Early the next morning, an unusual tension and expectation filled the valley of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Yu Qing carefully reminded Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi to focus on their pregnancies. He then specifically called for Dugu Bo, solemnly entrusting him: "Old Poison, today I must help A Rou condense her Soul core. This is vital and cannot fail. Please look after Xiner, Ruyi, and the children."
Seeing how serious he was, Dugu Bo knew the matter was of great importance. He cast aside his usual casualness, a sharp glint flashing in his green eyes as he promised, patting his chest, "Rest assured! With this old man here, I won't let anyone or anything disturb you! Just focus on the Breakthrough!"
After making the arrangements, Yu Qing took A Rou with him. In a flash, their figures appeared at the edge of the spring, which radiated extreme ice and fire energy.
The closer they got to the center of the spring, the more violent the terrifying energy became—a mixture of ice and fire that seemed capable of tearing everything apart.
A Rou curiously observed the interior of the spring. On one side was boiling, bubbling red magma-like water; on the other was a deep blue, silent, and extremely cold spring that seemed capable of freezing even the Soul. The two were clearly demarcated yet eerily coexisted, forming a heart-shaking spectacle. Like a young girl, she looked left and right, her eyes full of wonder.
"Are you ready?" Yu Qing asked in a deep voice, holding A Rou's hand.
A Rou took a deep breath, her pink eyes shining with a determined light: "Yes!"
Yu Qing said no more. He wrapped his arm around A Rou's waist, his spirit power surging to form a purple-gold shield around them. He then leaped directly into the terrifying spring, which would have instantly and severely injured an ordinary Titled Douluo!
Splash!
Upon entering the water, even with the protection of Yu Qing's shield, A Rou instantly felt the pervasive, contrasting shocks of the two extreme forces! The extreme cold seemed to freeze her blood and spirit power completely, while the extreme heat felt like it would burn her internal organs to ash! The extreme pain made her let out a muffled groan, her delicate body trembling slightly.
Yu Qing sped up and soon brought her to the depths of the spring, onto the platform where he usually cultivated in seclusion. The energy here was even purer and more violent!
"Sit cross-legged and calm your mind!" Yu Qing's voice, like a tolling bell, entered A Rou's sea of consciousness with the power to soothe and guide.
Enduring the tearing pain, A Rou did as she was told.
In the current Douluo Continent, the method of Soul cores had not yet appeared. Most Spirit Masters relied on slow, steady cultivation to break through to Douluo. Occasionally, gifted individuals might condense a spirit power inner pellet within their bodies to strengthen their foundation; this was perhaps the embryonic form of a Soul core.
But compared to a true Soul core, it was still far inferior.
"Step one: draw the extreme heat into the Dantian. Using fire as the foundation, condense a fire-attribute Soul core!"
Under Yu Qing's precise guidance and protection, A Rou began to cautiously absorb the pure extreme heat around her. Following the secret method Yu Qing taught her, she continuously compressed and refined her own spirit power and fire-attribute energy within her Dantian's Qi Sea.
This process was extremely difficult, requiring microscopic control over spirit power; a slight mistake could lead to self-immolation. As a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beast in human form who had reached maturity, A Rou's mental force was already powerful and her willpower exceptionally resilient. With Yu Qing's protection, she managed to endure the pain of her burning Meridians, taming the violent fire energy bit by bit.
After a full seven days, a fire-attribute Soul core—entirely crimson, radiating a scorching aura, and slowly rotating—finally fully condensed within her Dantian!
The moment the Soul core formed, A Rou's Rank 96 spirit power instantly became more solid, its quality improving by more than just a notch!
"Very good!" Yu Qing nodded in approval. "Step two: separate a portion of your Origin spirit power to open a second Dantian. At the Shanzhong point of the middle Dantian, draw in the extreme cold to condense an ice-attribute Soul core!"
This step was more than ten times more dangerous than the first!
This was not the dual soul cores within a single Dantian that Yu Qing used to balance Yin and Yang with a Star Core. Instead, it was similar to the path taken by the later God of Emotion—condensing two Soul cores with opposite attributes in different locations that could resonate and complement each other!
Opening a second Dantian was already agonizing, and condensing an ice-attribute Soul core that was the polar opposite of her primary attribute within it made the pain and risk unimaginable!
A Rou's face instantly turned as pale as paper, her body trembling violently, and a trace of blood even leaked from the corner of her mouth. The extreme cold and heat clashed wildly within her, as if trying to tear her body apart from the middle!
Yu Qing felt heartbroken but could not bear the pain for her. He could only continuously channel pure Power of Life into A Rou's body, repairing her torn Meridians and easing her agony.
"Hold on, A Rou! Keep your mind clear! Guide them, let them reach a balance!" Yu Qing's voice was like a stabilizing anchor, supporting A Rou at her most painful moment.
A Rou clenched her teeth, her pink eyes filled with unyielding will. To become stronger and truly help Yu Qing, she could not fail!
Time passed slowly in extreme pain. Another long eight days went by.
In the depths of the spring, A Rou's body was sometimes covered in frost and sometimes red like a branding iron. Her aura fluctuated, making Yu Qing's heart leap into his throat.
Finally, at noon on the fifteenth day, the violently clashing ice and fire energy within A Rou suddenly stalled. Then, as if finding a mysterious point of balance, they began to circulate slowly in a profound trajectory!
At her Dantian and middle Dantian, one Soul core as red as the sun and another as blue as the moon simultaneously shone with great light, reflecting each other! A powerful suction and resonance developed between the two, and they began to rotate on their own!
The dual soul cores were complete!
Vast spirit power, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, surged madly into her two Soul cores, being rapidly compressed and purified before feeding back into her entire body! Her spirit power recovery speed reached a terrifying level! The two extreme attribute forces of ice and fire achieved a perfect balance and cycle within her, and the power they could unleash far exceeded a simple one-plus-one!
At this moment, A Rou felt her strength was at least three times greater than before condensing the dual soul cores! She was confident that if she encountered that Blood Demon again, she could kill it alone without Yu Qing's help!
She slowly opened her eyes, which shone with a brilliant light as if the sun and moon were revolving within them. Unable to suppress her inner excitement, she suddenly threw herself into Yu Qing's arms, hugging him tightly. Her voice carried sobs and immense joy: "A Qing! I succeeded! I succeeded! It's all thanks to you!"
Yu Qing hugged her back, his heart also filled with a sense of accomplishment. He gently stroked her hair and said softly, "It was your own will that was strong enough to endure that inhuman pain. You were wonderful, A Rou."
A Rou looked up, her tears turning into a smile that was bright and confident: "From now on, I won't be a burden to you anymore! If we meet those evil Titled Douluo again, I can defeat them!"
Yu Qing nodded with gratification, and holding her, they rushed out of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The two had just returned to the surface and hadn't walked far when Dugu Bo, Father Duan, Father Zi, and the others, who had already sensed the movement, immediately came to meet them.
When Dugu Bo's gaze fell on A Rou, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he couldn't help but gasp!
At this moment, A Rou's aura was harmonious and restrained, yet unfathomably deep. A strange field of interwoven ice and fire faintly radiated from her. The pressure she gave him was even stronger than when Yu Qing deliberately restrained himself! He had no doubt that if he were to face A Rou now, he probably wouldn't last three rounds!
"Cong... Congratulations, Miss A Rou! Successfully condensing dual soul cores! Your strength has advanced greatly!" Dugu Bo suppressed the shock in his heart and stepped forward to offer his sincere congratulations.
A Rou was in a great mood and smiled beautifully: "Thank you, Senior Dugu. It's all thanks to A Qing."
Dugu Bo leaned in next to Yu Qing, nudged him with his elbow, his green eyes full of longing and urgency. He asked in a low voice, "Madman Ye! A Rou already has dual soul cores! That Poison Pill Method of mine... when exactly can you get it done? Watching you all advance by leaps and bounds makes my heart itch like a cat's scratching!"
Yu Qing smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry, Old Poison. The theoretical framework is almost there. Once I refine a few key details, I can conduct a preliminary trial on you. Don't worry, it'll be soon."
Having received Yu Qing's promise, Dugu Bo finally felt a bit more at ease, rubbing his hands together with eyes full of expectation.
That evening, to celebrate A Rou's success in condensing the dual soul cores, Yu Qing personally cooked and prepared a very grand feast. Various delicacies, Spirit Beast essences, spiritual fruits, and fine wines filled the long table, their aromas wafting everywhere, making everyone's mouth water.
Everyone sat together, clinking glasses and sharing laughter in a very warm atmosphere. Xiao Wu held her head high with pride, occasionally glancing at Dugu Yan next to her, as if saying, "Look! My mom is amazing, isn't she?"
Dugu Yan, on the other hand, seemed a bit unhappy, her small mouth pouting slightly. After all, someone else's mother had become so powerful while her own grandfather was still worrying about the Spirit backlash; the little girl couldn't help but feel a bit of a gap. However, she soon remembered that her teacher was Yu Qing and the powerful Aunt Rou was also her mistress. Thinking this, she became happy again, grabbed a large chicken leg for herself, and ate until her mouth was oily, making Xiao Wu look at her with confusion.
The banquet lasted until late before breaking up.
Yu Qing carefully escorted Duan Xin and Zi Ruyi back to their rooms. However, after entering, an undeniable look of disappointment and gloom appeared on the two women's faces.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Yu Qing asked with concern.
Duan Xin leaned into his arms, her tone a bit low: "Husband... Sister A Rou has progressed so rapidly and is now a Super Douluo with dual soul cores. But we... we're still stuck at the Spirit Emperor level, making slow progress... We feel... we feel so useless..."
Zi Ruyi also sighed softly, a hint of self-reproach in her beautiful eyes: "We wanted to be a help to you, but we've been holding you back... Now that we're pregnant, we can't even help you with the teaching duties."
Hearing this, Yu Qing immediately understood. Was this anxiety caused by pregnancy? He quickly pulled the two women into his arms and comforted them warmly, "You two silly girls, what are you thinking? Your most important task now is to safely give birth to our babies! That is the greatest contribution!"
He gently stroked their protruding bellies, his voice full of confidence: "As for your cultivation, you don't need to worry at all! After the babies are born and you've finished your postpartum recovery, I have a way to help you catch up rapidly! Moreover, I've refined the Dual Cultivation secret method; it's even more effective than before! I guarantee you'll catch up!"
Hearing this, Duan Xin's eyes immediately lit up, and she looked up expectantly: "Really? Husband, you mustn't lie to us!"
"Of course it's true!" Yu Qing promised.
Zi Ruyi smiled dreamily, her eyes flashing with a hint of mischief and temptation: "Then... at that time, we'll have to trouble husband to... 'give it your all'~"
Looking at his two wives' expectant and slightly teasing gazes, Yu Qing could only brace himself and promise with a pat on his chest. In his heart, however, he couldn't help but secretly groan: after Xiner and Ruyi give birth, he would have to face A Rou, Fox Consort, Duan Xin, and Zi Ruyi—four wives with different styles and strong needs. Could his body really handle "giving it his all"?!
He stayed with the two women a bit longer, talking intimately until their moods improved and they felt sleepy. Only then did he tuck them in, blow out the lamp, and leave.
Returning to his main room, Yu Qing pushed open the door, but the sight before him instantly left him dumbfounded, frozen in place!
Inside the room, A Rou was wearing a "brilliant" smile while tightly clutching a struggling, blushing Fox Consort!
Fox Consort was so angry that fire almost spat from her fox-like eyes. She growled in shame and indignation, "A Rou! Let me go! Has your brain gone bad?! This kind of... this kind of shameless thing... I won't do it!"
A Rou wasn't angry at all. Instead, she yelled to Yu Qing with a grin, "Husband! You're back just in time! Come over here!"
Yu Qing walked over, completely bewildered: "A Rou... you guys... what is this?"
A Rou said matter-of-factly, "Fox Consort and I have discussed it! From now on, the two of us will harmonize first, and then include Fox Consort during the Yin Yang Conjunction! This saves time and is highly efficient, killing many birds with one stone. Isn't it great?"
Fox Consort was about to go crazy and shrieked, "Who discussed it with you?! You dragged me here by force! You hooligan rabbit! Let me go! I won't do it with you... you... together...!"
Yu Qing: "!!!" He was completely petrified.
A Rou didn't give Yu Qing time to react. She pulled hard, dragging Yu Qing to the bedside as well. Then, she gave the struggling Fox Consort and the dazed Yu Qing a sweet yet slightly mischievous smile:
"Come! Let's not waste time! Let's begin tonight's... 'Dual Cultivation'!"
This night was destined to be long and wild.
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