"Little Lin, let's begin fusing the Soul Spirit."
Han Tianyi spoke calmly, though a trace of barely concealed anticipation threaded through his voice.
"All right, Teacher."
Fang Lin gave a slight nod, composed and steady.
He reached out and wrapped his five fingers around the Soul Spirit Orb, then squeezed.
"Crack..."
The Soul Spirit Orb shattered with a sharp sound, dissolving into scattered points of blue light.
Almost at the same moment, a savage, violent aura surged out of the shattered orb, like a Ferocious Beast imprisoned for too long finally catching the scent of freedom.
The Golden Dragon Mastiff snapped its eyes open. Its golden, slit pupils blazed with menace, radiating an innate dominance and wildness.
It opened its huge jaws, baring a row of gleaming, razor-sharp fangs, and let out a low growl from deep in its throat.
"Grrr—!!!"
The terrifying roar made the air tremble.
Fang Lin looked at the mighty Golden Dragon Mastiff before him and smiled with satisfaction. "Not bad. You've got plenty of spirit. This is the Soul Spirit I wanted."
The Golden Dragon Mastiff visibly froze for a moment.
It sensed something strange in Fang Lin's gaze. It wasn't fear, nor reverence, but a kind of... appraisal?
The Golden Dragon Mastiff was suddenly overcome by a fury it had never felt before, as though it had been deeply insulted.
It growled even more deeply. Golden light blazed around its body, and it lowered its four limbs, poised to pounce.
"Quiet."
Fang Lin spoke lightly. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
Golden Dragon King Martial Soul, possess me!
In the next instant, a terrifying, overbearing dragon's might spread everywhere, as if a mountain had toppled and heavenly power had descended.
This was the bloodline pressure of the Golden Dragon King: noble, ancient, and domineering, compelling every Soul Beast under heaven to bow in submission.
The Golden Dragon Mastiff's body stiffened.
A fear from the depths of its soul, from the very source of its bloodline, seized it—one it could not suppress.
Like a cold tide, it instantly drowned its savagery and fury.
"Grr!"
The Golden Dragon Mastiff let out an unwilling roar, its defiant spirit clear.
It fought desperately against the urge to kneel, and stubborn, ferocious light flared once more in its golden, slit pupils.
"Interesting."
A flicker of admiration crossed Fang Lin's eyes, and he gave a slight nod.
He could clearly see that even under absolute bloodline suppression, the Golden Dragon Mastiff was still resisting through sheer, unyielding will.
If it had been that two-faced Tyrant Dragon Soul Spirit, it would have submitted without hesitation long ago.
"Golden Dragon Mastiff, submit to me."
Fang Lin spoke again, his voice calm but leaving no room for refusal.
Brilliant golden light filled his eyes, like a pair of everlasting golden pupils, deep as an abyss and imposing as a prison.
Beneath that golden light, even heaven and earth seemed to lose their color.
An even more terrifying dragon's might descended once more, bearing down like a tangible weight.
The Golden Dragon Mastiff trembled all over, its limbs on the verge of buckling. An unwilling growl rumbled in its throat as it dug its forepaws into the ground.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
At last, the Golden Dragon Mastiff slowly lowered its proud head.
The menace faded from its golden, slit pupils, replaced by a complicated expression.
There was reluctance and struggle, but above all, a deep... acknowledgment.
This wasn't submission to bloodline pressure. It was recognition of Fang Lin.
This human possessed not only great power, but also an unshakable will.
Following a powerhouse like him was no disgrace.
The Golden Dragon Mastiff silently added in its heart, "Of course... it's not that I didn't want to resist. I really had no choice."
"Mm."
Seeing this, Fang Lin nodded in satisfaction.
He raised his hand, and his vast, ocean-like spiritual power instantly spread out, enveloping the Golden Dragon Mastiff completely.
In the next moment, the Golden Dragon Mastiff's form began to grow faint and disappear.
It all transformed into pure energy, condensing into a deep violet glow that slowly merged into Fang Lin's body.
"Boom!"
Fang Lin felt a surging torrent of energy erupt all at once, like a river bursting its banks and rushing wildly through his meridians.
Every inch of flesh and every strand of sinew greedily absorbed the power, seeming to release silent cries of delight.
But at that moment, his consciousness was suddenly pulled into the Mental Space.
It was a boundless expanse of nothingness. There was no sky or earth, only endless void stretching out before him, deep and silent.
The Nine-Colored Origin Core floated quietly, radiating a gentle, nine-colored glow.
It was the color of chaos at the dawn of creation, mysterious beyond words.
As for the Gate of Darkness, it still stood silently, solemn and imposing.
Fang Lin stared at the Nine-Colored Origin Core in a daze, vaguely sensing that it seemed... brighter than before.
"Boom!!!"
Just then, a streak of golden light burst from the Nine-Colored Origin Core!
The golden light welled out of the Origin Core, turning into a warm current that slowly flowed into his Sea of Consciousness.
Warm, immense, profound.
Fang Lin felt as though his consciousness had been immersed in a hot spring, comfortable and at peace.
Time passed. He had no idea how long.
Fang Lin slowly opened his eyes. Golden light flashed and vanished from their depths, leaving them as deep as an abyss.
His First Soul Ring had successfully fused with the Golden Dragon Mastiff!
A violet Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath him, its light swirling as it gave off a heart-chilling aura.
He carefully sensed the power surging through his body and felt stronger than ever before.
His Soul Power surged higher and higher, like a raging tide, breaking through one bottleneck after another until it reached level fourteen!
Fang Lin turned to Han Tianyi, his face brimming with the spirited confidence of youth. "Teacher, I did it."
"Not bad."
Han Tianyi nodded slightly, his tone calm, though a trace of relief flickered deep in his eyes.
He looked Fang Lin over, his gaze settling on the violet Soul Ring. "Little Lin, what's your First Soul Skill?"
"Hehe."
Fang Lin smiled, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Teacher, my First Soul Skill is called Golden Dragon Body."
"When I use it, all my attributes increase by one hundred percent for six minutes."
"And as my Soul Power Level rises, every ten levels increase the boost by an additional ten percent, and the duration by another six minutes."
Han Tianyi's gaze sharpened slightly.
"All attributes increased by one hundred percent... and it grows stronger with him."
That meant the skill wouldn't lose value as Fang Lin grew stronger. On the contrary, it would become more and more powerful, more and more terrifying.
When Fang Lin reached the Titled Douluo level, just how frightening would the skill's boost be?
Even with all his experience, Han Tianyi couldn't help showing a trace of surprise.
Han Tianyi nodded slowly, a touch of approval entering his voice. "This Soul Skill suits your Golden Dragon Martial Soul extremely well."
"The Golden Dragon is renowned for its mighty physique and terrifying strength. With the all-around boost from Golden Dragon Body, your close-combat ability... will be terrifying indeed."
"Yes, Teacher."
Fang Lin smiled slightly.