Chapter 13: Borrowed Power—Five Soul Bones, Fusion!
The Blue Silver Emperor soul bone was incredibly nourishing.
It didn't just moisten the body; it also cleansed the spirit.
Zhu Zhuqing slept for an entire day and night.
"You're awake?"
"Mmm… hm?"
The girl opened her drowsy eyes. The haze of sleep vanished instantly as she shot backward like a startled cat, widening the distance between herself and Bai Lu.
"What… embarrassed?"
"No."
"I know your body better than you do. There's no need to be shy."
"Stop talking!"
"I practically gave you my life. What's wrong with teasing you a little?"
Bai Lu replied with righteous confidence.
"…"
The girl's catlike eyes locked onto him.
I'm breaking down. I'm really breaking down.jpg.
'Teasing a young girl first thing in the morning is surprisingly fun.'
Seeing her icy expression directed at him, Bai Lu's lips curled upward unconsciously.
"You gained quite a bit this time. Get familiar with it."
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She only stared at Bai Lu, fists clenched, with killing intent flickering faintly in her eyes.
But in the next instant, that killing intent dissipated, replaced by clarity.
She… had grown stronger again!
"My physical strength… it doubled?!"
Zhu Zhuqing could hardly believe it.
Her body had already been filled with Bai Lu's power once before; her physique was comparable to that of a Soul Ancestor.
And now, after doubling again, she had likely surpassed ordinary Soul Ancestors entirely!
"No need to be surprised. Ah Yin's soul bone is just that nourishing."
"All the power I left inside you has been fully absorbed into your body. Aside from the accumulated soul power, not a single drop remains."
Bai Lu explained briefly before continuing,
"The soul skills are the real key. Focus and feel them."
Zhu Zhuqing steadied her mind and turned her awareness inward, concentrating on her right leg bone.
The next moment, joy blossomed across her face.
"I can fly!"
Flight was the dream of all.
Ordinary soul masters could only gain the ability to fly after reaching the Titled Douluo realm.
Yet the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone granted her the soul skill [Flight].
Though she didn't understand how a blade of grass could fly, that wasn't important.
"Flight!"
She activated the power eagerly. Her body lifted off the ground instantly, soaring higher and faster under her control as she darted through the air in every direction.
Like a tiger that had grown wings.
That phrase surfaced in Zhu Zhuqing's mind.
She might not actually have wings, but flying was enough!
After the girl had had her fill of flying, Bai Lu reminded her,
"Flight is good, but the other soul skill is the real highlight."
"'Wildfire Cannot Destroy the Grass, It Grows Again With the Spring Wind'… what a long name."
Zhu Zhuqing asked, "Is this healing ability really that strong?"
"The ultimate profundity of the Blue Silver Emperor lies in 'Wildfire Cannot Destroy the Grass, It Grows Again With the Spring Wind.'"
"With this soul skill, as long as you're not dead and still have soul power, even if you're down to your last breath, you can recover."
At this point, Bai Lu paused slightly, his expression turning deep.
"More importantly… this soul skill can even regenerate severed limbs."
"Regenerate severed limbs?!"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
Across the entire continent, there were very few soul skills capable of regenerating lost limbs.
Even the legendary Nine Heart Begonia, whose soul skills were entirely focused on healing, might not be able to accomplish that.
"Little Kitty, tell me, are you afraid of pain?"
Bai Lu suddenly asked.
"If it means becoming stronger, I'm not afraid of pain."
Zhu Zhuqing answered without hesitation.
She had endured the agony of fusing a head soul bone. What couldn't she endure?
Bai Lu asked again, "Then what if I asked you to cut off your own limbs yourself? Would you dare?"
"..."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for two seconds before answering firmly,
"If it means becoming stronger!"
"Good. Very good."
Bai Lu clapped lightly, eyes locked onto hers as he suddenly smiled.
"If you truly aren't afraid of pain, then take out the remaining soul bones from my inheritance and fuse them."
"Didn't you say I wasn't allowed to fuse soul bones below ten thousand years?"
The girl was confused.
"I changed my mind."
Bai Lu lowered his gaze toward her right leg bone.
"The situation is different now. Before, without the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone, it wasn't possible. Now that you have it, it is."
"What does that have to do with—"
Zhu Zhuqing stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing.
"You mean…"
"That's right."
Bai Lu nodded calmly.
"If you truly don't fear pain, then fuse the soul bones now to strengthen yourself. In the future, when you encounter better soul bones, sever your limbs, extract the old bones, and regenerate."
"..."
Zhu Zhuqing was completely stunned.
This was the first time she had ever heard of such a method!
Fuse soul bones now to grow stronger. Later, remove them and replace them with superior ones…
Wouldn't her strength suffer after removing them?
Was it really worth it?
Yes. Absolutely worth it.
Borrowing power from the future—what could be more worthwhile?
A future +10 in strength might be the icing on the cake then. But placed in the present, it was salvation in a snowstorm.
"This is your body. The decision is yours. I won't interfere," Bai Lu said.
'Now you're saying it's my decision?'
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes inwardly but said nothing.
She raised her hand and retrieved a sandalwood box—Left Leg Bone of Swift Shadow Soaring Swan!
Fusion!
After fusion, her steps became ghostlike, her movements graceful as a startled swan.
She raised her hand again and retrieved another sandalwood box—Flame Left Arm Bone of Crimson Blaze Charge!
Fusion!
After fusion, her fists blazed like flowing fire, her momentum like a prairie inferno.
She raised her hand a third time, retrieving yet another sandalwood box—Right Arm Bone of Mountain-Shattering Earth-Splitting Boulder!
Fusion!
After fusion, her strength could shake mountains, her force like collapsing peaks.
Three soul bones.
The fusion process lasted several hours.
"So this… is the power of soul bones?"
Zhu Zhuqing stood up and moved her body slightly.
She could clearly feel it.
Though her soul power hadn't increased, her physical condition had undergone another leap.
Even without using soul skills, her raw physical strength alone was now enough to contend with ordinary Soul Ancestors.
Her physique was likely no weaker than that of a Rank 50 quasi–Soul King!
Not to mention the three additional soul skills.
"Your physical strength and combat power have both risen dramatically."
Bai Lu gave a precise assessment.
"If nothing unexpected happens, you should already be capable of absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring."
Five soul bones had successfully transformed the girl into a genuine monstrous genius.
Even Tang San, after tempering his body in ice and fire, hadn't possessed such an overwhelming physique.
"Then can we go hunt for my third soul ring now?"
The thought of potentially obtaining a ten-thousand-year third soul ring ignited a blazing heat within Zhu Zhuqing's heart.
Just days ago, she had been a hunted Soul Grandmaster.
And now, she was close to completing a full set of six soul bones.
"If you wish, we can."
Bai Lu nodded lightly.
Originally, if Zhu Zhuqing had refused to absorb the soul bones or if her physique had still been insufficient, he had planned to take her to Sunset Forest to search for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
If they found an opportunity when Dugu Bo was away, they would use White Tiger Vajra Transformation to charge in and steal the immortal herbs.
But now…
There was no need.
—
End of Chapter