Chapter 46: Form Without Substance and the Theory of a Second Awakening of the Body

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"

The spatial tunnel beside Huo Yuhao had already expanded to a size large enough for a person to enter.

Seeing this, Skydream Iceworm's eyes lit up with joy. Facing Jiang Jue, he slowly retreated toward the tunnel.

His movements were filled with a strong sense of stealth and caution.

"I, Brother Skydream, will come back!"

Skydream Iceworm shouted, his voice filled with grievance, unwillingness, and a trace of unnoticeable sadness.

He still hadn't seen his beloved Bing Bing!

If Jiang Jue knew what Skydream Iceworm was thinking right now, he would definitely award him a grand "Clown Medal."

"Go back to Gotham, Batman said he won't hit you anymore."

Huo Yuhao's figure completely disappeared into the spatial tunnel, and the silver-white vortex vanished along with him.

"Young Lord, we..."

"Let's go. We've already gotten what we came for. The rest can be taken care of in due time."

A brief flicker of gloom passed through Nangong Wan's eyes, but in an instant, his gaze regained its brilliance.

He, Nangong Wan, had returned once more.

"Young Lord instructed us to safeguard these spiritual essences. He will be waiting for us in the Ice Valley."

Nangong Wan said solemnly.

"Elder Zhang, you take them back. I will hide on your person."

"Although Masked Douluo has a few screws loose, he is still a Semi-Spiritual Attribute Titled Douluo. He might notice me."

After speaking, Nangong Wan handed the 150,000-year-old spiritual essence in his hands to Zhang Peng.

When Masked Douluo woke up, Jiang Jue had arranged for Nangong Wan to "die," keeping him hidden as a secret force.

The reason for his "death" was simple and believable—Nangong Wan had self-destructed his soul to wound the Ice Empress, sacrificing himself to let them escape.

Thus, Nangong Wan had died heroically, all for the sake of the Holy Son and the Holy Church. He had died honorably, for a righteous cause.

When Masked Douluo heard the news, he was even moved to tears, crying out that they must build a memorial for Nangong Wan and burn offerings for him frequently.

Zhang Peng accepted the spiritual essence and gave a slight nod. Now, they all worked for Jiang Jue, so his orders were their absolute priority.

Nangong Wan transformed into a black-green mist and quietly fused into Zhang Peng's body, vanishing from sight.

With a flick of his robe, Zhang Peng summoned dark clouds beneath his feet and turned to fly toward Ice Valley, where Jiang Jue was waiting.

In Ice Valley.

Seated cross-legged on the ground, Jiang Jue suddenly opened his eyes. A fleeting gray light flashed through them, and his entire demeanor appeared somewhat fatigued.

Controlling the soul of a Titled Douluo remotely was still quite taxing for him.

Within his Sea of Spirit, the golden Life Gold that had been suppressed at the bottom slowly emitted faint green glows, soothing Jiang Jue's exhaustion.

"Crack! Holy Son, you're awake."

"Elder Zhang still hasn't returned."

Masked Douluo retrieved a massive crocodile head from his spatial ring and took a big bite.

Scales flew off as the delicious brain matter was sucked into his mouth with a single slurp, going down smoothly.

Jiang Jue shook his head.

This Masked Douluo… truly lived up to his reputation as a gourmand. He was no different from a certain Chicken Leg Douluo.

Not long after—

Zhang Peng flew into the Ice Valley from outside.

"Huh? This feels familiar."

Masked Douluo suddenly called out in surprise.

He seemed to sense the presence of Nangong Wan, who was supposed to be dead.

But in the next moment, he shook his head.

His second brother was already dead. He must have been mistaken.

It seemed his mind had been too tense lately. He needed to eat more brains to replenish himself.

Just as Zhang Peng tensed up, already preparing to knock Masked Douluo unconscious and give him a "Memory Erasure Special," Masked Douluo simply shook his head and continued gnawing on his meal.

"Elder Yue, stay here. Elder Zhang and I have some matters to attend to."

Jiang Jue said softly to Masked Douluo.

"Go on, go on."

Masked Douluo mumbled as he ate.

Jiang Jue and Zhang Peng exchanged glances before heading outside.

Fifty miles outside Ice Valley.

A mass of black-green mist drifted out from Zhang Peng's body and coalesced into Nangong Wan's spiritual form. He respectfully stood beside Jiang Jue.

Zhang Peng waved his hand, taking out the 250,000-year-old spiritual essence and handing it over to Jiang Jue.

Jiang Jue grasped it in one hand. Feeling the vast spiritual power within these three golden masses, his eyes gleamed with fervor.

This was a full 250,000 years of spiritual essence.

Moreover, after Skydream Iceworm had ascended to a million-year soul beast, its spiritual essence had also undergone sublimation.

Ordinarily, spiritual essence should be milky white, but the ones in Jiang Jue's hands were completely tinged with gold, their light flowing and shifting like something divine.

Without hesitation, Jiang Jue summoned his Soul Refining Banner.

Gripping it tightly, he immediately stored the spiritual essences inside.

However, he did not rush to refine them. If he absorbed them directly, he felt he might be overwhelmed by their immense power.

The Soul Refining Banner was quite spacious, large enough to hold the spiritual essences securely.

After safely storing them, Jiang Jue extended two eerie dark chains and gently inserted them into the 50,000-year-old spiritual essence, slowly drawing out its power.

He then used the Soul Refining Banner to channel this power into his Sea of Spirit.

As the spiritual energy flowed into his Sea of Spirit, Jiang Jue felt an indescribable, profound sensation.

At that moment, the entire world seemed to tremble slightly.

A mysterious force descended upon him.

Suddenly, Jiang Jue experienced an overwhelming clarity of mind—a sense of enlightenment. He also felt an inexplicable connection to something beyond comprehension.

But then—

The Soul Refining Banner swelled threefold, enveloping Jiang Jue in an instant. A powerful suction force emerged.

That mysterious energy was instantly sucked into the banner.

A black, ominous mist rose from within the banner and dissipated into nothingness.

Jiang Jue froze for a moment.

Then, to his astonishment, that same profound sensation returned, but this time, it was channeled through the Soul Refining Banner.

The world itself seemed to welcome him more warmly than before.

As if nothing had happened, the Soul Refining Banner quietly returned to Jiang Jue's hand.

"What was that…?"

Jiang Jue furrowed his brows and stared at the banner, a strange feeling in his heart.

For a brief moment, it had felt as if the Soul Refining Banner had activated some special protection mechanism to shield him.

"Was that fortune? Luck? But was it the fate of Douluo Continent itself, or something influenced by a God-King…?"

Shaking his head, Jiang Jue dismissed the thoughts.

He was still too weak. Overthinking would only hinder his cultivation.

However, he could feel that his destiny had become significantly stronger.

More importantly—

The spiritual essences were enough to push his Spiritual Realm into the "Form Without Substance" level, or even beyond.

At least in the short term, he wouldn't have to worry about his spiritual power.

"Next comes my body's breakthrough."

Jiang Jue thought to himself.

His Body Martial Soul encompassed his entire being—both physically and spiritually. To undergo a second awakening, both aspects were essential.

"It's time to bestow my Body Martial Soul with its first soul ring."

Extreme attributes. The strongest body.

Jiang Jue wanted them both.