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During the meal, the atmosphere was still relaxed and pleasant.
Shuiyueer chattered about the beautiful shells she found at the beach in the afternoon, while Ning Rongrong excitedly said that she wanted to go to the largest jewelry store in Tianshui City tomorrow. Oscar smiled and agreed, promising to buy her the most unique hairpin.
Xue Tianxing occasionally interjected a few words, but his eyes would occasionally fall on the self-narration in his arms. Even Shui Bing'er could see what he was thinking. She nudged him quietly with her elbow and asked in a low voice:
"Do you have something to ask my mother?"
Xue Tianxing nodded and was about to speak when the dinner bell rang - dinner was over.
Xue Tianxing immediately stood up and was about to walk towards Mizunoe with the self-narration in his arms, but he heard Mizunoe speak first:
"Tianxing, come with me to the dean's office. I know what you want to ask."
Xue Tianxing was delighted and quickly followed Shui Wuyue's footsteps, walked through the corridor of the City Lord's Mansion, and came to the office of the dean of Tianshui College in the backyard.
The office was decorated simply and solemnly. The bookshelves were filled with various ancient books and books on soul master theory. A huge map of Tianshui College hung on the wall. On the table in the corner were several books on the research of ice-attribute martial spirits.
The two sat down on the sofa. Mizunoe poured a cup of hot tea for Xue Tianxing personally, and then slowly spoke:
"You're asking who tore off the last page of the autobiography, the one that records the location of the canyon?"
Xue Tianxing nodded quickly, placed the autobiography in his arms on the table, pointed to the last blank page, and said:
"Indeed, I was curious when I saw it was empty. This autobiography is a treasure of Tianshui College, so this shouldn't be the case."
Mizunoe sighed softly, his eyes fell on the autobiography, and with a tone of regret, he spoke:
"This matter has to start with Dean Shui Lingshuang. Dean Shui Lingshuang was the one who discovered the canyon.
According to the school history records of Tianshui College, the dean who took over the position of Dean Shui Lingshuang discovered and read this autobiography as soon as he took over the college. After all, this was the only precious information about the Ultimate Ice Martial Spirit in the college.
But when she turned to the end, she found that the page recording the location was gone, leaving only jagged tears."
"So, it's been missing since I took over?"
Xue Tianxing frowned, then continued to ask:
"Is it possible that Dean Shui Lingshuang tore it off herself? Maybe she wanted to leave the spot for someone close to her?"
Mizunoe shook his head and then said:
"It's unlikely. Dean Shui Lingshuang clearly stated in her autobiography that she hopes future generations will find the canyon and bring back the Ice Heart, so that the ice-attributed spirit masters of Tianshui Academy can benefit from it.
If she wanted to keep it private, there was no need to write this text.
Furthermore, the school's history records that the incoming dean carefully examined the tear marks and determined that the page was torn during the period between the death of Dean Ling Shuang and the appointment of the new dean. As for who tore it, there is still no clue."
Xue Tianxing felt a sense of loss in his heart:
"So, the location of that canyon has been completely lost?"
"You do not say."
Mizunoe smiled helplessly, with a self-deprecating tone, and then said:
"Dean Shui Lingshuang is like telling a group of hungry people that there's a banquet ahead, but she doesn't even mention whether it's to the east or west, leaving us with only a vague direction, leaving us feeling disappointed."
At this point, Mizunoe's eyes became distant, as if lost in memories of the past:
"In fact, all the successive presidents of our Tianshui College have never given up on searching for that canyon.
Especially the three generations of deans above me, they were almost fanatical - you know?
Tianshui Academy hasn't produced a Titled Douluo in nearly a hundred years."
Mizunotsuki paused, his voice becoming somewhat heavy:
"With the rise of the Spirit Hall, the competition among various forces for talented spirit masters has become increasingly fierce, and the influence of our Tianshui Academy has gradually declined.
The first three generations of deans all held the same idea:
If we can find that canyon, with the help of Bing Xin's power, we might be able to cultivate a Titled Douluo and allow Tianshui Academy to rise again."
"Every time they go to the Star Dou Great Forest, they will deliberately go around to the area where ice-attribute spirit beasts gather and search inch by inch.
One dean even spent a full six months in the Star Dou Great Forest, searching every valley and cave where extreme cold might exist, but in the end, he found nothing.
My generation, while not as enthusiastic, still sends teachers from the academy to explore the Star Dou Great Forest a few times a year, but sadly, we still haven't found anything."
Xue Tianxing listened quietly and felt a bit of admiration for the persistence of the successive presidents of Tianshui College.
For the future of the academy and the inheritance of ice-attribute soul masters, they have been pursuing an almost elusive legend generation after generation. This persistence is truly rare.
"but,"
Mizunoe changed the subject and looked at Xue Tianxing, with a hint of expectation in his eyes, and said to Xue Tianxing:
"You and Bing'er possess the ultimate ice martial spirit, and your talents are very strong. You are also very young, so you may have a better chance of finding that canyon than us.
The Ultimate Ice Martial Spirit and Bing Xin's extremely cold aura have a natural resonance. Maybe when the time comes, you and Bing'er won't even have to look for it. The entrance will appear on its own once you get close."
Xue Tianxing's heart moved - what Mizunoe said makes sense!
Dean Shui Lingshuang found the canyon because her martial soul resonated with Bing Xin.
Shui Bing'er and I both possessed the ultimate ice martial spirit. Perhaps, through this resonance, we could really find the location of the long-lost canyon.
Xue Tianxing nodded solemnly to Mizunoe:
"Don't worry, Auntie. If I ever have the chance to go to the Star Dou Great Forest, I'll definitely keep an eye out for that canyon. If I can find Bing Xin, I'll definitely inform Tianshui College immediately."
Mizunoe smiled and patted his shoulder:
"Okay! I believe you. It's getting late, so you should go back and get some rest. You still have to help Bing'er and the others prepare tomorrow. The other four elemental academies will be here in a few days. I've also contacted them and have agreed to allow your Barak team to participate in the competition among the five elemental academies."
Xue Tianxing was also very happy to hear this. He picked up the autobiography on the table, thanked Mizunoe, and turned to leave the dean's office.
In the next few days, Xue Tianxing completely put aside the thoughts about Bing Xin and the Mysterious Canyon and devoted all his energy to team training.
Every morning, he would bring Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Dugu Yan, and Cao Qing to the training ground provided by Shui Wuyue for targeted running-in and improvement.