Chapter Eighty-Six: Fusion

The three of them now turned their gazes to Miao Sihai, for he was, after all, the one at the center of this matter.

Shen Baiyu had originally intended to forcibly fuse Li Qingshan’s remaining soul with Miao Sihai’s, convinced that once he regained his memories, all misunderstandings would resolve themselves, leaving no barrier between them. Everything she did, she told herself, was for her senior brother’s sake.

Moreover, her senior brother had always doted on her. No matter what trials or dangers arose, he would step forward without hesitation and shield her from harm. Yet the fond memories of those days were now but fleeting clouds. Over the centuries, he had learned to be strong, self-reliant, and even ruthless, yet he had always clung to his inner principles, refusing to let the world’s corruption taint his soul.

Now, however, because of that fateful wager, she was forced to heed Miao Sihai’s wishes and could no longer resort to her previous, forceful approach—a fact she deeply regretted.

Miao Sihai, still somewhat dubious, asked, “That other half of the soul—are you sure it won’t wrest control of my body from me?”

After hearing Shen Baiyu’s story, he had been moved, filled with admiration for her senior brother. Whether or not he was truly his past incarnation remained to be seen. Despite his ingrained skepticism, he trusted Xuan Yangzi and Yi An.

Only after receiving their affirmation did Miao Sihai finally make his decision.

He chose to help this pitiful woman.

No—this pitiful demoness.

Shen Baiyu glanced at Miao Sihai and breathed a silent sigh of relief. She had feared he would stubbornly oppose her to the bitter end—in which case, she could hardly be blamed for breaking their agreement.

With a gentle expression, she said, “You can close your eyes now. It will be over in a moment; just bear with it. When you open your eyes again, all will be clear.”

Miao Sihai nodded gravely and obediently closed his eyes. Once was enough for such a harrowing ordeal—he doubted he could endure it again.

After a while, he asked timidly, “Is it done?”

“In such a rush? We haven’t even started yet. Just wait,” Shen Baiyu replied, making haste as she removed the bracelet and began the necessary preparations. This was a matter of utmost importance, and she dared not allow even the slightest mistake.

Every step had to be flawless.

Scenes like this had played out in her heart a thousand times over; her skill was beyond question.

Yi An and Xuan Yangzi stood by to protect her, but in truth, this was well beyond their expertise; they could only watch.

Shen Baiyu pointed with a finger and uttered a strange incantation. The seemingly ordinary bracelet suddenly glimmered with a ghostly light, which rapidly coalesced into a shadowy form, expanding until it shaped itself into a human figure.

Though unremarkable in appearance, the bracelet was a rare treasure for nourishing the soul. For centuries, it had housed the other half of Li Qingshan’s soul, preserving it from dispersal and gradually strengthening it.

It also served a crucial purpose: to find the reincarnation of Li Qingshan. Only one who resonated with the bracelet could truly be his next life.

“Clear your mind. Set aside all distractions. Do not resist; I am about to begin,” Shen Baiyu said solemnly.

Miao Sihai nodded vigorously. Having already experienced his soul leaving his body once, he was not nearly as anxious as before, though unease was still inevitable.

This time, the separation of soul and body was smoother than ever. Thanks to the previous experience, the bond between soul and flesh was no longer so rigid and easily gave way, and the pain was far less severe.

At that moment, Miao Sihai’s body looked deathly pale, as though all blood had been drained from it.

“Young Master Yi, quickly give him this pill,” Shen Baiyu said with urgent concern, tossing over a meticulously prepared elixir just in case.

“What kind of pill is this?” Yi An asked, eyeing the crystal-clear bead with appetite and wondering if he might one day taste such legendary pills as a meal. He recalled a tale of a monkey indulging in such luxury, even savoring the fabled Nine-Turn Golden Pill.

“It’s a body-protection pill, meant to stabilize the flesh,” Xuan Yangzi explained.

Though only a dabbler in alchemy, Xuan Yangzi had learned much through years of observation.

Forcing the pill down Miao Sihai’s throat, its power spread instantly throughout his body, restoring some color to his pallid face.

Seeing this, Shen Baiyu’s heart eased a little. Only with Miao Sihai’s body secure could she proceed with merging the two souls. If anything went wrong with the body midway, all would be lost.

The fusion would take considerable time, and any misstep would spell disaster—one false move, and the entire effort would collapse.

She strove to perfect every detail. Even with seven parts certainty, she pressed toward flawless completion.

Before long, Shen Baiyu completed the most critical step—merging the two souls. Though their compatibility was unmatched, they were not originally one; after reincarnation, Li Qingshan’s soul fragment had undergone unpredictable changes, presenting the greatest obstacle to a perfect union. Only by overcoming these could she ensure the souls fused completely and all risks were eliminated.

Yet as the process deepened, her brows drew ever tighter.

She soon discovered things were not as she had expected.

After his reincarnation, Miao Sihai’s soul had become whole unto itself, no longer just a half. This inevitably produced a measure of rejection toward Li Qingshan’s soul.

Shen Baiyu was forced to exert all her strength to finally complete the fusion. The result, however, fell short of her hopes—the compatibility reached only seventy percent.

Though it sounded a minor shortfall, the consequences were far from trivial. With the soul damaged, Miao Sihai’s body would be greatly weakened, and even the prospect of embarking on the path of cultivation might become nothing more than a distant dream.