A Soul Master System Full of Loopholes

Half a month later~

At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, a figure flashed out from within, moving as fast as lightning and as elusive as a ghost. With each step, he crossed vast distances. Time itself seemed to slow around him, while only he moved at a normal pace.

His appearance drew reverent looks from the Soul Masters preparing to enter the forest to hunt Soul Beasts. To possess such astonishing speed, emerge alone from the forest, and still be impeccably dressed—he had to be a powerful Soul Master.

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Shenggo breathed in the air, which was slightly different from that within the forest. The Golden Clock in his left eye stopped turning and gradually faded away, while his previously teleport-like speed slowed to that of an ordinary person walking.

"Eight soul rings. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a suitable ninth soul ring."

Gu Shenggo murmured to himself. He had originally intended to enter the Star Dou Great Forest and directly obtain his ninth soul ring, but after searching for more than half a month, he had found nothing suitable.

As for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, that would be difficult. At present, the only Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the surface of the Star Dou Great Forest was the Sky Azure Bull Python, but there was also the Titan Giant Ape, whose combat strength rivaled that of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. With the two brothers joining forces, Gu Shenggo knew he was no match for them.

He had not expected that pursuing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring would put himself in danger.

Moreover, if the battle woke those ferocious beasts sleeping beneath the lake, that would be even more troublesome.

"The Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion... I'll have to go to the Extreme North too. What a hassle."

Gu Shenggo favored the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion's soul ring even more. Its ultimate ice would also benefit him, further strengthening his Ice Thorn Vine.

For the time being, Gu Shenggo would not be going to the Extreme North. It was only a soul ring; there was no need to rush.

Seeing the many carriages waiting outside the forest, like the taxis outside train stations in his previous life, ferrying Soul Masters who had emerged from the forest, Gu Shenggo casually chose one and told the driver to take him to Heaven Dou Imperial City.

The driver's face immediately lit up upon hearing that the destination was Heaven Dou Imperial City. This was a major fare, and he hurriedly invited Gu Shenggo aboard.

After entering the carriage, Gu Shenggo found its furnishings simple. He sat on a soft, comfortable piece of Soul Beast fur, likely the pelt of a Soft Bone Rabbit. Slowly closing his eyes, he sent his spiritual body into the Void Archive.

Void Archive Knowledge Space~

"Visitor, you've come."

The moment Gu Shenggo appeared, Prometheus appeared before him as well. Gu Shenggo nodded and asked, "Prometheus, how is the research on the Soul Beast corpses and soul bones I gave you?"

At his words, a virtual projection appeared in Prometheus's hand. It contained detailed analyses and research data on Soul Beasts.

"Following your suggestion, I extracted the genes of those Soul Beasts and attempted to develop a Gene Potion similar to a Fusion Potion. However, I lack information native to this world and cannot create a suitable Gene Potion."

Although the Void Archive stored most of the knowledge from the Previous Era, it did not belong to the Douluo World after all. There were many differences, and Soul Beasts alone were not enough.

They had to gain a deeper understanding of Douluo Continent and the creatures that existed upon it before they could develop suitable Gene Potions. There might even need to be human experimentation.

After all, the Fusion Warriors of the Previous Era had not succeeded simply by taking a dose of Fusion Potion. They were one in ten thousand, survivors who had endured countless human experiments.

After listening to Prometheus's explanation, Gu Shenggo pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I understand. I'll gather a large number of animals and plants for you to study later. Take your time researching the Gene Potion; there's no need to hurry. Name this project [Gene Warrior]."

Given the current course of Douluo Continent, the path of Soul Masters could not go far. After all, according to the setting of the five-part Douluo series, this was a universe.

Beyond Douluo Continent, there were three other continents. Together, they formed a single planet.

The Soul Master system could develop at most on Douluo Star, but once one entered the universe, technology and genetics had to be developed. Martial souls were, to put it plainly, products of genes.

Only powerful genes could take one farther.

Gu Shenggo suspected that the humans of Douluo Continent were actually descendants of Soul Beasts.

According to the setting of Douluo Continent, the Dragon God had discovered Douluo Star. At the time, however, Douluo Star had still been a vast ocean inhabited only by ordinary lifeforms.

Thus, the Dragon God ordered the Mountain Dragon King, one of the Nine Dragon Kings, to transform his body into the continent, forming the ancient Douluo Continent.

Furthermore, Soul Beasts could take human form upon reaching one hundred thousand years. In ancient times, there had been no so-called heavenly tribulations; they only appeared after the Dragon God's death, when the gods of the God Realm established new rules to limit the development of Soul Beasts.

Soul Beasts transformed into humans, mated, and reproduced.

Soul Beasts came first; humans came later.

That was why humans could awaken martial souls—because their ancestors had been Soul Beasts. It was genetic inheritance.

But that only explained plant martial souls and beast martial souls.

What about tool martial souls? Did tools transform into humans?

Gu Shenggo sank into thought, but then shook his head. Why think so much about it? This world was full of plot holes. The more he thought about it, the more trouble he would only bring himself.

And so, [Gene Warrior] was finalized. All that remained was to provide Prometheus with more research materials for analysis and study.

Gu Shenggo also began researching another project.

[Hot Weapon Soul Tool Forging]

Douluo Continent had so-called Soul Tools, but the art of making them had largely been lost. Few people understood how to manufacture them, and they were all storage-type Soul Tools without offensive or defensive capabilities.

They seemed miraculous, but were actually useless—nothing but flashy gimmicks.

Gu Shenggo considered applying the manufacturing methods of Previous Era hot weapons to Douluo Continent, but suitable materials were required.

Truth could only be gained through practice. Only by combining science and genetics could they forge a broad road ahead.

Gu Shenggo had little faith in the Soul Master system passed down on Douluo Continent.

It neither extended one's lifespan nor strengthened the body; it merely increased Soul Power.

So-called gods could be killed by hidden weapons.

There was something wrong with the cultivation system. Whether soul masters or soul beasts, both had their flaws.

If one path was blocked, then he would forge another.

Gu Shenggo had never considered relying on the Douluo divine positions to become a god. Besides, Douluo had no God of Time.

Rather than remain constrained by the soul master system, he might as well research a system suited to himself. With Void Archive's help, even if he could not develop an ultimate path, crushing the soul master system would not be a problem.

Time passed bit by bit, and Gu Shenggo immersed himself in the sea of knowledge, unable to pull himself free.

Outside, the coachman drove the carriage onward beneath the moonlight. In the distance, a city gradually came into view.

As the carriage drew closer, the city gates became clearer.

[Suotuo City]

This was a city relatively close to the Star Dou Great Forest. It was already so late that the coachman wanted to rest in Suotuo City for the night and continue their journey tomorrow, though he still needed Gu Shenggo's approval.

"Respected Soul Master, we've arrived at Suotuo City. Would you like to rest here?"

(It is known that all fantasy cultivation systems can crush the soul master system.)