Fusion, Life's Baptism

Zhang Lexuan nodded at his words. As long as it could help Lin Ming, she would do it without hesitation.

With Zhang Lexuan standing guard, Lin Ming began attempting to fuse with the Blade of Life.

He was not quite sure what method to use and could only feel his way through it by instinct.

Still, Lin Ming was someone favored by two God Kings. How could his luck possibly be bad?

He pressed the Blade of Life against his forehead and tried to establish a connection between it and his Sea of Spirit.

This method actually worked. Under Lin Ming's control, his spiritual power truly formed a slight connection with the Blade of Life.

A powerful urge suddenly rose within him, urging him to use the Blade of Life to stab himself in the brow.

Lin Ming had always been the sort to follow his instincts. Once he had an idea, he let go and boldly acted on it.

When Lin Ming had purified the Blade of Life earlier, the Blessing of the Goddess of Life had already taken effect.

Now that Lin Ming was about to fuse with the Blade of Life, the Blessing of Life she had bestowed would play an even more important role.

With the Blessing of Life enhancing him, Lin Ming was naturally compatible with all things containing the power of life, let alone the Blade of Life, which contained an immensely vast life force.

After sensing the Blessing of Life within Lin Ming, the Blade of Life was like a traveler meeting an old friend in a foreign land, instinctively developing a sense of closeness toward him.

Before Lin Ming could react, the Blade of Life floated up on its own. Its tip pointed directly at his forehead and plunged in.

Lin Ming only felt a faint prick of pain in his forehead, and then that was it.

"That's all?"

Lin Ming's consciousness entered his Sea of Spirit, where he indeed found an emerald-green orb brimming with vitality resting quietly within it.

As his consciousness returned to reality, Lin Ming tried summoning the Blade of Life once more.

At a thought from him, a flash of green light lit up on his forehead. Then, the Blade of Life flew out from his forehead and landed in Lin Ming's hand.

"Lin Ming, this carving knife looks so miraculous. It can actually merge into your body. Being ranked ninety-ninth really does it an injustice."

What Zhang Lexuan said was exactly what Lin Ming was thinking.

If the Blade of Life were ranked again, Lin Ming truly did not think the current first place would be stronger than it.

Putting away the Blade of Life, Lin Ming waved to Zhang Lexuan. "Let's go, Sister Lexuan. It's time to head back."

Now that the Blade of Life was in hand, there was no need to remain in the Star Luo Empire.

For their return journey, the two of them traveled on horseback again.

To make the trip faster, Lin Ming had specifically bought an excellent steed, supposedly capable of covering a thousand li in a day.

This time, Lin Ming still rode while Zhang Lexuan sat behind him.

For some reason, after Lin Ming fused with the Blade of Life, Zhang Lexuan felt that the impression he gave her had changed.

The current Lin Ming radiated a holy, majestic aura. Coupled with the occasional life aura emanating from him, he naturally inspired both closeness and reverence.

A few days later, the two finally returned to Shrek City.

More than half of the holiday remained, so there were hardly any Shrek students to be seen in the city.

"Sister Lexuan, let's eat first."

Naturally, they chose the snack street in the East District.

Only there could they experience the rare bustle of the holiday.

"Lin Ming!"

From far away, Lin Ming heard Tang Ya's voice.

She, Beibei, and Jiang Nannan were sitting together at a roadside snack stall.

The three of them had nowhere to go during the holiday, so they simply remained in Shrek.

Lin Ming and Zhang Lexuan walked over, pulled over two chairs beside them, and sat down.

"Lin Ming, why do I feel like you've become a completely different person after going out?"

It was not just Zhang Lexuan. Beibei and the other two had also sensed the change in Lin Ming's temperament.

Lin Ming merely smiled and did not answer.

"Level thirty-six already. Looks like you didn't slack off in your cultivation during the holiday, Lao Bei."

Beibei proudly lifted his chin. "Of course. Who am I? I'm Thunderbolt Beibei!"

But before he could gloat for long, Lin Ming poured cold water over him. "But I'm already level forty-eight. I'll likely break through to Soul King before second year ends. Can you break through to Soul Ancestor in your second year, Lao Bei?"

Beibei, who had just been brimming with pride, immediately wilted at those words.

His breakthrough to level thirty-six had not come from hard work, but because his talent was sufficient and his Soul Power had accumulated enough for the breakthrough to come naturally.

As for whether he could reach level forty and become a Soul Ancestor in his second year, Beibei truly was not confident.

Four levels a year would not be too difficult if he were willing to work hard.

But the problem was that he went out to have fun with Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan every day, leaving him with practically no time to cultivate.

His long-term laziness had also become a habit, and he often put cultivation out of his mind.

Seeing Beibei stammering, Lin Ming let out a long sigh in his heart. Lao Bei, I finally managed to save you. You can't fall back into it again!

Lin Ming quietly decided that he would start training Beibei again when they got back.

After eating, Lin Ming and Zhang Lexuan returned to the Inner Court first.

The moment Lin Ming pushed open the door to his home, he saw this scene.

Lin Feng and Lao Deng stood there looking utterly exhausted, while in front of them was Ma Xiaotao, whose Evil Fire had flared up again.

The room was already in complete disarray.

Ever since Ma Xiaotao moved in, Yan Shaozhe, his nominal teacher, had handed the task of caring for Ma Xiaotao over to Lin Feng.

Whenever Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire acted up, Lin Feng could only carefully suppress her, protecting the furniture while making sure not to hurt her.

When Lin Feng saw Lin Ming return, it was as though he had seen a savior.

"Grandson, quick! Come help!"

Looking at the mess in the house and the haggard expression on Lin Feng's old face, Lin Ming's face darkened.

He walked over to the frenzied Ma Xiaotao.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together.

The Prayer Angel Martial Soul was released.

A soft white light bloomed at Lin Ming's fingertips.

Lin Ming pressed his fingers against Ma Xiaotao's forehead.

As the Soul Power of the Prayer Angel Martial Soul flowed in, Ma Xiaotao's mind, engulfed by Evil Fire, gradually cleared.

Her entire body trembled pleasantly.

That familiar sensation returned. A faint wisp of Power of Faith flew out from Ma Xiaotao's body and merged into Lin Ming.

From Ma Xiaotao's perspective, her vision had been blurry while she was out of control, and her mind had contained nothing but endless agitation.

But just then, a figure radiating holy light appeared before Ma Xiaotao.

That figure was deeply etched into her heart.

An inexplicable sense of reverence toward Lin Ming was deeply engraved within Ma Xiaotao's heart.

At this moment, Lin Ming was like a god in her heart.

At the same time, an unusual feeling slowly began to sprout in Ma Xiaotao's heart. Lin Ming remained unaware of all this.