On the Soul Breaking Spear

"Heaven-Piercing!"

Yang Wudi murmured to himself as he looked at the spear in Yang Ming's hand—a transparent, ancient crystal spear that radiated grandeur and majesty.

"It suits it quite well."

After commenting on the Atlas Spear's name, Yang Wudi began arranging the next steps. He spoke calmly to Yang Ming.

"Ming Er, you possess Innate Full Soul Power at level ten. You have now reached the limit of a Soul Scholar and need to obtain a Spirit Ring before you can continue cultivating."

As he spoke, Yang Wudi took out two books from his Storage Soul Tool and handed them to Yang Ming.

Yang Ming accepted the books and glanced at them. The thicker one had a brand-new cover and was titled "Star Dou Soul Beast Compendium." The other was very thin, with a blood-red cover that gave off a tragic, dangerous feeling. Its title was "Secrets of the Soul Breaking."

Seeing Yang Ming take the books, Yang Wudi began explaining.

"Go back and study these two books carefully today, especially 'Secrets of the Soul Breaking.'"

When Yang Wudi mentioned this book, his tone became serious and his expression solemn.

"This book records and summarizes the entire process and theories developed by our Breaking Clan ancestors as they experimented with the optimal path of development for the Soul Breaking Spear! It offers excellent reference value for Spirit Ring selection for any spear-type Martial Soul!"

"You could say that every word in this book was bought with our ancestors' blood!"

"You must study it thoroughly!"

After hearing the immense significance behind the book, Yang Ming answered his Grandfather with a serious expression.

"Yes, Grandfather!"

Seeing that Yang Ming had taken his words to heart, Yang Wudi nodded in satisfaction and continued.

"Today, use these two books and the characteristics of the Atlas Spear Martial Soul to select suitable Soul Beasts. Tomorrow, we will depart for the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Spirit Ring!"

After Grandfather Yang Wudi made the arrangements, Yang Ming had wanted to ask him about the events of the past and resolve the doubts in his heart. However, once Yang Wudi had assigned Yang Ming's task for the day, he left at once to handle clan affairs and prepare for tomorrow's journey. Yang Ming could only return to his quiet small courtyard and study Spirit Ring selection.

Early the next morning.

Yang Wudi and Yang Ming, grandfather and grandson, boarded a carriage that had been arranged in advance. They left the Breaking Clan residence and set out for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Inside the carriage, Yang Wudi set up a Soul Power Shield. Once their conversation was secure, he went straight to the point and began testing Yang Ming on his preparations from the day before. With great interest, Yang Wudi asked,

"Ming Er, tell me, what are your thoughts on your First Soul Ring?"

Hearing Grandfather Yang Wudi's question, Yang Ming felt a strange sensation. It was not that he had no ideas or that things had gone poorly. Rather, everything had gone too smoothly—so smoothly that the entire process felt almost unnatural.

After finishing both "Star Dou Soul Beast Compendium" and "Secrets of the Soul Breaking" yesterday, his mind had directly deduced the optimal Spirit Ring combination. It was a plan in which every Spirit Ring slot would lead to entirely different later choices depending on the preceding rings.

After reading "Secrets of the Soul Breaking," he had even optimized a new Spirit Ring plan for the Soul Breaking Spear, one with a higher potential ceiling. Everything had flowed without the slightest obstruction, as if it were instinct.

Seeing Yang Ming lost in thought, Yang Wudi called softly.

"Ming Er?"

Hearing Yang Wudi call him, Yang Ming came back to his senses and replied.

"Yes, Grandfather."

"I have two categories of Soul Beasts in mind for my First Soul Ring."

"The Bewildering Trace Beast and the Ethereal Python, along with several lower-tier alternatives."

Although the two types of Soul Beasts Yang Ming had chosen were both rare Space Element Soul Beasts, they generally produced Space Element support-type soul skills.

Yang Wudi was somewhat puzzled by Yang Ming's choice of Spirit Ring. It completely contradicted everything he had seen throughout his decades as a Soul Breaking Spear Soul Master. What spear-type Martial Soul would choose such Soul Beasts? Still, he chose to trust Yang Ming first and continued asking.

"Tell me why."

Yang Ming could see Yang Wudi's confusion, but he had confidence in his choice. Rather than explain his reasoning for the Spirit Ring selection first, he chose to analyze the flaws in the Soul Breaking Spear system.

"I think the Breaking Clan's Spirit Ring allocation methods are far too ordinary! Unless someone is like you, Grandfather, and obtains every Spirit Ring from the same type of Soul Beast just to continuously increase attack power!"

Yang Wudi's Spirit Ring selection was an extreme case among pure attack-oriented paths. The other members of the Breaking Clan did not all hunt the exact same kind of Soul Beast. (Where were there enough suitable Soul Beasts to keep killing?)

Yang Ming's opening words struck Yang Wudi like a bolt from the blue. Before Yang Wudi could react, Yang Ming continued explaining.

"For those who possess the Soul Breaking Spear Martial Soul, even those with somewhat poorer talent can cultivate to four rings. For this portion of the clan, this Spirit Ring allocation method is not a problem. But for those with outstanding talent, this set of Spirit Rings is somewhat insufficient!"

"For clan members above Soul Saint cultivation, when fighting opponents of the same level, two of the first four soul skills become of little use."

Hearing this, Yang Wudi's anger, which had arisen because he believed Yang Ming to be arrogant enough to scorn the clan's inherited Spirit Ring arrangement, subsided somewhat. Soul Saints and those above them truly did have this problem. But wasn't everyone in the Soul Master World the same? What was the issue?

Although Yang Wudi had not thought of an answer himself, he wanted to hear Yang Ming's views.

Seeing that Grandfather Yang Wudi had not interrupted him, Yang Ming continued.

"The Soul Breaking Spear's primary method of attack is close-quarters combat, and the Martial Soul itself already possesses sufficient attack power. For talented clan members, the first four Spirit Rings do not need direct attack-type soul skills at all."

"First, because mastering spear techniques is enough to compensate for the missing attack power caused by a lack of such soul skills. Second, because powerful attack-type soul skills must inevitably be added later on. Adding status-type, support-type, and defensive counterattack-type soul skills early on can better diversify tactics and strengthen combat ability."

"The Soul Breaking Spear has never lacked attack power. Sacrificing dispensable early attack soul skills in exchange for higher attack accuracy and a greater margin for error is more suitable, in my opinion."

Yang Ming paused for breath before stating his final reason.

"When Soul Masters hunt Soul Beasts and absorb Spirit Rings, they must match them to their Martial Souls. But on the basis of that compatibility, they must also choose suitable Soul Beast soul skills. After all, aside from Spirit Bones and the Seventh Soul Ring, ordinary Soul Masters can have at most eight soul skills. Every slot is precious!"

After listening to Yang Ming's 'absurd theories,' Yang Wudi fell silent.

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