Fusion, "Do You Know the Forums Are Saying My Dad Is Dead?"

This looked like an impatient move.

But in Mu Chen's eyes, it meant something entirely different.

Blacksmithing!

This was blacksmithing!

He immediately recalled the scene from a month ago, when Lin Jin had used Crimson Lotus to refine Deep Silver.

His eyes flickered, and he immediately understood.

Purification!

Lotus Flower Flame's ability was actually purification!

At the time, he had merely assumed that the refining temperature was so high that it could seep into every crevice of the Deep Silver and remove its impurities.

He had never considered purification.

Because it was simply too unimaginable—an ability even less likely to appear in a child who was not yet even a Spirit Master.

But now, seeing Lin Jin's actions and the two silent words he formed with his lips out of fear that Mu Chen might not understand—

He understood at once.

Still, in order not to give himself away, he furrowed his brows tightly. Only after a long while did he look at Meng Canglan and sigh. "Tower Master Meng, you saw it too. This child is rather stubborn."

"If I force him to change his choice right now, I'm afraid it may damage the bond between master and disciple."

"So why don't I simply purchase both Spirit Souls? Once we return, I'll properly persuade him, so we won't have to make another trip."

"Besides, as you said, if no one buys this Fire Elemental Sprite, it will dissipate on its own."

Meng Canglan's face showed hesitation.

With the emergence of artificial Spirit Souls these days—

Century-old Spirit Souls were not really worth much to the Spirit Pagoda anymore.

But preventing waste had always been the Spirit Pagoda's principle—or rather, the principle it presented to the public.

Therefore, buying multiple Spirit Souls when only one was needed was not permitted.

Even he did not dare to openly do such a thing.

Behind closed doors, it would have been a trivial matter.

But if someone with ulterior motives found out and used it to smear him, even pulling him from his position would not be impossible.

So he was genuinely conflicted.

But after thinking it over, he still nodded in agreement. "I'm willing to give President Mu this favor."

"I only hope that in the future, President Mu will not forget the friendship between us."

He placed heavy emphasis on the word "friendship."

After all, today, he had already made two exceptions for Mu Chen.

Mu Chen smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Lin Jin roughly understood what Meng Canglan was thinking, but he still bowed and said, "Thank you, Tower Master Meng."

Who didn't know how to play on people's hearts?

When children used such tactics, they were even more effective.

Sure enough, Meng Canglan burst into laughter. "Good child, good child."

Not long after.

After Mu Chen paid, he took the Millennium Crimson Flame Demon Lotus and the contaminated Fire Elemental Sprite, then left the East Sea Spirit Pagoda with Lin Jin.

Spirit Souls were now sealed in specially made Spirit Soul Balls and could choose to fuse at any time, so there was no need to remain at the Spirit Pagoda for the fusion.

The two returned directly to the Blacksmith Association and entered Mu Chen's Exclusive Blacksmithing Room on the top floor.

Knowing Lin Jin was anxious, Mu Chen immediately took out the contaminated Fire Elemental Sprite and handed it to him.

At the same time, he asked worriedly, "Can you really do this?"

"Don't worry, Teacher. I'm confident." Lin Jin's gaze burned as he stared at the Fire Elemental Sprite inside the Spirit Soul Ball.

After calming himself, Lin Jin sat cross-legged and opened the Spirit Soul Ball.

He reached out and lightly touched the Fire Elemental Sprite.

The drowsy Fire Elemental Sprite immediately jolted awake and stared at Lin Jin warily.

Even Mu Chen's eyes showed surprise at the sight.

No wonder its price had been so high, and even Meng Canglan remembered its details so clearly.

With that expression, how did it resemble a Spirit Soul? It was clearly like a living person!

Could it be that not only had the Martial Soul fused with the original Fire Spirit to become the current Fire Elemental Sprite, but part of that original Spirit Master's spiritual will had fused into it as well?

If that was the case, then calling it an Unyielding Spirit Soul was not wrong at all.

Thoughts churned through Mu Chen's mind, but Lin Jin had already begun.

A crimson fire lotus suddenly bloomed from his fingertips, instantly enveloping the Fire Elemental Sprite.

For a moment, the Fire Elemental Sprite resembled a fairy seated upon a lotus dais, wrapped layer upon layer in crimson petals.

At the same time, sizzling sounds suddenly came from her body.

Those terrifying black energies were being purified!

The Fire Elemental Sprite had worn an expression of pain, but upon sensing the energies corroding her being purified, she forgot the pain entirely and froze.

Then, her blazing gaze fell upon Lin Jin.

At that moment, Lin Jin actually sensed real, tangible emotion from the Fire Elemental Sprite.

Emotion that seemed to belong to a human!

His spirits lifted, and immediately afterward, he vaguely heard a voice in his mind—

"I am willing to follow you, but I hope you will avenge... 'me'...!"

"Me."

Clearly, the Fire Elemental Sprite had been corrupted too severely.

She had already fused together with the spiritual remnants of her original Spirit Master.

The "me" she spoke of was obviously the Spirit Master who had originally possessed the Fire Elemental Sprite.

Lin Jin knew he should not make promises lightly, but at that moment, he still nodded.

Then he saw a faint smile appear on the Fire Elemental Sprite's face.

Afterward, that human-like expression disappeared.

Lin Jin's heart sank, but he said nothing.

Crimson Lotus remained active, and before long, Lin Jin's Soul Power was nearly depleted.

But this time, Mu Chen had come prepared. He took out a cylindrical Soul Tool and guided the Soul Power stored within it into Lin Jin's body to sustain the consumption.

A Milk Bottle.

It was a Soul Tool that had existed since ten thousand years ago.

Now, with the development of Soul Tool technology, that name had been abandoned. Soul Batteries had appeared in its place, along with "super battery" technologies such as the One-way Spirit Guidance Array Source Core.

Although it fell within the realm of "taboo," it truly proved just how advanced Soul Tool technology had become.

A full hour later, the terrifying black energy on the Fire Elemental Sprite's body was completely purified.

Lin Jin was drenched in sweat, but a smile appeared on his face.

Just as he had predicted, purifying that terrifying black energy gave him feedback, just like when he had faced Wang Tao last time.

At that moment, his mind, body, and Soul Power all felt warm.

The purified Fire Elemental Sprite also displayed affection toward him and voluntarily fused with him. The process went remarkably smoothly.

Not long after.

A yellow Spirit Ring rose around Lin Jin, and the Soul Power aura emanating from his body surged straight to level 13.

Lin Jin had officially become a one-ring Spirit Master.

He immediately closed his eyes and sensed the Soul Skill granted by his first Spirit Ring.

Just then, urgent knocking sounded at the door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The knocking was reckless and irritating.

Lin Jin opened his eyes and looked at his teacher, Mu Chen, in confusion, only to see helplessness appear on Mu Chen's face.

The moment he unlocked the door—

It was kicked open with a bang, and a sharp female voice rang out—

"You old man Mu! I've only been away from home for how long, and you've already caused so much trouble? Do you know the forums are saying my dad is dead?"