Five days later.
Mu Nianbing stepped out of the Three-Step Pagoda, a faint mist of cold air swirling around him.
His aura was deeper, sharper—his very presence carried a chill that froze the air.
He had broken through to the Advanced Level of the Ice Element.
The advancement not only elevated his cultivation, but also refined his control.
Now, he could cast large-scale spells effortlessly, shaping the battlefield as he wished.
Even more astonishing, his Xuan Ice Spirit Seed had evolved into a Soul Seed—and not just any soul seed, but a top-grade Ice Soul Seed.
It carried three additional effects and one domain.
Aside from the usual effects of Ice Invasion and Ice Bite, it now possessed a new, far more formidable power: Ice Spirit Aura.
With this ability, the ice constructs Mu Nianbing created could move on their own, reacting to his intent as if alive.
He exhaled slowly, suppressing the excitement in his heart. "I'll study the new techniques later. For now, I should go find Dean Fu."
Dean Fu's earlier request had been nagging at him—Mu Nianbing suspected it was connected to Ding Yumian.
Ding Yumian was rumored to be a Psychic Disaster Mage—one whose spiritual power was so strong it could no longer be contained, harming everything around her.
Such mages drew the attention of the Court of Justice, who would capture and judge them immediately.
The last recorded case was Qin Yuer, who was sealed within the Tianshan Mountains.
"Could it be that Dean Fu thinks I'm also a disaster mage, and wants to gather the 'troubled ones' together?"
He shook his head with a wry smile.
"If that's the case, it'll be an interesting meeting."
After searching for Dean Fu's office, Mu Nianbing finally found it. Just as he arrived, he came face-to-face with a girl waiting outside.
Her features were delicate, her skin as white as snow, and her long black hair fell like a silken waterfall, braided neatly at the sides.
She exuded a calm, gentle aura—yet her eyes carried the weight of melancholy.
"Ding Yumian?" Mu Nianbing recognized her instantly from photos.
Ding Yumian, too, glanced at him with quiet curiosity.
She knew of him—the "new devil" of the freshman class, whose rise in the Ice Academy had been nothing short of shocking.
"Hello, classmate," she greeted softly, her tone polite but distant.
Mu Nianbing gave a nod, unsure what to say next.
For several moments, the two simply stood there in silence, neither speaking, the air between them filled with quiet tension.
Just as the moment grew awkward, Dean Fu arrived, looking slightly rushed.
"Why are you both standing outside?" the dean asked in confusion.
"We don't have the key, Dean," Mu Nianbing replied dryly. "Unless you expect us to break in?"
Dean Fu chuckled awkwardly, realizing his mistake, and hurried to open the door.
Once inside, Dean Fu studied Mu Nianbing closely—and immediately sensed something unusual.
"You've only entered the Three-Step Pagoda once, and you've already reached the Advanced Level?" His voice carried a trace of disbelief.
Mu Nianbing's aura was impossible to conceal. Even without focusing, a mage of Dean Fu's caliber could sense the overwhelming ice energy surrounding him.
"I practiced once before when I was still at the Qing Campus," Mu Nianbing replied calmly.
Dean Fu nodded in realization. "So that's why you were in such a hurry last time. You were right on the edge of breaking through. Your talent is truly frightening."
Even Ding Yumian, standing silently nearby, looked at him in astonishment.
To reach the advanced level so young—was this man also a disaster mage?
"Ahem." Mu Nianbing interrupted Dean Fu's lingering amazement.
"If you have something to say, Dean, please get to the point. I still have to continue my training."
"Tsk, such impatience," Dean Fu muttered, shaking his head. "No wonder you grow so fast—talent and diligence, both in excess."
He reached into his drawer and produced a beautiful ice-blue ring.
At once, Mu Nianbing felt its resonance. The cold aura of the ring pulsed in rhythm with his own magic—intuitive proof that it was meant for him.
"This," Dean Fu said with a faint smile.
"Is the Ring of Ice. It can store ice-element energy and greatly amplify the power of ice spells when used. I found it when I was younger… but it's never suited me."
A flash of nostalgia—and perhaps sadness—passed through the old man's eyes. Clearly, the ring held a story.
"The Ring of Ice..." Mu Nianbing murmured, his eyes bright.
This artifact was a perfect match for his abilities. Its power could even be stacked with the effects of Ice Bite, creating an endless torrent of ice magic.
"Dean Fu," he said half-jokingly, "you're not giving me this just because you want me to take care of you when you're old, right?"
Dean Fu almost choked. "Take care of me? I'm the dean of Pearl Academy! I still have years of glory ahead of me."
"It's fine," Mu Nianbing said seriously, glancing at Ding Yumian. "She and I can take turns taking care of you."
At those teasing words, Ding Yumian's cheeks flushed a soft pink, though she kept her gaze steady.
Dean Fu sighed heavily. "You brat… are you here for my treasure or my student?"
But then, an idea flickered in his mind. If Ding Yumian had Mu Nianbing's protection, perhaps she would be safer.
With Mu Nianbing's talent, even if he wasn't a disaster mage, his power was comparable to one.
After some thought, Dean Fu made his offer.
"I'll give you this Ring of Ice," he said. "But in exchange—you'll be Yumian's sparring partner."
Mu Nianbing raised an eyebrow. "Sparring partner? Are you sure? I'm a high-level mage. If I hit too hard, won't that be... bad?"
"To put it bluntly," Dean Fu said, "you'll be the punching bag."
Mu Nianbing sighed. "Do I get any human rights in this deal?"
"As long as you agree," Dean Fu smiled slyly, "the Ring of Ice is yours."
The decision didn't take long.
The artifact's value was too great to refuse—and besides, he could use the experience to temper himself against the psychic element, his current weakness.
"Deal," Mu Nianbing said, slipping the ring onto his finger.
In the days that followed, Mu Nianbing returned to his apartment to continue refining his techniques.
Between his cultivation sessions, he regularly went to the Fire Academy to serve as Ding Yumian's sparring partner.
To his surprise, although she was only a Mid-Level Mage, Ding Yumian's spiritual power had already reached Level Four—a level that even he, newly advanced, had barely approached.
"If she ever awakens the Space or Curse Elements," Mu Nianbing thought silently, "she'll be an absolute powerhouse."
And so began an unusual partnership between the calm girl and the ice devil of the academy—each one quietly changing the other's destiny.
...
Author's Note:
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