What is the Essence of Soul Power?

What Was the Nature of Soul Power?

As he ate, Quan Yi used a pen to mark the key points. The most important places for him were the Library, the Training Ground, and the Simulated Environment.

The guide contained detailed directions for all of them. What Quan Yi had not expected was that there was a small Training Ground near the New Student Dormitory.

It was likely designed to make training more convenient for the students—a thoughtful arrangement that happened to suit Quan Yi's needs perfectly.

Quan Yi's training schedule was divided into morning, noon, and night: limit-pushing running in the morning, extreme anaerobic exercise at noon, and fist technique practice at night. Training in the Dormitory would inevitably disturb the other students.

With the Training Ground, Quan Yi could train without any reservations.

The most crucial part of this plan—Soul Beast Meat—would be delivered to him by a Quan Family shop in the city.

With his plan settled, Quan Yi could use his spare time to study other things.

Quan Yi read very quickly and soon finished going through the guide. He had also marked its important sections.

Closing the guide, Quan Yi looked out the window. Judging by the sky, it was not dark yet—probably around six or seven in the evening.

Quan Yi changed into a clean white shirt and Black Shorts, then left the Dormitory and headed to the nearby Training Ground. There was no one there.

Though it was called a Training Ground, it was really just a flat square patch of open land, without any facilities.

Quan Yi walked to the center of the Training Ground and began his workout.

His fist technique training, as well as his battle with the Exploding Rhino, had given Quan Yi much to reflect on.

Steel and Sharpness could only truly display its importance when combined with the Gauntlets Martial Soul.

Steel and Sharpness formed purely through condensed Soul Power could not contend with Power Attack System Soul Masters and Defense System Soul Masters of the same level.

But when combined with the Gauntlets Martial Soul, it was entirely different.

The Blazing Sun Gauntlets, coupled with Steel and Sharpness, could greatly raise the offensive and defensive power of his hands to the level of Power Attack System and Defense System Soul Masters.

Even if other Soul Masters learned Steel and Sharpness, they could only make up for their shortcomings slightly. There was still a vast gap between them and true Power Attack System or Defense System Soul Masters.

Therefore, Quan Yi placed great importance on practicing Steel and Sharpness.

After several months of cultivation, Quan Yi's control over Soul Power had improved steadily. He could already maintain its condensation for over ten minutes.

While practicing his fist techniques, Quan Yi combined them with Steel and Sharpness. As his fist techniques changed, the form of the Soul Power around his hands had to shift accordingly, undoubtedly increasing the difficulty of his training.

More than two hours passed. Quan Yi was already drenched in sweat, and the short-sleeved shirt on his upper body had long since been put away in the Blazing Sun Heart.

August nights were extremely hot, and the Academy was located in what could be considered a tropical region. Even without summoning his Martial Soul, Quan Yi could not escape the stifling heat.

After completing his final set, Quan Yi ended his nightly training. At that moment, his Soul Power and physical strength were completely exhausted, leaving his body too tired to move.

It was like a college student who never exercised suddenly running an beyond-the-limit three thousand meters. Quan Yi went through that near-death experience three times every day.

Without Soul Beast Meat, Quan Yi's body would definitely collapse. He understood that clearly as well.

The weakness in his body made it difficult for Quan Yi to move, but he still did everything he could to keep himself upright, continually adjusting his breathing and refusing to let himself collapse completely.

Gradually, Quan Yi recovered, and his breathing slowly steadied.

This was a method he had summarized by combining common exercise knowledge from his previous life with his own firsthand experience. Compared to lying down immediately, it helped Quan Yi shake off his weakness more quickly.

Once he had adjusted his breathing, Quan Yi immediately began the part that caused him the most pain: stretching.

He started with his legs, stretching whichever muscles were the most fatigued. This made his already aching muscles hurt even more, and the pain turned Quan Yi's face pale.

He did this to avoid affecting the next morning's training. This almost self-harming method would help his body recover faster.

Fine beads of sweat covered his head, even more than when he had been practicing his fists.

After finishing his stretches, a strange sense of pleasure spread through his entire body. Even his heart, unsettled by parting, had calmed at that moment.

With his workout over, Quan Yi thought back over the process.

His Physical Quality was improving too quickly. Quan Yi was somewhat puzzled by this.

Ever since gaining Soul Power, Quan Yi had sensed this abnormality.

This energy called Soul Power seemed to be slowly transforming his body.

Quan Yi had always been pondering the true nature of Soul Power.

First of all, it was unlike Internal Power cultivation. It did not focus on refining essence into qi. Soul Power was more like magic power: it was absorbed from the outside and could have a positive effect on the body.

Otherwise, Quan Yi could not have used Soul Power cultivation in place of sleep.

Furthermore, Soul Masters had to absorb Soul Rings every ten levels to break through. This seemed to indicate that humans could not overcome bottlenecks through their own power.

Soul Beasts, on the other hand, could break through their own limits through their own cultivation.

This bottleneck was more like shackles around Soul Masters' necks, forcing them to fight Soul Beasts. Yet once they killed a Soul Beast and absorbed its Soul Ring, Soul Masters could gain extremely convenient and powerful Skills.

But it seemed more like a sweet trap. Through plunder, humans could easily obtain the experience and Soul Power that Soul Beasts had accumulated over hundreds, thousands, or even 100,000 Years.

This world was truly far too strange.

Quan Yi looked up at the night sky, as though searching for something.

He gazed for a long time. The cool night breeze dried the sweat on his body, and Quan Yi finally stopped looking upward.

From the Blazing Sun Heart on his chest, he took out dried Soul Beast Meat and began chewing it in large mouthfuls. After exercising, he needed to replenish his nutrients properly so his body could grow stronger.

He could not just train without eating. Eating was also an important part of cultivation.

At night, lights dotted the New Student Dormitory. Compared to the daytime, the place seemed even more alive at night.

From the light spilling out through the windows, it was clear that quite a few new students had already arrived.

Quan Yi returned directly to his Dormitory and took a refreshing shower.

Afterward, Quan Yi summoned the Blazing Sun Gauntlets. With his excellent control over fire, he quickly dried his entire body.

With just a tiny bit of Soul Power, Quan Yi could do without a towel. It was incredibly convenient.

That night, Quan Yi sat on the fluffy bedding and began his long meditation.

Soul Power circulated through his body, but that was not all. Quan Yi also explored different circulation patterns for his Soul Power, trying to find a more efficient method.

The first two hours of every night were reserved for experimentation. After all, increasing his Soul Power was the foundation; he could not neglect cultivation for the sake of experiments.

Quan Yi would never do something so backwards.

Early the next morning, while the sky was still dim, Quan Yi was running on the Training Ground.

There was still no one on the Training Ground at this hour. With no one to disturb him, Quan Yi was delighted.

The Academy had been built within a forest, with natural scenery everywhere. Even the Training Ground was surrounded by woods. Running in a place like this was absolutely a pleasure for the soul.

Quan Yi felt as though his body had become somewhat lighter.

After finishing his morning workout in high spirits, Quan Yi dragged his exhausted body toward the Dining Hall.

Quan Yi was greatly looking forward to the food at the Dining Hall. Although he had more than enough Soul Beast Meat, he could not eat meat alone. He still needed other nutrients.

The school Dining Hall was enormous and had three floors.

The first floor was considered the general cafeteria, offering simple breakfasts such as steamed buns, boiled eggs, pickled mustard greens, and the like. Many students were lined up there.

Quan Yi decisively left and headed up to the second floor. The second floor was a buffet, where all sorts of Delicious Food were neatly arranged. Students could choose whatever they wanted, and there were fewer people than on the first floor.

There was a wide variety of dishes here, and it was quiet as well. The only downside was that the prices were much higher than on the first floor.

The third floor was the teachers' dining hall, and students were not allowed to enter.