A Soul Core is initially formed by condensing and compressing a Spirit Master's spirit power. Once condensed, it becomes the core through which the Spirit Master absorbs the elemental force of Heaven and Earth and circulates spirit power.
As a Spirit Master's cultivation advances, the Soul Core no longer remains a simple aggregation of spirit power. The Spirit Master's own attributes and abilities gradually integrate into it. Or rather, the Soul Core can be regarded as a microcosm of the Spirit Master themselves.
The Divine Core functions in much the same way.
What Wang Nan held were only fragments of a Divine Core, but seeing a part was enough to understand the whole. From them, he could already discern several distinct powers.
One was Divine Sense, similar to a Spirit Master's mental force, representing the will of a god. Another was divine force, equivalent to a Spirit Master's spirit power.
The reason these Divine Core fragments seemed to possess their own consciousness was precisely because a Divine Core inherently contained the condensed will of a god.
Even though the Angel God and the Rakshasa God wielded completely opposite powers, the most fundamental components within their Divine Cores were actually the same.
What truly differentiated these gods was the final component of a Divine Core: authority and responsibility. Or, more precisely, the Law that the god mastered.
Mental force, spirit power, attributes.
Divine Sense, divine force, Law.
In essence, a Soul Core and a Divine Core were not fundamentally different.
Wang Nan slowly put away the Divine Core fragments in his hand and lifted his gaze to his surroundings. The hiding places of the remaining Divine Core fragments could not escape his perception.
Since he had already decided to forge his own Dao, these fragments were no longer of great use to him after he had glimpsed the secrets of the Divine Core.
However, recalling the impact the Rakshasa Demonic Scythe fragments had caused last time, he still took action and collected them one by one.
Divine force was simply too powerful. Even the aura leaking from a single fragment could cause enormous consequences. As for these God Position fragments, he would find a way to repair them after entering the God Realm in the future.
After all, he could not leave those God Positions vacant forever.
Within the Star Dou Great Forest, Wang Nan passed through as usual without drawing the attention of any Spirit Beasts.
Beside the Life Lake, the Three-Eyed Golden Mou twitched its ears slightly, then lifted its head just in time to see Wang Nan emerge from the jungle.
Long accustomed to this, it lowered its head once more, the surrounding elemental force of Heaven and Earth rising and falling gently with its breathing.
At some point, the Life Lake had also become Wang Nan's regular place of secluded cultivation. With such dense elemental force of Heaven and Earth, along with the continuous life force converging from the entire forest, this was not a place one could casually find.
Looking around, apart from the Three-Eyed Golden Mou and Di Tian, Gu Yue was nowhere to be seen. She was likely in secluded cultivation again.
Nodding toward Di Tian, Wang Nan took a few steps forward and was about to sit down when ripples suddenly spread across the surface of the Life Lake.
Water splashed upward, as if a light rain had fallen. Moments later, Gu Yue, clad in silver robes, emerged once more.
Her gaze swept over Wang Nan, and her eyes brightened slightly.
"It seems your cultivation has advanced again."
Wang Nan nodded. "I came this time to condense my third Soul Core and officially break through to the Limit Douluo Realm."
"The third Soul Core…" Gu Yue repeated softly. "How much do you know about the Soul Core and the Divine Core?"
"I've had some fortuitous encounters recently," Wang Nan replied. "I can roughly infer that a Spirit Master's Soul Core is the foundation of a Divine Core."
"That's correct." Gu Yue looked at him closely. "Upon entering the God Realm, a Spirit Master's Soul Core transforms into a Divine Core. However, to form a true Divine Core, you are still missing one thing."
Wang Nan understood her meaning.
If his goal were merely to break through to Limit Douluo, following the standard method to condense a third Soul Core would suffice. But his ambition did not end there.
Since the Soul Core was the foundation of the Divine Core, then the third Soul Core had to be prepared with that future transformation in mind.
His first and second Yin-Yang complementary Soul Cores had already integrated mental force, spirit power, and energy and blood power. Mental force and spirit power corresponded to Divine Sense and divine force.
What was missing was Law.
Thus, Wang Nan's goal was clear. His third Soul Core would be condensed upon Law itself.
Seeing his thoughtful expression, Gu Yue blinked lightly. "Judging by your reaction, you already understand the secret of the Divine Core?"
"Yes." Wang Nan did not deny it.
"Then what kind of third Soul Core do you intend to condense?"
Wang Nan understood the deeper meaning behind her question and did not hide his intent. "I want to reestablish order."
Gu Yue froze.
She had expected that Wang Nan would not arrive at an answer so quickly. Then, suddenly, she smiled brightly. The surrounding elemental forces became lively, as if responding joyfully to her emotions.
Yet the smile soon faded, leaving only the restless elemental fluctuations to hint at the turbulence in her heart.
"I was wrong."
Wang Nan was surprised. He had sensed the elemental disturbance earlier and now looked at her with curiosity.
"My original idea was wrong," Gu Yue said softly, her gaze toward him subtly changing. "I had once prepared another path to help you become a god."
"But now I see that someone of your talent is destined to forge your own Dao. With your heart and ability, even without my help, your future achievements would not be inferior to what I imagined."
"What path did you prepare for me?" Wang Nan asked, intrigued.
"My own power."
Gu Yue slowly stepped forward. "The Dragon God was split into two parts, the Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King, governing power and elemental force respectively. But the Dragon God's strength extended far beyond that."
"All of the Dragon God's power originated from a wisp of Chaos at the birth of the universe. It embodied both destruction and creation. The reason the Dragon God could establish the Dragon God Realm was precisely because of the power of creation he controlled."
"After the Dragon God split, the power of destruction remained with the Golden Dragon King. The power I control is the power of creation."
Gu Yue suddenly stopped.
"What did you feel when you used your ninth Spirit Ability to awaken the Dragon souls?"
"Feel?" Wang Nan considered for a moment.
Though it was called awakening Dragon souls, it had felt more like re-infusing life into dead Dragons. At the time, he had sensed that power. It was similar to life gold, yet also different.
"That was…"
"That was the power of creation," Gu Yue said calmly. "The essence of your ninth Spirit Ability is not awakening Dragon souls, but creating new vitality for them."