Knowing that a soul master could form at most three Soul Cores, Chu Chengzhou aimed for higher-quality cores.
Multi-element fusion cores, or cores of Space and Time attributes, would far surpass a neutral attribute-less core.
He had already planned his path.
His first Soul Core would be the Four Symbols Core—Earth, Water, Fire, Wind fused—placed in the lower dantian.
His second would be a Space Core, primarily formed from Space-attribute soul power, supplemented by his life energy, placed in the middle dantian.
His third would be a Time Core, primarily formed from Time-attribute soul power, supplemented by his spiritual power, placed in the upper dantian.
As for later? He'd decide then—if it didn't work, he'd adjust.
The first core was the easiest. He had already formed one before. The only difference was replacing the neutral soul power with the fused Four Symbols soul power.
With a thought, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind soul powers surged in his lower dantian.
With near-maximum soul power control, Chu Chengzhou began forming the first Soul Core.
He was confident. Forming the first core? Anybody with hands could do it.
As surrounding elemental energy gathered and flowed into his body, half an hour later, a Four Symbols Core—yellow, blue, crimson, and cyan—began spinning clockwise in his lower dantian.
The moment it activated, he felt the difference.
The fused Four Symbols soul power was far superior in quality to neutral soul power.
The Four Symbols Core was far stronger than his previous neutral core.
Even without considering other effects, its ability to compress and purify his internal soul power was incomparably greater.
Exhausted from forming the first core, Chu Chengzhou stripped off his clothes and stepped into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
He activated Nine Breath Qi Absorption.
His body became a black hole, greedily devouring the fire and water energies of the springs.
The Yang Spring burned hot. The Yin Spring froze cold.
Even Titled Douluo dared not touch them.
But Chu Chengzhou? He had consumed the Immortal Herbs Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot—he was immune to ice and fire.
To him, the waters were no different from ordinary spring water.
Not only could he bathe in them—he could drink them.
If anything went wrong, it wouldn't be from being burned or frozen.
It would be from drinking too much.
Yesterday, he'd thought he'd become an Evil Soul Master.
But now he realized: Nine Breath Qi Absorption's ability to convert any energy into soul power didn't require consuming soul masters or beasts.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well themselves were a treasure trove of energy.
The blazing Yang Spring and the freezing Yin Spring brimmed with vast power.
Still, even with this source, he'd still need to absorb soul rings later.
He planned to hunt ocean predators to collect high-year soul bones.
Their soul rings? Not to be wasted.
Thanks to Nine Breath Qi Absorption's efficiency, his soul power was fully restored in minutes.
Still in the springs, he began forming the second Soul Core.
His life energy and Space-attribute soul power surged.
In his middle dantian, a liquid mixture of red and silver—interwoven with life energy—formed.
Soon, a swirling vortex spun counterclockwise, glowing with crimson light.
The moment it formed, a tearing sensation ripped through his body.
The vortex wavered—only his immense spiritual power and precise control kept it from collapsing.
The cause? Interference from the Four Symbols Core in his lower dantian.
The Four Symbols Core rotated clockwise.
The new Space Core rotated counterclockwise.
Two opposing rotations within the same body created shear forces.
But Chu Chengzhou didn't panic.
His spiritual power surged, severing the connection between lower and middle dantian.
The tearing sensation vanished instantly.
Soon, as more Space soul power and life energy flowed in, the crimson-tinged silver vortex solidified into a dense, solid core—its surface etched with dense crimson patterns.
The moment the solid core formed, ambient elemental energy from around the springs surged toward him.
Above the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a cloud of pure energy gathered.
The core in his middle dantian acted like a black hole—draining both external elemental energy and the Space soul power and life energy he had converted.
Unfazed, Chu Chengzhou kept his focus.
He continued absorbing the spring's energy with Nine Breath Qi Absorption.
At the same time, golden light flared from his left leg.
The hundred-thousand-year Golden Hawksbill Turtle left leg bone's soul skill: Life Spring.
It rapidly restored his vitality.
What was a Hawksbill? A sea turtle.
Even in his past life, with no supernatural powers, people said: "A thousand-year tortoises, and ten-thousand-year turtles."
Turtles symbolized powerful vitality and life.
When he'd replaced his original torso soul bone with the Diamond Sea Clam's, he'd lamented losing his healing ability.
Now, the Golden Hawksbill Turtle leg bone had restored it—and with a higher-year soul bone, the effect was even stronger.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)