The very next moment after Xia Sheng and his brothers finalized their plan for "free power leveling."
Soulfire's sea of consciousness successfully took shape beside Xia Sheng's Spinal Star River, and blue tendrils instantly spread throughout his body.
Outside, Xia Sheng's tightly shut eyes suddenly opened.
The clarity that had belonged to Xia Sheng vanished from his eyes, replaced by two fiercely burning masses of dark blue flame.
Soulfire slowly lowered its head and spread its hands. A layer of flickering blue soul flame burst to life across its body, radiating the oppressive force of soul power.
"Haha-hahahaha!"
Uncontrollable laughter burst from "Xia Sheng's" mouth, filled with the satisfaction of finally getting its moment.
Although it had not obtained this body's memories, it had at least succeeded in possessing it.
"I've done it!" Soulfire shouted through Xia Sheng's vocal cords.
As it sensed this body brimming with potential, even the most basic control through external connections offered a smoothness of power circulation and compatibility that far surpassed its body at its peak.
"Perfect. Simply the perfect vessel."
It excitedly tried moving the body.
Controlling Xia Sheng, it raised an arm and flexed his fingers. As soul power circulated, it began drawing on the power of rules contained within this body.
It did not know how to invoke rules.
But the rules had long since merged with this body, like an inborn instinct.
Once it mastered the knack, it could use them as naturally as breathing.
It settled its mind, released soul power, and tried to imitate the internal rhythm of Xia Sheng's earlier use of power.
On its first attempt, a faint golden light flashed across its palm, then instantly went out like a guttering candle in the wind.
On the second, the golden light gathered slightly, forming the vague