Chapter 130: Tempering One’s Soul
In the conventional sense, soul-related artifacts such as the Soul-Respecting Banner possessed the ability of “Soul Refining,” which referred to “refining the souls of others.”
This type of refining cared nothing about whether others might suffer irreversible harm during the process of “Soul Refining.” As long as one achieved their own purpose, that was enough. It was a very inferior and crude method.
However, the sorcery that Mo Lin obtained from Qudeng of the Buddha Pagoda was not like this.
Its “Soul Refining” refined one’s own soul.
Yes, if the “Soul Refining” of the Soul-Respecting Banner meant “refining the souls of others,” then the sorcery that Mo Lin now grasped was “tempering one’s own soul.”
Refining and tempering—just one word apart, yet the effects were vastly different.
With this sorcery of “Soul Refining,” even without relying on external resources, Mo Lin could ensure that the strength of his soul steadily increased!
Before this, although Mo Lin had only been born a few years ago and his strength had skyrocketed, he had always carried a hidden concern—his soul’s advancement could not keep up with the advancement of his body.
The reasoning was simple.
When he ate humans or demonic beasts, he could digest their souls as well. But what about devouring minerals and resources?
Most of these resources strengthened only the physical body. While they could fortify his flesh, they did not possess the ability to strengthen the soul.
Over time, this would inevitably lead to the situation where his body grew strong, while his soul lagged behind.
Of course, this so-called “weak soul” was only relative to his own body. Compared to other demonic beasts, by relying on his devouring ability, he would never be weaker than them.
This was one of the few small drawbacks of the Devour talent—whatever one ate, that was what one replenished. But it would lead to “unbalanced nutrition.”
However, given that Mo Lin’s strength was still in a period of rapid growth, and every breakthrough he made would more or less drive some progress in his soul as well, Mo Lin chose to temporarily ignore this secondary concern.
Hadn’t he already raised his strength to Earth Rank, Middle Grade in such a short time? What more could he ask for?
Still, it had always stuck like a thorn in his throat, especially after he experienced Jingyue’s sneak attack—
Although, thanks to the Purple Crystal Dragon Ore, he managed to resolve that attack, what about the next time?
What if one day his body grew even stronger, but his soul failed to keep pace with his physical progress, and he happened to encounter someone even more adept in soul techniques than Jingyue? What then?
At that time, there would not be a Purple Crystal Dragon Ore conveniently at hand for him to rely upon.
But after Mo Lin devoured Qudeng of the Buddha Pagoda and obtained this sorcery of “Soul Refining,” his hidden worry finally dissolved.
“Soul Refining” could temper his soul, so even if he could no longer consume resources such as Purple Crystal Dragon Ore to nourish his soul, he did not need to worry too much about his soul falling behind his body’s progress.
Right now, after consuming the Purple Crystal Dragon Ore, his soul strength even surpassed his body to a certain extent.
If “Soul Refining” proved effective, then Mo Lin’s soul might even step into Heaven Rank before his body did!
……
Western Regions, White Horse Temple.
Suddenly, a Life-Lamp was extinguished, causing a small commotion in the White Horse Temple.
For this Life-Lamp belonged to none other than one of the more outstanding monks of the White Horse Temple’s “Jing” generation—Jingyue.
Jingyue excelled in soul techniques. At an early age, he had already created the unfathomable technique of “Dual Dream,” and had once converted an Earth Rank, High Grade demonic beast while himself only at Earth Rank, Middle Grade.
The Abbot of the White Horse Temple had once personally acknowledged Jingyue’s innate talent and publicly declared: given time, Jingyue would certainly step into Heaven Rank, with hopes of achieving a Golden Body.
Yet, such a promising young talent, highly regarded by the White Horse Temple, had suddenly fallen. How could this not shake the temple?
Thus, the White Horse Temple unusually convened a meeting.
“According to Hui Zhi’s account, Jingyue obeyed orders and, while investigating the matter in Yongzhou to uncover the cause of Jingchen’s death, accidentally perished during the process?”
Hui Zhi sat on a cushion at the very bottom, drenched in cold sweat.
Although he was of Heaven Rank, Lower Grade, ordinarily he was not even qualified to sit on this cushion.
Just look at who else attended this meeting.
Above him sat the West Hall, opposite him were the Rear Hall and the Hall Master.
And the one who had just spoken was none other than the First Seat, seated at the highest position.
This West Seat was the Chief of the West Hall, second only to the Abbot of the White Horse Temple. When such a figure spoke, Hui Zhi did not even dare to interrupt.
If not for the deaths of two disciples of the “Jing” generation—Jingchen and Jingyue—in Yongzhou, this West Seat would never have been alarmed.
Facing the First Seat’s questioning, Hui Zhi quickly replied:
“Replying to First Seat Senior Brother, it is indeed so. This humble monk believed that, with Jingyue’s ability, he would surely uncover the cause of Jingchen’s death. Even if the enemy was formidable, Jingyue should not have lost his life. Who would have thought…”
As Hui Zhi anxiously explained to his Senior Brother Hui Xin—the First Seat of the White Horse Temple—his heart also ached for the death of his disciple Jingyue.
He had only asked Jingyue to investigate Jingchen’s death, not to accompany him into the grave!
Jingyue had been destined to step into Heaven Rank. Once his disciple advanced, his own standing in the White Horse Temple would naturally rise as well.
Who could have imagined that Jingyue too would die in Yongzhou? For Hui Zhi, this was simply an unbearable loss.
Hui Xin, the First Seat, also understood how important Jingyue was to Hui Zhi. Therefore, he did not excessively blame him. The way things turned out was surely beyond Hui Zhi’s expectations as well.
The reason he had gathered the Chief of the West Hall this time was merely to uncover the cause of death of Jingchen and Jingyue:
“Jingchen and Jingyue—within such a short time, the White Horse Temple has successively lost two outstanding disciples. Even the Abbot has already heard of this matter.”
The Abbot knew as well?!
Upon hearing this, not only did Hui Zhi freeze, sweat soaking his back, but even the other three Hall Chiefs also changed expressions.
“I have summoned all of you, my fellow brothers, because I wish you to uncover the cause of death of these two disciples and propose a countermeasure.”
At this time, the West Hall, seated above Hui Zhi, took the initiative to speak and looked toward him:
“Hui Zhi, if I recall correctly, did not Jingyue take Qudeng with him when he went out for training?”
Hui Zhi quickly nodded:
“Yes, Senior Brother Hui Neng, Jingyue indeed brought Qudeng with him. When this humble monk instructed Jingyue to investigate Jingchen’s death, one of the reasons was precisely because he had Qudeng with him.”
The West Hall, Hui Neng, nodded:
“In that case, why not have the Buddha Pagoda summon Qudeng back? Wouldn’t that reveal what happened to Jingyue?”
Hearing this, the eyes of the several Hall Chiefs all turned toward the Hall Master, Hui Zhen.
Seeing this, Hui Zhen chuckled lightly and pinched a hand seal. A Buddha Pagoda appeared in his hand.
If Mo Lin had been present, he would have been astonished to discover that the Buddha Pagoda floating in Hui Zhen’s hand looked exactly the same as the Buddha Pagoda Qudeng he had just devoured!