Chapter 206: Recruiting Shui Bing’er
Dai Mubai lay curled up on the ground, in too much pain to utter a word.
He could only nod frantically, muffled whimpers escaping his lips.
Zhu Zhuyun turned to Dai Weisi: "Weisi, if you find yourself unable to bring yourself to strike the blow, then I shall gladly do it for you."
Upon hearing this, Dai Weisi gave a scornful smile.
He rose to his feet and flexed his wrists: "Zhuyun, I am not like you—I don’t indulge in such sentimental nonsense as ’sisterly affection.’"
His gaze settled upon Dai Mubai: "Such a piece of trash is nothing but an eyesore."
As the words left his lips, he raised his right hand.
Soul power surged!
The massive phantom of a White Tiger materialized behind him!
Its claws took shape in an instant!
Whipping up a gale-force wind that tore through the air, the tiger claw slashed viciously toward Dai Mubai!
"Screech—!!!"
The tiger claw pierced straight through Dai Mubai’s chest!
Blood gushed forth!
Dai Mubai’s body went rigid in an instant!
He lowered his head to stare at the tiger claw impaling his chest, his eyes filled with sheer terror and utter disbelief.
He parted his lips, attempting to speak.
But no words would come out.
Only blood, trickling steadily from the corners of his mouth.
Dai Weisi withdrew the tiger claw.
Dai Mubai’s body slumped limply to the ground.
"Thud—!"
It landed with a dull, heavy sound.
His eyes remained wide open.
Reflected within his pupils was the light from the ceiling fixtures.
Gradually, the light faded.
Until, at last, his eyes were completely devoid of life.
Dai Weisi dispelled his Martial Soul and shook the bloodstains from his hand. He cast a glance at the corpse lying on the ground and remarked indifferently, "Trash."
Zhu Zhuyun stood to the side, observing the scene with a flicker of complex emotion in her eyes.
The struggle... was finally over.
She sighed and gave Dai Mubai’s corpse a light kick.
"Take this piece of trash’s body back with us,"
she commanded.
The attendants responded in unison, "Yes, Eldest Miss!"
Two attendants stepped forward and carried Dai Mubai’s corpse away.
Zhu Zhuyun turned around and looked at Zhu Zhuqing’s corpse.
Her gaze lingered on her younger sister’s face for a long time.
That face remained as youthful and beautiful as ever.
Only now, it would never open its eyes again.
She fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a deep, solemn tone: "See to it that the Second Miss’s body is also properly prepared."
She paused briefly, then added, "Take her back, and give her a proper burial."
The attendants responded once more, "Yes, Eldest Miss!"
...
Meanwhile, in Spirit City.
At the Spirit Hall Grand Hotel.
The banquet was drawing to a close.
In the main hall, the chatter of voices gradually died down.
Some students had already departed to return to their quarters and rest; others still lingered in small groups of three or five, chatting amongst themselves; while a few sat slumped in their chairs, thoroughly intoxicated and babbling incoherently.
At the seats reserved for the Heavenly Water Academy, Shui Bing’er was preparing to lead her team out.
Just then, an attendant approached her.
"Miss Shui."
The attendant bowed slightly and spoke with great deference, "The Adjudication Elder requests your presence; he wishes to discuss a matter with you."
Shui Bing’er was slightly taken aback.
The Adjudication Elder?
The legendary figure said to possess nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings?
Why would he want to see her?
Did they even know each other?
Shui Bing’er was filled with bewilderment.
Nevertheless, she nodded. "Very well. Please lead the way."
The attendant turned around and began to guide her.
Shui Bing’er followed close behind.
She wove through the crowd, passed through several corridors, and eventually arrived at a relatively secluded hallway.
At the very end of the hallway, a window stood wide open.
Standing beside the window was a figure clad in white.
The figure stood with hands clasped behind their back, facing away from her and gazing out into the night. Moonlight spilled down, casting a faint halo of light upon him.
The attendant halted his steps and spoke respectfully, "Elder, Miss Shui has arrived."
Having said this, he withdrew.
In the corridor, only Shui Bing’er and that figure clad in white remained.
Shui Bing’er stood her ground, gazing at his retreating back as a flicker of curiosity stirred within her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she advanced a few steps, stopping precisely three meters away from him.
She curtsied slightly. "Your Excellency, did you wish to see me?"
The figure turned around.
It was indeed Jiang Bai.
His black hair was tied back in a casual knot; his features were handsome and refined, and a faint smile played upon his lips.
The moonlight illuminated his face, making his eyes appear exceptionally deep and profound.
He looked at Shui Bing’er.
Her long, water-blue hair cascaded over her shoulders.
Her complexion was fair, and her features were delicate; at a cursory glance, she might not have appeared particularly stunning, yet upon closer inspection, one would continuously discover new facets of her beauty. It was a beauty of ethereal subtlety—much like gazing at the moon reflected in water, or viewing flowers through a veil of mist.
Jiang Bai smiled gently and came straight to the point. "Miss Shui, I have a matter I would like to ask for your assistance with."
Upon hearing this, Shui Bing’er was momentarily taken aback.
Me?
Her mind was filled with bewilderment.
What possible assistance could a Level 43 Soul Sect like me offer to a Titled Douluo?
"Your Excellency... surely you must be joking?"
Her voice held a note of uncertainty. "How could I possibly be of service to you?"
Jiang Bai shook his head. "It is no joke."
He paused for a moment, then asked, "I wonder, Miss Shui—have you heard of the Sect Hegemony Tournament?"
Shui Bing’er thought for a moment, then nodded.
"I have heard a little about it."
The Sect Hegemony Tournament is held once every twenty years, featuring the seven great sects from across the entire continent competing for supremacy and ranking.
It is a grand event of a far higher caliber than the Elite Tournament for Soul Master Academies; the participants are exclusively the top-tier powerhouses from each respective sect.
Jiang Bai continued, "Miss Shui, I intend to establish a sect of my own and participate in the upcoming Sect Hegemony Tournament."
Shui Bing’er was left utterly dumbfounded.
Establish a sect?
And participate in the Sect Hegemony Tournament?
She gazed at Jiang Bai, her eyes filled with utter disbelief: "Your Excellency... aren’t you a Judgment Elder of the Spirit Hall?"
Jiang Bai nodded: "Indeed."
Shui Bing’er grew even more puzzled: "Then why would you...?"
Jiang Bai smiled: "Is there a conflict?"
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed out the window at the moonlight: "The Spirit Hall is the Spirit Hall; I am myself. I wish to establish a sect of my own—is there a problem with that?"
Shui Bing’er parted her lips, intending to speak, but found that she could not utter a single word.
It seemed... there really wasn’t a problem?
Jiang Bai continued: "I have already lined up quite a few elders for the sect I am preparing, but..."
He paused, then turned his gaze toward Shui Bing’er: "As for disciples... I have none."
"Therefore, I would like to ask Miss Shui to do me this favor."
Shui Bing’er blinked.
Was this... an attempt to recruit her?
She hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Your Excellency..."
"...Why ask me for help?"
She thought for a moment, then added, "Doesn’t the Spirit Soul Academy have plenty of exceptional students? Surely they would be more than willing to join your sect?"
Jiang Bai shook his head. "I wouldn’t feel comfortable relying on them."
Shui Bing’er was left speechless.
Aren’t you a member of the Spirit Soul Hall yourself? Why wouldn’t you trust your own people?
Jiang Bai seemed to read her thoughts and offered an explanation: "The students at the Spirit Soul Hall are groomed by the Hall from a young age. Their loyalty lies with the Spirit Soul Hall—and with the Pope—not with me."
"The sect I intend to establish requires an entirely fresh core team. Those students simply wouldn’t be a good fit."
Shui Bing’er nodded thoughtfully.
Jiang Bai continued, "Besides..."
He looked Shui Bing’er up and down. "Their talent and aptitude—how could they possibly compare to yours?"
Shui Bing’er’s cheeks flushed slightly. "Oh... I... I’m really not that exceptional."
Her voice carried a hint of shyness and embarrassment.
Jiang Bai smiled. "There’s no need to be modest."
He adopted a serious tone.
"You possess the Ice Phoenix Spirit Soul, granting you an incredibly potent affinity for the Ice Element. As it happens, I, too, have developed several original Spirit Skills based on the Ice Element. I can personally guide you in your cultivation."
He paused, then added, "Furthermore, I happen to know two Titled Douluo who specialize in the Ice Element. Both are Super Douluo—beings of power that transcend even the standard Super Douluo rank. If the opportunity arises, I could arrange for them to offer you some instruction as well."
Shui Bing’er’s eyes lit up.
Is this for real?
Guidance from powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level?
That is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—something one could only dream of!
She had spent years cultivating, relying entirely on the guidance of her academy teachers.
While those teachers were certainly competent, the strongest among them had reached—at most—the Spirit Sage rank.
A Titled Douluo, on the other hand, was a being of such magnitude that she wouldn’t have even dared to imagine interacting with one.
If I could receive guidance from a Titled Douluo...
My cultivation speed would undoubtedly skyrocket!
Shui Bing’er was sorely tempted.
Yet, she managed to retain a shred of rationality.
She hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Excellency... this is a matter of immense magnitude. I need to return home and discuss it with my family first." "
Jiang Bai nodded, making no further demands: "It is only right."
He smiled faintly: "Very well. I shall be in Spirit City; I look forward to your arrival."
Shui Bing’er curtsied slightly: "Thank you, Your Excellency. In that case... I shall take my leave now."
Jiang Bai nodded.
Shui Bing’er turned and walked toward the corridor exit.
After taking a few steps, she suddenly came to a halt.
She turned her head to look back at Jiang Bai.
Bathed in the moonlight, that figure clad in white still stood by the window, gazing out at the nightscape.
A complex surge of emotions rose within her heart.
What exactly... was this man trying to do?
Did he truly intend to establish a sect?
Or... did he have some ulterior motive?
She did not know.
Yet she knew this much: the words he had just spoken had indeed moved her.
Guidance from a Titled Douluo...
Instruction from a Super Douluo...
She took a deep breath, averted her gaze, and walked away with brisk steps.
Enjoyed the action? Drop a review, fire off a comment, and send those Power Stones rolling! Your support keeps the updates coming fast—let’s keep the momentum going! 🔥