The Phoenix — the Emperor of All Birds.
The male is called Feng, and the female, Huang.
Lin Xiao had once keenly observed that although both he and Shui Bing'er possessed Phoenix-type Martial Souls, their appearances differed significantly.
His Fire Phoenix was more dazzling, with elongated, radiant feathers, an elegant and powerful build; Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix was smaller in stature, more reserved in its colors and presence, yet beautifully curved and delicate—graceful in a subtle, refined way.
In nature, it's typically the male birds who are more flamboyant—using their brilliance to attract the female's attention.
Now that Shui Bing'er had returned, Lin Xiao had his hands full.
He asked her to summon her Ice Phoenix, while he released his Fire Phoenix. To everyone's surprise, the two Phoenix avatars began to circle and chase each other instinctively—one fire, one ice—painting a mesmerizing scene in the air.
The vibrant Fire Phoenix chased the cool Ice Phoenix in a stunning spiral, forming a majestic vision.
From the sidelines, Shui Shengxiao, watching all this unfold, felt his mood instantly sour.
The poor father…
What he didn't know was that when both Martial Souls were activated simultaneously, Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er could faintly sense each other's emotions—an almost telepathic resonance between their hearts.
Of course, calling it "mind reading" would be an exaggeration. But to be able to feel each other's emotions already spoke volumes—it was as close to heart-to-heart as Martial Soul resonance could get.
Both Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er found themselves enchanted by the sensation.
"You two really have a terrifying level of Martial Soul compatibility," came a voice laced with envy.
It was Shui Shengxiao—his tone sour.
Watching the Fire Phoenix chasing the Ice Phoenix stirred something unpleasant in him.
Shui Bing'er turned scarlet and lowered her head, too shy to meet her father's eyes.
Lin Xiao, however, beamed with joy.
"So I was right," he said. "Our Martial Souls are the same type—Phoenixes—and they even complement each other by element. Their compatibility is off the charts!"
Ignoring Shui Shengxiao's jealousy, he asked:
"Uncle Shui, have you ever heard of Martial Soul Fusion Skills?"
Shui Shengxiao blinked in surprise.
So Lin Xiao had asked his daughter to summon her Martial Soul not for some romantic ritual, but to explore the possibility of a fusion skill?
After a moment of reflection, his eyes lit up.
"I should've thought of that!"
"Both your Martial Souls are Phoenixes, with opposing but complementary attributes—fire and ice. If you two don't have a fusion skill, it would be an injustice to the heavens!"
He was no stranger to fusion skills—after all, he had once performed one with Shui Bing'er's mother. He understood how profound they could be.
Ordinary teamwork between soul masters was like 1 + 1 = 2.
But a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?
It could be 1 + 1 = 5. Or 10. Or even more.
With a fusion skill, even low-ranked soul masters could challenge opponents far above their level—and in the same rank, it became a guaranteed win.
But the conditions for performing one were very strict.
"There are three main requirements," Shui Shengxiao explained. "First, extremely high Martial Soul compatibility. Second, heart-to-heart understanding between the users. Third, a suitable combination of Martial Souls to generate a viable effect."
"Your Martial Soul compatibility is obvious—just look at how they were chasing each other earlier. And the soul combination seems perfect for it, so the only thing left is your level of emotional synchronicity."
"But that's the hardest part."
He stroked his chin with a hint of bitterness.
"Soul master synergy isn't built in a day. Even with time together during the holidays, it probably won't be enough to reach the level needed."
He considered himself an authority on the subject.
Back in the day, it had taken him and his wife six months to master their fusion skill—and even then, it was hit-or-miss.
Lin Xiao and Shui Bing'er? Probably three years minimum.
Worse yet, they didn't even see each other regularly. Maybe they'd never get it working.
But Lin Xiao was determined.
"Bing'er, let's try it out during this time we have together," he said warmly.
Shui Bing'er nodded shyly.
"I'll do whatever Brother Lin Xiao says."
Shui Shengxiao's face darkened instantly. He turned and walked off.
"Good luck. Hope it works out for you," he muttered.
But inside, he grumbled:
"No way. If we needed six months, you think a couple of kids can pull it off in a few days? If you actually succeed, I'll admit you're a match made in heaven!"
Lin Xiao's time in Tianshui City was limited.
He had to return to Heaven Dou City before Shui Bing'er's term started. If not, Ye Qingxian or Dugu Bo might storm over and drag him back.
So, in the time he had, he needed to:
Help Shui Bing'er evolve her Martial Soul
Develop a Martial Soul Fusion Skill
Teach her Ice Explosion Technique
Whatever he could finish, he would.
"Let's begin, Bing'er!"
"Ah—already?" Shui Bing'er blinked.
That was fast.
Still, she nodded happily. So long as it was with Lin Xiao, anything was fun. Nothing ever felt boring.
The two made their way to the spacious backyard.
Neither of them had experience with fusion skills, so they could only follow the general guidelines.
They summoned their respective Phoenixes—Fire and Ice—who began circling each other, letting out harmonious, echoing cries.
They joined hands.
Lin Xiao remained calm. Shui Bing'er, on the other hand, blushed furiously.
"Bing'er, focus. Try to sense my thoughts."
Though that instruction felt unnecessary—
As soon as the idea of a fusion skill crossed their minds, their soul power began to intertwine—spinning, leaping, blending together.
Above them, the two phoenixes spun rapidly and began to merge.
Extreme cold met searing heat—not in opposition, but in balance.
Each element mended what the other lacked, forming a perfect whole.
Brilliant light burst into the sky.
A blazing Fire Phoenix descended from above, transforming into a throne of flames.
Atop that throne, a figure took shape—gradually solidifying into the image of a young man.
His features… were nearly identical to a grown-up Lin Xiao.
He sat with the stillness of a deep sea, calm and composed. Extending his right hand, he raised a long finger—
And pointed to the sky.
BOOM!
A searing beam of pure flame pierced the heavens.