"Huuu...." Huo Yuhao exhaled, sitting on a cross-legged position, feeling the energies in his body reach a state of equilibrium after he made a few Shadow Clones and have them do some training on the side; both his soul and spiritual power are now at around the same 'volume'.
He was in the training room, the same one he uses, and he was the only one with his clones for today as his friends decided to explore more of Star Luo City.
Following his ancestor's advice, he focused on stabilizing his foundation and realize a deeper understanding of his cultivation. Instead of endlessly pursuing advancement, one must first refine and master what they already possess.
What was the difference between soul power and spiritual power? The answer should be simple: Soul Power comes from within the soul master's body while Spiritual Power comes from the soul master's mind or brain, and yet, what are their true origin? They didn't simply appeared out of nowhere.
A certain amount of innate soul and spiritual power appears when a child undergoes the Martial Soul Ceremony, those that lacked the necessary amount are usually regulated to being an ordinary person. Why is that? Even though when using their martial soul they release bit of soul power.
The answer lies in their soul, Huo Yuhao realizes. It's why he had an incredible amount of soul power—but was locked away until he awakened the Sharingan and gained some muscle—he had a lot of soul power because his soul was an incarnation, he was the latest reincarnation of Indra Ōtsutsuki.
The Indra in his spiritual sea was merely a remnant spirit, born from the remains of the original Indra's consciousness and previous incarnations memories, while Huo Yuhao is technically the true Indra. As he had reincarnated numerous times, his soul was a level near a God and almost indestructible.
Huo Yuhao should've awakened a monstrous amount of soul and spiritual power when he awakened his martial soul—but he hadn't. The reason? It was because his soul had weakened when it traverse thorough many realities before ending up here, and reincarnating into "Huo Yuhao".
Yesterday, Indra finally told him how he came to this world. About how he had the Sharingan and the suspicion he had as to why he was the reincarnation of someone from another world—because he truly was.
His situation was almost the same as Electrolux, but he was more luckier than the latter.
But back to the matter of Soul and Spiritual Powers.
If their origin was a person's soul...then, is it possible to combine them into one energy? Or substitute one for the other when using a skill and technique? He was using it for the Shadow Clones after all...
Huo Yuhao was then reminded about the energy from the world where Indra was originally from—Chakra, the primary source of energy in order to use jutsus.
Chakra is created when two more primal energies; Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy, basically the same as Soul and Spiritual Powers in this world. However, that also opened up a can of worms for Huo Yuhao.
How could he and the others able to use jutsus with just their soul power or spiritual power separately? Was it because of the world's laws? Electrolux explained it to him when teaching him the Divine Law of Necromancy about the mystical laws of the world that all living beings must follow—like how soul masters must have a soul ring in order to advance in their cultivation.
'Is it because that combining the energies of Soul and Spiritual Powers, and using them together is so uncommon that jutsus and self-created skills are useable with just one of each energy?' Huo Yuhao pondered, mulling over the possibilities.
But what happens if he did combined the two energies into one and use it for a jutsu? Does that make it stronger? The thought was tempting.
'How about I test it out?' Huo Yuhao thought, feeling the itch to experiment with the combination of his soul and spiritual powers.
He closed his eyes and formed meditative handseals, focusing his mind.
First, he concentrated on drawing his soul power, feeling the familiar energy surge within him. Then, he slowly gathered his spiritual power, weaving it together with his soul power.
The sensation was strange at first, like two currents of water flowing in opposite directions but beginning to merge into one unified stream.
'Slow and steady.... Let them blend naturally.'
The unified energy flowed through him like a river, strong but smooth, its potency far surpassing what he had known. It wasn't just an increase in power—it felt as though the energy had evolved. The clarity of his senses heightened, and the connection between his mind and body deepened.
'No, wait! Something's off!' Huo Yuhao inwardly cried out as he noticed the unified energy beginning to unravel. What had once felt like a smooth flow suddenly became turbulent. The balance between soul power and spiritual power was destabilizing, and the combined energy began to twist unpredictably inside him.
His heart raced as he tried to regain control, forcing his focus to calm the chaotic stream. 'Damn it, I pushed it too far!'
The energy felt like it was fighting back, pulling apart the careful merging he had established. His body trembled more violently, beads of sweat forming on his brow. He could feel the strain on his meridians and spiritual sea—this experiment was quickly spiraling out of control.
Huo Yuhao spat out a mouthful of blood, teeth grinding in frustration and pain. 'Ancestor, I—!'
Just as he was about to call out for help, the turbulent energy within him suddenly froze—literally. His entire body was engulfed in an intense wave of cold. A thick layer of ice began to form on his skin, creeping outward from his core. The frozen energy gripped his body like an iron vice, paralyzing him from the inside.
'What....is happening?!'
He could barely move, his limbs growing numb as frost crystallized across his skin. The cold was deeper, far more intense than any of his own Ultimate Ice. It felt foreign, almost hostile, as if trying to consume him from the inside.
A familiar voice, cold and regal, echoed in his mind.
"I was merely asleep for a couple of days, and you're already killing yourself," Snow Empress' voice was both stern and laced with a hint of exasperation.
Through his mind's eye, Huo Yuhao saw her clearly. She stood within the small, mystical space that Indra had formed in his dantian—the place where she now resided. It had taken on the appearance of a serene winter wonderland, with icy trees and snow-covered fields that shimmered in the pale light.
The Snow Empress was in her mature form, her true form: regal and imposing, her white hair flowing behind her like a cascade of snow, her pale blue eyes reflecting the cold beauty of her domain. Her presence was powerful yet oddly comforting, the embodiment of the Ultimate Snow.
"Snow Empress…" Huo Yuhao's voice was weak, but there was relief in his tone.
"You need to be more careful," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied his condition. "Your experiment with merging energies nearly backfired. The instability was too much for your body to handle."
"I thought… I could control it," Huo Yuhao muttered.
"You underestimate how volatile those energies are when combined," Snow Empress replied, her tone cold and firm. "You humans always bit off more than you could chew; don't you understand that understanding the truth within one's soul, one must first reach a certain level of cultivation?"
She scoffed, laying majestically on her crystal throne. "No, of course not. You're still too young. Fortunately, you have an unbelievable amount of vitality or else the wounds you sustained would've taken you a few weeks to recover."
Huo Yuhao frowned, clenching his hands.
"Snow Empress, I see you have awakened earlier than any of us expected," Indra's voice cut in, calm and composed, but with an underlying sense of observation.
Snow Empress shifted her gaze upward, meeting Indra's voice with a disdainful look. "Human, you're the last person to lecture me on anything, especially when you have me bound to some sort of connection with this boy!" she said coolly, though her tone carried a sharp edge. "If it weren't for his connection with Ice, I would've killed us all."
"Hmph. Did you honestly believe that no one wouldn't have advantage of you? Please, as much as you disdain humans, you can be as equally cunning and sly if given the situation." retorted, his voice still calm but with a sharpness that matched her own icy edge.
"You—"
"Snow Lady! Please, calm down...." Ice Empress's voice interjected, it was a mixture of happiness and sheepishness upon hearing Snow Empress voice. "I understand your frustration, but this isn't helping anyone."
Snow Empress's expression softened slightly. "Fine," she said with a huff. "But I still want answers. Boy, why did you think you could merge energies like that? Was it not clear to you how dangerous it could be?"
Huo Yuhao looked down, his expression conflicted. "I was trying to understand and push the boundaries of what I could achieve. I thought maybe combining the energies could lead to something stronger."
Snow Empress said. "Combining soul power and spiritual power is not a simple task, especially since it leads to the creation of soul core. Seriously, you don't even have the necessary requirements needed to create it, why even attempt it...?"
Huo Yuhao blinked. "A what now?"
Snow Empress was shocked. "You don't know what a soul core is?! Ice, Skydream! You two are attempting to make this boy into a God, yet you two haven't even taught him about this cultivation method?!"
Skydream coughed, sounding sheepish. "Uh, to be honest, I don't really remember how I condensed mine....I slept though my cultivation, remember?"
Ice Empress added, "I...I didn't think he was ready for it. His body isn't at the level in which he could endure the creation of his soul core." she sighed, "But before I could react, he was already doing something stupid."
"Guys, what the heck is a soul core?" Huo Yuhao anxiously asked.
Snow Empress let out an exasperated sigh. "To put it simply, a soul core is a crystallization of a soul master's soul power and spiritual power. A soul core functions as a storage collecting unit, allowing the possessor to lessen the rate of loss: recovery of its source."
She then continued, "The concept of soul cores pre-date mortal humans, existing since the era of the Dragon God and his Douluo Divine Realm as natural cores derived from Divine Beast bloodline essence and Divine Cores of true Gods. Such knowledge was pass down to his Dragon Clan spirit beasts, such as the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon in the Great Star Dou Forest, and instinctively to all spirit beasts."
"Over time, as human spirit masters advanced their cultivation ranks, they encountered the circumstances of soul core condensation after becoming Titled Douluos, allowing advancement in their comprehension and cultivation."
"Mortal human Titled Douluo powerhouses condensed soul cores after becoming Titled Douluos through their higher spiritual power and higher physique."
Huo Yuhao's eyes twitched, "You mean I have to be a Titled Douluo in order to create my soul core?" he sighed, feeling a tad disappointed. If he had one, doesn't that mean he could recover his soul power during battles? He would have his clones buy time for him to recover!
Snow Empress was silent for a moment. "Not necessarily. I meant that if you had high spiritual power and a strong physique at the level of a Titled Douluo. From what I can tell, your spiritual power has already reached a level comparable to that of a Titled Douluo, but your physique still needs catching up."
Huo Yuhao sighed, feeling a bit deflated. "So, I still have a long way to go before I can even think about creating a soul core?"
Snow Empress snorted. "Don't be so arrogant. Most soul masters don't even have the hope of reaching Titled Douluo, let alone creating a soul core. You're already ahead of many, but you can't skip the necessary steps."
Huo Yuhao's shoulders sagged slightly, but he nodded. "I understand. I'll work on strengthening my physique and continue refining my abilities. Thanks for the guidance."
Snow Empress's gaze softened just a fraction. "It's important to remember that even the most powerful must tread carefully. Growth takes time, and pushing yourself beyond your limits without proper preparation can be more harmful than beneficial."
She furrowed her brows and asked, "Since you weren't thinking on creating a soul core when you were intertwining your soul power and spiritual power, what were you doing exactly?"
Huo Yuhao then explained to her about the concept of a different energy from another world called Chakra, about how it came into being from the fusion between two energies similar to soul power and spiritual power.
Snow Empress listened intently, her expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Chakra, you say? This is the first I've heard about this energy. Moreover....are you really sure that it was created through the fusion between two energies?"
"Of course it did! Right, Ancestor?"
"Not exactly..." Indra's voice came through with a note of amusement as Huo Yuhao's expression shifted to one of surprise. "Chakra isn't created by merely combining two energies. Instead, it's generated by the interaction between physical energy and spiritual energy."
He continued, "Think of the two energies as Yin and Yang—two opposing yet complementary forces. They don't blend seamlessly; rather, they rotate and interact in a way that produces a new type of energy."
Snow Empress raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "So, the process involves a dynamic interaction rather than a simple fusion?"
"Exactly," Indra confirmed. "The rotation and balance of these energies create a unique force that can be harnessed for various purposes. This is different from simply combining two types of energy. Understanding and controlling this balance is crucial for mastering Chakra and similar concepts."
Huo Yuhao absorbed the explanation, feeling a mix of understanding and curiosity. "So, it's not just about merging energies but about managing their interaction effectively?"
Indra nodded. "Precisely. Mastering this interaction requires a deep understanding of both energies and how they influence each other. It's a more intricate and balanced approach than what you attempted."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, "I understand now!" he closed his eyes and once again controlled both energies.
Snow Empress watched in disbelief as Huo Yuhao focused intently, channeling both his soul power and spiritual power with newfound understanding. "Is he being for real? Didn't he almost die just now?"
Skydream chuckled softly. "That's just Yuhao for you, I'm afraid. He has a tendency to dive headfirst into problems."
Ice Empress smiled and added, "But he learns quickly. His persistence is both his strength and his flaw."
"Plus, we're here to help him if he's near death. Even without your help earlier, we would've done something to save him." Indra said.
Huo Yuhao continued his concentration, carefully managing the flow of energies to avoid the mistakes of earlier.
Snow Empress's face twitched. "Unbelievable."
She furrowed her brows and asked, "Ice, Skydream. Why am I sensing the aura of the Ice God on this boy?"
"Oh, that's because..." Ice Empress eagerly explained to her about the Ice God's Bone sealed within Huo Yuhao's left arm and uses it from time to time.
Snow Empress's eyes widened in shock. "The Ice God's Bone?! Incredible...but," she paused, hesitant of what she was about to say.
'Why do I feel the mighty Ice God's blood flowing not just around the boy's left arm, but throughout his entire body...?'
The ice that had enveloped Huo Yuhao began to melt, seeping into his skin and further integrating with his being. The warmth of his body started to return, a sign that the foreign ice created by Snow Empress was merging with his internal organs.
....
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