Feng Xiaotian stood in the center of the training ground on the back mountain, facing the remaining twelve members of the Divine Wind Team.
The mountain winds of early January, carrying a chill, swept down from the summit, causing everyone's robes to flutter loudly.
Shi Yan, Bai Yu, Su Mei'er, Jiang Lin, Lu Hanxiao, Feng Lingtian, Su Ran, Ye Qingyu, Zhong Yue, Lu Qing, Ji Ning, and Cheng Luo —twelve people stood in two rows.
Apart from Feng Lingtian, who already knew the inside story and remained calm, the other eleven people all had obvious doubts and curiosity in their eyes.
Feng Xiaotian didn't beat around the bush.
"The Dean went to the Star Dou Great Forest a few days ago to hunt for his Ninth Soul Ring, which is a 100,000-year-old one."
He got straight to the point, "During the absorption process, I took Yang-Restoring Pill Rejuvenating Pill to protect my heart meridian, but my meridians almost didn't survive. In the end, I was able to successfully absorb it only thanks to Senior Dugu Bo's use of his innate toxin."
The team members' expressions changed. Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring —just those four words were enough to make them hold their breath.
"This absorption made the Dean realize one thing," Feng Xiaotian continued, "The capacity of the meridians to withstand pressure is the fundamental basis for how far Soul Master can go in the future. Pills can provide temporary relief, but they cannot cure the root cause."
He glanced sideways at Feng Lingtian and Dugu Bo.
"We've come up with a method these past few days that might solve the problem of meridian capacity. Lingtian will explain the specific principles to you."
Feng Lingtian took half a step forward, about to speak, when Dugu Bo raised his hand first.
"Let me say a few words first." He walked up to the team members, flipped his right hand, and a thumb-sized, rapidly spinning dark green sphere appeared in his palm. Fine poisonous patterns flowed across its surface, and the oppressive aura emanating from it caused several lower-level team members to involuntarily take a half step back.
"This is Soul Poison Pill that I condensed using the venom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. It follows the same path as what you are about to learn."
Previously, the poison in my body roamed freely, but now it's compressed into a rotating core, increasing my control by at least 30%. So, I can guarantee it will work."
He clenched his fingers, the sphere dissipated, and retreated to the side.
Feng Lingtian then spoke, briefly explaining the principle of the Soul Core: compressing Soul Power into the dantian to form a rotating core, continuously nourishing the meridians and enhancing their carrying capacity.
Once formed, it will slowly rotate and absorb the Soul Power of heaven and earth even in an unconscious state—it cultivates even while sleeping.
"Let's also clarify the risks," Feng Xiaotian continued, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces.
"The process of compressing Soul Power can easily damage the dantian if not handled carefully. Failure will result in a decline in cultivation at best, and an inability to make any progress for the rest of one's life at worst. I will not make this decision for anyone—you choose for yourselves."
The training ground fell silent for a moment. The January mountain wind howled in, rustling the treetops behind the mountain.
Then Shi Yan stepped forward.
"I'll do it."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was steady. The boy was quite tall for his age, but he was still a head shorter than Feng Xiaotian. At this moment, he raised his head, his eyes showing no hesitation.
"There are less than eleven months left in the one-year agreement," Shi Yan said. "Everyone has been keeping me company and showing concern, and I know that. But I also understand that only I can overcome this hurdle on my own."
Feng Xiaotian looked at him for three seconds and nodded.
Shi Yan sat cross-legged in the center of the training field. Feng Lingtian read the method of condensing the Soul Core to him word by word, then took out a Yang-Restoring Pill from his waist and handed it to him.
"You're the first," Feng Lingtian said frankly. "With no predecessors to refer to, the risk is greatest. Take this Yang-Restoring Pill first to protect your heart meridian in advance. In case something goes wrong, at least it will save your life."
Shi Yan took the pill, glanced at it, and swallowed it. Then he closed his eyes and, following the method Feng Lingtian had just recited, began to guide the Soul Power in his dantian inward.
All eyes were on him.
A quarter of an hour passed. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Shi Yan's forehead, and his brows were furrowed. Half an hour passed. His body began to tremble slightly, and a faint aura of Soul Power emanated from his dantian, seeping through his robes.
Feng Lingtian clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Dugu Bo stood not far away with his arms crossed, his emerald green eyes never leaving Shi Yan's body.
He could see things that others couldn't— the Soul Power in Shi Yan's dantian was collapsing inward, faster and faster, like a forming vortex.
If this power gets out of control, Shi Yan's dantian will be torn to shreds within three breaths.
Suddenly, Shi Yan's body jolted violently, and the color drained from his face in an instant.
Feng Lingtian's pupils constricted sharply, and he took a step forward, about to charge ahead.
"Don't move."
Dugu Bo's voice was like a knife, coldly cutting off his movements. In the Old Poison's emerald eyes, the rapidly spinning halo in Shi Yan's dantian was reflected. He neither made a move nor spoke, but simply stared intently.
Because deep within that raging core of Soul Power, he saw an extremely tiny, stable point of light.
Like a butterfly in the eye of a storm that hasn't yet opened its eyes.
Dugu Bo stared intently at Shi Yan's dantian, his emerald green eyes unblinking.
Others couldn't see it, but he could see it clearly—at the center of that wildly spinning mass of Soul Power, an extremely tiny point of light was taking shape.
It was so small that even a genius alchemist like Feng Lingtian couldn't detect it. But it was indeed shining, gradually brightening, like a seed that had been pressed under a massive boulder, managing to force its way out.
Then the seed sprouted.