Chapter 222: Why Can't the Ice Phoenix Fly

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Mountains behind the Heaven Dou Academy.

Beneath the waterfall.

The thunderous roar could not be ignored, as two figures constantly intersected and flickered above the water pond. Waves surged, and the impact of their force caused ice shards to shoot out.

"Ice Sealing!"

With a soft shout, Zeng Yi shivered and quickly tapped the surface of the water with his foot. His body flashed and left its original position. In the next moment, where he had been standing, a human-sized ice spike had formed.

"How many times have I told you, don't shout when releasing Spirit skills. The enemy will anticipate your next attack by your voice and counter it in advance."

"Sorry, I will pay attention." Shui Bing'er said lightly, with a serious expression on her face. As she stepped on the water surface, there happened to be a floating ice under her feet, allowing her to stand on the water.

Shui Bing'er's body constantly moved on the water surface, leaving a piece of ice wherever her foot landed. Floating ice couldn't provide her with stable support for a long time, so she needed to keep moving in order to stand on the water surface without falling into the pond.

This was the training method Zeng Yi had taught her. In order to fight against Zeng Yi on the water surface, she not only had to pay attention to his attacks but also maintain stability under her feet at all times. Otherwise, she would fall into the water and become a "soaked chicken."

During this month, Shui Bing'er had no idea how many times she had fallen into the water.

Four Spirit rings, two yellow and two purple, appeared around Shui Bing'er's graceful figure. Her body was also covered with a layer of ice-blue crystal armor, her second Spirit skill. It could greatly enhance her defense and strengthen the freezing attribute of her attacks.

After releasing this Spirit skill, under the sunlight, the crystal armor shimmered, making her look heroic and radiant, like a battlefield goddess.

Swish~~

A sword aura rushed towards her. Shui Bing'er lightly tapped the water surface, her body leapt lightly and narrowly avoided the sword aura. In mid-air, her petite figure spun, creating a beautiful scene.

Ice Spike Arrows!

With every step she took on the water surface, splashes of water rose high. Shui Bing'er's ice-blue eyes shimmered, and she saw the water droplets coalesce into sharp ice spikes in mid-air.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh--

Countless ice spikes flew towards Zeng Yi like a storm.

Watching the incoming ice spikes, Zeng Yi remained calm. He swung his sword forward, creating a rapidly flowing wind that formed a visible wind barrier.

Wind Barrier!

Seeing his attack blocked by the wind barrier, Shui Bing'er couldn't help but smile. She had anticipated this situation. Clenching her delicate hand, confidence flickered in her eyes.

Ice Sealing!

Her first Spirit skill was activated!

However, this time, the ice sealing was not aimed at Zeng Yi's body. Shui Bing'er knew that Zeng Yi was too fast, and his reaction speed was surprisingly quick. Freezing him would be too difficult.

Instead, a giant ice spike formed above Zeng Yi. It created a reflection on the water surface, and when Zeng Yi looked up, the enormous ice spike was about to fall.

Not bad of an idea, but still too slow!

Just as the ice spike was about to hit Zeng Yi, his figure disappeared on the water surface like a ghost.

Boom!

The huge block of ice crashed down, creating a splash several meters high.

Shui Bing'er huffed. Such a trick could not deceive Zeng Yi. The fourth Spirit ring on her body emitted a dazzling light.

An illusion of a blue flying beast appeared behind Shui Bing'er, albeit hazy. Although indistinct, its noble and peaceful temperament was still discernible.

Phoenix!

A resounding Phoenix cry echoed through the valley, shaking the earth. A cold aura quickly spread from Shui Bing'er's body. The surface of the water began to freeze, and in the blink of an eye, the entire pond would be covered in ice.

This scene stunned Zeng Yi. Could her fourth Spirit skill be so powerful?

Shui Bing'er's fourth Spirit skill didn't focus on control this time; instead, it became an extremely powerful attacking skill, with a range that affected multiple targets.

At this moment, the might of this top-tier Martial Spirit, the Ice Phoenix, was fully demonstrated.

Frozen Storm!

A cold storm suddenly swept through the area. The wind carried sharp ice shards, attacking wildly. The cold wind raged, ice crystals danced, creating an extremely beautiful yet threatening picture under the waterfall.

Zeng Yi was dumbfounded within this frozen storm. Did the influence of this Spirit skill come from having a fourth Spirit ring? Perhaps even a ten-thousand-year Spirit ring could not possess such power.

Zeng Yi had no time to be astonished. In the midst of the storm, he was well aware of the power of this Spirit skill. The wind didn't affect him much, but the temperature inside was extremely low to the point that he felt like his entire body would freeze. Although he could block some of the ice shards flying in the air, the all-directional assault left Zeng Yi somewhat flustered. He didn't have a defensive Spirit skill, and even the Wind Barrier was only one-sided. He hadn't developed a Wind Shield that could provide all-directional defense.

Zeng Yi threw a sword up into the sky and followed closely behind.

Due to Shui Bing'er's level of Spirit power, this Frozen Storm wouldn't last long. After just a dozen seconds, she wouldn't be able to sustain her Spirit power, causing the Spirit skill to dissipate.

"What happened to that guy?" Shui Bing'er looked worriedly, but there was no sign of Zeng Yi on the ravaged ice surface.

She couldn't help but raise her head and saw a longsword suspended in the air. Zeng Yi stood on the sword, looking down at her with a proud smile from a prominent position.

"You scoundrel!" Shui Bing'er couldn't help but feel annoyed. She had almost exhausted her Spirit power to release her fourth Spirit skill. Unexpectedly, this guy had run up into the sky, which naturally angered her.

"Hehe, this is called tactics. If you can avoid it, why risk taking such a powerful move?" Zeng Yi laughed and found it somewhat novel to see Shui Bing'er in this frustrated state for the first time.

Zeng Yi leapt up, landed on the ice surface, and controlled the flying sword to sheathe it.

"You lost again. After using that skill, you don't have much Spirit power left, do you?"

Shui Bing'er didn't speak, but her eyes glared at Zeng Yi with indignation.

Being stared at like that, Zeng Yi felt somewhat embarrassed and said, "Actually, you can fly and fight me in mid-air."

These words made Shui Bing'er momentarily stunned.

"I can't fly."

"You can't fly? Hahaha!"

Hearing her response, Zeng Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Isn't it strange that you can't fly? Why are you laughing?" Shui Bing'er was somewhat irked and threw an ice block at this annoying guy.

Zeng Yi tilted his head and easily dodged her attack.

"Even a Chicken can glide in sky for sometime. As the Ice Phoenix, the leader of flying beasts, you can't fly? Isn't that funny? Is your Martial Spirit a Mother Hen?"

"You're the Hen!" Shui Bing'er retorted, blushing.

Indeed, she had never thought about this question. Obviously, she possessed an excellent Ice Phoenix Martial Spirit, and the Phoenix was the leader of flying beasts. How could she forget such a basic ability? She had always been thinking about how to control others using ice, which was incredibly foolish.

Whoever made me practice towards the control system in the first place, I want to kill her!

Shui Bing'er roared with shame in her heart.

Enlightened by Zeng Yi's reminder, Shui Bing'er suddenly realized that if she could fly, her strength would undoubtedly improve. Then, would Huo Wu still be her opponent? If she flew in the air, she could exhaust her like a kite.

"In that case, what should I do?" Shui Bing'er couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Zeng Yi thought for a moment, then walked to Shui Bing'er's side, constantly observing her body.

"What are you doing?" Shui Bing'er blushed, feeling a bit disgruntled as she glared at Zeng Yi.

After thinking for a while, Zeng Yi realized that the Ice Phoenix was a Beast Martial Spirit. Why wasn't she using the Martial Spirit fusion ability? That guy, Ma Hongjun, had gained an extra pair of wings after his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Spirit fused with his body. Although he couldn't fly, probably due to being too fat, simple gliding was still achievable.

"You should do a Martial Spirit fusion! Without wings, how can you fly?" Zeng Yi found it somewhat speechless. This girl's mind was indeed a mess. She treated her excellent Ice Phoenix Martial Spirit as an ice-element Martial Spirit, treating her beast Martial Spirit as an equipment Martial Spirit. It couldn't get any more absurd.

"Oh, Right!"

Shui Bing'er reacted and activated her Martial Spirit, urging her own Ice Phoenix.

Martial Spirit Fusion!

A resounding Phoenix cry echoed, and a phantom of a Phoenix appeared behind Shui Bing'er. The illusory wings fluttered, creating an invisible air current.

Then, Shui Bing'er's body began to change. Her figure became slightly taller, and her previously ice-blue long hair, which had just reached her shoulders, now extended to her legs, almost touching the ice surface.

Whoosh~

A pair of ice-blue wings spread out behind her, spanning over four meters in width. Each wing was exquisite, shining like ice crystals in the sunlight.

Her arms were also covered in ice-blue feathers, resembling crystal sleeves, delicate and exquisite, without compromising aesthetics.

After the Martial Spirit fusion, Shui Bing'er became even more slender, her features more beautiful, and she appeared more mature, as if she had aged a few years. Her aura became divine, noble, truly like an ice and snow goddess.

This appearance left Zeng Yi dumbfounded. He could swear that the current Shui Bing'er was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

"Is this me?"

Looking at her reflection on the ice surface, Shui Bing'er was struck with incredible shock, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Haven't you ever done a Martial Spirit fusion before?" Zeng Yi couldn't help but sweat upon hearing her questioning him.

"Um, this is my first time doing a Martial Spirit fusion." Shui Bing'er felt somewhat embarrassed. When she was young, she saw Spirit Masters with beast Martial Spirits undergoing major changes in their bodies after a fusion, becoming ferocious, ugly, and monstrous. Thus, she developed a shadow and couldn't believe how ugly she would become after a Martial Spirit fusion.

After all, a Phoenix was a flying bird. If her body became covered in feathers and her hands and feet turned into claws, how could any girl accept that?

Hearing her words, Zeng Yi broke into cold sweat internally.

Didn't she know that for Spirit Masters with beast Martial Spirits, only males became ferocious and ugly after a fusion? Females almost always possessed a human-like appearance, like Zhu Zhuqing or Xiao Wu.

Didn't the women in the continent of Douluo think this was ugly?

If it was in my original world, I don't know how excited those otaku guys would be.

Sigh, this is the difference in cultures.

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[[Notes: So, I was planning on picking up a new project for translation. If you folks have any suggestions , do let me know here.

And ya, there won't be any change in schedule for current fan-fiction.]]