The next day.
Just as Xiao Lin and Tang San were still busy crafting the spirit-gathering soul tool, a loud and cheerful laugh suddenly rang out, startling the two who were on the verge of sleep.
"Hum-hahaha!"
Neither Xiao Lin nor Tang San had slept the entire night — they'd been working nonstop to build the acceleration module.
They had just felt a little drowsy and were planning to finish the final step before going to bed, but that laugh completely drove away their sleepiness.
When they stepped out of the hut, Xiao Lin noticed that Xiao Wu and Tang Ni had also been awakened by the laughter.
That idiot Dugu Bo!He didn't even need to guess — it could only be him.
"Xiao Lin! My soul core has succeeded!"
Seeing Xiao Lin and the others awake, Dugu Bo burst out laughing even louder as he walked toward them.
The next second, his soul power erupted in full force.
That terrifying pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo rolled out like a storm. Even though he wasn't aiming it at them, Xiao Lin and the rest still felt the immense weight pressing down on their bodies.
Only Xiao Lin managed to remain calm, his face unreadable.
"Still weaker than Uncle Hao… but…"He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Old man, did you get stronger again?"
Xiao Lin showed not the slightest respect for Dugu Bo's noisy antics so early in the morning and went straight to the point.
He was genuinely curious. Had Dugu Bo really managed to condense his soul core successfully?And what was his new level now?
Hearing Xiao Lin's words, Dugu Bo didn't take offense. Instead, he said proudly,
"Xiao Lin, using your cultivation method, I've successfully formed my soul core! The toxins in my body no longer affect me, and my soul power has reached Level 93!"
Dugu Bo grinned widely, then withdrew his aura.
He raised one hand, claw-like, and gathered his soul power into his palm. The energy was no longer that usual greenish hue — instead, it had become colorless.
Gradually, the colorless energy condensed into a small, fast-spinning sphere about the size of a date.
"This is about what it looks like."
He held up the soul power sphere as a representation of his internal soul core. Dugu Bo's expression was relaxed, almost radiant, his mood soaring.
"Xiao Lin, my young friend, do you know how happy I am right now?"
He muttered to himself, almost giddy:"I've broken past the shackles of Level 92. With the soul core complete, I feel no obstacles in further cultivation. Perhaps… in this lifetime, I can even attempt to reach Super Douluo!"
At the mention of that title, Dugu Bo's smile faded slightly, his expression turning cold.
Once he became a Super Douluo… he would make that damned Chrysanthemum pay dearly.
"Super Douluo? That's all you're aiming for?"
Xiao Lin couldn't help but chuckle. Dugu Bo's ambition really wasn't that high.
"Hmph, I can't compare with you monsters,"Dugu Bo grumbled, shaking his head before plopping down onto the nearby field of Blue Silver Grass.
These Blue Silver Grasses had been carefully cultivated by Tang San from generations of improved seeds.
By absorbing the twin-polar energies of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well and acting as natural filters, they helped Tang San keep up with Xiao Lin and the others' pace of progress.
"Don't underestimate me. I may only be Level 93 now, but I'm confident my strength can rival a Level 94 Titled Douluo!"
Dugu Bo said this with full confidence.
Before, his poison—though deadly—wasn't enough to threaten a prepared Titled Douluo. His attack power had always been considered low, even if his control was top-tier.
That was why, despite being famed as the strongest control-type Titled Douluo, few truly respected his combat strength.
But now, things were different.
With his poison refined and enhanced through the soul core, he had gained a true killing move that could threaten even Titled Douluo-level opponents.
"Congratulations, old poison."
Tang San smiled and offered his sincere blessings.
As both friend and half-disciple of Dugu Bo, Tang San had always shared a good relationship with him.
And after seeing the appearance of Dugu Bo's soul core, Tang San felt even more confident about the next stage of the spirit-gathering soul tool's design.
"It's I who should thank all of you,"Dugu Bo said with a laugh. "Now that my strength has soared, how about I take you all out for a bit?"
His words made everyone pause.
"Old poison, what's this about?"Tang San looked puzzled. Dugu Bo had been the one who insisted that Tian Dou City was too dangerous and that they should stay hidden here.
"I'm confident now that I can protect you even in Tian Dou City. There's no reason for you to stay cooped up here anymore."
Dugu Bo's tone carried unshakable confidence. More importantly, he had already met Tang Hao.
With Tang Hao present — and his own strength greatly enhanced — what danger could possibly remain?
Besides, Tian Dou City was no longer as turbulent as before.
Still, Xiao Lin shook his head.
"No matter how safe it looks, it's best to stay cautious. I'll continue cultivating here."
He had no particular desire to go out. After all, his training speed here at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well was unmatched.
"Makes sense," Dugu Bo nodded. "You're a special case, Xiao Lin — it's better for you to stay. But as for Tang San and the others, they no longer have to worry."
He turned toward them. "So, are you going?"
"Sure."
"Of course. But Lin-ge and I still need to get our fifth spirit rings first."
…
Hearing their answers, Dugu Bo nodded. "No problem. With me here, you'll be perfectly safe. Besides, I was planning to visit Yan Yan — she's about to get her new spirit ring too."
Then, almost as an afterthought, he asked,"By the way, Xiao Lin, my soul core doesn't have any issues, right?"
"Yes, it does," Xiao Lin replied bluntly, shaking his head with a serious look.
"Your soul core is too big and not condensed enough."
He had originally intended to take notes and record data about Dugu Bo's soul core formation, but later decided against it.
"A proper soul core should be very small — located in a Spirit Master's dantian. The dantian may hold great amounts of soul power, but it doesn't have physical dimensions. It's not meant to contain something that large."
Xiao Lin wasn't entirely certain of the exact size a soul core should be, but he was sure it was nowhere near the size of a date, as Dugu Bo had demonstrated.
At his words, Tang San fell into thought.
If anyone understood the dantian's structure, it was him.
"But I can't compress it any further,"Dugu Bo said with a confused frown. "I've tried, but this is the limit. Still, I can cultivate normally — maybe even break through to Super Douluo…"
"So you mean," Xiao Lin interjected, "the density of the soul core determines one's soul power ceiling?"
"Pretty much," Dugu Bo murmured, realization dawning.
Xiao Lin nodded, his tone straightforward:
"There's no helping it. Your ninth spirit ring isn't a hundred-thousand-year one — your potential has limits."
"A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast undergoes a heavenly tribulation once every thousand years. If it survives, it can continue to cultivate for another hundred thousand years. That tribulation, though dangerous, grants the beast a fleeting glimpse of heavenly law — a chance to defy fate."
"That's why a true hundred-thousand-year spirit ring is so precious. The right one can absolutely help you reach Super Douluo — even without a soul core."
"The reason you can't compress yours isn't a lack of mental power or control. It's because you simply don't have enough soul power left in your body to do it."
Dugu Bo's eyes widened in sudden understanding.
He had thought he'd already reached his limit and stopped caring about further growth.
But now that he saw a path forward… how could he possibly be content?
"So the only way I can get stronger now is by absorbing spirit bones?"
"Not necessarily."
Xiao Lin shook his head, his tone calm.
(End of Chapter)