I’ve had thoughts about souls in Minecraft for a while now and specifically two family of blocks that relate to them, soul sand and soil, and sculk.
In my mind both are the result of soul eating fungus that return soul energy back into the world. But while sculk is a colonial organism that spreads cooperatively, soul sand is inhabited by solitary fungi that display fierce competition between each other.
This is why exp is easily gained by breaking sculk, as it is already sharing the exp stored within itself to other members of the colony. But with soul sand each organism hold onto its collected exp much more strongly. Only releasing the collected soul energy when burned or fashioned into a Wither. I think the bubbles from soul sand underwater could either be the byproducts of their soul “fermentation”. Similar to how yeast produces carbon dioxide as a waste product
Oh, sick! Love this idea. Now I'm wondering what really happens when you break it. Do the souls get released? Do they get reused in your exp bar? Be the magic that really powers your enchantments? Do they ever find peace? Food for thought.