Chapter 36: Martial Soul Fusion Technique Complete! Wang Dong’s Fists Are Itching!

"I almost forgot," Zhuge Lan said. "The initiation ceremony is mandatory, and Xiao Xiao needs to complete hers as well."

Huo Yuhao looked up at the sky. He was contemplating how to broach the subject.

Just then, Xiao Xiao asked with a puzzled expression, "Initiation ceremony? What ceremony? Why didn't I have one?"

"You didn't?" Ma Xiaotao's eyes widened. "That won't do. You must complete it too, otherwise, you aren't one of us!"

"Fine, what do I need to do?" Xiao Xiao agreed readily. The Yijin Jing was so miraculous that, having tried it, she couldn't possibly give it up. Since Ma Xiaotao and Wang Dong could accept it, surely she could too!

Ma Xiaotao chuckled and used her soul power to manifest the slogan in the air. The people present stared in stunned silence, their eyes filled with existential doubt. They had anticipated all sorts of sinister possibilities, but they never expected something quite so devious.

"D-do we really have to say this?" Xiao Xiao's face flushed red.

"Of course," Wang Dong nodded. "Sister Xiaotao and I both said it, right?"

Ma Xiaotao nodded repeatedly, her eyes sparkling with the joy of watching a show. Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, and Xu Sanshi exchanged glances. They steeled themselves!

"The Holy Flame shines bright, the Holy Flame glows, all my disciples, meow meow meow meow!"

Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao lowered their heads in embarrassment. Xu Sanshi discovered a new continent—a blushing Jiang Nannan! He couldn't even care about his own embarrassment; he just kept staring with a grin. This made Jiang Nannan, already filled with shame, glare at him fiercely. She quickly regained her cold, aloof demeanor.

Unaware, Xu Sanshi smiled and said, "My Nannan even looks beautiful when she glares at people."

Jiang Nannan: "..."

Help! This guy is so oily! Why can't I shake him off?

"Ahem!" Huo Yuhao changed the subject. "There's no time like the present; let's study the Yijin Jing now."

Jiang Nannan, as if granted a reprieve, sat cross-legged. There was the usual spiritual detection sharing and personal instruction. Huo Yuhao originally wanted to hold Wang Dong and engage in dual cultivation, but he was sternly rejected. He thought, *He really is like a little girl; he gets shy when there are others around.*

Seeing this, the others simply sat down nearby to practice and act as guards for the three of them. The night passed quickly.

[Fate of Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi altered, +500 Luck Points!]

Huo Yuhao was filled with emotion.

***

He had painstakingly taught for a whole day in the freshman class, and only Xiao Xiao had been able to grasp the basics. Xu Sanshi had mastered it in about an hour, leaving him with no excuse to expel him from the Holy Flame Sect. Jiang Nannan lagged slightly behind, only mastering it toward dawn.

The Yijin Jing was indeed extremely demanding of talent. However, being able to master it meant one's talent was not lacking. With a bit of luck in the future, who would stand at the peak was still uncertain.

Huo Yuhao remembered something and instructed, "Remember to carefully collect the impurities purged by the Yijin Jing. The Holy Flame Sect acquires them and gives contribution points, which can be used to exchange for many good items later."

Xu Sanshi and the others looked confused. What use could such "trash" have? But since it was a rule, they nodded in agreement.

Bei Bei had thoughtfully bought breakfast. After everyone finished eating together, they went their separate ways to attend classes.

"I'm going back to the dormitory to wash up," Wang Dong said awkwardly. "I feel sticky and uncomfortable."

"How can you be uncomfortable? That's all purged impurities! I wish I could wake up as a mud person every day!" Xiao Xiao said happily. "I can clearly feel that my cultivation speed has increased by more than thirty percent!"

"Then don't wash," Wang Dong rolled his eyes.

"That won't do, it's smelly," Xiao Xiao refused.

After a few bickers, they split up. Huo Yuhao finished washing up quickly and returned to the tree in front of the dormitory to cultivate for a while in front of Elder Mu. Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao arrived late. The three began their daily practice, and the morning passed quickly in study.

In the afternoon, Zhou Yi came, answered the doubts the three had accumulated, and then floated away. Huo Yuhao didn't think anything was wrong. It wasn't until Elder Zhuang came to help them recover and most of the teachers from the Martial Soul branch showed up, asking him to look at the training plans they had designed, that he realized a problem—Zhou Yi hadn't mentioned a word of this. Was she confident, or was she...

Huo Yuhao shook his head; these were not things he should be concerned about.

Evening came again. He habitually went to hold Wang Dong for dual cultivation, but the other pushed his chest away, not allowing it.

"The fusion of our soul power is basically perfectly aligned. We don't need extensive contact to continue from now on."

"Yes, the progress is unexpectedly fast," Huo Yuhao said smoothly. "We should be able to test our martial soul fusion technique soon."

Mentioning this, Wang Dong put his hand down, also feeling some anticipation. "Let's go! Let's ask the teacher for guidance and try to complete it as soon as possible!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Huo Yuhao called out. "It's late at night; let the teacher get some rest!"

Wang Dong realized he had been too hasty. He pressed his palms against Huo Yuhao's, and they began their dual cultivation. The night passed.

***

The moment Wang Dong woke up, he threw Huo Yuhao out of the room. Huo Yuhao found it quite funny; why was this guy acting like a girl, not even allowing anyone in the dormitory while he bathed?

He quickly washed up and returned, cultivating for a while in front of Elder Mu. Wang Dong arrived late.

"You're a grown man, why do you take so long to bathe?" Huo Yuhao asked curiously.

"None of your business!" Wang Dong snapped.

Elder Mu opened his eyes at the right moment. Seeing Wang Dong's expression, he couldn't help but reveal a kindly smile, which made Wang Dong even more uncomfortable. He quickly changed the subject, "Teacher, we are here to ask for guidance on our martial soul fusion technique."

"Eating and living together to increase compatibility—it's only natural that it would come to fruition," Elder Mu said slowly.

"I feel like we are already very compatible," Huo Yuhao suggested. "Shall we try it right now?"

"Ah? Right here?" Wang Dong looked at the surroundings. Students were coming and going; what if they accidentally hurt someone?

"It is fine, I am here," Elder Mu said confidently.

Wang Dong felt relieved, but Huo Yuhao was worried. Elder Mu had only a breath of life left; he shouldn't be bothered too much. "Teacher, why don't we find a quiet place ourselves?"

Elder Mu glanced at Huo Yuhao, seeing the concern in his eyes. Was it that mutated soul skill that could see through flaws? Had he seen something?

"Very well. This old man will go take a nap."

Bidding farewell to Elder Mu, the two found a stone pavilion. It backed onto the Sea God Lake, with no buildings on either side, qualifying as the "wilderness."

"This place is good. Let's start."

Huo Yuhao habitually reached out and hugged Wang Dong. He felt the muscles go stiff for a moment before slowly softening. *Still as shy as ever,* he mused.

He quickly calmed his mind, channeling his soul power to merge with Wang Dong's, forming the Haodong Power specifically for releasing the martial soul fusion technique. The two relaxed their minds, and the released Spirit Eyes and Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial souls resonated.

On the left was Huo Yuhao with golden, flashing eyes. On the right was Wang Dong with dazzling wings on his back. Using the Haodong Power as a medium, their martial souls drew closer, and bright light bloomed from their bodies, alternating between blue, purple, and gold.

At a certain moment, their souls merged, and the synthesis was complete!