Her expression was indifferent, without the slightest ripple, yet emotions she could scarcely conceal lay hidden in the depths of her beautiful eyes.
Tang Qingye formed hand seals. A soft, gentle gleam rose from his fingertips, turned into a faint soul rune, and slowly sank into Na Nali's soul origin.
"Open your Sea of Consciousness. Don't resist."
"I know. Hurry up."
Na Nali's delicate body trembled slightly. Fine beads of sweat seeped from her temples as waves of heavy, sinking restraint came from the depths of her Sea of Consciousness.
A faint seven-colored mark was thus branded deep within her Sea of Consciousness.
"Phew... is it over? Am I yours now?" The girl's long eyelashes kept trembling, her breathing slightly hurried.
The corner of Tang Qingye's mouth twitched. What kind of thing was that to say? Still, he did not deny it, because what had just happened was only the appetizer.
"Not yet. Don't resist me in a moment, or it might hurt your scales."
"What do you mean? Little brother, do you want to have a deeper exchange with your big sister?"
"Your big sister is really looking forward to it, you know?"
Tang Qingye said nothing and simply continued casting, while Na Nali watched him quietly.
Countless spiritual runes circulated and evolved within the Sea of Chaos.
Time trickled past. Within the Sea of Consciousness, faint specks of deep-blue light slowly gathered, and the ghostly outline of an ancient lamp gradually took shape in this star field.
The lamp's mouth opened slightly toward Na Nali. At the same time, strands of glowing spiritual runes linked together, weaving an invisible Soul Bond.
A tiny soul figure shot out from between Na Nali's brows, carrying vast spiritual power as it flew along the bond toward Tang Qingye's tiny soul figure.
A faint phantom of a Dark Green Bell vaguely circled the figure. Its sound waves surged, sending ripples through the air.
The two little figures entwined in the void, streams of light interweaving. There was me within you, but no you within me.
Na Nali's memories and origin continuously merged into Tang Qingye's little figure.
Na Nali's red lips parted slightly, and soft, hurried gasps spilled out, her full chest rising and falling gently.
At that moment, a crimson flush spread across her cheeks. Her breathing was slightly hurried, her watery gaze carrying a hint of hazy allure, and she unconsciously wrapped her arms around Tang Qingye.
As the tiny soul figures grappled in the void, the lamp's mouth opened again, and a powerful devouring force suddenly erupted.
The raging torrents of liquid filling the sky were sucked into the Soul Lantern like a tide, its phantom growing increasingly solid.
About an hour later, the instant the white spirit liquid filled every pattern on the lamp, the phantom became solid, and a deep-blue flame flickered gently within it.
A faint soul fluctuation spread outward. The little figure opened its eyes amid the battle, a glimmer of luminous blue flashing through their depths.
With that, the Soul Lantern Technique was successfully activated!
At the center of Nether Soul Mountain, the sword that had been floating quietly suddenly began humming violently. The ancient rust covering its blade peeled away in flakes and scattered like a receding tide.
The liquid swallowed into the lamp burned continuously within it, slowly turning into clusters of deep-blue soul flames that drifted out and constantly tempered the blade.
The second mountain range to awaken after the Cang Tian Mountain Range-myriad spiritual runes, all attack and no defense!
Deep-blue sword light soared into the heavens and tore through the sea of stars. Every stellar orbit shifted, and countless motes of stardust whirled around the blade.
Amid the sword's low hum, the hazy consciousness that had just emerged within it slowly gathered together, and a small, transparent Sword Spirit phantom floated out of the blade.
"Welcome to our big family, Second Baby." Tang Qingye gazed at the bewildered deep-blue artifact spirit.
"I'm your big brother. Remember that." Big Baby eagerly rushed over and began recounting his proud battle achievements.
"Don't listen to his bullshit. I'm the master's favorite."
"It's me!"
"It's me!!"
With all her strength drained away, Na Nali leaned limply in his arms, her face faintly pale and her breathing light and weak.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Tang Qingye's gaze fell on her pale face, and a trace of gentleness flashed through his usually calm eyes.
He adjusted his sitting position slightly and gathered her securely into his arms, letting her rest peacefully against his shoulder while his arms firmly supported her limp back.
At the same time, he infused taiyi origin into Na Nali's body, and her complexion gradually improved.
From her, he had obtained not only the origin needed to activate the Soul Lantern Technique, but also information about some of the Holy Spirit Cult's little maneuvers.
This time, his soul power had broken through level twenty in one leap-a six-year-old Soul Grandmaster!
His spiritual power had surged straight ahead as well, leaving him only one step from the threshold of the Spirit Abyss Realm.
Just a few more mergings would do it. This feeling of growing stronger while lying down really was wonderful.
Big Baby's soul power level had reached around ninety-two. With the Soul Lantern Technique's enhancement, unless someone at the Divine Origin Realm appeared, it really was chicken in sauce.
The sword lights nurtured within the Seven-Colored Heaven-Slaying Gourd: plus one.
Tang Qingye: I'm not lacking anything now!
Na Nali had likewise benefited greatly. The merging had not only resolved her Martial Soul's flaw, but also taken it a step further.
Once she refined the nether soul origin contained in the liquid within her body, both her soul power level and spiritual power would make breakthroughs.
Her physical body had probably benefited the most. As a spiritual-type Soul Master, Na Nali's body had been her weakness. Now, after Tang Qingye's baptism, her physical strength had already surpassed that of Soul Masters at the same level.
The morning sunlight was bright.
Tang Qingye opened his eyes. The changes in his Sea of Consciousness had left his body somewhat excited.
Tsk, this was a little uncomfortable.
Jiaojiao was still sleeping soundly, her long lashes lowered and her breathing even and deep. Her pretty face was buried against his neck, her sleeping posture utterly unguarded and peaceful.
His gaze slowly moved downward. She had kicked aside most of the bedding during the night, leaving her fair feet exposed. One white sock had vanished without a trace, while the other hung loosely from her toes.
Tang Qingye gently lifted her and placed her on the cotton pillow. He got up, picked up the sock on the floor, then slipped the white sock off her fair foot. Gathering both socks together, he gently placed them on the brocade-covered stool beside the bed.
After a quick wash with cold water to dampen his heat, he left the room.
He walked a few steps to the door of his master Leng Yaozhu's room and rang the doorbell.
"Master, it's me."
There was no answer, but the door opened on its own.
Tang Qingye entered the room. There was no one inside.
Noticing the light in the bathroom and the splashing of running water, Tang Qingye understood. But why was Master bathing in broad daylight?
He sat on the bed. A faint, elegant fragrance lingered over the bedding, a scent unique to her. Tang Qingye settled his mind and began considering the plan.
The Holy Spirit Cult's operation this time was led by Ghost Emperor, one of the Two Emperors. Three of the Four Heavenly Kings were mobilized: Dark Hummingbird, Dark Bell, and Dark Phoenix.
They had quite a few informants in the Blacksmith Association. In a few days, Zhen Hua would hold a Zhen Hua forging class in the main hall, and quite a few Saint Craftsmen would attend.
The plan was simple. Dark Phoenix Leng Yulai would use the Divine Artifact Spacetime Shuttle to store Level Nine Soul Cannon Shells, launch a frontal assault on the Blacksmith Association, and take everyone down with thunderous force, especially the Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua. Blacksmiths' souls were far more wonderful than ordinary people's.
An Evil Soul Master had once launched a deadly ambush against Zhen Hua. In the end, he had been rescued by Mu Ye, Sect Master of the Body Sect, and had only slowly recovered after receiving help from Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li.
Since then, Zhen Hua had rarely left Heaven Dou City.
Heaven Dou City was covered with Federation soul-guidance surveillance, Patrol Mecha, and the Federation Battle Armor Master Corps, but these fell far short of genuine Battle Armor Masters.
Not to mention that they also had a powerful expert who rarely acted to help cover their retreat. Almost all of the Holy Spirit Cult's high-level fighting strength had come this time. Their approach was a thunderous strike followed by a retreat at the speed of light.
The Holy Spirit Cult, which had always favored assassination and sneak attacks, had suddenly undergone a drastic change in temperament: deceiving the heavens to cross the sea, one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
With no powerful expert stationed there, what could the Blacksmith Association use to resist? By the time the Federation's people hurried over, they would see nothing but ruins. This would be a tremendous blow to the Federation and even the entire continent.
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