Douluo: Emerald Poison Emperor

After slightly stabilizing their soul power and state, the three of them began packing their belongings, preparing to leave. Dugu Bo's poison had already been cured, and the deadly poison in Dugu Yan had also been completely tamed. Now that Dugu Yan, who had been stuck at level 30 for several months, could attach her third soul ring, Dugu Bo no longer had any reason to stay here.

Having been away from human society for several months, even Chen Ming was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. Although there hadn't been any major issues, he often felt somewhat unmotivated in his daily life.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to help Dugu Yan attach her soul ring, the group decided to visit a nearby city for a brief stroll.

This time, however, the soul ring they needed wasn't to be hunted within the Sunset Forest but rather in the Star Dou Forest. So, the group planned to visit a city near the Heaven Dou Forest along the way.

That night, under the starlight shining down from the sky, Chen Ming approached the Star Luo Holy Pearl. After months of refinement and modification, the Star Luo Holy Pearl had completely adapted to Chen Ming, and its medicinal properties had further improved, reaching the point where it was ready to be harvested.

Chen Ming removed his shirt and sat cross-legged, stretching out his hand toward the Star Luo Holy Pearl. The fruit on the Star Luo Holy Pearl, as if sensing his intention, dropped into his palm on its own.

Chen Ming brought the Star Luo Holy Pearl close to his middle dantian and channeled his soul power. The fruit of the Star Luo Holy Pearl merged into his body as if it were an illusion.

Choosing the middle dantian as the location for his first soul core was a decision Chen Ming had carefully considered.

In the second installment of Douluo Dalu: Peerless Tang Sect, Titled Douluos typically possessed one soul core, and Ultimate Douluos would condense a second soul core.

There are two different methods to condense a second soul core: Yin-Yang Complementation and Homogeneous Resonance.

Each of these methods has its merits, but if one wants to achieve the level of three soul cores like the protagonist Huo Yuhao, one must choose the method of Homogeneous Resonance.

The Yin-Yang Complementation method for dual soul cores is more perfect and stable, but its overly stable structure makes it impossible to incorporate a third soul core.

Huo Yuhao's condensation sequence was upper dantian, middle dantian, and lower dantian. By the time he condensed his third soul core, he had already reached the peak level of Ultimate Douluo, possessing divine trials as well. There were too many unreplicable factors in his success.

Chen Ming placed the Star Luo Holy Pearl in his middle dantian to use it as the foundation for Homogeneous Resonance when condensing future soul cores.

If he followed Huo Yuhao's upper-middle-lower sequence, Chen Ming wasn't confident that, in an era without guidance, he could truly achieve the level of three soul cores.

The fusion of the Star Luo Holy Pearl went very smoothly. As an immortal herb, it was naturally attuned to humans, and after being modified by Chen Ming, it was even easier to absorb than some high-age medicinal herbs.

Once the Star Luo Holy Pearl entered his middle dantian, it was imprinted with Chen Ming's spiritual power and soul power, starting its gradual transformation into a soul core.

An hour later, the soul core within Chen Ming's body was fully formed. A massive vortex spun rapidly in his middle dantian, devouring the surrounding essence energy.

At this moment, the soul power accumulated within the Star Luo Holy Pearl, along with the external soul power, poured violently into Chen Ming's meridians. Even though Chen Ming's meridians were stronger and wider than those of most Soul Emperors, he still felt as though they were about to tear under the tremendous impact of soul power.

Before absorbing the Star Luo Holy Pearl, Chen Ming's soul power level was at 34. After the absorption, it skyrocketed as though propelled by a rocket.

35, 36, 37, 38, 39…

Chen Ming's soul power increased level by level, quickly reaching level 39 in one go. After absorbing the surrounding essence energy for a while, he directly broke through to level 40.

After completing the absorption, Chen Ming collapsed onto the ground, taking out the Dragon Core to slowly restore his vitality.

Was the absorption ineffective?

 No, no, the absorption was too effective. A six-level increase in soul power in one go—this would bring tears to the Angel God's eyes and cause the Sea God to collapse in disbelief. Condensing a soul core at level 40, even in the power-inflated realm of Douluo Dalu 4, was enough to make anyone gasp.

The problem, however, lay in the rapid increase.

The energy stored within the Star Luo Holy Pearl was too immense, and the amount of essence energy the soul core could process at once was overwhelming. Chen Ming's meridians were nearly stretched to their breaking point.

Although an increase in soul power would naturally improve physical attributes, his body couldn't keep up with a six-level leap in soul power all at once.

Fortunately, Chen Ming's body had been tempered to an exceptional degree, and his meridians had been fortified by various rare herbs and whale glue.

If it had been any ordinary Soul Master, their meridians would have been torn apart multiple times by the sheer volume of soul power.

Even after absorbing the Star Luo Holy Pearl, Chen Ming had to focus on actively calming the soul core in his dantian. If a large-scale essence energy exchange occurred again, his meridians might truly fail to withstand it.

Seeing Chen Ming lying on the ground, Dugu Bo hurriedly helped him sit up. Sensing the level 40 soul power within Chen Ming, Dugu Bo gave up trying to make sense of it all.

"Grandpa, help me over to the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."

"Alright," Dugu Bo nodded without asking questions and helped Chen Ming to the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Watching as Chen Ming pulled the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum from the ground and stuffed it directly into his mouth, Dugu Bo was stunned.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum could open the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and forge an indestructible body.

After studying its properties for some time, Chen Ming had already figured out how to guide its energy. As the power within the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum entered his body, Chen Ming actively directed it to transform various parts of his physique. It opened his Eight Extraordinary Meridians and forged an indestructible body.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, while being a metallic plant, didn't possess a typical metallic attribute but rather a pure, eternal golden nature.

Concepts such as the Golden Core and Golden Body are based on this essence of eternal golden nature, which also serves as the foundation for the indestructible body granted by the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The golden essence circulated through Chen Ming's body, opening all his meridians. Its unique golden nature also infused his blood and marrow with a special power.

Just as this energy was about to be completely depleted, the soul core within Chen Ming's body, which had previously been powered down, seemed to sense something. It suddenly activated, absorbing the remaining essence of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The golden nature infused the previously attribute-less soul core. Although it didn't imbue it with any new attributes, it gave the soul core a faint golden hue, making it somewhat resemble the Golden Core often described in novels.

After circulating through the soul core, Chen Ming's soul power also gained a hint of infinity.