The self-created Great Sun Manual began to circulate, converting the continuous influx of Sun power into soul power, which was steadily channeled into the soul tool. At the same time, Xu Yang used his spiritual power to stabilize the crimson-gold soul power vortex within.
He continued the cycle of compression and rotation.
Soon, the surface of the soul tool became covered with countless thin, black cracks—not from damage, but from space itself shattering under the intense distortion of its magnetic field.
Xu Yang's forehead was drenched in sweat, his expression tense. The appearance of spatial fractures signaled the most critical step had arrived. If the vortex of soul power could successfully absorb spatial force, then a true soul core could be formed.
However, for Xu Yang, the Soul Core wasn't the most important goal. What truly mattered was comprehending the fluctuations of space. At the same time, through the process of condensing a Soul Core, he aimed to develop a method for forming a Golden Core. He already had a conceptual framework for the Inner Core Technique, but lacked a concrete method for Golden Core formation. This would require him to verify it step by step through experimentation.
Fortunately, a soul core could be formed outside the body, giving him the freedom to fail without fatal consequence. As long as he kept trying, a breakthrough would eventually come.
He had a hunch that spatial force might just be the key to forming the golden core.
At that moment, the spiritual energy of the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Academy surged madly toward Xu Yang's room, alarming the three academy deans. Was someone attempting to break through to Titled Douluo right here in the academy?
Even far away in the East Palace, Qian Renxue, She Long, and Ci Tong sensed the anomaly. Qian Renxue immediately ordered the two elders to escort her to investigate. She very much wanted to see who was trying to advance to the Titled Douluo level.
Meanwhile, Dugu Bo was already dashing toward the academy at full speed. The source of the energy disturbance was coming from the training ground shared by Xu Yang and Dugu Yan. Dugu Bo didn't believe it was a Titled Douluo breakthrough—his first thought was that Xu Yang had stirred up trouble again.
Sure enough, when he arrived, he saw Xu Yang seated cross-legged on the balcony. Behind him, his Sun Martial Soul continuously pulled in endless Sun power, which combined with ambient spiritual energy and poured into the black-cracked metal sphere in Xu Yang's hands.
What's more, the closer Dugu Bo approached, the more he felt his own soul power being drawn into the sphere.
Startled, he quickly suppressed his soul power. After all, his soul power was laced with poison—who knew what could happen if it got pulled in?
After a brief scan, he realized Dugu Yan and the others were not in good shape—their soul power had already been partially drained.
"That damn brat's insane!"
Cursing under his breath, Dugu Bo's figure flashed as he moved to rescue them. If those kids stayed here any longer, their soul power would be completely drained, and they'd die from exhaustion.
After he pulled everyone out, the three deans finally arrived and were stunned by the scene on the balcony. They rushed over and asked, "Lord Dugu, what in the world is going on here?!"
Dugu Bo's face was grave. "That little punk is experimenting with soul power solidification. Hurry and evacuate all the students from the academy. See that strange metallic orb in his hand? The amount of soul power inside it is already at the level of a Titled Douluo. If it explodes, half the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy could be wiped out."
"What?! Understood—we're on it!"
Without time to ask further, the three deans split up to begin the evacuation.
The students didn't know what was going on, but seeing the urgent expressions on the deans' faces, they quickly complied and began to flee the academy grounds.
Elsewhere, atop the combat arena, "Xue Qinghe"—Qian Renxue in disguise—gazed into the distance at Xu Yang. She asked with curiosity, "Uncles She and Ci, what is Xu Yang doing? Do you know?"
She Long's face was serious. "My lady, I'm not entirely sure, but the metallic sphere in his hand gives me a very similar feeling to the soul core I condensed when I broke through to Titled Douluo."
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. "You mean he's trying to form a soul core in advance?"
She Long nodded. "That seems likely. Even if he doesn't succeed this time, the experience will be invaluable. When he truly condenses his core in the future, it will surely be more refined than ours."
Qian Renxue smiled, eyes gleaming. "As expected of the man I've set my eyes on—his thinking truly is different from the rest. I want him even more now."
At that moment, space rippled again, and Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong appeared beside them, clearly having sensed the disturbance and rushed over at full speed.
Meanwhile, Xu Yang's entire consciousness was focused on the soul tool in his hand. The dark cracks on its surface had begun to glow with a crimson-gold light.
The vortex inside spun faster and faster, its volume shrinking as the surrounding space fractured further, nearing collapse.
"It's done!" Dugu Bo couldn't help but exclaim. Even Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong revealed relieved smiles.
But just then, Xu Yang opened his eyes, soaked in sweat. Behind his Sun Martial Soul, a second, even larger sun began to rise.
"Where the Great Sun shines—all becomes sacred ground!"
With that quiet declaration, a powerful radiance erupted. Everyone present could feel an immense spiritual force surge into the soul tool.
The second sun wasn't fully material—it was an illusory projection of the one Xu Yang had meditated on for years within his spiritual sea.
Under the immense force of his spirit, the previously unstable soul power vortex suddenly slowed and was completely restrained within the soul tool.
Xu Yang stood up, veins bulging on his arm as he tightened his grip. Gathering all his strength in a single motion, he hurled the sphere high into the sky.
"Everyone, take cover!"
Gu Rong shouted, conjuring a shield of bone to protect himself, Ning Fengzhi, Dugu Bo, and the team members.
Ning Fengzhi followed up immediately with Nine Treasure True Body, casting his eighth soul skill: Nine Treasure Protective Divine Light, covering the group in a shield of light.
The semi-solid soul core, now lacking Xu Yang's spiritual control, began to expand rapidly. If not for the soul tool being made of Deep Sea Sunken Silver, it would've exploded on the spot.
Xu Yang's throw had tremendous force. In the blink of an eye, the sphere soared ten thousand meters into the sky.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted. It was as though a new sun had appeared in the heavens, dyeing the entire world gold.
All of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy trembled.
Many students who had just made it outside collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath with pale faces.
When the light of the false sun faded, Xu Yang activated his Sun Gold Eyes and spotted a small black object falling from the sky. With a light tap of his foot, he leapt into the air and caught it.
"As expected of Deep Sea Sunsteel Mother Silver… even in such a terrifying explosion, it only cracked a little."
Staring at the damaged but still intact soul tool in his hand, Xu Yang's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin