“Inside a secret chamber of the Shui Family.”
“Behind the heavy stone door of the secret chamber, cold mist billowed, and even the blue bricks on the four walls were covered in a thick layer of white frost.”
“Shui Bing’er sat cross-legged on the stone bed, a palm-sized icy blue Phoenix phantom hovering around her body.”
“This was her Spirit.”
“However, at this moment, the Phoenix phantom was trembling violently, and its originally pure blue faintly emitted a restless white light.”
“Shui Bing’er clenched her teeth tightly, continuously and forcefully pressing her spirit power into her Meridians.”
“She wanted to break through this spirit power Bottleneck at level thirty.”
“However, things were not going smoothly.”
“A tearing pain came from her Meridians, and the cold Qi began to uncontrollably backflow into her internal organs.”
“Pfft!”
“Shui Bing’er lurched forward abruptly, coughing up a mouthful of blood mixed with ice shards.”
“Not only that, a cold current began to emanate from her Spirit phantom, running rampant throughout the entire secret chamber!”
“At this moment, the door of the secret chamber was pushed open violently.”
“The Shui Clan Head walked in.”
“As soon as he entered, a layer of white frost hung on his eyebrows.”
“Not good!”
“The Shui Clan Head exclaimed in alarm.”
“Then, his Spirit Douluo-level spirit power gushed out without reservation, transforming into a blue barrier that forcefully pushed against the rampaging cold Qi and rushed to the side of the stone bed.”
“He slapped Shui Bing’er’s back with a palm, and thick, gentle spirit power continuously poured in, forcefully guiding those runaway cold currents and bit by bit suppressing them back into Shui Bing’er’s body.”
“After a full incense stick’s time, the cold mist finally dissipated.”
“The Shui Clan Head withdrew his hand, slumped onto the stone stool nearby, and panted heavily.”
“As a dignified eighty-something-level Spirit Douluo, he was actually frozen to the point of shivering all over, his beard covered in fine ice crystals, looking somewhat disheveled.”
“Shui Bing’er’s face was pale as she casually grabbed a silk handkerchief and wiped away the blood from the corner of her mouth.”
“Failed again.”
“She looked down at the dazzling scarlet on her palm and sighed.”
“Hu Liena of Spirit Hall’s Golden Generation had already successfully broken through to the Spirit Elder Realm when she was my age.”
“Shui Bing’er clenched her fists, her tone revealing intense reluctance:”
“My Innate spirit power is not inferior to hers, and my Spirit is even the Ice Phoenix. Logically speaking, I should have also broken through to level thirty.””
“The Shui Clan Head circulated his energy to dispel the cold Qi within his body while waving his hand helplessly.”
“Bing’er, this is not a matter of your talent at all.”
“Ever since your Spirit Awakening, our Shui Family has been researching and reached a conclusion.”
“That is, your Ice Phoenix Spirit is innately incomparably powerful. This is a good thing, but it has also become your current death warrant.””
“The Shui Clan Head pointed at Shui Bing’er’s wrist:”
“This level of cold Qi is too tyrannical, and your Physical Body, or rather the strength of your Meridians, simply cannot keep up with the growth rate of your Spirit right now.”
“Every time you Cultivate, if you absorb spirit power at full firepower, the cold Qi will accumulate in your body.”
“Being too impatient will instead cause a backlash.”
“Speaking of this, the Shui Clan Head paused, his tone turning serious:”
“Unless, you can find a high-quality ice-attribute Spirit Bone.”
“After this Spirit Bone is absorbed by you, it will serve as the buffer hub and support point for the cold Qi in your body.”
“Only then can you completely unleash your hands and feet to Cultivate.”
“The secret chamber fell silent.”
“Shui Bing’er did not respond further.”
“She naturally knew this point clearly.”
“However, Spirit Bones were treasures that had a price but no market to begin with, let alone a specific ice-attribute Spirit Bone.”
“If one could be obtained, the Shui Family would probably have already planned it for her!” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“Shui Bing’er closed her eyes to regulate her breath for a moment, and when she opened them again, her emotions had completely calmed down.”
“She looked at the old father sitting opposite her, blowing on his hands to warm them up, feeling somewhat strange.”
“Dad, before entering seclusion, I specifically instructed that no one should be seen while breaking through the Bottleneck.”
“Shui Bing’er looked at him:”
“You are the Clan Chief, and usually you keep the rules stricter than anyone else. Why did you suddenly run in today?””
“Asked like this by his daughter, the Shui Clan Head’s hand-rubbing action froze.”
“His old face flashed with an extremely embarrassed expression.”
“He opened his mouth, but didn’t know where to start.”
“But thinking about the situation in the front hall, there was really no way to hide it.”
“This matter… Sigh, now the arrow is on the string and has to be fired.””
“The Shui Clan Head slapped his thigh, simply throwing caution to the wind, and recounted everything that happened in the main hall like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.”
“From the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School’s grand eighteen carts of betrothal gifts, to Ning Fengzhi’s grand promises made in public.”
“Even down to how Huo Wu ran in to throw a tantrum, how she was scolded and beaten out by Ning Tian and Elder Zhao, how Sword Douluo Chen Xin instantly forced back the Fire Family Patriarch, and everything else was vividly and thoroughly recounted.”
“Shui Bing’er listened quietly, and by the end, her brows furrowed slightly.”
“Dad, are you sure the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is really proposing marriage to me?”
“Shui Bing’er asked in return:”
“And it’s for that Young Master Ning, Ning Tian, who awakened the One Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and has an Innate spirit power of only half a level?”
“Yes, it’s him.”
“The Shui Clan Head nodded repeatedly, then quickly added.”
“But Bing’er, your father’s eyes were truly opened today.”
“In the past, only hearing rumors from the outside, I thought this Ning Tian was just a dandy good-for-nothing who relied on his dad.”
“But today your old man carefully watched from the side for a long time, and this kid is not simple either.”
“The Shui Clan Head leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a bit of solemnity.”
“You know what kind of temper that girl Huo Wu from the old Huo Family has; she rushed into the main hall and pointed at his nose to curse him as a waste.”
“As a result, this kid didn’t even blink an eyelid, using a gentle force to deflect a strong attack, and with a few words, he drove Huo Wu to the point where she almost wanted to find a piece of tofu to dash her head against and die.”
“Facing the heads of our several major families, including Yu Luomian of the Lei Family, he didn’t show the slightest bit of fear, grasping that condescending attitude firmly.”
“What is this called? This is called being smart. He borrowed the momentum of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School crystal clear.””
“The Shui Clan Head stroked his chin, recalling the scene of Ning Tian leaning on the soft chair eating grapes:”
“Moreover, I noticed a detail.”
“This kid is not at all polite to old fellows like us, but towards the attendants and guards serving around him, he is extremely amiable, chatting and laughing, without any habit of acting superior and beating or scolding servants.”
“What does this show? It shows that he is extremely principled in his actions, bullying the superiors without humiliating the inferiors.””
“The Shui Clan Head gave a pertinent evaluation:”
“As the Young Lord of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, his mind is very clear; he knows what he wants and knows how to take it.”
“Aside from not being able to Cultivate, this method and Heart-Nature are far stronger than those hotheads who boast of being geniuses.”
“Shui Bing’er sat on the stone bed, not saying a word.”
“She quickly sorted through this information in her mind.”
“Seeing his daughter’s expressionless face, the Shui Clan Head thought she hadn’t listened at all, or thought he was blindly speaking good things, and quickly continued to speak.”
“Of course, your father is not saying these things to speak on his behalf.”
“The Shui Clan Head quickly pulled the topic back on track:”
“Let’s not mention the rest; besides Ning Fengzhi’s promise, there are also those eighteen carts of betrothal gifts.”
“The Shui Clan Head swallowed his saliva, lowering his voice:”
“As long as the marriage is settled, those Spirit Bones will definitely be yours.”
“Shui Bing’er suddenly raised her head, ripples finally appearing in those eyes that had always been as calm as an ancient well.”
“Spirit Bones?”
“Although she didn’t know what attribute they were, what if there was an ice-attribute one?”
“This was simply something tailor-made to completely solve her current dilemma!”
“As long as she had it, even if it were just a millennium-level Spirit Bone, the level thirty Bottleneck could be broken in an instant, and even in the future Cultivating all the way to the Spirit Saint, there would no longer be the hidden danger of her body not being able to withstand the cold Qi.”
“But the price was… marrying that Ning Tian.”
“Shui Bing’er did not speak again.”
“Time passed bit by bit, and the secret chamber fell into silence once more, with only the frost on the stone walls turning into water droplets, pattering down onto the bluestone slabs.”
“Seeing his daughter like this, the Shui Clan Head felt uncertain.”
“He knew his daughter too well.”
“This prolonged silence often meant she was suppressing some kind of extreme emotion.”
“He understood too.”
“After all, his daughter was a Cultivation maniac who had sworn a heavy oath in front of all the clan elders that she would never get involved in relationships before ascending to Titled Douluo.”
“Now, for the Family and for her future, she was actually asked to submit herself to a Mortal who could not Cultivate into a Spirit Master?”
“This must be more painful than killing her!”
“The more the Shui Clan Head thought about it, the more heartbroken he felt.”
“As a father, not only could he not help his daughter’s Cultivation, but now he actually had to come running as a lobbyist.”
“Sigh…”
“The Shui Clan Head sighed heavily, the expression on his face collapsing as well.”
“He supported his knees with both hands and stood up from the stone stool.”
“He had only such a proud daughter in this lifetime; he could not push his daughter into a fire pit.”
“Bing’er, don’t trouble yourself, your father understands your feelings.”
“The Shui Clan Head straightened his back, tidied his somewhat messy lapels, and a flash of determination crossed his eyes.”
“Rest assured, if you are not willing, Dad will never force you.”
“Don’t worry about this matter, just focus on your seclusion in peace, leave the rest to Dad.”
“The Shui Clan Head turned around and strode towards the door of the secret chamber:”
“I will go to the main hall right now to reject Ning Fengzhi.”
“Even if I risk this old life today and die under Sword Douluo’s sword, I will never agree to this absurd marriage!”
“The Shui Clan Head’s hand was already resting on the heavy mechanism to open the stone door, right when he was about to press it forcefully.”
“Hold on.”
“A cold voice sounded behind him.”
“The Shui Clan Head’s action stopped abruptly.”
“He looked back.”
“Shui Bing’er had already stood up from the stone bed, leisurely smoothing out the wrinkles on her skirt hem.”
“She raised her eyes and looked at the old father at the door.”
“Dad, I agree.”
“As the words fell, the Shui Clan Head froze in place as if struck by lightning.”
“Then, he turned around abruptly, his eyes widened as big as copper bells, staring fixedly at Shui Bing’er, even suspecting whether his ears had been frostbitten just now.”
“Bing’er, you… what did you say?””
“The Shui Clan Head’s lips were trembling,”
“You agreed?!”
“How could this be possible?”
“That daughter who was wholeheartedly devoted to Cultivation and considered it a waste of time to even glance at a talented male Spirit Master of the same age actually agreed in one breath?”
“Why?!”
“The Shui Clan Head was utterly baffled.”
“You have sworn an oath!”