Inside the secret cultivation room of the Dukes Mansion, the deep blue light patterns that had been surging due to the Breakthrough were now becoming extremely turbulent.
Liu Yuan sat cross-legged with a tightly furrowed brow, cold sweat constantly sliding down his forehead.
His arms, covered in emerald green scales, were trembling slightly, and every breath brought a piercing pain through his Meridians, like steel needles stabbing into him.
"It seems... my guess just now was more or less correct." Liu Yuan forced himself to calm down in his heart.
His situation was truly too unique.
The total volume of spirit power brought by Primal Kyogre, superimposed with the spirit power purity of Mega Rayquaza, caused the thickness of the spirit power within his body to cross that heavenly chasm in advance while at the level seventy-three Spirit Saint Realm, even reaching a level close to an ordinary Titled Douluo.
This foundation that surpassed the era caused his body to spontaneously begin an "evolution"—compressing liquid spirit power into solid crystals.
This was originally a massive Opportunity, but at this moment, Liu Yuan felt as if he were sitting on a powder keg that could explode at any time.
"These spirit power crystals are getting heavier and heavier. If I don't refine and arrange them according to a specific pattern to construct a stable Soul Core, these 'solid bombs' will eventually shatter my Dantian."
Liu Yuan gritted his teeth, forcing his mental force to guide those restless crystals, only to find that he had no way to even begin.
He lacked the knowledge reserves in this area and had no experience or guidance from any Senior.
In the history of the Douluo Continent, the matter of a Spirit Saint condensing a Soul Core was simply unheard of, let alone having any teaching materials for it.
"Snow Empress!" Liu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, looking toward the ice-blue figure acting as his Protector.
"You have lived for nearly seven hundred thousand years. Do you know of any methods regarding the early condensation of a Soul Core or the guidance of solid spirit power?"
Snow Empress was slightly taken aback, a flash of regret crossing her star-like eyes as she gently shook her head.
"Master, the cultivation methods of Spirit Beasts are vastly different from those of humans. We rely more on the accumulation of long years and the instincts of our Bloodline." Snow Empress walked over to Liu Yuan, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Among all current Spirit Beasts, only Di Tian has specifically and deeply studied the method of the Soul Core in order to strike at the million-year limit."
"He took the path of Complementary Yin and Yang Dual Soul Cores, which is why he could become the Beast God and dominate the current world. But I... I truly have no experience in this regard."
Hearing this, Liu Yuan's heart couldn't help but sink.
If even the Snow Empress didn't know, this trouble would be immense.
He tried to suppress the solid crystals in his body once more, then stood up: "No, sitting here in silence will only lead to death. I'll go ask the Hall Master. Jing Hongchen is a Titled Douluo after all, maybe he has a way."
...
Half an hour later, the Hall Master's office.
After Jing Hongchen heard Liu Yuan's statement, his movement of drinking tea froze, and the teacup in his hand nearly fell to the floor.
"What did you say? Solid spirit power has appeared in your body? It's even spontaneously condensing a Soul Core?"
Jing Hongchen's eyes widened, and he rushed to Liu Yuan in one stride, sending a surge of gentle spirit power into Liu Yuan's body.
A moment later, Jing Hongchen withdrew his hand with a face full of horror, his old face filled with a sense of defeat.
"A Prodigy... a true, uncompromising Prodigy!" Jing Hongchen shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Xiao Yuan, although I also hope you can become a talent, this matter... this old man truly cannot help you."
"The Sun Moon Empire stands proud and peerless in the field of Soul Engineers, but in the core Profound Truths of Spirit Master cultivation, it is indeed lacking compared to Shrek."
Jing Hongchen walked to the window, looking at the prosperity of Bright Capital in the distance, his tone revealing a deep inner conflict.
"If it were before, I might have been able to thicken my skin and take you to seek an audience with Mu En. But now... our two schools have just had a falling out and even cut off exchanges. Yan Shaozhe and that lot wish they could skin you alive right now; how could they possibly teach you such a core secret technique?"
Jing Hongchen sighed, slapping his thigh with some annoyance: "If I had known today would come, I wouldn't have spoken so definitively before. If I could just lower my head and ask for guidance, even if it meant paying a price, it would be worth it."
Liu Yuan gave a cold snort, his eyes reflecting an unquestionable pride.
"Hall Master, lowering your head would be useless."
"I know the character of those people at Shrek best. If they knew I was going to condense a Soul Core at this age, they would only want to eliminate me even more; they would never lend a helping hand."
"Forget it, it's better to rely on oneself than to beg others. Since there is no path from those before me, then I will walk out a path of my own!"
...
In the following days, Liu Yuan completely entered a state of "secluded research."
He no longer went to classes at the academy, but instead buried himself in the vast library of ancient texts at the Dukes Mansion.
He sought inspiration from the arrangement logic of core Formations used by ancient Soul Engineers, attempting to reorganize those spirit power crystals in his Dantian according to the most stable Formation structure.
However, the efficiency of this kind of practice without any guidance was shockingly low.
Every tiny attempt was accompanied by a backlash brought about by the spirit power running wild.
Even with the Snow Empress acting as a Protector by his side, Liu Yuan had nearly had his Meridians destroyed by the violent solid spirit power several times during this month.
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.
Liu Yuan's progress was negligible. He had only barely managed to stop those crystals from crashing around randomly, but he was still far from truly forming a stable "Soul Core."
This high-intensity mental pressure and the anxiety of constant setbacks made even the usually calm Liu Yuan feel a trace of physical and mental exhaustion.
"If I continue this seclusion, my state of mind will surely collapse."
Early this morning, Liu Yuan pushed open the window, looking at the flowers that had long since bloomed in the Dukes Mansion, and let out a long breath of turbid Qi.
He decided to give himself a break.
Since the research had hit a dead end, it would be better to go to the academy to relax and see those old friends.
To him, those few laughing and joking companions in the Genius Class had instead become the best mental consolation.
...
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, high-level class.
The moment Liu Yuan stepped into the classroom, the originally noisy class instantly went silent.
"Brother Liu Yuan!"
"Lord Duke, you've finally deigned to come out of seclusion!"
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen immediately surrounded him.
Xiao Hongchen sized up Liu Yuan's slightly pale yet more profound aura, and couldn't help but click his tongue: "What have you been doing this past month? Why does the pressure coming from you feel so much stronger again?"
Meng Hongchen, with a face full of concern, handed over a cup of hot tea: "Brother Liu Yuan, you look a bit tired. Has your cultivation been too hard?"
Liu Yuan gave a slight smile and was just about to exchange a few pleasantries when he noticed that everyone's gaze seemed to be intentionally or unintentionally looking toward the podium.
At this time, Xuan Ziwen, acting as the instructor, walked onto the podium and tapped the table, signaling for everyone to be quiet.
"Students, today a special new student has joined our class." Xuan Ziwen pushed his glasses and looked toward the classroom door.
Liu Yuan was somewhat surprised.
To be able to transfer into the high-level class of Sun Moon Royal Academy at this point in time, the background must be extraordinary.
Accompanied by light footsteps, a golden figure slowly walked into everyone's sight.
In that instant, the already well-lit classroom seemed to become even brighter.
It was a young girl.
She had long golden hair as eye-catching as the sun, her hair swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a sacred luster.
She wore a well-tailored outfit that outlined her perfect figure. Most striking were her bright, heterochromatic eyes—the left one as deep blue as the sea, the right one as brilliant as gold.
And at the center of her forehead, a faint red marking was vaguely visible, exuding an indescribable sense of nobility and mystery.
Liu Yuan, who had been somewhat fatigued, saw his pupils suddenly contract the moment he saw this girl.
It wasn't just because this girl was too beautiful, but more because, under his powerful mental perception, he actually felt an inexplicable, even somewhat familiar aura from this girl.
The girl walked onto the podium generously, her gaze scanning the room before accurately landing on Liu Yuan.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a sly and meaningful smile, and then a crisp voice rang out in the classroom:
"Hello everyone, my name is Wang Qiuer."
And after hearing this name, Liu Yuan was completely shocked.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"