Chapter 216: Control or Direct Assault?
At this moment, several figures were seated in a circle within the pavilion.
Jiang Bai sat in the seat of honor, clad in white robes, his demeanor relaxed and at ease.
Bi Ji sat at his side, wearing a long gown of emerald green; she appeared gentle and elegant—like a celestial maiden stepped right out of a painting.
Shui Bing’er sat opposite them, dressed in a long gown of watery blue—fresh, refined, and understated.
Ye Lingling sat beside Shui Bing’er, still clad in her signature black gown and black veil, sitting as quietly and motionless as a statue.
Jiang Bai looked at the three of them and spoke slowly: "Today, I will outline the training plan for the coming period."
The two women straightened their postures, listening intently. Jiang Bai first turned to Ye Lingling: "Lingling, your Nine-Heart Begonia Spirit is the premier healing Spirit on the entire continent. Your designated role is that of a support healer."
He paused briefly. "Therefore, the primary focus of your cultivation should be on enhancing your healing capabilities, as well as... your ability to survive."
Ye Lingling nodded.
A flicker of earnestness flashed within her eyes.
Jiang Bai continued, "Sister Bi Ji will be responsible for guiding you. Her Emerald Swan Spirit is likewise a top-tier healing-type Spirit. With her guidance, you will make rapid progress."
Ye Lingling looked toward Bi Ji and curtsied slightly. "I apologize for the trouble, Your Excellency Emerald."
Bi Ji smiled gently. "You may call me Sister Bi Ji or Auntie—whichever you prefer. There is no need to be so formal."
Ye Lingling nodded in acknowledgment.
Jiang Bai then turned his attention to Shui Bing’er: "Bing’er, your Ice Phoenix Spirit is a Power Attack-type Spirit imbued with the attribute of extreme cold. Your designated role is that of the primary damage dealer."
Shui Bing’er was momentarily taken aback.
She spoke up, "Sect Master... I... I am a Control-type Spirit Master..."
Jiang Bai shook his head. "Who taught you to use an Ice Phoenix for crowd control?"
His voice carried a hint of exasperation. "Isn’t that a complete waste of your innate talent?"
Shui Bing’er was left speechless.
Jiang Bai continued, "The Ice Phoenix Spirit naturally possesses the attribute of extreme cold and boasts immense offensive power. Using it solely for crowd control is akin to sending a ferocious tiger to hunt mice—a gross underutilization of its true potential."
He paused once more. "You are currently still a Spirit Elder, so it is not too late to correct course. What do you say? Are you willing to pursue the path of a Power Attack-type Spirit Master?"
Shui Bing’er fell silent for a moment.
She was deep in thought.
Since childhood, she had been groomed as a Control-type Spirit Master. The tactical framework of the Tianshui Academy team had always revolved around her ability to exert crowd control.
She had grown accustomed to standing in the rear of the formation, utilizing ice and snow to restrain opponents and create openings for her teammates.
Yet, Jiang Bai was right...
Was the Ice Phoenix truly suited for a purely Control-type role?
Were those blizzards and snowstorms truly meant solely to trap her adversaries?
No!
Those blizzards and snowstorms could just as easily tear her adversaries to shreds. She took a deep breath, raised her head, and declared, "I am willing!"
Jiang Bai nodded, a flicker of approval flashing in his eyes. "Good."
He paused for a moment. "As I told you I happen to know two Titled Douluo who possess the Ice attribute. When the time comes, I will invite them to come and personally mentor you."
Shui Bing’er’s eyes lit up!
Guidance from a Titled Douluo!
And two of them, at that! This was what she was here for.
She hurriedly expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, Sect Master!"
Jiang Bai waved his hand dismissively.
"There is no need to be so formal. You two are the very first disciples of my Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; naturally, I will pour my absolute best efforts into nurturing you."
He turned his gaze toward the two girls, his expression turning solemn. "Cultivation is not a process that yields results overnight. You must possess both patience and perseverance."
Shui Bing’er nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
Ye Lingling offered a silent nod.
Jiang Bai rose to his feet. "Very well. You may return to your quarters for now. Your formal training begins tomorrow."
The two girls stood up, bowed slightly, then turned and took their leave.
...
Inside the pavilion, only Jiang Bai and Bi Ji remained.
Watching the two young girls’ retreating figures, Bi Ji spoke softly, "Both of those children show great promise."
Jiang Bai nodded. "Naturally! Do you really think I have poor judgment?"
Bi Ji turned to look at him. "Are you truly planning to invite the Snow Emperor and the Ice Emperor to mentor Shui Bing’er?"
Jiang Bai smiled.
"Is there a problem with that? They’re just sitting around idle anyway. Having them come here to help me mentor my disciples would be a rather nice arrangement, wouldn’t it?"
Bi Ji shook her head, offering no further comment.
Yet, deep within her heart, she thought to herself: These two girls are certainly blessed with good fortune.
To receive personal guidance from the Snow Emperor and the Ice Emperor—that was a rare opportunity that countless Soul Beasts would beg for, yet never attain.
...
Night fell.
Within the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—specifically, on the uppermost floor of the Main Hall’s nine-story tower.
This was Jiang Bai’s private sanctuary.
The room was modest in size, yet furnished with exquisite elegance. It contained little more than a bed, a writing desk, and a few bookshelves.
At this moment, Jiang Bai sat cross-legged upon the bed.
Beside him, Jiang Li’er had already drifted off to sleep.
Her long, golden hair lay scattered across the pillow, and her breathing was steady and deep.
Upon her radiant face, a faint blush—not yet fully faded—still lingered. Jiang Bai gazed at her, reached out a hand, gently brushed aside the stray wisps of hair from her forehead, and tucked the covers snugly around her.
Then, he closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank deep into the Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda.
...
Inside the Pagoda.
Jiang Bai’s figure materialized out of thin air.
Before him stood a figure.
No—a massive figure.
A colossal scorpion lay motionless upon the ground.
Its forebody was clad in four layers of carapaces—a luminous white tinged with jade-green—looking as if they had been sculpted from glacial ice, shimmering with the translucent luster of frozen crystals. Each layer of carapace was polished smooth as a mirror, reflecting the swirling wind and snow of its surroundings.
Its six legs were long and razor-sharp—like six gleaming blades of frigid steel—driven deep into the icy ground. Its twin pincers radiated a chilling glint; with the slightest twitch, they seemed capable of rending the very air apart.
Its tail arched high overhead, comprising a mere five segments; the stinger at its tip, silvery-white and mirror-smooth, gleamed with a bone-chilling radiance amidst the wind and snow.
An aura of biting, icy mist swirled around its form—majestic, yet utterly frigid.
The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion.
The true form of the Ice Empress.
Although her cultivation base now spanned a staggering five hundred thousand years, her physical length remained a mere 1.5 meters or so.
Compared to those Soul Beasts that routinely measured in the tens or even dozens of meters, she appeared remarkably petite.
Yet, the sheer oppressive aura she exuded was enough to make any one-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast tremble in fear.
At this moment, she appeared to be deep in slumber.
Her breathing was steady and deep; with every inhalation and exhalation, a fresh swirl of icy mist rose into the air.
Jiang Bai stepped forward.
He reached out a hand.
And gently poked the Ice Empress on the head.
"Ice Empress~"
The Ice Empress opened her eyes.
Within those hexagonal pupils, a crystalline golden light flickered—radiating a dazzling, gem-like brilliance.
Upon seeing that it was Jiang Bai, she blinked once, then retorted with a distinct lack of patience: "What do you want?"
Jiang Bai grinned sheepishly, his smile tinged with a hint of ingratiation: "Heh-heh, Ice Empress—I hear you’ve got quite a bit of free time on your hands lately?"
"Could you do me a favor? Would you be willing to serve as a ’Life Experience Consultant’ for my sect?"
With a sudden flash of light, the Ice Empress shifted form, transforming into her human guise.
A petite girl with emerald-green twin pigtails appeared before Jiang Bai.
She wore a short, emerald-green skirt that revealed a pair of fair, slender calves.
Her twin pigtails cascaded over her shoulders, swaying gently with her movements. With her round face and large, expressive eyes, she looked absolutely adorable.
Had one not known her true identity, anyone would have simply assumed she was just an ordinary human little girl.
She tilted her head, blinked, and asked in puzzlement, "A ’Life Experience and Instruction Consultant’? What on earth is that?"
Jiang Bai sat down beside her and explained, "It’s just that I’ve recently taken on a new disciple named Shui Bing’er. Her Martial Soul is the Ice Phoenix, and I intend to train her to become a Title Douluo of the Power Attack System."
He paused for a moment. "As the Emperor of Ice, you surely possess a wealth of experience in both cultivation and combat. I would like you to take her under your wing and offer her some guidance."
Teach a human?
Upon hearing this, the Ice Emperor blinked. "That’s it? That’s all this is about?"
Jiang Bai nodded. "That’s all."
The Ice Emperor curled her lip in mild disdain. "Here I was, thinking it was some monumental affair."
Teaching a human...
Oh, well. For Jiang Bai’s sake, she supposed she could grudgingly offer a bit of guidance; whatever the girl managed to learn would simply be a matter of her own good fortune.
She thought it over for a moment, then said, "Alright, fine. I’m just sitting around doing nothing anyway. Where is this little brat? I’ll go take a look at her."
Jiang Bai smiled. "No rush. I’ll have her come over tomorrow."
The Ice Emperor nodded.
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