At those words, Gu Yuena knitted her delicate brows and sank into thought.
After weighing the pros and cons, she looked at Ye Wuchen and slowly said, "The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's value cannot be compared to a single Soul Bone."
"However, since I gave you my word, I will do my best to fulfill it. How about this? Once the Firmament finishes its appraisal of you, and I have seen your potential and hidden cards, I will hand the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm over to you. What do you say?"
Ye Wuchen showed no displeasure or impatience at her words.
He agreed without hesitation. "All right. You have my word."
In truth, Ye Wuchen's mind was as clear as a mirror.
Even if Gu Yuena truly showed great mercy now, dragged out the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and tossed him before Ye Wuchen, he would not dare absorb him immediately.
Although the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's physical strength was pitifully weak, his million years of spiritual power were incomparably vast.
With Ye Wuchen's current spiritual power, rashly absorbing the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Soul Ring would result in the soul impact bursting his Sea of Consciousness.
He would become an idiot, or even die on the spot.
Ye Wuchen's foremost task now was not to covet a Million-Year Soul Ring, but to use the gold of life to expand and stabilize his Sea of Consciousness.
He needed to make every preparation for condensing a "spiritual Soul Core" next.
Only by successfully condensing a spiritual Soul Core and bringing about a qualitative leap in his spiritual power-
Would he have the qualifications and confidence to withstand the soul impact of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Soul Ring.
"In that case, I'll borrow this treasured place of yours for now." Ye Wuchen raised the metal in his hand.
Gu Yuena nodded. "The waters of the Lake of Life contain pure life energy, which will greatly benefit your absorption of the gold of life. Go into the lake and cultivate. I permit you to enter seclusion here."
"Thank you."
Ye Wuchen stood on no ceremony. He leaped into the air and landed in the center of the Lake of Life.
The moment he entered the water, a gentle, nourishing aura of life flowed into his body through every pore.
Meanwhile, Shui Bing'er found a flat patch of grass by the lakeshore and sat down cross-legged.
She placed the hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Ice Wolf King's right leg bone against her right leg and began guiding her Soul Power to absorb it.
The Snow Empress and Gu Yuena, these two peerless Soul Beasts, both took on the role of "bodyguards" for the master and disciple, quietly keeping watch by the lake.
Shui Bing'er's progress went smoothly.
The ice attribute contained within the Heavenly Ice Wolf King's right leg bone was practically a match made in heaven for Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix Martial Soul.
With the improvement to her physique from the Ice Phoenix Wings awarded by the Firmament, the absorption process met almost no resistance.
Within a few hours, that crystalline, translucent right leg bone had merged into her flesh and blood.
Shui Bing'er opened her eyes, divine light shining brilliantly in her ice-blue gaze.
She could clearly feel her right leg brimming with explosive strength, while her speed had received a terrifying boost.
When Shui Bing'er turned joyfully to look at her master in the Lake of Life, the happiness on her face gave way to worry.
The fist-sized piece of gold of life hovered between Ye Wuchen's brows, slowly turning into emerald-green currents that streamed ceaselessly into his upper dantian.
Supported by the immense vitality of the Lake of Life, Ye Wuchen's body showed no signs of breaking down.
The gold of life was also continually nourishing his Sea of Consciousness, his limbs, and every bone in his body.
"Grandmaster..." Shui Bing'er walked over to the Snow Empress, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes as she spoke anxiously:
"Master... nothing will happen to him, will it? Why is absorbing a piece of metal taking so long?"
The Snow Empress's beautiful eyes were likewise fixed on Ye Wuchen. She gently patted her granddisciple's shoulder and comforted her softly:
"Bing'er, don't worry too much. Wuchen's spiritual power and physique have long since surpassed those of ordinary Titled Douluos. Absorbing the gold of life is hardly difficult for him."
The Snow Empress's tone grew solemn. "The risky part is his attempt to condense a spiritual Soul Core. Absorbing the gold of life to expand his Sea of Consciousness is preparation for condensing that 'spiritual Soul Core.'"
"A spiritual Soul Core?" Shui Bing'er froze. The term was still far too unfamiliar to her.
The Snow Empress explained patiently, "Wuchen already condensed his first 'Ultimate Ice Soul Core' in his lower dantian long ago. Now, he intends to condense his second Soul Core-a spiritual Soul Core-in his upper dantian, where his Sea of Consciousness is located."
"A spiritual Soul Core occupies a special location: the brain, the most fragile and mysterious part of the human body. Moreover, Wuchen already has an Ultimate Ice Soul Core within him."
"During the condensation of a second Soul Core, the two energies can very easily clash. The slightest carelessness, even the tiniest error, will collapse his Sea of Consciousness. At best, he would lose all his cultivation and become an idiot. At worst, his body would explode on the spot, and not even the gods could save him."
Hearing her grandmaster's horrifying explanation, Shui Bing'er's small face turned deathly pale.
She bit her lower lip and pressed her palms together before her chest, praying inwardly, Master, you must come through safely... Bing'er would rather give up all these opportunities and ask only that you remain safe and sound.
Gu Yuena heard the conversation between master and disciple. As she watched the human man in the center of the lake, unusual light flickered repeatedly through her purple eyes.
"Condensing a spiritual Soul Core? This human's ambition is even greater than I imagined." Gu Yuena parted her crimson lips, her voice ethereal and calm:
"Little girl, don't worry too much. This is the Lake of Life. With me here, if his life truly falls into danger, I will lend a hand and watch over him, ensuring that his life is safe."
Hearing the Soul Beast Co-Ruler's promise, Shui Bing'er hurriedly bowed to Gu Yuena and said gratefully, "Thank you, Senior Gu Yuena."
On the evening of the third day, the last bit of gold of life hovering between Ye Wuchen's brows finally transformed into a brilliant ray of light and sank into his upper dantian.
An invisible spiritual storm swept outward in every direction, with Ye Wuchen at its center.
Towering waves rose on the tranquil Lake of Life, and the surrounding ancient trees that reached toward the heavens rustled under the spiritual storm's assault.
Nourished by the gold of life, Ye Wuchen's Sea of Consciousness expanded to an unprecedented extent.
His Sea of Consciousness, once like a lake, became a boundless ocean.
The vast, pure vitality not only expanded his Sea of Consciousness, but also continued nourishing his soul and body.
Before formally condensing his spiritual Soul Core, Ye Wuchen still had to make a choice that concerned his future.
There were two methods of condensing dual Soul Cores: Yin-Yang Complementarity and Isotopic Resonance.
The former required the two Soul Cores to rotate in completely opposite directions within the body, forming a delicate dynamic balance.
The risks of this method were extreme. At the slightest carelessness, the two diametrically opposed energies would unleash a massive explosion inside the body, blasting the Soul Master apart until not even their bones remained.
But high risks came with high rewards. Once successfully formed, yin-yang complementary dual Soul Cores surpassed Isotopic Resonance in their unleashed power, Soul Power recovery speed, and endurance.
More importantly, only by choosing Yin-Yang Complementarity would one qualify to attempt condensing a third Soul Core when striving to reach rank 99 Peerless Douluo in the future. Its upper limit was immeasurable.
The latter was Isotopic Resonance.
It required the second Soul Core to rotate in the same direction and at the same frequency as the first, producing resonance.
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