Nuoding Academy.
Xiao Lin and Tang San attempted a Martial Soul Fusion Technique, but unsurprisingly, they failed.
Xiao Lin temporarily summarized four reasons for the failure:
First, they didn't have a soul incantation.
Second, their level of closeness wasn't deep enough.
Third, they lacked a trigger—like a crisis.
Fourth, Xiao Lin needed a second martial soul. He believed that the reason he and Tang San couldn't fuse their souls was that he only had one martial soul.
As for reasons two and three, Xiao Lin thought they were easier to solve.They would eventually have chances to deepen their bond.
Regarding the first reason—soul incantations—Xiao Lin felt it was necessary to do some research.
Looking at Tang San, who was cultivating in the simulated Blue Silver Grass environment nearby, and Xiao Wu, practicing with her short sword on the grass, Xiao Lin had a simple guess in mind.
Why is it that some soul masters need to shout soul incantations when using soul skills, while others don't?What exactly are soul incantations for?
Xiao Lin thought for a while and figured the soul incantation's function was most likely to enhance the soul skill.
Take food-type soul masters or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, for example. If their soul skills required soul incantations—
It was either because without the incantation, the skill would be weaker, hence the need for enhancement.
Or their skills were normal but became stronger when chanted aloud.
There was also the possibility that some unique martial souls required a special chant to channel their power.
For instance, Luo Sanpao?
And another possible reason: the soul incantation helps the soul master focus their attention and cast the soul skill more quickly.
In Xiao Lin's eyes, this was like "muscle memory" or instinctual behavior.
Whether it's soul skills that need incantations or fusion techniques—during emergencies, relying on instinct might be faster than mental control.
Of course, there was yet another possibility: soul incantations had to be pronounced correctly, just like in fantasy stories—where knowing a monster's true name could defeat it, or in cultivation tales, calling out a senior's name could draw their attention across the long river of time.
So soul incantations might work the same way.
Xiao Lin thought about it and believed those were the most likely explanations.
Fortunately, all of them were manageable for him—he just needed to test them out one by one.
Try and see which kinds of incantations had the strongest resonance between him and Tang San.
So, Xiao Lin's goal became finding the soul incantation closest to the real deal.
As for a second martial soul, without a powerful external force—like the hundred-thousand-year soul power of the Ice Sky Snow Worm or a gift from a god—he didn't think it was feasible.
Thus, Xiao Lin lowered his expectations for martial soul fusion and instead aimed for something like a strengthened version of Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique.
It was a massive undertaking. So Xiao Lin could only set aside time from cultivation, reading, and research to select and test a few dozen incantations.Then try them in pairs, or even with Xiao Wu as a three-person fusion.
After temporarily shifting his research focus to soul incantations, Xiao Lin's daily life became routine:
Cultivate, sleep, read, research soul incantations, and—fight Xiao Wu.
As for why he fought Xiao Wu—it wasn't because she was dumb.It was because she was too idle, always playing around and not finishing her assignments.
She even almost blurted out sensitive things to people she barely knew.
As days passed with repeated cultivation, their first semester finally came to an end, and the winter break arrived.
At this moment, Xiao Lin and Tang San were in Nuoding City, seeing Xiao Wu off.
For some reason, Xiao Wu didn't choose to go home with Tang San this time.
Instead, she chose to return to her own home—the Star Dou Forest.
Fortunately, Nuoding City was a border city, relatively close to the Star Dou Forest between the two great empires.Otherwise, it would be too dangerous for her.
Now that the semester had ended, all three of them had made great progress.
Xiao Lin was currently Level 19, Tang San Level 18, and Xiao Wu also Level 18.
Xiao Lin had his research, and Tang San had blacksmithing.Both had things to do and couldn't focus solely on cultivation.
Only Xiao Wu had nothing specific, lively and energetic, rarely seen cultivating alone—yet her soul power level still caught up with them.
Watching Xiao Wu's figure gradually swallowed by the forest, Xiao Lin clapped Tang San on the shoulder and said,"Let's go, Little San. Time to go back to Holy Soul Village."
"Alright, Brother Lin."
Tang San was still somewhat sad about parting with Xiao Wu.
"Brother Lin, do you think Xiao Wu will encounter any danger?"
Tang San suddenly asked, a worried look on his face.
"How could she? Say what you will, Xiao Wu runs faster than both of us."
Xiao Lin gave Tang San a side glance.Some things, you're just worrying for nothing, Little San.
Staying with us might be more dangerous.
Besides, Xiao Wu had a private escort picking her up—who would dare mess with her?
"Well, then… do you think Xiao Wu might eat all her food and go hungry?"
"She wouldn't be that dumb… uh…"
Even Xiao Lin was unsure at this point. Probably not… right?
"Aiya, you've asked these questions several times already. You like Xiao Wu that much?"
Xiao Lin finally got annoyed and muttered helplessly.
"I do not… hehe…"
Tang San immediately lowered his head, a bit shy.
"Little San, emotions are a soul master's greatest taboo. If you get too caught up in them, how will you ever level up quickly?"
Xiao Lin sighed, hands behind his back, walking ahead of Tang San.
He really didn't want to keep hearing Tang San's anxious voice.
It was getting seriously annoying!
Night fell. Soft moonlight spilled across the rice paddies surrounding Holy Soul Village, casting a silvery glow.The cold wind blew, making the scene quiet and elegant.
"Holy Soul Village, I'm home!"
Xiao Lin walked down a small path and shouted loudly, breaking the peaceful harmony of the village.
"Brother Lin… we're just going home. Do you really need to shout?"
Tang San was speechless at Xiao Lin's antics.
"What do you know? I'm just a homebody, alright?"
In his previous life, Xiao Lin had never even left his home province for university.
They walked in silence for a while before arriving at Old Jack's house.
"Grandpa, I'm back!"
Xiao Lin rushed inside and shouted, startling Old Jack, who was dozing off.
"Good, good! Xiao Lin is back. That's good."
In the dim room, Old Jack smiled kindly when he saw Xiao Lin bathed in the moonlight at the doorway.
"Grandpa Jack, I'm back too."
Tang San also stepped out from behind Xiao Lin and politely greeted him.
"Good, good. Have you two eaten? I'll cook something right away."
Old Jack got up, lit the oil lamp, and busied himself excitedly.
"Grandpa, we've already eaten. No need to trouble yourself."
Xiao Lin stopped Old Jack in his tracks.
"Well then, oh right—Little San, you can sleep here with Xiao Lin tonight.Your father seemed to have gone away on some business. He only left a letter."
Old Jack's expression turned serious as he remembered something.He went to his room and returned with the letter, handing it to Tang San.
Then he squinted hard, examining the two boys.
While watching, Old Jack even smacked his lips in satisfaction.
"Ah, Xiao Lin's gotten more robust, and Little San's looking nice and healthy too."
"Oh right, Grandpa, I bought you some soft-bone rabbit milk candy."
Ignoring the letter-reading Tang San, Xiao Lin handed over all the milk candy he had bought in Nuoding City.
"Good, good! My Xiao Lin is so filial."
…This counts as filial? That's just excessive praise.
Xiao Lin was speechless.
You can wait to enjoy heaven when I take you to the God Realm someday.
(End of Chapter)