Inside a secluded cultivation chamber.
"All right, I've explained the method for condensing a Soul Core in detail. From here, you'll have to put it into practice yourself," Jin Peng said to Dugu Bo, who sat cross-legged before him.
"Yes. Thank you, Elder Jin."
Dugu Bo thanked him again.
"Your granddaughter is refining the immortal herb next door. She's perfectly safe," Jin Peng added.
Dugu Bo nodded his thanks.
Then.
Jin Peng turned and left the cultivation chamber, leaving Dugu Bo alone to condense his Soul Core.
Dugu Bo sat cross-legged alone in the center of the chamber. Rather than rushing to begin, he took the Purple-Spotted Snake Star from his Wishful Treasure Pouch.
Dugu Bo swallowed it directly.
Its medicinal power dissolved the moment it entered his mouth, turning into a warm, lingering current of energy that spread through his meridians.
The Purple-Spotted Snake Star's medicinal power was less overbearing than the Blue Fall Yellow Springs Fruit's and easier to absorb.
Nourished by this medicinal power, the shadow of his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul flickered into view behind him. As the medicinal power permeated it, the shadow grew more substantial, and its poison grew purer.
About two hours later, the Purple-Spotted Snake Star's medicinal power had fully merged into his body.
"Next, condense the Soul Core!"
Dugu Bo slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath, feeling that his meridians were much clearer than before.
Without pausing, he closed his eyes and began condensing his Soul Core according to the method Jin Peng had taught him.
Three days later.
Dugu Bo slowly pushed open the chamber door, letting in the light from the corridor.
"This feeling is simply wonderful!" Standing in the doorway, Dugu Bo drew a deep breath, sensing the unprecedented abundance of power within him.
A rank ninety-three Titled Douluo!
The deadly poison's backlash had been completely resolved, and his Soul Power flowed without obstruction, as responsive as his own limbs.
The moment Dugu Bo stepped out of the chamber, a lovely figure sprang up from the steps nearby, rushed over with quick strides, and threw her arms around his waist.
"Grandpa! You're out!"
Dugu Yan tilted her head up to look at him, her emerald eyes sparkling.
Dugu Bo looked down at his granddaughter and stroked her head, his gaze gentle. "How did it go? Have you absorbed all the immortal herb's medicinal power?"
"Yes!"
Dugu Yan nodded vigorously.
"I'm already rank forty! I only need one more Soul Ring to become a Soul Ancestor! And my martial soul evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor!"
Dugu Yan's original martial soul had been the Jade Phosphorous Serpent, the Dugu Family's hereditary martial soul.
Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul had evolved after birth.
Now, Dugu Yan's martial soul had also evolved into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, leaping from an ordinary high-grade martial soul to a top-tier martial soul.
"Good, wonderful!"
Dugu Bo laughed heartily and patted his granddaughter's shoulder. "Good. Once I've spoken to Elder Jin, I'll go with you to hunt for your fourth Soul Ring."
Dugu Yan nodded emphatically, then looked her grandfather over with some curiosity.
"Grandpa, you seem to have gotten a lot stronger too?"
Dugu Bo smiled. "The problem in my body has been rooted out, and my Soul Power has risen by two ranks."
Dugu Yan stared at him for several seconds, confirming that he was not merely reassuring her, then suddenly flung herself into his arms again and buried her face in his chest.
"That's wonderful!"
Wulan City.
Inside a private room on the top floor of its largest hotel.
Jin Peng sat in the seat of honor, with Chen Yuan to his left. A cup of warm tea stood before each of them, fragrant wisps rising into the air.
Footsteps sounded outside, measured in their weight, one person following another.
"Our guests have arrived."
Elder Chen chuckled.
"Please come in, both of you."
Jin Peng opened his eyes, his calm gaze settling on the doorway.
The door swung open, and two figures, one gold and one black, walked in side by side.
As he entered the private room.
Yue Guan's gaze first swept over Jin Peng in the seat of honor, then glanced at Chen Yuan beside him. The smile on his face remained unchanged.
"Yue Guan, Spirit Hall."
"Gui Mei."
Jin Peng rose and returned their clasped-hand greeting. "Jin Peng, Body Sect."
He turned slightly to indicate Chen Yuan beside him. "This is Elder Chen."
Chen Yuan also gave a slight nod in greeting.
The four sat down.
Yue Guan elegantly lifted his teacup and took a light sip.
"This is the first time Spirit Hall has heard the name Body Sect. May I ask how long your sect has remained hidden from the world?"
"We've lived in seclusion for generations, rarely venturing into the world."
Jin Peng's tone was calm.
"Then are you planning to emerge now?"
"That depends on our sect master's wishes. At present, we only wish to cooperate with your organization."
At those words.
Only then did Yue Guan and Gui Mei learn that Jin Peng was not the Body Sect's sect master either.
That meant the Body Sect had at least three Titled Douluo, making it stronger than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It was no soft persimmon to be squeezed!
Yue Guan set down his teacup. "Spirit Hall has already tested the Body Tempering Pill. Its effects are indeed quite good."
"If the Body Sect is willing to offer pills like these, the cooperation you want to discuss must be no simple matter either?"
"You're a straightforward man, Elder Yue Guan."
Jin Peng lifted his cup, took a sip, and set it down unhurriedly. "The Body Sect is willing to establish a long-term partnership with Spirit Hall-pills and Soul Tools are both open for discussion."
"Soul Tools?"
Yue Guan's gaze shifted slightly.
"Yes. Not just Storage Soul Tools, but Detection Soul Tools and Attack-Type Soul Tools as well."
Jin Peng's tone was mild, yet supremely confident. "The Body Sect possesses the technology to manufacture Soul Tools and can produce them in batches."
The private room fell silent for a moment.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance, each seeing the same thought in the other's eyes.
Although they did not know the practical value of these so-called Detection Soul Tools and Attack-Type Soul Tools, the ability to mass-produce Space Soul Tools alone was extraordinary.
The Space Soul Tools currently on the market were limited in number, and every one was worth a thousand pieces of gold!
"Manufacturing Soul Tools-that's quite a large cake. If the Body Sect intends to swallow it all alone, aren't you afraid of bursting your belly?"
Yue Guan set down his teacup and lightly tapped a finger on the tabletop.
The next instant.
Jin Peng sensed a faint trace of Soul Power probing toward him along the tabletop, exceedingly subtle and gentle.
This was a probe at the Titled Douluo level.
The hand holding Jin Peng's teacup paused slightly, and he raised his eyes to glance at Yue Guan.
He instantly released his torso martial soul-an immensely powerful surge of Soul Power erupted from his body, crushing the probing Soul Power.
Boom!
Nine Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
An overwhelming pressure crashed down, and Yue Guan's smile abruptly froze.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
Yue Guan shot to his feet and released his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul to resist the pressure.
Gui Mei's figure also distorted slightly under the pressure. The black mist shrouding him churned violently before stabilizing.
Yue Guan set down his teacup and was about to offer a few pleasantries to ease the atmosphere.
A hand,
without warning, reached across the table and settled casually on Yue Guan's shoulder.
It was not fast, yet Yue Guan had no way to evade it!
In that instant, Yue Guan's Soul Power was suppressed until its circulation slowed. His shoulder felt as though a small mountain weighed upon it, and his knees bent slightly against his will as his whole body sank.
So strong!
Cold sweat broke out on Yue Guan's back.
"Stop!"
Seeing Yue Guan suppressed, Gui Mei released his martial soul and moved to help him.
But at that very instant-
Jin Peng withdrew the hand pressing down on Yue Guan's shoulder.
He and Chen Yuan turned simultaneously, their gazes landing squarely on Gui Mei, both filled with the same surprise and uncertainty.
"A Body Martial Soul?!"
Before you continue