"Cough cough!"
The first teacher to wake up was the one named Crystal.
It was a very fitting name, evoking a natural protective instinct.
As soon as Crystal woke up, she immediately went into a state of alertness, even subconsciously summoning her martial soul—a blue crystal.
Her memories were still stuck before she was frozen, during her battle against the Purple-Backed Ice Centipede.
She summoned her martial soul, and seven soul rings unfolded, startling Shui Bing'er, Ice Emperor, and Dragon Soul, who were absorbing the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow.
Ice Emperor and Dragon Soul merely glanced at it before continuing to absorb.
Shui Bing'er stopped; she needed to explain the current situation to her teacher to avoid worrying her.
Crystal was confused by her surroundings.
She looked at Ma Hongjun with a puzzled expression; Ma Hongjun was currently showing warmth to another teacher.
Ma Hongjun gave her a friendly smile, revealing his white teeth, pretending to be very honest and simple.
This was essentially Shui Bing'er's family; he had to make a good impression.
"Bing'er, are you alright? What happened?"
"Teacher Crystal, I'm alright!"
Shui Bing'er and Crystal shared a heart-wrenching hug, then looked each other over for a moment. Once the other three teachers had also woken up, Shui Bing'er recounted her experiences after meeting Ma Hongjun. She vaguely mentioned
the long and enchanting journey through the ice cave.
She didn't hide anything about the Phoenix God's inheritance; these were teachers who were willing to risk their lives for her, and her success was partly due to their sacrifices.
As for the matter of children, Shui Bing'er found it difficult to discuss. Although Crystal and the others sensed that Ma Hongjun and Shui Bing'er definitely had feelings for each other, they hadn't expected it to escalate to having children.
Therefore, they didn't ask, and Shui Bing'er didn't bring it up either.
Actually, Shui Bing'er had already graduated from Tianshui Academy, but since her family was there, graduation didn't really matter.
However, now that she was no longer a student, she was considered an adult and could have her own marriage and family.
"I see your martial souls are all ice-attribute. These ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing Marrow can enhance your ice-attribute abilities. You and Bing'er should absorb them together!"
This time, all the teachers and students from Tianshui Academy who entered the far north were ice-attribute soul masters.
Because in the frigid far north, it's difficult for non-ice-attribute soul masters to even survive, let alone fight.
"We're all getting old. Giving us such treasures would be a waste. Bing'er received the Phoenix God's inheritance; it's most suitable to leave it to her."
As Ma Hongjun expected, these teachers were willing to leave it to Shui Bing'er.
Those who were willing to stay and protect everyone during the retreat were definitely not short-sighted or selfish.
Shui Bing'er was their academy's first divine inheritor. If Shui Bing'er became a god, how much glory would the entire Tianshui Academy receive?
As elders, they would also feel gratified.
Ma Hongjun sighed, teachers are always a respectable profession.
Just like Zhao Wuji, who was infamous outside, but was actually a soft-hearted person despite his ruthless exterior, treating his students with utmost care and concern.
The teachers at Tianshui Academy were even more selfless and endearing.
"Don't worry, there's more than enough Xuanbing Marrow here for Bing'er to absorb.
I don't need to elaborate on the importance of Ten-Thousand-Year Xuanbing Marrow to ice-attribute soul masters; it can enhance your martial soul, even causing it to transform and evolve, raising your ice-attribute abilities to the ultimate ice level.
Potential will increase, talent will be unlocked, and you'll have the opportunity to cultivate into a Title Douluo.
Absorb it with peace of mind; it won't affect Bing'er,"
Ma Hongjun reassured her again. He still hoped these endearing teachers would receive something in return.
Ice is like fire.
Ten-Thousand-Year Xuanbing Marrow can at most raise ice-attribute abilities to the ultimate ice level.
Regardless of whether Shui Bing'er received the Phoenix God's inheritance, she needs to grow slowly. At this point, she can absorb at most ten Ten-Thousand-Year Xuanbing Marrows to reach the ultimate ice level.
Further enhancement would be ice-attribute affinity, allowing her to embark on the path of ice.
What she received was the Phoenix God's inheritance.
Ice-attribute abilities are merely an extension of the Ice Phoenix martial soul; the truly powerful one is the Phoenix martial soul itself.
"Teachers, you've sacrificed so much. If you don't accept the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, Bing'er will feel guilty.
With the guidance of the Phoenix God, my ice attribute ability is already close to the ultimate ice, so I can't absorb much Profound Ice Marrow. Please don't be so polite."
Finally, the four teachers joined the team absorbing the Profound Ice Marrow.
"Thank you, Hongjun!"
Shui Bing'er whispered to Ma Hongjun.
This was Ma Hongjun's territory, and he still needed to absorb his martial soul. Shui Bing'er knew that his willingness to share with her teachers was a sign of Ma Hongjun's affection for her.
"What are you thanking me for? I'm your husband!"
A blush rose on Shui Bing'er's face. During her time in the cave, she had come to understand the meaning of the term "husband."
With the addition of four Soul Saints, the absorption of the Profound Ice Marrow accelerated considerably.
These four teachers were only around fifty years old, and at that age, Soul Saints were already quite remarkable geniuses.
Their talents were all excellent, and with the enhancement from the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow, their chances of breaking through to Title Douluo would be much greater.
The situation on the continent was unpredictable.
In the original story, due to interference from the Spirit Hall, the four major elemental academies, including Tianshui Academy, were later merged into Shrek Academy.
Now, due to Ma Hongjun's butterfly effect, the situation on the entire continent had become more complex.
However, under such turbulent circumstances, the merger was inevitable; it was merely a matter of time.
Therefore, these four teachers would also be Shrek's people in the future. Considering all these factors, they were all on their side, so it was alright to be generous.
Speaking of which, it had been some time since she left the Star Dou Great Forest; she wondered how the situation on the continent was developing.
With the emergence of ferocious beasts like Di Tian, preventing Soul Masters from entering the Star Dou Great Forest, those who cannot obtain Soul Rings for advancement are essentially facing a dead end and will inevitably venture into the forest.
This will inevitably trigger a direct war between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts.
Ma Hongjun is somewhat worried. Soul Masters currently lack powerful Soul Tools; how will they fight the beast tide?
Moreover, in terms of high-end combat power, the Star Dou Great Forest side, aided by several ferocious beasts, still holds the advantage.
On the human side, almost all high-end combat power is concentrated in the Spirit Hall.
Once this war breaks out, the two great empires will undoubtedly be the first to stand in the front lines.
How the Spirit Hall, hiding in the rear, will respond remains to be seen.
Human forces are not united.
Under these circumstances, the chances of Soul Beasts unifying the Douluo Continent are high.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Ma Hongjun's current strength has reached the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent, and he has a certain influence on the future development of the continent.
Leaving aside the big picture for now, the development of the situation is not something he can change alone.
Ma Hongjun's current worry is
for his women.