Douluo Continent: Heavenly Pill Demon Tiger

Chapter 236 Same-Position Resonance Dual Soul Cores

The court assembly of the Star Luo Empire dispersed, and the golden sunset bathed the imperial city complex in a warm afterglow.

Dai Youheng and Xu Jiujiu walked out of the palace gate side by side and boarded the carriage back to the princess's residence. Inside the carriage, Xu Jiujiu naturally leaned on Dai Youheng's shoulder, her fingertips unconsciously entwining the sash of his robe. The dignified composure she displayed in court gradually transformed into the affection of a young girl.

"It's finally over. Those old ministers' questions were always so long and complicated," she complained softly, her tone tinged with a hint of coquettishness.

Dai Youheng smiled slightly, raised his hand to stroke her soft hair, and said, "Your Highness has worked hard."

Back at the luxurious yet somewhat empty princess's residence, the two had dinner together and chatted for a while in the inner hall. Outside the window, night deepened, and the stars began to appear. Dai Youheng, estimating the time, stood up and said, "Jiujiu, it's getting late; I should go back to the hotel."

Xu Jiujiu's smile froze instantly. She grabbed Dai Youheng's hand, her eyes filled with confusion and disappointment. "Youheng, we—we're already like this, why are you still so fixated on that hotel? Isn't it better to stay in the Princess's residence? Isn't this your home?"

Her words carried a hint of pleading; even her noble status seemed insignificant in the face of love.

Dai Youheng turned around, grasped her shoulders with both hands, his gaze focused yet tinged with a deliberate air of helplessness. "Jiujiu, it is precisely because I cherish you that I cannot do this. Although we are of one mind, we are not yet married. If I were to remain in the Princess's residence for an extended period, His Majesty's desk would be piled high with memorials from the censors, which would damage your reputation."

As he spoke, a playful smile curved his lips. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, "Besides—the land of beauties is the home of heroes. If I were to spend every day with you, my mind would be filled with nothing but you. How could I possibly concentrate on cultivation? The competition is imminent, and my opponents are no ordinary people. If I were to fail you and His Majesty's expectations due to negligence, wouldn't I regret it too late?"

Xu Jiujiu's cheeks flushed red from his blatant sweet talk, feeling both sweet and annoyed. She couldn't help but bite him lightly, "Pah! Who asked you to have me on your mind—just some nonsense!"

Dai Youheng already had a record of staying in her room for seven days and seven nights without leaving. Reputation? That thing was probably eaten up by Luo Sanpao long ago.

That being said, the pursuit of strength and sense of responsibility implied in his words struck a chord with her.

She knew he had lofty ambitions and understood that what he said made sense. Having just tasted the sweetness of love, the two spent all their time together, their lives consumed by intimacy; they had no interest in cultivation whatsoever.

In the end, that little bit of dissatisfaction turned into helpless indulgence. "Fine, fine, I can't argue with you. Anyway, we're both in Star Luo City. I'll send someone to pick you up first thing tomorrow morning to discuss the team's joint training."

"Alright, Your Highness will do as you say." Dai Youheng readily agreed, planted a kiss on her smooth forehead, and then turned and left without any hesitation.

However, the reality was that Dai Youheng had many things to give orders to Nana and Lingya, and since he was staying at the princess's residence, he didn't have the opportunity to do so.

Back at the hotel, after confirming that it was safe in the surroundings, Dai Youheng pushed open the door to a quiet room and said in a calm voice, "Nana, Lingya."

Almost the instant he finished speaking, two figures appeared behind him like ghosts, kneeling on one knee with utmost respect, "Young Master!"

Dai Youheng turned around, her gaze first falling on Ling Ya, and cut straight to the point, "Ling Ya, has Nana given you the Star Luo Spirit Pearl? Have you consumed and refined it?"

Ling Ya raised his head, a hint of shame and confusion on his face. "Reporting to Young Master, I have taken the Spirit Pearl. Its medicinal power is gentle yet vast, which I can clearly sense. However, my soul power level remains at level ninety-one, and I have failed to break through. The core of the Spirit Pearl has transformed into a strange starlight, residing in my dantian, adjacent to my icy soul core, yet clearly distinct. I have attempted to guide it, but I dare not rashly attempt to impact it, lest it trigger a soul power conflict and fail to live up to Young Master's high expectations."

"It's alright." Dai Youheng waved his hand, as if he had expected this. "The secret of the Star Luo Spirit Pearl is not to directly increase the level of soul power. Its core fruit is the opportunity to condense a second soul core. You already have a Frost Soul Core in your dantian. If you want to condense a second soul core, you need to move this fruit to a different location."

He gestured for Lingya to stand up and walk to the futon in the center of the room to sit down. "Today, I will pass on to you a secret technique of guiding Qi from the Spiritual Pivot within the Golden Gang Evil-Repelling Body. This technique is specifically for the precise control of the flow of soul power, revealing the true essence in the microscopic realm. You need to use this technique as a guide to slowly guide the fruit in your dantian to the Tanzhong acupoint in your chest."

Ling Ya held his breath and listened intently. Dai Youheng then recited a rather profound incantation, involving the methods of condensing, transporting, and solidifying soul power in specific meridians. Its subtlety far surpassed that of ordinary meditation methods.

Ling Ya was already a titled Douluo, with a very deep foundation in controlling soul power. Upon hearing this profound technique, a look of enlightenment flashed in his eyes from time to time.

"Remember," Dai Youheng emphasized, "the Tanzhong acupoint is the location of the middle dantian, which can resonate with the Frost Soul Core in your lower dantian. This is currently your only feasible path. As for the more difficult and powerful Yin-Yang complementarity method, it is only possible for those with exceptional talent. Even powerful figures like Long Xiaoyao and Mu En failed to achieve it. You must not be overly ambitious."

"I understand. If we can obtain the second soul core of the same position resonance, it will be an incredible opportunity. I would never dare to dream of anything else!" Ling Ya replied solemnly.

He knew the value of dual soul cores. Even if it was just resonance in the same position, once successful, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap, enough to make him stand out from the vast majority of titled Douluo of the same level.

Under Dai Youheng's protection, Ling Ya immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Ling Shu Qi Guiding Technique he had just learned. His expression was sometimes solemn and sometimes relaxed, and the fluctuations of his soul power became extremely subtle and restrained. He focused all his mind on his body, guiding the starlight along specific meridians, as if moving an invisible mountain, slowly and firmly towards the Tanzhong acupoint in his chest.

This process lasted for about an hour. Dai Youheng stood quietly to the side, his keen observation focusing on the most subtle changes in Ling Ya's soul power. Nana guarded the outer perimeter, wary of any possible interference.

Finally, Ling Ya's body trembled slightly, and a soft, brilliant light suddenly shone from his chest, echoing the icy blue light of his dantian's ice soul core. Although they were independent, they subtly generated a strange resonance frequency, causing the air around him to ripple slightly.

A much more profound and refined aura emanated from him than before.

Ling Ya opened his eyes, his face beaming with joy and gratitude. "Young Master, it's a success! I have successfully condensed the golden fruit in my middle dantian!"

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