"A soul core actually has that many uses?!"
After digesting Ji Yang's explanation of soul cores, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were nothing short of astonished.
They had thought this was merely a way to resolve the problems with the Jade Phosphor Snake Martial Soul. Now, it seemed to be a method suited to every soul master.
Nothing else needed to be said. The fact that forming a soul core guaranteed a level 89 Soul Douluo's breakthrough to a level 90 Quasi-Titled Douluo was enough to drive countless Soul Douluo wild.
After all, many Soul Douluo remained trapped at level 89 their entire lives, unable to advance another inch.
The current leaders of the Lower Four Sects were among them.
Becoming a Titled Douluo was simply too difficult for them. They could not cross that final hurdle.
Taking Dugu Bo himself as an example, he had only become a Titled Douluo through good fortune.
Had his martial soul not evolved from a Jade Phosphor Snake into a Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, he might still have been no more than a Soul Douluo.
Not to mention that a soul core could increase a Titled Douluo's soul power reserves and quality, and even accelerate their cultivation and make breakthroughs easier.
The prospect of breaking through to Limit Douluo by forming a second soul core was even more tempting.
However, even without Ji Yang saying so, Dugu Bo knew that forming a second soul core would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
He personally held out no hope of that.
Even so, he would be more than satisfied if he could successfully form his first soul core.
After all, his original aim had merely been to resolve the poison problem caused by his own martial soul.
All these astonishing benefits of a soul core were extras. Even a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone might not compare.
Unlike the astonished Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming were not particularly surprised when Ji Yang told them about soul cores.
For one thing, they had long known that soul cores existed. Soul beasts had even invented them, and as hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, they naturally possessed soul cores of their own.
For another, Ji Yang had previously consulted them in detail about forming soul cores, so it was all the less surprising.
At most, they were surprised that a soul core could guarantee a human level 89 Soul Douluo's breakthrough to Titled Douluo.
There was also the fact that dual soul cores could help human soul masters break through to Limit Douluo.
Although they could not confirm that themselves, Ji Yang, a "deity's inheritor," had said so. Surely he could not be wrong.
"Hmm... come to think of it, I seem to have made something similar before, though it should still be a far cry from a soul core."
Once his shock subsided, Dugu Bo suddenly remembered something.
Now that he understood the essence of a soul core, he felt that something inside his body was very close to one.
At that thought, Dugu Bo spat a jade-green pearl out of his mouth.
"This is my Jade Phosphor Core Pearl. It formed after my martial soul evolved into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, incorporating most of my soul power and half a lifetime's poison cultivation. It's also bound to my life. If I die, the core pearl will cease to exist."
"It was precisely because I formed this core pearl that I survived back then, when poison ravaged my body and danger surrounded me, turning peril into safety."
"However, the amount of poison the core pearl can hold is limited, and the poison is difficult to separate from it. Nor can it accelerate soul power recovery or aid breakthroughs the way a soul core can."
Dugu Bo placed the core pearl in his right palm and showed it to Ji Yang.
"In a sense, this really does count as an embryonic soul core. It's just that the method used to form it wasn't quite right!"
Ji Yang glanced at the core pearl in Dugu Bo's hand and nodded.
Naturally, he remembered Dugu Bo's core pearl.
After learning about the events of Douluo II and thinking back on Dugu Bo's core pearl, he had also felt that it was very likely an embryonic soul core.
Now, that indeed proved to be the case.
"Then can I still form a soul core?"
Having received Ji Yang's confirmation, Dugu Bo felt regret and delight, but above all, worry.
If the core pearl counted as his first soul core, forming another would undoubtedly be difficult upon difficult.
Yet ignoring this core pearl, or even erasing it, would severely damage both his poison cultivation and his soul power cultivation. The losses would rather outweigh the gains.
"Of course you can!"
Ji Yang nodded in affirmation.
Since the core pearl was the product of forming a soul core through an incorrect method, he simply needed to guide it anew using the correct method.
Failing that, he could break down the core pearl itself, allowing Dugu Bo to form a soul core again.
It might just be somewhat difficult.
Given Dugu Bo's physical condition, success might not be guaranteed.
Fortunately, there were other methods.
He only needed to use his Bagua Alchemy Furnace Martial Soul to refine Dugu Bo's core pearl into a pill, then have Dugu Bo swallow it immediately.
The core pearl would then revert to its original soul power and poison essence. Not only would this pose no danger to Dugu Bo, but it would also allow him to seize the opportunity to form a soul core anew, safely and without risk.
Before that, however, there was something else he needed to address.
"Before you form your soul core again, let me improve your physical condition first!"
Ji Yang spoke to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo was currently suffering a poison flare-up, and his physical condition was concerning.
If he attempted to form a soul core now, he would most likely fail.
Furthermore, his body had been corroded by poison for years. His physical strength might not even compare to a Soul Douluo's, and his spiritual power might not be strong enough either, making the odds even more precarious.
Thus, he needed to purify the poison within Dugu Bo's body and strengthen both his physique and his spiritual power.
"Sorry for the trouble, Sect Master!"
Dugu Bo nodded.
He did not know how Ji Yang intended to improve his condition, but he could guess that it would benefit him enormously.
"Radiant Sun, I'll leave this to you!"
Ji Yang summoned his Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix soul spirit.
He had the Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix soul spirit act directly, using his first soul skill, Phoenix Sacred Fire, to help purify the poison within Dugu Bo's body.
As for why he did not do it himself, it was naturally because personally purifying a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo would consume far more of his power.
Even if it did not drain his soul power dry, it would leave him with very little.
Having the Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix soul spirit do it was a different matter.
To him, that expenditure was practically negligible.
"Screee-"
With a phoenix's cry, the Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix's enormous, sacred, and noble form emerged from Ji Yang's Sea of Consciousness and appeared before them.
"A soul beast?! No, could it be a special detached martial soul?"
The Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix's presence left Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan deeply shaken.
They soon instinctively thought of a certain renowned Grandmaster's famous martial soul, associating the Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix soul spirit with a detached martial soul.
But in terms of strength, that Grandmaster's Luo Sanpao martial soul could not possibly compare to the Radiant Sun Sacred Phoenix before them.
"No, this is a soul spirit. He was formed from a soul beast's complete soul. Soul spirits are extremely special beings. They can provide a soul master with multiple soul rings while also fighting alongside them!"
Ye Lingling, standing nearby, could not help explaining on Ji Yang's behalf.
"Huh?! Something like that actually exists in this world?!"
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were once again astonished.
But soon, an even greater question filled their minds.
Wait!
How do you know that?
"Lingling, could it be..."
Despite herself, Dugu Yan thought of a terrifying possibility and pointed a slightly trembling finger at Ye Lingling, her close friend.
Oh nooo, there's a mole among us!
Before you continue