Fan Yue sat cross-legged in the center of the training room. Today, his comrades were engaged in a pivotal battle, but he could not be there. He was on the verge of breaking through to the Soul King (Rank 50) realm.
In truth, he could have done this long ago, but he had waited, choosing to compress his soul power to its absolute limit. In the last few days, the wall separating him from the Soul King realm had begun to crack, threatening to collapse at any moment.
Fan Yue activated the formation and closed his eyes. Time to begin.
The two-colored vortex in his chest spun at a frenzied speed. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Qi, along with Life Energy, began to pour into him. His soul power surged like a torrential flood, crashing against the invisible barrier. The barrier shattered with ease. Instantly, four pitch-black soul rings circled his body.
Fan Yue opened his eyes, holding a black metallic sphere in his hand. "I just need the fifth soul ring to become a true Soul King!"
But as he prepared to release the Spirit Soul from the sphere, his eyes twitched. In the next breath, he coughed up blood.
An unbearable heat consumed him. Waves of pain hit him as if his body were being dismantled from the inside out. What... what is happening?! Is it the bloodline vortex?
He gritted his teeth, struggling for composure. Focusing inward, he saw a terrifying sight: the orange-red and dark-gold energies were clashing violently. Each was trying to eradicate the other.
The collision sent agonizing shocks through his body. His blood boiled. Fan Yue tried to use Blood Breath to regain control, but his efforts were futile. Is this a bloodline conflict? Why now?
As he prepared to call for Teacher Shu, the dark-gold energy suddenly dimmed, while the orange-red flared with blinding intensity. The dark-gold energy was forcibly ejected from the vortex, leaving behind a solid, unified orange-red bloodline.
The dark-gold energy tried to counterattack, but it was useless. It began to fade, looking as if it might vanish entirely. Am I losing the Dragon Bloodline?
Suddenly, a crystal-clear sphere appeared near the vortex. Inside shone the Three Suns and Moon Sword, surrounded by miniature stars, a tiny sun, and a crescent moon. Finding a desperate escape, the dark-gold energy coiled around the sphere and fused with the blade.
Simultaneously, his original Spirit Soul crumbled to dust, and his four black soul rings shattered one by one. Paralyzed and unable to call for help, Fan Yue could only watch.
When the fusion was complete, a massive Dark-Gold Dragon gripped the Three Suns and Moon Sword in its claws, its tail coiling around the hilt. The sword began to shrink. Its surface became a deep, bottomless void reflecting the night sky. Stardust swirled within the blade, and a precise gold line appeared down its center.
The transformed sword was no longer a two-meter giant; it was smaller, sharper, and its energy was no longer leaking but concentrated perfectly within the steel. The sword dissolved into the Dark-Gold Dragon, which then settled and closed its eyes.
Fan Yue lurched upright, his breathing ragged. He spent thirty agonizing minutes checking his meridians, vessels, and soul.
"My body is fine, but..." Fan Yue frowned, hand on his chest. "I don't feel the dragon bloodline. Yet, the dragon power is still here. Did the Phoenix take over the body while the Dragon merged with my Martial Soul?"
He summoned his Martial Soul to find out.
Dark-gold scales erupted across his arms and legs. Claws sharp as razors extended from his fingertips. Five dense scales appeared on his chest. Dragon wings unfurled from his back, and a supple tail grew from his spine. The space around him distorted slightly.
From beneath his feet, five Dark-Gold Soul Rings rose.
"Is this... my new Martial Soul?"
He felt his old skills and his World-Contemplating Wolf Spirit Soul were gone. In their place were five entirely new abilities perfectly suited to him. He immediately sent a message to Teacher Shu.
Elder Shu met him by the Sea God Lake, his brow furrowed. After a thorough examination, he spoke solemnly.
"The breakthrough triggered the conflict. The Phoenix and Dragon can never peacefully share one body. The Phoenix won the body, but the Dragon survived by consuming your sword. You have birthed a Divine-rank Martial Soul: the Three Suns and Moon Dragon."
Elder Shu stroked his beard. "You no longer need Spirit Souls. You are self-sufficient. Your soul power will naturally form new rings. You are, in essence, the 'Perfect' Spirit Master."
He sighed heavily. "But look at you. Your body is Phoenix, your mind is Human, and your soul is Dragon. It is a fragile balance. You are a ticking bomb. You must go into closed-door training immediately—until the second semester begins."
Fan Yue was stunned. Five months of isolation? "Will the Academy allow it?"
"They won't have a choice," Shu snorted. "You're leaking energy so badly you're warping space. Stay here. I'll be back."
Left alone, Fan Yue checked his communicator.
Lan Mengqin: "Yue, we won!"
Lan Xuanyu: "Told you to bet on us. Enjoy the emblems."
Qian Lei: "FAN YUE!! Pick up our winnings! 6 PM at the gate, we're celebrating!!"
Fan Yue smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. I wish I could have been there. He typed a quick reply, explaining his "cultivation issues" and his long absence, then sent his betting slips to Qian Lei.
Elder Shu reappeared. "Everything is ready. I've informed Wang Tianyu. We're going to the Shrek Inner Court—my private zone. I don't want anyone interfering with your progress."
Shu placed a hand on his shoulder, and the world flashed green.
They appeared in a vast, empty training hall made of matte silver alloy, covered in ancient arrays. The air was dry and heavy. There was almost no life energy or soul power here.
"Why is it so empty here, Teacher?"
"This room is cut off from the world to prevent you from relying on external energy," Shu said, his kind expression replaced by a cold, piercing gaze. "We start with a spar. Attack me, Fan Yue. With the intent to kill."
With these words, Old Man Shu's gentle expression disappeared.
In its place, there was a cold, piercing gaze of a man who had seen hundreds of battles and survived thousands of opponents.
It was as if an icy wall had descended.
The pressure was so intense that Fan Yue instinctively took a step back.
His heart began to race.
He felt a genuine threat.
Not a teacher, but an enemy who could kill him at any moment.
But the fear didn't last long. Fan Yue clenched his teeth and steadied his breathing. His gaze became firm.
He raised his hand, and in the next moment, his Battle Soul flared like a awakened beast. The Spiritual Power and the Dragon's aura intertwined around him, forming an invisible, бурлящий vortex of strength.
Old Man Shu smiled slightly, but his smile was warm.
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