Going to the Far North

Sky Crocodile fell silent. Just how much mental power would it take to make a soul beast willingly offer itself as a sacrifice?

If one had that kind of effort to spare, it would be better to just kill it and absorb the ring!

Qian Xunqian pondered for a moment and continued:

"Self-sacrifice is unlikely. My current mental power is only enough to charm a soul beast of at most a thousand years. Even when I reach level 20, it's impossible to suddenly charm a two-thousand-year beast. Besides, a two-thousand-year second ring is a bit low for me; it would be better to just hunt and absorb it."

She changed the subject:

"However, while I can't sacrifice to myself, I can help those of lower rank than me. Once I cultivate to a Title Douluo, that mental power, combined with the unique attraction the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb has for soul beasts, will be enough to cultivate a soul master with a full set of black or even red soul rings!"

Qian Renxue, who was currently winning the reincarnation race, thought: Aunt, hurry up and get to work! My future depends on you!

"Hmm... the idea is sound. We can study it slowly in the future. I believe that with your talent, you should be able to make some progress! Right! Without further ado, let's return to Spirit Hall, gather our people, and head to the Far North!"

"Yes!"

Back at Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong and Ning Fengzhi were already in position, along with a young girl of about twenty with water-blue hair and a water-blue dress. Her features were delicate and soft, and her temperament was cold and pure.

"This must be the genius student from Heavenly Water Academy—Sister Shui Xiaoer, right? Hello, I am Qian Xunqian, the current Pope's cousin."

Shui Xiaoer nodded politely and asked:

"I wonder why Miss Qian has invited me here? I assume it isn't just to help me hunt for a soul ring."

Qian Xunqian smiled and said:

"Sister is truly sharp. I do indeed have an important matter that requires your help, and helping you hunt for a soul ring is just a small token of appreciation. There will be a greater reward later!"

"May I know what it is in advance?"

"Naturally. Since you are our partner, you have the right to know."

Qian Xunqian didn't hold back. The core technology was in her hands; the innate soul power cultivation device was not just a theoretical concept, but something that required practical assembly. How could Ning Fengzhi steal it just by listening to her words?

"After three years of hard work and testing over a thousand materials, I accidentally obtained a ten-year Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. I discovered that this type of soul beast barely moves; its daily activity consists of lying on the ice and snow, gorging itself."

"Furthermore, its abdomen secretes silk containing soul power. This immediately gave me the idea to use it as a soul power absorber for an innate soul power cultivation device!"

"Its advantage is that it doesn't move around and can maintain one position for a hundred or even ten thousand years! Its slow absorption of soul power also implies stability! Most importantly, as a soul beast, it is rich in protein and is a food-grade material. Recycling is extremely simple—it only needs to be digested in the stomach!"

"We only need to provide it with enough ice and snow, and it will convert the subtle soul power within into silk. The silk of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm is extremely fine; with a little centrifugation, it can be absorbed by the human body and converted into pure innate soul power!"

"Innate soul power is initially contained in the human dantian. Only after awakening a martial soul does it flow through the meridians to the martial soul, which allows the martial soul to be cultivated. This is the first model, suitable for soul masters who have not yet awakened their martial souls."

"As for the second, which is suitable for soul masters who have already awakened their martial souls, it is still under research."

Shui Xiaoer's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a large egg. She said tremblingly:

"Re... really? Is what you said true? Can a soul master's innate soul power really be cultivated later in life? Is it true?"

Qian Xunqian said rigorously:

"Currently, there is only a model. We still need to capture a Sky Dream Ice Silkworm to assemble the device for experimentation. First, soul beast experiments, then human experiments. If the experiments are successful on humans, we will make slight improvements and conduct the first batch of trials, selecting dozens or hundreds of volunteers to check the success rate, and then..."

Bibi Dong's head was spinning. Why were there so many steps? She wished she could have it made and used by the entire Douluo Continent immediately!

Looking at the shocked and confused crowd, and Bibi Dong, who looked a bit dizzy, Qian Xunqian shrugged helplessly:

"There's no helping it. This research involves people, so we must be extremely cautious and test it repeatedly to ensure the final product is foolproof!"

Bibi Dong fell silent. So, this was what a true master of martial soul research who contributed to the Douluo Continent looked like. So much research would take at least ten years to show any progress.

If it failed, one would have to spend decades continuing to explore in obscurity.

And Yu Xiaogang, the so-called "Master," had merely relied on his spare time to memorize some books, fooling those who didn't understand theory, and used the influence of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to snatch the title of "Master."

Sigh, what kind of world is this.

Indeed, thanks to the meddling of the Douluo Continent's "Will of Heaven," the "Master" Yu Xiaogang had returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and, relying on his father's power, published his "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls."

With Yu Yuanzhen's face on the line, the two great empires, the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, and other forces all had their media outlets build momentum, and thus the Master's reputation was forged!

"Alright, let's set off! Time to go catch a silkworm baby!"

Qian Xunqian's innocent, childish voice pulled everyone back to reality. Shui Xiaoer, Ning Fengzhi, and Bibi Dong, along with Golden Crocodile Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo, boarded a carriage and traveled quietly toward the Far North.

The scenery of the north was one of ten thousand miles of drifting snow. They hadn't even reached the Far North yet, and goose-feather-sized snowflakes were already falling from the sky.

Snow Plain City was the last human city before entering the Far North plateau.

There weren't many people in the city, and they were all wrapped in thick clothing. In the minus fifty-degree cold, one had to marvel at human vitality. Without the heating or air conditioning of later eras, many people had still managed to take root in this frozen land.

Bibi Dong and the others put on heavy coats. Qian Xunqian had somehow acquired a penguin suit; once she put it on, she looked exactly like a certain Q-version character from the future who loved playing with wires.

"Gugu gaga!"

The delicacies of the snowy kingdom were like a smiling tiger and a black-horned shark compared to Tang San's hometown—Bashu.

Hot, numbing, fresh, fragrant, and spicy!

After one bite of the mutton hotpot, the stomach felt warm, and the cold of the north was no longer something to fear.

"Wow! So spicy!"

Bibi Dong's tongue poked out from the heat, and she kept exhaling white mist, looking exactly like a mysterious species from Blue Star—a Hajimi.

Qian Xunqian summoned her Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb martial soul. As Bibi Dong smelled the faint fragrance, she felt completely refreshed.

But Chrysanthemum Douluo was unhappy. Because the detoxifying ability of the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb was the best on the Douluo Continent, the spiciness vanished in an instant.

He hadn't even had a chance to savor it properly before the spicy sensation was gone. How was he supposed to enjoy the food like this!