vncnus Chapter 68, Part 2: Soul and Sanctity
Chapter 68, Part 2: Soul and Sanctity
Chapter 68 The Second Soul and the Sacred Part
Within this small dimension, a projection of the sun from the Douluo Continent main world hung high in the sky, its warm golden light cascading down like flowing water, dispelling the inherent coldness and gloom of the small world.
"Phew~"
Lu Xingchen sat cross-legged on the ground, his breathing long and steady. His chest rose and fell gently with each breath, and his soul power flowed quietly around him like a stream, outlining a faint glow on his body, allowing him to completely sink into a deep meditative state.
"Om one"
Just then, a sudden purple halo appeared on Lu Xingchen's right arm without warning.
The halo was dark and eerie, as if it contained endless darkness and evil, forming a stark contrast with the warm sunlight around it.
As the halo flickered, a powerful surge of divine energy suddenly erupted.
Immediately afterwards, a piece of bone the size of a palm, radiating an eerie purple light, shot out directly from his right arm, landing heavily on the ground with a "thud," stirring up fine dust.
Purple light flowed erratically over the bone, and fine lines could be faintly seen. It was the right arm bone, a remnant of the Rakshasa god, which had been taken from Bibi Dong's coffin.
Lu Xingchen slowly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise flashing in his deep eyes, which then turned into a faint contemplation.
He looked down at the Rakshasa's right arm bone on the ground, his brows furrowing slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping his knee.
"Did it fail?"
A soft whisper echoed in the air, carrying a hint of surprise, yet also a sense of perfectly natural composure. He raised his hand to touch his right arm, where there was no wound, as if the moment the bone popped out was merely an illusion.
But the lingering, faint, and chilling divine power served as a stark reminder that his attempt to absorb the remains of the Rakshasa God had ultimately ended in failure.
Lu Xingchen's thoughts raced: "Because of the Chaos Sea, I also possess the power of the Hanged Man pathway."
The "Hanged Man" pathway possesses the power of "shadow, darkness, and corruption." Logically, I should meet the absorption conditions for the remains of the Rakshasa God, but my body is actually rejecting the soul bone—"
This wasn't his first attempt to absorb a soul bone. He had tried it before when he obtained Hu Liena's left and right leg bones in the secret realm, with the same result as now.
As soon as the soul bone entered the body, it was spontaneously rejected by the body and could not be fully integrated.
What's even more peculiar is that during the rejection process, his body subconsciously absorbs some of the energy contained in the soul bone, but completely resists the fusion properties of the soul bone itself, as if the two are extremes that are incompatible.
Upon realizing this, Lu Xingchen immediately stopped absorbing Hu Liena's soul bone.
Those are all extremely high-quality, ten-thousand-year-old soul bones. It would be such a pity if they were to be completely drained of energy by the body due to forced fusion, turning into worthless waste bones.
Now, this divine soul bone containing the power of the Rakshasa God is also being rejected, forcing him to confront the unique problems of his own existence.
"The root of the problem lies not in the soul bone, but in myself."
Lu Xingchen came to a clear conclusion: "Could it be the exclusivity of mythical creatures at play?"
Once the thought arises, it spreads rapidly like a vine.
After advancing to the fourth rank, his life level underwent a fundamental transformation. In a sense, he was no longer a pure human, but a semi-high-dimensional being between mortals and gods.
Their physical structure and energy circulation are vastly different from those of ordinary Soul Masters.
"The absorption of a soul bone is essentially the fusion and symbiosis between the soul bone and one's own skeleton, which is equivalent to upgrading and transforming the original skeleton," Lu Xingchen analyzed in a deep voice.
"My bones, having been tempered by the power of sequence, already possess unique stability and exclusivity, and naturally, they will instinctively reject the integration of foreign bones. Even if this bone contains divine power, it cannot break through this barrier originating from the level of life."
After figuring this out, Lu Xingchen sighed softly.
Soul bones in Douluo Continent have always been the most coveted treasures for soul masters. They can not only greatly enhance soul power, but also come with powerful soul skills, including some that are incredibly powerful.
The inability to absorb soul bones means he will miss this shortcut to rapidly increase his strength.
But this sense of loss lasted only a moment before he quietly suppressed it.
"Enough. There are countless paths in the world; one need not be fixated on the path of the soul and bones."
With a broad mind, he quickly adjusted his attitude. "Although I cannot fuse with the soul bone, absorbing the energy contained within it is not difficult for me."
As soon as he finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in Lu Xingchen's eyes.
He looked at the Rakshasa God's right arm bone. Although the fusion had failed, he had already absorbed a portion of the Rakshasa God's power during the brief contact just now.
This power became the final straw that broke the camel's back, allowing his long-dormant second soul to finally be born!
Lu Xingchen slowly raised his left hand, and with a thought, a surge of pure soul power flowed from his palm. Immediately afterward, a magnificent gem the size of a fist, as clear as glass, appeared out of thin air and hovered above his palm.
Inside the gemstone, it seemed as if a nebula was flowing, sometimes flashing with holy white light, and sometimes with a strange dark red. Two completely different auras intertwined and entwined within, yet maintained a wonderful balance.
At the same time, two spirit rings of different colors suddenly rose from beneath his feet and slowly rotated around his body.
The first spirit ring is a bright yellow, like a ripe ear of wheat, radiating a gentle and pure spirit power fluctuation, which is a spirit ring representing a hundred-year lifespan.
The second soul ring, however, was a dazzling red! The red was rich and deep, like congealed blood or a burning flame, reflecting an eerie luster in the sunlight.
In the common knowledge of Douluo Continent, a red spirit ring represents a lifespan of 100,000 years and is a treasure coveted by countless spirit masters. The power and spirit skills it contains often possess earth-shattering might.
"A different colored spirit ring?"
Lu Xingchen looked at the red soul ring, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He was fully aware of his situation. This second soul was formed with the help of the power of the Rakshasa God's remains, and its actual age was far from reaching the level of 100,000 years.
that's the truth.
Although the red spirit ring was dazzling, the boost to his spirit power was very limited, and he only awakened one spirit skill, which was far from the power that a legendary 100,000-year spirit ring should have.
"Currently, my soul power is fixed at level 23."
Lu Xingchen clenched his fist, feeling the power surging within him, and made up his mind.
"Part of it is the result of my cultivation over this period of time, and the other part is the improvement brought by this second spirit ring. At my current level, the addition of this spirit ring does not significantly increase my overall combat power."
He didn't care about any of that. To him, the age of the spirit ring and the increase in spirit power were secondary. What he really cared about was the spirit skill awakened by this second spirit.
Lu Xingchen slowly raised his right hand, a thought flashing through his mind. In an instant, a dense crimson light suddenly shone, and as the light condensed, a blood-red cross appeared in his palm.
This cross is quite similar in shape to the First Soul Holy Light Cross, but its material is as if it were cast from congealed blood. Its surface is covered with fine dark red patterns, exuding an evil and eerie aura, which contrasts sharply with the holiness of the Holy Light Cross.
"Unexpectedly, the Holy Light Cross spirit actually spawned such a small cross, and its attributes are completely opposite to its original, becoming purely evil."
Lu Xingchen carefully examined the blood-red cross in his hand.
His first soul spirit, the Holy Light Cross, was of the Holy Light attribute, but due to the influence of the Chaos Sea, the soul spirit became pregnant.
Now, under the influence of the Rakshasa God's power, such a sinister second soul has emerged. Truly, the world is unpredictable.
He closed his eyes, focused his mind on his body, and began to carefully sense the soul skills attached to this second soul. After a moment, a clear piece of information was deeply engraved in his mind like a brand.
[Second Soul Skill: Sacred Farewell]
[Soul Skill Effect: Using one's own blood as a medium, the power contained within oneself (including soul power, life force, ...]
(Special abilities, etc.) can be temporarily or permanently granted to others.
It can be used to amplify others' basic attributes such as strength, speed, and soul power, as well as repair physical and mental injuries, and even cure some intractable diseases.
[Soul Skill Flaw: The power granted is completely proportional to the user's own loss. The more power one bestows upon others, and the higher the quality of that power, the more severe the user's own power decays. In extreme cases, it may even lead to a drop in one's cultivation level.]
Judging from the surface information alone, the "Saint Separation" soul skill is completely a support soul skill that sacrifices oneself for others.
At the cost of their own power, they benefit others; whether it's healing or amplification, they are practically bug-level beings.
If placed in any team, a Soul Master with such a Soul Skill would surely become an object of everyone's respect and reliance.
But a meaningful smile appeared on Lu Xingchen's lips. He knew perfectly well that the true terror of this soul skill was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.
What can be given can also be taken back.
This is the core and most secret rule of the "Saint Separation" soul skill.
As long as Lu Xingchen has the will, no matter how far apart they are, he can reclaim all the power he once gave to others at any time.
What's even more terrifying is that when he reclaims the power, he can not only get back the power he originally invested, but also collect corresponding "interest".
This interest is not a fixed value, but is directly linked to the recipient's gains. The greater the increase the recipient receives and the more significant the power boost, the greater the cost will be when the gains are recovered.
The "cost" here is not simply soul power, but includes the recipient's own soul power, life force, and...
The origin of the soul, and even all quantifiable "values" such as cultivation talent and future potential.
Anything Lu Xingchen wants can be extracted during the power recovery process.
In short, this "Saint Separation" soul skill is essentially a carefully packaged "soul power usury".
The moment the recipients gained power, they had already signed an invisible contract with Lu Xingchen. They only knew the joy of gaining power, but were completely unaware of the enormous risks lurking behind it.
This kind of "usury" has no fixed repayment period or a specific repayment amount; everything is up to Lu Xingchen.
As long as he doesn't actively reclaim it, the recipient can continue to enjoy the amplification of this power, but will never know that they have already borne a heavy debt.
Once Lu Xingchen chooses to take back the money, regardless of the recipient's current state, they must repay this "debt" that accrues interest.
At best, one's soul power will plummet and one will suffer severe injuries; at worst, one's soul will shatter and one will die, with no chance of escaping unscathed.
This soul skill may seem like a support skill, but it is actually extremely domineering.
"Interesting, this is really interesting."
Lu Xingchen gripped the blood-red cross in his hand. This soul skill perfectly matched the dark characteristics of the Hanged Man pathway. It appeared to be selfless, but in reality, it was full of calculation and control, which was exactly the ability he needed.
He could imagine that if he encountered a suitable "pawn" in the future, he would only need to use the "Saint Separation" soul skill to give the opponent power, and he would be able to firmly control it.
The stronger the opponent, the more dependent they become on him, and in the end they will only become a "reservoir" from which he can draw power at will.
Of course, Lu Xingchen also knew that "Sainthood" was not only for dark schemes.
On the Douluo Continent, there is no shortage of Soul Masters who are born with hidden ailments—some have flawed Martial Souls that make cultivation difficult, some have low innate Soul Power and can only live a muddled life, and some are even plagued by incurable diseases from childhood, making a normal life a luxury.
For these people, if they could exchange a short life and a portion of their soul's essence for temporary good health or the opportunity to reach the pinnacle, most would probably agree without hesitation.
Lu Xingchen slowly released his hand, and the blood-red cross transformed into a beam of red light, re-merging into his body. The two soul rings also sank to his feet and disappeared.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and felt the more refined power within him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
"Then let's write another story as well."
Lu Xingchen took out 0-01 from his pocket. He was a particularly vengeful person. If he said he would ruin the Tang family's long-term plan, then he would definitely ruin it.
"It's been a year since Tang Wulin brought the Silver Dragon King home, it's time to separate them."
Lu Xingchen picked up "0-01", a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
The core of the Tang family's scheme lies in the bond between Tang Wulin and the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena. This affection, planted since childhood, will become the key to easing the conflict between humans and dragons in the future, and even to controlling the dragon race.
Lu Xingchen naturally wouldn't let this plan proceed smoothly. What he wanted to do was to sever this bond before it was completely firmly established, causing cracks to appear in the Tang family's millennia-long scheme from its very core.
The reason he hadn't taken action before wasn't because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
While the power of "0-01" is strong, it consumes a great deal of mental energy. To weave a coincidence powerful enough to influence the fates of two major protagonists, one would need an enormous amount of mental energy.
(Gu Yuena possesses god-level power, Tang Wulin possesses the Golden Dragon King's divine core, and Tang San possesses divine sense.)
At that time, he had not yet advanced to the fourth rank and his mental energy reserves were insufficient.
But now, the situation is different.
After advancing to the fourth rank, his life level was fundamentally improved, and his spiritual power also surged, increasing several times over compared to before. It was also more condensed and pure, enough to support him in writing a "story" that could change the trajectory of two people's destinies.
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