After clarifying the situation, Xiao Xiao honestly followed Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong back to the clearing in the woods.
Her face still held a hint of apology, and her large, round eyes glanced at the two from time to time, as if confirming they really didn't blame her.
However, at this moment, seeing Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong embracing again, her heart was completely calm.
There were no misunderstandings, no sadness, and none of those messy emotions.
There was only curiosity and anticipation; did they really have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and what would it look like?
In the center of the clearing, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong stood embracing.
Their Spirit Power surged again, that familiar aura interweaving and merging in the air.
Gradually, faint blue-gold light began to emanate from their bodies.
The light grew brighter and more intense, enveloping them like a flowing curtain of light.
Xiao Xiao stared with wide eyes, unblinking.
Then, she saw a giant eye phantom appear behind Huo Yuhao; it was his Spirit, the Spirit Eyes.
At the same time, a Light Goddess Butterfly appeared behind Wang Dong.
Two giant light shadows floated quietly behind them.
Then, they began to move.
The Spirit Eyes and the Light Goddess Butterfly rose slowly, higher and higher, approaching each other in the air.
Then, they merged together above their heads.
At that very moment, the two Spirits seemed to disappear simultaneously.
In their place was a giant vertical pupil, with a pair of brilliant Light Goddess Butterfly wings.
The golden vertical pupil slowly opened, and a golden beam of light shot out from it!
The light was dazzling, fast as lightning, shooting straight toward the edge of the clearing.
Wherever it passed... all vegetation turned to nothingness.
Those thick trees, those dense shrubs, that lush grass, all vanished without a trace under the sweep of that golden light.
It left only a deep trench in the ground.
The trench extended straight out, over a hundred meters long, its edges so smooth it seemed as if something had melted them, shimmering with a pale golden luster.
Xiao Xiao stood to the side, covering her mouth, with a look of stunned shock.
This was Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
They had succeeded!
Huo Yuhao suddenly felt his arms sink; Wang Dong's body had gone limp.
He quickly used his arms to hold Wang Dong steadily, looking down at the slightly pale face in his arms, his tone filled with concern: "Are you okay?"
Wang Dong's cheek rested against Huo Yuhao's chest, a very intimate posture, but he was too distracted to be shy now.
He panted slightly and whispered: "I'm fine... just consumed a bit too much Spirit Power."
The two had successfully unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, but the cost was obvious.
Huo Yuhao was a level 45 Spirit Ancestor with deep Spirit Power, but Wang Dong was only a level 26 Spirit Grandmaster; there was a gap of nineteen levels.
The feeling of his Spirit Power being drained left him completely exhausted.
After a long while, Wang Dong recovered.
He took a few deep breaths, and some color gradually returned to his face.
Then, he looked up at the golden trench on the ground.
A flash of surprise appeared in his large, powder-blue eyes.
The trench extended straight out, and pale golden light still flickered within it.
"Is this our Martial Soul Fusion Skill?"
Wang Dong's voice carried a hint of disbelief, which then turned into uncontrollable excitement.
"It looks really strong?!"
Huo Yuhao also looked at the trench.
He thought to himself that this should be the one recorded in history, their first Martial Soul Fusion Skill — "Fading in Radiance, the Golden Road."
Xiao Xiao ran over, her small face also filled with excitement, her eyes sparkling.
"You two actually have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
Her voice was full of amazement as she circled them, then looked at the trench, clicking her tongue in wonder.
Then, she suddenly stopped and looked at them.
"But, shouldn't we give it a name now?"
Although this Martial Soul Fusion Skill had nothing to do with her, as a teammate and witness, she was happy for them.
Hearing Xiao Xiao's suggestion, Wang Dong nodded immediately.
He lowered his head, brows slightly furrowed, and began to seriously think about the name for this Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
"What should it be called?"
He muttered to himself, his voice not loud, but it didn't escape Huo Yuhao's ears.
"This is our Martial Soul Fusion Skill, it should have the characteristics of both our Spirits..."
He thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up: "How about 'Gaze of the Goddess of Light'?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he shook his head.
"No, no, not fitting enough..."
"Or 'Light of the Butterfly Eyes'? That doesn't fit either..."
Huo Yuhao listened to him propose and reject ideas, and a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
The name of this Martial Soul Fusion Skill in history was perhaps something Wang Dong had figured out bit by bit.
However... remembering that super long name, the corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
Although he was young, he didn't have any delusions of grandeur.
Thinking about that name now made him feel embarrassed.
So, he interrupted Wang Dong's train of thought directly.
"After being hit by this attack, one will be covered in a layer of pale gold, as if turned into eternity."
"I think it's simple enough, why not call it 'Path of Eternity'."
Wang Dong was stunned upon hearing this; he looked up at Huo Yuhao, opened his mouth, and instinctively wanted to retort; this wasn't the answer he wanted.
This name was too simple; the name in his heart should be more magnificent, louder, and more worthy of this powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
But... he opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing.
One reason was that his strength and talent were crushed, and he really didn't have the backbone to be tough in front of Huo Yuhao.
The second was that his objection might not be useful anyway.
He had known since the first day he entered the dormitory that Huo Yuhao was not someone he could easily manipulate.
After a moment of silence, Wang Dong looked up, forcing a smile.
"Path of Eternity..." He read it once, then read it again. "Hmm... this name is quite good."
Actually, with Huo Yuhao, this "expert," sitting in charge, their team had already locked in the final championship in advance.
But Wang Dong was still eager to create a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, also because of that hint of pride in his heart.
He didn't want to just stand by and watch Huo Yuhao turn the tide alone in the final decisive moment; he also wanted a sense of participation.
However, in the subsequent matches, most of the time Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao could win quickly on their own.
The only time Huo Yuhao made a move was when they encountered a Spirit Elder, Ning Tian from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The supporting ability of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was indeed astonishing; combined with the strong attacks of teammates, it once put Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao in a bitter fight.
But as soon as Huo Yuhao made a move, the battle ended instantly.
Under the Spiritual Impact, Ning Tian lost combat capability directly; without the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the other two teammates were also quickly defeated by Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
In the blink of an eye, the Freshman Assessment had come to an end.
Huo Yuhao's team broke through all obstacles and successfully entered the final four.
For these last few matches, Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Spirit Department, even made an appearance to show his importance.
During the draw, the team captains went on stage.
When Huo Yuhao walked onto the stage, he brushed past Dai Huabin, who was coming off.
Dai Huabin's expression was calm, without much emotional fluctuation.
Huo Yuhao knew that the other party didn't recognize him at all.
It was true; the weak, thin child who had been bullied by him back then had now grown into an existence he could only look up to.
It was normal that Dai Huabin couldn't imagine such a change.
The draw ended, and Huo Yuhao returned to the team.
He was silent, saying nothing.
Wang Dong keenly sensed that his mood was a bit off.
Her large, powder-blue eyes landed on his face, examining him closely.
She leaned over and asked in a low voice: "Yuhao, what's wrong with you?"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.