Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

"Let's have Shui Yue'er answer this one."

Shui Yue'er, hoping to calm Xue Wu's anger, had been trying to keep a low profile, but the teacher's smiling gesture left her no choice. Reluctantly, she stood up.

"Teacher, I think water-attributed martial souls should harness the unique qualities of water. Whether it's the inclusiveness of water or the hardness of ice, these are its innate characteristics. So, we should strive to develop them to their fullest potential."

"Maximizing its inherent traits. Not bad."

The teacher nodded slightly and motioned for her to sit down before continuing, "Our energy in life is limited. It's impossible to master everything. Focusing on the core traits of one's martial soul for specialized development is an extremely wise approach."

But she didn't stop there. Scanning the room with a faint smile, she asked, "Does anyone want to add to this?"

As silence filled the classroom, her gaze settled on Qin Jian and Shui Bing'er. "How about you two? Especially you, Shui Bing'er. Do you have any different insights?"

After a moment of thought, Shui Bing'er replied, "Teacher, while it's true that we at Skywater Academy primarily have water-attributed martial souls…" She glanced at Qin Jian before rephrasing, "... or rather, most of us do, we have various roles—power attackers, agility attackers, and support types. This demonstrates that water encompasses a wide range of traits. Therefore, what we should aim to develop isn't the extremity of water's attributes, but the full potential of our own martial souls."

"Excellent!"

The teacher's eyes crinkled with satisfaction. "That's exactly the answer I was looking for."

The other students nodded in agreement, clearly resonating with Shui Bing'er's perspective.

"Any other thoughts?"

Although the teacher posed the question to the class, her gaze was fixed firmly on Qin Jian.

Seeing no escape, Qin Jian rose with a resigned smile. "Teacher, I'll share my personal perspective then…"

As he stood, all eyes instinctively turned to him, watching as though he were some rare curiosity.

"Ha, Shui Bing'er already gave the perfect answer. What else could he possibly add? Typical showoff," Xue Wu scoffed dismissively.

Shui Yue'er, however, couldn't take her eyes off Qin Jian. "What if he has some unique insight…"

Xue Wu sneered, clearly unconvinced.

Qin Jian's clear voice broke through the murmurs. "I agree with Shui Bing'er's answer for the most part. For the majority of Soul Masters, maximizing the inherent traits of their martial soul is indeed the smartest and most achievable path to greater heights. However…"

He paused briefly before continuing, "What about Control-Type Soul Masters? What traits should they maximize? Is it just about devising strategies and dominating the battlefield?"

His question sent many into deep thought, though Xue Wu seemed utterly uninterested. "Just grandstanding."

"I don't think so." Qin Jian spread his hands and continued, "I believe the future of Control-Type Soul Masters lies in boundless imagination. Only by breaking free from rigid frameworks can they truly harness the strengths of any martial soul and make the best choices in various situations."

Some students seemed confused, their eyes glazing over, but a few others appeared contemplative—particularly the teacher.

"Why can't agility attackers provide support? Why can't power attackers control the battlefield? Why can't Control-Types launch power attacks? And why can't support types ambush their opponents?"

Qin Jian's series of rhetorical questions lit a spark in more and more students, though their brows soon furrowed as they wrestled with his ideas.

"So, I believe ordinary Soul Masters should focus on their martial soul's traits. But for geniuses—especially those present here—you should strive to broaden your minds. Do not confine yourselves to established norms, for doing so would only limit your ultimate potential."

With that, Qin Jian sat back down.

The room fell into a heavy silence. Even Xue Wu was lost in thought.

"Qin Jian, you're absolutely right. My earlier perspective was far too narrow-minded…"

The first person to truly grasp Qin Jian's point was Shui Bing'er, her expression brimming with newfound understanding.

Seeing her look so enlightened, Qin Jian couldn't help but smile. He lowered his voice and said, "You know, for the sake of the class discussion, your answer was actually the best, as it's the most practical for most people."

"Huh?"

Shui Bing'er's confusion was plain on her face. "But I gained so much from your answer."

Reaching out, Qin Jian gently tousled her silky hair. "That's because you're a true genius Soul Master. My response was tailored for someone of your caliber. For the others... it's not applicable."

Shui Bing'er blinked, seemingly unsure of his sincerity. "Do you… really think I have exceptional talent?"

She's so lacking in confidence…

Qin Jian nodded firmly. "Your talent surpasses everyone else's."

Shui Bing'er blinked again, and for a moment, Qin Jian thought he detected something new in her gaze.

"Thank you," she murmured softly.

Qin Jian shook his head and asked, "Was there something wrong with the environment you grew up in? Has no one ever recognized your talent?"

After some thought, Shui Bing'er answered, "It's probably my father's fault. From a young age, he constantly criticized me, saying I wasn't good enough at anything."

Qin Jian nodded in understanding. "Ah, I see. He likely wanted to motivate you, but he went about it the wrong way."

"The wrong way?" Shui Bing'er looked puzzled.

"Criticism can be effective," Qin Jian explained, "but it erodes confidence. It's counterproductive to human nature. Encouragement and recognition are far more effective because they align with our nature."

"Qin Jian, you seem to know so much…"

Shui Bing'er's eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

By then, the rest of the students had recovered from their contemplation and began murmuring among themselves.

"Qin Jian's perspective is remarkable—it's even given me new ideas as a teacher."

The teacher smiled warmly. "I was initially unsure why Elder Yan insisted on bringing you to Skywater Academy, but now I'm starting to understand."

"Qin Jian, I hope you'll continue to grow here at Skywater Academy."

Her words left no doubt—she was fully on Qin Jian's side now.

"Well, that concludes today's class. I hope everyone reflects on Qin Jian's words after class. See you next time."

As the teacher left, the students, particularly the female ones, erupted in excitement.

Qin Jian, however, wasn't as thrilled. A flood of people swarmed him immediately, practically drowning him in a sea of enthusiasm.

"Qin Jian, I'm Ling Xue. Can we get to know each other?"

"Qin Jian, your points were incredible, but I still don't fully understand. Could we discuss them one-on-one?"

"Qin Jian…"

Seeing that he was about to be overwhelmed, Shui Bing'er couldn't hold back any longer. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him through the crowd and fled the scene together.

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