Chapter 4: The Essence of Cultivation
Under a sky of sparse stars and bright moonlight, Dugu Chen lay on his small wooden bed, gazing pensively out the window. His eyes were unfocused—he was clearly lost in thought.
He had awakened a top-tier beast martial soul: a Qilin. Though he'd never heard of any Qilin-related martial soul or soul beast on the Douluo Continent, the innate domain and the overwhelming aura of his martial soul were undeniable.
His talent alone could now rank among the top ten on the continent.
Just an hour earlier, he had even taken on a teacher—a Titled Douluo at that. While this Titled Douluo wasn't particularly powerful in battle, he stood at the peak in terms of wealth and resources.
That teacher… was Dugu Bo.
Though his strength was average among Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo controlled the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a sacred land of cultivation. With that, his backing could easily surpass most sects. As long as Dugu Chen could earn his trust and gradually take control of the well, his future would be limitless.
Now, with his life finally secure and a path ahead full of opportunity, Dugu Chen's long-tense nerves finally relaxed.
He even forgot the meditation method Dugu Bo had just passed to him, along with the instructions to cultivate diligently.
With a faint smile on his lips, Dugu Chen lay back and slowly closed his eyes.
That night, he slept soundly for the first time in years.
---
By the time the first light of dawn broke, Dugu Chen was already awake. The sun had yet to rise fully, but he had already washed up and climbed to the roof.
Seated cross-legged atop the building, he faced the horizon and began to cultivate the meditation technique his teacher had passed on.
Unnoticed, a thin wisp of purple qi drifted from the east and merged into the faint soul imprint on his forehead. Dugu Chen immediately felt that today's cultivation was smoother, his thoughts clearer, and entry into deep meditation came easier than ever.
He wasn't sure whether this clarity came from the awakening of his martial soul or because Dugu Bo's cultivation method was more profound.
Previously, he had attempted to imitate the methods of Huo Yuhao from ten thousand years in the future—driving soul power with spiritual force to accelerate cultivation. While such methods had their merits, Dugu Chen lacked the immense mental strength needed to fully implement them.
Fortunately, his naturally introspective mind helped him avoid common pitfalls.
Slowly, he exhaled a turbid breath and concluded his morning session. With his body refreshed and mind energized, he hopped down from the roof and returned indoors to start preparing breakfast.
---
As he was finishing the meal, Dugu Bo stepped out of his room.
He had already changed into his customary green robes, and his dark green hair was neatly groomed. Although his complexion remained a bit pale, his bearing was calm and dignified.
Seeing this, Dugu Chen marveled at the recovery speed of a Titled Douluo. To walk around unaided in just one day, despite his injuries, was something no ordinary person could manage.
"Teacher, you're up. I only made a simple breakfast," Dugu Chen said with a respectful smile, helping him to his seat.
"No need for anything fancy. This is just fine," Dugu Bo replied with a chuckle, clearly pleased with his new disciple.
"Chen'er, my injuries should fully heal in another half a month. During this time, focus on cultivating the method I gave you. Once I've recovered, I'll take you to hunt your first soul ring. Do you have any preferred soul beast in mind?"
"I'll leave that to Teacher's judgment," Dugu Chen replied earnestly.
He might have knowledge from another life, but in this world, experience outweighed theory. Dugu Bo's lifetime of battles and study far outmatched any list he could recall from memory.
Besides, he only remembered a few famous soul beasts like the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear or the Titan Giant Ape, which were out of reach for beginners.
"Haha, very well. Your martial soul possesses both fire and earth attributes and seems clearly suited for the assault system, so we'll look for soul beasts with corresponding traits—ones strong in power, attack, and defense."
Dugu Bo paused to sip his porridge.
"Once I recover, we'll head to the Star Dou Great Forest. It's the largest soul beast habitat on the continent. We're bound to find something suitable there."
He took out several thin books from his soul tool and handed them over.
"Study these carefully. If you don't understand something, just ask me."
"Thank you, Teacher… Also…" Dugu Chen hesitated for a moment. "Could Teacher give this disciple some… gold soul coins?"
Dugu Bo raised a brow, then chuckled. "How much do you need?"
"Just a thousand," Dugu Chen quickly explained. "I want to give it to Grandpa Ma—the village chief. He's taken care of me for many years, and I'd like to repay his kindness."
"It's rare for someone so young to be so filial." Dugu Bo smiled and handed over a purple-gold card. "There's a hundred thousand in here. Keep it. Use it for your daily needs. And here—" He took out a small bag. "This has exactly one thousand gold soul coins. Give it to your village chief."
Dugu Chen accepted both items with gratitude. After breakfast, he left to bid farewell to the old man.
---
Half a month flew by.
In that time, Dugu Chen had buried himself in cultivation and study. The foundation Dugu Bo laid for him was solid, and his own comprehension was strong—he progressed rapidly.
At the village entrance, over a hundred people gathered to see him off.
A plain carriage waited nearby, its coachman sitting calmly at the reins. Dugu Bo was already inside.
Dugu Chen hugged Grandpa Ma tightly before boarding.
The carriage began to move, heading directly toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Inside, Dugu Bo glanced at his disciple, who looked both excited and reluctant. To ease his thoughts, he asked, "Chen'er, how did you find the books? Any soul beast caught your eye?"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Dugu Chen replied, "I think… the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear would be ideal for me."
Dugu Bo's expression twitched.
That soul beast was almost a myth. In all his years, he'd never once seen one alive—let alone hunted one.
"Indeed, the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear suits your martial soul well. But remember, choosing a soul ring requires luck. There's no need to fixate on just one type."
"I understand, Teacher." Dugu Chen then asked curiously, "I read about the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls'… Can beast-type martial souls also absorb plant-type soul rings?"
"You read that book?" Dugu Bo gave a faint snort. "Ignore everything in it except the beast index—it's detailed. But the rest is full of flawed theory."
"Still, there's some value in that idea," he continued. "Soul masters strengthen themselves by absorbing soul rings that complement their strengths and make up for their weaknesses. There's no such thing as a perfect path—only suitable ones."
He saw Dugu Chen fall into contemplation and continued teaching.
"There are two major philosophies in today's soul master world: Extreme Flow and Balanced Flow. I'll explain those later. But remember—your martial soul is clearly made for close-range assault. You don't need a plant-type ring to enhance flexibility or control. What you need is raw power, explosive strength, and robust defense."
Dugu Chen nodded seriously.
In his mind, he reevaluated the so-called "Ten Core Competencies."
They weren't wrong. But they also weren't right.
Essentially, all cultivation in the Douluo world was evolution. Whether it was soul power, physical strength, or mental strength—everything advanced in stages. Even a basic iron sword could become a divine weapon through constant tempering.
The problem was that Grandmaster's theories weren't fully his own. And at his level—just a twenty-ninth-level Great Soul Master—he lacked the power to test his ideas. So the great clans ignored him, while grassroots soul masters clung to his words for hope.
And Tang San? Tang San succeeded because of his cheat-like advantages. Not because of Grandmaster's theory. If any other Blue Silver Grass user tried the same method—injecting poison-attribute soul rings into a life-attribute martial soul—they'd have collapsed by the second ring.
Only someone like Tang San could survive that mistake and turn it into strength.
With these thoughts in his heart, Dugu Chen continued to cultivate silently in the carriage as it sped through the wilderness, bound for the Star Dou Great Forest.
---
Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall's Holy City, Wuhun City—
A sacred place built entirely for soul masters, guarded on all six sides by elite teams of Spirit Hall's own soul masters.
In the majestic Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong sat quietly on the Pope's throne, reviewing reports.
Her expression was calm and indifferent, the years having left no mark on her beauty.
Just then, a figure with a slightly feminine face approached and reported respectfully, "Your Holiness, a child with innate full soul power awakened in Majia Village half a month ago."
The Pope's hand paused. She slowly looked up at the man before her—Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Innate full soul power?" Her tone was calm. "Not bad. Ghost Douluo, go and bring him back."
In the dim shadows of the hall, the corner flickered—then went still again.