C1548 The Three Great Strengths of the Core
In the grand hall, after Reid's departure, Yu Yuan watched Tianqi, poised to stand, and smiled. "Please excuse my candor, but the structure of your Solar Spirit is fundamentally different from mine. As a result, the sum of vital energy within you simply doesn't match up to mine."
"Of course, when it comes to spiritual energy and Soul Power, I must admit I'm not yet in your league."
"You are the God-King, after all."
Yu Yuan shrugged nonchalantly, showing no fear of Tianqi's imposing stance.
Gui Xu attempted to defuse the tension, "Tianqi, what's got you so riled up?"
Caught off guard by Yu Yuan's thorough explanation, Tianqi's anger gave way to surprise.
"Your Solar Spirit doesn't dwell in the Profound Gate's little world, where vitality converges. Rather, it resides in the Golden Sanctum of the lower elixir field, aiding in the faster accumulation of spiritual energy," Yu Yuan elaborated with admiration.
He had scrutinized Tianqi upon entering and had quickly discerned the state of his body.
Whether it was Tianqi or Zhongli Dapan, despite their abundant vitality, most of their vital energy was concentrated in the little world of the Profound Gate, with some dispersed throughout their bones and flesh.
Unlike them, Yu Yuan had combined vital energy with the soul during the creation of his Solar Spirit.
Lacking a unique Solar Spirit refined from blood and soul, Tianqi and Zhongli Dapan's scattered vital energy couldn't compare to his.
The Tianqi before him, though possessing the most formidable vital energy among all humans Yu Yuan knew, was still at a disadvantage due to this fundamental difference.
Yet, when it comes to the magnitude of spiritual energy, Yu Yuan couldn't hold a candle to Tianqi.
Tianqi is, after all, a true God-King.
"In the Everlands, whether among the original inhabitants or new generations like Tianqi, the choice to not forge a Solar Spirit from blood and soul is not just due to a lack of arcane techniques or advantages. There's another, more significant reason," Gui Xu explained with a hint of resignation from within the stone pillar.
Yu Yuan looked on in surprise. "For what reason?"
"You're aware that the three most fundamental forces in the Everlands are spiritual energy, vitality, and Soul Power," Gui Xu explained.
"The cultivators of the human race tend to focus on accumulating spiritual energy and Soul Power, avoiding the expenditure of time and energy on vitality. In contrast, evilkind, like us, do the exact opposite, infinitely bolstering their flesh and blood strength."
As Gui Xu spoke, he glanced toward the Shadow's Keep before continuing, "The bodies of evilkind contain almost no spiritual energy. Their understanding and enhancement of the soul pale in comparison to ours. However, when it comes to the robustness of their physical form, their advantage is undeniable and beyond the human race's capacity to contest."
"The spiritual energy, vitality, and Soul Power are the three core forces pervading all beings in the Everlands, and Han Miaoyuan has merged them with spiritual energy. Any human with spiritual energy within them can be influenced by Han Miaoyuan to some extent."
"Yet, when it comes to the understanding of vital energy, the Dark Phoenix at the Shadow's Keep has already reached the pinnacle."
"The more abundant the vital energy within the Everlands, the stronger the Dark Phoenix becomes."
"In this respect, we humans stand no chance against her. If cultivators like those from the Forgeroses and individuals such as Tianqi, who have condensed their Solar Spirit, opt to merge with blood and soul, they are highly likely to be constrained by her."
"She might even take pleasure in seeing Forgeroses cultivators completely alter their spells, achieving the Solar Spirit through blood and soul, for it would only amplify her power."
"Of course, there are exceptions. Throughout history, anyone with the Titan Spinosaurus bloodline has been able to transcend these limitations."
"Then there's the Colddeath. Its followers prioritize vital energy, yet they manage to elude her grasp, preventing her from harvesting the power she covets from them."
"The reason is clear to you as well. The origins of the Colddeath have always been extraterrestrial, and their Bloodforging technique enables them to perpetually refine the blood of various races."
"Once the formidable followers of the Colddeath begin this process of refining blood from different races, they are, in the strictest sense, no longer purely human."
"Just like your Solar Spirit," Gui Xu elaborated with precision.
"The Dark Phoenix can't gain any benefits from your vital energy, nor from the cultivators of Colddeath."
"In the future, she won't be able to limit you in this regard."
Gui Xu explained in detail.
"For someone like Tianqi, or Zhongli Dapan, their Solar Spirit is a condensed form of spiritual energy and the heaven soul. Since there's no fundamental transformation, they can minimize the Dark Phoenix's influence on the vital energy of Everlands' beings. Even if Tianqi were to confront the Dark Phoenix one day, he wouldn't be completely at her mercy."
"If you reflect on it, you'll realize that the sects of the Land of Quiescence, like Ruby Hand, Skyblight Cult, Taintborn, and the former Terror Claws, all place great emphasis on refining their bodies."
"The Devil Palace, in particular."
"Sects with rich vital energy within are favored by the Dark Phoenix; she's drawn to them because she can benefit from them to some extent. And the cultivators from these sects, regardless of their level, will find themselves under her influence."
"..."
Gui Xu continued to speak with patience, his gaze fixed on Yu Yuan, as if waiting for an epiphany to strike Yu Yuan in an instant.
He hoped that the memories buried deep in Yu Yuan's mind would surface on their own, sparing him further explanation.
Yet Yu Yuan remained fully engaged, without any sign of sudden realization. So, Gui Xu had no choice but to carry on, albeit reluctantly.
"The Everlands, spiritual energy, vital energy, soul – these are the core sources of power for all beings. Han Miaoyuan has delved into spiritual energy, while the Dark Phoenix has managed to encompass the Way of Heaven within vital energy," Yu Yuan murmured, feeling a twinge of pain at his brow. "But what about the soul? Has anyone truly grasped its essence?"
The cultivators of humanity, including all intelligent life, possess souls.
Evilkind may forgo spiritual energy, but they must also progressively fortify their demon souls.
Their demon souls may lack an array of intricate spells, yet the power they hold is formidable.
For humanity's elite, the evolution of the earthly soul, heaven soul, and dominant soul is paramount. Each milestone in a human cultivator's journey is intrinsically linked to the elevation of the soul.
Moreover, as one's cultivation progressed, the demands on the soul only increased.
If someone resonated with the souls of the Everlands and fully grasped the essence of Mind Magic, wouldn't they surpass Han Miaoyuan and even the Dark Phoenix?
The beings of the Everlands might lack spiritual energy or vital energy, but they could never be without a soul.
Without a soul, they would be nothing more than inanimate objects.
"But who could it be from the Bloodbrawlers?"
He gazed at Gui Xu's phantom within the stone pillar and couldn't help but inquire, sensing that anyone who had unlocked the secrets of Mind Magic would be of no small significance.
Whether they were human cultivators or archdemons, all would be impacted and somewhat subdued.
His thoughts turned to Youyu...
"Bloodbrawlers?" Tianqi scoffed with disdain, "They don't possess such capabilities! The Root of the Lunar Meridian underground, tasked with the cycle of reincarnation, is not the source of the Everlands' souls. It's merely a thief, opportunistically seizing fragments of soul essence."
At that moment, Gui Xu's phantom within the stone pillar let out a soft chuckle.
It was as if he found Yu Yuan's question laughably naive.
Yu Yuan felt a surge of irritation at the sound of his laughter and involuntarily snorted in response.
Gui Xu's laughter ceased abruptly.
Clearing his throat, Gui Xu began to clarify in an odd tone, "It was our Boulderdawn Sect that first delved into the arcane mysteries of the Everlands' souls. More precisely, it was..."
His gaze met Yu Yuan's from within the stone pillar.
Yu Yuan's frame jolted as if struck by a flash of lightning, and he instantly realized that it was he, in his first life, who had penetrated the depths of soul mysticism millennia ago.
In a daze, he seemed to see once more the deep sea shrouded in layers of fog.
The deep sea, with its pure Soul Power, was immense and enigmatic, boundless and elusive...
It was he who, in the ancient past, first reached out to touch that deep sea and from it, deciphered the profound mysteries of the soul.
Afterward, he joined forces with Taishi to establish the Boulderdawn Sect, and together with the Bloodbrawlers and the Terra Fiend, they enlisted the Dark Phoenix to dethrone the Nagas.
"Let's get down to business."
Gui Xu refrained from dwelling on the topic, aware that Yu Yuan likely grasped the underlying reasons.
"We've accepted the terms proposed by Youyu. Furthermore, we've pledged our support to Xuanli in his quest for the divine throne."
As Yu Yuan was coming to his senses, Gui Xu shifted the conversation to other matters.
"You'll need to reach out to Youyu. We're hoping he will align with us." Gui Xu gently urged Yu Yuan to focus on the present, adding, "And you must convey to Ann Wen of the Colddeath that Xuanli's past actions were under Han Miaoyuan's orders, not of his own volition."
"Youyu, Xuanli, Ann Wen..."
Yu Yuan gave a slight nod.
He understood that Lin Daoke's sword strike had jolted the God-Kings, Tianqi and Gui Xu.
They recognized that even with the combined strength of Boulderdawn, Zu Ann, and Untamed, challenging the five paramount powers of the Everlands would be formidable.
The prospect of Youyu, the newly ascended god Yu Zhu, and Xuanli joining forces with Boulderdawn was reassuring.
Gui Xu was well aware of the special bond between Youyu and Yu Yuan, hence the request for Yu Yuan's intervention.
Additionally, Yu Yuan had old grievances with Xuanli, who had once severely wounded Ann Ziqing in the extraterrestrial realm and had even plotted against Ann Wen, aiming to overthrow the Colddeath.
It was also his role to persuade all parties involved...
"You two must have witnessed my encounter with Xuanli at the Forgotten Ruins, right?" Yu Yuan questioned with a furrowed brow.
Tianqi remained seated, silently continuing his meal with knife and fork in hand.
"We did," Gui Xu confirmed with a smile.
"He asked me to warn Ann Wen to be wary of the Kylin from Shadow's Keep," Yu Yuan recounted, pausing as he realized Xuanli's shrewdness.
Was this an attempt to proactively mend his ties with the Colddeath, laying the groundwork for his future ascension?
"For the individual from Shadow's Keep, the Colddeath likely holds no value anymore," Gui Xu remarked with a soft sigh, nodding. "Well, I've notified the Chamber of Commerce to monitor the whereabouts of Ann Wen and his daughter in the extraterrestrial. Should they locate them, they are to alert the Kylin Association immediately."
During their conversation, another fragment of Gui Xu's soul had already resolved the issue.
