Chapter 25: The Benefits of the Spear Spirit’s Evolution
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The weapon-type spirit soul was a special case within the metal-type spirit souls branch pioneered by Xu Yuan's father, Xu Zhi.
After gaining experience in creating these artificial spirit souls, the Spirit Pagoda naturally attempted to craft other weapon-type spirit souls. However, due to the high costs, very few were produced.
These spirit souls lacked any genetic database. A hundred-year cultivation period offered the best cost-performance ratio. If directly infused with spiritual energy to reach a thousand years, they would become akin to the Ice Silkworm spirit souls—essentially useless.
They would possess cultivation years but lack corresponding strength.
This clearly contradicted the Spirit Pagoda's initial expectations for weapon-type spirit souls.
Thus, after one attempt at infusion, the Spirit Pagoda stopped directly channeling spiritual energy into the remaining weapon spirit souls.
A researcher—none other than Xu Yuan's father—proposed a theory. He stated that since weapon spirit souls lacked the genetic database of soul beasts, achieving an ideal high-cultivation weapon spirit soul required delving into the essence of the spirit soul itself. This process necessitated the spirit soul being contracted by a soul master—preferably one with a weapon-type martial soul—and the soul master needed to be exceptionally talented.
Delving into the essence of the spirit soul meant exploring the racial abilities of weapon spirit souls, essentially enriching their nonexistent genetic database from scratch.
For example, a spear spirit soul could improve through advancements in spear intent or mastery of spear techniques, thereby influencing the spear spirit.
Aside from breakthroughs in intent and weapon comprehension, improvements could also stem from the metals used in crafting the spirit soul. For optimal results, it was best for the soul master who fused with the spirit soul to handle this process.
No true thousand-year weapon spirit soul had ever appeared—until now.
Xu Yuan's might be the first.
Xu Shengqun was confident in his nephew's understanding of spear techniques and in his own Heavenly Void-Piercing Spear Intent.
Indeed, although Xu Yuan's Five-Element Spear Spirit hadn't inherited this spear intent initially, it still possessed the foundation for it. With Xu Yuan practicing Xu Shengqun's Heavenly Void-Piercing Spear Techniques—a direct lineage—his understanding of the technique was sufficient to unlock the Five-Element Spear Spirit's latent talent in Void-Piercing.
Xu Yuan opened his eyes, finding himself back home.
"How is it? Did the spear spirit evolve? Any changes? What about your soul skills?"
Hearing his uncle's question, Xu Yuan carefully assessed his own changes.
"As for my soul skills, only their intensity has increased. My control over the five elements in the Tianyuan Brush form has greatly improved, and the effects of manipulating elemental forces through element control have doubled!"
Of course, this was just on the surface.
With enhanced control, Xu Yuan had naturally broken through the bottleneck he previously faced in mastering advanced techniques. The fundamental improvement in his soul skill allowed him to delve deeper into even more sophisticated techniques.
In summary, the direct improvement was significant, and the indirect benefits for future growth were equally clear.
"In the Tianyuan Spear form, the Five-Element Spear Technique has become more refined." As Xu Yuan spoke, his expression grew peculiar.
The Five-Element Spear Technique was truly a spear art!
Now that it had reached the thousand-year mark, the soul skill bestowed by the Five-Element Spear Spirit had become even more complete as a spear technique.
"A spear technique? More refined?" Xu Shengqun was astonished, never expecting weapon spirit souls to behave this way.
The soul skill granted was a spear technique, and as the spirit soul evolved, the spear technique advanced as well.
He suddenly recalled something and grabbed Xu Yuan's shoulders.
"Xiao Yuan, what specific details and techniques are included in the refined Five-Element Spear Technique?"
Xu Yuan's mind worked quickly. Seeing his uncle's excitement, he rapidly deduced the reason behind it.
Releasing his first soul ring, he activated the soul skill, demonstrating the Five-Element Spear Technique smoothly.
The more Xu Shengqun watched, the more excited he became.
"So it truly evolves based on the spear techniques you've mastered!"
Within Xu Yuan's Five-Element Spear Technique, Xu Shengqun recognized traces of many spear arts, including some techniques from the Heavenly Void-Piercing Spear Art.
Xu Yuan understood his uncle's excitement.
This meant that the evolution of the spear spirit was synonymous with the refinement of spear techniques.
If the spear spirit evolved to a sufficient level, the spear techniques would grow stronger accordingly. Moreover, if powerful spear techniques were incorporated into its evolution, the resulting fusion of various spear arts would be formidable!
It was practically a spear technique simulator!
"Are there any other changes?" Xu Shengqun, having calmed down, asked.
"Yes. The Five-Element Spear Spirit's sentience has grown stronger, though it still lacks true intelligence. However, our coordination in battle should improve significantly. Also—" Xu Yuan picked up the Tianyuan Spear and began demonstrating.
The subsequent explanation was difficult to articulate in words.
The Five-Element Spear Technique was both a spear art and a soul skill.
Previously, Xu Yuan had only demonstrated the spear art. Now, he showcased its true power.
The five elemental forces rotated, encircling the spear tip.
Unlike before, this wasn't the natural spear momentum of the Tianyuan Spear. Instead, it exuded a different, more focused spear intent.
"Spear intent!" Xu Shengqun identified this aura.
Spear momentum drew upon the power of heaven and earth.
Spear intent, on the other hand, was a deeper focus on the essence of the spear itself.
Neither was superior; one pursued external mastery, while the other sought internal understanding and exploration.
"Though not yet fully evolved, it's already taken shape." Xu Shengqun hadn't expected the soul skill granted by the spear spirit to directly allow Xu Yuan to grasp spear intent.
For soul masters with long spear-type martial souls, this was a top-tier soul skill.
And it even came with a complete spear technique.
"That's enough. Put it away," Xu Shengqun said, sensing that Xu Yuan was still somewhat mentally fatigued and unsuited for prolonged demonstrations of spear intent.
Exiting the spear intent state, Xu Yuan rubbed his temples.
After a full day of intense fighting in the Spirit Ascension Platform, his mind had been stretched to its limits, and his current condition was poor.
But this did little to conceal his excitement.
Only he could feel it more clearly—he realized that as long as he didn't slack off in his spear training, the existence of the long spear spirit soul would be like a cheat code for his practice!
The long spear spirit soul was like another person—an innate master of the spear.
Their insights and understanding were shared.
The efficiency of spear training had at least doubled!
"I originally thought I'd have to take you to the Spirit Ascension Platform multiple times, or even let you stay there for three days," Xu Shengqun returned to the topic at hand, letting out a wry smile. "Since you've completed the spirit soul evolution in one day, we won't delay. Rest for a day, and then we'll head to Shrek City."
There were only five days left until Shrek's entrance exam.
"Mm."
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One day later.
Xu Yuan boarded his uncle's mecha, departing from Tianhai City en route to Shrek City.
Yes, a mecha.
Xu Shengqun owned a black mecha, which he used as his daily mode of transportation.
Sitting inside the mecha, Xu Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of novelty.
"Heh, this mecha is pretty fun." Turning his head, Xu Yuan remarked, "Uncle, I need to get myself a mecha too—one with the coolest design possible."
"You can, but you'll have to work for it yourself. And remember, this mustn't interfere with your regular cultivation."
"Don't worry, Uncle. I won't neglect my cultivation or mech suit crafting," Xu Yuan assured him.
The black-grade mecha's flight speed was incredibly fast.
Before Xu Yuan's excitement had even worn off, the silhouette of Shrek City had already appeared in the distance.
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