I have to learn Ice Explosion.
That was the only thought echoing in Lin Xiao's mind.
If you were to categorize all explosion-type soul skills by power level:
Tier One: Ring Detonation
Tier Two: Flame Explosion, Ice Explosion
Tier Three: Corpse Explosion
Flame and Ice Explosion each had their own strengths.
Flame Explosion involved compressing fire-element soul power into a structured core and detonating it. Ice Explosion, by contrast, involved compressing ice-formed soul power until it triggered a reactive burst.
Purely in terms of explosive force, fire soul power naturally surpassed ice soul power.
However, there was one case where Ice Explosion shone brighter.
Its true terror lay in planting ice inside a living body—and then detonating it from within.
Explosions from the inside out caused far greater biological damage, even if the external blast was smaller.
The body's interior was always the most vulnerable part.
Even thick-skinned, iron-scaled soul beasts—no matter how tough on the outside—were soft within. In such cases, Flame Explosion wasn't nearly as effective as Ice Explosion.
How convenient…
Lin Xiao realized, once again, how perfectly he and Shui Bing'er complemented each other.
Could she really be my lucky star?
"Big Brother Lin Xiao, my soul power's recovered a little. Want to go again?"
Shui Bing'er felt like she was getting a little addicted. Using the Spirit Fusion Technique was exhausting—it drained her soul power rapidly—but it also meant she could hold Lin Xiao's hand openly.
She didn't mind being tired at all.
Lin Xiao nodded.
"Let's practice a few more times today. Once we can control the fusion skill's power precisely, we can call it a phase-one success."
Research never ends.
Even once mastered, they would have to innovate—keep evolving. Not just cling to one technique and ride it out for the next ten thousand years like some kind of outdated martial manual...
Far in the distance, snow-covered mountains loomed under a curtain of wind and ice.
In a valley clearing, Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er repeatedly unleashed their Spirit Fusion Technique. Each time their soul power ran dry, they paused only to recover—then started again.
Lin Xiao was used to grinding.
After all, he'd survived the agony of corrupted flame ravaging his body. High-intensity training like this only made him more excited.
What was strange, though, was how Shui Bing'er, a young girl barely older than six, kept up.
At her age, she should've still been playful and averse to boring repetition.
She was clearly exhausted—thin layers of sweat clung to her skin—but her spirit was unwavering.
Lin Xiao cast a look of appreciation her way.
Not bad. This girl has a bright future ahead.
There's a saying: "Repetition breeds mastery."
Many of the world's greatest victories and achievements are born not from sudden brilliance—but from tireless, tedious repetition. Eventually, repetition becomes refinement. Refinement becomes art.
For someone so young to endure like this—her potential was immeasurable.
Lin Xiao instinctively reached out and patted Shui Bing'er's head with a smile.
"You're amazing, Bing'er."
—
In a quiet corner at the edge of the training grounds...
Uncle Li clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Most grown-ups couldn't handle this kind of monotony. Repeating something all day long for just a tiny bit of progress… and yet these two little ones stuck it out."
"I'm not surprised by Young Master Lin Xiao, but Miss Bing'er… that was unexpected."
Uncle Li had accompanied Lin Xiao when they first came to this snowy, desolate valley to develop Flame Explosion. He'd long grown accustomed to the boy's resilience.
But Shui Bing'er?
A noble young lady, pushing through sheer tedium with zero complaints—it caught him off guard.
Meanwhile, Granny Shuiyue was practically in tears.
"Oh, my poor little darling… Bing'er doesn't even rest! Not even a little!"
—
Tired?
Shui Bing'er would've answered without hesitation:
She felt like she'd held Big Brother Lin Xiao's hand a hundred times today.
He'd even praised her!
It made her even happier than when she'd acquired her second soul ring.
She'd spent the whole day with him!
As the sun dipped toward the horizon—
"Sun's almost down!"
"Master Lin Xiao, Miss Bing'er—time to head back!"
Uncle Li gathered soul power in his lungs and shouted from a distance.
Lin Xiao called back:
"Alright! Uncle Li, Granny Shuiyue—give us a minute!"
He channeled soul power into his palms and evaporated the snow from Bing'er's clothes, then gently warmed her body.
Only after that did they begin their walk back together.
They started side by side—but Shui Bing'er suddenly fell a step behind, clutching the hem of Lin Xiao's coat like a little tagalong.
She loved doing that.
Trailing behind her big brother, watching him from behind, fingers curled into the edge of his sleeve—it made her feel safe, happy, and satisfied.
Lin Xiao felt the gentle tug and knew it was one of her little habits. He didn't mind—let her enjoy it.
Two big figures and two small ones walked under the fading golden light, their breaths visible in the frosty air, feet crunching softly on the snow.
When they returned to the Shui family estate—
They saw someone standing at the gate.
"Uncle Shui?" Lin Xiao blinked.
"Have you been waiting out here this whole time?"
Shui Shengxiao coughed awkwardly.
"Don't be silly. I just happened to step outside for a bit of sun. Pure coincidence I ran into you two."
Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow and glanced up at the sky.
The setting sun burned red—but in this frozen landscape, it offered no warmth at all.
And who sunbathes at sunset?
Tsk. Uncle Shui really isn't a smooth liar.
Lin Xiao gently pulled Shui Bing'er forward with a smile.
"Please, Uncle Shui—inspect her. See for yourself: she's perfectly safe, completely unharmed."
Shui Shengxiao scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled:
"Come now, what are you saying? The fact I entrusted Bing'er to you proves my complete faith in you. Don't make me out to be some overbearing parent."
"You're a good father," Lin Xiao said softly.
Shui Shengxiao froze.
Took him a moment to register the words.
Damn it… why did that hit me right in the heart?
He remembered how he'd doubted Lin Xiao at first—and now felt nothing but shame and regret.
I'm a terrible man!
That night, after dinner—
Lin Xiao led Shui Bing'er out to an open field.
"Big Brother Lin Xiao, what are we doing...?"
She had no idea what he was planning. But she wasn't worried. Even in the dark, she felt only anticipation.
"I've got a surprise for you," he said simply.
In the shadows, Lin Xiao summoned a strange fire in his palm.
The scarlet flames flickered with a sinister beauty—strangely enchanting.
Then, under precise compression, he shaped the fire into a tiny, miniature fire phoenix.
"So pretty!" Shui Bing'er gasped.
Small as a sparrow, but perfectly formed.
Though tiny, its feathers glimmered with elegance. Its form was sleek and regal. The sight was breathtaking.
Lin Xiao raised his hand, and the mini-phoenix took flight—wings spreading as it soared into the night sky.
Shui Bing'er watched in awe, her eyes filled with light.
"Big Brother Lin Xiao, is that the surprise? It's beautiful!"
But Lin Xiao only smiled.
"Surprise? This is just the beginning."
She blinked, confused.
Before she could ask, he pointed toward the dark sky and said gently:
"Bing'er… have you ever seen fireworks?"
She followed his gaze.
BOOM!
Suddenly, the tiny phoenix exploded high above, bursting into a cascade of colorful lights. A dazzling meteor shower of flame painted the night sky—bright enough to light up the world.
"Wooooow—!"
Gasps echoed from the nearby streets.
Shui Bing'er stared in stunned wonder.
A feast for the eyes.
"On an eastern wind, a thousand trees blossom in flame. The stars fall like rain..."
She didn't know that poem—but she felt the romance, the thrill, the magic. Her heart raced, her eyes sparkled.
Lin Xiao grinned.
"Art… is explosion."
He wanted her to study Ice Explosion.
But what if she didn't like explosions?
Simple: make her fall in love with them.
Show her the beauty, the magic, the thrill.
Because in the face of something this breathtaking...
Even little girls can't help but fall in love with explosions.