Linghua's Protection!

At this moment, Chen Feng's eyes widened. Kamisato Ayaka, the young lady of the Kamisato Clan from the game, had actually appeared right before him.

Chen Feng remembered that in the game, although Kamisato Ayaka was a young lady just like Ning Rongrong, she possessed an entirely different personality.

Ning Rongrong was willful, capricious, and rude.

It was as if the whole world revolved around her; she did exactly as she pleased, arrogant and overbearing!

However, Kamisato Ayaka was completely different.

She was dignified, elegant, intelligent, and resilient. She was sincere and graceful in her interactions with others, and even when dealing with the common people of Inazuma, she held no airs of a noble lady. She was deeply loved by the people of Inazuma, which earned her the title of "White Heron Princess."

Seeing Kamisato Ayaka, Chen Feng felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement in his heart.

Although he had long known that his system could summon characters, how could he suppress the impulse in his heart when a character truly appeared before him in physical form?

"Greetings, Traveler. It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time."

Kamisato Ayaka walked over slowly, stood before Chen Feng, and bowed slightly.

Chen Feng immediately replied, "Hello, Miss Kamisato Ayaka. My name is Chen Feng. I look forward to working with you."

As soon as he said this, Kamisato Ayaka smiled slightly, looked at Chen Feng, and said, "Traveler, although this is our first meeting, I am your retainer from now on. I would be even happier if you didn't use such formal titles."

Chen Feng scratched his head slightly, then reached out his hand and said, "Hello, Ayaka."

Looking at Chen Feng's outstretched hand, a blush inadvertently stained Ayaka's face. The cute beauty mark under her eye, set against the sunlight, made her delicate features appear even more stunningly beautiful.

At this moment, Chen Feng looked at Ayaka and asked, "Ayaka, do you know what the situation is now?"

Ayaka revealed a faint smile and looked at Chen Feng. "Although this is not the world I am familiar with, having the Traveler by my side makes me feel much more at ease. Rest assured, Traveler, now that Ayaka has become your retainer, I will support you always."

Hearing Ayaka's words, Chen Feng nodded slightly.

The characters summoned by this gacha system should function the same way as the characters he summoned in the game.

In the game, characters from the main storyline would not travel the world with the protagonist's party, but players could freely control the characters they summoned.

In this Douluo World, the principle should be the same.

Although the characters had independent personalities, all their actions would revolve around him.

Chen Feng smiled slightly and said, "Alright then, I look forward to your guidance in the future."

Kamisato Ayaka nodded slightly, then looked at Chen Feng and asked, "Traveler, is there anything you need my help with?"

Chen Feng looked at Kamisato Ayaka and asked, "Ayaka, do you know what your strength is in this world?"

Kamisato Ayaka thought for a moment, then said, "As for my strength, it should be about the same as yours, Traveler."

Just then, the system's voice rang out in Chen Feng's mind.

[The retainer obtained by the host through the gacha will automatically convert to the cultivation realm of the Douluo World. Furthermore, the strength of the retainer will be equal to that of the host; the stronger the host, the stronger the retainer will be.]

Hearing the system's voice, Chen Feng roughly understood the meaning.

In other words, since he was currently a level 19 Spirit Master, the Kamisato Ayaka he summoned would also automatically possess the strength of a level 19 Spirit Master.

Chen Feng nodded slightly after hearing this.

Although the summoned retainer wasn't much stronger than him, Chen Feng didn't mind.

After all, in a world like Douluo, which was essentially the "basement" of fantasy settings, becoming stronger should be a simple matter. He wasn't the type of man to rely on a woman to protect him.

Moreover, Chen Feng had another way to level up.

That's right, Martial Soul Fusion and upgrading!

Chen Feng remembered the system saying when it first appeared that summoned characters would follow the host into battle, while summoned weapons could be fused with the host's Martial Soul to upgrade it.

In addition to Kamisato Ayaka, he had also summoned many weapons. Although he hadn't pulled any five-star weapons, these items were still far superior to his own iron sword.

If his iron sword Martial Soul could fuse with these weapons, perhaps he could upgrade his Martial Soul.

Thinking of this, Chen Feng looked at Kamisato Ayaka and said, "Ayaka, can you... guard me?"

"Guard you? Does the Traveler mean that you intend to cultivate, and you want me to protect you while you do so?" Kamisato Ayaka asked, looking at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng nodded. "Ayaka is truly clever; you understood my meaning before I even explained it."

As soon as Chen Feng finished speaking, a shy crimson flush appeared on Kamisato Ayaka's pretty face. She lowered her head and said, "Since the Traveler needs me to guard you, Ayaka will certainly do my utmost to protect you."

"That's great! Thank you, Ayaka!" Chen Feng said excitedly.

Ayaka nodded, stood by Chen Feng's side, and began to guard him earnestly.

Chen Feng looked at Ayaka and couldn't help but think to himself.

They were both young ladies of noble status, so why was the gap between Ning Rongrong and Ayaka so vast?

Chen Feng walked over to the summoned weapons, sat down cross-legged, and said, "System."

[Ding, the system is at your service.]

"I need to perform a Martial Soul Fusion upgrade!" Chen Feng stated.

[Which weapon does the host wish to use for the Martial Soul Fusion?]

"All of them!"

Chen Feng did not hesitate, pouring all the weapons he had drawn into his Martial Soul in one go.

Immediately, the weapons surrounding Chen Feng began to float, circling around him to form a ring that enclosed him within.

Then, these weapons slowly surged toward Chen Feng, eventually dissipating into specks of light.

At this moment, Chen Feng summoned his Iron Sword Martial Soul, and the specks of light gradually merged into it, finally becoming one with the blade.

In that instant, a golden light erupted from Chen Feng's Iron Sword Martial Soul, shooting straight into the sky with blinding brilliance!

A terrifying aura instantly radiated outward.

As Chen Feng underwent the fusion, the surrounding Soul Beasts were gradually drawn to the scene.

Kamisato Ayaka stood guard by Chen Feng's side as the Soul Beasts began to close in on her.

Drawing the blade at her waist, Kamisato Ayaka looked at the beasts and declared firmly, "Inazuma Kamisato Art Tachi Jutsu Kaiden—Kamisato Ayaka is here; I will not let you harm the traveler!"

The Soul Beasts lunged at Kamisato Ayaka, though they were merely ten-year and hundred-year beasts, possessing little strength.

Kamisato Ayaka immediately unleashed the Soul Skill converted from her own technique.

"Soul Skill—Kamisato Art: Hyouka!"

The next moment, the tachi in Kamisato Ayaka's hand bloomed with a terrifying icy radiance. Instantly, the temperature within a dozen meters plummeted, and all the vegetation became coated in thick frost.

The Soul Beasts were frozen solid in an instant, turning into pillars of ice.

"Shatter!"

Kamisato Ayaka gave a light command, and the frozen beasts instantly exploded, turning into ice crystals.

One by one, Soul Rings began to appear around the pair.

ROAR—

Just then, a furious roar echoed from the forest, and a Saber-Toothed Demon Tiger charged out from the trees.

A violent aura erupted from the Saber-Toothed Demon Tiger, instantly saturating the air.

This was a—thousand-year Soul Beast!