The entire Zhutian Secret Realm was formed from the Qi Sea of Di Sha. Now, after accumulating for a thousand years, even with Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, he should have already condensed his core!
But doesn't core condensation require refining nine spirits?
This Zhutian Secret Realm has been sealed for a thousand years, so where did he find the nine spirits?
Just as Yun Ze was puzzled, the thirty-four corpses suddenly rose into the air, transforming into thirty-four strange orbs of light of various colors.
"Living Soul Spirits?"
Bubu frowned and uttered three words: "You want to condense a Soul Core!?"
She had learned about the current methods of core condensation and knew there were only three types: refining three spirits, six spirits, or nine spirits.
Each spirit refined required sacrificing one's own minor realm to fully integrate it.
To refine nine spirits, one would need to break through nine times from the late Foundation Establishment to the peak of Foundation Establishment!
The types of spirits were still all-encompassing, with beast spirits and elemental spirits being the most common. There were also some who refined spirit artifacts with themselves, merging them into one.
This was the path most artifact cultivators took.
However, it was different in ancient times.
In her era, core condensation did require spirit refinement, but the methods and types of spirit refinement were much more numerous.
The method Di Sha was using was one of the most top-tier – condensing Soul Cores!
This core condensation method required forcibly extracting the souls of thirty-six individuals at the peak of Foundation Establishment, while ensuring their physical bodies remained incorrupt!
After complete separation, their physical bodies would be used to nurture the souls for a thousand years.
During this millennium, the souls would need to be separated again every hundred years, ensuring they did not reintegrate with their original bodies, yet continued to receive nourishment from them.
After a thousand years, the souls would directly become spirits, and moreover, pure spirits devoid of consciousness!
These spirits were known as Living Soul Spirits, something every Foundation Establishment cultivator of that era yearned for, and also something countless artifact refiners and alchemists pursued!
Whether forging artifacts or refining pills, if a Living Soul Spirit was incorporated at the time of completion, the spirit artifact or pill would possess a spirit artifact or spirit pill!
If a Foundation Establishment cultivator gathered thirty-six Living Soul Spirits, they could condense twelve Soul Cores during core condensation!
One Soul Core could withstand one fatal injury!
Twelve Soul Cores represented twelve lives!
Even after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, these twelve Soul Cores would still be useful!
Because Living Soul Spirits were formed from individuals at the peak of Foundation Establishment, the core condenser would not need to regress in cultivation and re-cultivate. They only needed to refine the Living Soul Spirits.
However, this method was considered to be against heavenly principles, and before Bubu reached the core condensation stage, the various families had already abandoned it.
As a result, Bubu did not discover its profoundness at first glance of those corpses.
Where did this fellow find them?
"You even know about Soul Cores. I am becoming more and more curious about you."
Di Sha maintained a smile, and with a casual wave, the thirty-fifth corpse detached from the void.
He then fixed his gaze on Yun Ze: "Little fellow, don't say I didn't give you a chance. If you hand over your origin, immortal jade, and another Living Soul Spirit, I might consider leaving you a remnant soul to reincarnate.
If not... hehe, then don't blame me for refining you into a Living Soul Spirit."
Although Yun Ze didn't know what a Living Soul Spirit was, he knew he absolutely couldn't give it to Di Sha.
"You want it? Then come and take it yourself!"
He raised his hand and unleashed a Hidden Sword Slash!
The sword energy tore through the spatial rift, heading straight for Di Sha's body!
*Bang!*
Di Sha's body exploded, blood splattering across the entire space.
Did he die just like that?
As soon as this thought flashed through Yun Ze's mind, a figure appeared behind him, accompanied by a burst of wild laughter!
"Hahahaha! Little fellow, is that all you've got?"
Yun Ze quickly turned to look behind him!
Di Sha?
That sword clearly hit, how could it be...
"You like to slash, don't you?"
Di Sha asked with a smile, then waved his hand: "Then I'll let you slash to your heart's content!"
Instantly!
Dense figures emerged from all directions, each one... was Di Sha!
There were at least a thousand of them!
"Come on!"
Thousands of Di Shas spoke in unison, their voices echoing throughout the Zhutian Secret Realm: "You wanted to kill me, didn't you? Come and kill me! Let's see who finds whom first, or if I..."
A cold breeze swept by!
Yun Ze felt a chill on his neck, his body trembled, and then a low whisper sounded in his ear!
"...kill you!"
Yun Ze raised his hand and slashed behind him!
Unfortunately, the sword missed again.
Countless Di Shas burst into laughter, as if watching a monkey show.
"Yo! That sword is so powerful! I'm so scared!"
Yun Ze stood with his sword amidst the many Di Shas, listening to the echoing taunts, a sense of powerlessness washing over him!
The fellow was right. He only had the Hidden Sword technique to rely on. If even that was useless, then he was no match for Di Sha at all.
"Alright, stop playing these little tricks."
Bubu said casually, picked up a piece of broken stone, and tossed it forward.
The stone passed through the spatial rift and landed steadily on the head of one of the Di Shas.
*Bang~*
All the Di Shas' expressions instantly changed, and their eyes were filled with terror as they looked at Bubu: "You... how did you find me?"
"Is that difficult?"
Bubu retorted, and tossed another stone, this time landing on another Di Sha's head: "I told you they were just little tricks, but you insisted on showing them off. What could I do?"
Di Sha fell silent, completely different from his laughing self just moments ago, as if they were two different people.
If the first time he was bewildered, then the second time he was hit on his true body meant she truly had a way to pinpoint his existence!
If she were to unleash another sword strike with the boy's technique, he... might not be able to withstand it!
"You wanted to talk, didn't you?"
Bubu spoke first, taking the mountain demon from Yun Ze: "If you want to talk, show some sincerity."
"...Alright."
Di Sha agreed, and his countless figures instantly vanished, leaving only his true body suspended in mid-air.
If one looked closely, they could still see a slight swelling and redness on his forehead.
He stood amongst the thirty-five orbs of Living Soul Spirits, looking at Bubu with apprehension: "What do you want to talk about?"
"A trade."
Bubu uttered two words calmly, then said: "I want your thirty-five Living Soul Spirits.
Of course, in exchange, I can spare your life and answer some of your questions."
"What?"
Di Sha seemed to disbelieve his own ears: "The situation is in my favor now, and you say you'll spare my life? Is this the latest joke of the era?"
"If you kill us, you can get out?"
Bubu retorted: "Don't tell me you can't sense the outside situation.
There are at least two existences at the Tribulation Transcending stage or above guarding the secret realm. Once you appear, you will only have death awaiting you."
Di Sha remained silent.
He knew Bubu was speaking the truth, and he did have a way to escape, which was these Living Soul Spirits!
As long as he condensed his core, he would have twelve Soul Cores, and sacrificing one life would not be a big deal then.
But now, people knew about the Soul Core method, and perhaps people outside also knew.
Then this escape method would not be very secure. Although there was a glimmer of hope, it was also possible to fail and lead to his death.
However...
These thirty-five Living Soul Spirits were the foundation of his core condensation that he had prepared for a thousand years, and he absolutely could not give them away!
"Find another."
Di Sha said with a frown: "I will never give you these Living Soul Spirits, and if you want to leave, you must return the immortal jade and origin to me! Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss!"
"Then there's nothing to talk about?"
Bubu's eyes narrowed, and the mountain demon in her hand was slightly raised: "You can fool this kid, but you're too naive to fool me. It takes a thousand years to nurture one Living Soul Spirit.
If you only have thirty-five Living Soul Spirits, you can never condense your core. Since that's the case, let's see who lives."
"...Wait!"
Di Sha finally spoke.
He frowned, looking at Bubu with confusion and bewilderment.
He didn't know where this fellow came from, not only breaking his secret technique but also seeing through his plan.
Now, if he truly fought her, the odds were not in his favor.
Perhaps...
"Miss, since the trade cannot be settled, how about we have a gamble?"
He fell for it!
A hint of joy flashed in Bubu's eyes, but it was fleeting.
Her injuries had not yet recovered. Once Di Sha sealed the space, she wouldn't even be able to unleash the Hidden Sword. Within the Zhutian Secret Realm, she was no match for Di Sha!
If they were to fight, the best outcome would be a mutual destruction.
And a gamble was the result she wanted most!
According to historical records, in ancient times, the people of the ancient tribes loved gambling the most!
From family territories and heavenly treasures to cultivation techniques and spirit artifacts and pills, everything could be decided through gambling.
If Di Sha hadn't brought it up, she would have suggested it herself.
Fortunately.
Now that he proposed it, there was less room for suspicion.
"A gamble?"
Bubu sneered: "Me against you? What's the point of that? It's better to just fight directly!"
Huh!?
Yun Ze was stunned when he heard Bubu say that!
"Don't rush! Of course, it's not you and me."
Di Sha smiled and pointed at Yun Ze: "It's me and him."
Before Yun Ze could speak, Bubu let out another cold laugh: "Heh, this kid can't even see through your little tricks. Do you think I'll agree?"
"Of course, it's not that simple."
Di Sha spoke proactively: "I won't use the Thousand Illusions technique, nor will I use the Living Soul Spirits to fight. How about that?"
"No."
Bubu refused again: "You are at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level, and he is at the Qi Refining stage."
"I can only use my Qi Refining cultivation!"
Di Sha took another step back: "If you win, you can take the Living Soul Spirits, but you must also spare my life!"
Bubu did not refuse this time, but after a few moments of hesitation, she asked: "...And if you win?"
"Immortal jade, origin, and spare my life!"
"Ridiculous."
Bubu pressed again: "Do you think thirty-five Living Soul Spirits are worth more than immortal jade and origin?"
"...Then what do you suggest!"
"You..."
Bubu's eyes narrowed, and she said calmly: "Do you dare to gamble yourself?"