Chapter 186: Condensing the Seventh Soul Ring, Aspiring to the Extremes
After giving Jing Hongchen a treasure obtained from the Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire, Xiao Qiang also brought out some filtered Life Lake Water to ensure Jing Hongchen could safely break through to level 95 and become a Super Douluo.
While Jing Hongchen entered seclusion to refine the resources Xiao Qiang had provided, Xiao Qiang himself began preparations to further improve his strength.
The last remnant of the Titan Snow Demon King's origin had been preserved by Xiao Qiang after he replicated Alex's ability. Eventually, when no other option was available, Tianmeng and Bingdi convinced the Titan Snow Demon King to join Xiao Qiang's god-creation plan.
Now, inside Xiao Qiang's private cultivation room, he had carefully distanced himself from the highly volatile Ten Thousand Years of Mysterious Ice Marrow and sat cross-legged, ready to absorb the Titan Snow Demon King's soul ring and soul bone.
"You practically picked up a soul beast over 200,000 years old for free. I've got to say, Xiao Qiang, your luck is ridiculous," Tianmeng chuckled in the spiritual sea.
"That's all thanks to your vision, Brother Tianmeng. Without your guidance, my strength wouldn't have improved this fast."
"You're a kind kid. Honestly, even I didn't expect you to grow this quickly. You're not even seventeen, and you're about to hit the Soul Saint level. With several hundred-thousand-year soul rings, Bingbing's four soul bones, and now the soul bone of the Titan Snow Demon King—at this point, I believe you really might obtain a soul bone even more powerful than Bingbing's."
"Where do you want this soul bone to be formed? The Titan Snow Demon King's origin power is already thin. He can only grant one soul ring and one soul bone—not like Bingbing, who could provide four."
"I understand. I'll have it formed in the right leg to boost my lower body strength. Also, Brother Tianmeng, Bingdi, Xuedi, Titan Snow Demon King—how much do you all know about soul cores?"
"Soul cores?" Xuedi frowned slightly. "Why are you asking that? At your current level, it's still too early to talk about condensing a soul core. While your progress is faster than usual thanks to your ultimate martial soul, soul cores are still something typically attained at the Titled Douluo level. You'd need at least… three to five more years, right?"
But by the end of her sentence, even Xuedi realized that her reasoning was starting to falter. Three to five years wasn't that long—maybe it wasn't so bad to prepare early.
"Xuedi, soul cores aren't necessarily exclusive to Titled Douluo. Who says a Soul Saint can't condense one?"
Xuedi fell silent. Then she responded, "I don't recommend it. If you form a soul core now, your cultivation speed before becoming a Titled Douluo will skyrocket—but once you approach that breakthrough, your body may not meet the second soul core's requirements. It could stop you from ever reaching that realm."
"Furthermore, the path beyond level 98 is another trial entirely. To reach level 99, you'll need three soul cores. So far, only Di Tian has succeeded in forming three. Even the Evil Emperor and I have only two."
"The difficulty of each additional soul core is immense. If you form one too early, the hurdles ahead become exponentially harder."
Xiao Qiang nodded. "I understand. That's precisely why I plan to do it this way."
"Why? You're not the type to gamble blindly on uncertain risks," Tianmeng asked curiously in the spiritual sea.
"You're right. Normally, I believe that wealth and honor are pursued through risk—but also easily lost to it. If there's only a one-in-ten chance of success, I won't take the bet unless the odds can be improved. But this time, it's not a gamble."
"Brother Tianmeng, do you remember what Tang San was like ten thousand years ago?"
"Of course. His journey inspired my god-creation plan."
"Exactly. He reached the pinnacle of his era. No one for hundreds of years displayed more talent. He pioneered absorbing soul rings beyond his level, became a high-level Soul Emperor at twenty, and had a hundred-thousand-year soul ring—all of which caught the Sea God's attention."
Tianmeng understood Xiao Qiang's implication. "You mean, only by exceeding all limits of this era can one truly become a god?"
"I'm not certain. But it's a logical assumption. The gods wouldn't choose successors randomly among average geniuses. And how could someone take the next step without becoming a legend in their own time?"
"Titled Douluo with a conventional soul ring ratio—two yellow, two purple, four black, one red—are considered elite. But even that won't allow them to reach Ultimate Douluo. Maybe it's because that ratio is only 'optimal' in a general sense. In truth, those on higher planes might view it as outdated."
"True transcendence likely requires taking a road no one dares imagine. Even those praised as Ultimate Douluo might only be standing at the foot of a higher mountain—because their foundations aren't enough."
Tianmeng nodded solemnly. "Well said. I support your decision to begin condensing a soul core at the Soul Saint stage."
"This emperor has no objection either," Bingdi added calmly.
Silver Wolf: "Agreed."
The Twins on the Other Side: "Agreed."
Titan Snow Demon King: "I'm new to all this, so I'll leave it to you."
"Great. Since there are no objections… Silver Wolf, Xier, the seventh soul ring's Martial Soul Avatar is the key to a soul master's transformation. It connects everything—soul ring, soul bone, soul core. We can't treat it as ordinary!"
Tianmeng's voice was serious. Normally, a hundred-thousand-year soul ring created by the twins would already be enough to support the Martial Soul Avatar. But for someone destined to defy all norms, it wouldn't be sufficient.
"Brother Tianmeng, what should we do? Just say the word."
"I still have some spiritual essence. Not enough to create a million-year soul ring on its own, but enough to serve as the final catalyst. Once Xiao Qiang absorbs the Titan Snow Demon King's soul ring, we'll use your ring as the framework, add the remaining essence of the Titan Snow Demon King, and I'll reinforce it with my essence."
"Then, Silver Wolf, Xier—you'll assist me in stabilizing the structure. Together, we will forge another… million-year soul ring."
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Pump up the power stone