Chapter 8: The Thesis, Planning for Faith Power
"Blue Silver Mantis Crown!"
Tang San anticipated that this blow would hurt, so he preemptively activated his healing skill.
Gu La didn't cheat by using any special moves. He threw a punch directly at Tang San's chest, sending him flying back three meters.
Tang San stumbled but quickly regained his footing. It felt as if a boulder had been placed on his chest, suffocating and uncomfortable. Fortunately, his spirit power flowed through the blue lens-like crown, rapidly converting into life force to heal the discomfort.
He managed a bitter smile. Gu La's strength was overwhelming—a single light punch had pierced through his spirit power defenses. Tang San had no choice but to acknowledge the gap between them.
But Tang San didn't concede immediately. Instead, he summoned his Blue Silver Grass to spread outward, forming "trip wires" to force Gu La to slow down.
Gu La saw through Tang San's plan. With his strength, he could probably break through the Blue Silver Grass without much effort. However, he didn't want to gamble on Tang San's control over the grass—if he accidentally tripped, it would be embarrassing.
So Gu La activated his first soul ring, and the gravitational field descended. The Blue Silver Grass was flattened under the pressure—while the grass was highly flexible, its resistance to compression was average.
The Blue Silver Grass clung tightly to the ground, allowing Gu La to step over it effortlessly. Tang San dodged left and right but was eventually pinned to the ground by Gu La's concentrated gravity.
Tang San lowered his head in frustration. "I lost."
[Groudon experienced an overwhelming battle. +13 Shop Points.]
[Tang San experienced a crushing defeat. +6 Shop Points.]
Gu La dispelled his soul skill, his breathing steady. He extended a hand to pull Tang San up, patting his shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't lose heart. Your advantage lies in your twin martial souls. Once you reach the level of a Title Douluo and add soul rings to your second martial soul, I won't be able to match you."
"Really?" Tang San sounded skeptical.
"Of course."
Gu La instilled confidence in Tang San. A Pokémon's mental health was crucial for its growth and performance in battles.
"Think about what I've said before—the absorption of soul rings is related to physical strength. When you become a Title Douluo, how many years should the first soul ring of your second martial soul absorb?"
Tang San's eyes lit up with excitement. "A ten-thousand-year soul ring?"
"Exactly. And it must be at least a fifty-thousand-year soul ring; anything less wouldn't match your innate talent."
Gu La glanced at the rewards, mentally dismissing the battle notifications.
Tang San thought about his second martial soul being equipped with all ten-thousand-year soul rings, which lifted his spirits significantly. He rekindled his determination:
"Brother Gu, I understand now. Falling behind temporarily doesn't matter—I'll catch up to you."
"Mm, that's the right mindset. We still have plenty of time. Let's keep training."
Gu La smiled and reactivated the gravitational field, immersing himself in training once more.
After the training session ended, Gu La asked, "Xiao San, did Uncle Tang deliver my thesis to the Spirit Hall?"
"Mm, Father went out last night and was still asleep this morning. I assume he delivered it."
Tang San nodded but looked at Gu La with a hint of confusion.
Gu La: "Is there something on your mind?"
Tang San hesitated no longer. "I don't understand why you'd publicize your research on soul master theories to the world. Father's identity makes it inconvenient for us—we can't even collect the royalties from the Spirit Hall. Other soul masters benefit, but it doesn't help us."
"Is that all?"
Gu La chuckled lightly, gazing at the lush green trees swaying in the distance, clearly in a good mood. He explained:
"The main reason is to address the issue of not being able to openly display a thousand-year first soul ring. Secondly, this world is vast, and fame is an important resource if we want to gain more."
Tang San seemed to understand but wasn't entirely convinced.
Gu La didn't elaborate further, leaving Tang San to ponder on his own.
In truth, there weren't many reasons behind it. The real reason Gu La submitted the thesis to the Spirit Hall was that he discovered a researcher sub-profession within the system.
Publishing papers earned rewards based on their influence. With god-tier cultivation techniques at his disposal, Gu La could easily churn out a paper.
To resolve the issue of drawing too much attention to his high-level soul ring, Gu La spent a day writing the thesis and asked Tang Hao to secretly submit it to the Spirit Hall in another city.
To grab attention, the paper was written in sensationalist style.
"Shocking! The Limit of a Soul Master's First Soul Ring is WRONG!"
(T/N: Bro is bringing click bait to a whole dimension literally tens of thousands of years before its time lol)
The paper pointed out the relationship between a soul master's physical strength and the maximum year limit of soul rings, listing various data from books and presenting evidence.
The evidence included the Blue Lightning Dragon Clan's medicinal baths, the Hao Tian Sect's Disorderly Wind Splitting Hammer Technique, and other methods where sects fed spirit beast meat and specialized training techniques to their young soul masters.
These methods enhanced the physical fitness of soul masters, widening the gap between them and common soul masters.
No one had noticed before because commoners who awakened their innate spirit power often had very low levels.
By the time common soul masters reached Level 10 and obtained their first soul ring to break through, they were usually already in their teens. At this age, their physical strength had improved significantly compared to when they were six, making the gap between them and elite soul masters of similar age less noticeable.
However, the objective difference in physical fitness during the same age range was undeniable and couldn't be ignored.
Such a paper, closely tied to every soul master, would undoubtedly cause a stir in the soul master community, earning Gu La substantial rewards.
Beyond that, Gu La harbored a deeper motive—to establish a grand image in the Douluo Continent, gaining the admiration of soul masters and harvesting faith power.
In the future, if there was no suitable divine position for Gu La in the Douluo Continent, he could create his own divine status through faith power.
As for the difficulty of creating a divine position, Gu La believed that with resources and knowledge from two worlds, along with the system's assistance, he could overcome any obstacles.
If all else failed, there was still Tang San, who wasn't above favoritism. Gu La's friendship with him was partly to ensure a safety net for the future.
Of course, this first paper was just a trial run. Any faction with Title Douluo-level power should already know the relationship between physical strength and soul ring years.
The reason it hadn't been emphasized was primarily due to the lack of efficient training methods in the Douluo Continent.
Therefore, Gu La also included a rudimentary set of training exercises in the paper, such as push-ups, frog jumps, and sit-ups, designed to strengthen muscles throughout the body.
Even these basic exercises, refined over decades in his previous life, were considered advanced techniques on the Douluo Continent.
They were essentially a dimensional leap forward, enhancing the combat potential of lower-tier soul masters and indirectly increasing their soul ring years, thereby boosting their overall potential.
Given the sheer number of soul masters in the Spirit Hall, even if only one percent of lower-tier soul masters broke through, it would still represent a significant force—enough to draw the Spirit Hall's attention.
However, no scientific exercise method could compare to the comprehensive muscle training provided by the gravitational field.
Thus, Tang San's concerns were entirely unnecessary. Push-ups couldn't harness extraordinary power—they were only effective in the early stages of a soul master's cultivation. By the time they reached the three-ring Soul Master level and began transcending normalcy, conventional training methods would become increasingly ineffective.
Moreover, Gu La planned to enroll in Shrek Academy in the future to recruit Pokémon. He really didn't want to use Yu Xiaogang's foolish running training method—it would make him feel like an idiot.
With Huyan Li injured—and it appeared to be serious—the others quickly rushed to his rescue.
This turned into a classic "besiege the point, strike the reinforcements" scenario. Tang San reacted with lightning speed, activating his third soul skill: Blue Silver Hurricane Array. In an instant, multiple members of the Elephant Armor Academy were ensnared by the Blue Silver Grass. Remarkably, the grass now had a faint green hue, its tips razor-sharp. Even the heavily armored students of the Elephant Armor Academy couldn't withstand it, their bodies riddled with countless wounds.
At the same moment, Dai Mubai unleashed his fourth soul skill: White Tiger Meteor Shower. Under the relentless barrage, four Soul Elders from the Elephant Armor Academy collapsed onto the stage.
However, the other two Soul Ancestors, Huyan Ba and Huyan Shan, simultaneously activated their fourth soul skill, Thousand-Jun Guidance, to protect Huyan Li. Many members of large sects with the same martial souls often shared identical soul skills—a result of their sect's traditions.
Seeing the enemy closing in again, the injured Huyan Li let out a thunderous roar. A terrifying force erupted from his head, sending the four members of Shrek Academy flying. Yang Xiong, tasked with protecting the two auxiliary members, didn't engage in the attack.
A golden glow emanated from Huyan Li's head, resembling a helmet adorned with two sharp fangs.
The onlookers couldn't help but swallow nervously. A head soul bone—this was a head soul bone! Judging by its appearance, it was likely at least a ten-thousand-year grade. This was the first soul bone to appear in the entire Soul Master Competition.
Yang Xiong merely snorted coldly and remained beside the two auxiliary members without moving.
Huyan Li, Huyan Ba, and Huyan Shan then simultaneously activated their third soul skill: Death Crush. The entire arena trembled, and everyone felt an overwhelming pressure. Even Yang Xiong, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar, who were relatively farther away, found the pressure immense.
The appearance of the head soul bone shocked the entire audience. Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but chuckle. "Sect Leader Huyan, your grandson is indeed extraordinarily talented. To possess a head soul bone at such a young age—his future looks incredibly promising."
Huyan Zhen merely grunted and said nothing. Soul bones were treasures of the soul master world. His grandson was only at Level 43, and displaying such a valuable soul bone in public could easily attract covetous eyes.
Under the Elephant Armor Academy's Death Crush, especially with three Soul Ancestors unleashing the skill, the pressure on the Soul Elders was immense.
Unfortunately for the Elephant Armor Academy, the members of Shrek Academy had undergone rigorous training. They couldn't be defeated by a simple large-scale attack soul skill.
Moreover, although Huyan Li's head soul bone was formidable, he had already used three soul skills, leaving him with little remaining soul power.
Oscar quickly handed out his Super Recovery Sausages. After consuming them, the team's soul power was restored, and with Ning Rongrong's enhancement abilities, they continued their assault on the three members of the Elephant Armor Academy.
Though Tang San was only a Soul Elder, his combat strength rivaled that of a Soul Ancestor. Dai Mubai's abilities were also commendable.
After several intense minutes, the final member of the Elephant Armor Academy was knocked down, securing Shrek Academy's victory. However, this battle against a team with three Soul Ancestors left everyone feeling the true weight of the competition.
Still, astute observers noted that this match was a tactical disaster for Shrek Academy. Tang San's control abilities hadn't shone particularly brightly—in fact, he had exposed significant vulnerabilities. If not for Yang Xiong's superior strength compared to Huyan Li, Huyan Li might have broken through their defenses. Two auxiliary Soul Elders would have been no match for a Soul Ancestor.
As everyone stepped off the stage, Oscar finally spoke, his voice trembling. "Brother Xiong, thank goodness you were there to protect us earlier. Otherwise, Rongrong and I would've been in serious danger. That big guy was terrifying!"
Yang Xiong smiled. "Isn't my role as a defensive soul master to protect the two auxiliaries and maintain the formation?"
Ning Rongrong muttered, "If Little Bear had attacked earlier, those big guys would've fallen much sooner. It wouldn't have been so troublesome."
Yang Xiong simply smiled without responding. He had never intended to fully commit to the Soul Master Competition or strive for the championship.
Although they had defeated the powerful Elephant Armor Academy, Tang San didn't speak to anyone afterward or pay attention to other matches. Instead, he left the team with Yu Xiaogang.
Yang Xiong, on the other hand, was dragged shopping by Ning Rongrong. With his straightforward personality, he couldn't understand why girls enjoyed shopping so much.
Yu Xiaogang, seeing Tang San's dejected expression, consoled him. "Xiao San, don't overthink it. You performed exceptionally well in this match. At the very least, your combat strength matched Huyan Li's."
Tang San shook his head. "Teacher, I'm well aware of some things. Though we won this match, my Blue Silver Grass was clearly countered.
"For soul masters with strong physical builds, my Blue Silver Grass lacks sufficient resilience to effectively control them. My self-created soul skills, while advantageous, can only marginally bridge the gap between a Soul Elder and a Soul Ancestor. They can't achieve absolute dominance."
Yu Xiaogang quickly responded, "Xiao San, don't dwell on this too much. You're still young, and your path ahead is long. Besides, don't forget—your true strength lies in your second martial soul, the Hao Tian Hammer. Only when you add soul rings to it will your true potential emerge."
Tang San frowned. "Teacher, why won't you and Father let me add soul rings to the Hao Tian Hammer? I could become much stronger."
A bitter smile crossed Yu Xiaogang's face. "Twin martial souls are extremely rare, and your talent surpasses even my expectations. But twin martial souls come with a significant drawback: cultivating two martial souls simultaneously can lead to mutual repulsion, potentially resulting in death.
"Over the years, I've analyzed and researched extensively, but I've yet to uncover the secrets of twin martial soul cultivation. This may be one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in history."
Tang San fell silent upon hearing this.
---
Yu Xiaogang had once said that control-type soul masters were the strongest fighters among all soul masters. Unfortunately, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had glaring weaknesses, particularly its lack of resilience—it was vulnerable to fire and ice, making it highly susceptible to being countered. Compared to top-tier martial souls, the gap was vast.
Though Tang San had recently performed well and was widely acknowledged as having Soul Ancestor-level combat strength despite being a Soul Elder, these feats relied on his self-created soul skills rather than the inherent qualities of the Blue Silver Grass itself.
In the Soul Master Competition, information flowed freely. Every soul master's strengths and weaknesses were magnified countless times, especially for strong teams that meticulously analyzed each opponent to devise counter-strategies. After all, this was a rare five-year event.
Compared to Tang San's intense pride, others were more cheerful. The girls, in particular, reveled in the limelight, enjoying the attention of defeating a powerhouse like the Elephant Armor Academy at such a young age.
After the match against the Elephant Armor Academy, many teams quickly began studying Shrek Academy's weaknesses.
So far, Shrek Academy had remained undefeated, having not yet faced any veteran powerhouse teams. Their flawless record placed them at the forefront of all academy teams, drawing the attention—and targeted strategies—of rival schools.
In the following matches, opponents frequently fielded weapon-type soul masters or fire-attribute soul masters. Under their influence, Tang San's control abilities were further weakened.
Moreover, everyone knew that Tang San was the tactical core of Shrek Academy. Most of their strategies originated from him. Disrupting his Blue Silver Grass control essentially disrupted the team's fluidity, forcing Shrek Academy into direct confrontations and even traps.
The result was that every match became an arduous struggle. Both sides would wear each other down, eliminating numerous members before gradually securing victory.
Compared to other academies, Shrek Academy's advantage wasn't Tang San or Dai Mubai, the Soul Ancestor, but rather their possession of two high-level auxiliary soul masters.
One day, the group watched a match between the Blazing Fire Academy and the Sky Water Academy. These two teams were genuine contenders, with extraordinary combat strength. Notably, the Sky Water Academy had effortlessly defeated the Elephant Armor Academy, leaving Shrek Academy deeply concerned.
After observing the match, Tang San voiced his confusion. "Teacher, though their teamwork is solid, I don't see any auxiliary capabilities like Rongrong and Xiao Ao provide. Do they not have auxiliary soul masters?"
Yu Xiaogang stared at the stage and shook his head. "Elemental Academies are veteran powerhouses. Their teams adhere to a fundamental requirement: all members must share a single elemental attribute. Take the Elephant Armor Academy you faced—they even had seven members with identical martial souls. No auxiliary soul masters, not even an agility-type soul master."
Tang San's eyes widened. "Teacher, I've been reviewing that match recently and feel their team-building philosophy is entirely different from ours. It seems they prefer to maximize the potential of a single attribute."
"And after closely observing the Five Elements Academies, I've noticed they don't emphasize inter-elemental coordination. While their strengths are pronounced, their weaknesses are equally glaring."
Yu Xiaogang explained, "This reflects two schools of thought in the soul master world. One is the extreme specialization approach, like the Elemental Academies. The other is the balanced approach. Our team, which includes various types of soul masters, represents the latter."
Tang San pondered. "Teacher, haven't the Elemental Academies considered addressing their weaknesses?"
Yu Xiaogang remained silent for a long time before answering. "Each academy has its own traditions and backing. Behind the Elephant Armor Academy is the Elephant Armor Sect; behind the Thunder Academy is…"
He sighed. "In recent years, aside from the Five Elements Academies, no other powerhouse teams have emerged in the Tiandou Empire. Even this year, only Tian Dou Imperial Academy has performed well. In contrast, the Star Luo Empire seems to favor balanced approaches, with better synergy among their soul masters."
Tang San asked, "What about the Spirit Hall?"
A bitter smile crossed Yu Xiaogang's lips. "Compared to the two empires, the Spirit Hall's research into soul masters runs deeper. They pursue individual extremes while maintaining team balance. I call this the fusion approach. In my opinion, their method may be the strongest form of cooperation."
Tang San remarked, "The Spirit Hall is too selfish. Why don't they release these theories to promote the development of the soul master world?"
---
Others nodded in agreement, but Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong exchanged glances, speechless. Born into the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, they had seen far more soul masters and information than the others.
Anyone with a bit of insight in the soul master world knew that synergy yielded better results, especially with a top-tier support like the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
However, for students whose combat strength was relatively weak and whose knowledge was shallow, failing to maximize their potential and martial soul attributes would only sow seeds of trouble for future cultivation. Not to mention the Five Elements Academies—where in this world were there lightning-attribute auxiliary soul masters? Even control-type soul masters were scarce.
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