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"What is it?"
Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Is it about the Blue Silver Network? Didn't you grant some mental-type spirit masters from the Spirit Hall access? With their help, the research should be progressing well, right?"
Tang San shook his head slightly, "No, it's not about that."
No matter how distracted he might be, he would never delegate spiritual research to Xiao Wu.
With her training in Cosmic Meditation, Xiao Wu's spiritual power was naturally strong, but she had her own focus: medical research, the application of soul skills, training in the Three-Sword Style, and experimenting with the concept of 'Effortless Supremacy.'
These pursuits already consumed most of Xiao Wu's time. Adding spiritual research would likely overwhelm her, forcing Tang San to care for her indefinitely.
"It's about the research on the soul—"
Tang San began explaining the essence of the soul to Xiao Wu, "The soul can be divided into three layers. The outermost layer is spiritual power, which all living beings possess. The difference lies in whether they can use it. For ordinary people, you can gauge someone's spiritual power by the brightness in their eyes. People with strong spiritual power, like you, me, Guang Ling, Rongrong, Huo Wu, and others, all have bright, spirited eyes. This isn't heavily influenced by the type or attributes of one's spirit."
"Even Ghost Douluo, with his perpetually gloomy expression, still has a glint in his eyes."
Xiao Wu thought for a moment and said, "Medically, patients often have dull, lifeless eyes, which could be due to insufficient spiritual power."
"Exactly. In a healthy person, the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit are balanced. However, the qi in ordinary people is of much lower quality compared to a soul master's soul power," Tang San nodded, continuing, "The second layer of the soul is the soul shell, composed of some universal soul particles and memories."
"Typically, a person's self-awareness is based on their life experiences. Even a god's soul shell is essentially transformed into a divine soul, using spiritual power as divine consciousness to hold all previous memories."
Gods only recognize the second layer of the soul?
Xiao Wu was amazed but trusted her man unconditionally, not questioning how Tang San knew this. Perhaps one day, the so-called gods would just be another phase in his martial soul cultivation theory.
"The third layer is the core of the soul: the Undying True Spirit."
After explaining that every living being possesses an Undying True Spirit, Tang San saw Xiao Wu's lack of reaction and elaborated further.
"From a cosmic perspective, the Undying True Spirit of every living being is fundamental. The outer soul shell, composed of spiritual power, memories, and soul particles—what we traditionally consider as the soul—is merely an energy we haven't fully understood."
"The essence of a being is determined by the foundational Undying True Spirit."
"However, the Undying True Spirit is pure and flawless. When an ordinary being dies, this True Spirit disappears into the void, possibly being reborn in a newborn, forming a new soul based on its experiences and memories."
Tang San explained this in such detail to convey to Xiao Wu that even if her mother were resurrected, her soul shell might remain unchanged, but the core essence would be lost.
Even if, upon resurrection, a blank True Spirit from the void integrated into the soul, making it complete, the resurrected person would not be the same as before.
The Undying True Spirit truly defines the essence of a being, not the external memories and soul. Tang San and Electrolux had discovered a terrifying truth about soul remnants that they had not shared with Bibi Dong and others.
By using soul remnants as basic particles to replicate a person's memories and experiences, it is indeed possible to recreate their soul shell. This replication process can even produce multiple copies.
Electrolux realized that his semi-divine soul, which had grown from a wisp of his former self, wasn't truly the original Necromancer God, Death Scourge. He merely possessed the majority of his past life's memories.
However, Electrolux was not disappointed by this realization. It meant he was a new entity, free from the burdens of his past. He could let go of the tragic experiences of his previous life and pursue his own quest for truth.
"So, my mother can never be perfectly resurrected?" Xiao Wu guessed that her mother's soul was likely intact at the moment of her physical death, but during the process of being absorbed by a spirit master, the soul must have been damaged. This meant the Undying True Spirit had already returned to the void. She felt a pang of sadness.
"When a spirit ring is absorbed by a spirit master, even if the soul remains, it's only the second layer I mentioned: the soul shell made of soul particles and memories." Tang San sighed, "The Undying True Spirit is lost and may have already reincarnated into a new being with a new soul."
"Actually, I've already found your mother's soul. Once I reach the Soul Saint level, I can attempt resurrection. But whether she will truly be the same person is debatable."
In terms of memories and soul particles—
She would be.
However, this situation is similar to what Tang San had explained to Xiao Wu when he was six. It's like cloning, but the core of the soul has changed.
While every Undying True Spirit appears identical and pure, both Tang San and Electrolux instinctively feared the idea of replacing one. If the Undying True Spirit were swapped, even if the soul shell remained the same, it wouldn't be the same person.
Resurrection could only revive the soul, while the Undying True Spirit would have already returned to the void, likely reincarnating elsewhere. This is the true essence of reincarnation.
Reincarnation and rebirth on a soul level are essentially forms of possession in special circumstances.
"You've already found my mother's soul?" Xiao Wu was both disappointed that her mother could not be perfectly resurrected and impressed by Tang San's efforts. Knowing her mother's soul had been found meant the person who killed her mother was in Spirit City.
Who could it be?
As Xiao Wu thought about the people Tang San often interacted with, only one person came to mind.
The current Pope of the Spirit Hall: Bibi Dong!
With twin spirits, and one already having a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, she would undoubtedly seek another for her second spirit.
"Yes, it's her."
To be honest, keeping this from Xiao Wu would have been the best choice, but Tang San couldn't bring himself to be that heartless. He didn't just want Xiao Wu physically; he had truly grown to care for her.
He had experienced both meanings of gradual affection.
There was no way to hide the truth from her…
(End of Chapter)