The entire structure of Tianshui Academy resembled a crystal palace standing amidst ice and snow.
Its outer walls, like towering sheets of glacial ice, reflected a soft blue glow under the sunlight, adorned with intricate engravings of flowing water patterns.
The entrance gate was sculpted from ice in the shape of rolling waves, crowned by a sharply pointed roof with interlocking icicles.
Gazing at the majestic academy before him, Fu Ye couldn't help but feel astonished. Though Ningbing City wasn't the capital, its grandeur was undeniable.
The sheer opulence of the architecture suggested that a formidable force stood behind this institution.
Just outside Tianshui Academy's gates, a crowd of well-dressed young people had gathered for some reason.
"Did you hear? Tianshui Academy is opening admissions today. I wonder who'll get in this time."
"Brother, you're missing the point. Tianshui Academy is filled with beauties! Every year during enrollment, the Tianshui Team performs a dance right here!"
"Ahem! I'm a gentleman, you know. I'm not shallow—I just appreciate art for the sake of mental and physical refinement."
"Old Wang, shut it. You've got a two-year-old kid at home, yet you're still acting like this."
Sure enough, before long, the heavy doors of Tianshui Academy swung open, pushed aside by two graceful young women who vanished into the academy immediately after.
Then, five girls with striking beauty and poise stepped forward from among the students, their information appearing before Fu Ye's eyes:
[Name: Shui Bing'er]
[Age: 14]
[Martial Spirit: Ice Phoenix]
[Soul Power: Level 36]
[Name: Shui Yue'er]
[Age: 14]
[Martial Spirit: Jade Dolphin]
[Soul Power: Level 33]
[Name: Xue Wu]
[Age: 15]
[Martial Spirit: Slim Dane Snow Decoration]
[Soul Power: Level 33]
[Name: Shen Liuyu]
[Age: 14]
[Martial Spirit: Enamel Lucky Crocodile]
[Soul Power: Level 33]
[Name: Yu Hairou]
[Age: 14]
[Martial Spirit: Coral Barracuda]
[Soul Power: Level 32]
Leading the group was Shui Bing'er, captain of the Tianshui Team, followed by deputy captain Xue Wu and the other three members.
At this moment, they wore the official uniform of Tianshui Academy's team, their presence magnified by the breathtaking architecture behind them.
Xiao Wu and Wu Ling watched the girls on the ice platform with keen curiosity—clearly, they were quite intrigued as well.
Peering through the open gates, the main building of the academy resembled an icy peak. Inside, blue crystal chandeliers hung like frozen droplets, while the hall's floor bore rippling water-like textures.
The courtyard housed a pristine glacial lake, its waters chillingly clear. At its center stood an ice-carved fountain that sprayed delicate ice shards instead of water.
Surrounding trees were encased in frost, standing like silent ice sentinels.
Here, the elements of ice and water melded seamlessly, crafting an academy straight out of a fantastical dream.
"Yue'er, look over there—that boy is so handsome!" Yu Hairou's eyes sparkled as she spotted Fu Ye standing behind the crowd.
"Wow, he really is!"
The two giggling girls were swiftly silenced by Shui Bing'er, who bonked them lightly with a hammer.
"Thump."
"Yue'er, Hairou, the academy strictly forbids romance among students. Do you two want to be punished?"
Seeing her sister and teammates so infatuated, Shui Bing'er couldn't help but sigh in disappointment.
"I know, sis. Yue'er will behave."
"Big sister, Hairou won't dare again!"
Due to the distance, the ordinary onlookers didn't notice this exchange. Soon, Shui Bing'er and her team stepped forward, bowing gracefully to the crowd.
"Goddesses!"
"The Tianshui Team!"
"I'm your biggest fan!"
The audience erupted into cheers, their fervor startling even Fu Ye. He spotted a few men holding babies in the crowd.
'Aren't they afraid of going home to kneel on a washboard later?'
At the center of Tianshui Academy's square, the five girls began to dance like snow spirits. Behind them, seven or eight musicians played soft melodies on harps.
Dressed in white gowns adorned with ice-like sequins, their skirts fluttered like drifting snow in the wind.
Shui Bing'er, leading the performance, leaped lightly, her movements tracing the arc of falling snowflakes. Her feet tapped the ice, producing crisp, crystalline sounds.
The other girls spun gracefully, their arms swaying like icicles in a winter gale, glinting with cold radiance.
As their steps intertwined, frost blossoms seemed to bloom beneath their feet—a manifestation of their soul power.
Their ice-blue hair fluttered like elven wings in a storm, while the surrounding cold air condensed into tiny ice crystals, swirling around them.
The entire scene was ethereal, brimming with the purity and vitality unique to the world of ice and snow.
The dance lasted nearly ten minutes, and from the moment it began, the crowd fell into awed silence.
After all, the Tianshui Team only performed once a year during enrollment—they never broke tradition.
Once the dance ended, the spectators slowly snapped out of their daze.
Fu Ye, accustomed to grand spectacles, remained unfazed. In his past life, he'd seen special effects far more dazzling than this.
However, the Tianshui Team's performance relied not on illusions but on their own martial souls, sustaining the icy mist that enveloped the stage.
'As for the dance itself? Well, a gentleman doesn't watch dances—he evaluates aesthetics!'
'Those little leather boots, white stockings… when else would one get to admire such fair calves?'
"Starting today, Tianshui Academy will be open for admissions for three days. All girls who meet our requirements are welcome to join."
Shui Bing'er's announcement was poised and dignified. Though the academy held admissions yearly, only five to ten candidates typically qualified.
After all, Tianshui Academy exclusively accepted talented, young, and beautiful girls.
Among the four elemental academies, it was the only one that admitted commoner soul masters—despite its strict criteria, it offered a rare opportunity for growth to those who qualified.
Just then, two elegant figures—one in blue, the other in red—emerged from the gates, walking arm in arm with an air of intimacy.
When Fu Ye got a clear look at one of their faces, a faint smile curled his lips.
'So this is where you've been hiding, Liu Erlong.'
She had come to assist her best friend with the enrollment.
…
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