Zhuge Lan noticed something.
Flender's chest was puffed out, and amidst his laughter, there was the sound of metal clinking.
He probably placed a bet and won a lot.
No wonder he suddenly became excited earlier, and the "humiliation of kneeling" vanished.
That was the reason.
Very much in line with Flender's character.
"This is so rare!"
Tang San also sighed:
"Spirit fusion techniques are incredibly rare because they require complementary spirits and perfect coordination between spirit masters!"
"When a spirit fusion technique is executed, the power it displays is far beyond just the levels of the two spirit masters—it's a transcendental existence!"
"Given your levels and spirits."
"Defeating a four-ring Soul Ancestor is not surprising."
"If the compatibility is high enough, you might even stand a chance against a five-ring Soul King!"
[Emotion Points +2333]
The others couldn't say anything that technical.
All they could say was:
"Whoa!"
"That's awesome!"
"So strong!"
[Emotion Points +1111]
[Emotion Points +2222]
[Emotion Points +3333]
At the back of the group.
Dai Mubai, surrounded by Zhu Zhuqing and Zhuge Lan, glanced at their still intertwined hands.
His eyes dimmed.
Aside from being older and having a slightly higher level than Zhuge Lan...
What did he have that could compare?
He was utterly outmatched.
Not to mention Zhuge Lan's earlier performance...
It didn't take much thought to know what Zhu Zhuqing's choice would be.
"Sigh..."
"The chance for revenge... gone again."
Dai Mubai shook his head and turned to leave.
He was going to find the twins and vent his frustration!
—There was no hope for revenge, so he would continue to slack off.
It wasn't until the group competition that Flender realized Dai Mubai was missing.
Even though he knew some secrets, he couldn't help but scowl.
But when he looked at Zhuge Lan and Zhu Zhuqing, he smiled again.
—As a fellow user of the spirit fusion technique, he deeply understood its power.
With this trump card, what's the problem with fighting six against seven?
He could even raise the odds and make more money!
"No need to worry about Mubai."
"With just the six of you, how confident are you?"
It seemed like he was asking all six, but his gaze was locked on Zhuge Lan and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Dean Flender, are you sure?" Ma Hongjun questioned, "Our opponents are a team of Soul Elders!"
The group competition matches the opponent's team to the level of the highest-ranked member.
When Zhuge Lan and his team signed up, they had both Dai Mubai and Zhuge Lan, two Soul Elders, so their opponents were also of Soul Elder rank.
—And there was a high chance the entire opponent team was composed of Soul Elders!
It was already a disadvantage to be fighting seven-on-seven with lower levels, but now they had to fight six against seven?
"Yeah." Oscar sighed. "And let's not forget I'm a food-type spirit master. My two spirit skills are recovery and detoxification, which makes it practically five against seven."
"How are we supposed to win?" Xiao Wu shook her head. "This is just asking for a beating. Forget it."
She pulled on Tang San, urging him to give his opinion.
However...
"It's not entirely impossible." Tang San analyzed, "With a spirit fusion technique, numbers aren't a big issue, but..."
He looked at Zhuge Lan and Zhu Zhuqing.
"You've both just participated in the one-on-one and two-on-two spirit battles. You must be pretty exhausted, right?"
"If you were to use the spirit fusion technique again, how long could you maintain it?"
Zhu Zhuqing raised four fingers.
"I've got about 40% of my spirit power left."
Everyone then looked at Zhuge Lan.
Zhuge Lan blinked.
His spirit power...
It was practically overflowing!
—Thanks to the system's exchange ability, everything was zero consumption.
Including the spirit fusion technique.
From beginning to end.
Aside from some physical exhaustion, he was in great condition.
So...
Time to stir things up a bit!
Zhuge Lan humbly said, "My spirit power... is almost fully recovered."
[Emotion Points +666]
[Emotion Points +888]
[Emotion Points +999]
What?!
How?!
Zhuge Lan's two battles, while they appeared effortless, still involved using Spiral Nine Shadows and the spirit fusion technique, both of which should have consumed significant energy, right?
Wait a second!
"Did you say... fully recovered?" Tang San caught the key detail, "Zhuge, does your cultivation technique have powerful recovery effects?"
"Yeah, looks like you've got a technique as well?" Zhuge Lan raised an eyebrow.
Tang San hesitated for a moment but then nodded.
"My technique is called the Mysterious Heaven Skill. It strengthens my foundation, and when fully mastered, it allows for endless and boundless spirit power."
"I see."
Zhuge Lan scratched his head, pretending to be embarrassed—
"My cultivation technique is quite unique. It requires two people to practice the full version."
"So, to this day, I've only mastered half of it. It doesn't enhance cultivation much, but it does give me rapid spirit power recovery."
"It probably lets me activate the three spirit rings of my Thorn Armor without feeling any spirit power consumption."
Everyone: Σ(っQДQ;)っ
[Emotion Points +1111]
[Emotion Points +1399]
[Emotion Points +6666]
That's absurd!
Maintaining three thousand-year spirit abilities without feeling the consumption?
What kind of insane recovery speed is that?!
—Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, supposedly endless when fully mastered, was probably only at this level, right?
The most outrageous part was...
This unbelievable effect was just a bonus from only half of the cultivation technique?
[Emotion Points +5555]
Tang San's face darkened.
He's doing this on purpose, isn't he?
"Whoosh—"
"Whoosh—"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun flanked Zhuge Lan, enthusiastically massaging his shoulders.
"Lan-ge," Oscar said sincerely, "Do you think I could join in on this dual cultivation technique?"
"Lan-ge, please consider me too," Ma Hongjun said ingratiatingly, "I don't ask for much—just give me your recovery speed, and I'll be satisfied!"
Nearby.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes sparkled with hope.
A dual cultivation technique?
She and Zhuge Lan shared a spirit fusion technique, so their future would undoubtedly be closely tied.
Surely...
She could cultivate it too, right?
Xiao Wu also seemed intrigued, glancing at Tang San.
Remembering something, she asked, "Zhuge, cultivating your technique doesn't require resetting one's spirit power like Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, does it?"
[Emotion Points +999]
[Emotion Points +999]
[Emotion Points +999]
Oscar and Ma Hongjun looked uneasy.
Reset and start over?
Zhu Zhuqing also anxiously gazed at Zhuge Lan.
"Reset and start over?" Zhuge Lan scoffed, "What kind of low-level technique is that? In my family, it wouldn't even make it into the library."
[Emotion Points +9999]
[Emotion Points +2333]
[Emotion Points +1111]
Tang San cast a resentful look at Zhuge Lan, filled with frustration but with no outlet for it.
Compared to Zhuge Lan's cultivation technique...
The Mysterious Heaven Skill seemed far inferior.
He quickly consoled himself.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill was just the prelude to the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, a prerequisite for mastering other Tang Sect techniques.
So it had restrictions—this was perfectly reasonable.
'The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record must be far more valuable than Zhuge Lan's so-called dual cultivation technique!'
'Besides, a dual cultivation technique...'
'Could it be one of those dual cultivation methods?'
Tang San's eyes flickered, his anger fading.
He smiled and asked, "Zhuge, does your dual cultivation technique require one man and one woman to practice?"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun were shocked!
Was that a requirement?
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's eyes lit up!
Did they have a chance?
[Emotion Points +2333]
[Emotion Points +1111]
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