"Buzz—!"
It was as if a buzzing sound, like the beginning of the universe, resounded from within him! The violently spinning vortex of soul power suddenly stopped!
The next moment, all the strange phenomena vanished.
A blue crystal core, radiating a deep aura like a Vast Sea, quietly floated in the center of his dantian.
It slowly but steadily rotated on its own, drawing in abundant water elemental energy from its surroundings with each rotation, transforming it into pure soul power, and channeling it into the meridians of Jiang Zhen.
The speed at which soul power recovers is several times faster than before!
First Soul Core, Water Attribute Soul Core, complete!
Jiang Zhen slowly opened his eyes, a flash of azure light appearing in them. His aura had become more profound and restrained than it had been moments before, like a calm and boundless deep sea.
He succeeded.
Not only did it successfully condense a soul core, but it also used the ultimate water as its foundation to condense a water soul core of extremely high quality and with unlimited potential!
This laid an incredibly solid first step for his future path.
Looking at Jiang Zhen, whose aura had been completely renewed, the Deep Sea Whale King's single eye flashed with a complex mix of emotions and amazement, which ultimately turned into a deep sigh: "...The younger generation is truly formidable."
Seeing this, Bing Di finally breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately turned her head away, as if she wasn't the one who had been nervous just now.
Xue Di stared intently at Jiang Zhen, her icy blue eyes filled with growing curiosity.
This human boy always seems to be able to turn the impossible into the possible.
The successful condensation of the soul core means that Jiang Zhen has truly acquired the qualifications to challenge for a higher level in terms of power.
The second soul core was formed after breaking through to Soul Saint, condensing into an ice-attribute soul core. The third soul core was formed when he became a Title Douluo, condensing into Lan Xi -Yang complementary dual soul core.
A complex emotion flashed in the Deep Sea Whale King's single eye—a mixture of amazement and relief, but more than anything, a heavy and oppressive feeling that was hard to shake off.
He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice low and deep, like the undercurrents of the deep sea:
"...Congratulations."
Those three short words seemed to have taken a great deal of his energy.
Congratulations? How could he be genuinely happy? Every step forward this boy took meant he was one step closer to the moment when his family would be sacrificed.
He understood that the stronger Jiang Zhen became, the greater his chances of becoming a god in the future, and the higher the return on investment for his family.
However, rational understanding cannot completely counteract the turmoil of emotions.
Level 60 means that his wife, the Demon Emperor, is about to offer up her soul ring and soul bone.
At level ninety, it's his turn.
They will personally entrust their power, even their souls, to this human boy, gambling on a vague and uncertain future.
This "joy" was far too bitter.
Jiang Zhen naturally sensed the complex meaning in the Deep Sea Whale King's tone.
With a solemn expression, he once again bowed deeply to the ocean lord and his mate.
This bow was more solemn than when he had previously inquired about the Soul Core, filled with respect and... apology.
"Thank you, senior."
Jiang Zhen straightened up, his clear and honest gaze meeting that of the Deep Sea Whale King and the Demon Emperor.
He offered no words of comfort, for any words would seem inadequate in the face of the impending sacrifice.
He simply reaffirmed that promise: "I will always remember your kindness in imparting all your knowledge to me. I will never forget what you entrusted to me."
"When I ascend to the throne of God and reverse the rules, I will surely live up to today's promise!"
The Deep Sea Whale King stared intently into Jiang Zhen's eyes, as if trying to see through those clear blue eyes to the depths of his soul and confirm his determination and sincerity.
After a long while, he nodded almost imperceptibly, accepting this heavy promise.
The heaviness in his single eye had not lessened, but a hint of determination had emerged.
Once the choice has been made, there's no turning back.
...
For the next two weeks, Jiang Zhen stayed almost constantly by the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye.
He sat cross-legged at the point where the energies of the two springs of ice and fire converged, completely immersing himself in cultivation.
The soul core is like a highly efficient energy core, frantically absorbing the rich energy around it, and the soul power is steadily increasing at a visible speed.
The level 60 bottleneck is an insurmountable chasm that ordinary Soul Masters must overcome with great difficulty, but for Jiang Zhen, who has already condensed his Soul Core and has a profound foundation, it is more like a natural outcome.
On this day, the energy within the valley fluctuated slightly, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
Jiang Zhen's aura suddenly surged to a critical point, then he steadily crossed it, becoming even more profound and enduring.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense, and deep within his azure pupils, it seemed as if endless waves were silently surging.
Level 60, Quasi-Soul Emperor, achieved.
However, the joy brought by this increase in strength did not last long, and a heavy sense of responsibility, as heavy as a mountain, quietly pressed down.
He stood up, his gaze involuntarily falling on the two powerful figures by the spring—the Deep Sea Whale King and the Demon Emperor.
They remain like ancient reefs, meditating and protecting their daughter, Lan Fuzi.
Lan Fuzi was curiously watching a fragrant herb not far away, a carefree smile on her face.
This heartwarming scene, however, only made Jiang Zhen's mood heavier.
He took a deep breath and walked over slowly.
Sensing his approach, the Deep Sea Whale King opened his single eye first, followed by the Demon Emperor opening his beautiful eyes.
Their gazes fell on Jiang Zhen, and they instantly sensed the stable level 60 soul power fluctuations within him.
The Demon Emperor stood by, watching quietly.
Her eyes were equally complex, filled with unease about the unknown and reluctance to part with her husband and daughter, but more than anything, they shone with a gentle yet firm light.
She seemed more accepting of this fate than the Deep Sea Whale King; she was willing to give everything for a glimmer of hope and for her daughter's possible future.
The atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.
Jiang Zhen knew that he had to break the silence.
He took a deep breath, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable weight, and slowly began to speak:
"My two seniors..."
The Deep Sea Whale King and the Demon Emperor both focused their gazes on him. Lan Fuzi seemed to sense that something was wrong, stopped what he was doing, and looked over curiously.
Jiang Zhen continued, each word crystal clear: "I'm already... level sixty."
These words were like a thunderclap. Although they had expected them, hearing them still stirred up a huge wave in the hearts of the Deep Sea Whale King and the Demon Emperor.
The Deep Sea Whale King clenched his fists unconsciously, and a barely perceptible fluctuation appeared in his aura.
The Demon Emperor pursed her lips slightly, her slender hand unconsciously touching her chest.
The air in the valley seemed to freeze completely, and the sound of the spring water flowing from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well seemed to fade into the distance.
Jiang Zhen's gaze shifted to the stunningly beautiful Demon Emperor, who was about to sacrifice everything for his path. His voice softened, carrying an indescribable solemnity:
"Senior Demon Emperor...you...?"
💖📚 This story beats because of readers like you! 🌟
✨ Help it grow stronger and explore countless chapters ahead → 🌌 Patreon / Lord_of_Fics 🚀
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX