The misty vapor enveloped Bibi Dong's exquisite face, obscuring her expression.
Only the slight trembling of her fingertips revealed the turbulent waves beneath her seemingly calm exterior.
She had... truly agreed again.
Bibi Dong raised her hand and gently touched her still-flushed cheek. The image of Dai Chengfeng's ecstatic expression and his resolute words echoed in her mind.
"Let alone this bit of power; even if you needed all of my soul power, cultivation, or even my life… I would not hesitate in the slightest. I'd give it willingly, without regret..."
This sentence reverberated repeatedly in her heart.
Could she... really believe him?
All men are fickle and cold-hearted.
The fleeting image of Yu Xiaogang flashed through her mind, bringing a sharp stab of pain.
But Dai Chengfeng... his gaze, his words, his actions...
Could he... possibly be... different?
This question, accompanied by great uncertainty and a sliver of hope that she herself dared not delve into, deeply rooted itself in her heart.
The ripples in the bathwater reflected her complex, hazy eyes.
"Enough, enough!"
Bibi Dong stopped overthinking, shook her head, stood up, and began to dress. "Since I agreed, I won't regret it. That's who I am, Bibi Dong."
"And at the very least, the taste wasn't bad..."
...
Dai Chengfeng left Bibi Dong's bedchamber with light steps. The palace door closed behind him, cutting off the warm, fragrant mist and the figure that made his heart race.
However, the radiant smile on his face and the fiery glow in his eyes did not last long.
Almost immediately, a trace of seriousness replaced his earlier elation.
Instead of returning to his residence as usual, he stood under the ornate corridor, slightly furrowing his brows.
The scene from yesterday at the Grand Spirit Battle Arena, where he attempted a spirit fusion technique with Zhu Zhuqing, resurfaced in his mind.
It was an extremely strange feeling.
Their soul powers, originating from the intermarriage between the Star Luo Empire's imperial family and the Zhu family, should have been one of the most compatible forces in the world.
In the initial stages of the fusion attempt, everything went smoothly as expected. Darkness and killing intent intertwined, and the colossal shadow of the Netherworld White Tiger almost solidified. The overwhelming sense of power even momentarily allowed him to transcend his level and touch the threshold of a higher realm.
However, just as the power reached its peak and was about to perfectly fuse and release, an abrupt change occurred!
The core of their fused soul power seemed to be struck by a red-hot branding iron. A violent, destructive foreign energy suddenly erupted from the fusion point.
Not only did it instantly collapse the form of the Netherworld White Tiger, but it also surged back like a breached flood, attacking both him and Zhu Zhuqing.
The result...
Both suffered from chaotic soul power, nearly injuring their very origin.
If it weren't for his quick reaction in forcibly severing the connection, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
This incident had been gnawing at his heart.
The spirit fusion technique was a crucial part of his plan, whether for future battles or for... some deeper schemes, it was vital.
This issue needed to be resolved quickly.
When it came to spirit fusion techniques, one person on the entire continent was undoubtedly one of the foremost authorities—Liu Erlong.
Her experience might hold the key to solving the current dilemma.
With this thought, Dai Chengfeng no longer hesitated. He turned and headed towards the courtyard where Liu Erlong was temporarily residing in Spirit City.
His steps were still fast but had shifted from the previous lightness and joy to a steady and urgent pace.
Liu Erlong's residence was different from the luxurious and majestic Pope's Hall. It was simple and full of life, with some cold-resistant flowers and plants even planted in the yard.
Dai Chengfeng arrived at the gate of the courtyard and tidied up his slightly disheveled robe from his brisk walk.
Taking a deep breath, he reined in the lingering warmth and tenderness from thinking about Bibi Dong, replacing it with a serious expression tinged with concern and curiosity before entering the courtyard.
Finally, reaching the door of Liu Erlong's room, he knocked.
"Who is it?"
A crisp female voice came from inside.
"It's me."
Upon hearing Dai Chengfeng's voice, there was a brief silence in the room.
Soon...
"Come in."
Liu Erlong's voice came from inside, sounding more decisive than usual but with a hint of something imperceptible.
Dai Chengfeng pushed the door open.
The quiet room was simply yet warmly decorated. Light streamed in from the window, illuminating the fine dust particles in the air.
Liu Erlong wasn't dressed in her usual sleek combat attire but wore a slightly loose dark red house robe. Her jet-black hair was casually tied back with a hairpin, with a few strands falling beside her neck, adding a rare touch of softness and languor to her usually spirited demeanor.
She was sitting on a tea couch by the window, holding a scroll. Upon seeing him enter, she raised her eyes to look at him.
Those bright eyes were as clear and sharp as ever, but upon meeting Dai Chengfeng's gaze, they flickered for an instant, and a faint blush quietly crept onto her cheeks.
However, she quickly lowered her head, pretending to focus back on the scroll in her hands, using as calm and natural a tone as possible to ask:
"Why are you here so early again?"
Dai Chengfeng keenly caught that fleeting anomaly and that rare hint of shyness.
Understanding dawned in his heart. He walked up to her and teased, "Am I intruding and disturbing your peace, Senior?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Erlong put down the scroll and looked back at him. "What senior or not senior..."
This time, she seemed much more natural, though her gaze still wandered, unwilling to meet his eyes for long. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of the page.
"Alright, come here."
Dai Chengfeng smiled and sat opposite Liu Erlong.
Liu Erlong extended her hand, but this time, Dai Chengfeng shook his head.
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
Liu Erlong seemed somewhat puzzled since teaching was a daily routine.
Dai Chengfeng's expression turned serious as he looked at Liu Erlong and slowly said, "Erlong, yesterday Zhu Zhuqing and I tried to perform our family's inherited Netherworld White Tiger technique."
Liu Erlong nodded. "And then? Is there something you don't understand?"
Dai Chengfeng nodded, frowning as he continued, "At first, our fusion went quite smoothly. Our soul powers merged, and the form was about to take shape."
"But at the critical moment, the two soul powers suddenly clashed violently, like water and fire colliding. Not only did the fusion fail, but both of us suffered backlash."
"I've thought it over repeatedly but can't find the root cause."
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng looked up at Liu Erlong, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Erlong, you've successfully performed a three-soul fusion technique, your experience far surpasses that of ordinary people. Could you help me understand?"
"This sudden repulsion and conflict after a successful fusion—what could be causing it?"
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's detailed description of the symptoms, Liu Erlong's professionalism as a top-tier soul master quickly overpowered her fleeting embarrassment.
She slightly furrowed her delicate brows, pondered for a moment, and her gaze became earnest and sharp.
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