Chapter 59: The Spirit Hall Conference
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"First, energy and bloodlines are not mutually exclusive. If a spirit beast suitable for both is found, it can greatly enhance the martial soul's power. However, since soul ring slots are limited, prioritizing one over the other will aid future breakthroughs."
"By reaching the Title Douluo stage, martial soul cultivation can extend one's lifespan. People naturally want to live longer, so I assume this is the goal of every soul master by default."
"The first two soul rings typically have lower year limits. It's best to attach ones that increase elemental affinity, aiding soul masters in absorbing external elemental attributes and enhancing their cultivation. These can be considered foundational steps."
"For the bloodline evolution path, the quality of spirit beasts is crucial. Ideally, large factions should artificially cultivate high-quality hundred-year spirit beasts to expedite the evolution process."
"On this matter, I thought of the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. This method artificially stimulates dragon bloodlines, but only sub-dragon martial souls can learn it due to its specificity."
"If a suitable soul master—such as a psychic-type soul master—can be found to mesmerize spirit beasts and master the technique for stimulating bloodlines, combined with feeding them bloodline-enhancing herbs and high-year dragon blood, it could purify the bloodline and help sub-dragons revert to their ancestral forms. This would complete the evolutionary path."
"This approach could also alleviate the pressure on spirit beasts caused by soul masters' growing strength, benefiting future generations immensely."
…
"Tool-type martial souls, being objects, can follow the path of Sword Dao Chen Xin who pursued the evolution of intent. This path requires unwavering resolve and indomitable willpower."
"By combining soul power and spiritual power, one can touch upon the essence of the martial soul early on and use sheer willpower to overcome the disadvantages of low innate soul power. With strong willpower, one's cultivation speed can rival that of someone with an innate soul power level of seven or higher."
"Plant-type soul masters can attune themselves to the will of nature, responding to and embracing it. Nature is alive and sentient. Plant-type soul masters shouldn't focus solely on combat…"
Gu La's memory was extraordinary, allowing him to write about ideas that wouldn't emerge for Qians of years. Even with his ability to traverse time and space, he couldn't predict how these ideas would transform the Douluo Continent.
"A stagnant future is not the future I desire."
With a faint smile, Gu La wrote about the path for plant-type soul masters.
This path wasn't easy. The plane's consciousness existed, but it rarely intervened directly. Gu La was writing these advanced ideas to repay the favors bestowed upon him by the plane's consciousness—his luck and second martial soul. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to propose such an obviously era-defying argument.
There didn't need to be successful plant-type soul masters; just the fact that soul masters remembered to treat nature kindly would reduce the pressure on the plane's consciousness.
"Every time something new emerges on the Douluo Continent, someone might awaken a corresponding martial soul. As the plane's consciousness grows stronger, the world's primal energy becomes denser, and the soul master community prospers."
After carefully finishing the paper stroke by stroke, Gu La left the academy. He hypnotized a random passerby in Nuoding City, gave them fifty gold coins, and instructed them to switch cities and mail the letter.
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Three days later, in the Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong finished reading 'An Overview of Martial Soul Evolution Theory'. Looking at Yue Guan and Gui Mei below her, she exhaled deeply to calm her agitated emotions.
"Yue Guan, take this paper to the Worship Hall and call for a meeting. Ask the Worships to review and comment on it."
Yue Guan bowed slightly. "Yes."
The paper soon reached Golden Crocodile Douluo. He read it again and again, clenching his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with golden light.
With his experience as a ninety-eight-level Title Douluo, he could confirm that most of the content was reasonable. Even the speculative parts had five or six out of ten chances of being true.
He went to the depths of the Worship Hall, knocked on the door, and awakened the Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu, from his meditation.
"Big Brother, someone outside has written a paper. Once published, it will shake the entire continent. You must decide what to do."
Inside the room, an elder with pale golden hair and beard opened his eyes. His cold, stern face radiated authority without anger, surrounded by an aura of light.
He slowly rose, and the door opened automatically.
Golden Crocodile Douluo handed him the paper. Qian Daoliu quickly flipped through it, his usually calm expression showing slight surprise.
"It does contain substantial insights. When did such a talent in martial soul theory appear in the outside world?"
Qian Daoliu turned to the author's name. The words 'Oak' caught his eye, and he nodded. He recognized the name.
"I remember him. He's the one who developed the formula for the Bone-Strengthening Ointment."
Even as an unparalleled Title Douluo, he couldn't deny that Oak's understanding of pharmacology had reached a pinnacle.
Golden Crocodile Douluo agreed. "It's him. Bibi Dong sent Yue Guan to say that Oak previously requested all his papers to be made public."
"But this paper touches on many sensitive topics, even audaciously guiding the top three sects on disciple training. Should the Spirit Hall intercept it?"
Qian Daoliu remained silent. Since his personally trained son had gone astray and committed grave mistakes, he rarely interfered in Bibi Dong's management of the Spirit Hall.
But this time was different. The theory of martial soul evolution would have a massive impact on the soul master world, so he had to step in to stabilize the situation.
Qian Daoliu made his decision. "As Bibi Dong said, hold a meeting and vote on it."
"Yes, Big Brother."
Golden Crocodile Douluo agreed and went to notify the other Elders.
Soon, the seven Worships of the Spirit Hall, along with more than a dozen Title Douluos, gathered in the Pope's Hall, sitting around a circular stone table.
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu sat at the head of the table. Yue Guan distributed the hastily copied papers to everyone, waiting for them to finish reading.
Title Douluos were quick thinkers, and it didn't take long for them to finish reading the dozen-page article.
As the Pope, Bibi Dong spoke first. "Elders, what are your thoughts? How much truth is there in the theories presented in this paper?"
Don't let Bibi Dong's innate full soul power and twin martial souls fool you into thinking she was highly knowledgeable in martial soul theory.
Just look at how easily she was drawn in by Yu Xiaogang's shallow theories—clearly, her understanding of theoretical knowledge wasn't deep.
This was a common issue among soul masters. Very few were willing to study the dry theories, especially since meditation and cultivation were already arduous enough. Not everyone could maintain an insatiable curiosity from childhood.
Fourth Elder Xiong Shi Douluo, with his imposing physique and aloof demeanor, ignored Bibi Dong entirely and spoke to himself:
"The martial soul classification mentioned above is quite interesting. My Blazing Lion martial soul underwent a mutation, resulting in a flame temperature much higher than similar martial souls. I wonder if it qualifies as an ultimate martial soul."
(T/N: Wiki says he has the 'Golden Lion' martial soul that's metal attribute)
He didn't care about Bibi Dong's opinion—he was more concerned about whether he could continue breaking through.
Third Elder Qing Luan Douluo's expression was cold as she said indifferently, "According to the standards in the paper, neither Big Brother's Light attribute, Second Brother's Strength, my Wind attribute, Fourth Brother's Fire attribute, nor Fifth Brother's Light attribute qualify as ultimate attributes."
"The paper states that ultimate martial souls are destined to become Super Douluos. What about all the hard work we've put into cultivation?"
Her tone carried a hint of mockery, directed either at the paper or herself.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, with his steady temperament, noticed his brothers' dissatisfaction with Bibi Dong and redirected the conversation. "Martial souls don't represent everything. This person's insights are remarkable. The views on evolving martial souls in the paper are very reasonable. Has anyone been assigned to test them?"
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