Chapter 336: Perfect Compatibility and the Enhanced Effects of Spirit Power Fusion

While speaking, Su Ming observed Ye Lingling's expression. With her cheeks flushed, she looked remarkably beautiful—almost as captivating as Rongrong had been during her own "steamy" moments. Su Ming felt no rush; he had given her the option, and now it was up to Ye Lingling to make her choice. For him, it didn't matter either way.

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Lingling took a deep breath, calming herself. With a serious expression, she said, "Alright, let's give it a try!"

This response surprised both Su Ming and Dugu Yan, who hadn't expected Ye Lingling to make such a bold decision.

Dugu Yan quickly moved closer, concerned. "Lingling, aren't you rushing this? Even if you want to attempt the martial spirit fusion technique, there's no need to hurry. You could take your time with Su Ming."

Ye Lingling shook her head. "Yan, it's not that I want to rush, but the Spirit Master Tournament is only nine months away. We don't have the luxury of building a bond over time. I don't want my hesitation to delay Su Ming's progress. Besides, if Su Ming is likely to become our team captain, I can't afford to waste his time. He needs to focus on his training, too!"

Su Ming was genuinely surprised by her words. He hadn't expected Ye Lingling to be so considerate of his situation, and his opinion of her rose further.

Ignoring Dugu Yan's concerns, Ye Lingling looked back at Su Ming. "Let's try an embrace to make it easier to merge our spirit power. But I have a request."

Curious, Su Ming asked, "What's that?"

With a slight blush, Ye Lingling said hesitantly, "I… I'd prefer to face away, and you can hold me from behind. That way, it's a compromise."

Su Ming chuckled. "Of course, no problem!"

He hadn't expected Ye Lingling to propose such a considerate compromise. It was indeed less intimate than a face-to-face embrace. Facing away allowed for closeness without making her too uncomfortable.

With Ye Lingling's agreement, Su Ming stepped behind her and placed his hands on her waist. The moment he made contact, Ye Lingling felt a tingling sensation, almost like a gentle electric shock. Her face flushed red as she closed her eyes, becoming utterly silent. Su Ming, who was taller, noticed a hint of steam rising from her head, adding to her already intense blush.

Dugu Yan, observing from the sidelines, sighed inwardly. If she's this embarrassed by it, why force herself?

Su Ming, standing so close, caught a faint scent from her, and although he couldn't deny a hint of desire, he quickly suppressed it. With Ye Lingling's trust, now isn't the time for wandering thoughts.

He took a deep breath to steady himself. "Ye Lingling, try to calm down. Just follow the previous steps."

Ye Lingling nodded softly and took several breaths, focusing on calming her mind. She visualized herself floating on a calm lake, emptying her thoughts. This time, their spirit energy merged more naturally, flowing freely as their physical contact provided a smoother channel for transmission.

Su Ming felt something extraordinary—their state was perfect for merging! It was as though their spirit power was just on the verge of fully integrating.

Standing nearby, Dugu Yan saw their combined spirit energy radiating a brilliant glow as it intertwined. After about half an hour, their spirit energy fully merged. They felt a noticeable enhancement—not only a warm sensation but also a quicker, stronger flow of spirit power through their bodies. Their spirit power regeneration and cultivation speed seemed to have improved.

Due to Ye Lingling not actively cultivating, she couldn't confirm it. But Su Ming was sure.

Their martial spirits had reached perfect compatibility, much like Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's. This fusion could enhance both their cultivation and spirit power regeneration.

Yet just as the sensation took hold, the fusion dissipated, and Ye Lingling suddenly went limp in Su Ming's arms, surprising him.

He quickly laid her on the ground and checked her condition, letting out a sigh of relief when he found her unharmed.

Dugu Yan rushed over, alarmed. "What happened to Lingling?"

"She's fine," Su Ming assured her. "She's just exhausted from the strain. It's been hard on her mentally and physically. She just needs some rest."

Dugu Yan asked, "You two succeeded, right? How did it feel?"

Su Ming nodded. "Yes, we did it. Our spirit power fusion has some promising effects."

He explained the benefits of their fusion, and Dugu Yan raised a brow. "So, you're saying your fusion makes spirit power regeneration faster. But if Lingling faints every time, isn't that useless?"

Su Ming smiled, shaking his head. "While spirit power can regenerate faster, mental strength doesn't recover the same way. Since this was our first attempt, Lingling had to stay calm while also controlling the fusion. Even though I led the fusion, she still had to maintain control, which drained her."

"So, while we succeeded in merging, it took a toll on her mentally. With practice, it won't happen again. Fatigue is natural after a first attempt, but we've achieved something valuable here!"

Dugu Yan nodded in understanding. "What now?"

Su Ming shrugged. "Let's take her back to her dorm. She'll probably sleep until evening, and we can't leave her out here. You know where her room is, right? It's better if you help her inside since the girls' dorm isn't the best place for me to enter."

Not waiting for Dugu Yan to reply, he lifted Ye Lingling gently, her arms around his neck, and held her in a princess carry.

With her looking like a sleeping beauty in his arms, he said, "Alright, let's get her back before people start assuming things if they see us. It wouldn't be good for her reputation."

In a flash, Su Ming headed for the girls' dorm, and Dugu Yan hurried after him. They arrived at the dorm entrance quickly, and he carefully passed Ye Lingling to Dugu Yan.

Just as she turned to leave, Su Ming called out, "Dugu Yan, same time tomorrow at the grove. We'll test out the full effects!"

Once she was gone, Su Ming shrugged. Spirit Masters have good hearing; she probably heard that.

Checking the time, he decided to head to the dining hall for an early lunch. The academy's meals were excellent, and it was a perfect chance to eat without the crowd.

As he sat down, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence. Looking up, he saw Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing standing there.

Surprised, he asked, "Are you three here for food or looking for me?"

Xiao Wu huffed, "Of course, we're here to eat!"

Ning Rongrong grinned. "We thought we'd grab food before finding you to ask about your fusion practice with Ye Lingling. But looks like we ran into you. Su Ming, we didn't know you were this self-absorbed!"

Su Ming chuckled sheepishly, realizing it was a coincidence. As they took their seats, they didn't start eating but simply stared at him in silence, making Su Ming uncomfortable.

He sighed, "Fine, fine. I know you're curious. No, we didn't fully succeed in the fusion technique—it's way too soon for that. We're not close enough yet. We barely know each other."

"However, we did manage a spirit power fusion after much effort." He recounted the events, and when he mentioned Ye Lingling agreeing to an embrace, the three girls' gazes grew sharp.

"Ahem… I may have suggested it, but the choice was hers!" Su Ming explained awkwardly.

Xiao Wu pouted, "My, Su Ming, your charm is something else! Ye Lingling barely knows you yet was willing to go that far."

Smiling, Su Ming added, "If I didn't have charm, you and Rongrong wouldn't be interested either, right?"

Xiao Wu didn't press further, knowing he was technically right. Zhu Zhuqing, however, simply ate in silence, listening to the conversation. She felt somewhat like an outsider among them.

Rongrong then asked, "So, what about Yan and Ye Lingling? Didn't they come to lunch with you?"

"No," Su Ming replied. "Lingling fainted from exhaustion after the fusion. Dugu Yan took her back to her dorm to rest."

"And will you need to keep practicing with her?" Rongrong asked, curious.

"Most likely, but it'll mainly be in the mornings. Afternoons and evenings are still open for us to train together. I should reach level 49 soon," he said, grinning.

The three felt a newfound sense of urgency. Rongrong sighed. Su Ming's progress is astonishing!

After lunch, Su Ming planned to explore the academy's mimicry training area, hoping it would further accelerate his cultivation.