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Xiao Zhan had a feeling that Su Wen had a specific task for him this time. However, he never imagined it would be a project of this magnitude.
Handing the project of condensing soul bones directly to me? If I could pioneer an entire cultivation system on my own, what would I need you, the Grandmaster, for?
"Uncle Zhan, it's not as outrageous as it sounds. I'm not asking you to research the method of condensing soul bones from scratch," Su Wen explained. "Remember what I said? According to the information I gathered from the Divine Trials, if a soul beast possesses a soul core, that core will directly absorb and devour the beast's origin upon death to condense a soul bone."
Xiao Zhan nodded. He had been momentarily shaken by the prospect of a new cultivation system, and the weight of the project had felt immense. Now, with Su Wen's clarification, he realized the specific area where his help was needed.
"I plan to approach the soul bone condensation method through the study of soul cores. For now, it's divided into two parts: the condensation of the soul core itself, and the research into how the soul core facilitates soul bone formation."
"Since you're already researching soul cores, I want to entrust the first part to you—study the mysteries of the soul core as deeply as possible, while perfecting and popularizing the cultivation methods for condensing them. This will lay the groundwork for the future."
"As for how the soul core promotes the condensation of a soul bone, leave that step to me."
At this point, Su Wen let out a sigh.
"It's a pity. I killed a 100,000-year soul beast not long ago, but I didn't have this idea then. I didn't get to study the internal changes at the exact moment of its death."
Xiao Zhan: ???
"Wait! Xiao Wen, did you just say you killed a 100,000-year soul beast?"
"That's right."
Xiao Zhan was beyond shocked. Su Wen, sensing the cause of the shock, moved to clarify.
I didn't break through!
"I haven't passed Rank 70 yet. It was Brother Zhan Tian's trial mission; I just helped him finish it. No one absorbed the 100,000-year soul ring, but the soul bone is in my hands."
A 100,000-year soul bone. In the soul master world, the allure of such a prize was unparalleled. Even though Su Wen said no one had taken the ring, the admission of having the bone made even Xiao Zhan swallow hard.
"Ahem, Xiao Wen... have you absorbed that bone yet?"
Xiao Zhan knew Su Wen possessed a large number of soul bones that he refused to absorb, all because he was seeking to fuse six bones into a "Soul Bone Armor." Recalling Su Wen's mention of a new system, Xiao Zhan secretly hoped the bone was still available.
"I haven't absorbed it yet," Su Wen shook his head. He looked at Xiao Zhan and asked, "Are you interested, Uncle Zhan?"
"Hehe, it's a 100,000-year soul bone. Who wouldn't be?"
"Then it's a pity. What I obtained was a torso bone, and you already have the Flame Sovereign Torso Bone," Su Wen said, spreading his hands and shrugging helplessly.
He retrieved the Bloodthirsty Mad Shark Torso Bone from his storage tool to let Xiao Zhan have a look.
"Sss—"
Seeing a 100,000-year bone for the first time, Xiao Zhan was visibly moved. He took the bone, feeling its energy fluctuations. "As expected of a 100,000-year bone. Compared to my Flame Sovereign bone, the difference is stark."
He could feel it; this bone was significantly stronger, and its energy signature was unique, giving off a distinct sense of power. And his own Flame Sovereign bone was already an 80,000-year grade.
"Actually, typical 100,000-year bones don't fluctuate quite like this. The original owner of this bone, the Bloodthirsty Mad Shark, was an anomaly. It had already survived a Great Calamity and stepped onto the path of a Great Beast."
Xiao Zhan was a scholar himself and held a high position in the Academy; he knew well what the "Path of a Great Beast" implied. It was an entirely different realm. While 100,000 years was the limit for ordinary beasts, those who broke through entered the path of Great Beasts, with a ceiling as high as a million years.
"You actually managed to hunt a 100,000-year beast that had started the Great Beast path?"
That meant Su Wen and his companion had essentially hunted down the equivalent of a Rank 97 Super Douluo—a level that represented the absolute peak of the continent.
"We had to use a bit of trickery to take it down," Su Wen said, choosing not to elaborate further. "Uncle Zhan, I'll leave the soul core research to you."
Xiao Zhan nodded seriously. "Rest assured. I'm already deep into soul core research. Perfecting the popularization of the condensation method is something I can handle."
He returned the shark bone to Su Wen. "Next time you go hunting a 100,000-year beast, if you have the time, remember to call me."
He still felt a bit of regret. If Su Wen intended to study the process of condensing soul bones, he would surely hunt more high-level beasts. Since Su Wen wasn't absorbing this torso bone, it was likely he wouldn't absorb future ones either. Xiao Zhan began to set his sights on those future 100,000-year prizes.
As for soul masters condensing their own bones? Even if that system was successfully developed, it wouldn't replace the path of absorbing external bones. Self-condensation was simply a way to solve the scarcity of soul bones for all soul masters, not a restriction to only one path.
"Alright," Su Wen agreed. "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be going. Keep up the good work, Uncle Zhan."
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Brother Xiao Wen, I've been practicing that cultivation technique exactly like you told me!" Ning Rongrong said, giving him a look that clearly asked for praise.
Su Wen smiled and patted her head. "Alright, I know you've been working hard. Once I'm done with my current tasks, I'll take you to obtain that Star God Clam soul ring."
Su Wen was notably using the word "obtain" rather than "hunt."
While he wasn't particularly worried about the Sea Maiden Douluo's reaction, it was better to show some respect. After all, she was a Guardian Douluo of the Sea God, and the Sea Princess clan—to which the Star God Clam belonged—were also devout believers of the Sea God.
"Brother Xiao Wen, how long are you staying this time?"
"I still have a lot to do," Su Wen said with a sigh.
He wished he could stay in one place to cultivate and research his theories, but reality wouldn't allow it. By now, the theories and techniques he had developed had laid a solid foundation; reaching Rank 99 or even breaking the Rank 100 barrier was no longer a question of "if," but "when."
However, breaking Rank 100 required careful planning and the harvesting of faith. That wasn't something he could achieve by staying home. The Sea God had spent a thousand years conquering the ocean. Su Wen was taking a shortcut by using the Scholar's Realm to spread faith and reforming the soul master world to harvest it, increasing efficiency by several magnitudes.
But faith alone wasn't enough. To become a god, one first needed sufficient faith, and second, sufficient ambition.
A Third-Class God position?
Not even a dog would want that!
(End of Chapter)