Qian Xunqian had taught Hu Liena Heart Separation Control. She had also taught Xie Yue and Yan how to condense Soul Power, a method she had developed from the Breaking Clan's "Break" formula.
And now, she was preparing to condense her first Soul Core. Ever since absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, Qian Xunqian's level had remained at 90, and she still hadn't obtained a Soul Ring.
First came gathering her energy and returning it to its source. She entered meditation, cleared her mind of all distractions, and used her mental power to guide all the Soul Power and mental power dispersing throughout her body into a designated core acupoint. She made sure not a trace of Soul Power leaked out and that her mental power and Soul Power were completely in sync.
Thanks to the support of her powerful mental strength, Qian Xunqian completed the first stage with ease, in just half an hour.
Next came extreme compression. Using her mental power as a mold, she compressed the vast amount of gathered Soul Power a thousandfold, ten thousandfold, until the flowing liquid Soul Power became a high-density, solid energy crystal in its nascent form.
For an ordinary Titled Douluo, this was the most perilous stage of condensing a Soul Core. If their mental power spiraled out of control, their Soul Power would explode in an instant. At best, their cultivation would be crippled; at worst, they would die on the spot.
Ordinary Titled Douluo generally lacked sufficient mental strength. Most didn't dare condense their first Soul Core until they were close to level 95. It was a life-or-death gamble, and most people chose their lives over their strength.
But Qian Xunqian was different. She had all the mental strength she needed, and compressed her liquid Soul Power into a solid crystal with ease.
The stages that followed were much simpler. First came the imprinting of laws: she inscribed her Martial Soul's attributes and her insights into the laws onto the nascent crystal, binding the Soul Core to her Martial Soul and the source of her soul to create a unique Soul Core of her own.
This step directly determined the Soul Core's grade and potential. The deeper her understanding of the laws, the greater its potential.
Qian Xunqian had possessed the attribute of Ultimate Light from the start. Later, she had absorbed Angel Divine Fire, infusing her Martial Soul with the attribute of Ultimate Fire. She continuously compressed the Angel Divine Fire and her Ultimate Light Soul Power, then fused them into the Soul Core.
The solid crystal gradually took the shape of a large eye under Qian Xunqian's hands, its surface gleaming with golden light and flame.
The fourth stage was stabilizing the core. Qian Xunqian continuously nourished the nascent Soul Core with Soul Power and mental power until it was fully stabilized and formed, allowing it to generate Soul Power on its own and circulate without end. In other words, the Soul Core could absorb spiritual energy from the world and transform it into her own Soul Power.
The original final stage was Soul Core resonance. Once the Soul Core was fully formed, she would guide it into comprehensive resonance with her Soul Rings, Spirit Bones, Martial Soul, and the source of her soul. This would let its power flow seamlessly into every attack, defense, and Soul Skill, allowing her to unleash its full might.
But Qian Xunqian had a different idea: I want to add a step of my own.
Qian Xunqian slowly fused the Soul Core with her left eye. Throughout the process, her left eye endured intense pain, constantly eroded by the Soul Power in the Soul Core and scorched by its flames.
Her eye was both her Martial Soul and part of her body. Her Martial Soul and body were being battered by this tremendous energy. At the slightest misstep, her left eye would explode—and the Angel Eye Martial Soul would have to be renamed the Angel Right Eye...
Fortunately, the result was a success. Her left eye fused with the Soul Core—or, to put it more plainly, her left eye was her first Soul Core!
At the same time, Qian Xunqian slowly opened her eyes. The pupil of her left eye had turned gold. Even without releasing any Soul Power, anyone who met her gaze would easily fall under its spell, assimilated by the Angel's radiance and turned into her puppet.
Qian Xunqian thought, Why am I starting to seem more and more like an Evil Spirit Master? My Soul Skills are all heading toward controlling other people.
"Condensing a Soul Core now is a little late. I could've condensed my first Soul Core when I first advanced to Soul Douluo, then started preparing for my second as soon as I became a Titled Douluo. Sigh..."
Qian Xunqian sighed. A person couldn't have every good thing fall into their lap. She had taken the seat of Pope, so naturally she had to shoulder the Pope's responsibilities. During that period, the Clear Sky Sect and various other factions had joined, and Spirit Hall was in a phase of rapid growth. She had been busy with work every day, spending all her energy on official affairs.
Finding time to cultivate had already been difficult, let alone condensing a Soul Core, which required intense concentration and being in excellent condition. If she had tried while exhausted, the slightest misstep could have left her permanently crippled.
Still, she really had had plenty of chances to condense a Soul Core back then. Sometimes she forgot; sometimes she got lazy and told herself to wait for the next long holiday.
Then, when the next long holiday came, she went traveling and told herself to wait for the one after that...
And now, she was almost a Titled Douluo.
Wait! Brain! What kind of images are you showing me? You can't show me these!
Qian Xunqian shook her head sharply. No, I didn't put off condensing a Soul Core because I'm lazy or a procrastinator. It's purely because I'm the mighty Pope, with countless affairs to handle and no time or energy!
She kept brainwashing herself, trying to erase those "bad memories."
"Little Qian'er, your eyes are to your ancestor's liking, but your hair isn't. When will you take the Angel Third Trial? You've been putting it off for years!"
Angel God, the golden-color enthusiast, urged her once again.
"I've spent my whole life building up Spirit Hall. Can't I enjoy myself a little? I finally got a lighter workload, and now the Angel God Trial has come along... All right, all right! Ancestor, begin the Third Trial! Is it purging Evil Spirit Masters? I can hardly wait!"
Angel God complained helplessly, "Apart from Slaughter City, I can't sense any evil power on the continent anymore. There are only scattered traces here and there. You really did a thorough job!"
"Of course," Qian Xunqian said proudly. "You never said I couldn't bring people. This task of purging Evil Spirit Masters isn't just my responsibility. It's not unreasonable for me to bring seven or eight Titled Douluo, over forty Soul Douluo, and several hundred Soul Saints, is it?"
Are you really that afraid of Evil Spirit Masters? With that lineup, you could take on the Holy Spirit Cult from Douluo Continent II!
"I've saved Slaughter City for a later trial. After all, it's the territory of those two, Rakshasa God and Asura God, and I'm not entirely at ease. I even considered canceling it for you. What do you think? Want to switch to another trial? A promising talent like you can't be allowed to perish without anyone knowing why!"
Qian Xunqian thought it over carefully. Slaughter City was a sanctuary for Evil Spirit Masters and criminals. When the Angel Clan purged Evil Spirit Masters, it could turn their efforts back to their own benefit. That was one reason the Angel Spirit cultivated so quickly.
For her, going to Slaughter City was undoubtedly the fastest way to increase her strength. But as Angel God had said, it was Asura God's territory, and Rakshasa God was lurking there as well.
She could certainly cut through the Evil Spirit Masters inside like a hot knife through butter. But she was worried Rakshasa God and Asura God would try to make trouble for her.