Level Eighteen

Leng Yaozhu gazed at the unquestionable confidence in Wang Chuan's eyes and pondered for a moment.

She knew full well that her disciple could not be judged by ordinary standards. Whether it was his Innate Full Soul Power, ninety-nine points of Mental Power, or the maturity and composure beyond his years, all of it showed just how extraordinary he was.

"Very well."

Leng Yaozhu finally nodded.

"Since you insist, then we shall try."

"With your master here to protect you, I can at least ensure that if the fusion fails, I can sever the connection in time and prevent any fundamental harm to your body or spirit."

"However..."

Her tone grew heavier.

"Once a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit begins fusion, if it fails midway, the Soul Spirit itself is very likely to be completely destroyed by energy backlash or structural collapse."

"And this Rainbow Dragon Soul Spirit is the only one currently recorded and perfectly preserved by the Spirit Pagoda."

"This means that if you fail this time, you may lose the opportunity to obtain a Rainbow Dragon Soul Spirit forever."

"Have you thought this through?"

Wang Chuan took a deep breath and nodded solemnly once more.

"Master, I have."

"I am willing to bear this risk, and I believe in my Martial Soul."

Seeing that Wang Chuan had made up his mind, Leng Yaozhu did not try to persuade him further.

She had absolute confidence in her own strength. The instant anything went wrong, she could keep Wang Chuan safe.

As for the loss of the Soul Spirit...

Though it was precious, compared to her disciple's safety and respect for his determination, it was not an unacceptable price.

Afterward, Leng Yaozhu brought Wang Chuan to a Quiet Room deep within the Spirit Pagoda Branch, specially used by Advanced Soul Masters for cultivation or important rituals.

Complex Spirit Gathering Arrays were inscribed throughout the Quiet Room.

They made the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy here several times denser than outside, pure and gentle, greatly benefiting Soul Master cultivation and Soul Spirit fusion.

"Sit cross-legged, focus your mind, and adjust yourself to your best condition."

Leng Yaozhu instructed him. She stood not far away as her Mental Power spread out, firmly locking onto every inch of space around Wang Chuan, ready to act at any moment.

"Remember, if you feel unbearable swelling pain or tearing in your body or spirit, or if your Soul Power circulation completely loses control, speak up immediately. I will stop the fusion at once."

"Yes, Master."

Wang Chuan followed her instructions and sat cross-legged on the Cushion in the center of the Quiet Room. He closed his eyes as the Soul Power within him slowly circulated along its most basic route. His breathing gradually became long and even, and his mind settled into calmness.

Seeing this, a faint gleam flashed from Leng Yaozhu's Storage Bracelet. A Crystal Ball roughly the size of a fist, its entire surface flowing with gorgeous seven-colored radiance, appeared in her palm.

Within the ball, a tiny dragon-shaped creature with scales glimmering in seven colors could vaguely be seen swimming slowly. Its posture was elegant, and it emanated pure yet powerful elemental fluctuations.

It was precisely that Thousand-Year Rainbow Dragon Soul Spirit.

She gently handed the Soul Spirit Ball to Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan opened his eyes and accepted it with both hands. It felt warm and smooth to the touch.

He hesitated no longer and injected Soul Power into a designated interface on the Soul Spirit Ball.

With a soft click, the Soul Spirit Ball opened.

In an instant, seven-colored brilliance burst forth, bathing the entire Quiet Room in dreamlike light.

A small dragon phantom more than a foot long appeared. Its body was covered in rainbow-gradient scales, tiny jade-like horns grew from its head, and a pair of transparent wing membranes stretched behind its back.

It seemed somewhat confused as it shook its head. Then its crystalline dragon eyes locked onto Wang Chuan.

From Wang Chuan, it sensed an incomparably familiar, warm, and even noble aura that instinctively made it want to submit to and draw close to him.

It was the source aura of an Auspicious Beast shared with Phoenix Wang Chuan, originating from the depths of Wang Chuan's soul.

To a spellcasting Dragon Clan like the Rainbow Dragon, which was naturally close to auspiciousness, that attraction was fatal.

The Rainbow Dragon phantom let out a cheerful, delicate cry and floated toward Wang Chuan of its own accord, affectionately rubbing its tiny dragon head against his cheek.

Wang Chuan's heart stirred, and he understood the reason.

At the same time, a thought flashed through his mind.

Having shared everything with Phoenix Wang Chuan, did that make me a "humanoid Auspicious Beast" in a sense?

He shook his head, dispelled the distracting thought, and focused his mind.

Guided by his will, the air behind him twisted slightly. A pair of incomparably magnificent Phoenix Wings phantoms, unfurling with azure, crimson, yellow, white, and black radiance, emerged on their own. Though not yet fully solidified, their sacred and vast aura had already filled the room.

At the same time, a clear and melodious Phoenix Cry that pierced straight into the depths of the soul faintly rose from within Wang Chuan and echoed through the Quiet Room.

It was as though it had received the summons of a supreme existence.

The seven-colored radiance formed by the Rainbow Dragon Soul Spirit instantly became extraordinarily active. Then the entire phantom transformed into a dazzling seven-colored streak of light and shot into Wang Chuan's chest.

The expected violent impact never came.

After entering Wang Chuan's body, the seven-colored stream of light traveled naturally and smoothly through his meridians, blending perfectly with his own Soul Power.

The Rainbow Dragon Soul Spirit's unique traits of "Elemental Affinity Enhancement" and "Spell Amplification" also began to resonate with Wang Chuan's Martial Soul.

The entire process was so peaceful that even Leng Yaozhu, who had been fully on guard beside him, was somewhat stunned.

There was no painful struggle, no energy rampage.

Wang Chuan's expression was even more tranquil and serene than before. Harmonious, radiant five-colored light and seven-colored glow curled around his body.

Just moments later, Wang Chuan's body trembled slightly, as though some sturdy barrier within him had been gently breached by an unstoppable force.

Buzz!

A deep yet brilliant purple halo silently rose beneath his feet. It rapidly solidified into a purple Soul Ring emitting the unique energy fluctuations of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, quietly circling him as it pulsed up and down.

First Soul Ring, Thousand-Year!

At the same time, Wang Chuan's Soul Power Level instantly broke through the level-ten bottleneck and reached level eleven!

But the changes did not stop.

The purple Soul Ring's light grew brighter and brighter, while the Soul Power fluctuations around Wang Chuan surged higher like a rising tide!

Level twelve, level thirteen, level fourteen...

His Soul Power rose at an astonishing speed, as though an immense amount of energy had long been accumulated within his body, merely locked away by the bottleneck.

Now that the bottleneck had broken...

It erupted forth with unstoppable force!

Level fifteen, level sixteen, level seventeen...

At last, the upward trend of his Soul Power slowly stabilized at the threshold of level eighteen.

A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring steadily pulsed around Wang Chuan, who sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his aura utterly transformed.

The intensity of the Soul Power emanating from him had clearly reached the level of an eighteenth-level Soul Master!

From level ten to level eighteen—one Soul Spirit fusion, and his Soul Power had broken through eight levels in a row!

"This... how is that possible?!"

Even with the temperament and knowledge of a level-ninety-eight Super Douluo, Leng Yaozhu completely lost her composure. Her beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parted slightly, and her face was filled with utterly incredulous shock.

She had lived for so many years and seen countless geniuses. She herself had once been exceptionally talented.

But when had she ever seen—or even heard of—someone whose Soul Power could surge by eight levels directly upon obtaining their First Soul Ring?!

This had completely overturned the common sense of the Soul Master world!

A Thousand-Year First Soul Ring was already shocking beyond belief, but eight consecutive levels of Soul Power growth was even more unheard of!