Fuse with Me

In the simulated ancient forest of Star Dou, whose canopy blotted out the sky and sun, the rising and falling calls of insects and birds fell silent beneath a roar.

The earth trembled. The air carried damp, rank odors mixed with bloodlust surging skyward. It seemed something else had met an unfortunate end.

The pressure came from a predator at the very top of the pyramid. Even through hundreds of meters of ancient trees, its thunderous, muffled roar shook the mind.

"This old veteran actor has only just passed the thousand-year mark."

Tang Qingye stopped, his feet planted on slippery moss, and looked into the dark depths of the forest.

Even without using his domain, that damned bear's roar and aura were far too distinctive.

A thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was an overwhelming force in the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform. Even in the intermediate platform, it would have had a place.

An existence standing at the pinnacle of the Soul Beast Realm could rival an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast with only a thousand years of cultivation. If an ordinary Soul Elder ran into it, they could start preparing the funeral banquet. The Spirit Pagoda's medical team was pretty good, at least.

Leng Nu Jiao's expression turned solemn. Ink Jade Spirit Bamboo appeared in her hand, her soul power poised to surge.

She stood in front of the boy. "Young master, let me handle this."

Although the Spirit Ascension Platform was virtual, in a certain sense, it was also real. Every sensation inside was exactly the same as in reality. There was no way Leng Nu Jiao could watch Tang Qingye get hurt-not even if he merely felt it!

"Nu Jiao, I'm afraid of you getting hurt too."

Tang Qingye tilted his head slightly. Looking at her long lashes trembling with tension, a rare trace of gentleness crossed his lips.

Leng Nu Jiao's slender body stiffened. She met the boy's mismatched eyes, seeing a look he had never shown throughout the past half day. She felt as though her mind would be drawn into them, and the tips of her ears inexplicably grew hot.

This young master was a little domineering, but she did not seem to dislike the feeling.

"Trust me, Nu Jiao. This mountain sage has a clever plan. I'm only going to test it a little. Now fall back and cover me."

Leng Nu Jiao bit her lower lip. Her young master's tone allowed no refusal, but she clutched her spirit bamboo tightly and sharpened her focus to the utmost, her soul power ready to burst forth as she prepared to join the battle at any moment.

Roar!

A violent crash shattered the forest's silence. A massive beast covered in dark-gold metallic fur brutally knocked down a thousand-year divine tree and strode onto the battlefield with an overwhelming presence.

It was over five meters long, its shoulders as broad as a city wall. At the ends of its grotesquely enormous forearms, five dark-gold claws a meter long scraped together like spearheads, producing piercing shrieks in the air.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear fixed its savage eyes on Tang Qingye. Sensing his flourishing vitality, which made him seem like a human-shaped treasure herb, its eyes fired scarlet laser beams, and drool spilled uncontrollably from its mouth.

Naturally, Tang Qingye knew this tasty bear had taken him for food. He sank his breath into his lower abdomen and exhaled stale air. His domain...

Unfurled!

Boom!

Within a hundred-meter radius, ancient trees and weeds swayed like mad. They all swayed together! It was as though their king had forcibly requisitioned them.

The domineering properties of his cheat-like domain were laid bare at that moment-boundless plant vitality and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became wisps of azure light, plundered madly from ancient tree roots in every direction and continuously absorbed into Tang Qingye until his body reached its limit. If used on a battlefield or against a tide of low- to mid-level soul beasts, this ability would practically have no counter, because it could even drain dead things. Jiejiejie.

He closed his right hand around empty air, and a long spear of soul power emerged against the tide.

His first soul skill, Azure Sky Marrow, flashed purple. Enchant All Things activated, and a deep-azure droplet as translucent as glass merged into the spear tip. Spiraling patterns of azure and white wound around the shaft.

The enormous creature sprang into motion, as fast as a dark-gold thunderbolt. Five dark-gold claw rays tore through space, dragging air currents several meters long as they came crashing down at Tang Qingye's head and face! The sight sent Leng Nu Jiao's heart into her throat.

"Young master..."

Its innate soul skill, Dark Gold Dreadclaw!

Tang Qingye pushed off the ground, using the domain's spiritual energy to slide half a step backward. His spear thrust out like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

With the Taiyi Azure Wood Mark domain feeding him a view of the entire area, he avoided the five sharpest blade rays and drove his spear tip at a cunning angle into the weak point where soul power converged within the dreadclaw!

Clang!

The spear tip clashed head-on with the dark-gold claws. The shaft began to deform as their soul power collided. The dreadclaw swept forward like a blade splitting bamboo, but his spear was hardly blunt either.

That thrust punched a small hole through the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's supposedly indestructible claw. The damage was slight, but the humiliation was immense. Its bestial instincts instantly drove it into a frenzy. Its dark-gold fur erupted with dazzling light, and its overwhelmingly powerful blood energy surged like a tsunami, steaming the flying dust into white mist. Its berserk strength directly shattered the white-bone spear into fragments that filled the air.

The lingering dark-gold edge had already sliced through the air before the boy's chest, seemingly intent on tearing him apart.

The next instant, Tang Qingye eerily appeared above the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's head. All his Azure Sky Power gathered in his right fist, which smashed downward through the air, its azure radiance tearing through the void.

Tang Qingye's disappearance left the bear's face blank with bewilderment as its strength struck nothing. By the time the stupid bear sensed the fist's radiance, it was too late. It could only hastily swing its enormous claws upward and fiercely attack the azure fist-light with its face.

Tang Qingye's expression remained unchanged. Forming a seal with one hand, he condensed countless streams of life force into a deep-azure protective membrane as thin as a cicada's wing across his skin.

Sky Shield.

Bang!

The claws slammed into the membrane. The instant the Sky Shield dissipated the last force of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw, it shattered with a crisp crack, scattering azure light through the air.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear beside him was not so fortunate. The fist-light struck it squarely in the center of its face.

With a muffled explosion, its entire face caved inward. Its dark-gold hide split, and blood streamed from the cracks. Its enormous body crashed down, collapsing the earth beneath its feet and sending shattered stones and dust flying everywhere. It shook violently with pain, its right arm frozen in midair. A bloody haze clouded its vicious eyes, and agonized, furious growls rolled from its throat. The blow had probably hit its brainstem.

The moment his shield shattered, he had already ridden the recoil backward, gliding away as smoothly as a streak of light.

And the place he drifted toward was the tightly wound Leng Nu Jiao behind him... or rather, her arms.

Seeing Tang Qingye thrown backward by the residual force, Leng Nu Jiao's beautiful eyes suddenly narrowed. Instinctively, she spread her arms to catch him.

The next second, the boy's body crashed straight into her embrace. The sensation of that moment was something ordinary people could hardly experience.

It was all because of the recoil. Tang Qingye's face sank firmly into the lush, soft fullness of her chest.

Astonishing elasticity and warmth reached him through her clothes, along with wafts of fragrance. Whether it was the girl's natural scent or...

Not only that, Tang Qingye's slightly cool hands slipped around her slender waist, drawing her fully into his embrace with his backward momentum.

Leng Nu Jiao's brain crashed for a moment. Within a Planck time, her worried face flushed crimson. Her alluring lashes trembled, and the tips of her ears turned so red they looked ready to bleed.

When had this little rose of icy beauty ever been touched so intimately by a man, let alone in such an embarrassing place?

"Y-young master..."

"Nu Jiao, I'm out of strength. It's your turn to move next. Fuse with me."

The boy in her arms raised his head slightly. There was not the slightest trace of injured distress in his mismatched eyes-only the certainty of victory and the satisfaction of having gotten his way.

"F-fuse? What do you mean, fuse?! Ah!"

Before Leng Nu Jiao could finish voicing her confusion, it became a startled cry muffled in her throat.

Outside, his darling master watched the screen and rubbed her temples, unsure whether to laugh or cry. On-screen, her little boy had buried his face in Nu Jiao's soft embrace, his restless hands still wrapped around her willow-slender waist.

"That little scoundrel... How does he have so many tricks at such a young age? Once he grows up, won't even... No, I daren't imagine it. My thoughts actually went astray!"

Leng Yaozhu scolded him with a smile, but relief and gratification crossed her phoenix eyes. He had only been inside for half a day, and he had already almost won over Leng Nu Jiao, who had always been aloof and unsmiling. It looks like I was completely overthinking my worries about whether these two would get along. But isn't this progressing a little too quickly? He really won't let me rest easy. And Nu Jiao, too-show a little restraint!

Tang Qingye's palms tightened gently against her waist. The Azure Sky Power and the life force of the Taiyi Azure Wood Mark within him became an emerald torrent, pouring fiercely into Leng Nu Jiao without reservation!

Boom!

It was a sublimation of the soul and an evolution of the flesh.

Under the forceful infusion of this domineering origin power, Leng Nu Jiao's delicate body shook violently. A few drops of fragrant sweat appeared on her flushed cheeks. Clearly, the initial fusion with this power was somewhat painful.

She discovered in shock that the life, wind, and ice attributes within her martial soul, Ink Jade Spirit Bamboo, were undergoing a complete transformation beneath this sacred enhancement. Its appearance changed as well.

Hum!

Its lustrous jade color faded, and the long bamboo transformed into a profound, pure, ultimate black like dark crystal. The three-colored patterns flowing along its stalk refracted gorgeous, enchanting rays of light that intoxicated the senses.

Under Tang Qingye's forceful enhancement, the mid-tier Ink Jade Spirit Bamboo evolved into true Ink Jade Divine Bamboo!

Leng Nu Jiao's cultivation, originally that of a three-ring Soul Elder, skyrocketed at a jaw-dropping speed, rising steadily until the pressure of her soul power approached that of a Soul King! The wind, frost, and wood qi surging around her faintly displayed the supreme majesty of ultimate attributes.

Ahead, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, whose brains had been beaten senseless, began trembling upon sensing this sudden, terrifying pressure. Deep in its savage eyes flashed a trace of fear born from the depths of its bloodline. Yet its bestial instincts and lack of brains made it stand up again, its caved-in face releasing an abstract roar.

Knowing it was outmatched, it still fought to the death. Haki Bear, you rascal!

This fellow actually dared make it lose face. Kill! Kill!! Kill!!!

Tang Qingye still held Leng Nu Jiao's burning-hot waist. Slightly shorter than her, he nestled against her chest, his restless hands causing a little mischief and drawing an irritated protest from the beauty.

"Young master, stop it. That tickles. You can touch me after we deal with that bastard."

After Tang Qingye obediently stopped, the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo in Leng Nu Jiao's right hand swirled with three colors. The pressure of a Soul King crushed toward the stupid bear, and killing intent lay bare in her beautiful eyes.

The confrontation between them was now unquestionably a one-sided slaughter.

"Young master, hold on tight!"

Leng Nu Jiao gave a low shout and darted toward the stupid bear. At the same time, the three magnificent thousand-year soul rings beneath her feet flashed in succession.

Her first soul ring flashed, and Leng Nu Jiao swept her delicate hand. Forest of Kun - Heaven Prison.

A star chart of nature bloomed beneath her feet, and an unremarkable green seed fell from her hand to the ground.

As the seed entered the soil, the ground split open with a crash. Twisted, monstrous trees and thick demonic vines burst from the earth and grew wildly. Countless branches intertwined, constructing a sealed forest cage faster than the eye could follow.

Even if the target severed the vines, fresh branches grew from the cuts even faster. Layer upon layer of vegetation sealed every escape route and cut off all external spiritual energy, trapping the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear firmly inside the forest prison.

"Roar!!"

Trapped tightly within the Heaven Prison forest cage, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out an earth-shaking roar. Its enormous claws crossed as it frantically tore at the twisted trees around it.

Yet whenever its terrifying claws shredded the prison, the surrounding vines regenerated even faster under the Taiyi Azure Wood Mark domain's continuous spiritual-energy supply, binding its enormous body tightly into a giant rice dumpling.

The more it struggled, the tighter the bindings became.

Leng Nu Jiao pressed her advantage. Her second soul ring immediately shone, and she pointed the bamboo in her right hand toward the sky.

Azure wind-aspected ink bamboo revolved behind her as boundless wind elements converged frantically before her. Countless thin, sharp, thousand-leaf wind blades formed out of thin air, their blue-green edges filling the entire sky.

The wind blades swept forward like howling rain, slicing apart everything they touched. This move could also be drawn inward around her to form an airtight circular wind barrier, but unfortunately, there was no need.

The skyful of azure blade-rain shrieked as it tore through space, crashing down upon the trapped beast's head and face.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's dark-gold fur, which ordinary soul skills could not even penetrate, was sliced into countless fine, bloody wounds beneath the relentless bombardment of Extreme Wind-Falling Slaughter. The savage blood energy that had just surged out was shredded into bloody mist by the raging wind elements. More pitifully, its male vital parts suffered severe damage. That slicing sensation was far beyond what a mere "exquisitely painful" could describe!

Leng Nu Jiao's third soul ring erupted with a dazzling, long beam of icy blue. Power approaching ultimate ice revealed its might at that moment: Extreme Ice-Explosion.

Icy-blue star trails connected at her fingertips. Cold air gathered in the heavens, slowly forming a gigantic, translucent ice coffin that crashed down toward its target.

Thick ice sealed the prey completely inside the coffin. Bone-piercing cold seeped into its flesh, freezing the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's limbs, soul power, and blood. No matter how hard it exerted itself, it could hardly break free of the ice's restraints, and its consciousness gradually withered.

With a heavy crash, the huge bear's plump body fell flat inside the ice coffin. Amid the bone-piercing cold, its savage eyes gradually lost their struggling light. Once the revolving lantern of its memories finished, its sinful life came to an end.

Leng Nu Jiao tightened her right arm slightly, and her ice power instantly triggered the extreme cold hidden within the frozen body.

Crackling sounds first spread across the ice sculpture's surface, and dense cracks covered the entire frozen body. The next instant, a deafening explosion shook the heavens as the whole ice coffin burst apart.

A violent shock wave swept outward with countless sharp ice crystals, blasting a semicircular crater a hundred meters across and three meters deep into the ground. All the surrounding vegetation was reduced to dust. The stupid bear's remaining scraps of flesh flew everywhere amid shards of ice, while the ice that had imprisoned it became a bone-piercing frozen mist that enveloped the surroundings.

Inside the enormous crater, there was none of the spiritual energy that should have appeared when it dissipated. In its place lay a dark-gold bone.

All fell silent.

The entire primeval forest was riddled with devastation. Only the wind, frost, and wood qi surging around Leng Nu Jiao slowly subsided.

The coldness faded from Leng Nu Jiao's eyes, and her pretty face flushed crimson, because those hands had begun misbehaving again!

"Don't... Young master, it really tickles. Stop tickling me..." Leng Nu Jiao's words came in broken fragments, mingled with soft panting.

The boy in her arms lifted his face slightly, staring at her unblinkingly with his mismatched eyes as his lips curved.

"Nu Jiao, no means yes."

"Then yes..."

"As you command, Nu Jiao." The boy tickled her even harder.

"You're awful, young master. Fuse with the soul bone first."

And with that, their date through the Spirit Ascension Platform's upheaval came to a perfect end.