Yu Mingfei's Theory of Soul Cores, Ning Fengzhi Cast Him Aside

Ning Rongrong first widened her eyes. Once she realized what he meant, her face filled with disbelief.

"Even the master..."

Just as she was about to invoke Yu Xiaogang's name, Ning Rongrong recalled how her father had assessed Yu Xiaogang.

She stopped herself and began to lose her reverence for Yu Xiaogang's reputation of being "invincible in theory."

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no record of such things. Could you possibly know?

"Wait, your surname is Yu! Are you from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect? Does the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect have records on this?"

Only now did Ning Rongrong realize what Yu Mingfei's surname revealed about his origins.

"But that's not right. The master is also from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. He said Soul Bones were related to a Soul Beast's strength and only dropped under special circumstances.

"As for the exact cause behind Soul Bones, if anyone had figured it out, they would have long since become famous and been treated as an honored guest by the empire."

Yu Mingfei nodded in agreement.

I've been in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a month, yet Ning Fengzhi is only summoning me now. He probably doesn't want to risk offending the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and Dugu Bo by sheltering me.

I miscalculated! Chen Xin is, in the end, merely the Sect's protector Douluo. He can't sway Ning Fengzhi's decisions.

No one in this era has researched Soul Bones. I might as well borrow a few theories from the future.

Only by displaying greater value can I attract a stronger patron.

When you're out in the world, your identity is whatever you make it.

Besides, is Ning Fengzhi really discussing matters with Chen Xin?

Yu Mingfei glanced toward the side hall. He remembered that Ning Rongrong had turned to look in that direction earlier as well.

They had been talking here for so long and making such a commotion. He didn't believe the people inside had failed to notice.

Having decided to establish himself as a researcher, he looked at Ning Rongrong and began the first step of his pitch.

"Correct. The dropping of Soul Bones is related to a Soul Beast's strength. But have you ever considered why stronger Soul Beasts have a higher chance of dropping Soul Bones?"

The question made Ning Rongrong's little face scrunch up. She could not help recalling the hypnotic droning of the teachers who had taught her theory.

She immediately abandoned all concern for maintaining her delicate image and pulled a pained expression.

"I don't know, so stop asking me! I'm not some master! I don't make a living off theory."

Yu Mingfei ignored her. Smiling, he shook his head and continued on his own.

"The stronger a Soul Beast is, the more likely it is to drop a Soul Bone.

"But how strong is strong enough?

"All Soul Masters know that just as Titled Douluo are the pinnacle of humanity, the Beast Race has its own pinnacle: Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!

"No matter the species, once a Soul Beast reaches one hundred thousand years of cultivation, it undergoes earth-shaking changes.

"Most people think that simply means greater strength.

"Only a small number of Soul Masters know that once a Soul Beast reaches one hundred thousand years, it is guaranteed to drop a Soul Bone.

"You could say that the hundred-thousand-year mark is the absolute dividing line in the theory of Soul Bone strength."

Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Yu Mingfei. She was not distracted; on the contrary, her interest had been thoroughly piqued.

This was nothing like those dry, tedious theories.

Hearing such secrets about Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and Soul Bones was practically like enjoying someone else's gossip. It was thrilling.

There was still no movement from the side hall.

Yu Mingfei continued.

"If Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are guaranteed to drop Soul Bones, then what is the reason behind it?

"What is the difference between Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and ordinary Soul Beasts?

"Have you heard of 'Soul Beast transformation'?"

Like a teacher calling on a student in class, he looked at Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong caught her breath, but then excitedly shook her head, looking at Yu Mingfei with anticipation.

"I haven't!"

This was the first time in her life that she did not feel ashamed of her own ignorance.

There was gossip to hear... no, secrets to hear. Who cared about that?

"Once a Soul Beast reaches the Hundred-Thousand-Year Level, it faces two choices.

"Either it remains a Soul Beast and undergoes a heavenly tribulation at regular intervals. If it survives, it continues clinging to life until the next time it gets struck by lightning. If it fails, it dies and vanishes.

"Or it sheds its old body and transforms into a human, entering human society in a human body and beginning cultivation anew from scratch.

"Their original beast forms become Martial Souls, and their aptitude is guaranteed to be exceptional: Innate Full Soul Power. When they break through their ranks, they do not need to hunt Soul Beasts for Soul Rings. They can condense them themselves.

"Back to the question: what is the difference between Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts and ordinary Soul Beasts?

"Heavenly tribulations? Or transformation?

"No, neither. Those are merely superficial phenomena.

"It means that a Soul Beast's evolution has entered a new stage, and the life form of its previous stage has reached completion. One hundred thousand years is merely the starting point of rebirth.

"This is also why some texts record that even an ordinary Soul Beast, once it reaches the Hundred-Thousand-Year Level, will not be inferior to Soul Beasts with innately powerful bloodlines like the Titan Giant Ape.

"Because once they stand on the hundred-thousand-year step, they are equals. There is no distinction of high or low."

When Yu Mingfei suddenly mentioned the Titan Giant Ape, Ning Rongrong trembled all over and recalled that terrifying figure in the forest.

Then, for some reason, she thought of Xiao Wu, who had once been captured by the Titan Giant Ape.

Xiao Wu was so lucky. She was taken by that kind of monster and still managed to escape.

Seeing Ning Rongrong lost in thought, Yu Mingfei suddenly widened his eyes, startling her back to her senses.

"Since a Soul Beast undergoes a complete transformation in its life form and experiences earth-shaking changes upon reaching one hundred thousand years, what about Human Soul Masters? Do they have a similar stage?"

Yu Mingfei stared at Ning Rongrong and said no more.

Without realizing it, Ning Rongrong had completely forgotten that Yu Mingfei was her age.

Hearing the question, she immediately began racking her brains.

The images of her two grandfathers, who doted on her dearly, instantly appeared in her mind. She blurted out the answer.

"It's... Titled Douluo!"

Yu Mingfei nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes, but not entirely.

"Human Soul Masters have two similar stages: Spirit Sage at Rank Seventy and Titled Douluo at Rank Ninety.

"Once a Soul Master reaches Rank Seventy, no matter what Soul Ring they absorb, there is only one Soul Skill they can gain: Martial Soul Avatar. It is inevitable.

"Don't you think that is quite a coincidence?

"When Soul Beasts break through to one hundred thousand years, they are guaranteed to drop Soul Bones. When Soul Masters break through Rank Seventy, they are guaranteed to gain a Martial Soul Avatar."

At this point, Ning Rongrong could not help asking.

"But Spirit Sages and Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are worlds apart, aren't they?"

She still remembered how, when Zhao Wuji faced the Titan Giant Ape, his Great Strength Vajra Bear Avatar had practically wanted to drop onto all fours and flee like a dog.

Yu Mingfei agreed with that completely, but he was not finished.

"Right, they are vastly different.

"So I speculate that, in Human Soul Masters, this stage of completion is divided into two parts.

"The first stage is Rank Seventy, where one gains a Martial Soul Avatar.

"The second stage is Rank Ninety, where one breaks through to Titled Douluo.

"Though you have never seen a Soul Bone, you must know some of the relevant knowledge, right?"

Ning Rongrong nodded. As the Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she naturally knew such basic facts.

"Then you must know that the Soul Bones dropped by Soul Beasts almost all correspond to the Soul Beast's strongest traits. Leg bones mostly come from speed-type Soul Beasts; arm bones mostly come from strength-type Soul Beasts; those with powerful overall abilities produce Torso Bones; those with powerful Mental Power produce skull bones."

Yu Mingfei spoke as though it were only natural.

Ning Rongrong felt a little guilty. She truly had not learned such details.

Soul Bones were so precious that having one at all was enough. Who would care which part it came from?

"And this corresponds to Martial Soul Avatars. Leaving tool Martial Soul Avatars aside for now, beast Martial Soul Avatars almost always transform the Soul Master into the form of their Martial Soul. That is the way to maximize a Martial Soul's abilities.

"Based on this, I make another hypothesis. Just as Spirit Sages condense Martial Soul Avatars...

"When Soul Beasts break through to one hundred thousand years, they are likewise destined to produce something similar.

"It allows a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's strength to advance tremendously while guaranteeing that it drops a Soul Bone.

"I call it—a Soul Core."

Ning Rongrong involuntarily covered her mouth, her eyes blank. Yu Mingfei's words seemed to make so much sense.

Behind the screen in the side hall, Ning Fengzhi frowned.

This Yu Mingfei cannot remain in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.