Chapter 220: A New Theory of Soul Masters is Born

"Who's next to step onto the stage?" With his Seven Kill Sword slung behind him, Ning Tianchen beckoned toward the Beast Team's rest area with a casual flick of his hand. 

"This is way too arrogant!" The observing teams were already voicing their discontent. 

"Hmph, he has the ability to be arrogant. If you're dissatisfied, you can always face the Seven Treasures Team in your match!" Meng Yiran, seemingly acting like Ning Tianchen's devoted fan, retorted indignantly. 

In the high seats, Xue Qinghe didn't hold back his praise. "Brother Tianchen's strength has completely changed my perspective. Teacher, in the future, could you allow Brother Tianchen to serve by my side?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Being valued by Qinghe is Brother Tianchen's honor. However, whether or not he agrees is entirely up to him. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will never force anyone." 

"In that case, I'll have to have a good chat with Brother Tianchen," Xue Qinghe said, his eyes flashing with a hint of cunning. 

A genius like Ning Tianchen was exactly the kind of person he wanted to recruit. 

Whether to use his identity as Xue Qinghe or Qian Renxue to do so remained to be decided. 

Beside them, Salas watched this hypocritical teacher and student duo with a cold sneer in his heart.

He wondered what Ning Fengzhi would think once he discovered Xue Qinghe's true identity.

---

The fourth member of the Beast Team to step onto the stage was their captain—Tian Chao. 

Tian Chao was a rugged man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a full beard. He didn't look like a young man at all. 

Of course, being able to participate in the tournament meant his age was definitely under twenty-five. 

"Forty-seven levels—you're strong," Ning Tianchen said, narrowing his eyes slightly. 

This was the strongest individual he had encountered since the start of the tournament. 

Tian Chao's expression remained calm as he spoke in a deep voice, "Defeat me, and the Beast Team will concede directly. Being able to instantly defeat Guocheng proves your strength—you're worthy of being compared to the top genius of my sect."

Ning Tianchen asked curiously, "I'm curious—what sect are you from? And who is this top genius you speak of?"

"Defeat me, and I'll tell you everything you want to know!" Tian Chao replied. 

"Second soul skill—Mammoth Stomp!" 

The Snow Mountain Mammoth martial soul raised its forelimbs and stomped fiercely on the ground. 

The stage floor was made of hard granite, said to withstand attacks from ordinary Soul Kings. However, under Tian Chao's power, the ground trembled violently. 

Cracks began to form in the granite, threatening to shatter. 

"To be the captain of the Beast Academy, your strength truly cannot be underestimated," Ning Tianchen calmly responded. 

Not only was Tian Chao one soul level higher than Tian Guocheng, but his overall strength far surpassed the latter's. 

Ning Tianchen twisted his wrist, adopting a much more serious demeanor. 

"First soul skill—Azure Dragon Break!" 

The Dragon Pattern Seven Kill Sword swung, releasing an azure dragon qi that opened its jaws wide, attempting to swallow the opponent whole. 

Tian Chao charged forward and easily shattered the azure dragon qi. 

Tian Chao: "What powerful sword intent." 

Ning Tianchen: "What formidable defense." 

His first soul skill was merely a hundred-year technique, useless against a heavily defensive soul master.

However, the true power of the Seven Kill Sword lay elsewhere.

Soul skills were just stepping stones; self-created soul skills were the true essence of the Seven Kill Sword.

Soul ring-provided skills allowed soul masters to learn techniques quickly within a short time, but their power was limited by the soul ring's age. 

By mastering the insights provided by the soul ring and transforming the skill into a self-created one, the power became limitless. 

"Let's go again. Azure Dragon Break!" 

This time, Ning Tianchen's soul rings did not glow. 

This Azure Dragon Break appeared to be a self-created soul skill. 

Moreover, the sword intent behind this strike was extraordinarily swift, incomparable to his first soul skill. 

Sensing an immense threat, Tian Chao activated his fourth soul skill to counter. 

---

On the high platform, Gu Rong's lips twitched slightly. "This kid… he's already grasped the essence of the Seven Kill Sword so quickly." 

In battles between Super Douluos, Chenxin rarely used soul ring skills, instead relying on self-created soul skills. 

To call them "self-created" wasn't entirely accurate—it was more about the soul master fully mastering the soul ring skill and breaking free from its constraints. 

Chenxin had also taught Gu Rong, but unfortunately, the latter had never managed to succeed. 

"Teacher, how did he do it?" Tang San's eyes widened in disbelief. 

Breaking free from the soul ring and releasing the first soul skill as a self-created one—the power was at least equivalent to a fifth soul skill. 

Yu Xiaogang lowered his head, pondering deeply before finally saying, "There are two possibilities." 

"One: His fifth soul skill cannot be actively released but is passively triggered. Its effect, as we just witnessed, enhances any of his existing soul skills, raising their power to at least the level of a fifth soul skill." 

"Two: His understanding of his martial soul is profound. His soul skills have broken free from the soul ring and are now completely under his control."

Yu Tianheng suddenly recalled something. "Tang San, isn't your Blue Silver Grass capable of entangling even without using the first soul skill? And for me and Tianxin, even without activating our first soul skill, we can still partially transform our hands into dragon forms. Perhaps it's because we've used the first soul skill so much that it naturally evolved into a self-created soul skill." 

Tang San thought about it and realized that was indeed the case for him. 

After absorbing his first soul ring, during many subsequent battles, he had been able to release Blue Silver Grass entanglement without relying on the first soul skill. 

He simply hadn't noticed it before. 

"My waist bow is the same," Xiao Wu chimed in. 

Others shook their heads.

Yu Xiaogang concluded, "It seems this phenomenon occurs only in certain cases—not all soul masters can achieve this. It might be related to the soul master's understanding of their martial soul or the strength of the martial soul itself." 

Is that really the truth? 

Joke—any control-type plant martial soul inherently possesses the ability to entangle. 

As for Yu Tianxin and the others, it was simply the effect of their first soul skill overlapping with the Dragon Transformation secret art. There was no connection between the two. 

"In that case, I can add another point to my theory," Yu Xiaogang said with satisfaction. "When we return, I'll carefully organize it and try to refine it further."

"Xiaogang, congratulations," Flender said sincerely, genuinely happy for him. 

"Isn't this a bit too hasty?" Yu Tianxin countered. "Don't all theories need to undergo repeated testing?" 

Liu Erlong frowned. "Tianxin, are you doubting Xiaogang?" 

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand dismissively and added, "Indeed, but Tang San's ability to use entanglement isn't something new—it's been happening for quite some time. Over time, he's been able to consistently use entanglement without relying on the soul skill. Isn't that proof of repeated practice?"

Yu Tianxin fell silent.

Upon reflection, he found some merit in the argument. 

Clearing his throat softly, Yu Xiaogang continued, "Tang San, don't underestimate yourself. Your talent is no weaker than Ning Tianchen's. At the very least, there's no gap between you two in this aspect." 

Tang San recalled the details of past battles in his mind. 

He realized that the spontaneous entanglement of his Blue Silver Grass had gradually improved in its control effects, surpassing even his first soul skill. 

In that case, he truly wasn't lagging behind Ning Tianchen.

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