Chapter 53: From Now On, You're My Ning Rongrong's Friend!
But what did condensing a Soul Core have to do with curing Dugu Bo?
Bibi Dong pondered this question repeatedly, unable to find an answer.
At the same time, everyone who possessed a copy of the diary—including Bo Saixi—had also focused their attention.
Because the concept of a Soul Core did not yet exist in this era.
The diary entries continued.
[Speaking of it, that old man Dugu Bo might actually be a rather unconventional genius.]
[You could even say he's a pioneer of the Douluo Continent's soul master cultivation system!]
[Soul Cores are, in theory, an advanced technique that only becomes widespread ten thousand years in the future.]
[But in this era, if there's anyone most likely to possess a prototype of a Soul Core—or even already touch its threshold—then that person can only be Dugu Bo!]
[Because he cultivated an inner core!]
[That alone is absurd.]
[Dugu Bo is clearly a human, yet he possesses an inner core that should only exist in exotic beasts over a thousand years old.]
[This is extremely strange.]
[When I first read the original novel, I also found it odd—why do soul beasts only have soul rings and soul bones, but no inner cores? Meanwhile, those strange beasts in the City of Slaughter do?]
[And after learning about the "Soul Core" system that appears ten thousand years later, everything suddenly made sense.]
[In truth, what people call an inner core is simply a primitive form of a Soul Core!]
[First, both are located in the dantian and serve as the source of power.]
[Second, both highly compress soul power and the user's fundamental attributes.]
[Dugu Bo once personally said that his emerald-green inner core contained nearly half of his total strength!]
[That is the most classic characteristic of a Soul Core—solid-state compression of soul power!]
[Within Dugu Bo's lineage, he might be the only one who accidentally condensed such a thing.]
[And it was precisely thanks to this inner core, which carried most of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's poison, that he managed to barely survive and become a Titled Douluo instead of dying young like his son.]
[Unfortunately, his inner core is far from perfect. You could even call it a crude, defective product.]
[It is not a true Soul Core.]
[Although it absorbs the poison, its unstable structure—its "leakage"—causes the toxins to continuously seep out and erode his body.]
[That's why he still suffers unbearable pain.]
[The solution is actually very simple: fully refine, compress, and reconstruct this "leaking" inner core!]
[Use the proper Soul Core condensation method to forge it into a perfect, closed-loop Poison Soul Core!]
[Once successful, all the source poison will be perfectly sealed within the Soul Core and become the source of his power.]
[The quality of his soul power will undergo a qualitative leap!]
[At that point, forget rank ninety-one—even rank ninety-five or ninety-six would be within reach!]
[Dugu Bo could finally shed the title of "the weakest Titled Douluo"!]
…
Dugu Yan stared at the words appearing in her mind, completely stunned.
"An inner core… is a Soul Core?"
Although she didn't truly understand what a Soul Core was, she understood Lin Yuan's meaning clearly: as long as Grandpa perfected his inner core, not only would the poison be cured, but he would also become stronger!
"T-This… is this really possible?"
Dugu Yan turned to look at Dugu Bo.
To him, Lin Yuan's explanation of Soul Core condensation sounded simple in theory, but in practice, it would undoubtedly be extremely difficult.
Otherwise, this cultivation technique would not have taken ten thousand years to appear.
At that moment, Dugu Yan suddenly realized why Lin Yuan had said he needed some herbs from her grandfather's medicinal garden. Were they meant to assist in condensing the Soul Core?
---
Seagod Island.
Bo Saixi gazed at the diary before her and thought to herself, Interesting.
"Soul Cores… solidified soul power. I always believed that at my current level, aside from inheriting a god position, there was no other way to grow stronger."
"Who would have thought… there's still such a path of cultivation?"
In Bo Saixi's deep-blue eyes—eyes that seemed to contain the vast sea itself—a long-lost ripple of emotion appeared.
At her level, there were very few things in the world capable of piquing her interest.
Yet the concept of a "Soul Core" was like a stone dropped into the calm lake of her heart.
"If I were to condense a Soul Core as well, would I be able to wield even greater power without relying on the Seagod's Light?"
…
Chen Xin hadn't noticed the subtle changes in the younger generation at all. His attention was completely drawn to the spear strike Lin Yuan had just unleashed.
"Lin Yuan."
Chen Xin stepped forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Lin Yuan as he voiced the biggest doubt in his heart.
"That spear strike you just used—the explosive power that gathered all of your essence, energy, and spirit into a single point."
"That wasn't your first soul skill, was it?"
"I didn't sense any soul ring fluctuations from you. Could it be… a self-created soul skill?"
With Chen Xin's discernment, he could naturally see through its intricacies.
Among those below the rank of Soul Grandmaster, anyone capable of using a self-created soul skill was unquestionably a peerless genius.
Lin Yuan, neither arrogant nor humble, planted his spear firmly and nodded calmly.
"Your Excellency truly has sharp eyes."
"That was indeed not a soul skill. It's a technique my teacher taught me, called Dawnbreak."
"Dawnbreak…"
Chen Xin savored the name, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.
"A good name."
"Like the dawn breaking through a long night—one strike to kill."
"It seems your teacher is truly an extraordinary master."
At this point, Chen Xin completely believed that Lin Yuan had someone backing him.
And this teacher was likely an existence on his level—or perhaps even stronger.
Because he had just secretly released his spiritual power, scanning everything within several kilometers of Nuoding Academy.
Yet he detected no presence of any powerful expert.
There were only two possibilities.
First, Lin Yuan was lying, and no such person existed—everything was self-realized.
If that were the case, then this boy's talent was downright terrifying, bordering on inhuman!
Second, Lin Yuan's teacher was so powerful that even he—a peak rank ninety-six Titled Douluo—could not perceive their existence at all!
Regardless of which possibility was true, the conclusion was the same.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must establish a good relationship with Lin Yuan!
"Since you are guided by such a renowned master, it's understandable that you're unwilling to join the sect. However, if you encounter any difficulties in cultivation in the future, you're always welcome to come to the sect and look for me."
Chen Xin sighed softly. Though he felt some regret at being unable to take him as a disciple, he quickly adjusted his mindset.
Nearby, Ning Rongrong nearly burst out laughing. She was furiously complaining in her heart: Heehee, even Grandpa Sword got fooled!
Lin Yuan doesn't have any teacher at all!
That so-called "reclusive expert" is probably just that "system" giving him rewards, right?
Still, this guy is really good at acting—so convincing it feels real.
Even an old fox like Grandpa Sword believed him.
"Right, right! We fought, we got to know each other—starting now, you're my Ning Rongrong's friend! From now on, just call me Rongrong!"
Ning Rongrong looked at Lin Yuan with increasing interest.
"Alright. From now on, we're friends."
—
End of Chapter