The Mystery of Soul Skills

"Then why is it only when it comes to the Dai Clan's White Tiger Martial Soul that the Soul Skill is a buff-type skill?"

Although Gu You had phrased it as a question, he knew perfectly well that no one present could answer it. In fact, no one on the entire continent could explain this mystery.

Psychological suggestion was a hypothesis affirmed by subjective will. It might not necessarily have any basis, but once a person subjectively acknowledged its existence, their mind would strive toward it.

Gu You believed that years of experience had caused the Dai Clan to develop the psychological suggestion that hunting a Vajra Tiger Soul Beast would inevitably grant them the Soul Skill White Tiger Vajra Transformation. That suggestion, in turn, influenced the formation of the Soul Skill, creating a cycle between the two.

In the Peerless Tang Sect ten thousand years later, the Dai Clan's Soul Skills had even become exactly the same as Dai Mubai's from ten thousand years earlier. Gu You guessed that this was because Dai Mubai had recorded the Soul Beasts he hunted for his Soul Rings and the Soul Skills he gained. Anyone who learned of them would think, "If I kill this kind of Soul Beast, I can gain this Soul Skill," thus completing the psychological suggestion.

From one perspective, this suggestion established a lower limit for obtaining Soul Skills and reduced the risk of mistakes. But conversely, it also affected the possibility of Soul Masters gaining different Soul Skills, making Soul Masters from the same lineage fight in similar ways and making information about their Soul Skills easier to leak and exploit.

Although Gu You already had a guess, knowledge like psychological suggestion was not something he could explain at his current age. The logic behind it was not something he could make clear in a short time.

So Gu You decided to put it in the simplest and bluntest way possible. "Because the Dai Clan thinks they'll get that Soul Skill, they end up getting that Soul Skill."

"..."

Tang San and the others were completely baffled. They could not understand what Gu You was saying at all.

"What do you mean, they think it will be that Soul Skill, so it becomes that Soul Skill? The effects produced by Soul Skills are random. You were the one who told me that." Tang San raised his question, repeating the knowledge about Martial Souls that Gu You had once explained to him like a story.

"It is indeed random, but that randomness itself is controllable." Gu You explained, "For example, once a Soul Master decides on a direction for their development, there has never been a case where their Soul Skills had absolutely nothing to do with that direction. Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, I'm sure that, having read so many Soul Master records, you understand this very clearly."

Ma Xiunuo thought back and realized that it was indeed true. There had never been a Soul Master whose Soul Skills had absolutely no connection to their development direction. Even if a skill appeared useless, its actual effect was still related.

With that in mind, Ma Xiunuo nodded firmly, indicating his agreement with Gu You.

Seeing Ma Xiunuo nod, Su Yuntao and Tang San were both shocked. Soul Masters actually had a way to control the Soul Skills they obtained.

Gu You continued, "Another piece of proof is my own Soul Skill. During the battle just now, although I don't want to admit it, I really performed terribly."

Tang San looked as though he wanted to say something, but Gu You waved him off. "I did defeat the Hunting Wolf, but at the time, my Martial Soul was the one in control, which was why I performed like that. If I had to do it again now, I definitely wouldn't be the same as before. So I hope I can do what my Martial Soul did."

"I think that's where the name of my First Soul Skill came from—Survival Instinct. It was a struggle to survive. Everything was for the sake of winning. If I can't win, then let my Martial Soul win on its own. Here, victory is everything."

No one knew how much pressure Gu You carried in his heart. In this twisted world, the strong could freely control everything about the weak. Life was both the most precious and the least precious thing. Having been reborn, Gu You did not want to die again, much less die in obscurity.

In his original world, Gu You had never been interested in studying. Yet here, he could settle down and read every book in Spirit Hall, even the most inconspicuous ones. He studied more seriously than he ever had for college entrance exams, all so he could arm himself with knowledge.

Gu You did not know how to fight, nor had he ever learned. Before his Martial Soul Awakening, all he had brought from his previous life were the various kinds of knowledge given to him by compulsory education and the internet, the study methods he had been forced to master, and the wild ideas found in all kinds of cultural works. As someone weak, only while studying could he forget the environment he was trapped in and feel that he possessed a power called knowledge.

After hearing Gu You's words, Su Yuntao said, "Xiao You, you're being too extreme." But when he saw Gu You's eyes, he had no way to say anything more. Deep within Gu You's gaze seemed to burn a mass of black Flame, a Flame capable of reducing everything to ashes.

No one said anything else, and they continued on their way in silence.

Tang San pondered Gu You's words. He believed that if Gu You's theory was correct, then the Soul Skill he obtained from the Lightning-Struck Wood could also take on the effect he desired.

But Tang San only knew that the development direction Gu You had planned for him was the Support System. Gu You had never said what kind of Soul Skill he could obtain. Did that not mean his First Soul Skill would be random and uncontrollable?

Although he wanted Gu You to tell him what kind of Soul Skill the Lightning-Struck Wood could provide so he could prepare himself mentally, the silence of the group kept Tang San from speaking.

As they traveled, the sky gradually darkened. Ma Xiunuo led the three of them away from the stream, found a flat patch of ground, and had everyone begin setting up camp.

After dinner, Gu You and Tang San shared one tent to rest, while Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao used the other tent and took turns keeping watch. Ma Xiunuo took the first half of the night, while Su Yuntao was responsible for the second half. Once everyone got up, Su Yuntao would sleep for another two hours before they continued their journey.

After a tiring day, Gu You, Tang San, and Su Yuntao quickly washed up and crawled into their tents to rest. As soon as they lay down inside the tent, Tang San impatiently asked, "Xiao You, what kind of Soul Skill can I obtain from the Lightning-Struck Wood?"

Gu You stared at Tang San with a bewildered expression. "Didn't I just say that? Once I tell you the possible effect of a Soul Skill, your Soul Skill is very likely to end up having that effect."

"It's fine, Xiao You. I want to know." Tang San looked at Gu You resolutely. "And didn't you say it before? 'Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.' Let me be your first test subject."

Hearing Tang San's words, Gu You was stunned. His mouth fell open as he stared blankly at Tang San.

Although he still felt some pressure in his heart, Tang San decisively continued, "It's fine. Aren't you a Martial Soul Grandmaster? No matter how bad your theories are, they can't possibly be worse than that person who calls himself 'Grandmaster,' right?"

Hearing the sincerity in Tang San's words, Gu You no longer tried to persuade him. "Just as I said before we set out, when the Lightning-Struck Wood provides a Soul Skill for a Plant Type Martial Soul, it will inevitably be related to vitality. As a leafless Plant Type Soul Beast, its vigorous vitality comes entirely from the roots buried underground. So after your Blue Silver Grass obtains its Soul Ring, there is a strong possibility that it will gain a Soul Skill that absorbs nutrients from the ground to enhance vitality. The additional effect should be an increase in the Martial Soul's strength. If you're exceptionally lucky, you may even gain Lightning Attribute resistance."

P.S.: Almost no Soul Master's Soul Skills are completely unrelated to their development direction. Support System Soul Masters do not gain offensive Soul Skills, and Power Attack System Soul Masters do not gain support abilities. Based on the setting that Soul Skill effects are random, the probability would be far too low. The only explanation is that it is related to the Soul Master's own wishes.

Tomorrow I have to visit graves, so I can only say that I'll try to find time to write. I just saw everyone's encouragement, and I'm very grateful for your support. I will do my best to finish this story. Lastly, please continue to vote with recommendation tickets, add it to your collections, and send monthly tickets.