Soul Core from Inner Core, Dugu Xuan Level 94! Golden Body Still Forged by Ice and Fire

At the same time, Dugu Xuan's soul power broke through directly from the peak of level 92 to the peak of level 93.

Dugu Ce walked up close, scrutinized the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor behind Dugu Bo, and nodded.

"Congratulations, Grandfather. Your Martial Soul Evolution was a success, and your soul power has risen by a level. The medicinal potency of this Earth Dragon Golden Melon was even more ferocious than I imagined."

"Ferocious? What's so ferocious about it?"

Dugu Xuan scolded him with a laugh, though his eyes were brimming with pride. "This old man has a shallow foundation; being able to rise by one level is already a stroke of immense fortune. If your Great-Uncle had used this immortal herb, he might have jumped straight to level 95."

"Great-Uncle has his own opportunities."

Dugu Ce sat down by the spring and took a roll of animal hide from his Wishful Treasure Pouch, spreading it out across his knees. "Grandfather, although your Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor has evolved, your foundation is still based on that Poison Pill. The Poison Pill can keep you from dying, but it has locked away your path to further advancement."

Dugu Xuan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The essence of the Poison Pill is to compress the Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom into a core, using poison to fight poison to suppress the backlash."

Dugu Ce pointed at the crooked patterns on the animal hide. These were diagrams for condensing a Soul Core that he had drawn based on memories from his past life. "But after a soul master breaks through to the Title Douluo realm, the true path to follow is to condense a Soul Core. Only with a Soul Core as a foundation can soul power become endless, allowing one to push toward the Super Douluo realm of level 95 and beyond."

"Soul Core?"

Dugu Xuan had never heard this term before and leaned in to examine the patterns on the hide carefully. "I have been trapped in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for decades; I've even grown rusty on the cultivation methods of the outside world. Ce'er, where did you learn this?"

"My teacher taught me."

Dugu Ce casually made up an excuse, pointing at the hide and claiming he had found it a few days ago in some ruins within a forest near True Dragon Mountain. "If a Title Douluo wishes to advance further, they must condense their entire body's soul power into a core, much like the inner core of a soul beast. Once the Soul Core is formed, the speed of soul power recovery doubles, and one's control over their Martial Soul is elevated to a whole new level."

Dugu Xuan stared at the hide for a long time before suddenly looking up. "You mean... you want me to use the Poison Pill as a foundation and refine that thing into a Soul Core?"

"Correct."

Dugu Ce nodded. "The Poison Pill is static, but a Soul Core is dynamic. Your decades of cultivation in the Poison Pill are actually a foundation that others lack. As long as we find the right method, 'activating' the Poison Pill to condense a Soul Core will be a natural progression."

Dugu Xuan was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "How do we do it?"

"Close your eyes and look inward; find the Poison Pill in your dantian."

Dugu Ce recited the incantation on the animal hide to Dugu Xuan, word by word. "Wrap the Poison Pill with your soul power and rotate it clockwise, faster and faster. When the Poison Pill begins to absorb soul power from the outside world on its own, pour your spiritual power into it and carve your own spiritual imprint inside. If you succeed, it becomes a Soul Core. If you fail, the Poison Pill will shatter, and you will be back to square one."

"What happens if I fail?"

"The Poison Pill shatters, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom backlashes, and you won't last three days."

Dugu Xuan gasped, looking at his grandson's calm face, and gave a bitter laugh. "You brat... you really aren't afraid of this old man dying, are you?"

"I am."

Dugu Ce stood up and patted his grandfather's shoulder. "But you are even more afraid of spending your whole life holed up in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well as a cripple."

"Grandfather, shall we gamble?"

Dugu Xuan stared at his grandson for a long time before suddenly laughing.

"Let's gamble! This old man's life was picked up from the brink of death anyway; if I lose, I lose nothing, and if I win, it's pure profit!"

Having said that, Dugu Xuan sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

His soul power began to circulate slowly within his body, searching for that Poison Pill he had condensed over several decades.

Dugu Ce stepped aside, stood with his hands behind his back, and watched quietly.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Dugu Xuan's forehead, and his complexion shifted between a deathly cyan and a flushed red.

The phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Dragon Emperor flickered behind him, its dark golden scales shimmering with an uneasy light.

It is unknown how much time had passed when Dugu Xuan suddenly let out a muffled groan, and the soul power around his body erupted, sending the gravel by the spring scattering in all directions.

"It's done!"

Dugu Xuan opened his eyes, the dark golden light within them several times more intense than before.

He raised his right hand, and a dense mass of soul power swirled in his palm, emitting a faint humming sound.

"A Soul Core! This old man has truly condensed a Soul Core!"

Dugu Xuan laughed aloud, his laughter echoing through the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

"And my soul power... level ninety-four! This old man is now a level ninety-four Title Douluo!"

Dugu Ce walked forward, carefully examined his grandfather's condition, and nodded.

"Not bad. The Poison Pill didn't shatter; instead, it fused with the Soul Core. Grandfather, your foundation is even more solid than Great-Uncle's."

"Of course it is!"

Dugu Xuan stood up, stretched his limbs, and felt as though he had an inexhaustible supply of strength.

"Ce'er, when do you plan to teach this Soul Core condensation method to your Great-Uncle?"

"We'll discuss that once we return to True Dragon Mountain."

Dugu Ce turned and walked back to the side of the spring, taking the Infernal Delicate Apricot and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass from his Wishful Treasure Pouch.

"Grandfather, I am going to refine these two immortal herbs next. Please stand guard for me and do not let anyone disturb me."

Dugu Xuan's expression changed slightly when he saw the two herbs.

"These two things... I have guarded the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well for decades and never dared to touch them. One cold and one hot—to refine them simultaneously, are you trying to throw your life away?"

"I value my life."

Dugu Ce took off his outer robe, revealing his lean, muscular upper body. The dark golden dragon pattern on his chest flickered faintly over his heart.

"But the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well is their natural nemesis. Refining them here, using the spring as a furnace and the spring water as a guide, will not only be safe but will also forge a golden body impervious to ice and fire."

Dugu Xuan opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally sighed.

"You have always had your own ideas since you were small; I cannot stop you. Be careful—don't make this old man bury his own grandson."

"Rest assured."

Clutching the Infernal Delicate Apricot in one hand and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass in the other, Dugu Ce strode toward the point where the waters of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well converged.

Dugu Ce leaped into the spring, sitting cross-legged at the very center where the two currents met.

The scorching Yang Spring surged against the left side of his body, while the freezing Yin Spring surged against the right.

Ice and fire collided within him, and the tearing pain caused Dugu Ce to let out a muffled groan, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Yet, gritting his teeth, he shoved both immortal herbs into his mouth at once.

The two extreme forces collided in his chest, erupting with a shocking impact.

Dugu Ce groaned, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Ce'er!"

Dugu Xuan stood up nervously, wanting to rush over, but he forced himself to stop in his tracks.

No.

He could not interrupt him at a time like this.

Dugu Xuan clenched his fists, staring fixedly at his grandson in the spring eye, his eyes filled with worry.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Dugu Ce sat cross-legged at the intersection of the spring, not moving a muscle.

The left side of his body was shrouded in crimson light, while the right side was shrouded in icy blue light.

The Dark Gold Dragon Pattern on his chest, however, grew brighter and brighter, slowly guiding the two forces throughout his entire body.