A thousand thoughts flashed through Lin Xiao's heart, though in the outside world, only an instant had passed.
When he opened his eyes again, Ji Juechen's expression—usually calm and distant—finally shifted.
He was certain that though his sword had yet to strike, his intent had collided with something extraordinary.
Yet beneath his descending blade, Lin Xiao's aura hadn't weakened—it had grown stronger, transformed, as if he had shed an invisible skin. There was even a chill in his presence, sharp and cold as death.
Ji Juechen's sword hung just before him, and still Lin Xiao did not flinch. In that fleeting instant, clarity flooded him—his countless failed attempts, his restless searching, all converged into understanding.
Something had broken free.
For the first time, his spiritual power and soul power merged as naturally as breathing.
He could not yet fuse them as purely as Ji Juechen fused with his sword, but the resonance between them was enough to meet that strike head-on.
A faint fragrance filled the air. In Lin Xiao's palm, the Other Shore Flower trembled twice, its crimson petals glowing more vividly than ever.
But its beauty carried no warmth—only bone-chilling cold.
The crowd shivered. Their limbs stiffened, movements dulled, as if their souls had momentarily left their bodies.
Across from him, Ji Juechen felt it most. His razor-sharp sword intent began to fade—as though beneath the witness of the Other Shore Flower, even his sword's spirit faced its own "death."
Time stretched—perhaps for only a heartbeat, perhaps an eternity—before Ji Juechen's heavy sword finally fell.
And to everyone's disbelief, that devastating strike was caught by a single, fragile-looking crimson blossom.
Gasps erupted around the arena.
Ji Juechen stood frozen for several seconds, his hands still gripping the sword's hilt, before he slowly withdrew the blade.
"I lost," he said quietly.
Lin Xiao shook his head. "No. In will, I'm far inferior. I only won because my soul power and spirit surpass yours."
Only the two of them truly understood what had just occurred.
Lin Xiao possessed no "sword intent," but when his soul and spirit had united, a different kind of force was born.
The flower that bloomed on the banks of the underworld had witnessed the death of Ji Juechen's sword intent.
And once that intent had perished, stopping an ordinary sword was trivial.
"Wait."
Ji Juechen turned as Lin Xiao's voice halted him.
Lin Xiao's expression grew solemn. He clasped his fists respectfully. "Thank you. I'll remember today."
Without waiting for a reply, he left the arena.
In that short duel, he had pieced together the truths behind his confusion—the nightmares that haunted him, his futile meditations, the strange sensations when channeling soul tools, and Lin Jiayi's cryptic words.
He had been right all along: the fusion of soul power and spiritual power was possible. The reason his past efforts had failed lay elsewhere—likely with that "teacher" of his.
What had shattered earlier was no illusion. Ji Juechen's sword intent had struck the barrier within his mind; his spirit resisted instinctively, inner and outer forces aligning to break that invisible seal.
That seal had long suppressed his true potential—blocking him from ever perceiving his own sea of consciousness.
Now, it was gone.
Lin Jiayi had not lied—his spiritual power was indeed unique.
Those countless nightmares were not random. Nightmare Douluo had definitely left something within his mind. He once thought it was a simple mark, but now he realized there was a deeper scheme.
Was it to prevent him from awakening his special mental domain? Or was there some greater design behind it?
No one could answer. No one noticed the strange light flickering in his eyes as he stepped down from the platform.
The other students were too busy speculating—some claimed Ji Juechen had held back, others that Lin Xiao had used some rare technique.
Nearby, a young woman approached Ji Juechen. "You really held back, didn't you?"
"No. I lost," he replied quietly. "He's strong. My sword was inferior."
"You charged for so long and he still stopped you? He's impressive, then."
Ji Juechen gave a low hum, glancing toward Lin Xiao's departing back.
Not far away, Jing Hongchen turned to the smiling Lin Jiayi. "That's your new disciple?"
"Yes," Lin Jiayi replied, still beaming. "What do you think, Hall Master?"
"Good talent," Jing Hongchen said thoughtfully. "He even sensed us watching. His spiritual power exceeds your estimation. If his soul power were higher, he'd be worth testing—but…"
Lin Jiayi hurried to add, "That Ji Juechen is already one of the top students here, and even he couldn't overpower Lin Xiao."
"I know Ji Juechen," Jing Hongchen nodded. "I've already planned to recruit him into the Illustrious Virtue Hall's core control division."
"And Lin Xiao?" Lin Jiayi pressed.
"I'll think about it." Jing Hongchen sighed faintly and turned away.
Lin Jiayi didn't know Lin Xiao's true origins—but Jing Hongchen did. After all, it was he who had arranged Lin Xiao's entry into the Royal Academy.
If Lin Xiao's background were clean, his talent would make him an obvious candidate for the Hall. Jing Hongchen would have nurtured him personally. But Lin Xiao was from the Holy Spirit Church.
Though they had once cooperated, that organization was never truly an ally—and their nature as Evil Spirit Masters made them unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the one being discussed had just returned to his dormitory, steps unsteady.
Breaking the seal had transformed him. He could feel the change radiating from within—his soul, his blood, even his martial spirit.
The Other Shore Flower pulsed with strange vitality. From its core, faint murmurs echoed—half memories, half whispers beyond understanding.
He could not yet discern their meaning, but one thing was certain: the bond between his spirit and his martial spirit had deepened beyond anything he had ever imagined.
It was as though his very soul… had begun to bloom.
(End of Chapter)