Three months later, in the confrontation with Zhu Zhuqing, Su Cheng was defeated.
But this was within his expectations.
Su Cheng did indeed hold back.
He didn't use the Pulse Interruption Continuation Technique, nor did he fully reveal his cultivation level higher than Zhu Zhuqing's. However, he didn't hold back much in other aspects.
Su Cheng was well aware of Zhu Zhuqing's rapid progress during this time, having met with her secretly every month. She wasn't dumb, just overly naive.
In the past, she had worked hard, but her methods were wrong. Over the past year, after Su Cheng had reshaped her correct values, she finally learned how to tap into her potential.
As for the faction in the academy, it dispersed with his defeat, which didn't bother Su Cheng at all. Those so-called factions were only brought together to temper Zhu Zhuqing.
Their departure was actually a good thing for him. Su Cheng simply didn't have the time to deal with them now. His research on Martial Souls had entered a crucial stage.
Furthermore, both he and Zhu Zhuqing would enter a period of rapid development, and he needed to further improve the Nirvana Sutra before then, at least to enhance the purification effect of bloodlines.
Moreover, there was still the Martial Soul Fusion Technique to research. For Su Cheng, time was simply not enough.
As for those aristocratic youngsters, it wouldn't be a bad thing for them to follow Zhu Zhuqing in the future.
In terms of family status, the Zhu Family was much stronger than the Su Family. Not to mention that Zhu Zhuqing had already proven her potential and strength.
These aristocratic youngsters, representing various family forces to some extent, might not have much influence in the Star Luo Empire, but in the future, as their tentacles spread out, they could gather considerable power for her.
"Tell me your thoughts."
Shortly after the battle, Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing came to the back mountain of the academy alone.
They stood facing each other, surrounded by silence.
Only the gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo forest.
"I want to cooperate with you to use the Martial Soul Fusion Technique," Zhu Zhuqing said straightforwardly, without beating around the bush.
Su Cheng nodded, showing no surprise on his face. She had already hinted at this during their conversation outside the restaurant.
"Besides that?" Su Cheng didn't immediately reply but asked instead, "Even if we can really use the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, how much of an impact can it have? In the Star Luo Empire, it's not just you and me who possess the Hell Civet and White Tiger Martial Souls."
"I understand." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, "But the Martial Soul Fusion Technique is a necessary skill to have. Our innate conditions are already weaker than others, and if we can't even use the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, then there will be no hope for the future."
"Understand that it's your lack of hope, not mine. My situation is different from yours," Su Cheng chuckled lightly.
"That's true," Zhu Zhuqing didn't argue, continuing, "Su Cheng, I won't make empty promises to you. To be honest with you, I have a way to help you improve your strength, far surpassing that of orthodox royal disciples."
With that, she handed him a manuscript.
"First, see if you can practice this technique."
During these months, Zhu Zhuqing had already begun using this technique to purify her bloodline and enhance her cultivation. In the process, she found that this technique was actually highly versatile, not limited to the Dark Spirit Cat Martial Soul. It might be applicable to many beast Martial Souls, and perhaps it wasn't as simple as the so-called Zhu Family's exclusive skill.
Su Cheng took the manuscript, feeling somewhat shocked.
It was exactly the Nirvana Sutra he had developed!
Although it was something he had researched, he never expected Zhu Zhuqing to have such insight.
During these days of cultivation, she must have also discovered its preciousness and was willing to use it as leverage, which surprised Su Cheng.
Indeed, it was the best choice for Zhu Zhuqing. The upper limit of the Hell Civet and White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Technique required both parties to progress together, and Su Cheng's strength was a crucial factor.
But Zhu Zhuqing, at such a young age, could make such decisions.
Moreover, Su Cheng hadn't made any promises yet.
After quickly scanning the manuscript, Su Cheng looked up and stared at Zhu Zhuqing intently, solemnly saying, "Zhu Zhuqing, it seems I underestimated you. Do you know what this means?"
"Of course," Zhu Zhuqing replied calmly, "This is my sincerity."
"Miss Fourth is generous," Su Cheng lightly brushed his finger over the pages, saying slowly, "But aren't you afraid that I'll take this and refuse your request?"
"This is just an appetizer. You are a smart person, you should understand what I mean. I just want you to know that I'm not making empty promises and truly regard you as a future friend and partner."
Su Cheng slightly narrowed his eyes, realizing that Zhu Zhuqing's growth rate once again exceeded his expectations.
But... a friend?
"Zhu Zhuqing, you don't need to pretend in front of me. I know what you're thinking. I can agree to your request, but we're just in a cooperative relationship. It's better to say less about friends and the like."
Zhu Zhuqing silently gazed at Su Cheng for a moment, her expression gradually turning colder.
She had never considered Su Cheng as a friend.
How could she not hold resentment after a year of bullying?
If it weren't for her father's teachings, the burden of her family, and knowing her sisters' intentions from her father, she wouldn't have had any hope left.
Under the shadow at that time, she didn't even know how long she could hold on.
"That's right," Su Cheng said as he watched her change in expression, smiling lightly.
"Miss Fourth, you can deceive others with those words if you want, even if you deceive me, it doesn't matter, but don't deceive yourself."
Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her brows, not saying anything more.
She rarely let unnecessary emotions affect her nowadays.
However, unlike the cold indifference of the past, she was now more calm and composed, with a clear mind.
But some words from Su Cheng still stirred up some resentment in her.
It was inevitable to have emotional fluctuations.
In comparison, Su Cheng's thoughts at this moment were simple. He just wanted to wake her up and prevent her from deceiving herself.
Su Cheng didn't want her to have any other thoughts, or even consider him as a future partner.
If it developed that way, how could he deal with her in the future?
"How about the Martial Soul Fusion Technique?" Zhu Zhuqing looked at Su Cheng.
"Since you're so sincere, let's give it a try first."
With that, Su Cheng stood up straight.
With a low roar, the White Tiger Martial Soul emerged from Su Cheng's body.
A slight bloodthirsty desire arose in his heart, but he was already accustomed to this feeling influenced by the beast Martial Soul and didn't pay much attention to it.
At the same time, white fur mixed with black stripes surged out from within his body.
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing's teeth lightly bit her lip, a faint black light covering her body. She summoned her Hell Civet Martial Soul, and a soul ring hovered around her.
Then, she rushed towards Su Cheng.
Her body seemed to become transparent as she moved.
The gazes of Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing met in the air. He opened his arms and welcomed Zhu Zhuqing's illusory figure.
Then, the two figures finally merged at the last moment, and the aura of the White Tiger and Hell Civet Cat Martial Souls instantly blended.
"Boom!"
However, in the next moment, a violent energy fluctuation erupted.
Both figures were thrown heavily away.
The Martial Soul Fusion Technique failed.
Not only that.
Under the huge energy backlash, both Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing suffered significant injuries.
Moreover, although the Martial Soul Fusion Technique just now failed, it still consumed a considerable amount of their soul power, leaving them both exhausted and panting.
Zhu Zhuqing looked blankly at the empty space, feeling somewhat lost.
Su Cheng, on the other hand, appeared pensive.
The first failure was normal in his view.
They lacked cooperation practice and emotional foundation, and apart from the high compatibility of their Martial Souls, they lacked other necessary conditions.
But the moment of fusion just now gave him a considerable insight.
"As expected, there's no need for so-called emotional resonance."
During the moment of fusion just now, both their consciousnesses were momentarily blurred, and what followed was more of an instinctive impulse, not something they could control voluntarily.
With Su Cheng's understanding of Martial Souls, he could clearly feel that the appearance of this Martial Soul Fusion Technique, besides the complementary nature of the Martial Souls, required a harmony between the fluctuation of soul power and mental fluctuations during fusion.
The key was the perfect node at the initial fusion.
As long as that moment was grasped, everything else could be left to instinct.
The so-called emotional resonance only served to enhance the tacit understanding between the two, better controlling the rhythm. The deeper the emotion, the higher the degree of tacit understanding.
Of course, it was also possible that with more use of the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, emotions would naturally develop between Soul Masters. After all, the bond between Martial Souls and Soul Masters was deeply ingrained.
But using special techniques to cultivate the tacit understanding between Soul Masters and Martial Souls could also meet this requirement.
Emotional resonance could be a bonus, but it was not a necessary condition.
Another example was the Martial Soul Fusion Technique of the Golden Iron Triangle, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong, the Golden Saint Dragon.
If there was a slight possibility of emotional harmony between two people, it was even more unbelievable with three people like them. Unless there were more intimate special relationships between them, but this possibility was obviously slim.
"Try a few more times to study it. The Martial Soul Fusion Technique is indeed quite mysterious." Su Cheng thought to himself.
His perception in the field of Martial Souls was astonishing now.
The moment of fusion just now had given him a deep insight.
He had a premonition that with the research on the Martial Soul Fusion Technique, he could greatly accelerate the progress of perfecting the Nirvana Sutra.
Glancing at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still dazed not far away, Su Cheng stood up and said lightly, "Don't look so dejected. It's normal for the first time to fail. Try a few more times, find the pattern, and you'll be fine."
...
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