"Have you looked into this?"
Qin Ming shook his head. " Grandmaster, if this method could be learned by others, Dugu Yan and the others would have already learned it long ago."
"Not necessarily. This special cultivation method is extremely valuable, so it's normal that he's unwilling to share it," Yu Xiaogang said.
Qin Ming sighed slightly and continued, " Grandmaster, although I haven't delved into the specific details of the Xuan Ming cultivation method, based on my current observations, it's definitely not something that can be easily taught. Not to mention that his own mental split caused by the Martial Soul Mutation is already unique, and the two thoughts alternate during meditation, if there's even a slight mistake, his mind could fall into chaos."
Xuan Ming can easily understand and handle complex problems, but he seems at a loss when it comes to many simple things in life. This is most likely a side effect of his cultivation method.
"Alright, stop guessing. I know his cultivation method." Ning Rongrong couldn't stand it anymore.
"You can do that?" Everyone turned their gaze towards them.
"My father asked him before, wanting to exchange a secret technique from our sect for this special cultivation method," Ning Rongrong said.
"You don't seem to know how, do you?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.
"Or do you know how, but you're just lazy?"
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Xiao Wu, "His method is not something a normal person can learn. Even my Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone wouldn't dare to mess around with it."
After thinking for a moment, Ning Rongrong picked up two wooden planks from the table.
"Look closely, these are the two thoughts arising from his split personality. He usually uses one thought to control the flow of his Soul Power for meditation, while the other thought is used for daily activities. It's somewhat similar to the Heart Separation Control of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but his is a little different."
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong overlapped the two wooden boards slightly.
"He can switch between meditations without interruption by partially overlapping two thoughts. This overlap is very complex. One thought carries the psychological pressure that comes with meditation, while the other does not. After the overlap, he uses the non-existent thought to forcibly block out the existing part."
Simply put, he forced himself to forget the psychological pressure that followed meditation!
"Mind manipulation?" Flender's expression froze.
"Isn't he afraid of making himself look like an idiot?"
This sounds simple, but in practice it's not as simple as just overlapping them like this.
Even Soul Saint like him wouldn't dare to casually manipulate his own spirit; how old is Xuan Ming? Why would he play such a thrilling game?
"That's why he sometimes looks a bit dazed," Ning Rongrong said, pursing her lips.
"Stunned?" Oscar looked puzzled.
"His aloofness... could it be...?"
"Although he can switch between two thoughts for meditation, these two thoughts ultimately overlap, so he can't think too much, nor does he have the energy for it," Ning Rongrong said.
"You always see him as aloof and unapproachable, but actually he just doesn't have that much time to think about things."
"You think he's too strong and looks down on everyone, but actually, he didn't even look at them."
Xuan Ming's mind is mostly in a state of relaxation and emptiness. He doesn't think about too many things, so he doesn't talk much. The idea that he is deep-thinking is just everyone's guess.
She had known Xuan Ming since childhood; they were practically childhood friends. What others couldn't understand, she could see clearly.
That guy is Da Tou Long.
"By the way, Grandmaster, haven't you always been curious about how Xuan Ming solved the mutation defect of his Blood Spear?" Ning Rongrong asked Yu Xiaogang.
"I can tell you very clearly, he didn't solve it."
"He can't solve the problem of the Blood Spear's devouring ability, and neither can my father and the others."
"I know you don't believe me, after all, if the problem hadn't been solved, he couldn't possibly still be cultivating at such a fast pace."
"But that's the truth. He's been feeding his Blood Spear with his own Soul Power and blood essence, so even though he puts in several times the effort of ordinary people, his actual cultivation level isn't that much ahead of everyone else. His cultivation is equivalent to one person doing two jobs."
Zhao Wuji's expression was somewhat unnatural. "No wonder his Martial Soul is so strange."
Soul Master cultivate Martial Soul, and Martial Soul grow on their own as Soul Master' Soul Power Level increase. Normally, the level of Martial Soul is the same as the Soul Master's Soul Power Level. However, Xuan Ming's Martial Soul is very strange. Although he is only a Soul Ancestor, the Blood Spear gives him the feeling that only a Soul Emperor can possess a Martial Soul!
"If the Martial Soul grows faster than itself, won't it get out of control?" Tang San couldn't help but ask.
The stronger Martial Soul becomes, the more difficult it becomes to control. This is very evident in his Clear Sky Hammer. When he first awakened it, although it was very heavy, he could still barely control it. But now that he has reached the Soul Elder, his Clear Sky Hammer has also grown stronger, and since he doesn't use it often, it is very difficult to control.
This is only Martial Soul with Soul Power equal to his own. If Xuan Ming's Martial Soul exceeded his own cultivation level, how did he manage to control that thing?
"Of course, but he has Twin Martial Souls," Ning Rongrong said.
"If he unleashes the full power of the Blood Spear, his own Soul Power will be unable to control that thing. Then, his Beast Martial Soul will enter Berserk Transformation state, and all his attributes will surge, allowing him to forcibly control that thing for a short period of time."
"Just like when we first enrolled, he got into a fight with Teacher Zhao."
Zhao Wuji's expression froze. "Can we not talk about that matter?"
"Then what about that match we had at the Great Soul Arena? Wasn't he...?" Oscar's expression became somewhat unnatural.
Tang San and the others could no longer maintain their composure, and their expressions turned serious.
Xuan Ming didn't use Berserk Transformation back then!
"He's just relaxing." Ning Rongrong said with a strange expression.
"You guys don't actually think he's serious, do you?"
"..."
"According to you, his appetite for that Blood Spear is also constantly growing. Even if he can afford it now, what about later?" Yu Xiaogang was still somewhat skeptical.
"The gap between Soul Master widens as they progress in their cultivation. What will happen to him if he feeds his Martial Soul in this way?"
"Let's take it one step at a time," Ning Rongrong said.
"My father also said that Xuan Ming's current cultivation is a gamble with his life."
"Either he feeds the Blood Spear to its fill, or he gets swallowed by Blood Spear; it's a race to see who's faster."
Chapter 163 Going Its Own Way
The Crown Prince's Residence.
After seeing Ah Rou off, Xuan Ming was led over by the guards of the Crown Prince's residence.
What did the Pope say to you?
As soon as she entered, Qian Renxue couldn't wait to find out what was going on.
Yue Guan didn't give her a chance to get close at all!
She couldn't even force her way in as Qian Renxue to eavesdrop!
"She asked about my injuries, and then apologized for injuring me in Spirit City," Xuan Ming said.
"And then?" Qian Renxue asked.
"That's all," Xuan Ming said.
"That's all?" Qian Renxue, somewhat doubtful.
"You went in yesterday evening and stayed with the Pope the whole time. You only came out at noon today, and that's all you said?"
"I'm sleeping," Xuan Ming said.
"..."
"Sleep?" Qian Renxue was a little confused.
"We barely exchanged a few words last night before she knocked me unconscious, and I slept until noon today," Xuan Ming said.
"I knocked you out? Why? What did you say?" Qian Renxue asked.
"Is this an interrogation?" Xuan Ming asked.
"I was just expressing my concern," Qian Renxue said.
"Concerned?" Xuan Ming paused.
"If it were Tang Yuehua, she would first ask me if I was injured, and if the Pope had given me any trouble. After hearing that I had slept until noon today, she would ask me if I was hungry, and then prepare some food for me."
I believe that she cares about me.
Do you... have any other insights into the word "concern"?
Qian Renxue was speechless for a moment. " The Pope's purpose in coming to Heaven Dou City is definitely not simple. She kept you at the Martial Soul Holy Temple for one night, which will inevitably lead to suspicion from the outside world. I need to understand the situation in order to stabilize the situation."
"Oh, you prioritize the greater good. As expected of you, you have the world in your heart," Xuan Ming said.
"Why didn't you say so earlier? It would have saved me from misunderstanding."
"You!" Qian Renxue took a deep breath.
"Did I disregard the bigger picture? Did I act impulsively? Did I not know what's good for me?" Xuan Ming said.
"No problem, I accept all of that, but I don't understand why you don't ask the Pope about these things?"
Wouldn't it be simpler and more direct to discuss it with her?
"Okay! I won't ask anymore, is that alright?" Qian Renxue interrupted.
"Whatever makes you happy, you don't need to ask for my opinion," Xuan Ming said.
"You won't listen to me anyway."
"You!" Qian Renxue clenched her fists and stood up abruptly.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
She says one thing, and this guy retorts with another!
"Intentionally?" Xuan Ming frowned slightly and closed his eyes.
Something was definitely off; he retorted almost instinctively, without thinking at all.
In the past, he would have remained silent and waited for Qian Renxue to proceed as she pleased.
But now, he simply can't control himself.
"Sorry, there might be something wrong with my brain." Xuan Ming opened his eyes.
"If you don't want to argue, I suggest you don't talk to me for now."
Qian Renxue looked at Xuan Ming, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. After a moment, she slowly loosened her clenched fists, sat back down in her chair, and tried to calm her tone. "Alright, I won't argue with you for now, but the Pope's actions are really strange. It's impossible that she left you in the Martial Soul Holy Temple overnight without a purpose."
"Even though you say you've been sleeping the whole time, who can guarantee that nothing else happened in between?"
"What could happen?" Xuan Ming asked in return.
Qian Renxue turned her head away, "Who knows? She's an old woman in her forties, and she knocked you out..."
"Stop right there, where are you going?"
Xuan Ming stopped in his tracks. "First it was Xue Qinghe, then Tang Yuehua, and now it's the Pope?"
"Who's next? Why don't you tell me first, so I can be mentally prepared?"
Qian Renxue was speechless for a moment, "I... I didn't mean that."
"You were the one who proposed this, you were the one who spread the rumors, and you were the one who found the person." Xuan Ming turned around and glanced at Qian Renxue.
"Now you're telling me that's not what you meant?"
"It seems my comprehension skills desperately need improvement, otherwise I'm completely unable to keep up with your train of thought."
Xuan Ming said nothing more, turned and left.
Qian Renxue watched Xuan Ming's resolute departing figure, her heart filled with mixed feelings, and a strange sense of irritation welled up inside her.
She knew she had spoken inappropriately, but the Pope's visit to Heaven Dou City and his perplexing actions made it difficult for her to remain calm.
"Young Master, why don't you go to the Martial Soul Holy Temple yourself and ask?" Snake Lance Douluo slowly emerged from the shadows.
"Stop tormenting him."
To truly control someone, you must first break their spirit, then seize the opportunity, using a combination of threats and incentives—this is what Qian Xunji taught Qian Renxue.
Theoretically speaking, this is correct, and it works for the vast majority of people. Qian Renxue has used this method to deal with other people over the years, and without exception, it has been successful.
But there are always some unruly people in this world, and Xuan Ming is clearly one of them.
Qian Renxue's stick couldn't instill fear in him, and any subsequent sweets would only be seen as an insult.
Trying to deal with Xuan Ming by using a combination of carrot and stick tactics is clearly not going to work.
Qian Renxue couldn't possibly be unaware of this, but she hesitated to change her approach because she felt that changing it would be tantamount to admitting defeat.