Chapter 17: Refining the Spirit Soul! Soul Master!
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Xu Yuan opened the spirit soul orb.
The Five-Element Spear Spirit shot out from the orb. What had appeared as a palm-sized spear outside now expanded dramatically—its shaft reaching eight feet in length, its spearhead eight inches, with the five elemental forces converging at the tip to form a radiant spear aura.
The Five-Element Spear Spirit began to move on its own, immediately lunging toward Xu Yuan.
With his formidable spiritual power, Xu Yuan's reaction speed was extraordinary. He swiftly dodged and grabbed the spear's shaft.
The massive force instantly restrained the Five-Element Spear Spirit.
"What a magnificent spear!"
The Five-Element Spear Spirit struggled, but Xu Yuan adjusted his movements fluidly, adapting to its resistance. Even basic spear techniques became dazzling under the dynamic interplay of the spear's movements.
Xu Yuan's actions were seamless. As the spear spirit resisted, he subtly corrected his movements while maintaining the precision of each basic spear technique.
The transitions between movements were smooth and natural.
Watching from the side, Xu Shengqun's eyes lit up, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Though Zhen Hua's forging tasks had been grueling and exhausting, they had honed Xu Yuan's control over his strength to perfection. Practicing spear techniques under Mu Ye's guidance ensured that every movement was executed flawlessly.
It could be said that Xu Yuan's techniques were highly standardized.
However, his brain worked at lightning speed, allowing him to anticipate all possible variations and adjust his body accordingly, creating this impressive display.
The Five-Element Spear Spirit also recognized Xu Yuan's spear talent and stopped resisting, instead aligning its energy with Xu Yuan's spear techniques.
Xu Yuan, sensing this, ceased using soul power to enhance his strength and restrain the spear spirit. Instead, he focused purely on practicing spear techniques.
Naturally, he showcased the overwhelming dominance of his Tianyuan Brush-Spear. Each move transcended the rigid framework of basic techniques, exuding an unstoppable momentum. Combined with the multicolored spear aura condensed from the five elemental forces, it resembled a ferocious beast, ready to pounce on its prey.
Holding the Five-Element Spear Spirit, Xu Yuan surveyed the chaotic scene around him, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction.
The Five-Element Spear Spirit emitted a series of soft chirps, seemingly acknowledging Xu Yuan as its master.
In a flash of light, the Five-Element Spear Spirit merged into Xu Yuan's body.
Guided by intuition, Xu Yuan crossed his legs and sat down, beginning to refine the spirit soul's essence.
A shadow of the Tianyuan Brush appeared above his head. After transforming into its spear form, the brush tip, now a spearhead, gradually turned metallic, while the slightly wooden-colored shaft took on a metallic hue. The black-and-white patterns began to shift, their seemingly random arrangement radiating sharpness.
At this moment, the Tianyuan Brush-Spear could truly be called the Tianyuan Spear.
After the transformation, the Tianyuan Spear reverted to its original brush form. Five-colored patterns began spreading across the previously monochromatic black-and-white surface, and the bristles at the tip were tinged with a faint gray.
Outside Xu Yuan's body, a bright yellow halo slowly coalesced.
As the yellow soul ring solidified around him, Xu Yuan officially became a soul master. His soul power surged, breaking through a barrier.
Though soul power surged within him, Xu Yuan paid it no mind.
At this moment, a thunderous sound echoed in his consciousness.
An intangible force appeared in his perception, ready to be manipulated at will.
"This is spiritual power!"
The ability to freely manipulate spiritual power meant that Xu Yuan's spiritual power had reached the Lingtong Realm. In the Lingtong Realm, one's mind and spirit were interconnected, allowing for swift and precise control. It was capable of supporting two yellow-grade spirit souls or one purple-grade spirit soul!
Suddenly, Xu Yuan focused his thoughts.
He gathered his spiritual power and concentrated fully on sensing the location of his spiritual sea.
Every person possessed three dantians—the upper dantian being the source of the soul and the origin of spiritual power, also known as the spiritual sea.
However, not every soul master could connect with their spiritual sea.
Ten thousand years ago, even soul masters with spirit-type martial souls at the Spirit King level might not have been able to access their spiritual sea. At that time, this process was referred to as "opening the spiritual sea."
Over the past ten thousand years, with the widespread adoption of the spirit soul system, as long as a soul master's spiritual power reached the appropriate level, connecting with the spiritual sea became much easier with the assistance of spirit souls.
The spiritual sea was the source of spiritual power, making this connection crucial for cultivating spiritual power. Before and after connecting, the difference in a soul master's spiritual cultivation was like night and day.
In the current era, opening the spiritual sea was no longer a major hurdle, but the benefits it provided were still substantial.
Having broken through to the Lingtong Realm, Xu Yuan's first thought was to connect with his spiritual sea.
Feeling the presence of the Five-Element Spear Spirit, Xu Yuan, guided by the spirit soul, sensed his spiritual sea. With the aid of his brain martial soul, he vaguely perceived that space.
Focusing his spiritual power.
Breakthrough!
Boom!
His mind cleared as if his spiritual power had found its source. Xu Yuan's consciousness instantly expanded.
This was a vast space, devoid of the so-called ocean of spiritual power, containing only a tiny stream. The amount of spiritual power was pitifully small.
In the Lingtong Realm, without the assistance of a spirit soul, such a meager amount of spiritual power would never allow one to perceive the spiritual sea. Even after connecting, the spiritual sea contained only a trickle of power.
Perhaps when this small stream filled up and transformed into a lake, it could be called a "sea" in its truest sense. That stage would mark the Linghai Realm.
Exiting his spiritual sea, Xu Yuan opened his eyes to see his uncle.
"Your spiritual power has also broken through?"
Xu Yuan nodded.
"My spiritual power was already at eighty-one points a month ago. This month, with all those heavenly treasures I consumed, it had long since reached the limit of ninety-nine points. Now, after forming a contract with the spirit soul, my spiritual power naturally broke through."
With the feedback from both the breakthrough and connecting with the spiritual sea, Xu Yuan felt his spiritual power exceed one hundred points.
The exact figure still needed testing.
"You really took a huge risk." Xu Shengqun was somewhat alarmed. "Just entering the Lingtong Realm, though theoretically you've met the minimum requirements to connect with the spiritual sea, it's still quite dangerous."
Xu Yuan didn't feel it was risky at all. Everything had flowed naturally, as if predestined.
"Uncle, let's test my current stats first."
Xu Yuan felt he must have gained more than just one level of soul power.
Xu Shengqun retrieved a disc-shaped device from his storage-type soul-guiding tool and handed it to Xu Yuan.
"Thirteen levels!"
Even a hundred-year spirit soul didn't contain much soul power, at most allowing Xu Yuan to gain two levels. The extra level was likely due to the lingering effects of the many heavenly treasures he had consumed.
"Now let's test your spiritual power."
Xu Yuan nodded, following his uncle to the training room, which was fully equipped.
Putting on the helmet, he focused all his spiritual power.
The numbers on the screen rapidly flashed.
"One hundred thirty!" Xu Shengqun exclaimed in astonishment.
An increase of thirty points?
Even most Soul Honors didn't possess such spiritual power, and some Soul Lords barely reached this level.
Xu Shengqun once again deeply appreciated his nephew's immense talent in spiritual power.
"What about your soul skills? Try them out."
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Author's Note: Brothers, I've accepted my fate—I know I'm terrible at naming things. So, I'm soliciting suggestions for the spirit soul's name. If I find a suitable one, I'll adopt it directly.
{T/N: Half the fun of reading are the cringy, kind-of trashy names no? Or is that just me?}
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