Sky Dream Fusion, Domain Power!

With the harmonization of Gu Yuena's Origin Blood Essence, the fusion process became incredibly smooth.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's vast spiritual essence transformed into a torrent of purest energy, flowing endlessly into every part of Chen Fan's body.

Monstrous waves rose within his Sea of Spirit, while his Spiritual Power surged at a terrifying rate.

At the same time, the Soul Power within his body began to boil and ascend!

The Candle Dragon Shadow behind him was continuously solidified by the torrent of energy. Its outline grew clearer and clearer, flashing at times and withdrawing at others, as though undergoing a profound transformation.

That thread of silver radiance was like a divine stroke, perfectly linking and harmonizing Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Million Year cultivation with the supreme status of the Candle Dragon Shadow.

Who knew how much time passed.

When the last trace of white energy merged into his body, the radiance filling the sky finally dispersed.

Chen Fan slowly opened his eyes.

A glint flashed through his gaze.

Feeling the surging power within him, an uncontrollable delight appeared on his face.

This time, he had struck it rich!

His Soul Power had soared directly from the newly attained twentieth rank to the twenty-fifth rank!

Not only that, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's sacrifice had allowed him, just like Huo Yuhao in the original story, to obtain four Soul Skills at once!

With a thought, the information on the Soul Skills appeared clearly in his mind.

First Soul Skill, Insight.

Once released, it created an invisible Spiritual Domain centered on himself. Within the domain, even the slightest movement was laid bare, entirely within his grasp.

While in the Insight state, he could further activate his Soul Power to create the Candle Dragon Eye. Within the Candle Dragon Eye's range, every enemy's Soul Power would be continuously drained and converted for his own use!

Second Soul Skill, Penetrating Nether.

Its effect was even more domineering. It could share Insight's detection ability with his companions. It could even form miniature Candle Dragon Eyes for them, likewise capable of draining the Soul Power of nearby enemies!

Another thought crossed his mind.

The information for the third Soul Skill appeared clearly in his mind.

Nether.

This Soul Skill allowed Chen Fan to actively release a Spiritual Impact formed from a Candle Dragon Sword Shadow.

This impact could not only intimidate an opponent's body, but also carry Candle Dragon Power.

At Chen Fan's current realm, he could only attach the power of "Cold and Heat," inflicting the dual torment of Extreme Cold and scorching heat the instant it struck an opponent.

If his understanding of Candle Dragon Power deepened in the future, perhaps he would be able to add even more entirely different effects.

The fourth ability, however, was even more astonishing.

It was an incomplete Domain Power.

It combined Gu Yuena's Silver Dragon King Bloodline with his own Candle Dragon Martial Soul. With a thought, Chen Fan gave it a name.

Silver Candle Domain.

Its effect was precisely like the characteristics of the "Shadow of the Twin Dragons."

Once unleashed, the Candle Dragon Phantom would dance through the sky, suppressing every Soul Master within the domain.

The Silver Dragon Phantom, meanwhile, would coil upon the ground, suppressing every Soul Beast within the domain.

Within the domain, all things bowed their heads. Whether Soul Masters or Soul Beasts, none could use even the slightest bit of Soul Power. They could only fight with their most primitive physical bodies.

Only...

Chen Fan sensed the mere twenty-fifth-rank Soul Power within himself and silently made an estimate.

This domain consumed far too much energy.

With his current Soul Power, he could probably sustain it for only one or two seconds.

If there were opponents within the domain far stronger than him, that time would be further shortened.

Even so, this was already an outrageously terrifying ability.

Just as Chen Fan's heart surged with excitement over this gain, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's shameless voice suddenly rang out in his Sea of Spirit.

"Holy shit! The Silver Dragon King really went all out! She actually dared to give you some of her own Origin Blood Essence!"

"But I'm not bad either. I burned everything I had to help you fuse!"

The delight on Chen Fan's face froze.

Origin Blood Essence?

He abruptly turned his head, his eyes anxiously searching to the side.

Sure enough.

There was not a trace of color on Na'er's exquisite face. Her petite body swayed unsteadily as she barely supported herself against an ancient tree.

Chen Fan's heart sank sharply.

He could not be bothered to continue communicating with Tian Meng. His figure flashed as he rushed over, swiftly pulling Gu Yuena's soft, powerless body into his arms.

There was a tremor in his voice.

"Na'er, how are you?"

Chen Fan held her tightly.

The warm, soft body in his arms was as light as a feather, seemingly weightless.

Her skin was slightly cool beneath his touch, having lost its usual warmth.

Gu Yuena weakly raised her eyes. Looking at the self-reproach on Chen Fan's face, her pale lips curved slightly into a faint, comforting smile.

She raised a hand and laboriously stroked Chen Fan's cheek, her fingertips gentle.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little exhausted."

Her voice was Very light, yet still gentle.

"Just exhausted?"

Chen Fan did not believe her at all.

Origin Blood Essence was the foundation of a Soul Beast's entire cultivation, the core of its life!

How could it possibly be as simple as mere exhaustion!

"There is no risk in sacrificing a Soul Beast in the first place. At most, it is a little painful. I've suffered plenty while cultivating as a Soul Master, so why should I fear this?"

Chen Fan said, his mind in turmoil.

Seeing the pain in the young man's eyes, Gu Yuena only stroked his face more gently. She spoke softly, one word at a time:

"I know you suffered a great deal before."

"For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, for Ning Rongrong..."

"But no one ever said that someone who can endure hardship must endure even more hardship."

"I want you to have an easier life from now on, to always be happy."

"You've already worked very hard."

"Let me share just a little of it for you."

"Huh?" Chen Fan froze instantly, somewhat stunned.

All along, he had fought for others—for the sect, for responsibility.

Chen Fan had grown accustomed to carrying every burden upon his own shoulders, accustomed to gritting his teeth and enduring in silence.

He could not let Uncle Ning down. Rongrong still needed him to take care of her.

No one had ever told him that he no longer needed to suffer.

Nor had anyone ever paid such an enormous price just to let him "have an easier life."

Even before he had transmigrated...

As an ordinary person, no one would have told him, "Suffer a little less, Chen Fan..."

He tightly held Gu Yuena's hand, and his vision blurred in an instant.

A tear slid from the corner of his eye and fell onto the Maiden's fair Back of the Hand.

Then came a second, and a third...

Tears burst forth, impossible to restrain.

Seeing him cry, a trace of heartache flashed through Gu Yuena's eyes. She gently wiped the tear tracks from Chen Fan's face with her fingertips.

"Don't cry."

"When you cry, my heart hurts."

Chen Fan sharply drew in a breath, trying to stop the tears.

"I'm not crying..."

"I'm not crying..."

Sunlight quietly spilled over the clearing in the Forest.

The young man held the Maiden in his arms. The scene was tranquil and warm, like an exquisite painting frozen by time.

Silver long hair spread across his chest like flowing moonlight, making the Maiden's sleeping face appear ever more holy and serene.

At the same time.

Within Chen Fan's Sea of Spirit.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm trembled violently, its enormous body curled into a ball.

"No! I was wrong! I won't dare do it again!"

"I'll never test Chen Fan's spiritual world again!"

"Spare me! Spare me!"