This profound state of enlightenment gave Chen Ming a deeper understanding of the essence of soul masters, but it also greatly drained his energy.
Although his body had recovered considerably under the nourishment of the life force returned from the Dragon Core, his spiritual power and soul power were still severely depleted. Shortly after entering the fissure, Chen Ming was forced back to his original state.
This time, he truly had nothing left—no energy to even nibble on dried meat for a boost, let alone keep going after drinking a full vial of detoxified Jade Phosphorous Flower of the Seven Absolutes juice.
Clutching the Dragon Core in his hands, Chen Ming collapsed into a deep sleep in his meditation chamber, only waking up after an entire day and night. Due to his awkward sleeping posture, his neck and spine were slightly sore, but after using the Dragon Core to convert his soul power into a life force for absorption, Chen Ming instantly felt reinvigorated.
Having accepted Qian Renxue's invitation earlier, Chen Ming's first concern upon waking was to check how much time had passed. Despite wanting to avoid the outside world, he had no choice but to head to the nearest place to inquire about the time.
The Dragon Core was a precious treasure, but since he couldn't directly store it within his body, leaving it in the courtyard wasn't an option. If such a treasure were lost, Chen Ming feared he'd harbor resentment even after ascending to godhood.
After some thought, Chen Ming rummaged through his storage soul tool. With many of his items recently consumed, it wasn't difficult to clear some space. After discarding a few unnecessary blankets, he carefully stored the box containing the Dragon Core in the storage soul tool.
Once everything was properly secured, Chen Ming left his courtyard.
The first place he visited was the poison-system mimicry cultivation site near his residence. However, upon arrival, he found the entrance to the training cave blocked by artificially placed rocks, with a notice stating it was temporarily unavailable.
Startled, Chen Ming worried that he might have been cultivating for several days without realizing it. With a sense of urgency, he dashed toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was bustling with people and gossip—practically a treasure trove of information about the academy. Sometimes, even the scions of soul master families would spill shocking secrets after a few drinks, making it the equivalent of a tavern within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Arriving breathless, Chen Ming saw the cafeteria packed with all sorts of people.
But as soon as they noticed him, all the chatter abruptly stopped, and the room fell into an eerie silence.
Everyone stared at Chen Ming, the lucky one according to the rumors, with a mix of emotions—jealousy, envy, disdain, and even hatred.
Chen Ming ignored their reactions and asked one of the servers about the time.
Although the server, who lacked soul power, didn't understand Chen Ming's urgency, he dutifully provided the time before scurrying back to the kitchen when Chen Ming started contemplating.
"Only a day has passed. Good, I'm not too late. But tomorrow's the big day—I need to think carefully about what to do."
While lost in thought, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Chen Ming, striding directly toward him with obvious hostility and no attempt to conceal it.
Facing this blatantly malicious move, Chen Ming instinctively channeled his soul power to form a protective barrier around his body.
This basic defensive skill, akin to eating or drinking, was something every soul master learned. It not only reduced incoming damage but also enhanced physical strength—a universal technique taught even in beginner soul master academies.
However, even at the same level, the effectiveness of this skill varied by individual. Chen Ming, fortunately, had done some research in this area.
As the collision occurred, the soul power enveloping Chen Ming's body absorbed most of the impact, while simultaneously reflecting a multiplied force at the aggressor.
The person who had initially charged at Chen Ming was forced back several steps by the counterattack. Before they could steady themselves, Chen Ming followed up with a seamless series of moves, pinning them to the ground in a swift motion. The dull thud of their knees hitting the floor resonated audibly.
"Seriously? Didn't I already make it clear? If you want to challenge me, go get a life-and-death contract from the board members and fight me in the arena. Sneak-attacking someone lost in thought isn't exactly the act of a hero," Chen Ming said calmly.
He glanced at the pinned soul master and, unsurprisingly, didn't recognize them, as he had only joined the academy a week ago.
From brief contact, Chen Ming noticed the person had well-developed muscles. Their leg and arm strength seemed evenly matched, and their hands and feet bore calluses, though not the kind from prolonged gripping.
He deduced that this soul master likely wielded a beast-type martial soul specializing in fist, palm, or claw attacks. Based on the force they had exerted, their soul power was likely around the 20th rank.
If it were lower, they would have been sent flying instead of merely pushed back. At the 30th rank, Chen Ming would have sensed the difference in force, and at the 40th rank, he would've been the one retreating.
"You jerk! Let me go right now!"
The pinned soul master's face turned red with rage. Being subdued and forced to kneel in public was a massive humiliation for him.
Although everyone could see that he had provoked the fight, this soul master, who prided themselves on noble lineage, naturally blamed Chen Ming for everything.
While not a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he still hailed from a noble family of the Heaven Dou Empire. As a Grandmaster-level soul master, he was considered a strong presence among the academy's students.
Previously, he had only ever humiliated others; when had he ever been humiliated himself?
Lightning soul power surged from the youth, crackling with intensity. His body began transforming under the influence of their martial soul.
Scales resembling those of a dragon sprouted on his neck and wrists, muscles swelled visibly, and his nails hardened and elongated into eagle-like talons. Powerful lightning soul power crackled around him, attempting to electrocute Chen Ming and break free.
But Chen Ming wasn't having any of it.
What? Just because they had a bit of a background, they thought he wouldn't dare strike back?
Chen Ming had already dealt with enough trouble—whether it was the upcoming meeting with Qian Renxue or the eventual confrontation with Dugu Bo, the titled Douluo.
Even without those concerns, the fact that the youth had attacked first was enough for Chen Ming to escalate the matter to the academy's board members. Surely, the three elders of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy wouldn't fail to handle an issue of this magnitude.
Chen Ming activated his martial soul faster than the youth and channeled his soul power even more swiftly.
Before the lightning could touch him, Chen Ming enveloped himself with defensive soul power and infused his palm with venomous soul power, pressing down hard.
"Ahhh!"
A sizzling sound accompanied the youth's agonized scream. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the martial soul-enhanced youth was utterly overpowered by Chen Ming's venomous green hands. The skin and flesh where Chen Ming's palms made contact showed severe corrosion.
The youth's dragon scales, meant for defense, crumbled like paper, and his lightning power was effortlessly neutralized by the toxic soul power.
Chen Ming's grip didn't just press against his flesh; it nearly crushed his bones. Overwhelmed by the excruciating pain, the youth could no longer maintain his martial soul transformation. Instead, he screamed uncontrollably, his mouth wide open as tears streamed down his face.
The bloodied and brutal scene shocked the onlookers, who had initially gathered to enjoy the drama.