But the process wasn't over for Salas. He continued to sit cross-legged, refining all the energy coursing through him. His bones crackled as every attribute related to strength increased drastically.
Whether soul ring or soul bone, both improved the user's physical attributes. Among them, hundred-thousand-year soul rings and soul bones were especially outstanding. The benefits Salas received from this sacrifice were immense. Not only did his physical strength increase by two levels, but his spiritual power also continued condensing toward a higher realm.
As time passed, nearly an hour later, Salas's Spirit Abyss Realm peak-level spiritual power, fueled by the overwhelming energy from the two hundred-thousand-year soul rings, underwent a qualitative change.
Salas felt his spiritual power in his spiritual sea slowly converging into a small, solid core… A spiritual core. Yes, a spiritual core.
Boom...
With its formation, a powerful wave of spiritual power erupted from Salas's mind, radiating out for tens of thousands of meters.
Spiritual Domain Realm — breakthrough.
Salas slowly opened his eyes, uncontrollable joy flashing across his face. Behind his mask, his golden eyes brimmed with charm.
"Spiritual Domain Realm… Spiritual Core… So that's it…" Salas clicked his tongue.
Now he understood why he had managed to condense the spiritual core — his spiritual power had reached the level of a Limit Douluo.
Back when he was at the peak of the Spirit Abyss Realm, he was only one step away from the next breakthrough, yet his spiritual power lacked the necessary density. Normally, it would take decades of meticulous cultivation to condense his spiritual power further.
But now, with the overwhelming influx of spiritual energy from the sacrifice, he easily surpassed that barrier. Quantity had triggered qualitative change.
That was the spiritual core.
If Salas remembered correctly, according to Douluo Dalu 2, the spiritual core and the Spiritual Domain Realm were inseparable. Once a soul master reached the Spiritual Domain Realm, the spiritual core would naturally form — and vice versa, though there were exceptions for some unique spiritual-type soul masters.
"So… if my physique reaches level 99, I can condense another core? It's quite possible… Though I'm not sure. But I'll probably form a soul core once my soul power reaches level 99."
"Today's spiritual core condensation made something clear — in this era, condensing cores is only possible at level 99."
"Which makes sense… This is the first known era where the standard for forming a soul core is so high. In future eras, that limit gradually drops… to level 90 ten thousand years later, and even level 70 twenty thousand years after that…" Salas mused, recalling everything he knew from the Douluo series.
Setting those thoughts aside, Salas rose to his feet and looked at the two large, blood-red soul rings revolving around his legs.
The initial weight of his Clear Sky Hammer had increased from 2,000 jin to over 20,000 jin.
"When Tang San added his eighth soul ring to the Clear Sky Hammer in the canon, its weight had already reached 100,000 jin — equal to the Sea God Trident. By using the Titan Giant Ape's soul bone skill, Ten Times Gravity, he increased it to a million jin."
"But based on my improvement… It looks like my Clear Sky Hammer will surpass Tang San's." Salas thought thoughtfully.
"Hmph. It makes sense… After all, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer only weighed 10,000 jin after absorbing his ninth ring — ten times lighter than Tang San's. The increase in weight depends on the age of the soul rings added to the hammer. With what I've added, my hammer might become the heaviest in the world." Salas grinned, excited.
"It's time to leave…" Salas looked up at the moon, calculating the time.
It had taken nearly an hour to absorb the soul ring and soul bone — probably the same as Tang San in the canon.
Salas quickly picked up Xiao Wu, who was lying nearby.
Summoning his Eight Spider Lances, Salas gently grazed a scratch on Xiao Wu's skin with one of the lance tips.
With a faint suction, all the poison in her body was extracted in the blink of an eye. Her complexion turned rosy, the previous paleness completely gone.
Looking at her soft, pink lips, Salas couldn't resist. He threw away his mask and captured her lips in a kiss, savoring it. He pried open her mouth and let his tongue dance inside… only after a few indulgent minutes did he pull away.
"Oh, Tang San… There goes your wife's first kiss…" Salas laughed wickedly. He pressed his body against her roughly, running his hands across her round butt cheeks with an indulgent sigh.
He wanted more… but managed to restrain himself.
Only after calming his rising impulses did he examine the changes in his external soul bone.
"It's evolved to over 60,000 years…" Salas muttered, gazing at the blood-red lances, which looked as though they were dripping in fresh blood.
Normally, external soul bones evolved with the user's cultivation. But since Salas had obtained this soul bone when he was already a Soul Douluo, its evolution lagged behind. Now, thanks to the energy from Da Ming and Er Ming, he had managed to close that gap somewhat.
Calculating how many more high-quality soul rings he'd need to evolve it to the hundred-thousand-year level, Salas moved to where Da Ming and Er Ming's bodies lay.
He picked up the two small corpses and stored them in his soul ring.
"The best place for them to rest in peace… is inside my stomach."
After scanning the area and confirming he'd missed nothing, Salas turned and disappeared under the bright full moon.
....
Nearly one and a half hours later, Salas brought Xiao Wu back to the hotel where he had placed Tang San earlier.
Noticing that Tang San was still unconscious and the effect of the drug hadn't worn off, Salas breathed a sigh of relief.
He had increased the dosage to more than three times the amount recommended by Dugu Bo, knowing that Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill might help him wake up earlier than expected.
"Sigh... This Mysterious Heaven Skill is really something. But I know Tang San won't hand it over to me... Alas, what can I do... I can only let your lover suffer for you," he muttered with a sad look as he untied the sack and placed Xiao Wu on the bed.
Without thinking, he let his impulses take over...
He ravished her lips and mouth...
letting his saliva slide down her throat—but he was careful not to leave any bite marks on her lips or skin.
After a while, he pulled his lips away from hers.
But,
Still feeling some of the anger he held toward Tang San remaining, Salas let his robe slide down to the floor...