The mere mention of "Spiritual Soul Fusion" ignited a surge of excitement within me, and as I delved into the cultivation technique, I sensed an undeniable connection to its essence.
"Merge beast souls into your own body," the opening line of the scroll revealed. I settled onto the bed, immersing myself in the profound knowledge contained within its pages. The technique unfolded across four levels: one for the Qi Condensation Realm, one for the Foundation Establishment Realm, one for the Golden Core Realm, and one for the Nascent Soul Realm.
However, as expected, the technique was incomplete. "Of course it's not complete. This is exactly how it goes in every damn novel," I muttered with a wry smile. Nevertheless, even in its unfinished state, the technique held incredible potential. It surpassed anything I had ever witnessed within the Cloud Sect. Even the sect's patriarch, who had attained the Golden Core stage, remained clueless about progressing to the next realm. But the Spiritual Soul Fusion technique offered a glimmer of hope.
The method itself was relatively straightforward: capture a spiritual beast or utilize its core to cultivate the technique. By fusing the soul of the beast with one's own, the cultivator would inherit its strengths and weaknesses, gaining the ability to transform during combat. The technique allowed for a maximum of seven souls, and it was even possible to replace them, constantly improving and refining one's abilities. While the technique held immense power for any cultivator, its potential for me was incomparable.
I possessed a Beast Taming tab within my System, granting me the ability to enhance and empower beasts, making them more formidable. Now, it seemed that Big.T, sensing the nature of the technique, was already expressing his readiness, emitting a series of croaks.
"Do you want to fuse with me?" I inquired, meeting Big.T's gaze with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.
With the scroll in my hands, I absorbed the knowledge that the beast fused with me would grow its cultivation in parallel with mine. However, doubts lingered regarding the compatibility of my Beast Taming abilities in conjunction with the fusion. Nevertheless, the scroll explicitly assured that the beast would remain unharmed, and separating the fusion would restore the creature to its original state.
Though uncertain about the veracity of these claims, the unwavering desire to put the technique to the test compelled me forward. It was Big.T's unwavering determination and his role in saving me that fortified my resolve. If he wished to fuse with me, I felt obligated to honor his wishes. After all, he had been a steadfast companion throughout my journey.
Thus, driven by gratitude and a sense of duty, I made my decision. It was time to embark on this unique and uncharted path, entwining my fate with that of Big.T.
I sat on the meditation rug with Big. T on my right shoulder. The process of cultivating the technique was quite simple: meditation.
The idea was to meditate, feeling the connection between you and whatever beast you were trying to fuse with. The higher your bond, the easier it was to succeed.
I had no idea how it would go with Big. T, but as soon as I started trying the Spiritual Soul Fusion, I could sense Big. T's soul, and it was easier than I'd imagined!
Our bond was incredibly high, and considering that the ordinary cultivators would have to sometimes fuse with unknown beasts or beasts who disliked them, it made sense for it to be way easier between me and Big. T.
After a few minutes of meditation, Big. T transformed into a speck of green light, which swiftly moved towards my right chest. In an instant, it manifested as a toad-shaped tattoo, emanating a brilliant glow that gradually faded.
The sensation of merging with Big. T was indescribable. While I could comprehend his thoughts, our communication seemed hindered by a language barrier. Directing my focus to the tattoo, a beam of green light shot out from it, hitting the ground before dissipating. Within seconds, Big. T materialized before me, no longer in his ethereal form. The fusion had transformed us into a single entity, although he could no longer engage in battle in his spectral state.
Eager to put this newfound power to the test, I whispered to myself, "Let me gauge its capabilities."
The scroll revealed a collection of martial arts techniques associated with the Spiritual Soul Fusion Cultivation Art. However, these techniques necessitated both possession of beast souls and proficiency in the Cultivation Art itself. Without meeting these requirements, mastery would remain elusive.
The initial martial art skill to be mastered was called "Materialization," which harnessed the power of the fused beast soul. Unlike the fusion process, attaining proficiency in Materialization proved challenging, requiring three days of rigorous meditation to achieve even marginal success.
"Materialization!" I shouted, a surge of energy pulsating from the tattoo on my chest. A vibrant green aura enveloped my entire being, while the ethereal image of Big. T materialized behind me. The amalgamation allowed me to experience a heightened sense of agility, swiftness, and unparalleled leaping ability. Furthermore, my Qi underwent a transformation, imbued with a potent poisonous attribute, rendering all my attacks capable of poisoning adversaries.
"I may even possess immunity to certain toxins," I contemplated with a sense of awe.
The utilization of this technique triggered a notification that materialized before my eyes.
[Beast Taming Level up!]
[Beast Taming Level 2] [Bonded creatures have an increased likelihood of learning martial arts and cultivation. Developing the Beast Taming skill may even facilitate their evolution!] [Passives: Fused Creatures have a 10% higher chance of learning martial arts and evolving.]
Overwhelmed with astonishment, I couldn't believe that the system had synchronized with the newly discovered Cultivation Art, augmenting the abilities of all the creatures I chose to fuse with through the basic Beast Taming skill. This revelation filled me with a sense of exhilaration and hope for a prosperous future shared with Big. T. For the first time in three days, I emerged from the hidden lair, realizing my bodily needs of sustenance and personal care. However, a vital task awaited me: the fusion with another dear companion.
"Big. F, I am coming for you!" I declared, resolute and eager to embark on this next chapter of our journey together.