"I knew it..." Zhao Liuyun was not disappointed. This was the conclusion he had just reached through his own deduction.
"Please enlighten me, Teacher." He bowed slightly, his tone sincere. He needed to understand the specific reasons.
Dugu Bo said solemnly, "Earlier, I was startled by your words and lost my composure."
He was referring to the shocking claim of wanting a "Ten-Thousand-Year Third Ring." Throughout the history of Soul Masters, he had never seen anyone capable of withstanding a ten-thousand-year soul ring at Level 30.
"Thinking it over calmly, this matter... cannot be done."
"Disciple, do you know why one must reach Level 30 to absorb a thousand-year soul ring? And why ordinary people must reach Level 50 to absorb a ten-thousand-year one?"
Zhao Liuyun remained silent.
"One of the factors is the qualitative change of Soul Power!" Dugu Bo displayed the erudition belonging to a Title Douluo.
"During the Soul Master and Grand Soul Master stages, there is little difference in the form of Soul Power. The first qualitative change occurs at the Level 30 Soul Elder realm."
He pressed his hand down into the air, his Soul Power circulating to draw in the invisible Heaven and Earth Energy from the surroundings.
"At this point, the originally ethereal and formless Soul Power begins to transform into tiny entities indiscernible to the naked eye."
In other words, it becomes gaseous. This is precisely why Soul Masters with Ultimate Attributes experience a slowdown in cultivation speed after Level 30. For the same volume of Soul Power, the purity and prowess after qualitative change far exceed that of Soul Masters of the same level.
Dugu Bo continued, "The second qualitative change occurs at the Soul King realm."
"The tangible Soul Power gathers further, condensing into mist—like smoke or clouds—where its flowing form can be faintly glimpsed by the eye."
A wisp of Soul Power drifted from his fingertips, hovering like a thin mist. This is the intermediate state between gas and liquid. If one possesses exceptional talent and highly concentrated Soul Power, it can prematurely evolve into liquid Soul Power.
"The third qualitative change is at the Soul Saint level. Mist turns into water, shimmering with a halo, rippling like a stream. Soul Power can now surge freely within the body like a river."
"The fourth qualitative change is at the Title Douluo realm. Liquid Soul Power is compressed to the extreme, turning into a solid—hard as crystal, dense as physical matter. This is the limit of Soul Power's qualitative change."
"The limit the human body can endure is Level 95. From Level 96 onwards, every step forward is a world-shaking transformation."
Having said this, Dugu Bo's tone softened slightly. "However, the latter two changes are still far off for you; there's no need to look into them for now."
"If you insist on absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring at Level 30, it is equivalent to using a formless foundation to forcefully strike against gaseous Soul Power that has undergone two qualitative changes."
"If it were only a difference of one change, it might be worth a desperate attempt. But a difference of two changes..."
Dugu Bo didn't finish his sentence. He simply shook his head gently and ruffled Zhao Liuyun's hair; everything was understood without words.
Zhao Liuyun nodded slowly. Combined with this explanation, he finally truly understood where the gap lay.
The first four qualitative changes before becoming a Title Douluo focus on the leap in "quality." From formless to tangible, moving through the three states of gas, liquid, and solid.
Solid Soul Power is the peak of quality. Thereafter, the four stages from Peak Douluo to Peerless Douluo focus on the accumulation of "quantity." Whether it is the method of condensing Soul Cores or comprehending the Way of the Martial Soul, the essence is to expand Soul Power capacity, allowing the total volume to climb continuously.
Becoming a god is a simultaneous leap in both quality and quantity, a total sublimation into Divine Power.
Nine qualitative changes—prioritizing both quality and quantity—are required to truly ascend to divinity!
The figure of Tang San surfaced in Zhao Liuyun's mind. When the future Sea God became a Soul Saint, he absorbed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. The gap in Soul Power quality then was also two levels.
But that was a God-Bestowed Soul Ring; the year limit was self-adapting and changed gradually. Moreover, Tang San was undergoing the God Trials at the time. His Soul Power had already deviated from the norm, evolving directly toward Divine Power, and the capacity of a demi-god body far exceeded that of a human. It could not be compared to an ordinary person.
Tang San could rely on the advantage of Twin Martial Souls to reach Level 99 by absorbing soul rings. This was because his Divine Power was a separate track and his divine body was already forming; he didn't need to worry about the quantitative change of Soul Power. There was no reference value there.
The God Trials are a shortcut, walking a path carved out by others. Ascending through faith, however, is carving a new path for oneself. Divine power, divine body, divine soul, divine position, and divine rings—everything must be gathered by oneself.
Dugu Bo seemed to remember something and added, "There is also the Whale Glue. Even if the constitution is sufficient, the first ring cannot absorb a thousand-year one. The reason you gave was correct, but incomplete."
"Thinking it over carefully, a more likely underlying reason is that a child who has never undergone the process of soul ring absorption cannot resist the violent Soul Power of a ring that has already undergone one qualitative change."
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher," Zhao Liuyun sighed softly.
Unless his luck was so high that a Primordial Immortal Herb fell from the sky... even then, Zhao Liuyun might not be able to enjoy it. The Primordial Qi of that herb is incompatible with other immortal herbs. Not to mention, such a herb wouldn't just appear out of thin air.
Putting away these unrealistic fantasies, Zhao Liuyun firmly locked his target on soul rings below ten thousand years. After the qualitative change at the Soul Elder stage, absorbing a ten-thousand-year ring for his fourth ring would naturally fall into place.
Under the cover of night, the Soul Beast Forest was fraught with danger. Rustling sounds rose from the woods. Leopard shadows flitted through trees, tigers roared, apes shrieked, and wolf howls echoed one after another. The air was thick with a heart-palpitating, chilling aura.
But the most terrifying presence was still Dugu Bo, the Title Douluo.
"Disciple, do you know how to cook?" he suddenly asked, turning his head.
"A little." With the detailed observation of his Purple Demon Eye and mental power to sense the heat, Zhao Liuyun could manage ingredients perfectly, much like Huo Yuhao.
Dugu Bo smiled faintly, casually slapped to death an unlucky thousand-year soul beast, picked it up, and stuffed various seasonings into his disciple's arms.
"Roast this for yourself later. Stop chewing on that tasteless Whale Glue. Live a bit more like a human!"
What kind of Soul Master replenishes energy solely for the sake of survival? If this continued, he feared his disciple would find life bland and meaningless, falling into a state of nihilism.
"I obey your command, Teacher."
Zhao Liuyun felt a warmth in his heart. he could naturally sense Dugu Bo's concern.
The two returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Prepare the medicine." Dugu Bo's voice was soft, yet carried a hint of gravity. The Soul Core was formed; now came the other key part.
Zhao Liuyun searched for a few herbs capable of strengthening the foundation and nourishing the Qi. Before starting, he hesitated for a moment, then suddenly reached his hand out toward Dugu Bo and whispered, "Teacher, if you don't find it distasteful, you can drink my blood directly."
Dugu Yan didn't need to know too much; she just needed to take the medicine to guide the poison into her soul bones. As for his teacher Dugu Bo, the more convenient method was naturally preferred.
"..." Dugu Bo looked at the outstretched finger. His face stiffened slightly, and he forced a faint smile.
His dignity as a Title Douluo ultimately made him unable to bow his head to drink his disciple's blood. What kind of decorum would that be?
"Disciple, do not joke. Just prepare the medicine."
Zhao Liuyun did not insist. Preparing the medicine didn't require rare materials. His technique was practiced and his movements fluid. He dripped two or three drops of blood, and in less than two minutes, a pill had formed in his hand.
"Teacher, it is done."
"It was... completed just like that?" Dugu Bo was in a bit of a daze. He had never imagined the method to cure the poison would be so simple.
Thinking of how his son and daughter-in-law had lost their lives to this poison in the past, his heart trembled. An irrepressible sorrow surfaced in his eyes, and dark undercurrents seemed to swirl deep within his emerald irises.
Blood of an Immortal Herb, the catalyst for detoxification... This is the legacy!
Zhao Liuyun could sense his undisguised sadness but could not truly experience that deep pain.
He simply explained in a calm tone, "Teacher, actually the pill itself is mostly useless. Since I have consumed the Immortal Herbs, before the medicinal power is fully digested by me, you only need to consume a small amount of my blood at intervals to—"
"Wait here for a moment." His emotions quickly retracted. Dugu Bo waved his hand to stop his disciple's words.
He was not one to dwell on sentimentalities. He had just condensed a Soul Core; the road ahead was long. How could he be tethered by past regrets?
He didn't dare dream of the legendary Level 100 Godhood, but could he not hope for Level 96? When that time came, he would definitely give Yue Guan a severe thrashing!
With a flicker of green light, Dugu Bo took the pill, swallowed it in one gulp, and his figure vanished instantly.
Zhao Liuyun paused for a moment, then began using the temperature of the Yang Spring to roast the meat. Once his teacher returned and confirmed the detoxification was correct, there would be no need to linger at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
It was time to return to the Ye family, read through all the scrolls in the library, and earn a generous amount of Universal Experience.