Chapter 31: Dual Cultivation - The Power of Martial Soul Fusion - Douluo's spirit bead sword
Chapter 31: Dual Cultivation - The Power of Martial Soul Fusion "Brother Yu, Brother Shi, Yu Feng, Sister Ling Ling, Sister Yan Zi, I won't be training with you all today. I suspect I have a guest waiting for me in my room," Tian Lin said with a smile, waving goodbye as he left the training grounds. "Wait a minute, why did Xiao Tian say goodbye to all of you but ignore me?" Oslo grumbled discontentedly. "Well, it's obvious. Don't you know that whenever he sees you flaunting around, he just wants to punch you?" Brother Shi ruthlessly teased. "Come on, what's wrong with caring about my handsome image?" Oslo retorted as he pulled out a mirror. "Could it be that my hairstyle is messy today and Xiao Tian doesn't like it?" "You better not say that in front of him, or you might find yourself facing his Demon Suppression Sword," Ye Ling Ling's cool voice came from behind. Oslo instantly deflated, realizing that he was the least popular among the seven of them. After parting with the others, Tian Lin headed straight to his dormitory and found the door ajar, clearly indicating someone had entered. As expected, Xue Qing He was sitting beside his desk, perusing his notes. Fortunately, they weren't personal diaries, or else all his secrets would have been exposed. Then again, who writes diaries? No serious person would do that. "Brother Xue, what are you doing here?" Tian Lin approached and asked. Hearing Tian Lin's voice, Xue Qing He set down the notes with a smile. "I came to see you. I heard about the situation with Aolufu. How could you not come to me for such a major issue? I would have resolved it perfectly for you. Now the relationship between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan and the Barak Kingdom is so tense." Tense relations were exactly what he wanted to see, Tian Lin mused inwardly. Outwardly, he said, "I know, Brother Xue. I acted impulsively this time. I'll seek your help first next time I encounter trouble." "That's the spirit. Come to me if there's anything you need in the future." Xue Qing He nodded with satisfaction. This was the thought he wanted Tian Lin to have. Once he became increasingly reliant on him, even if he resumed his identity as Qian Ren Xue, Tian Lin might choose to follow him, abandoning the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. He possessed a strong desire for control. Having decided to win over Tian Lin, Tian Lin had to be his alone. The sole blemish in his plan was his intention for Tian Lin to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy to be closer to him, with the hope he would clash with Yu Tian Heng. The future Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan’s Guardian Douluo and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan’s successor, should they become enemies, would inevitably strain relations between their clans. Hence, he had instigated discord at the sect. Unexpectedly, Tian Lin not only failed to become Yu Tian Heng’s enemy, but through the connection with Ye Ling Ling, they became friends, turning his plans in the opposite direction. "A disobedient child still needs proper discipline!" A hint of malice surfaced in Xue Qing He's heart. Tian Lin suddenly felt a chill, as if something dangerous had its sights set on him. "By the way, Xiao Tian, I noticed from your notes that you're researching spirit beasts with attribute powers, correct?" Xue Qing He's keen attention had led him to discover Tian Lin’s research focus from his spirit beast recordings. There was nothing to deny here, so Tian Lin responded directly, "Yes, my sword needs to grow by absorbing spirit rings of various attributes." "I see. Currently, your sword only contains a water attribute, which explains why it hasn't manifested its god-level martial spirit power!" Xue Qing He understood. Tian Lin needed to study attribute spirit beasts to complete his martial soul fusion. Perhaps he would need to lend a hand in this endeavor. When he returned, he would instruct Uncle She to visit Spirit Hall to retrieve spirit beast data, as the information collected by Spirit Hall was the most comprehensive on the continent. "Uh, Brother Xue, is there anything else you need?" Tian Lin asked, inwardly wishing Xue Qing He would leave soon. Being around him was rather stressful. "There's one more thing. Come, let’s head to the bed." Xue Qing He suddenly stood and walked towards the bed. Tian Lin was momentarily stunned, fearing Qian Ren Xue might try something forceful. He was only seven, after all, still waiting for certain things to develop, wasn’t it a bit too soon? Only when Xue Qing He sat on the bed cross-legged and began to circulate his soul power did Tian Lin realize he had misunderstood. Xue Qing He wanted to cultivate together. "Come on, Xiao Tian, sit across from me and place your palms against mine. I have a feeling that our martial souls are highly compatible. Perhaps we can not only merge but also assist each other's cultivation," Xue Qing He suggested. Tian Lin understood the potential advantages, similar to how Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong in the future could use martial soul fusion to cultivate more effectively than solitary training. Without hesitation, Tian Lin sat opposite Xue Qing He, aligning their palms. In an instant, their soul powers merged without any resistance. Xue Qing He was overjoyed, immediately activating his family’s Angel Meditation Technique, while Tian Lin instinctively used the Nuwa Meditation Technique. With two top-tier meditation techniques and the mutual aid of martial soul fusion power, their soul power rose at an astonishing speed. After two hours, they emerged from their state of meditation. Tian Lin felt his soul power had increased significantly. At this rate, a few more joint cultivation sessions with Xue Qing He and he would soon break through to level twenty. Conversely, the benefits for Xue Qing He weren't as pronounced. Although his cultivation speed was indeed faster than usual, the difference wasn’t drastic due to his vastly superior soul power compared to Tian Lin's. Therefore, the assistance he received was minimal. However, what delighted him was that due to the operation of the Nuwa Meditation Technique, his soul power had been refined, which was more crucial to him than a mere increase in power due to its implications for future divine inheritance. "Such wonderful fusion power, being able to purify soul power while cultivating. Xiao Tian, you're truly my lucky star!" Xue Qing He exclaimed, pulling Tian Lin into an embrace. Tian Lin merely noted, well, it felt flat. Was it that Qian Ren Xue hadn’t developed yet, or was her transformation skill so flawless that even this part shrank when she became Xue Qing He? "Xiao Tian, how about no longer staying in the dormitory? Come live with me in the East Palace. You’ve felt our strong fusion power, haven’t you? We might not be able to perform martial soul fusion skills yet, but with effort, it’s only a matter of time," Xue Qing He suggested eagerly. "No need, Brother Xue. I'll continue staying in the dormitory. My friends are all there, and I don't want to part from them," Tian Lin hastily declined. Living with Xue Qing He would mean exposing all of his secrets in no time. Frowning, Xue Qing He refrained from saying that Tian Lin required no friends if he had him. But as the wise prince—rather than an impetuous heiress of Spirit Hall—he relented. "Alright, but you must promise me to visit the East Palace every few days." "The fusion power benefits both you and me greatly. We can't let such excellent cultivation opportunities slip by!" Tian Lin recognized this as Xue Qing He's bottom line. If he refused, a titled Douluo might be dispatched to abduct him. Thus, he promptly agreed, which barely appeased Xue Qing He.