T/N: I'm moving next monday so for next week there'll be no updates, since I'll be busy. I'll try to make up for it the week after. Sorry.
High above the northeastern seas of the continent, a majestic silver dragon soared. Its vast wings beat as it sped toward the northeast.
On the broad back of the silver dragon stood five figures. They were Chu Chengzhou and his companions.
"Kid, with so many soul power vortices on you, how many soul cores have you condensed?"
Chen Xin could not help asking.
In Chen Xin's perception, Chu Chengzhou's body was covered with many soul power vortices.
Chen Xin knew these soul power vortices well. He had one at his abdomen. It appeared after he condensed his first soul core in his lower dantian.
One soul core, one soul power vortex. With so many vortices on Chu Chengzhou, how many soul cores had he condensed?
"Uh, Grandpa Sword, you didn't think each soul power vortex represents one soul core, did you?"
Chu Chengzhou said in surprise.
At the side, Gu Rong raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the case?"
"I've only condensed three soul cores. The reason I have so many soul power vortices on me is because of this."
Chu Chengzhou briefly explained the differences and traits of multiple soul cores with same-phase resonance versus multiple soul cores with yin-yang complementarity.
"Then which method should I use when I condense soul cores in the future?"
After thinking it over, Chen Xin asked.
Yin-yang complementary multiple soul cores work better, but with the same number of cores, they are much harder to condense than same-phase resonance.
Although Chu Chengzhou was right there as a case of yin-yang complementary triple soul cores, Chen Xin knew himself. He could not compare to this freak and did not immediately set the hardest goal of yin-yang complementary triple soul cores.
Chu Chengzhou shook his head and said, "Grandpa Sword, you are now a rank 97 Titled Douluo. If you can break through on your own to rank 98 later, then when your soul power reaches the peak of rank 98, condense your second soul core. In most cases you can ride the momentum to break through to rank 99 Limit Douluo."
In the original story, Chen Xin could break through to rank 97 Titled Douluo on his own. Now with the help of a first soul core, the chance of him reaching rank 98 Titled Douluo later was still high.
As for the lower-difficulty same-phase resonance dual soul cores, that should pose no problem.
But same-phase resonance triple soul cores, yin-yang complementary dual soul cores, or even yin-yang complementary triple soul cores?
In Chu Chengzhou's view, relying on himself alone, Chen Xin most likely had no shot.
Condensing soul cores is not directly tied to a soul master's level. Compared to soul power rank, the stronger your physique, spiritual power, and soul power control, the lower the difficulty of condensing soul cores. In these three areas Chen Xin had no obvious advantage, in fact no advantage at all.
After all, Chen Xin did not have the ability to fight above his rank. If not for the boost from his first soul core, he would be just average among soul masters of the same rank. Soul power was his strongest suit.
As a result, compared to Chu Chengzhou, the difficulty for Chen Xin to condense multiple soul cores was hellish. Being able to condense same-phase resonance dual soul cores would already be good.
Hearing this, Chen Xin was pleased at first, then his face darkened.
He was happy because he had hope of reaching rank 99 Limit Douluo in the future. He was unhappy because Chu Chengzhou looked down on him this much.
Putting aside the hardest yin-yang complementary triple soul cores, this youngster did not even think he could condense same-phase resonance triple soul cores?
Uh, maybe he really could not?
"Ahem, Grandpa Sword, don't take it to heart. When it comes to condensing soul cores, it doesn't care whether your strength is high or low. Often the stronger you are, the harder it is to condense multiple soul cores.
I managed yin-yang complementary triple soul cores because I benefited from having a low soul power rank. If my rank were the same as yours right now, yin-yang complementary triple soul cores would definitely be out of the question."
Seeing Chen Xin's face darken, Chu Chengzhou hurried to explain.
I have a cheat. How can you compare yourself to me?
Chu Chengzhou had a clear grasp of his own role. Yes, he was cheating. Without his cheat, he was a waste with innate soul power rounded to level one and a martial soul that had mutated for the worse.
But so what if he was trash without a cheat? If you have the ability, awaken a cheat yourself.
Take Tang San as an example. Compared with ordinary soul masters, aren't twin martial souls and innate full soul power also cheats? Wasn't the Tang Sect inheritance from his past life also a cheat?
Or take Qian Renxue. Innate level 20 soul power, the Seraphim martial soul inheritance, the designated successor to the Angel Godhood. All of these are cheats.
Everyone has cheats. Some are big. Some are small.
Chu Chengzhou: My cheat is big. I'm proud of it.
Of course, being trash was something he kept to himself. In others' eyes, Chu Chengzhou was the most formidable genius in today's continental soul master world.
"Heh, bastard, you think you can be like this kid? If you can manage two soul cores in the future, you should count yourself lucky."
Before Chu Chengzhou finished speaking and before Chen Xin could respond, Gu Rong ridiculed him.
The two were old buddies, but also old rivals. Gu Rong would not miss any chance to roast Chen Xin.
"Hmph. How could a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?"
Chen Xin glanced at Gu Rong with disdain.
"With the same cultivation age, an Orange-plumed Swan Goose can't beat a Blazing Sparrow."
Gu Rong shot back without mercy.
Yes, the Orange-plumed Swan Goose and the Blazing Sparrow were common types of soul beasts. The former had a graceful form but mediocre strength. The latter was a high-level assault-type soul beast. At the same age, the Blazing Sparrow could crush the Orange-plumed Swan Goose.
"Old bag of bones, are you itching for a beating?"
Chen Xin stared at Gu Rong without expression.
The higher the soul power rank, the greater the gap between each rank. The two were now rank 97 and rank 96 Titled Douluo. Compared with when they were rank 96 and rank 95, the gap between their strengths had widened further.
Of course, Gu Rong was a defense-type Titled Douluo, and his Bone Dragon martial soul possessed the spatial attribute. He was a mobile tank. Gu Rong could not beat Chen Xin, but Chen Xin could not do anything to Gu Rong either.
"What, you want to give me a gua sha? If you've got the guts, go solo a hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast.
Let's make a bet today. If you can solo and take down a hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast, I, Gu Rong, will kneel and call you big brother. If you can't take it, you kneel and call me big brother. Do you dare?"
Gu Rong slapped his chest and shouted.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast is at least on par with a rank 95 Titled Douluo. Most reach rank 96 standards. A few can match rank 97 Titled Douluo.
With Chen Xin's rank 97 Titled Douluo strength, even solo he could take down most hundred-thousand-year soul beasts.
But that only applied to land soul beasts. Sea soul beasts had the advantage of the ocean. At a hundred thousand years, unless they were not good at fighting, their strength was at least comparable to an ordinary rank 97 land Titled Douluo.
And sea soul beasts could run very easily. Once they dove into the sea, Titled Douluo without water-attributed beast martial souls would not dare pursue.
Chen Xin might be able to beat a hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast, but the chance of actually taking it down was less than ten percent.
Chu Chengzhou and the other two: "..."
Kneel and call him big brother? Might as well recognize him as your dad.
"Hmph."
With a cold snort, Chen Xin did not answer.
The stakes were too high. Without solid confidence, Chen Xin would not gamble. If he lost, it would be the biggest black mark on Chen Xin's sword path in this life.
Seeing Chen Xin "back down," Gu Rong's mood instantly lifted, as if he had downed an ice-cold soda on a sweltering day. But he did not push further. After all, if he really fought Chen Xin one-on-one, he would not come out well.
T/N: For 40 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle