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As Liu Erlong looked at Dai Chengfeng's outstretched hand, despite feeling a slight twinge of guilt for "deceiving" him, she ultimately chose not to reveal the truth.
"The three-way spirit fusion technique is the culmination of my life's work, along with Xiaogang and Frandle's."
"For the sake of the Soul-Shaping Pill, I've written as clearly as possible about the parts involving me and Xiaogang. But regarding Frandle's portion…"
"He hasn't agreed, so how can I presume to disclose it… Dai Chengfeng, don't blame me!"
"Dai Chengfeng, this is a lesson that I, your 'teacher,' must impart to you—a necessary part of life called 'warfare is deceit.'"
Liu Erlong simply couldn't bear to hand over the most crucial fruits of their labor to an outsider like Dai Chengfeng.
Thus, after some internal deliberation, she shook her head, letting the guilt in her eyes fade away. She no longer dwelled on it.
Though the reasoning felt flimsy, barely enough to convince herself, Liu Erlong believed it was sufficient.
Soon, Liu Erlong spoke.
"Let's begin."
Her voice regained its usual briskness and decisiveness. She raised her eyes to look at Dai Chengfeng, who had been patiently waiting with a smile. Without further hesitation, she placed her palm into his outstretched hand.
Buzz—
Instantly, her fiery soul power surged once again like a stream, flowing through their clasped hands and entering Dai Chengfeng's body.
The initial path of soul power circulation was the same one she had guided Dai Chengfeng through multiple times yesterday.
This was her own portion, thoroughly detailed in her book and taught without reservation.
However, soon, the route of Liu Erlong's soul power circulating within Dai Chengfeng's meridians began to change.
"The second person's?"
Dai Chengfeng immediately focused, carefully memorizing every twist, rise, and frequency of the soul power flow.
He planned to later teach this to Hu Liena or Zhu Zhuqing.
Without asking if Dai Chengfeng had fully grasped it, roughly an hour later, Liu Erlong's soul power circulation route shifted again.
"This is the last one…"
Dai Chengfeng understood and prepared to concentrate once more.
However, soon, Dai Chengfeng's brow furrowed slightly.
Something was off!
This final soul power circulation route gave Dai Chengfeng an extremely subtle, indescribable sense of sluggishness—something absent from the previous two routes.
It was as if a discordant, brief pause had abruptly interrupted an otherwise smooth musical piece.
It wasn't due to insufficient soul power but rather…
The most critical areas of the path were shrouded in a layer of "mist," deliberately obscured by the guide to conceal the clear soul power flow.
"So, Liu Erlong really held back, and it's precisely this last part…"
Outwardly, Dai Chengfeng remained composed, his face maintaining its focused expression, but inwardly, he sneered:
After all, in a three-way spirit fusion technique, the soul power circulation routes of the three participants should be intricately linked, complementing each other perfectly.
The section belonging to "Yu Xiaogang" that she had just guided, though relatively complex and obscure, still clearly explained the purpose of each step and how it connected with the Fire Dragon's power, corroborating Dai Chengfeng's suspicions.
But this final segment—its simplicity in flow and abruptness in connection stood in stark contrast to the complexity of the first two routes.
This was clearly abnormal!
However, it was only because of Dai Chengfeng's formidable mental strength and his ability to internally observe his body that he could detect such subtle anomalies at the nodes.
If Dai Chengfeng were merely an ordinary Soul Elder, he would have never noticed Liu Erlong's subtle manipulation.
"With this, I no longer need to feel any guilt!"
Thinking this, a faint glimmer of crimson flashed deep in Dai Chengfeng's eyes. The Asura power, which he had been suppressing and restraining deep within his dantian, was suddenly unleashed.
Dai Chengfeng then subtly began to actively manipulate the Asura power, initiating its circulation.
And as the Asura power stirred, the previously "silent" and seemingly dormant Rakshasa divine power also began to grow restless.
Once again, it followed the Asura power, circulating and attacking…
At this moment, Liu Erlong, who had been guiding the flow of soul power, suddenly trembled violently!
"It's happening again!"
Just moments ago, she had thought today's soul power guidance was unusually "calm," with nothing amiss, and assumed yesterday's sensations were mere illusions. But now, she once again felt that familiar, bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze and harden her very soul!
Liu Erlong understood that this cold wasn't just low temperature—it was a pure force of indifference to life, meant solely for reaping and slaughter.
Soon, another force emerged…
It too was incredibly powerful, but unlike the first force, this one was insidious, brimming with endless corruption and temptation, as if condensed from countless malicious thoughts.
For a moment, negative emotions began to sprout and spread in Liu Erlong's heart…
"What exactly is… going on?"
Liu Erlong was baffled, unsure of what was happening. Everything had seemed normal just moments ago—how could such a strange sensation suddenly arise?
"Could it be… the energy within Dai Chengfeng? But no, that can't be!"
Liu Erlong refused to believe it.
After all, such overwhelming power frightened even her, a Soul Sage. How could a mere Soul Elder like Dai Chengfeng possibly possess or control such immense energy?
It was absurd!
"But…"
"If this isn't Dai Chengfeng's energy, then where did it come from?"
For a moment, Liu Erlong grew even more curious about Dai Chengfeng. "I wonder if I can study this powerful energy. If I could master it…"
Instantly, her eyes lit up.
She could almost imagine that if she could harness this formidable energy, her strength would undergo a complete transformation!
"I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity. Dai Chengfeng, you truly are…"
However, just as greed flickered in Liu Erlong's eyes, her mind filled with wild fantasies—
The Asura power and Rakshasa divine power within Dai Chengfeng's body began to seep into Liu Erlong's body through their clasped hands.
Even though it was only a small portion…
"Mmm~"
In an instant, Liu Erlong's train of thought was interrupted. She felt her body go limp, her lips parting involuntarily as a soft moan escaped.
Her eyes were filled with panic.
"Damn it! This is… that familiar feeling from yesterday…"
"No, I absolutely cannot be affected again!"
For a moment, Liu Erlong felt utterly embarrassed, given her status as an elder. How could she behave like this in front of Dai Chengfeng, a junior… like this?
She tried to forcibly regain control of her rationality.
"Hah! I am Liu Erlong! How could I let this mysterious force sway me?!"
Instantly, Liu Erlong took a deep breath, preparing to use her soul power to suppress the rising heat within her.
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