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"I know." Xu Yuan's expression was calm, with a hint of resolve.
"First and foremost, this path hinges on one crucial factor—my own cultivation."
The spear spirit soul was a completely artificial spirit soul, created without any existing soul beast genes as a template. While it could naturally possess certain abilities that granted soul skills to the soul master, it was ultimately a nascent "species"—too immature. If Xu Yuan wanted to avoid acquiring useless soul skills, he would need to rely on his own cultivation to drive the spirit soul's repeated evolution, allowing it to grow in sync with his martial soul.
This meant that the soul master's soul rings and soul skills would no longer be externally acquired but internally developed.
By seeking inward, the soul skills obtained would essentially be extensions of his martial soul's abilities, potentially influenced by the spear spirit soul in terms of their manifestation.
It wasn't just the spear spirit soul. In the future, Xu Yuan planned to continue strengthening his Tianyuan Brush-spear by pairing it with different metal spirit souls, pushing the weapon form of this martial soul to its absolute limit.
This was the path Xu Yuan referred to.
The reason Zhen Hua said this path would be difficult was twofold. First, no soul master had ever walked this road before—there were no precedents to follow. Second, the path itself was inherently arduous.
"If you insist on taking this path, you'll still need to incorporate blacksmithing into your secondary profession."
The base material of the spear spirit soul was excellent, but it hadn't undergone forging. It could be improved through forging in the future. However, if it became Xu Yuan's spirit soul, it would obviously be best for Xu Yuan himself to handle the forging and enhancement.
"Additionally, devising a plan for pairing metal spirit souls requires an in-depth understanding of various rare metals and forging techniques."
Listening to Zhen Hua's words, Xu Yuan silently nodded.
After a moment, he spoke. "Uncle, becoming a full-fledged blacksmith consumes too much energy, and I already have too many cultivation tasks. I may not be able to fully commit to mastering blacksmithing."
Zhen Hua stared at Xu Yuan for a long time before sighing deeply.
"Alas, very well. In your spare time, you can study the theoretical knowledge of blacksmithing with me, and I'll teach you some auxiliary forging techniques."
Auxiliary forging techniques, as the name suggested, were methods to assist in the forging process.
These techniques were common across the continent, but they weren't designed for pure blacksmiths. Instead, they were intended for those pursuing the pinnacle of Battle Armor mastery, enabling them to assist blacksmiths during the final stages of forging. At the critical moment when the metal took its final shape, they could step in and deliver the last hammer strike.
In other words, it was like… finishing the job—cough, cough, the final hammer blow.
However, this required finding a cooperative blacksmith who was willing to work alongside them. Moreover, gaining their permission was no small feat. Most blacksmiths wouldn't allow others to observe their forging process, let alone participate.
"Xiao Yuan, even with auxiliary forging techniques, you'll still need to be involved in the entire forging process. During the stages of spirit forging and soul forging, the entire process is interconnected. Awakening the metal's spirit and imbuing it with life requires uninterrupted participation. The auxiliary blacksmith must also be fully engaged throughout, harmonizing with the primary blacksmith to communicate with the metal."
This was the most challenging part.
With Zhen Hua's godly blacksmithing skills, he could guide Xu Yuan into the rhythm. For spirit forging and soul forging, as long as Xu Yuan's foundation was solid enough, achieving synchronized forging was possible. However, heavenly forging would be far more difficult.
"Uncle, this is already more than enough," Xu Yuan said to Zhen Hua.
"Mm."
"Enough with all this talk—let's eat." Mu Ye's voice interrupted, accompanied by a rich, tantalizing aroma.
Xu Yuan and Zhen Hua stopped their discussion and entered the kitchen, where they saw a large, jelly-like substance on a plate, emitting a strong fragrance.
What was this?
Mu Ye explained from the side.
"This is whale gelatin. Consuming it can enhance a soul master's physique. In the era before spirit souls existed, it was a heavenly treasure essential for soul masters attempting to absorb rings beyond their level.
Even now, this whale gelatin remains significant for soul masters absorbing higher-level spirit soul rings. Although the compatibility of spirit souls depends on spiritual power, the rings they grant still rely on the soul master's physical capacity. Improving the soul master's physical fitness remains crucial.
I've prepared this whale gelatin using the Body Sect's secret technique, removing some of its side effects while infusing it with various other heavenly treasures. Its effects are even more potent."
Hearing Mu Ye's explanation, Xu Yuan swallowed hard, inwardly marveling that apprenticing under Mu Ye was absolutely the right choice.
He really gave the good stuff.
Of course, Xu Yuan also knew that when it came time to train seriously, Mu Ye wouldn't hold back.
"Thankfully, I'm still young and small. I can enjoy a few more years of this."
Putting aside thoughts of potential future hardships, Xu Yuan stepped forward and began devouring the dish.
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The Fifth Day at the Blacksmiths Association Headquarters
Xu Yuan sat cross-legged, having just finished consuming the medicinal meal. He began refining the medicinal energy within his body, his soul power surging like waves, repeatedly coursing through his meridians.
Boom!
Suddenly, Xu Yuan's soul power surged, rushing through his meridians and erupting with a thunderous roar.
Level nine!
Before arriving in Tiandou City, Xu Yuan had just broken through to level eight.
Going further back, it had only been about ten days since he awakened his martial soul—and he had already advanced two levels.
The previous breakthrough had occurred because he was already close to advancing, and completing the soul power circulation naturally triggered it. This time, however, Xu Yuan had consumed so many heavenly treasures that the accumulated soul power in his body far exceeded level eight, directly breaking through the bottleneck.
"Breaking through to level ten within a month seems entirely possible. At this rate, my starting point is practically equivalent to having maximum innate soul power."
"You're progressing a bit too quickly. After this month, you won't be allowed to use heavenly treasures to boost your soul power for at least the next five years," Mu Ye said, stroking his chin as he observed Xu Yuan.
Using heavenly treasures to boost soul power wasn't inherently wrong.
The mistake lay in neglecting cultivation after the boost.
The concept of foundational strength rarely appeared on the Douluo Continent. When it did, it was before the unification of the Federation, during the era of the Sun Moon Empire. Soul engineers, obsessed with creating soul-guiding tools, relied on heavenly treasures to stack up soul power without cultivating it themselves. Over time, this led to unstable and hollow soul power.
Soul power was a force that needed to be cultivated personally to feel grounded, and it allowed for deeper control.
At the Super Douluo level and above, even the slightest degree of control could make a world of difference.
Mu Ye didn't force Xu Yuan to suppress his level—he merely restricted him from using heavenly treasures to boost his soul power for the next five years.
"Teacher, I just had a thought," Xu Yuan said, unfazed by the restriction on heavenly treasures. Instead, he shared some insights gained during his breakthrough.
"Speak," Mu Ye said succinctly.
Xu Yuan organized his thoughts and articulated his question.
"Teacher, why is it that every tiny advancement in soul power cultivation requires arduous meditation, yet recovering soul power after depletion can happen so quickly?"
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