After administering continuous first aid – or rather, helping Azure Luan sit down and giving him a lot of medicinal herbs for recovery – it took over ten minutes for him to finally start feeling better.
"Are the side effects this severe?"
Guang Ling looked at Han Li and Azure Luan with some confusion.
"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense."
The first to refute him was Dugu Bo, who at this moment looked at Azure Luan with a bit of envy.
"Azure Luan only suffered some minor physical injuries. With Xiao Li's medicinal herbs, he'll fully recover within a week, and his body's strength will even increase significantly."
Dugu Bo emphasized this point.
"Hmm, he's right. It's not that serious. My martial soul actively absorbed the spatial power, causing these results. You all better not try this; it's very dangerous," Azure Luan raised his head to explain to the group.
"But Martial Uncle, didn't you also fuse with the spatial attribute?"
Han Li had already communicated with his obedient son and understood the situation.
To be honest, Han Li considered many aspects, but he hadn't anticipated the changes brought about by the temporary boost in fortune. Azure Luan, known for his calmness and steadiness, deviated from the original plan and chose to take risks, which was beyond Han Li's expectations.
"Hmm, but if I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't dare. Fortunately, my wind attribute and sonic waves were compatible with spatial energy, so I succeeded by luck."
Azure Luan spoke with a bitter smile and a faint sense of lingering fear.
"Sorry, there wasn't time to notify you; I had to continue."
Azure Luan looked at Han Li and apologized. If anything had gone wrong, it would have had a very negative impact on Han Li.
"It's fine, you can't be blamed for this. I didn't consider the martial soul thoroughly. It seems I need to recalculate."
Han Li had learned the specifics and knew that some things had subtly changed under the influence of the temporary boost in fortune, so Azure Luan couldn't be blamed.
"Your control abilities aren't as good as Martial Uncler's, so don't be reckless."
Han Li's expression was very serious. He would rather see them weaker or even fail than see anyone fall because of this.
The group looked at Azure Luan, then at Han Li, and nodded heavily.
"Alright, let Martial Uncle recover first. Let's not disturb him. Follow me; I need to resimulate the process."
Han Li left some more medicinal herbs and led the group away, giving Azure Luan space to recover.
With a successful example already in place, after re-evaluating the group's status, Han Li and the dimensional consciousness quickly revised the plan, adding variables and leaving room for adjustments.
Meanwhile, Azure Luan took the opportunity to gradually adjust his state. Though still somewhat weak, he had regained a certain level of combat power.
After a simple test, the power of the new soul core was finally displayed to everyone for the first time.
Just in terms of pure cultivation and recovery speed, using Azure Luan's previous data as a reference, it had increased by twenty percent. Moreover, with the soul core, the overall enhancement for future improvements was comprehensive.
Not only that, but after the soul core formed, according to him, his perception of his martial soul became clearer, and even his control over power improved significantly.
As long as he accumulated enough soul power, he could break through to the next level.
Compared to his previous soul skills, there was also a slight increase in power – about a ten percent overall enhancement. However, the consumption was reduced by about five percent, further strengthening his combat power.
This data surprised everyone. This almost equaled a good soul ring skill, and most importantly, it was a constant enhancement that wouldn't diminish with increased levels.
But that wasn't the end. Right before the group's eyes, Azure Luan demonstrated another hidden function.
He completely restrained his aura and let Guang Ling probe with his spiritual power.
After Guang Ling tried, the feedback astonishingly indicated that the person standing in front of him was an ordinary person with no soul power fluctuations.
"This effect of concealing one's aura is truly amazing," Guang Ling's eyes sparkled. His invisible arrows were already silent and formless, but they were unnecessary against ordinary people. If a similar effect could be applied to attacks, he wouldn't even need a martial soul fusion technique to greatly enhance his combat power.
"Currently, perfectly concealing soul power fluctuations is my limit. This is the effect of what Xiao Li mentioned as the unification of essence, soul, and spiritual. As for applying it to attacks, that would be very difficult," Azure Luan understood his thoughts and gave a reminder.
"No matter, we'll know after trying. Even if I can achieve what you did, I'd be very satisfied," Guang Ling waved his hand nonchalantly. It would be great if it worked, but it didn't matter if it didn't.
"When do we start?" he turned to Han Li, already a bit impatient.
"It's better to let the surrounding energy recover a bit. It's safer that way," Han Li pointed to the ordinary plants around them that had been scattered by the impact, indicating his stance. The process of Azure Luan condensing his soul core had reduced the energy concentration here somewhat. The group was already less adept at controlling energy than him, so it was better to be cautious.
"Alright then," Guang Ling regretfully glanced around and then eagerly pulled Azure Luan aside to ask about the details of the process. The others also gathered around to absorb the new insights and experiences.
With a successful template, over the next twenty days, Han Li performed the ceremony for each person one after another. It had to be said that having someone in power made things easier. With the help of the greatest insider, the dimensional consciousness, everyone succeeded almost on the first try.
Only Xiu'er had some difficulty while condensing her soul core. She almost lost control of the solid soul power, which nearly led to an explosion, but she managed to get through it safely. There was no helping it; her martial soul mainly enhanced physical strength, making her a genuine heavy-armored warrior, quite different from the mage paths of the other two women. Her spiritual power control was vastly different from that of Guang Ling and Dugu Bo, who were both titled warriors. Even though she had previously used the Blood Fiend Art to enhance her spiritual power and had been diligently training and studying, she still had certain shortcomings in this area.
Seeing that Xiu'er had also succeeded and entered the recovery phase, Han Li finally relaxed. The first phase of their goal was achieved.
"Xiao Li? What about you? Aren't you planning to condense your soul core now?"
Guang Ling came over and looked at the leisurely Han Li, asking.
"Me? I'm not in a hurry. I'm waiting for a gift to arrive, and I'll also get my seventh soul ring," Han Li changed his posture on the big rock to lie more comfortably.
"You're not feverish, so why are you talking nonsense? You're not even at the seventieth level. Even if a soul beast came to you, you'd have to be able to absorb it," Guang Ling reached out to feel his forehead, looking as if Han Li had lost his mind.
"Master, did you forget about the sacrifice? You just experienced it not long ago," Han Li pushed his hand away from his forehead and answered helplessly.
"Even if it's a sacrifice, you have to go out and find it. Do you expect a soul beast to deliver itself here?"
Guang Ling didn't doubt Han Li's words; after all they'd been through, he fully believed Han Li could encounter a hundred-thousand-year soul beast willing to sacrifice itself. But just lying here, in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well where soul beasts didn't dare to tread, seemed quite unrealistic.
"We're looking, we're looking. We'll stay for three more days. After three days, when Sister Xiu'er has fully recovered, if no soul beast has come to us, I'll listen to you and go out to look for one, okay?"
Han Li lazily turned over, looking like a salted fish. Heaven knows how exhausted he was from condensing soul cores for the three women ahead of time. Spatial abilities weren't something they could perceive at their current stage. To help them sense and master the basics of absorption, his spiritual power hadn't fully recovered yet.
"Deal."
Guang Ling shook his head and walked away; he wasn't forcing Han Li to train. However, they would soon leave Heaven Dou and return to Wuhun City. Han Li hadn't reached the Soul Sage stage, which worried him. After all, Han Li would likely face people from the Upper Three Sects next, so the stronger, the better.
Three days passed in a flash. Xiu'er had completely recovered, and her recovery time was the shortest among them, showcasing her specialized skills.
Around noon, Han Li gathered everyone and asked them to conceal their auras and enter the stone chamber. He then plunged into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, leaving only his head above the surface, looking both eerie and amusing.
After about half an hour, in the empty center of the basin, a section of the flat ground suddenly collapsed. To the group's puzzled eyes, a white, tender thing emerged from the ground, scanning the surroundings with a vast spiritual force. Upon encountering the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it paused, then quickly leaped out of the ground, running towards the pool.
Only then did the group see what had appeared.
It was an Ice Silkworm but unlike an ordinary Ice Silkworm. Its diameter was over a meter, and its length exceeded seven meters. Its entire body was jade white, crystal clear, with light flowing beneath its surface, and its head had a pair of shining golden eyes. The white thing they first saw was probably its head.
Looking further down, starting half a meter from its head, there was a golden ring pattern at intervals along its body, totaling ten from head to tail, making it look extraordinary.
What shocked them, even more, was that the chubby Ice Silkworm, while heading towards the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, started talking: "Mine, all mine! Indeed, surviving a disaster brings good fortune. I, Sky Dream, am truly the future star of soul beasts."
"Di Tian, you can only eat my dust. When I get stronger, I'll go back and beat you up, and that annoying bear, and that big dog. Revenge, revenge! One day, you will all offer your life force to me."
"Hmm, and Bing Bing too. This environment is good for her as well. Oh, but I need to get stronger first before I can think about that."
This worm was like a chatterbox, muttering non-stop as it approached the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Finally, it stopped in front of the well, looking at the milky white extreme cold spring, swallowing its saliva, and seemed hesitant.
"I'll just take a sip, it should be fine, right?"
Before it finished speaking, its head was already slowly lowering, evidently answering its question through its actions.
"It should be fine, but don't drink too much at once."
In the center of the pool, a human head emerged, affirmatively answering.
"Hmm, makes sense. I'll just have a taste. Thanks."
Sky Dream instinctively replied, then looked up towards the source of the voice, its body half-crouched and frozen in place.