This revelation struck Dai Chengfeng like lightning.
Slowly, he lifted his head, ending the kiss—but his body still loomed over hers, his hold not yet fully released.
The playful glint in his eyes was gone. In its place was sharp, unwavering focus.
Zhu Zhuqing finally caught her breath, gasping. "Aren't you going to get up?"
"Don't move."
Dai Chengfeng cut her off—his voice low, serious, stripped of all teasing.
Zhu Zhuqing blinked, thrown off by his sudden gravity.
"What… what are you scheming now?" she stammered.
"Just feel it."
He didn't explain. Instead, he loosened his grip slightly on her wrists—but didn't let go.
His thumb remained pressed against her pulse point, no longer stroking with flirtation, but with clear, guiding intent.
"Calm your mind. Focus on your soul power flow—especially where we're touching."
Zhu Zhuqing almost refused out of stubbornness—but the raw earnestness in his expression gave her pause.
She bit her lip, still flushed with shame and anger, yet closed her eyes as instructed, forcing herself to concentrate.
At first, all she could sense was the mortifying intimacy of their entangled bodies—the pressure of his arms pinning her down, the heat of his skin against hers.
But gradually, as her mind quieted, she felt it—
Her normally steady soul power was surging uncontrollably toward three points: the wrist he held, the arm pressing against her collarbone… and the lips he'd just kissed.
From those contact points, a stream of hot, domineering—but strangely non-repulsive—soul power flowed into her, intertwining with her own, then carrying a portion of her energy back to him.
It formed a seamless loop. With each cycle, her soul power felt refined—as if tempered by his searing energy, growing denser, more vibrant.
And within that foreign force lingered an aura—razor-sharp, exalted, overwhelming.
It had to be the "Asura God Power" Dai Chengfeng had mentioned before.
Yet contrary to his warnings of violent rejection, it wasn't repelling her at all. Instead, it seemed… accommodating?
No—not accommodating.
Acknowledging?
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flew open, wide with disbelief. "This is…?"
"Soul power resonance," Dai Chengfeng answered instantly—his eyes blazing with excitement. "No… deeper than that. It's attraction. A spontaneous tendency toward fusion."
He finally released her completely. Zhu Zhuqing sat up immediately—but he kept hold of her wrist.
"Focus, Zhuqing. This is critical."
She frowned, curiosity overtaking confusion. "What are you getting at?"
"We've always wanted to attempt a martial soul fusion skill…"
Dai Chengfeng locked eyes with her. "But there's always been one barrier between us—my Asura God Power."
"It's too domineering. It rejects all external forces—including your soul power."
"Every time I tried guiding it to meet yours, it triggered violent conflict. Fusion was impossible."
Zhu Zhuqing remembered clearly.
Months ago, when Dai Chengfeng first proposed testing a fusion skill, they'd briefly attempted it.
The moment her soul power touched that strange crimson energy within him, it had been violently repelled. She'd suffered minor internal injuries, her chest tight for days afterward.
Since then, he'd never brought it up again—only focused on mastering that power himself.
"But now…"
Dai Chengfeng raised their joined hands. "Look."
"Our soul powers are circulating naturally. The Asura God Power isn't rejecting you—it's adapting to your soul power's nature."
He paused, eyes alight with realization. "I have a theory…"
"Maybe the key isn't forcing my divine power to accept yours—but the reverse: having you gradually adapt to the presence and nature of the Asura God Power."
"When your body and soul power lower their resistance—when you can tolerate even a fraction of its divine traits—then martial soul fusion might just… happen naturally."
Zhu Zhuqing understood—and was stunned. "You mean… have me adapt to god-level power?"
"But I'm not even a Soul King yet! How could I possibly—"
"Not all at once," Dai Chengfeng interrupted firmly. "Gradually."
"Like this—through natural soul power exchange. Let a trace of the god force's essence, a hint of its nature, slowly weave into your circulation. Over time, it'll subtly reshape your soul power… until it becomes 'compatible' with divinity."
His earlier playfulness vanished entirely, replaced by exhilarated intensity. "And if we succeed in this mutual adaptation…"
"The resulting martial soul fusion won't just be additive—it'll be transformative!"
"My overwhelming power and Asura's killing intent… combined with your supreme speed and Nether Spirit Cat's piercing penetration… amplified and unified through god force as both medium and catalyst…"
"Zhuqing," he whispered, eyes burning, "can you imagine the power we'd wield?"
Zhu Zhuqing's heart pounded.
As a proud soul master, her hunger for strength rivaled anyone's.
If she could achieve true fusion with Dai Chengfeng—if they could unlock such power—she'd embrace it without hesitation.
But…
She looked down at their clasped hands.
"So…" Her voice dropped, lips trembling slightly. "How do we adapt? Do we have to… keep touching like this?"
A slow, knowing smile curved Dai Chengfeng's lips.
"I'm afraid so."
"Deep soul power exchange requires physical contact as a conduit."
"Hands, wrists, arms—those might work, but weakly. To accelerate the process, we'd need broader contact… or connection at key nodes of soul circulation—like your back's core meridian nexus, or…"
He hesitated, gaze flickering briefly to her lips before quickly looking away. "In short—it'll take time… and intimacy."
Zhu Zhuqing's face burned again—not just from shame now, but indignation.
"So everything you just did… was for this?"
"Of course not."
Dai Chengfeng denied instantly. "I really… couldn't help myself just now."
His blunt honesty left her speechless.
"But this discovery—this might be crucial, Zhuqing. I need you to consider it seriously."
He released her hand and stepped back. "This isn't just about fusion. It benefits your own cultivation too."
"Even a trace of Asura God Power acts as a refining agent for your soul power."
"I could feel it—just that brief exchange already made your soul power slightly denser."
"Over time, it'll boost both your cultivation speed and soul power quality."
He grew solemn. "Of course…"
"There may be risks."
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