Xu Yuan continued to recall the process of Feng Wuyu's forging in his mind, as if each hammer strike was teaching him how to perform soul forging.
Although Xu Yuan couldn't replicate Feng Wuyu's dragon aura tempering method, he had essentially grasped every step of the soul forging process.
He was already at the threshold of this stage, with a solid understanding. Now, having witnessed an experienced elder demonstrate for seven days and nights, Xu Yuan's gains were undoubtedly abundant.
Of course, the progress in forging was secondary.
This time, through observation, Xu Yuan felt that many of Feng Wuyu's ideas about forging could be referenced to assist in condensing his soul core.
Yun Ming nodded slowly.
He didn't question Xu Yuan further or press him for more details.
Though it was an exchange about forging, it only lasted half a day.
Zhen Hua didn't say much to Feng Wuyu. After adjusting his state, he personally demonstrated heavenly forging once and explained his understanding of it.
After seeing Zhen Hua off, Xu Yuan eagerly announced his seclusion.
Breakthrough.
Let's count carefully—Xu Yuan had been stuck at Level 59 for eight months.
Is being stuck at Level 59 for eight months long?
For all soul masters, it wasn't long.
Yes, not just for most soul masters, but for all soul masters—being stuck at Level 59 for eight months was normal.
Even Yun Ming, who might have only taken six months to break through from Level 59 to Level 60 back in his day, wouldn't think eight months was too long.
The rise of every peerless genius was the result of countless opportunities piling up.
Without opportunities, relying solely on cultivation, even Yun Ming wouldn't dare claim he could maintain his past achievements after Level 50.
Everything depended on favorable conditions.
Xu Yuan had been stuck for eight months.
However, this bottleneck wasn't just the typical one for Level 60—it also included the bottleneck for condensing a soul core.
Forget ordinary soul masters who condensed their first soul core at Level 90. Some of them took over a decade to condense their first soul core, while even the faster ones required at least three years.
As for geniuses who condensed their first soul core at Levels 70 or 60, even they needed one to two years just to condense it.
Yet Xu Yuan, facing two bottlenecks simultaneously, was only stuck for eight months.
Of course, he had just entered seclusion, so it remained to be seen how long this bottleneck would last.
"Elder Feng, thank you so much this time," Lan Muzi said with deep gratitude.
His battle armor was already in the upgrade phase.
Lan Muzi, being a mech designer, had already completed engraving the new core array. His battle armor was now in the stage of transferring its spiritual essence. After some time, his battle armor would be upgraded. Though it would still be three-word battle armor, it would be a qualitative leap forward.
Previously, Lan Muzi's battle armor was already at the pinnacle of three-word battle armors.
After all, forged from a six-metal spiritually imbued alloy, such three-word battle armor could suffice even up to Level 98.
Even a Level 99 Limit Douluo could gain a slight boost in strength from this set of battle armor.
Now, after completing this upgrade, its compatibility with Lan Muzi's martial soul was nearly perfect, providing even greater amplification.
At the same time, since battle armor was worn by the martial soul, the characteristics of the Dark Sunstone would gradually influence his martial soul during repeated fusion, promoting the evolution of his martial soul.
"No problem. I gained quite a bit from this forging session as well," Feng Wuyu stroked his fiery-red beard and laughed heartily.
No one was more excited than him.
From this trip to the Demon Plane, he had accumulated many insights. Through this forging, he had essentially digested them all. Then, after exchanging ideas with Zhen Hua, heavenly forging seemed to be within reach.
Dark Sunstone?
While it had an unparalleled effect on Lan Muzi, how could it not also inspire Feng Wuyu?
Feng Wuyu's flames were originally domineering and unrestrained. During his earlier research on the Dark Sunstone, his flames had subtly begun to transform.
Now, through multiple sessions of soul forging, feeling the internal structure of the Dark Sunstone and sensing the "life" within it, his flames were on the verge of metamorphosis.
The vague feelings he had before, combined with the upcoming transformation, greatly increased his chances of breaking through.
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Demon Plane
Zhuo Shi left Shrek City directly and began exploring the Demon Plane.
This Elder had been spurred into action.
Having competed with Feng Wuyu for most of his life, he was unwilling to be overshadowed by him at this critical juncture.
Even knowing how difficult it was to break through the limit, he absolutely refused to lose to that old madman!
"Concealment, concealment—if that crazy old man can find a way to make his flames more restrained using the Dark Sunstone and improve his fire attribute's quality, then I'll pursue the opposite—flames that are even more violent, more explosive, more destructive!"
Zhuo Shi went berserk in his exploration of the Demon Plane.
With his strength, he could rampage through the Demon Plane without restraint.
Aside from the Hell Gate, which couldn't be touched, and the territories of the three northern kings, which couldn't be invaded, he explored the domains of the other seven major overlords under Alba.
No one expected that Feng Wuyu, who usually acted like a reckless madman, would gain insight into the concept of flame restraint and use it to break through.
Even less imaginable was that Zhuo Shi, who had started cultivating himself later in life, would instead take the path of extreme violence, exploring the most explosive side of fire attributes.
"Sister Cai, do you want to explore as well?" Ya Li asked curiously.
Cai Yue'er shook her head helplessly.
This trip to the Demon Plane was destined to be an opportunity for those two.
Feng Wuyu was indeed fortunate to encounter the Dark Sunstone, and his chances of breaking through were now extremely high.
As for Zhuo Shi, even though he hadn't found his opportunity yet, his current actions and constant talk of explosiveness instinctively made them feel that his chances of breaking through weren't small either.
Of the four Elders who entered the Demon Plane, only Ya Li and Cai Yue'er remained.
Two of them had already gained opportunities—how could Cai Yue'er not feel tempted?
But breaking through limits was not something that could be rushed.
Especially for her Silver Moon martial soul, which, despite being a power-type offense soul, was incredibly explosive. In cultivation, however, she had to pursue a calm and stable mindset.
"Ya Li, although the Demon Plane is incompatible with your martial soul, it is subconsciously oppressing you. Perhaps a long period of seclusion here could give you hope of breaking through," Cai Yue'er admitted. Among the four of them, she was currently the most uncertain.
Ya Li's martial soul countered all evil forces.
But at the same time, how could evil forces not counter her as well?
The ambient energy of the Demon Plane instinctively rejected her.
This rejection constantly formed pressure, akin to training with added weight.
Moreover, Ya Li's martial soul was unique—it could grow stronger by absorbing faith, even boosting her soul power cultivation. Back when a great plague swept across the Federation, Ya Li, at the Soul Sage level, traveled tirelessly across fourteen provinces in half a month, burning her life force to save countless lives. Though she exhausted her life force, the growing faith of the people sustained her life. After falling into a coma for a year, she awoke overnight and achieved the rank of Titled Douluo.
In this Demon Plane, purifying demonic forces might not provide her with faith, but guarding Shrek City and assisting the Golden Ancient Tree in transforming the environment was itself a great merit.
Perhaps her unique ability to absorb faith could directly receive nourishment from the Golden Ancient Tree, allowing her to ascend to the realm of Limit Douluo.
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