"Ma Hongjun may have the Fire Phoenix spirit, but I've heard that every time he tries to deal with his evil fire, at least one girl his age ends up harmed—and he only targets pretty girls. Ugly ones are never considered."
At this, Shui Wuqing's face darkened. Any trace of earlier politeness or appeasement vanished.
"If that's true, then there's nothing the Shui family can do. You may leave."
"No, Miss Bing'er! Uncle, there's been a misunderstanding. Those past actions were unavoidable. I haven't acted like that for an entire year. Over this year, I've resisted the evil fire only through my own willpower and the help of my teachers."
Ma Hongjun quickly explained himself. He had to prove that he was now a pure-hearted Spirit Master, disciplined and ambitious. Only then could he break the others' stereotypes and hope to build a relationship with a daughter of the Shui family. He believed that Bing'er would eventually be moved by his incredible willpower and agree to marry him.
"I will not help him deal with the evil fire. Besides, I already have someone I like."
"Oh? And who is that, Bing'er?"
Shui Wuqing asked with a smile.
"Well…"
Bing'er blushed and fidgeted. She wasn't sure whether the clan leader truly didn't know, or was just pretending not to.
"Cousin, this person is my student, Ignaz," Shui Wuliang said impatiently. "I've told you about him before. How could you forget?"
The Shrek four were immediately displeased to hear that the person Bing'er liked was Ignaz. Especially Ma Hongjun, whose every move had been following Little San's pure and virtuous example—yet Ignaz had beaten him to it. Could it be that Ignaz had warned Bing'er about Hongjun's past incidents with the evil fire? If so, Ignaz's behavior was infuriating.
"Ignaz, always Ignaz. Everywhere we go, his shadow follows. First he hurt Xiao Wu, now he's obstructing Fatty from curing his evil fire. That schemer—he must be eliminated. I, Tang San, will remove one more scourge from this world."
Tang San clenched his fists, his expression radiating fierce, murderous determination.
Flender, however, thought of another approach. If Bing'er refused, they could enlist another ice-type Spirit Master from the Shui family. It didn't have to be her.
He immediately shared this idea with Yu Xiaogang, who shook his head repeatedly.
"No. Bing'er's Ice Phoenix spirit releases abilities far colder than other ice-type spirits. She is the most suitable person to help Fatty."
The Shui family elders found Yu Xiaogang's insistence irritating.
"Master, we will never throw Bing'er into a fire. Helping him deal with the evil fire is absolutely impossible. If you have no other business, you may leave."
Yu Xiaogang, having faced multiple refusals, revealed his final card.
"If the Shui family can help Fatty neutralize the evil fire, then I, along with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Clan, will be forever grateful. In the future, both sects will support the Shui family."
"No. As I said before, goodbye. Guards, see them out."
Shui Wuqing had no patience left for these stubborn and arrogant Shrek students.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang waved in frustration.
"San, Flender, Fatty, let's go."
As they left, Yu Xiaogang turned to Ma Hongjun.
"Don't be disheartened. If the Shui family won't help, we'll find other clans. In Skywater City and the towns further north, there will surely be Spirit Masters whose abilities rival Bing'er's."
Meanwhile, inside the Shui family hall, the elders were pleased that Bing'er liked Ignaz. After all, Ignaz had helped her evolve her spirit. It was clear he reciprocated her feelings. And with the backing of the Titled Douluo Dugu Bo, the Shui family could enjoy stronger protection. It was a win-win situation.
"Cousin, your judgment is truly exceptional!"
"Not really. I didn't expect Ignaz to have the support of a Titled Douluo. That aside, there's another matter concerning a major deal for the Shui family."
"What deal?" Shui Wuqing asked curiously.
Wuliang looked to Bing'er for details.
"Uncles, a while back, when I participated in the Spirit Master Tournament in Sky斗 City, Ignaz told me about a pill called the Mystic Water Pill," she explained.
"This pill can greatly cleanse and strengthen a Spirit Master's meridians, increasing their spirit power. Just one pill can boost a Spirit Elder's power by around three ranks, though only the first pill is effective."
Bing'er then retrieved three cold, blue pills from her storage ring and handed them to Wuqing.
"Ignaz suggested that the Shui family establish stable trade relations with the Breaking Clan, supplying them with necessary resources. In return, Ignaz promised to provide the Shui family with ten Mystic Water Pills each month."
Everyone fell silent, examining the pills with excitement. One pill could cut at least one to five years of cultivation time for a Spirit Master. And these pills could be mass-produced, with ten more delivered monthly. Within two years, the young members of the Shui family struggling to advance from Spirit Ancestor to Spirit King could break through, drastically enhancing the clan's strength.
An enormous benefit indeed.
"We agree to this."
"Thank you, cousin, for personally negotiating with the Breaking Clan."
"Of course."
---
A few days later, as Ignaz had instructed, Yang Wudi established multiple trade routes with the Shui family, focusing on water-type herbs, the blood of water-type spirit beasts, Whale Rubber, and other materials.
Having learned the secrets of Whale Rubber earlier, the Breaking Clan had already begun having their younger disciples consume it while undergoing structured physical training. This allowed them to attempt "over-level absorption" of spirit rings step by step.
As the clan leader, Ignaz stored one-third of the monthly Mystic Water Pills in his personal spirit storage device, while the remaining two-thirds were used for internal development.
He had no intention of selling the pills externally.