Ling Yuan and Qian Renxue were both a little surprised.
After witnessing the dispersal of the thunderclouds in the sky following the removal of the Innate Treasure Pearl from Lin Feng's body, they exchanged glances, silently expressing the shock in their hearts.
Holding the Innate Treasure Pearl in one hand, Lin Feng manipulated the surrounding water to wash himself off before slowly walking toward the two of them.
The multicolored mist-like radiance that had once cloaked the pearl had completely vanished.
Now, the Innate Treasure Pearl appeared crystal clear, with a faint golden hue.
Within it, five colored glimmers rippled gently, exuding a hazy aura.
It looked like a multicolored gem, or perhaps like stars in a deep cosmic sky—each wisp of light containing endless mysteries and possibilities.
These five glimmers were not only extraordinarily beautiful but seemed to embody powerful energy. They intertwined and merged, forming a subtle and intricate energy field inside the Innate Treasure Pearl.
Lin Feng murmured to himself:
"Could this be… the legendary Five Essences?"
The "Five Essences" correspond to the five viscera and five elements in the human body:
Fire Essence of the Heart: the heart houses the spirit; the postnatal aspect is consciousness; the prenatal aspect is propriety.
Wood Essence of the Liver: the liver houses the soul; the postnatal aspect is the wandering soul; the prenatal aspect is benevolence.
Earth Essence of the Spleen: the spleen houses intent; the postnatal aspect is delusion; the prenatal aspect is trust.
Metal Essence of the Lung: the lung houses the corporeal soul; the postnatal aspect is the ghostly soul; the prenatal aspect is righteousness.
Water Essence of the Kidney: the kidney houses essence; the postnatal aspect is impure essence; the prenatal aspect is wisdom.
Lin Feng was confused. He couldn't quite grasp the nature of these five colored glimmers.
They were similar to the white speck of light in his dantian from before.
Though that speck seemed to have fulfilled its purpose—transforming the Innate Treasure Pearl once more before vanishing—Lin Feng still didn't understand the principle behind its appearance. At least not yet.
After the transformation of the Innate Treasure Pearl within that shell formed by the white speck, Lin Feng's body had undergone an unprecedented enhancement.
Not only had his five Soul Veins fused into one circular form, but within his dantian, a spherical hollow had formed—the new home of the Innate Treasure Pearl.
Within the ruptured shell of the white speck, strange colors lingered.
If the "Five Essences" within the Innate Treasure Pearl were indeed what Lin Feng thought they were, then why weren't they within his own body?
Why had they manifested inside the pearl?
And what exactly was the reason behind the thundercloud that had appeared earlier?
The moment he removed the Innate Treasure Pearl from his dantian and his aura dropped, the thundercloud vanished.
No matter how he looked at it, it had to be related to him… and to the Innate Treasure Pearl.
Lin Feng stood silently beside them, deep in thought, no longer moving.
Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan exchanged another glance, blinking in concern.
Qian Renxue asked anxiously:
"Xiao Feng, are you alright? What exactly happened?"
Ling Yuan looked to the sky. The thundercloud from earlier had left her feeling uneasy.
They had seen it clearly—that thundercloud appeared the very moment Lin Feng's aura changed.
Lin Feng shook his head. "I'm fine. In fact, I've never felt better.
The Innate Treasure Pearl has evolved once again. Look."
Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan turned their gazes to the current state of the pearl.
"It does look a lot better than before. That white and faintly golden version looked a bit bland.
Now it's like a multicolored glass gem—it suits the name of your Martial Soul far more."
Lin Feng chuckled.
"The appearance is secondary. What matters is that now, with the Innate Treasure Pearl in my dantian, the power it grants me is immense."
Ling Yuan nodded.
"In that brief moment, your aura surged to the Soul Emperor level—and it was still climbing."
"Why did it stop? Was it because of the thundercloud? Xiao Feng, was that thundercloud really connected to you?"
Lin Feng twitched his lips. As much as he didn't want to admit it… it obviously was.
Sensing the condition within his body, Lin Feng said:
"It's simple—I'll just try again."
With that, he returned the Innate Treasure Pearl to his dantian.
The five-colored Soul Veins—now fused into a single circular loop—began to glow brightly within him.
At the same time, Lin Feng's aura once again surged.
In the blink of an eye, he reached the Soul Emperor realm, and finally stabilized at the high-level Soul Emperor stage.
The three of them looked up into the sky—but this time, there was no thundercloud.
They were all slightly stunned.
"This…"
Lin Feng furrowed his brows. Had the thundercloud taken the day off? Like overworked employees skipping weekend overtime?
But he couldn't really blame it. The Innate Treasure Pearl's existence now had already exceeded the framework of the current cultivation system.
Its manifestation earlier was the will of the plane—or perhaps the so-called laws of heaven and earth—descending to test him.
What they hadn't expected was that Lin Feng could freely remove and return the pearl from his dantian at will, utterly ignoring the rules.
Bug abuse, huh?
Of course, Lin Feng also had some insight. That thundercloud might come back in the future. And when it did, he probably wouldn't be able to avoid the confrontation.
"Maybe… it was just a coincidence?" Ling Yuan tilted her head, asking softly.
"Maybe." Lin Feng didn't want to dwell on the issue.
There was no path to follow yet, and studying it now would be pointless.
What he needed to do was familiarize himself with the power he had just obtained.
"My five Soul Veins have fully connected, forming a single complete ring.
It grants me a 200% boost to cultivation speed and has completely transformed my understanding of the Five Elemental Laws.
At this point, I can truly say—I command countless soul skills.
Every method is at my fingertips."
Lin Feng's Martial Soul, the Innate Treasure Pearl, remained within his body.
With a simple wave of his hand, flames, stone and earth, flowing water, golden sword force, and a green light full of life suspended in the air.
It was common knowledge that soul skills had cooldown times and cost soul power to use.
Thus, soul masters had to carefully allocate their skills in battle to ensure they had enough power at crucial moments.
But Lin Feng was different. He could now freely use, or even simultaneously unleash, soul skills from all five elements.
With Soul Veins, his comprehension of the Laws was far beyond other soul masters—and with them, his soul power reserve was also multiple times greater than theirs.
Flaming arrows. Golden sword arrays. Towering waves. Dancing lava.
He shaped weapons from the elements. He created domains from the elements.
Endless transformations.
Under the envious gazes of the two girls, Lin Feng continued:
"With the Innate Treasure Pearl in my body, both my soul power quality and physical constitution are further enhanced.
Sister Ling Yuan, based on your perception, my current aura should be… Soul Emperor?"
"High-level Soul Emperor." Ling Yuan nodded.
"That's right. This really was unexpected.
My dantian has also changed. With the Innate Treasure Pearl resting there, it drives the circulation of the Soul Veins.
The power and laws stored in those meridians are constantly being activated, pushing my strength higher and higher."
Qian Renxue grew anxious and quickly asked:
"Are there any side effects? If there are, you really shouldn't keep the Innate Treasure Pearl in your body."
Lin Feng shook his head:
"No, not at all. On the contrary, the Innate Treasure Pearl now feels more like the core of my body. With it inside me, both my spirit and body can remain at their peak.
I've achieved a seamless fusion of spirit and flesh.
My Soul Power is still at rank 52, but the intensity of my aura and my true strength are far beyond that of an ordinary Soul Emperor."
"Then let's return to Spirit Hall now and let Grandpa analyze the situation."
Lin Feng nodded, though he didn't hold much hope.
His Soul Veins had already surpassed what Qian Daoliu could understand. Now, with the evolution of the Innate Treasure Pearl and the changes in his dantian, how could Qian Daoliu possibly comprehend it?
At most, he might offer some insights that Lin Feng could draw analogies from.
"What about the Purewater Azure Dragon?"
Ling Yuan shook her head.
"Shortly after its death, its body dissolved into the world on its own. It was quite strange."
"Is that so…"
Lin Feng's eyes flickered as he glanced at the spot where the dragon disappeared, silently noting the matter for later.
On the way back to Spirit Hall, Lin Feng continuously observed the Soul Veins and the pearl within him.
A glint flashed in his eyes.
He had already absorbed his soul rings into his body—so why couldn't he do the same with his Martial Soul?
The Innate Treasure Pearl already resided within his dantian, and its benefits were obvious.
Perhaps he should go one step further and completely integrate it into his dantian, making it a true part of himself.
The difficulty, however, was in figuring out how.
Moreover, even without soul rings, he could still use soul skills through his Soul Veins.
But if he were to lose his Martial Soul, what would happen then?
And what about the sixth soul ring he was supposed to gain at rank 60—where would that be condensed?
The human body has five viscera and four limbs.
If he chose to condense the new ring in his limbs, would that leave the brain out? Or could the tenth Soul Vein, formed by the God Ring, correspond to the head?
Lin Feng shook his head repeatedly—something about that path just felt wrong.
If the tenth Soul Vein could only be formed from a divine soul ring, would that mean his cultivation method was a failure?
Certainly not.
So, what was the next step?
"Maybe… it's time to travel elsewhere in the Douluo Continent. My cultivation method is still far from complete."
And there was still the mysterious "five energies" within the Innate Treasure Pearl that resonated with the five-element Soul Veins.
Lin Feng couldn't shake a vague, indescribable feeling.
"The Innate Treasure Pearl should reside here."
As his true foundation, it would serve as the key to returning to the source.
Life begins in the womb, where one holds a single breath of innate true qi. At that time, the body could be called an Innate Dao Body.
But after birth and growth, impurities enter, and the body becomes mundane.
Still, that innate purity and potential from the womb should not be forgotten or buried.
Lin Feng knew that to walk further on this path of cultivation, he had to recover that lost innate purity and return to a nearly perfect Innate Dao Body.
He closed his eyes in deep thought, sinking his awareness into his dantian to feel the warm and powerful energy fluctuations of the Innate Treasure Pearl.
This pearl felt like a pure land within him, untouched by external impurities, always maintaining its original purity and power.
A realization welled up in Lin Feng's heart. To fully merge the power of the Innate Treasure Pearl into himself, he would have to undergo a transformation from within.
"The five elements generate and overcome one another; only by harmonizing the five energies can life flow endlessly.
Perhaps I can use the 'five energies' within the Innate Treasure Pearl to purify my body and soul and rebuild my innate foundation."
Lin Feng thought to himself.
Just like the mythical "Foundation Establishment" stage—completing the five elements and stepping onto the immortal path—Lin Feng was now walking a path that echoed this ideal.
He began guiding the five energies within the Innate Treasure Pearl, each representing the elemental forces of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
These energies intertwined and formed streams of pure power.
In an instant, the "five energies" within the pearl resonated with the five-element Soul Veins outside, creating ripples of energy.
Lin Feng felt his body enveloped by a warm and powerful force, gradually expelling the impurities and negative energy that had accumulated over time.
His skin became translucent and smooth, like that of a newborn, while his soul grew clearer and purer.
During the process, Lin Feng was amazed to find that his ability to control elemental power had grown stronger and more agile.
More importantly, he sensed an unprecedented harmony and balance—his body, soul, and the world around him were now connected in a deeper, more intimate way.
He knew that he had set foot on a completely new cultivation path—one based on innate purity, the harmony of the five elements, and learning from the heavens and the earth.
"Maybe… this is my Dao." Lin Feng opened his eyes, which shimmered with clarity and confidence.
The Innate Treasure Pearl would be permanently fixed in his dantian.
Silver Dragon King… Gu Yuena… the gift for you is nearly ready. I wonder if your so-called "gift in return" will prove to be sufficient?
After they left, at the lake from before, a silver-white figure silently passed by.
A faint exclamation seemed to echo in the sky.
—
"What? You're leaving again?!"
Bibi Dong was deeply distressed. She had never imagined that after only a few weeks of helping Lin Feng obtain a soul ring, the trio would already be planning another trip.
She had worked steadily and cautiously for two whole years—was she really going to watch her main course slip away again?
To make these three let down their guard, she had been extremely careful in her daily behavior.
Walking on thin ice.
From borrowing Hu Liena's name just to visit the forest cabin, to now, she could freely go to the cabin whenever she wanted, and even summon Lin Feng occasionally to discuss internal matters of Spirit Hall.
This was a huge leap forward. In Bibi Dong's view, since she could now spend time alone with Lin Feng and Qian Renxue,
then the next steps in her plan should progress rapidly.
Everything had been going so well—so where did it go wrong?!
"No, it's better not to leave now. Where exactly are you planning to go this time?"
Lin Feng replied:
"Just wandering a bit—we'll be back. Staying in one place for too long is not good for cultivating insights.
I've had some new realizations recently, and I want to refine my cultivation method. I need some inspiration."
Bibi Dong froze.
Looking at Lin Feng, whose temperament and appearance had changed yet again, a complicated look flashed through her eyes.
"You really have to go?"
Qian Renxue gently pressed her lips together, thinking Bibi Dong was reluctant to see the two of them leave.
After two years together, Qian Renxue had let go of most of her grudges.
Though she had never called her "mother," the hatred in her heart had greatly diminished.
"We'll be back soon. Didn't we used to travel often before? It's nothing serious."
But this wasn't the same at all!
Bibi Dong lowered her eyes. She had endured so much these past two years.
The ripe fruit was right by her lips, yet she couldn't take a bite.
That kind of frustration was unbearable.
Suddenly, Bibi Dong said:
"Xiaofeng, you've now become a Soul King. You should have the time to create a Soul Vein for someone else, right?"
Lin Feng nodded.
"Is that what Your Holiness means?"
Bibi Dong lifted her head.
"Create one for me. I want to experience the wonder of a Soul Vein."
Soul Vein or not—it didn't matter. What she truly wanted was to be alone with Lin Feng.
Lin Feng looked at Qian Renxue.
"Alright. Once I've created one for you, I'll make another for Grandpa. Then we'll set off."
Bibi Dong smiled and nodded.
Qian Renxue and Lin Feng also bowed and prepared to leave.
Turning around, Qian Renxue took out a notebook engraved with the words "Feng Xue."
It was Lin Feng's notebook from when he first started condensing Soul Veins, and it had since recorded his ongoing research.
"Xiao Feng, time to update your latest research."
Qian Renxue giggled.
Lin Feng smiled as he accepted it.
"Alright."
Bibi Dong narrowed her phoenix eyes as she stared at the words "Feng Xue" on the notebook, lost in thought.