Just like how Tang San brought the Xuan Tian Record with him after being reincarnated not because the cultivation technique itself surpassed all other methods in this world—but because its foundational theory, particularly its comprehensive understanding of the human body's meridians, completely outclassed the theories developed by soul masters over the centuries in this world.
It's just that Tang San himself never truly realized this fact.
Similarly—
What Zhou Qing brought from his past life wasn't some omnipotent cheat that could defy heaven, earth, and logic, but rather a broader perspective and more advanced way of thinking.
In this world, once the right key is obtained, this advantage can be fully unleashed!
And what is that key?
A martial soul with innate full soul power!
Plus, the complete foundational theories of the human body's meridians and acupoints that he had learned from Tang San!
These two things gave Zhou Qing the opportunity to achieve results that the vast majority—or even all—soul masters in this world could never have imagined!
"So that's how it is. Soul masters rely primarily on their martial soul when absorbing soul rings. What's called the refining process is essentially about 'polishing' a medium that allows the two to connect. It's slightly different from assembling building blocks, but not by much... So my theory was right—soul rings can be 'grafted' onto martial souls and grow along with them, as long as those fine threads connecting the two inside the channel are fully linked!"
Zhou Qing turned to the Ice Silkworm and asked, "How long can you maintain this ability?"
"Relax, bro. I'm not like Romantina. I'm using my own soul power and spiritual energy to maintain it. Even if it goes on for three years, it won't be a problem."
Three years—of course, that was an exaggeration.
Romantina hadn't reached the level of being able to turn her flesh and blood into pure energy. Without food or drink, she wouldn't last three days, let alone three years.
After all, soul power can't replace food.
Before one's strength reaches a certain realm, soul power even requires a strong physique to sustain normal operation.
But with the Ice Silkworm's spiritual power, maintaining this for three hours wouldn't be an issue.
"Alright, then keep it going—and constantly monitor the thread fluctuations between my martial soul and soul ring. I'll enter a meditative state using your spiritual sharing. I want to try linking those fine threads together by controlling my soul power with greater precision."
With that, Zhou Qing sat cross-legged on the ground and began attempt after attempt, using the spiritual visuals shared by the Ice Silkworm to carefully guide the tiny threads within the connection between martial soul and soul ring to touch and link.
Originally, Zhou Qing wouldn't have been able to observe this level of detail, but with the Ice Silkworm's spiritual detection and sharing, it was like he had access to a super microscope.
The rest was just a matter of trying everything—an exhaustive method—to link all the fine threads between the martial soul and soul ring and truly make them one.
And indeed, that's what happened!
Since the soul ring had already been roughly refined by the martial soul and its corresponding threads forced into the same channel, under Zhou Qing's control, the threads extending from the soul ring began to actively connect with those from the martial soul.
It was surprisingly easy!
However, Zhou Qing soon discovered that not just any two threads could link—some would simply brush past each other with no reaction.
That made him realize the connections needed to be matched precisely on both sides for the link to be perfect.
> Good thing the system can match them automatically, he thought. If I had done this manually, who knows what kind of errors I'd make later... Perhaps, the refining process of a soul ring already forms a complete socket and plug—but actually fitting the plug into the socket is a whole different skill.
In the blink of an eye, three hours had passed.
Zhou Qing opened his eyes and allowed the Ice Silkworm to rest.
"Did it work?" the Ice Silkworm asked excitedly.
"It did," Zhou Qing nodded, fatigue showing in his eyes. "The connection between the martial soul and soul ring consists of nine channels. Each channel contains over a hundred threads... It's a massive project. Even with your help, I'm feeling completely drained."
However, the moment he activated his martial soul, his heart gave a powerful beat, and a mysterious vitality surged through his body, revitalizing him—even his drained spirit was suddenly re-energized.
Martial Soul: The core of the circulatory system—the heart. Within his left atrium, a faint green glow appeared.
It was that green light that eliminated Zhou Qing's fatigue.
> This sensation is just like when I absorbed the Moo Spring Bull's soul ring—when a burst of vitality surged through my spine...
Zhou Qing turned his gaze to the soul ring.
The Moo Spring Bull's soul ring was still yellow, but around its edges, new patterns resembling bull horns had appeared, glowing faint red, drawing attention.
"First Soul Skill: Wing Chun!"
Zhou Qing activated the first skill and immediately noticed how much smoother his soul power flowed. At the same time, the soul ring trembled—the red bull horn patterns flared with light, and the faint outline of a blood-colored Moo Spring Bull appeared in the center of the ring.
Soul ring?
No—
This should now be called a Soul Disc!
Zhou Qing swung both fists into the nearby forest, and a blood-red Moo Spring Bull erupted from between his fists, instantly tearing through the trees and leaving a 50-meter-long path of devastation before it dissipated.
That power—
It was far more than a 50% boost!
Zhou Qing was stunned.
Even a Soul Elder (third rank) would die instantly if they took a direct hit from this. Even those with top-tier or supreme martial souls would be no exception!
"Whoa!" the Ice Silkworm exclaimed. "That's incredible! This is the kind of strike a Moo Spring Bull with about 500 years of cultivation would unleash after building up momentum—it's their strongest possible attack!"
What did this mean?
It meant Zhou Qing had completely refined the Moo Spring Bull's soul ring—to the point that even without charging or building momentum, he could unleash the soul skill at full power!
More importantly, Zhou Qing realized he had only used a third of the soul power he used before!
When he first acquired this soul ring, it required a full charge with his feet on the ground, and he would be completely drained after just one strike.
But now?
He could unleash the Moo Spring Bull's full power instantly, without any buildup—and the energy cost was just a third of what it used to be.
"So this is the benefit of secondary refinement!"
Zhou Qing now understood that merely absorbing a soul ring created a connection between the martial soul and soul ring but the fine threads weren't fully connected. Even with an invisible "channel" guiding the flow, a lot of soul power would still be wasted in the transfer...
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix