This was actually Li Chang'an's first time experiencing Martial Soul Fusion, and the sensation was utterly surreal. It felt as if their souls had become one—you in me, and me in you. But beyond the sheer amplification of strength, what truly astonished him was the elevation of their overall state.
To put it bluntly, it felt like a leap in the very essence of life itself.
In that state, Li Chang'an was able to estimate his power. Using the Poison Douluo as a reference point, he figured he could completely overpower one and a half Poison Douluos. That's right—completely overpower, not just defeat.
Of course, that didn't explain how he managed to shatter the Spirit Arena floor with a single move, which then triggered a tremor that caused nearly the entire complex to start collapsing.
Thankfully, the collapse wasn't immediate. Even ordinary civilians had enough time to walk out calmly. But as for the damages to the Spirit Arena? Incalculable.
Still, to Li Chang'an, these things were minor annoyances. After all, the only things he had in excess—besides women and bed skills—were money.
Standing atop the ruined arena, the host announced Li Chang'an as the victor of the match, and then formally declared that the arena would close for a week of repairs.
The battle had left a deep impact on everyone present. For example, the Emperor Team walked off with expressions like they'd just seen a demon—especially Ye Lingling, who looked at Li Chang'an as if she wanted to tear him apart.
The commoners, on the other hand, looked at him with admiration and awe, shouting praises of his power. That final stretch of the fight would be etched into their memories for years to come.
The nobles? Their expressions were grim and resentful. Li Chang'an had made them suffer a humiliating loss. Losing money was one thing—losing face was worse.
Yu Xiaogang was already halfway to madness. He had been researching the possibility of a Martial Soul Fusion between Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. How did it end up being Li Chang'an instead? And how could Li Chang'an's battlefield command be so flawless?
Young, powerful, possessing twin martial souls, and with a sharp mind—how could someone like this actually exist…?
Even Tang San couldn't hide the flicker of dread in his eyes. For some reason, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind—this "Teacher Li" might become his future rival.
Half an hour had passed since the match ended and Li Chang'an had paid for the damages. Yet his points kept climbing. That was one good side effect of all the drama. Still, he had to admit—he'd gone a little overboard with the showboating. But the benefits were undeniable.
Aside from the rising points, there was something else. After the fusion, the way Zhu Zhuqing looked at him had changed subtly. It was a connection—a closeness of soul. Given everything that had happened between them, Li Chang'an figured it might be time to have a real talk with her.
The people from Spirit Hall had naturally come to question him afterward. But when they found out it was "Li Changsheng" who caused all this, they just laughed it off and let it go. Officially, the matter was considered closed.
Li Chang'an didn't return with the others. Making up a random excuse, he stayed behind in Suotuo City. Then, he took out the Donghuang Bell and used it to tear through space—appearing effortlessly in Ye Lingling's hotel room.
The Emperor Team was staying at a hotel, and since Ye Lingling was a girl and naturally withdrawn, she had a private room. She was sitting there, quietly biting her lip in frustration, when Li Chang'an suddenly appeared.
"You—!" The moment she saw him, Ye Lingling jumped up, ready to call for help—even though she knew no one here could stop this man.
"Go ahead and scream. Scream all you want—no one will hear you," Li Chang'an said in a tone straight out of a villain's playbook. "I've already sealed this place."
"You… What do you want? I didn't even attack you during the match," Ye Lingling said coldly, her deep blue eyes staring out from beneath her black veil. She looked like a scholar trying to reason with a brute.
Li Chang'an met her gaze with those devilishly charming eyes of his and said, "I just want to ask you one thing—do you want to restore the lost glory of the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple?"
Li Chang'an, as a Holy Son of Spirit Hall, had read countless rare books. He had once come across a detailed history of the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple. A thousand years ago, the martial soul was famous across the continent. There were only ever two possessors at a time, but they were always honored guests at every major sect and Clan.
Even Spirit Hall had once considered inviting a Nine-Heart Flowering Apple user to be a badge of pride.
But in the years that followed, the martial soul had declined. First, because of its unique nature—when one bearer died, only then could the martial soul be passed on. Second, the difficulty in acquiring soul rings due to its rarity and special characteristics made advancement nearly impossible.
A single Seven-Ring Spirit Sage with the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple was enough to make the Clan famous throughout the land. Even reaching six rings—Spirit Emperor—was enough to sustain the Clan. But in the past thousand years, the strongest Nine-Heart Flowering Apple user hadn't surpassed five rings—Spirit King.
Restoring the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple to its former glory was the sacred mission of every inheritor.
"Hmph. You make it sound so easy. If it were really possible, do you think I'd still be stuck here? And why should I trust a person like you?" Ye Lingling snapped. Clearly, she hadn't forgotten his earlier remark about killing her.
"Because of this." Li Chang'an flicked his hand, and two small fruits flew out—one glowing with potent soul power, the other gleaming faintly with a mysterious light.
"One is a high-grade Soul Power Fruit. The other is a regular Luck Fruit," he said. "If you truly want to restore the Nine-Heart Flowering Apple's glory, then eat them both."
He didn't explain further, didn't try to persuade her with flowery words—just challenged her with a look.
"Hmph!" Ye Lingling was clearly provoked. Without hesitation, she popped both fruits into her mouth, one after the other.
Immediately, waves of soul power surged from her body. Her level shot up from 35 to 40 in one go!
The Luck Fruit didn't seem to have an immediate effect, but Ye Lingling was already in shock.
Her cultivation had always been painfully slow. She had spent endless resources just to reach the Spirit Elder rank. Even then, it had taken her a very long time.
Her goal had been to reach four spirit rings by the age of 25—already an ambitious plan. But today, Li Chang'an had completely shattered her worldview.
'That's it? Just like that, I leveled up...?'
"Go hunt a spirit beast. If you can't find one suitable for you within a day, then just take those fruits as a gift. But if you do…" Li Chang'an said slowly, "then you'll owe me one favor."
"I'm leaving. We'll meet again in Heaven Dou City," Li Chang'an said, vanishing like a shadow, leaving Ye Lingling alone in the room.
"If you can really help me find the right spirit beast in just one day… Forget one favor—I'd be willing to serve you for life," Ye Lingling murmured to herself, tears welling up in her eyes.
'The revival of my Clan… finally within reach.'
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