You Can Fool Others, but Don't Fool Yourself Too

Three months later, Su Cheng was defeated in his duel with Zhu Zhuqing.

However, this was exactly what he expected.

Su Cheng did indeed go easy on him.

He didn't use the Severing Meridians and Continuing Qi Method, nor did he reveal his superior cultivation level compared to Zhu Zhuqing, but in other aspects, he didn't hold back much.

Su Cheng, who secretly met with Zhu Zhuqing every month, was well aware of how quickly Zhu Zhuqing had progressed during this period.

She's not stupid, she's just too naive.

She worked hard enough in the past, but her methods were wrong.

Over the course of more than a year, after Su Cheng worked tirelessly to Reshaping her values, she finally learned how to tap into her potential.

As for the faction within the academy, it dissipated overnight following his defeat.

But it didn't matter to him at all.

Those so-called forces were originally only recruited to train Zhu Zhuqing.

Now that these people are leaving, it's actually a good thing for him.

Su Cheng simply doesn't have time to deal with these people right now.

His research on Martial Soul has entered a very critical stage.

He and Zhu Zhuqing will then enter a period of rapid development, and they must strive to further improve the Nirvana Sutra before then, at least to further enhance the effect of purifying bloodlines.

Moreover, there are still Martial Soul Fusion Skill to research, and for Su Cheng, there simply isn't enough time.

As for those noble sons, it wouldn't be a bad thing if they followed Zhu Zhuqing in the future to ride on his coattails.

In terms of family status, the Zhu Family is far superior to the Su Family.

Not to mention that Zhu Zhuqing has now proven her potential and strength.

These noble scions, each representing a family power to varying degrees, may not hold much sway in the Star Luo Imperial Capital yet, but once they spread out as outreach, they can still gather considerable influence for her.

"Tell me your thoughts."

Not long after the battle ended, Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing went to the back mountain of the academy alone.

The two stood facing each other, surrounded by silence and no one else.

Only the gentle breeze rustling through the bamboo forest could be heard.

"I want to cooperate with you to perform Martial Soul Fusion Skill." Zhu Zhuqing didn't beat around the bush and said directly to Su Cheng.

Su Cheng nodded, without showing any surprise on his face.

The other party had already hinted at this meaning during our conversation outside the restaurant last time.

"Besides that?" Su Cheng didn't answer immediately, but asked in return, "Even if we can really use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, how effective will it be? The Star Luo Empire has more than just the two of us who possess the Hell Spirit Cat and White Tiger Martial Soul."

"I understand." Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "But Martial Soul Fusion Skill is a must-have skill. We are already at a disadvantage in terms of innate conditions. If we can't even use Martial Soul Fusion Skill, then there is no hope for the future."

"Get this straight, it's you who has no hope. My situation is completely different from yours," Su Cheng said with a light laugh.

"That's right." Zhu Zhuqing didn't argue, and continued, "Su Cheng, I won't give you any empty promises. To tell you the truth, I have a way to help you improve your strength and make your cultivation speed far surpass that of the orthodox royal disciples."

As she spoke, she took out a manuscript and handed it over.

"Take a look and see if you can practice this technique."

In the past few months, Zhu Zhuqing has already started using this technique to improve her cultivation and purify her bloodline.

During her cultivation, she discovered that this technique actually had extremely high versatility and was not only applicable to the Nether Civet Martial Soul. It was likely applicable to many Beast Martial Soul and perhaps it was not as simple as the so-called Zhu Family's secret technique.

Su Cheng reached out and took the manuscript, somewhat shocked.

This is the very Nirvana Sutra that he developed himself!

Although this was originally something he had researched, he never expected that Zhu Zhuqing would have such a broad perspective.

Having cultivated for so long, she must have discovered its value herself, and her willingness to use it as a bargaining chip was truly beyond Su Cheng's expectations.

Indeed, this was the best choice for Zhu Zhuqing.

The upper limit of the Netherworld White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Skill requires the two people performing the fusion skill to improve together, and Su Cheng's strength is a crucial part of Zhongji.

But Zhu Zhuqing is only so old, yet she is able to make such a choice.

Moreover, Su Cheng had not yet made any promises at this point.

After quickly glancing through the manuscript, he looked up and stared intently at Zhu Zhuqing, saying solemnly, "Zhu Zhuqing, it seems I really underestimated you before. Do you know what this thing means?"

"Of course I know," Zhu Zhuqing said calmly. "This is my sincerity."

"Fourth Miss is so generous." Su Cheng gently traced the pages of the book in his hand and said slowly, "Aren't you afraid that I'll take this thing and then refuse your request?"

"This is just an appetizer. You're a smart person, you should understand what I mean. I just want you to know that I'm not just making empty promises, and I truly consider you a future friend and partner."

"..." Su Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing that Zhu Zhuqing's growth rate had once again exceeded his expectations.

But... a friend?

"Zhu Zhuqing, there's no need for you to put on airs with me here. I know what you're thinking, and I can agree to your request, but we're just business partners. Your hypocritical tactics won't work on me. It's best to keep those 'friends' talk to me."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing silently stared at Su Cheng for a moment, her expression gradually turning cold.

She truly never intended to consider Su Cheng as a friend.

How could one not harbor resentment after a year of bullying?

If it weren't for her father's teachings, the heavy burden of the family, and the feelings of her sisters that she learned from her father, she wouldn't have found solace in her heart.

Under that shadow, she didn't know how much longer she could hold on.

"That's more like it." Su Cheng chuckled as he watched her expression change.

"Fourth Miss, it's one thing to fool others with those words, even if it's just to fool me, but please don't fool yourself."

"..." Zhu Zhuqing frowned and didn't say anything more.

She rarely gets emotionally affected by other people's words anymore.

However, unlike the indifferent despair of the past, now it is more of a calm and clear-headed composure.

However, some of the things Su Cheng said still made her feel disgusted.

It is difficult to avoid emotional fluctuations.

Compared to her, Su Cheng's thoughts at this moment were very simple: he simply wanted to wake her up so that she wouldn't accidentally start self-hypnotizing.

Su Cheng didn't want her to have any other thoughts, or even to see him as a partner or something like that in the future.

If things continue like that, how can I expect her to harm me in the future?

"What do you have to say about the Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Zhu Zhuqing asked Su Cheng.

"Since you're being so sincere, let's give it a try."

As he spoke, Su Cheng straightened up.

With a low growl, the White Tiger Martial Soul emerged from Su Cheng's body.

A slight bloodlust arose in his mind, but he was already used to the feeling of Beast Martial Soul influencing his emotions, so he didn't pay too much attention to it.

At the same time, white fur mixed with black tiger stripes surged wildly from his body.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing on the opposite side gently bit her lip, her whole body covered in a faint black light, and she also summoned the Nether Civet Martial Soul, with a Soul Ring swirling around it.

Immediately, she rushed towards Su Cheng's direction.

As his body moved erratically, he seemed to become transparent.

Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes met in the air. He opened his arms to meet Zhu Zhuqing's illusory figure.

Then, the two figures finally overlapped at the last moment, and the auras of the White Tiger and the Nether Civet Martial Soul merged instantly.

"Bang--"

However, in the next moment, a violent energy fluctuation suddenly erupted.

Both figures were simultaneously flung away.

The Martial Soul Fusion Skill failed.

Not only that.

The massive energy backlash caused both Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing to suffer serious injuries.

Moreover, although their Martial Soul Fusion Skill had failed to be executed, it had still consumed a large amount of their Soul Power, leaving them all looking exhausted and panting.

Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly into the void, her expression somewhat bewildered and helpless.

Su Cheng, however, looked thoughtful.

He considered it normal to fail the first time.

The two of them had neither practiced together nor had any emotional foundation. Apart from a high degree of compatibility in their Martial Soul, they did not meet any other conditions.

But that brief moment of fusion gave him a great deal of insight.

"Sure enough, there's no need for any so-called emotional resonance."

At the moment of their Martial Soul Fusion, both of their consciousnesses were momentarily blurred, followed by instinctive impulses that were not under their control.

Based on Su Cheng's understanding of Martial Soul, he could clearly sense that the emergence of this Martial Soul Fusion Skill required not only that the essence of the Martial Soul could complement each other, but also that the fluctuations of Soul Power and mental energy be in harmony during the fusion.

The key lies in that perfect moment of initial fusion.

Once you grasp that moment, you can leave everything else to your instincts.

So-called emotional resonance can only enhance the tacit understanding between two people and better control the rhythm. Often, the deeper the emotion, the higher the degree of cooperation and understanding.

Of course, it's also possible that as Martial Soul Fusion Skill are used more frequently, Soul Master naturally develop feelings for each other.

After all, there is a deep bond between Martial Soul and Soul Master's bloodline and soul.

However, using special techniques to cultivate tacit understanding between the Soul Master and the Martial Soul can also fulfill this requirement.

So-called emotions can add icing on the cake, but they are by no means a necessary condition.

Another example is the Golden Sacred Dragon, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of the three Golden Iron Triangle of Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong.

If there's even the Sisi possibility that two people could perfectly blend their emotions, Su Cheng absolutely doesn't believe that three people could achieve that.

Unless there is a closer, special relationship between them, but that possibility is obviously extremely slim.

"I'll try a few more times to study it. This Martial Soul Fusion Skill is indeed quite amazing," Su Cheng thought to himself.

His current perception ability in the realm of Martial Soul is astonishing.

That brief moment of fusion gave him profound insights.

He had a premonition that by studying the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, he could greatly accelerate the progress of further perfecting his cultivation technique, the Nirvana Sutra Scripture.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still in a daze not far away, Su Cheng stood up and said calmly, "Don't look so dejected. It's perfectly normal not to succeed the first time. Just try a few more times and find the pattern."