Upon hearing Su Ming's warning, Ye Lingling felt a chill run down her spine. Without his advice, she might have impulsively touched the mesmerizing plants around them.
But as she admired the vibrant blooms, her heart began to flutter with excitement. Holding Su Ming's hand tightly, she eagerly requested he explain each plant to her. Though slightly exasperated, Su Ming obliged, introducing her to each herb. From legendary medicinal herbs to rare yet lesser-known varieties, the garden had it all.
At some point, a subtle, intimate atmosphere surrounded them. Staring into Lingling's beautiful eyes, Su Ming felt his self-restraint slipping. As their eyes met, Lingling's heart raced, nearly beating out of her chest. She closed her eyes and raised herself onto her toes, nervously awaiting the moment.
Su Ming leaned in, kissing her gently.
When they finally parted, Su Ming looked deeply at her and whispered, "Are you ready?"
Blushing deeply, Lingling shyly nodded. She had prepared herself for this moment ever since agreeing to be his girlfriend the previous day. Though the timing was unexpected, Su Ming had always been supportive, so she felt secure and only a little nervous.
Lingling hesitantly murmured, "Are… are we doing this here?"
Smiling, Su Ming conjured a cozy wooden cottage, enveloping them in privacy.
As night fell, a sense of serenity blanketed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Lingling was in awe of the new experiences, but she soon realized Su Ming's energy was unyielding. Although she was a healer and could recover faster than most, an entire night was beyond her capacity.
She finally understood what Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had hinted about; Su Ming was truly unstoppable, and she couldn't keep up with him alone.
Feeling a little guilty, Su Ming promised himself to take things more gradually in the future.
At that moment, a system notification echoed in Lingling's mind.
Ding! Congratulations, Ye Lingling. Your relationship with the host has progressed. You are rewarded with Divine Legacy—a trial of godhood awaits upon reaching level ninety Titled Douluo. Pass, and you will attain the godly rank.
Excited beyond words, Lingling could hardly contain herself. The reward mirrored the one Ning Rongrong had received, suggesting that if she continued to grow alongside Su Ming, reaching the divine realm with him was within her grasp.
Su Ming misinterpreted her joy, assuming she had yet to reach her limit. Feeling as if he were invited, he leaned in again.
"Su Ming… please, I really can't…" Lingling stammered, but Su Ming was already set on his next move.
Meanwhile, the other girls were utterly shocked upon reading his diary's update. How had Su Ming and Ye Lingling become so close, so fast? Xiao Wu couldn't help but marvel at his speed, remembering their years together before reaching the same stage.
Now alone with Su Ming until noon, Lingling finally admitted she was exhausted, barely able to recover. Laughing, Su Ming agreed it was time to head back, sharing a meal from his storage ring before preparing to return.
Back at the academy, he planned to test their martial soul fusion technique once more, confident they were now perfectly synchronized.
That afternoon, Su Ming and Ye Lingling finally returned to the academy. After bidding Su Ming farewell, Lingling immediately went to her dorm, utterly exhausted. She hadn't slept all night and needed some serious rest.
Su Ming was also worn out, so he quickly jotted down a few notes in his diary and entered a state of meditation, using it to both rest and cultivate. That evening, the reward went to Ye Lingling once again, granting her a Divine Soul Ring, which allowed her to drift into a peaceful sleep, confident she would have sweet dreams.
Since both of them were quite tired from the previous day's events, Su Ming had already told Lingling to take a proper break and skip their usual morning training in the grove. Happy to have a chance to sleep in, Lingling eagerly accepted, planning to catch up on her lost sleep.
As for Su Ming, he felt as if he had fully recharged overnight, living up to his nickname as a "Golden Knight of Stamina." With no training planned in the grove, he decided to head to the simulated environment for individual practice instead.
The next morning, feeling ready to attempt the martial soul fusion again, Su Ming invited Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing to join them. Since the fusion technique he and Lingling were attempting was likely support-oriented, they would need people present to fully assess its effects.
As the three girls stood nearby, excited anticipation filled the air. Su Ming and Ye Lingling held hands, releasing their martial souls and gradually channeling their soul power to meld them together.
Minute by minute, their souls merged, until finally, a surge of energy resonated as Su Ming's wood-element soul and Lingling's Yin-Yang Twin Lotus soul combined fully.
With the fusion complete, they instinctively knew how to use their new technique. The energy emanated from their souls, spreading into a green ring around them, forming a protective aura over everyone in the area. The trio could immediately feel an invigorating boost, though the full extent of the technique's benefits was still unclear.
Xiao Wu, curious, stepped closer to ask, "Su Ming, Lingling, what exactly does your martial soul fusion skill do? I feel so comfortable standing here."
Su Ming explained, "Our fusion skill has a few effects. First, anyone standing within the circle receives continuous healing. Second, the aura dispels all negative effects, like poison or paralysis. And third, all team members in the area receive a 100% boost to their life energy, which affects all their abilities."
The three girls were stunned—this skill was incredibly powerful!
However, Ning Rongrong had a question. "Su Ming, what happens if an enemy steps into this circle? Will they also be boosted?"
Su Ming smirked. "No need to worry about that. Only those we identify as allies will receive the positive effects. Lingling and I can use our intent to mark people as teammates, giving them the benefits. Anyone unmarked…"
Su Ming paused, fueling their curiosity, until Lingling continued, "Anyone unmarked will suffer the opposite—they'll gradually absorb my martial soul's slow-acting poison. As I explained before, I can switch my soul's properties between healing and poison at will."
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing were amazed. Zhu Zhuqing, who had prior experience with martial soul fusion skills like the Ghost White Tiger, was especially impressed, feeling this skill surpassed even her family's abilities.
With everything set, they decided to name the skill "Breath of Life."
Having perfected their new skill, Su Ming and Lingling resumed their regular training. Another five months flew by, leaving only one month before the Soul Master Tournament.
In those five months, they focused on strengthening their teamwork with other members of the Emperor Battle Team. Su Ming also occasionally visited the palace to meet Qian Renxue, confirming that the weakened state of Prince Xue Beng was indeed her doing.
Su Ming missed seeing Xue Beng personally, but Qian Renxue described his appearance vividly. By now, Xue Beng was confined under the emperor's orders, visibly weakened with dark circles, bloodshot eyes, and a gaunt frame—a clear sign of indulgence taken to excess.
Additionally, Su Ming gifted Dugu Bo the 30,000-year Golden Armored Dragon left arm soul bone that Liu Erlong had once given him, explaining its origins briefly. Grateful, Dugu Bo absorbed the soul bone without hesitation, acquiring a powerful defensive skill that created an armor with a 150% boost in defense.
As the Soul Master Tournament approached, Su Ming and the others felt ready. Their skills, including Breath of Life, had reached new heights.
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