Chapter 19 The enchanting moonlight on Broken Soul Slope, the gentle warmth of the bright moon in the deep night, and the shadowy girl of the core class
The cold wind at the top of Broken Soul Slope cut across the boy's cheeks like a sharp blade. The spicy liquor exploded in his throat, burning all the way down his esophagus into his stomach, bringing a savage warmth that temporarily dispelled the chill that was almost freezing his bones.
Ye Feng sat cross-legged on a rock that had been smoothed by the wind and snow, his Thousand Chance Umbrella folded up like a stick and stuck diagonally into the snow.
He gasped for breath, each expansion of his lungs accompanied by a tearing, piercing pain—the brutal erosion of his tender lungs by the extreme cold air. But amidst this agony, he could feel the "Tear of the Ice God" within him radiating wisps of warm energy, as if repairing damaged cells, or as if, under this extreme pressure, expanding the upper limit of his soul power.
This self-torturing training method was called "stress test under extreme hand speed" in the previous life of "Glory". Only when the character is on the verge of collapse can one truly grasp the opportunity to break through the bottleneck.
In-depth understanding
ice
umbrella
Ye Feng closed his eyes, and the surrounding noise and wind gradually faded from his consciousness. He could feel Hu Yanli's heavy breathing not far behind him, as well as Ye Shaotian's intermittent, incessant mutterings that he would never stop even if he was exhausted.
This was Qin Cang's "first lesson" to them: in the heart of the North, where the strong prey on the weak, mediocrity is the original sin, and only monsters who can crawl out of this hellish torment are qualified to be called "core".
Just as Ye Feng's consciousness was becoming somewhat hazy, a gentle breeze carrying a cool, faint fragrance suddenly swept away the biting chill of the snow.
It was a highly distinctive fragrance, carrying the aloofness of winter plum blossoms in the snow, yet also revealing a gentleness that only appears at certain moments. Ye Feng suddenly opened his eyes, and the first thing that caught his eye was a pair of exquisitely embroidered shoes that shimmered with a faint blue luster under the moonlight. Following the snowflake patterns outlined in silver thread on the shoes, he looked up and saw a long, moon-white dress fluttering in the wind.
Mingyue was already standing beside him at some point. Her face, as smooth as jade, appeared somewhat ethereal under the cold moonlight, as if she were a spirit conjured from the snowy northern plains, noble and unparalleled.
"That Qin Cang guy still doesn't know how to be gentle with women, actually arranging such a heavy load for a six-year-old child."
Mingyue's voice sounded particularly ethereal in the cold wind. She bent slightly, her cascading black hair sliding down her shoulders, the ends of which gently brushed against Ye Feng's cheek, bringing a tingling coolness.
She extended her slender, jade-like fingers, disregarding the sweat and grime on Ye Feng's body, and gently placed them on his shoulder. A pure soul power, like a gentle spring breeze, instantly surged into Ye Feng's body through her fingertips. It was not only soul power, but also an extremely high-level "Ice and Moon Origin" aura.
The violent energy that had been rampaging through Ye Feng's meridians suddenly became as docile as a house cat after encountering this aura, and even began to flow happily through his meridians.
Ye Feng greedily inhaled the faint fragrance so close to him, and his physical exhaustion was greatly relieved at that moment. He looked up at Mingyue and found that the "Teacher Mingyue," who always appeared dignified and strict, now had an extremely complex emotion in her eyes—a mixture of heartache, pride, and some indescribable sense of expectation.
Instead of maintaining her usual teacherly authority, she sat down on the rock next to Ye Feng, her two long, slender legs peeking out from under her long skirt, forming an arc more captivating than the snowy landscape of the North.
"Teacher, what brings you here?" Ye Feng asked in a low voice.
Ye Shaotian and Hu Yanli, who were standing nearby, had fallen into a deep sleep due to extreme exhaustion. Qin Cang was also nowhere to be found. At this moment, the top of Broken Soul Slope seemed to have become a private space for the two of them.
Mingyue turned her head and winked mischievously, a hint of girlish naiveté showing in her usually cool almond-shaped eyes: "What, is it only that old bastard Qin Cang who can come to see you? I am your mentor, and the one who brought you into the academy. What if he ruins your promising talent? Who will I cry to?"
As she spoke, she magically produced a small jade bottle from her bosom, pouring out a few drops of crystal-clear, milky-white liquid into her palm. Without a word, she pulled open Ye Feng's collar, which was already slightly damp with sweat and clung tightly to his shoulders, and placed her palm against it.
The cool liquid, combined with the warmth of her palm, instantly seeped into his skin. Ye Feng felt the red and swollen bruises on his shoulder rapidly dissipating, and the tingling sensation made him tremble slightly.
"Don't move. This is 'Snow Condensation Dew' that I specially brought from my family. It's most effective for repairing meridian damage." Mingyue's movements were incredibly gentle. Her fingertips traced across Ye Feng's taut muscles, sending shivers of electricity through them.
Having lived two lives, Ye Feng's mental age was already that of an adult, but faced with such a close sensory impact, his heart involuntarily quickened. He looked at Mingyue's red lips, so close to his own, which, set against her snow-white skin, appeared exceptionally alluring, like a forbidden fruit waiting to be picked in an icy plain.
Mingyue seemed to sense the boy's somewhat intense gaze. She paused, a faint blush appearing on her face, but instead of looking away, she moved even closer, her warm breath brushing against Ye Feng's ear: "What's wrong, you little pervert? You were so bold in the secret realm, but now you blush just looking at your teacher? Didn't you want to return those two 'big bumps' to me before?"
This teasing recollection of the past instantly heightened the ambiguous atmosphere in the air. Ye Feng gave a wry smile, unsure how to respond. He could sense that Mingyue cared for him in a way that went beyond that of a typical teacher and student, and beneath that care lay a hint of attachment that even she herself wasn't fully aware of.
In the harsh and cold northern land, the strong are lonely, and Mingyue seemed to see in Ye Feng a shadow who could stand shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Don't push yourself so hard in the future. Qin Cang's training is effective, but too much of a good thing can be bad." Mingyue withdrew her hand, her voice returning to calm, yet carrying an undeniable air of dominance.
"Your life is not only your own, but also belongs to me, Mingyue, your last disciple. Without my permission, you are not allowed to be seriously injured. Do you understand?" She stared into Ye Feng's eyes, a fleeting glimpse of possessiveness in her gaze, yet it landed precisely in Ye Feng's heart.
Before Ye Feng could answer, Mingyue's figure suddenly swayed, and she returned to her proud and aloof appearance. Her moon-white dress drew a graceful arc in the wind, and she was already several feet away.
"Get some rest. If you can't keep up with the lessons tomorrow, I won't bring you any more medicine." Before she finished speaking, her figure disappeared into the swirling snow. Only the faint fragrance lingering in the air proved that the beautiful scene had truly happened.
Ye Feng remained seated for a long time before finally chuckling self-deprecatingly and gripping the Thousand Chance Umbrella tightly . He could sense that this was not merely the cultivation of a martial spirit, but a tug-of-war between emotions and destiny. Mingyue, this woman, was like a snow-capped mountain that never melts, yet deep within her lay a volcano capable of melting everything.
The following morning, the chill in the Lingfeng Pavilion remained biting. After a night's rest, the four survivors of the core class stood before Qin Cang once more. Besides Ye Feng, Ye Shaotian, and Hu Yanli, the short-haired girl who had remained silent caught Ye Feng's attention.
Her name was Leng Qianqian, a girl as cold as her name suggested. She was extremely beautiful, but it was a beauty with an aggressive edge. Beneath her neat short hair were a pair of narrow cat eyes that shimmered with a dark yellow light in the dimly lit training hall.
Leng Qianqian's martial soul is Shadow Cat, a top-tier agility-based martial soul. During the chaotic battle, Ye Feng noticed her unpredictable and elusive movements, as if she could blend into the surrounding shadows. At this moment, she was casually flexing her wrists, her black bodysuit outlining her graceful curves far beyond her years. The wild yet agile aura she exuded made her stand out in the crowd.
"No micro-management or physical training today." Qin Cang's voice was as hoarse as ever. He pointed to the open area in the center of the training hall paved with deep-sea ice wood. "Today we'll practice combat. Four people, draw lots for a duel. The winner rests, and the loser goes to the confinement room to train with the phantom of the thousand-year-old soul beast all night. The first match is Ye Feng versus Leng Qianqian."
The atmosphere in the arena instantly tensed upon hearing this. Hu Yanli frowned, stepped back, and made way for the two. Although he had lost to Ye Feng, he was still quite wary of Leng Qianqian's strength. In Winter City, the Leng family was the second most powerful family after the City Lord's Mansion, and Leng Qianqian was known as the "Pride of Shadows."
Leng Qianqian slowly walked into the arena, her steps so light that she made no sound. Her cat-like eyes were fixed on Ye Feng, and a bloodthirsty smile appeared on her lips: "Finally, the opportunity has come. Ye Feng, that punch at the school gate was impressive. I hope your martial spirit is more than just something that looks strange."
Ye Feng held the umbrella in one hand; the Thousand Chance Umbrella was currently in its most basic long staff form. He nodded slightly: "Miss Leng, please enlighten me."
"I wouldn't call it giving you pointers, but I can certainly cripple you!" Leng Qianqian shouted, her delicate body twisting violently as she instantly transformed into a blurry black shadow and vanished from the spot.
So fast! Ye Feng's pupils contracted slightly. His dynamic vision detected that the dark figure wasn't moving in a straight line, but rather tracing an extremely strange zigzag pattern on the icy wood floor. This movement maximized the use of the surrounding shadows and the enemy's blind spots. The moment Leng Qianqian rushed out, the first yellow spirit ring beneath her feet lit up.
"First Soul Skill - Shadow Strike!"
A sharp whistling sound pierced the air as three dark, claw-like phantoms appeared out of nowhere at Ye Feng's throat, chest, and abdomen. This all-around, high-speed attack was the signature move of an agility-type Soul Master.
Ye Feng remained calm and composed, rapidly spinning the Thousand Chance Umbrella in his palm. Although the umbrella was not fully open, the wind pressure and soul power barrier generated by the rotation instantly formed a circular defensive zone.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
Three crisp metallic clangs rang out as Leng Qianqian's claws struck the ribs of the Thousand Machine Umbrella, sparks flying. Leng Qianqian was startled; she felt as if her claw strike had hit a solid iron pillar spinning at high speed, the immense recoil making her wrist numb.
"All you can do is defend?" Leng Qianqian sneered, her body performing an incredible twist in mid-air, her slender waist displaying astonishing flexibility. Using the recoil, she flew backward, and while still in mid-air, her second spirit ring was already showing signs of lighting up.
"Since Miss Leng is being so proactive, I should return the favor." Ye Feng's eyes turned cold, and the Thousand Chance Umbrella in his hand made a crisp click as its form changed in an instant.
The long staff transforms into a spear!
"Sky Strike!"
Ye Feng strode forward, his spear lashing upwards. The timing of this strike was extremely insidious, perfectly timed to coincide with Leng Qianqian's fall, when her old strength was exhausted and her new strength had not yet been generated. Leng Qianqian's eyelids twitched violently. She had never seen a martial soul switch forms so smoothly. Her original defensive stance had transformed into the most aggressive offensive stance in a fraction of a second.
She had to forcefully exhaust her soul power, slamming her hand on the floor in mid-air to change her posture with the impact. The spear grazed the hem of her clothes, the sharp gust of wind leaving a white mark on her tight-fitting garment.
"Interesting." Leng Qianqian landed in the distance, the dark yellow light in her cat-like eyes intensifying. She looked at Ye Feng, her breathing becoming somewhat rapid, a feeling of excitement one gets after encountering a top-tier prey. She licked her lips and suddenly made a move that surprised everyone—she ripped off the ties binding her short hair, letting the strands dance wildly in the cold wind, and lay prone on the ground, like a true shadow cat poised to pounce.
"Shadow Cat Variation - Wild Dance Kill!"
Leng Qianqian's figure moved again, this time not as a single black shadow, but as three separate figures! This was achieved by using afterimages generated at extreme speed, combined with the Shadow Cat Martial Soul's control over shadows. The three figures surrounded Ye Feng from three different directions, the cold light from their claws sealing off all escape routes.
Ye Feng took a deep breath, and his soul power surged wildly towards the Thousand Manifestations Umbrella . He knew that ordinary defense was useless against such a highly agile opponent; he had to use large-scale "firepower suppression."
"Thousand-Creation Umbrella - Transform!"
"Ice Phoenix Spear - Scatter Mode!"
The spear disintegrated and reformed in an instant, its thick barrel emitting a mechanical rhythm. Ye Feng didn't aim at any of the afterimages, but instead spun around on the spot, his Ice Phoenix Spear wildly spewing out ice-blue energy bullets.
"Put-put-put-put!"
A dense barrage of bullets exploded into puffs of icy mist on the icy wood floor. Leng Qianqian's afterimage shattered instantly upon contact with these bullets imbued with the extreme aura of ice. Her true form was forced to manifest, and she had to desperately dodge the barrage that blocked her blind spots.
"Got you." Ye Feng sneered, switching the Ice Phoenix Spear in his hand once again.
Hook and sickle form!
This is a new tactical form he developed based on the characteristics of the Silver Ice Python. Two silver-white hooks extend from the tip of the umbrella, connected by an almost transparent thread of soul power.
"Circle Dance Stick - Grab!"
Ye Feng swung his hook sickle sharply, precisely targeting Leng Qianqian's landing spot after her dodge. The hook sickle flew towards Leng Qianqian's ankle with a piercing whistle. Leng Qianqian was in mid-air and had no leverage; she was about to be hooked.
At this critical moment, Mingyue, who had been sitting in the stands, suddenly waved her sleeve gently. A gentle surge of soul power forcibly separated the two, and all their soul skills vanished in an instant.
"Enough." Mingyue's voice echoed in the arena. She slowly walked down, her gaze sweeping over Ye Feng and Leng Qianqian, finally settling on Leng Qianqian's chest, which was heaving with excitement. "A real battle is for understanding your opponent, not for determining life and death here. Qin Cang, this match is a draw. Any objections?"
Qin Cang nodded blankly, turned and walked out of the hall, leaving only one sentence: "We'll continue in half an hour. The loser will be in solitary confinement. Ye Feng, you go too."
"Why should I?" Ye Shaotian protested loudly, but Qin Cang's cold snort silenced him.
Leng Qianqian withdrew her Shadow Cat possession and walked up to Ye Feng. A rare, unusual flush appeared on her usually icy face. She stared at Ye Feng, remaining silent for a long time before suddenly whispering, "Ye Feng, I'll remember you. In this academy, you're the first person to have ever made me, Leng Qianqian, look so pathetic."
After saying that, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she leaned close to Ye Feng's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your umbrella ... is very interesting. Next time, I will use my shadow to completely entangle it."
A near-obsessive light flickered in her barbed cat-like eyes. As they passed each other, her fingertips brushed against Ye Feng's hand, leaving a slightly cool sensation. Ye Feng frowned slightly. He sensed that this shadow cat girl seemed to have some extremely peculiar fetish—she didn't hate him, but rather harbored an extremely strong possessive desire for his unique fighting style.
Not far away, Mingyue watched the two interact so closely, her eyelids twitching involuntarily, a ripple of emotion stirring within her previously calm demeanor. She gracefully walked to Ye Feng's side, casually taking his hand and gently wiping away non-existent dust, her tone carrying a chillingly sour undertone:
"It seems our little pervert has gained quite a few 'fans' on his first day in the core class. The little princess of the Shadow Cat Leng family is notoriously difficult to deal with."
Ye Feng felt the warmth of Mingyue's palm, then looked at Leng Qianqian's stubborn back in the distance, and pressed his temples in exasperation. He knew that the ice and snow of the Northern Territory were indeed about to boil, but it seemed that what was boiling was not only the flames of the Soul Master Competition, but also the myriad tangled threads of emotion that could not be severed or untangled.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of Winter City, a spy from the Snow Demon Sect was recording this scene into a soul tool. The Snow Demon Sect's revenge, and the shocking secret about Ye Feng's martial soul, were quietly approaching with the next snowstorm.