Early the next morning.
Sunlight spilled across the land from the horizon. Cool breezes, carrying the scent of ripening summer fruit and a trace of warmth, kept brushing over Chen Xiaojun as he stood on Jieshi Slope after his morning run, leaving his whole body feeling exceptionally relaxed.
Chen Xiaojun simply stood there quietly, watching the magnificent sunrise glow rise, until a dazzling beam of sunlight shot out from the horizon and the beauty of the morning clouds vanished.
At eight o'clock, Chen Xiaojun arrived at the Martial Arts Hall beside the Ancestral Hall. After entering the main gate, the first thing that came into view was the large field known as the Martial Arts Training Ground. Several clan brothers and their followers were already cultivating there, including his older brother, Little Fatty's older brother Zhu Wukui, while their clan uncle Chen Wu supervised from the side.
In fact, June twentieth happened to be when several clan brothers studying away from home returned for summer vacation. Otherwise, there would not have been so many peers yesterday.
On the continent, academy summer vacation usually ran from mid-June to mid-August, so in two months, his older brother would also be leaving to study.
After they greeted one another, he crossed the large training ground. Directly ahead stood five or six large buildings, which were precisely the teaching areas.
In truth, the children studying in the Clan School and the kindergarten basically numbered fewer than twenty in total. This was a kind of elite education.
The large building in the center at the front was the main teaching area. On its plaque were written the three characters "Ze Ji Study," meaning to bestow blessings upon later generations and continue the prosperity of the clan.
When he entered the room, Chen Yu and Chen Cong were seated inside. Because the Martial Arts Hall was generally handled by Chen Cong and Chen Wu, several others, including Support Type Healing Type Soul Masters like Ye Xiuxin, served as Teaching Assistants. Occasionally, elders would come to guide their own direct-line juniors.
Chen Cong's face was not especially large, but even though all his features were gathered onto that one face, there was no sense of disharmony at all. His deep and gentle eyes shimmered with a soul-stirring luster, particularly captivating.
He was the person in the clan who had studied Soul Master theory the most deeply, and he was the most suited to carrying out the clan's inheritance education. In truth, no clan could do without such a person.
With the ten-thousand-year history of Soul Masters on Douluo Continent, one should not underestimate the collective wisdom of human civilization. How could the Soul Master World possibly not pay much attention to theoretical research, as people had discussed in his previous life?
Look at the five thousand years of the Celestial Dynasty in his previous life. It was basically a history of war, and research into weapons had never stopped. As the noblest profession and the highest-end martial force on Douluo Continent, how could Soul Masters possibly not conduct research?
It was not as if no one could see the usefulness of theory. Many achievements in the Martial Soul World had been waded out through blood, such as soul ring age limits, attribute conflicts, and so on. One mistake could come at a disastrous price, even death.
With such a price, how could anyone be careless toward theoretical research?
Academies spread across the continent all had theory classes, right? It was impossible for them to teach students only through practice. Even an oddity like Shrek had theoretical education; it was simply more like a master-disciple inheritance.
Besides, in every era, there would always be people who purely liked theory. Time held vast power, and with such a long accumulation, the research results were also extremely terrifying.
It was just that some important results, especially research achievements on exclusive Martial Souls, had not spread widely. They had been deliberately hidden and treasured.
Chen Wu was Chen Wenchao's son, in his early forties, with cultivation at the Soul Saint level. He was responsible for teaching the children practical combat.
After a round of polite conversation.
Chen Yu nodded and said, "Xiao'er, starting today, you will undergo six years of Soul Master enlightenment education. Grandfather hopes that during these six years, you will gain a fairly deep understanding of the Soul Master system, break through to Soul Elder six years later, and then leave to study."
Chen Cong introduced, "Under the continent's normal education system, children start at six years old, studying for six years at a junior academy, then six years at an intermediate academy, and six years at an advanced academy, advancing step by step. By around twenty-four, they more or less complete their studies. Of course, outstanding students can graduate early.
That is why the Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition is set for those under twenty-five.
And our Chen Clan supports clan members going out to study and travel. The Seven Kill Sword can only progress through a large amount of real combat.
However, only after completing the clan's initial Soul Master inheritance from age six to twelve, gaining an understanding of the Soul Master system, and acquiring basic self-protection ability, are they permitted to go out."
Chen Cong paused for a moment. "Back to the point. Before studying Soul Masters, remember two ancestral teachings. First, what the fifteenth-generation ancestor Chen Xili said: 'What exists is reasonable.' Even a flaw must have its reason. Second, what the twenty-second-generation ancestor Chen Feiyi left behind: 'All things are possible.'
It is precisely these two sayings that shaped our Chen Clan's style: 'Soul changes are not to be feared, ancestors are not to be blindly imitated, and others' words are not worth fretting over.' It means that Martial Soul mutations are not something to fear, ancestral conventions are not necessarily something to follow, and people's discussions and attacks are not something to worry about.
Our ancestors told us not to fear any Top Martial Soul or top Soul Master, not even our own Seven Kill Sword. They wanted us to inherit our ultimate arts based on the research of our predecessors and ancestors, to carry forward the past and open the way for the future, and not cling stubbornly to rules because of other people's thoughts, views, and discussions—including those of our Chen Clan's own ancestors.
In fact, although every generation of our Chen Clan has experienced twists and turns, in the long run, our overall strength has always risen, and even Titled Douluo have continued generation after generation without interruption. So you must remember these two points!"
"Yes! 'What exists is reasonable!' 'All things are possible!' 'Soul changes are not to be feared, ancestors are not to be blindly imitated, and others' words are not worth fretting over!'" Chen Xiaojun recited loudly.
Chen Cong nodded. "First, let me ask a simple question. In a broad sense, Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls, the two major forms, can be subdivided by specific use into how many categories. You know that, right?"
"I know. Specifically, they can be divided into Equipment Martial Souls, Beast Martial Souls, Plant System, Food System, Support Type, Healing Type, Body System, and special types including but not limited to humanoid forms, elemental states, summoning types, ancient creatures, and so on."
"Not bad. Then let us begin. A Soul Master's cultivation revolves around the Martial Soul, so one must understand the traits of a Martial Soul. What is your Martial Soul Trait?"
Chen Xiaojun fell silent. He wanted to say something, but then quieted down again and looked at Chen Cong.
"You only awakened yesterday, so it is normal that you do not know. Carefully sense your own Martial Soul. It has spirituality." Chen Cong smiled. "All right, I will first talk about our Chen Clan's Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul. Yours is also a Sword Martial Soul, so you can use it as a reference."
"Martial Soul Traits are generally divided into common traits and exclusive traits. Common traits are traits shared by all Martial Souls of the same type. Exclusive traits, as the name implies, are the essence of an inherited Martial Soul, which is also commonly called a 'Martial Soul characteristic' or 'Martial Soul Trait.'
For example, our family's Seven Kill Sword has these common traits:
First, as a Tool Martial Soul, the Martial Soul can leave the body and become an independent weapon. Just as Beast Martial Souls can possess the body, this is a common trait of the two major form categories.
Second, the Seven Kill Sword is a metal Equipment Martial Soul and has the property of being difficult to destroy, unlike Plant System Martial Souls, which are often cut apart or burned away. Once it is destroyed, it is also extremely difficult to restore. But Plant System Martial Souls are different; they recover extremely quickly, directly proportional to Soul Power. As long as there is enough Soul Power, they can be produced continuously. In truth, we Soul Masters are more easily injured than Equipment Martial Souls.
Third, as a sword-type weapon, it has the basic attribute of sharpness. Metal also naturally possesses a certain sturdiness and toughness. This should be easy to understand, right?"
"Mm. Anything else?" Chen Xiaojun listened attentively.
"Fourth, the uniqueness of simultaneous manifestation. There is only one sword. It will not turn into another sword at the same time, right? Even if there are more, they are all energy-formed states granted by soul skills, or temporarily effective physical manifestations. Once that time point passes, they vanish.
As I said just now, many Plant System Martial Souls can be produced continuously and exist at the same time, their number related to Soul Power. Looking again at Food System Martial Souls, they can be eaten, and there are many of them too.
However, you may be different in this regard. Ten Sword God Pearls, ten swords—not only can you attack with multiple swords, you may very likely be able to release multiple soul skills at the same time, or even form a Combination Skill, multiplying its power. If several low-level soul skills are combined properly, they will be no weaker than a high-level soul skill. In the future, you can pay more attention to developing this aspect."
"Second Granduncle, brilliant insight!" Chen Xiaojun raised his thumb.
The Little Fellow's flattery landed pleasantly. Chen Cong narrowed his eyes in a pleased smile. "Then next, let us talk about the exclusive traits of the Seven Kill Sword. First, the Seven Kill Sword can absorb killing intent to amplify its attack power. Paired with the family-inherited Seven Kill Qi Concealment Technique, it is like a tiger given wings. I will not explain that one. Second, Ring Embedding!"
"Ring Embedding?"
"Correct. Martial Souls that can withstand Ring Embedding are extremely rare.
Ring Embedding means cultivating a soul ring until it separates from the outward form of the soul ring itself, merges into the Martial Soul, and transforms into the nine stars on the Seven Kill Sword, each corresponding to the color of a soul ring, thereby achieving an amplification effect.
This was a kind of Soul Ring Secret Skill.
So-called Soul Ring Secret Skills were advanced applications based on soul rings. Aside from Ring Embedding, the known Soul Ring Secret Skills also included Ring Detonation, Ring Fusion, and Ring Iteration.
Ring Detonation was a Soul Ring Secret Skill exclusive to the Clear Sky Hammer's Tang Clan. It detonated a soul ring to unleash tremendous power; the higher the soul ring's level, the greater the power gained from detonating it, to the point that it could even multiply one's own strength several times over.
But this was a Life-Risking Art. Not only could it not be used again for a period of time, but the body, Soul Power, and Mental Power were all closely connected, and any of the three could be injured.
"My guess is that for this cooldown period during which it can't be used, the higher the soul ring's age and the greater the power, the longer the recovery time required."
"They say it's passed down to only one person each generation. Who knows if that's true or not. If our Chen Clan obtained it, we could study it properly."
A look of yearning and desire shone in Chen Cong's eyes.
"Second brother!" Chen Yu barked from beside him.
Right now, they were among their own, so it was no big deal. But if he accidentally let something slip in an unsuitable setting in the future, it would cause a storm.
There was no other reason. Secret skills were the foundation of a clan. Some things could be done, but not spoken of.
"Professional habit, professional habit!" Chen Cong laughed awkwardly.
"What about Ring Fusion and Ring Iteration?" Chen Xiaojun cut in at just the right moment.
Before you continue