Chapter 55: Soul Core
Condensing a soul core has undeniable benefits for soul masters. Not only is condensing a soul core essential for breaking through to the Title Douluo and Limit Douluo levels, but the soul core's incredible recovery ability is something every soul master desires.
In the distant future, during the events of the third Douluo series, condensing a first soul core at the Soul Sage level had already become a standard for geniuses. Huo Yuhao was the first soul master to condense a first soul core at the Soul Sage stage.
But things are different now. Du Qianjue plans to be the first to try this.
"You want to condense your first soul core?" Snow Empress was shocked. "But if you condense your first soul core now, then..."
"I understand. It will significantly increase the difficulty of breaking through to Title Douluo and Limit Douluo," Du Qianjue replied with a carefree smile.
Not to mention how the Title Douluo and Limit Douluo broke through without soul cores thousands of years ago. Considering Du Qianjue current talent and foundation, if Huo Yuhao could do it, why couldn't he?
He firmly believed he could!
"So what? At worst, I'll break through to Limit Douluo with three soul cores, making me even stronger despite the higher difficulty."
Confidence! Unmatched confidence!
Not only Snow Empress but also the soul beasts in Du Qianjue spiritual sea were stunned.
"Xiao Bai, I might need your help this time," Du Qianjue said with a smile. "I plan to condense a pure soul power core without any attributes. During the condensation, my soul power might not be enough. My soul power's attribute strength is very high, and stripping away the attributes might not leave enough for the soul core."
"Don't worry, Dad. Xiao Bai's original power is ready and can be fused at any time!" Xiao Bai said with a laugh, patting his chest. Snow Empress blushed at Xiao Bai's term for Du Qianjue.
They're not even married yet!
"Thank you. And Tianmeng, help stabilize my attribute power when I condense the soul core," Du Qianjue turned to Tianmeng Iceworm.
"And everyone else, you all represent an attribute in my body. Assist Tianmeng to ensure my soul power isn't disrupted by the soul core's pull, keeping my first soul core pure."
"Don't worry, Thousand Absolutes!" the soul beasts in his spiritual sea replied in unison.
"I'll guard you," Snow Empress said softly.
No matter what decision Du Qianjue made, Snow Empress would support him.
Unlike Huo Yuhao in the original story, who nearly drained Tianmeng Iceworm's ten seals, Du Qianjue had preserved most of Tianmeng Iceworm's abilities and had many other ten-thousand-year-old soul beast sources in his body.
Even if condensing a soul power core drained Xiao Bai, Du Qianjue didn't mind. He could use Bing Ling or Red Dragon or Earth Demon Bull to fill in.
His current soul sources were more than enough to advance to Super Douluo and beyond. Moreover, his soul rings weren't fully absorbed yet, and he would continue seeking soul beasts for more power in the future.
Why not use these resources now to condense a soul core?
The soul beasts in his spiritual sea had no complaints, having long dedicated their powers to Du Qianjue. He could use them as he wished to strengthen himself.
These soul beasts were happy to merge their essences sooner, allowing them to rest peacefully in the spiritual sea and become gods.
With everything ready, Snow Empress led Du Qianjue to her training cave.
This was an ice cave beneath Snow Empress' territory, reinforced by her powerful soul power, able to withstand attacks from Super Douluo. Here, they wouldn't be disturbed.
No one, human or beast, dared enter this place (except for the late Ye Yuankong, the only one who dared to enter the Far North, seal the Snow Empress, and escape).
"I'll begin now!" Du Qianjue took a deep breath, his expression becoming focused.
Snow Empress had already passed on her soul core condensation experience to him. Now, her role was to protect him.
Du Qianjue sat cross-legged, his right hand held in front of his chest, with strands of white soul power swirling around it, forming a small vortex in his palm.
The attributes in his soul power had been stripped away, leaving only the purest soul power.
Time passed slowly as Du Qianjue repeated the same process.
Stabilizing the soul power vortex, circulating soul power within his body, stripping away attributes, and merging pure soul power into the vortex, then stabilizing it again...
At first, the process was easy. Separating soul power and attributes wasn't too challenging, and the pressure on him was minimal.
However, as time went on, the attribute power in his body increased, and his soul power decreased. The balance between soul power and attributes was disrupted, making the stripping process increasingly difficult and slow.
This became quite taxing for him.
Fortunately, he had asked the soul beasts in his spiritual sea to help stabilize his attributes at crucial moments.
But since they were all in spirit form and couldn't maintain long-term stability, he hadn't let them intervene yet.
Three days into the condensation process, Du Qianjue started to struggle.
Most of his soul power had been extracted, and a rapidly rotating milky-white diamond crystal had formed at the center of the vortex in his palm.
This was the soul core's prototype, indicating its imminent success.
Normally, condensing a soul core wouldn't be this difficult. The soul power from multiple attributes was extremely abundant, enough to condense the first soul core.
But Du Qianjue had a plan. He didn't want to condense an attribute soul core before his body was fully developed.
If his first soul core was purely soul power, his second could be a spiritual core.
Once his soul power core and spiritual core were perfected, reaching level ninety-eight, with no further advancement possible, he could then fuse all attributes to form a final third soul core.
However, his spiritual state wasn't as advanced as Huo Yuhao's, lacking a sacrifice from an Emperor Auspicious Beast. Du Qianjue spiritual power wasn't tangible yet.
Moreover, his main martial soul wasn't entirely focused on spiritual attributes, making a spiritual core less beneficial.
These factors made condensing his first soul core exponentially harder, which was why he needed Xiao Bai's help.
"Xiao Bai, now!"