When Shen Feng next woke from his cultivation, the lake of liquid Soul Power inside him had vanished, replaced by two small planets, one white and one red, each encircled by a ring like a star ring.
The planets were solid Soul Power, much like the Poison Core inside Dugu Bo. The rings, meanwhile, were a mixture of uncondensed liquid and gaseous Soul Power, allowing a Soul Master to call upon them at any time during battle.
This was a complete Soul Power Core, also known simply as a Soul Core.
At that moment, the two Soul Cores revolved slowly around the center of Shen Feng's dantian, like the Water and Fire Dragon Crystals rotating in opposite directions.
As the Soul Cores continued to turn, Shen Feng could clearly sense the threads of water and fire elemental energy in the surrounding world continually converging on his dantian.
It was as if he had moved from the acquired state into the innate one. From then on, the Heaven and Earth Bridge was open, connecting the inner circulation within his body to the greater outer circulation of the world.
What was more, this state was entirely passive. As long as Shen Feng didn't consciously stop the two Soul Cores, they would keep revolving.
It was as if Shen Feng were cultivating every moment of every day. Even if he never meditated again, the Soul Power inside him would continue to grow with the passage of time.
Of course, meditation would still speed up the accumulation of Soul Power.
Solid Soul Power was difficult to cultivate, but the Soul Cores' automatic rotation greatly shortened the time Shen Feng needed to cultivate.
With those factors balancing each other out, Shen Feng seemed to have gained a huge boost in combat strength for free, while his cultivation speed had hardly diminished.
Besides that, Shen Feng discovered that having Soul Cores was like installing a supercharger for his Soul Power recovery.
His solid Soul Power, combined with meridians as resilient as those of a Titled Douluo, allowed Shen Feng to directly absorb the unrefined, turbulent spiritual energy in the world and put it to use, greatly extending the length of time he could fight.
It was no exaggeration to say that, given the rate at which his three Soul Rings—one yellow and two purple—consumed Soul Power, Shen Feng could keep using Soul Skills nonstop until his Spiritual Power ran dry and he passed out, yet still have a full reserve of Soul Power.
It was like putting a water pump in the ocean to fill a swimming pool: you'd never run out. You simply couldn't use it all.
What Shen Feng didn't know was that the Water and Fire Dual Soul Cores inside him were nowhere near as simple as he imagined.
Just as the Water and Fire Dragon Crystals had to revolve around him, the "One," what would the Water and Fire Dual Soul Cores revolve around?
Or, to put it another way, what new thing was being nurtured at the point where water and fire met?
Of course, Shen Feng had no idea about any of this yet.
At that moment, something even more astonishing had captured his attention.
Not long after he successfully condensed the Water and Fire Dual Soul Cores, the Water and Fire Dragon Crystals that had held him in place began to shine with dazzling light.
One begot two, and two begot three.
The radiance blazed. The Water and Fire Dragon Crystals split from one into three, then from two into six. In the same spots where they had been, three smaller clusters of light emerged from each dazzling mass.
Powerful energy poured from the clusters of light, and terrifying pressure swept over him.
Watching this unfold and feeling the surging pressure, Shen Feng—right at the center of those six forces—couldn't stop trembling. First from excitement, then from exhilaration, and then because he was just too excited and exhilarated.
"Glug glug glug." (Thank you both for your generous gifts, seniors. This junior, Shen Feng, is deeply grateful.)
The terrifying pressure came and went in a flash. Soon, it faded, and the dazzling light dimmed.
In the spots where the Water and Fire Dragon Crystals had been, two Soul Bones appeared, their radiance now restrained, along with two heart-shaped Dragon Reverse Scales and two drops of Dragon King Origin Essence Blood, each as brilliant as crystal.
Shen Feng released a strand of Soul Power and drew over the six relics left behind by the Water and Fire Dragon Kings.
The Dragon Reverse Scales and Dragon King Origin Essence Blood seemed unremarkable.
One scale was milky white, the other crimson. Each was about the size of a palm and exceptionally hard.
Perhaps because Shen Feng didn't have a Dragon-type Martial Soul, he couldn't sense anything special about them.
The Dragon King Origin Essence Blood was much the same: one drop milky white, the other crimson, both crystal-clear and shaped like water droplets.
Dense elemental fluctuations swirled around them. Shen Feng sensed that absorbing the two drops of Origin Essence Blood would greatly improve both his physique and Soul Power.
Unfortunately, the Soul Power inside him had already reached the limit his dantian could bear.
Even if he absorbed the two drops of Origin Essence Blood, he would have to release the surplus energy into the world through the Heaven and Earth Bridge. If he tried to absorb it by force, he would only explode and die.
Shaking his head regretfully, Shen Feng had no choice but to set aside these two treasures, useless to him for now, and turn his eager gaze to the two Dragon King Soul Bones.
The Water Dragon King had left behind a milky-white Left Arm Soul Bone. Its shape didn't resemble a human bone; instead, it looked very much like a miniature dragon arm bone. Cold mist curled around it, and abundant water elemental energy flowed through it. It was truly extraordinary.
The Soul Bone left by the Fire Dragon King was much the same as the Water Dragon King's, except it was the corresponding Right Arm Soul Bone, and its color was the corresponding crimson.
What astonished Shen Feng even more was how complete the two Dragon King Soul Bones were compared to Soul Bones produced by Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent.
From the finger bones to the palm, then the forearm and upper arm—even the shoulder blades had been preserved intact.
Not only that, but a highly unusual bone extended outward from the end of each Dragon King Soul Bone's shoulder blade.
Shen Feng guessed that this was where the dragon wings had been.
It was a shame the wings hadn't been preserved, but Shen Feng was already more than satisfied.
After all, these Soul Bones had come from Dragon Kings at the God King level. Though tens of thousands of years had passed, leaving them with less than one ten-thousandth of their former power, even that remaining fraction made each one no weaker than a Million-Year Soul Bone produced by the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
What was more, the two Dragon King Soul Bones could resonate with each other, bringing water and fire into harmony and allowing him to perform the legendary Soul Bone Fusion Skill.
How could Shen Feng not be delighted to have such treasures in his hands?
Carefully setting the Dragon Reverse Scales and Dragon King Origin Essence Blood aside, Shen Feng sat down cross-legged without delay. He circulated his Soul Power to adjust his condition and prepare to absorb the two Dragon King Soul Bones.
Soul Bones were different from Soul Rings. Soul Rings contained a large portion of the Soul Beast's Soul Power from when it was alive.
That was why Soul Masters had to absorb Soul Rings according to their cultivation level. If the Soul Ring's age was too high for the body to bear, the excessive Soul Power could burst the Soul Master absorbing it apart in an instant.
Soul Bones were just the opposite.
Though Soul Bones also contained enormous energy, when a Soul Master absorbed one, all of that energy went toward transforming their original bones and strengthening their body without limit, until the power within the Soul Bone had been completely spent.
So any increase in Soul Power from absorbing a Soul Bone could be ignored.
This was the main reason Soul Bones could be absorbed across cultivation levels, while Soul Rings had to be absorbed gradually according to one's level.
If someone truly had a powerful backer and didn't fear being ambushed and robbed, they could absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone with only one level of Soul Power and not worry about exploding.
Of course, that was only an example. Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones were incredibly precious, so no one would waste one on a Soul Master with only one level of Soul Power.
A moment later, Shen Feng had brought his body, energy, and spirit to peak condition. He extended both hands and gripped the Water and Fire Dragon Kings' Soul Bones at the same time.
To help the Water and Fire Dragon Kings' Soul Bones resonate more effectively, Shen Feng decided to absorb them simultaneously, hoping to achieve a more perfect fusion.
As Shen Feng's Soul Power flowed into the Water and Fire Dragon Kings' Soul Bones, their radiance suddenly intensified.
Milky-white and crimson light intertwined, enveloping Shen Feng in a glowing mass in an instant.
Water and fire in harmony; yin and yang in union.
Everything began to fall into place.
What Shen Feng didn't know was that just as he focused all his attention on fusing with the Soul Bones, the Dragon King Origin Essence Blood he had ignored also began to shine brightly.
Then, drawn by some mysterious force, thin strands of it silently seeped into his body and settled at the core of his dantian, where the energy of his Water and Fire Soul Cores converged.
Throughout the entire process, nothing happened except for a slight tremor from his Water and Fire Soul Cores.
Naturally, Shen Feng didn't notice.
Spring turned to winter, and in the blink of an eye, the first snowflake began to drift down from the sky.
It had been early spring when Shen Feng followed Dugu Bo to Heaven Dou City, and they had even happened upon Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had been out "seeing how the people lived."
Now, as the first snowflake drifted down, ten months had passed since Shen Feng had jumped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Dugu Bo, his hair now graying, with half of it still streaked with deep green, sat on a large rock not far from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He reached out and caught a snowflake as it drifted down.
He watched the six-pointed ice crystal melt slowly in his palm, then let it evaporate in the warmth of his skin without a second thought.
"Brat, could you be like this drifting snowflake, a Momentary Beauty that only blooms for a brief instant?"
"..."
"Grandpa."
Suddenly, Dugu Yan's voice came from behind Dugu Bo.
"Grandpa, sitting here mourning Xiao Feng again?"
Dugu Bo didn't turn around. He looked up at the snow falling from the sky. "What does mourning him change? It's been ten months, and I still haven't figured out how to explain this to Xiao Feng's parents."
"Immortal Grade Herbs are wonderful, but they still can't compare to a peerless genius who could have shaken the world, nor can they repay the kindness Xiao Feng showed our Dugu Family."
At that, Dugu Yan fell silent.
After all this time, the hidden danger in her body had long since been eliminated. Following Shen Feng's instructions, she had also successfully taken the Aromatic Silk Beauty and Snowy Swan Kiss.
Though taking these two Immortal Herbs hadn't caused her Martial Soul to evolve, it had greatly strengthened her poison.
For example, her First Soul Skill, Excitement Poison, had originally stimulated the nerves, increasing the attack power and speed of Soul Masters at her level by twenty percent.
Now, however, it had become Mad Demon Poison. Once inhaled, it made Soul Masters at her level lose all reason and fight to the death against every living thing in sight, while doubling their attack power and speed.
Her Second Soul Skill, Paralysis Poison, had eliminated pain and increased the defense of Soul Masters at her level by thirty percent.
After her poison was strengthened, it had become Stone Armor Poison. It eliminated pain, increased their defense by one hundred percent, and reduced their speed by thirty percent.
Even more frightening was her Third Soul Skill, Jade Phosphorus Purple Poison. Once released, no Soul Master at her level dared approach her, except herself.
It had become a full-fledged Domain Skill. Anyone who entered would die.
Now, when she trained at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, no one dared spar with her anymore. Even her teammates were wary of her.
That terrifying poison couldn't distinguish friend from foe. Anyone who came near was in for a world of trouble. If Dugu Yan didn't hold back, she could wipe out her entire team on her own.
After all, once she used her First and Second Soul Skills, her Third Soul Skill could protect her while she released a cloud of poison to hide her whereabouts.
Who could fight her like that?
She could hide and watch everyone else fight among themselves. She had truly mastered the essence of the Control System.
Now, even Qin Ming, their leader and a Soul Emperor, didn't dare fight her head-on.
Especially when other people were nearby. After all, a rampaging fighter with doubled strength and defense, fifty percent greater speed, and no way to distinguish friend from foe wasn't easy to subdue.
Besides that, her Soul Power had improved the most dramatically. The two Immortal Grade Herbs had raised her by seven levels at once. After obtaining her Fourth Soul Ring, she had soared to become a Level 48 Soul Ancestor and gained a long-lasting Soul Power enhancement buff.
After more than nine months of cultivation, she had now reached Level 50.
She had come here today so Dugu Bo could help her obtain her Fifth Soul Ring.
And all these benefits ultimately came from Shen Feng.
How could she not feel indebted to him?
"Yanyan, is something the matter?"
Dugu Bo's question suddenly brought Dugu Yan out of her reverie.
"Oh, Grandpa, I've broken through to Level 50 and need a Fifth Soul Ring."
"There's one other thing. Xue Ye's seventieth birthday is coming up, and this is your invitation."
As she spoke, Dugu Yan took three invitations from her Soul Tool and handed them all to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo took them and glanced over them. "There were only two in previous years. Why are there so many this time?"
Dugu Yan's expression dimmed. "One of them is for Xiao Feng."
Dugu Bo furrowed his brow and looked at the three invitations.
Sure enough, one was for him, one for Dugu Yan, and the last for Shen Feng.
The bottom-right corner of the invitation's envelope bore Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's seal, indicating that it had been issued with his authorization.
"Ah!"
Dugu Bo sighed and pulled out the invitation that belonged to Shen Feng. "A peerless gem, a Momentary Beauty... Another kindhearted soul will be heartbroken over you."
As he spoke, Dugu Bo pinched the envelope between two fingers and tossed Shen Feng's invitation toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"He's already gone. Let the invitation go with him."
"What do you mean, gone?"
Suddenly, a great spray of water erupted from the calm surface of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Shen Feng burst through the water and reached out to catch the invitation Dugu Bo had thrown.
"Old man, you really get me. You knew I hadn't eaten in ages, so you brought me something to eat the moment I came out. Thanks for the invitation, old man. I haven't eaten in ages—I'm starving."
Before you continue