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and obtained the imperial title and the ten thousand Gold Soul Coin reward, it would be a very happy thing for her.

Ning Feiliu, however, felt... oh.

After all, his starting point was too high. Does he lack status? Even if he were a useless piece of trash, he is the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Sect Master; his treatment wouldn't be bad at all.

Later on, like Ning Mingrui and Ning Shouzong, being sent out to manage the sect's businesses can also earn a lot of money, and the status is much higher than some imperial Viscount.

Not to mention his current situation.

He currently lacks neither honor, status, nor money.

The only thing he lacks is strength! Ning Feiliu needs things that can improve his strength: soul bones and soul rings, and they must be high-tier, high-quality soul bones and soul rings.

He doesn't even care for the three Ten Thousand Year Spirit Bones that Bibi Dong specially prepared for the Spirit Hall's trio in the original plot of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

So... why would he go participate in this Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament?

Ning Feiliu chuckled and said, "I don't really lack these things, so... let these rewards be left to people who find them more useful."

Shui Bing'er was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

She looked at Ning Feiliu's handsome face, which carried a careless, roguish smile, and blushed slightly.

Ning Feiliu... perhaps he really is quite different.

Different from all the men she has ever met! However, just at this moment...

"Sister, Brother Feiliu, what are you two doing?"

Ning Feiliu and Shui Bing'er turned to look and discovered it was Shui Yue'er.

She was looking at the two of them with a suspicious expression.

"Yue'er! Why are you out here?! Go back and rest immediately!" Shui Bing'er's expression changed instantly, and she scolded her.

"I just thought... Brother Feiliu has been working so hard keeping watch, so I could take over for him so he can go back and rest for a bit..." Shui Yue'er seemed somewhat afraid of this half-sister of hers and said immediately.

"Eh! Yue'er is just being kind," Ning Feiliu said with a smile. "But it's not necessary. You and... Bing'er, you two go back and rest, and let me continue keeping watch."

"Bing'er, don't be too harsh on Yue'er; you have to give her some self-confidence so she can grow better," he said helplessly to Shui Bing'er.

This reminded him of his sister in his previous life; actually, his sister's intentions were also good.

But such thoughts can be very damaging to the self-esteem and confidence of younger siblings.

That is why Ning Feiliu spoke up this time.

However, he didn't notice that upon hearing these words, Shui Yue'er's eyes lit up instantly, and she looked at him with great spirit.

(End of chapter)