Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Soul Core
As the carriage rolled onward, the world outside bathed in a muted twilight, Qian Renxue found her thoughts drifting again back to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Electrolux had removed the dragon souls.
Without the ancient dragon souls nourishing the spring, only the dragon bones buried deep below remained to sustain the Ice and Fire Well's power.
'I hope the remaining dragon bones can keep the well running and provide enough energy for the herbs to continue growing,' Qian Renxue mused silently. 'But even if they don't...'
Her lips curved into a bitter smile.
'I don't know how much longer I'll stay alive anyway.'
Her attention shifted inward, to the ice and fire seal now isolating the terrifying Seed of the Almighty that slumbered within her soul. Though the immediate threat had been postponed, she could feel it faintly—a silent, malevolent presence biding its time.
She was a ticking time bomb.
Based on Electrolux's estimation, the seal could last around twenty years. Twenty years of borrowed time.
And this seal was made with the residual divine souls of Ice Dragon King and Fire dragon King. Anyway the gods in the divine world of Douluo might not be much different then walking sheep in front of True Gods of Lord of the Mysteries. Let alone 'God Almighty' who is above the sequence and the pillar of existence in that terrifying universe.
With a faint sigh, Qian Renxue pushed these dark thoughts to the back of her mind. Just like the path of cultivation that she previously cannot conclude about. She needed to live for today. The future would be dealt with step by step.
The carriage continued its slow journey toward Spirit Hall.
Upon arriving at Spirit City, their group naturally split apart.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, brimming with excitement over the precious herbs stored in his spirit ring, bid them farewell and hurried to report to the Pope's Hall.
Meanwhile, Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu made their way quietly toward the Elders' Hall.
Their steps echoed in the grand corridors, a silence stretching between them until, finally, Qian Daoliu spoke:
"You promised Poison Douluo the position of an Elder," he said, his tone unreadable. "But you should know... the induction of a new Elder requires more than half the Douluos to vote in favor. Not only that—one must also have at least the strength of a Super Douluo."
Qian Renxue smirked faintly, holding up a soul guide tool that shimmered faintly with sealed energy ,the device now cradling Spirit Hall's precious new herbs and immortal treasures.
"People in this world," she said softly, "are bound by interests."
Even without saying it plainly, Qian Daoliu understood her meaning.
Treasures move hearts.
Qian Renxue smiled even deeper.
"However," she added, "this itself is only a backup plan."
Her purple eyes gleamed with sharpness.
"Why ask me about this," she continued playfully, "when you already heard most of my conversation with Dugu Bo?"
Qian Daoliu simply chuckled under his breath, stroking his chin in amusement.
Back during their rest at the Ice and Fire Well, Qian Renxue had posed a curious question to Poison Douluo Dugu Bo:
"Senior Dugu Bo," she had asked, "when you first broke through to Titled Douluo... did you form something like a core inside you?"
At first, she wasn't sure if it was her memory playing tricks on her, residual knowledge from her past life, or perhaps the countless fanfictions she had read. Somewhere, she remembered vague stories about Dugu Bo forming a strange poison core when he advanced.
Intrigued by the possibility, she asked seriously, hoping to confirm a theory.
To her surprise, Dugu Bo nodded affirmatively.
Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's mind raced.
A core... a prototype of a Soul Core!
In the future of this world—ten thousand years later, during the events of Douluo Dalu 2—the formation of a Soul Core would become a cornerstone of cultivation. Without one, it would be impossible to ascend into the realm of Super Douluo.
Not to mention that Ultimate Douluo of that future era would cultivate two Soul Cores, and even more astonishingly, Huo Yuhao, the protagonist of Douluo Dalu 2, would eventually form an unprecedented three Soul Cores.
As the villain of the original story Qian renxue does not want her ending repeat itself ,but she herself is now like a time bomb.
Qian renxue actually liked the organisation of Spirit Hall,which awakened the Martial Spirit for citizens even in remote villages. Giving everyone a chance atleast.
10,000 years In the future, the era in which evil soul masters were rampantwith no Spirit Hall to keep them in check, nobles demand hefty money to awaken the martial soul for a civilian.
Such an organisation should not disappear and mastering the method of soul core would put Spirit Hall in the forefront in soul master cultivation and might even increase Spirit Hall's chance to fight off against the protagonist.
Realizing the gravity of this discovery, Qian Renxue had immediately discussed it with Dugu Bo, encouraging him to attempt to cultivate and refine his core further into a true Soul Core.
Dugu Bo, grateful for her help and intrigued by the idea, had agreed to try.
Qian Daoliu, standing not far away at the time, had heard every word.
Even now, walking beside her in silence, he couldn't help but muse to himself:
'If the technique to cultivate a Soul Core truly succeeds...'
'Not only would it become a revolutionary advancement in Spirit Master cultivation, but the credit would be shared by Qian Renxue, who proposed the theory, and Dugu Bo, who realized it'
'Based on this merit alone, along with Dugu Bo's willingness to share his experience—there would be no issue securing his place among the Elders.'
Thinking this, Qian Daoliu's smile deepened, his hand gently massaging his chin. His granddaughter is so smart and mature for her age.