It had to be said that Dugu Bo's Dragon Core was an enormous source of inspiration for Chen Ming.
To Chen Ming, the Land Dragon Golden Melon was essentially a "black box" technology. He knew how to use it, but as for how the Land Dragon Golden Melon had actually developed into its current form, that remained completely unknown to him.
If it was merely a matter of using it, Chen Ming had already developed it very well. But if he were asked to create a brand new Land Dragon Golden Melon from scratch, he truly could not do it.
But Dugu Bo's Dragon Core was different. Chen Ming had personally watched it evolve step by step from its rough, uneven state into what it was now.
Although Dugu Bo himself did not understand how to reproduce those changes, Chen Ming had gained inspiration from it.
His thoughts raced rapidly as massive amounts of data were mobilized. Chen Ming immediately began deducing and simulating possibilities.
In the eyes of the others, Chen Ming's face had turned red like a cooked shrimp. Sweat continuously dripped from his forehead, his heartbeat became extremely rapid, and the speed of his aura circulation seemed to increase severalfold in an instant.
If not for the steadiness in Chen Ming's eyes and the fact that he showed no signs of cultivation deviation, the people nearby would already have rushed over to save him.
After a long while, Chen Ming finally revealed a smile.
"So that's it. Yes, that's it. I understand now. I understand!"
"I understand now! I finally understand!"
Chen Ming returned the Dragon Core to Dugu Bo, then immediately grabbed a sheet of paper and began rapidly writing and sketching.
"With the human body's meridians and dantian, if one wants to condense a Spirit Core, then the first step should be using this kind of mixed circulation to compress Spirit Power into this form. Then combine Spirit Power and spiritual power at roughly a three-to-one ratio to construct the initial model, and then circulate it like this for compression…"
"Yes, exactly like that. Use this model to rotate the Spirit Power at high speed through centrifugal force, then use high pressure for purification and compression, and finally…"
"Yes, my assumptions were correct. Pure compression alone isn't enough. The key lies in this complex multi-layered Spirit Power structural model."
"Only by going through repeated cycles of rotation, compression, and purification, ultimately forcing the Spirit Power to gather into an entirely new structural form, and then incorporating that structure into the circulation route of Spirit Power—only then can it truly be considered a success!"
Although Chen Ming's voice remained calm, it was also incredibly rapid, as though a recording were being played back at several times normal speed.
No one else could understand what exactly Chen Ming was drawing.
Only Dugu Bo, who was holding his Dragon Core in his hand, seemed to vaguely realize something.
"Could it be… he's reverse-engineering it based on my Dragon Core?" Dugu Bo muttered to himself.
The others nearby were equally bewildered.
After a long time, Chen Ming finally stopped moving his hand. More than ten sheets of scrap paper had already been filled with all kinds of detailed data and structural models.
"What… is this?" Qian Daoliu felt that the pattern somehow seemed familiar, yet he could not remember where he had seen or heard of something similar before.
"This thing is called a Spirit Core. It is the true reason why Spirit Beasts can surpass human Spirit Masters in strength."
"Based on my previous observations of Spirit Beasts, I have confirmed that the reason Spirit Beasts can drop Spirit Bones is because of Spirit Cores. The higher the level of the Spirit Beast, the more likely it is to possess a Spirit Core, and naturally the more likely it is to produce a Spirit Bone."
"A Spirit Core can greatly enhance the quality of Spirit Power through compression, while also dramatically increasing Spirit Power recovery speed. Whether for Spirit Beasts or Spirit Masters, it is an enormous enhancement."
"The origin of a Spirit Beast's Spirit Core comes from instinctive programming embedded within its bloodline—a natural instinct so deeply rooted that even the Spirit Beast itself cannot perceive it."
"As Spirit Beasts grow, their bodies naturally begin attempting to construct Spirit Cores over and over again through the influence of their bloodline."
"Although this instinctive bloodline method of condensing Spirit Cores has a low success rate, Spirit Beasts possess countless opportunities for trial and error throughout their long lifespans."
"Gifted individuals are able to obtain Spirit Cores more quickly, and with the assistance of the Spirit Core, they grow even faster. Meanwhile, those fortunate enough to condense a Spirit Core can also become outstanding among Spirit Beasts of their own kind due to the Spirit Core's enhancement."
"That is why among Spirit Beasts of the same species, the more exceptional individuals have a higher probability of dropping Spirit Bones."
"The stronger the bloodline of the Spirit Beast, the higher the efficiency of its instinctive processes, the greater the base probability of condensing a Spirit Core, and the lower the physical requirements needed to condense one."
"And combined with their naturally superior physical qualities, they are much more likely to form a Spirit Core prototype at an earlier stage."
"That is why high-quality Spirit Beasts are more likely to produce Spirit Bones compared to Spirit Beasts with ordinary bloodlines."
"Spirit Beasts with higher cultivation years have a higher probability of trial and error, and their own stats can shorten the intervals between Spirit Core convergence attempts, increasing the success rate of forming a Spirit Core prototype."
"And that is also why higher-year Spirit Beasts have a much greater probability of producing Spirit Bones."
"The strong grow stronger, while the weak remain weak. The secret behind everything lies in the Spirit Core." Chen Ming's voice was filled with barely restrained excitement.
"Then according to this theory, could human Spirit Masters identify Spirit Beasts that possess Spirit Cores, and thereby obtain Spirit Bones more efficiently?" Qian Daoliu felt that he had understood Chen Ming's meaning.
Hearing Qian Daoliu say this, Chen Ming suddenly felt exhausted.
He glanced around at everyone present and realized that aside from Dugu Bo—who had been deeply influenced by him and also possessed a unique inner core, allowing him to somewhat follow Chen Ming's line of thought—the others had all been completely led astray by Qian Daoliu.
To allow his body to recover from its "overclocked" state, Chen Ming rarely lowered his mental processing speed. Yet while monitoring his own condition and continuing to think simultaneously, he unexpectedly fell into an unusually speechless silence.
"What I mean is that human Spirit Masters can also condense Spirit Cores to improve their own physical qualities…"
"Then doesn't that mean human Spirit Masters can drop Spirit Bones too?" Qian Daoliu subconsciously asked again.
"Human Spirit Masters do not drop Spirit Bones upon death. Humans cannot generate Spirit Bones. At most, they can only leave behind Spirit Bones they previously absorbed."
Chen Ming silently increased his processing speed again, instantly returning to his usual composed and calculating demeanor.
He picked up a cup to replenish some water, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, then took out a small bottle of medicinal ointment made from Spirit Beast fats that he had refined some time ago and applied it to his forehead and temples, allowing the medicinal effects to soothe his brain.
"The combat strength of Spirit Beasts does not come solely from bloodlines. It also comes from Spirit Cores. That is why the legendary hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts are so powerful—because such Spirit Beasts inevitably possess Spirit Cores, giving them Spirit Power amplification beyond that of Spirit Masters."
"According to the energy structure diagram I designed, Spirit Masters should also be able to condense their own Spirit Cores, greatly increasing both their combat strength and potential."
"However, this structural model places extremely high demands on both the quality and purity of Spirit Power, while also requiring considerable spiritual power. One must possess extremely precise control over Spirit Power."
"At present, only Spirit Douluo at Level 89 or Titled Douluo-level Spirit Masters are qualified to attempt condensing a Spirit Core."