Within the Spiritual Sea
The moment Chen Junting finished absorbing the soul ring, Electrolux suddenly pulled him into his spiritual sea.
Before Chen Junting could react, Electrolux's voice echoed through the vast expanse—laced with dry amusement.
"Young friend, your cultivation system is… peculiar."
Chen Junting nearly believed the praise—until he caught the unguarded disdain in Electrolux's eyes.
He fell silent.
Are you sure you meant "peculiar"… and not "bizarre"?
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Finally, Chen Junting broke the silence.
He had people waiting for him outside.
"Elder Electrolux… Did you bring me here because you've taken an interest in our cultivation methods?"
Electrolux didn't answer directly. Instead, he gestured. A gray soul ring materialized in the spiritual sea—crafted not from soul beast essence, but from Life Gold energy, meticulously inscribed with magical runes using spiritual power as the carving tool.
"Tell me," Electrolux asked, "in your eyes—how is a soul ring constructed?"
Chen Junting paused, then carefully replied:
"I believe a soul ring is formed from three elements: soul power, blood essence, and spiritual power. They intertwine to grant each soul master unique soul skills."
Electrolux nodded slowly. "You're not wrong. But there's a correction to make: while soul beast soul rings are indeed composed of those three, not all soul rings are."
He pointed to the gray ring. "Take this. It's made purely of energy and spiritual power—no lifeblood involved. And yet, it functions as a soul ring."
Chen Junting's eyes widened.
Of course! He'd forgotten—there were also Divine Bestowed Soul Rings, granted directly by gods. No soul beast, no blood—just pure divine will.
"So the true essence," Electrolux continued, "lies not in the components, but in the patterns—the runes etched onto the carrier. Whether it's soul power or bone, the soul skill itself is encoded in those markings—just like soul engineering arrays."
Chen Junting's mind raced.
That's why the same soul beast yields stronger soul skills at higher cultivation years—the life imprint in its blood grows more complete, refining the rune's precision!
"And the two streams of strange energy you felt during absorption?" Electrolux smiled knowingly. "One shaped your sword; the other merged with you. That's the soul beast's lingering will—its final influence on your path."
Chen Junting bowed deeply. He finally understood Electrolux's intent.
"You're teaching me to look beyond surface mechanics," he said slowly. "To see that this entire world—its laws, its heavens and earth—is woven from patterns. If soul rings and soul bones are governed by runes… then perhaps everything is."
"Precisely," Electrolux chuckled. "Your system forces soul masters into rigid contracts—absorbing soul rings is binding yourself to another's legacy. But what if you could create your own? Artificial soul rings. Custom soul bones. The possibilities are limitless."
He waved a hand, dispersing the gray soul ring. Its energy dissolved back into the spiritual sea.
"I'm not here to pour my knowledge into you. I'm here to plant a seed. How it grows—into a towering tree or withered shrub—depends on your own journey."
Chen Junting stood in quiet awe.
The ambition to ascend to godhood—once just a distant dream—now stirred as a living sprout within him.
"Thank you, Elder," he said softly.
Electrolux's eyes twinkled. "Don't rush. Study. Experiment. Cultivate. The path ahead is long—but the soil is rich."
And with that, he released Chen Junting back to the waking world—
where a new era of understanding had just begun.
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