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**
Nuoding Academy.
Xiao Lin and Tang San had attempted a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, but without a doubt, they failed.
Xiao Lin tentatively summarized four reasons for this failure.
The two of them lacked a Soul Incantation.
Their intimacy level was not yet deep enough.
They lacked a catalyst or a crisis.
Xiao Lin needed a new Martial Soul; he felt that since he only had a single Martial Soul, it caused the failure to fuse with Tang San.
Regarding the second and third reasons, Xiao Lin felt they were manageable. There would always be opportunities to deepen their bond. However, the first reason—the Soul Incantation—was something he felt necessary to research.
Watching Tang San cultivate within the Blue Silver Grass mimicry environment and Xiao Wu practicing her short sword on the grass nearby, Xiao Lin formed a simple hypothesis.
Why is it that when Soul Masters use their soul skills, some don't need to shout an incantation, while others do? What exactly is the purpose of a Soul Incantation?
After some thought, Xiao Lin concluded that its function was likely to reinforce the soul skill. For Food-type Soul Masters or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, their skills required incantations.
Either the skill would be weaker without it and required strengthening, or the skill was normal but became more powerful once the incantation was recited.
Of course, it was also possible that specific Martial Souls required specific incantations to guide the power out—like Luo Sanpao?
There was one more possibility: it allowed the Soul Master to focus their attention, using the incantation to trigger the skill rapidly. In Xiao Lin's eyes, this was a method of "muscle memory" or "human instinct."
Whether for skills requiring incantations or Martial Soul Fusion Skills, in a moment of crisis, a Soul Master's conscious thought is never as fast as instinct.
Then again, perhaps one simply had to call out the skill's name correctly?
Much like in fantasy stories where calling a demon's true name grants the power to defeat it, or in cultivation tales where speaking the name of a supreme being draws their attention from the river of time.
Xiao Lin figured these were the most likely possibilities. Fortunately, these were easy for him to handle; it was just a matter of testing them one by one.
He needed to find out which type of incantation resonated most with him and Tang San. His goal shifted toward selecting the incantation that came closest to a "True Incantation."
As for a second Martial Soul, without a source of immense power, Xiao Lin didn't think it was possible—unless he found something equivalent to the million-year soul power of the Skydream Ice Worm or received a gift from a God.
Consequently, Xiao Lin lowered his requirements for the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, pivoting toward a reinforced version similar to Yu Xiaogang's "Seven-in-One Fusion Skill."
This was a massive undertaking.
Xiao Lin decided that during his spare time—without disrupting his cultivation, reading, or research—he would slowly test dozens of incantations, attempting a Two-in-One Fusion, or even a Three-in-One with Xiao Wu.
With his research topic shifted to Soul Incantations, Xiao Lin's life became very disciplined. Cultivate, sleep, read, research incantations, and discipline Xiao Wu. As for why he disciplined Xiao Wu—it wasn't because she was stupid.
It was because she was too idle, playing everywhere and neglecting her lessons. Sometimes, she nearly blurted out secrets to people she barely knew.
With day after day of cultivation, their first semester finally came to an end. Awaiting them was the winter vacation.
Currently, Xiao Lin and Tang San were in Nuoding City, watching Xiao Wu depart alone. For some reason, Xiao Wu didn't choose to go home with Tang San this time. Instead, she chose to return to her own home—the Star Dou Forest.
Fortunately, Nuoding City was a border city not far from the forest situated between the two great empires; otherwise, the journey would have been too dangerous for her.
Now that a semester had passed, the three of them had made rapid progress.
Xiao Lin was currently Rank 19, while Tang San and Xiao Wu were both Rank 18. Xiao Lin had his research and Tang San had his blacksmithing; both had other duties and couldn't focus entirely on cultivation.
Only Xiao Wu was idle and hyperactive. He almost never saw her cultivate alone, yet her soul power level had managed to catch up.
Watching Xiao Wu's receding figure as she was swallowed by the trees, Xiao Lin patted Tang San's shoulder and said, "Let's go, Little San. Back to Holy Spirit Village."
"Okay, Brother Lin." Tang San still looked a bit sad about parting with Xiao Wu.
"Brother Lin, do you think Xiao Wu will run into any danger?" Tang San asked worriedly as they walked home.
"How could she? If nothing else, Xiao Wu runs way faster than us." Xiao Lin rolled his eyes.
You're really worrying over nothing, Little San. It's probably more dangerous for her to be with us. Besides, when Xiao Wu went home, she had "private chauffeurs" to pick her up. Who would dare mess with her?
"Fine... but do you think she'll run out of food and go hungry?"
"No, she's not that dumb. Uh..." Xiao Lin hesitated.
Probably not... I think?
"Aiya, you've asked these questions so many times. Do you like Xiao Wu that much?" Xiao Lin finally snapped, feeling annoyed.
"I don't... hehe..." Tang San immediately lowered his head, looking quite shy.
"Little San, romance is a taboo for us Soul Masters. If you lose yourself in it, how can you level up quickly?" Xiao Lin spoke in a long-suffering tone, walking ahead with his hands behind his back.
He really didn't want to hear Tang San's fretful voice anymore.
It was truly annoying!
As night fell, the soft moonlight bathed the rice fields around Holy Spirit Village in a silvery glow.
A cold wind blew, making the night feel silent and elegant.
"Holy Spirit Village, I'm back!" Xiao Lin shouted loudly as he walked down the path, instantly shattering the village's peaceful harmony.
"Brother Lin, even if we are home, you don't have to shout like that." Tang San felt speechless at Xiao Lin's behavior.
"What do you know? Can't a guy be homesick?" In his previous life, Xiao Lin hadn't even left his own province for university.
The two made their way back to Old Jack's house.
"Grandpa, I'm back!" Xiao Lin ran inside and shouted, startling Old Jack who was just about to drift off to sleep.
"Good, good. It's good that Little Lin is back." In the dim room, Old Jack saw Xiao Lin standing in the moonlight by the door and smiled warmly.
"Grandpa Jack, I'm back too." Tang San stepped out from behind Xiao Lin and greeted him politely.
"Good, good. Have you two eaten? I'll go cook something for you right now." Old Jack stood up, lit an oil lamp, and began busying himself excitedly.
"Grandpa, we've already eaten. Don't trouble yourself," Xiao Lin replied, blocking Old Jack's path.
"Alright then. Oh, Little San, come stay at my house and sleep with Little Lin. Your father seems to have left on some business; he only left a letter." Old Jack's expression soured slightly as he recalled the news.
He began searching his room.
After finding the letter, Old Jack handed it to Tang San, then widened his eyes to get a good look at the two boys. As he looked, he nodded and clicked his tongue in satisfaction.
"Good! Little Lin has become much sturdier, and Little San is looking a bit fair and plump."
"Oh, Grandpa, I bought you some Soft-Boned Rabbit Toffee." Ignoring Tang San, who was reading the letter, Xiao Lin handed all the candy he had bought in Nuoding City to Old Jack.
"Good, good. My Little Lin is so filial."
...That counts as filial? That's just random praise.
Xiao Lin felt speechless.
I'll wait until I take you to the God Realm to enjoy yourself before I accept that label.
**
Hello everyone,
Thank you for your support! If you enjoy my work, you can check out my Patreon—there are 60+ early access and exclusive content. I update 5 advanced chapter from Monday-Saturday
www.patreon.com/c/FanficTranslator
I truly appreciate it!