Ordinary foundation cultivation methods mostly relied on guiding the body's natural movement of spiritual energy. They focused more on slowly strengthening the soul and tempering the body, and on drawing out the potential of a martial soul.
Soul power mostly circulated naturally around a martial soul and through the dantian. It wouldn't deliberately be guided to flow through the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians in a circuit.
But this strange cultivation method was completely different.
It carefully considered how to guide soul power into the meridians, allowing it to circulate efficiently through specific pathways.
Through the careful organization and tempering of the energy, not only could the soul power being cultivated become purer, but the efficiency of absorbing energy could also increase.
With long-term cultivation, it could even open up some hidden meridian pathways, expand the capacity of the meridians, and pave a wider road toward higher realms.
As expected, a good cultivation method could do more than simply increase the speed of soul cultivation. It could also make soul power purer, improve mental strength, and help the Soul Orb better control its own soul power.
No wonder the core heirs of those great clans—the geniuses born with innate sixth-rank soul power—had a chance to reach the Soul Sage realm.
With abundant resources and powerful techniques to support them, becoming Soul Sages around the age of fifty wasn't particularly difficult.
If they had an innate eighth-rank foundation, they might even have a chance to reach the Soul Douluo realm.
After all, the Soul Douluo realm was a massive threshold. The talent and resources it demanded were beyond those required by the Soul Sage realm.
But even a genius with innate eighth-rank talent had only a slim chance of reaching the Soul Douluo realm.
The odds were very low—perhaps one in a hundred.
Out of a hundred thousand Soul Masters, under the weight of all those resources, there still might not be a single Soul Douluo.
Among them, possessing a soul bone was one of the most important factors. At the very least, one needed to absorb a soul bone from a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast to have a chance of becoming a Soul Douluo.
Even a genius with innate ninth-rank talent had only a fifty-percent chance of reaching the Soul Douluo realm, unless their martial soul had some flaw—like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
"Little Ling, Zhang Lanfeng, you two take a look."
Mu Rong placed the book describing the strange cultivation method on the table.
"Boss!"
"Boss!"
The two of them immediately sat up straight.
"Take this strange cultivation method and make a copy each, just in case. We'll use it for our cultivation later."
"I'll take a look."
Suo Ling eagerly picked up the book.
Zhang Lanfeng also hurried over.
The two of them stared at it for a while, then couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. Their faces filled with shock.
"Boss, this... this strange cultivation method is so much better than the one we're using!"
Suo Ling's voice was full of excitement.
Zhang Lanfeng's eyes were practically shining with admiration.
"If I cultivated according to this method, I feel like... I could reach the Great Soul Master realm in three years!"
Zhang Lanfeng had sixteenth-rank soul power, and the academy's basic cultivation method was only average. He had originally expected it would take at least four or five years to break through.
Suo Ling was even more excited.
"I... I feel like I might be able to become a Great Soul Master within five years!"
"Hahaha, that's the strange cultivation method for you. It's amazing."
Mu Rong leaned back lazily in his chair.
"Then you two can slowly study it!"
The two of them exchanged a glance, then immediately set to work, looking for paper and brushes. They began copying it diligently.
After watching them copy carefully for a while, Mu Rong stood up and headed toward the window.
The city had been in chaos for half a month. That idiot Jade Little Blade had probably already made his way into his two brothers' gang and started searching for a chance to take down the city lord.
It was also about time to head over to the Great Soul Arena and work his muscles.
What Mu Rong didn't know was that, over the past half month, the entire city—especially the streets where the Dragon-Toothed Hound gang operated—had been swept by a wave of arrests.
Zhang Lanfeng and Mu Erlong were like two fierce beasts, running through the main streets and back alleys as they searched for the wanted fugitive.
Their only target was a young man with dark blue eyes.
Whenever they spotted a boy who fit the description, they wouldn't bother asking questions. They'd beat him first, then ask afterward.
For a time, countless innocent people were beaten until they were bruised and swollen, their cries of pain shaking the heavens.
Meanwhile, the culprit who had started it all, Jade Little Blade, was staying at the inn, afraid to go out.
He had already completely lost the basic dignity required of a man.
The next morning, Mu Rong stretched his waist and felt strength filling his body.
The next morning, Mu Rong stretched his waist.
After cultivating for one night, he felt as though his body was filled with all the strength it could hold. Soul power surged through his meridians without stopping, growing purer and stronger.
This cultivation method was truly extraordinary. The knowledge he had accumulated over the years was nothing compared to what he'd gained over the past few days.
Especially those two books, Poison Meridian Manual and the famous Great Soul Beast Record written by the immortal herbs. They had raised his understanding of the world to an entirely new level.
Zhang Lanfeng had been searching for more than half a month. He'd probably found something by now.
It was about time to head to the Great Soul Arena and get some exercise.
"Boss, Little Ling, let's go."
Mu Rong called out.
Zhang Lanfeng and Suo Ling immediately put down the books describing the strange cultivation method. Their faces were filled with excitement.
"Boss, the Great Soul Arena opens today!"
Zhang Lanfeng rubbed his hands together. He was already getting impatient.
"Mm. Let's see how your cultivation is going."
Mu Rong replied calmly.
The three of them tidied up, then left the academy and headed toward the Great Soul Arena, the liveliest place in Soul Search City.
The streets were bustling, filled with people coming and going. It was a lively scene.
But as they walked, Mu Rong began to feel that something was off.
The people on the street either avoided the three of them or, after passing them, furtively turned their heads to look back, as though wondering what kind of big shots they were.
Some shopkeepers even hurriedly put away the goods displayed outside. Others pulled their crying children behind them and watched the three of them warily before quickly leaving.
The entire street was permeated with a strange atmosphere.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Lanfeng noticed it, too. He looked around and scratched his head.
"Boss, what's going on today? Why are all these people looking at us so strangely?"
Suo Ling followed behind them, wearing an even more unusual expression. Her senses were sharper, and she felt it even more clearly.
"Boss, I feel like... something's off. How about we skip the Great Soul Arena today and head back to the academy?"
Mu Rong stopped and looked around.
He felt as if he had somehow become the source of some kind of plague, and everyone was avoiding him.
Whenever something out of the ordinary happened, there was usually a reason.
He didn't believe he had suddenly become ugly enough to frighten people.
The only explanation was that something had happened in the city during the half month he'd been in seclusion—something he didn't know about.
"Zhang Lanfeng, go ask someone what's going on."
Mu Rong said gravely.
"Got it!"
Zhang Lanfeng answered, then strode forward and stopped a boy who looked to be in a hurry.
"Hey! I'm asking you!"
Zhang Lanfeng's loud voice rang out in the street.
"Why is everyone looking at us like that? Explain yourself!"
Before you continue