The night was hazy, stars twinkling.
Holy Soul Village had fallen completely silent; even the rhythmic clanging of iron from the village’s end had long ceased.
Ning Chuan lay on his hard plank bed.
After confirming that his parents and younger sister were sound asleep, he once again sank his consciousness into his mind.
“Enter the station.
Spiritual Body entering.”
The familiar pulling sensation returned, light and shadow swirling.
The next moment, his Spiritual Body had already appeared on the cold, safe metal platform.
The platform remained empty, save for the newly expanded circular area at its edge, a testament to his previous diligent work.
Ning Chuan first called up his status panel and inventory list.
“Station Master: Ning Chuan”
“Spirit Power Level: 25”
“Martial Soul: Azure Jade Willow Leaf Grass”
“Spirit Rings: Emerald Green (Tree of Life Elf, Millennium), Milky White (Light Elf, Millennium)”
“Points: 166”
“Current Materials: Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingot x 2 (Quality: Common);
High-Density Tungsten Steel Ingot x 2;
Ancient Earth Dragon Lizard Vertebra Fossil x 1;
Shattered Earth Crystal x 5;
Biomass Essence x 1 (unit);
Zerg Chitin Powder x 1 (unit);
Basic Psionic Fiber x 2 (unit);
…”
Both his points and materials remained unchanged.
Ning Chuan’s gaze fell upon the five ‘Shattered Earth Crystals.’
Each crystal was about the size of a fist, with irregular fractured surfaces.
They were entirely earthy yellow in color, their surfaces rough, as if containing the weight and solidity of the earth itself.
They emitted faint yet pure fluctuations of earth-attribute energy.
He had raked them out from a pile of mineral slag while clearing the platform’s edge earlier.
“Station, analyze these five Earth Crystals.
Can they be fused and purified?”
“Analyzing…”
“Target: Shattered Earth Crystal x 5”
“Material: Pure Earth Element Crystal (Slightly Depleted)”
“Condition: Structurally stable, medium energy activity.”
“Executable Operation: Fusion Purification.
Point Cost: 10.
Low probability of obtaining a higher-quality complete Earth Element Crystal.”
“Execute?”
“Execute!” Ning Chuan did not hesitate.
Ten points were still within an acceptable range; it was worth a try.
The Decomposition Recovery Light Pillar at the platform’s center did not light up.
Instead, patterns on the ground in another nearby area flickered with an earthy yellow glow, forming a smaller circular magic array.
He placed the five Earth Crystals into the center of the array.
Hum!
The earthy yellow light intensified, enveloping the five crystals.
The process was not violent; instead, it carried a sense of steady, heavy solidity.
A moment later, the light faded.
In the center of the array, the five shattered crystals had vanished.
In their place was a single, complete crystal roughly the size of two fists.
It was perfectly round, its color deep like amber!
This crystal’s texture was noticeably finer and more lustrous, its surface seemingly coated with a soft, oily sheen.
Inside, earthy yellow energy flowed slowly like quicksand.
The energy fluctuations it emitted were far denser and purer than the combined energy of the previous five fragments!
“Fusion successful!”
“Obtained: Complete Earth Crystal (Quality: Excellent) x 1”
“Points consumed: 10.”
“Current points: 156.”
“It worked!
And it’s of excellent quality!” Ning Chuan’s heart leaped with joy as he stepped forward and picked up the heavy, earthy-yellow crystal.
It felt cool to the touch, yet he could sense the vast and gentle earth energy contained within.
Looking at the crystal, Ning Chuan’s thoughts drifted involuntarily, recalling the “Five Elements” theory from the ancient culture of his previous life.
Earth, with its virtue of bearing and nurturing all things, occupies the central position, nourishing all life.
It is the foundation for the growth of all things, the place of accumulation and transformation.
Although the Douluo Continent has no explicit Five Elements doctrine, earth-attribute Soul Masters are indeed known for their defense, strength, and control.
Their Spirit Power often carries characteristics of steadiness and nourishment.
“Bearing all things with virtue…
nourishing all things…” Ning Chuan murmured to himself, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Since earth energy possesses nurturing and bearing properties, then…
could it…
gently nourish a Martial Soul?
Or even…
nourish that elusive innate foundation?
A bold, heart-racing idea suddenly surged into his mind…
His younger sister, Ning Xiaohe!
Innately without Spirit Power, her Martial Soul is that seemingly useless little white wildflower.
What if…
if he used this Earth Crystal containing pure earth energy, with its “bearing all things with virtue” property, to gently nourish Xiao He’s body and Martial Soul over a long period…
could it possibly…
subtly improve her constitution, or even…
foster a trace of foundation for Spirit Power?!
Once this thought took hold, it spread like wildfire, impossible to suppress!
Though it might sound like a fantasy, it wasn’t entirely without basis!
On the Douluo Continent, there were indeed legends of improving one’s constitution after birth, or even raising one’s innate Spirit Power level!
It’s just that such rare treasures were all monopolized by major sects, utterly out of reach for ordinary people.
But this Earth Crystal in his hand, originating from the myriad realms, possessed energy purity far surpassing ordinary Soul Bones or immortal herbs produced by Soul Beasts!
More importantly, it contained the most fundamental, gentlest earth energy, theoretically perfect for gentle nourishment and foundation-building!
It was worth a try!
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he had to try it for his sister!
Ning Chuan tightly gripped the Earth Crystal in his hand, his gaze becoming resolute.
“Station, analyze the energy attributes of this Earth Crystal.
Assess whether it possesses the potential for gentle, long-term nourishment of an ordinary mortal’s body and a low-level plant-type Martial Soul.
He had to ensure absolute safety.
He couldn’t let good intentions lead to harm and inadvertently hurt his sister.
“Analyzing…”
“Target: Complete Earth Crystal (Excellent)”
“Energy Attribute: Pure earth element.
Characteristics: Heavy, stable, accumulative, nourishing.
Energy Activity: Moderately gentle.”
“Assessment: The energy nature is extremely gentle, with high compatibility to most lifeforms.
Possesses potential for long-term, slow nourishment of the body (strengthening qi and blood, consolidating foundation) and gentle nourishment of the Martial Soul (stabilizing structure, promoting healthy development).”
“Risk Warning: Direct energy absorption still carries the risk of meridians being unable to withstand it (especially for targets without Spirit Power).
Recommend using indirect radiation, wearing, or specific array guidance for slow, permeating nourishment.
Risk is extremely low.”
“Recommended Solution: You may expend points to polish and shape the crystal into a wearable form (such as a bracelet or pendant), and micro-carve runes to guide energy dissipation, forming a sustainable ‘nurturing device’.”
Seeing the station’s evaluation and recommended solution, Ning Chuan felt greatly reassured!
It was indeed feasible!
And the risk was extremely low!
“Station, execute the recommended solution!
Turn this Earth Crystal into…
a pendant that can be worn close to the body.
The style should be ordinary, showing no abnormalities, and it would be best if the energy dissipation rate can be adjusted.” Ning Chuan immediately issued the command.
A pendant was less likely to be lost than a bracelet and more discreet.
“Command confirmed.
Solution: Craft ‘Earth Nourishing Pendant’ (low-effect version).”
“Materials consumed: Complete Earth Crystal x 1.”
“Points consumed: 25 (includes rune micro-carving and shaping).”
“Proceed?”
“Proceed!”
Points were deducted, and the platform once again lit up with an earthy yellow glow, enveloping the Earth Crystal.
This time, the light was softer, as if an invisible, skillful hand was performing delicate carving.
A moment later, the glow faded.
A brand new pendant floated quietly at the center of the platform.
The pendant was about the size of a thumbnail, shaped into a smooth, glossy, deep amber-colored “gemstone” in the form of a teardrop.
Its color was deeper and more restrained than before, with no trace of runes visible on the surface.
It felt warm to the touch, like fine topaz.
It was set in a base of the same material, polished to an extremely thin finish, with a very fine hole at the top threaded with an ordinary-looking dark brown thin cord.
Overall, it looked like a relatively finely crafted but not particularly precious ordinary folk accessory, unlikely to attract any unnecessary attention.
“Earth Nourishing Pendant (low-effect version) completed.”
“Effect: Continuously emits an extremely faint earth-element nourishing energy, gently permeating the wearer’s body, slightly strengthening vitality and stabilizing foundations.
It also has a minimal beneficial nurturing effect on earth-attribute and plant-type Martial Souls.
The energy release rate has been adjusted to the minimum, suitable for long-term wear by those without Spirit Power.”
“Note: Effects require long-term persistence to become noticeable and cannot directly generate Spirit Power.”
Carefully picking up the pendant, he could immediately feel a reassuring warmth and an extremely subtle energy pulse, like the breath of the earth.
“Excellent…” Ning Chuan’s heart was filled with joy and anticipation.
Although the effect was weak and would require a long time, this undoubtedly lit a lamp of hope for his sister!