🏔️ Blood Flame Sect Training Grounds
With forty-eight hours until potential catastrophe, there was no time for gradual preparation. Blood Wolf had cleared the sect's most secure training ground - a reinforced chamber carved directly into the mountain bedrock, surrounded by barrier formations that could contain even S-rank energy explosions.
"Are you certain about this?" Blood Flower asked as she finished calibrating the monitoring equipment. "Complete fusion without proper preparation phases..."
"We don't have a choice," Jin Ho replied, settling into meditation position at the center of the chamber. His blood qi was already beginning to circulate, crimson energy patterns dancing around his form.
Seol Hwa-rin took her position facing him, ice-blue energy creating a stark contrast to his red aura. To outside observers, she appeared focused and determined, ready to risk everything for their shared cause.
'Perfect. They're all watching Jin Ho's power levels, but they won't notice me analyzing his energy composition in real-time. This training session will tell me everything I need to know about blood cultivation techniques.'
🔄 First Fusion Attempt
"Begin with basic energy harmonization," Blood Wolf instructed from behind the protective barrier. "Don't attempt full merger until your qi flows are synchronized."
Jin Ho extended his hands toward Hwa-rin, palms up in the traditional fusion stance. She placed her hands on his, and immediately both their energies began to resonate.
『Careful,』 Blood Heaven Great Emperor warned. 『Ice and blood have fundamental incompatibilities. Too fast and you could cause permanent damage to both cultivation bases.』
『The ice girl's energy feels... calculating,』 Thunder Lightning King observed suspiciously. 『Like she's probing instead of merging.』
But Jin Ho was too focused on the complex process to notice the subtle analytical quality of Hwa-rin's energy probes.
'Incredible... his blood qi has definitely evolved since our last contact. There are layers here I never detected before. If I can map this structure during the fusion process...'
❄️🩸 Energy Analysis
As their energies began to intertwine, Seol Hwa-rin maintained perfect external composure while conducting the most detailed analysis of her career.
'Base blood qi density is approximately 40% higher than standard cultivation methods would produce. The twin demon consciousness system is creating interference patterns that actually strengthen rather than weaken his overall energy flow. Fascinating.'
"How does it feel?" she asked aloud, her voice carrying appropriate concern. "Any resistance or conflicting resonance?"
"It's... intense," Jin Ho replied, sweat beginning to form on his forehead from the concentration required. "Your ice techniques are more complex than I expected."
'Good. He's interpreting my analytical probes as natural fusion resistance. Now let me see how deep those blood cultivation roots go...'
She allowed her ice energy to sink deeper into his meridian system, ostensibly to achieve better synchronization but actually to map every aspect of his internal cultivation structure.
'The blood demon's influence extends far beyond what any of them realize. There are sealed techniques here that predate most modern cultivation methods. If I could access even a fraction of this knowledge...'
⚡ Unexpected Resonance
Suddenly, their energies snapped into perfect harmony. Both Jin Ho and Seol Hwa-rin gasped as their consciousness barriers began to thin.
For a brief moment, Jin Ho felt the calculating coldness that lay beneath Hwa-rin's caring exterior. And she experienced the genuine warmth of his determination to protect others, even at personal cost.
'Damn! The fusion is going deeper than I intended. He's going to sense my real intentions if I don't—'
"Separate! Now!" Blood Wolf shouted from the observation area as energy readings spiked beyond safe parameters.
Both cultivators jerked apart, their connection severing with an almost physical snap. Jin Ho stumbled backward, while Hwa-rin managed to maintain her composure despite the internal chaos.
💥 First Results
"Status report," Blood Flower called out, checking her monitoring devices. "How deep did the consciousness merger reach?"
Jin Ho was breathing heavily, his blood qi still fluctuating from the interrupted process. "Deeper than expected. I could sense... fragments of her thoughts."
'Too close. I need to be more careful about mental barriers during the next attempt.'
"And you, Hwa-rin?" Blood Wolf asked.
"Similar experience," she replied carefully. "Jin Ho's determination is... overwhelming. The emotional intensity of blood cultivation is much stronger than ice techniques."
'True enough. But what I really learned is that his power structure has vulnerabilities. If I could exploit those during a critical moment...'
🔬 Data Collection
"The energy patterns are promising," Blood Flower observed, reviewing her readings. "Compatibility is higher than theoretical models predicted, but the synchronization speed needs work."
"How long before we can attempt complete fusion?" Jin Ho asked.
Blood Position consulted his tactical charts. "Based on these initial results... twelve hours of intensive training might be enough for a stable merger lasting several minutes."
"Several minutes against a Void Demon?" Blood Wolf shook his head. "We'll need at least fifteen minutes of sustained fusion for a real chance at victory."
Seol Hwa-rin stepped forward, her expression showing perfect determination tinged with realistic concern.
"Then we'll have to push the training harder," she said. "I know the risks, but Jin Ho is right - traditional power levels won't be sufficient."
'And the harder we push, the more opportunities I'll have to analyze his techniques. By the time we face the Void Demon, I'll know every weakness in his cultivation system.'
⚡ Second Attempt
"Again," Jin Ho said, returning to the center position. "But this time, let's try to maintain better mental barriers while deepening the energy fusion."
"Agreed," Hwa-rin nodded, taking her place across from him.
'Perfect. Mental barriers will actually make this easier - he won't notice my analytical probes if he's focused on maintaining separation of consciousness.'
As they began the second fusion attempt, their energies once again began to intertwine. But this time, Hwa-rin was prepared.
While maintaining perfect external cooperation, she systematically mapped Jin Ho's energy pathways, catalogued his technique variations, and identified the precise points where blood qi flow could be disrupted if necessary.
'Excellent. His trust in me is making this so much easier than it should be. By the time we face actual combat, I'll know his power structure better than he does.'
"The synchronization is improving," she reported aloud. "I think we can sustain this level for at least thirty seconds."
"Good," Jin Ho replied, not noticing the predatory satisfaction hidden behind her encouraging words. "Let's see how much deeper we can go."
'Oh, we're going to go much deeper than you realize, Jin Ho. Much deeper indeed.'