One Year Later

Ever since Na'er joined their big family, time had flown by.

Tang Li had joined the Spirit Pagoda Aolai City Branch as Director Lin Ye's assistant. Every morning, he studied Soul Master knowledge at school, and every afternoon, he went to the Spirit Pagoda to cultivate his soul power.

With the help of the Spirit Pagoda's specially designed Meditation Rooms, Tang Li had forcibly raised his soul power by six ranks over the past year. He was now Rank 19, only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to Rank 20.

With Evil Monarch, that Big Eyed fellow, constantly helping him, his spiritual power had also risen rapidly. It had surpassed 180 and reached the Intermediate Spirit Connection Realm.

With the support of Spirit Connection Realm spiritual power, Tang Li had finished learning all the Soul Master knowledge taught at the Primary Academy in barely half a year. He spent the rest of his time studying Soul Tools and mecha knowledge.

Whenever he had time, Tang Li went to see his father, Tang Ziran. Under his guidance, Tang Li could now easily make Rank-2 Soul Tools. A month ago, he had even used scrap materials in Tang Ziran's workshop to make Na'er a toy containing a Rank-2 Soul Tool Core.

Nourished by the dragon aura on Tang Wulin and Na'er, Tang Li's physical strength had also improved considerably. Before Tang Wulin had undone the Golden Dragon King's First Seal, Tang Li's physical capabilities were already about on par with hers.

According to the Spirit Pagoda's tests, this was roughly the level of an ordinary non-strength-type Three-Ring Soul Elder.

Under such circumstances, Tang Wulin had also been spurred on by his insane competitive drive. She cultivated diligently alongside him and finally broke through to Rank-10 Soul Power today, allowing her to fuse with her first Soul Spirit.

That Iron-Backed Earth Dragon had long been prepared for her. At last, it was about to meet its true master.

After the theory class at school ended, Tang Wulin rode to the Spirit Pagoda branch with Tang Li and followed Lin Ye to fuse with her first Soul Spirit.

Tang Wulin had long learned from Tang Li that her first Soul Spirit would be a century-old Sub-Dragon Soul Beast. As a powerful Soul Beast with dragon blood, the Iron-Backed Earth Dragon was unquestionably near the top of the food chain.

Before the fusion, Lin Ye reminded Tang Wulin to be careful. Dragon-type Soul Beasts were rather proud, so if it did not work out, she should give up and he would find her another one.

Tang Li yawned upon hearing this and went off to cultivate in the Meditation Room. If it had been another Soul Spirit, Tang Wulin might have faced some danger. But when dealing with a dragon-blooded Soul Beast like the Iron-Backed Earth Dragon, Tang Wulin was its strictest ancestor.

If this Iron-Backed Earth Dragon possessed even half of Big Eyed's intelligence, the instant it sensed the dragon aura on Tang Wulin, it should have dropped to its knees and crawled over to perform a full prostration, begging Tang Wulin to accept a tiny shrimp like it.

Inside the Meditation Room, Tang Li sat cross-legged and circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill that Buddha Tang had "given" him.

A year had passed, and Tang Li had cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill to the completion of its first level. Once his soul power broke through Rank 20, he could enter the second level.

Over the past year, the Plane Will had sent him another wisp of Fire of Chaos. After the Demon-Sealing Pot swallowed this miraculous flame, Tang Li could clearly feel that both his soul power and spiritual power were constantly being tempered by it and the Demon-Sealing Pot.

In Tang Li's view, something that could make the Demon-Sealing Pot tremble and easily unlock its sealed abilities was definitely no ordinary object. It had surely already touched upon the realm of gods.

Unfortunately, whenever he asked the Plane Will about it, this being who called himself Elder Ling always gave vague answers. He only told Tang Li that it was a cosmic wonder. As for its true purpose, Tang Li would naturally learn it once he broke through to Rank 95 and inherited the position of Master of the Plane.

Seeing this, Tang Li stopped asking. There was not only the restraint of their contract between him and Elder Ling, but Elder Ling had also given Tang Li considerable guidance over the years. Tang Li had a good impression of him.

The soul power within his body flowed smoothly, his circulation cycle ran flawlessly, and the ambient soul power between heaven and earth surged toward Tang Li's body like swallows returning to their nest.

With the Qi Luck Power blessed by the Plane Will, soul power would merge into Tang Li's body even if he sat still. This level of soul power affinity allowed him to enter a deep meditation state at any time, something ordinary people might never encounter in their entire lives.

Moreover, he could leave this meditative state whenever he wished. Deep meditation was practically no different from ordinary meditation for him.

Not long after, Tang Wulin also arrived at the Meditation Room. According to the rules, she could cultivate here for an entire day, one of the benefits of purchasing a century-old Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda.

The moment Tang Wulin entered the Meditation Room, she discovered that the soul power here was vastly different from that outside, and she became somewhat interested in the Spirit Pagoda.

But the instant that interest arose, it was suppressed by some kind of obsession, as if the destiny hidden within her bloodline would not allow her to think that way.

"Fusion complete?"

Tang Li opened his eyes and looked at Tang Wulin before him. A year had passed, and now that she had fused with a Soul Spirit, Tang Wulin had grown taller than him.

"Mm. Uncle Lin said I got lucky. This Iron-Backed Earth Dragon had a trace of Golden Bloodline, and it happened to be activated while I fused with it, causing it to mutate. It's called a Golden-Backed Earth Dragon now."

The moment she mentioned this, Tang Wulin immediately perked up. She stretched out her hand, and the summoned miniature Golden-Backed Earth Dragon lay on her palm. This normally ferocious Sub-Dragon was now as docile as a kitten, letting Tang Wulin pet it however she liked without even hissing.

Tang Li's gaze fell upon the Earth Dragon, whose iron armor had turned dark gold. He knew full well that this was probably due to Tang Wulin herself and had absolutely nothing to do with any so-called hidden bloodline activation.

At this moment, the Golden-Backed Earth Dragon trembled under the gaze of the Tang Wulin siblings. One side was the supreme majesty of an exalted bloodline, while the other was absolute suppression at the level of the soul.

"Awoo!"

The Golden-Backed Earth Dragon quickly failed to hold on. It let out a gentle cry toward Tang Wulin, but it sounded nothing like a dragon's roar. Instead, it sounded more like a little animal acting cute.

Tang Wulin did not think much of it. With a thought, she put it away, then sat beside Tang Li and said, "Xiao Li, I've forged another batch of metal recently. Teacher Mang Tian was in a good mood and gave me a small piece of Sinking Silver. How about we use it to make Na'er a gift?"

"Sure. I'm fine with anything. Just bring it over when the time comes, and I'll make it."

Tang Li had no objections. Na'er had come to their home when she was five and a half years old. Half a year ago, Tang Ziran had spent money to take her for a Martial Soul awakening, but the result had shocked everyone.

Na'er did not have a Martial Soul at all. The Spirit Master in charge had been so stunned that he kept exclaiming that he had truly broadened his horizons.

From then on, Tang Wulin often dragged Tang Li along to prepare little gifts for Na'er, afraid that she might take it too hard.

However, Na'er took her lack of a Martial Soul quite well. She only felt a little guilty for having spent the family's money without getting any results.

But neither Tang Ziran nor Lang Yue cared about that. Awakening outside the designated awakening day did cost quite a bit, but Tang Ziran could certainly afford it. With the family's care, Na'er gradually stopped caring about it as well.

Speaking of forging, Tang Wulin truly was extraordinarily gifted. Mang Tian, the regular metal supplier for Tang Ziran's workshop, had invited Tang Wulin to try out his studio after learning that her Martial Soul was the Clear Sky Hammer.

Tang Ziran also thought it was a good idea and let Tang Wulin go. But that one visit completely won Mang Tian over!

Tang Wulin's talent for forging was maxed out. Combined with the weight of the Golden-Patterned Clear Sky Hammer, ordinary forging hammers could not compare at all. She was simply a born blacksmith.

The most outrageous part was Tang Wulin's body. Tang Li had originally thought his sister would turn into a musclebound giant from all that forging work, but after a whole year, she had only grown taller. Her figure remained as well-proportioned as ever.