The Possibilities of Soul Power

Gu You nodded and said, "That explains why similar Soul Power Levels can cause different amounts of damage. Our Martial Souls, in turn, affect the nature of our Soul Power, making it manifest differently."

"Wait. Let's go back to where we were this morning. If things are as I thought, then the second manifestation should have appeared by now."

Seeing that the two of them were eager to return to the academy, Gu You decided to finish explaining his thoughts as quickly as possible.

"If a Soul Master's Soul Power carries different properties, then that explains why almost no universal Self-Created Soul Skills have been passed down."

"Throughout the long history of the Douluo Continent, it's not that there have been no Self-Created Soul Skills. It's just that not a single one has spread across the continent."

"But this is a Soul Master history spanning tens of thousands of recorded years. The possibility of that seems far too small."

"It's not that the Soul Masters who created Self-Created Soul Skills didn't want to teach them to others. It's that they taught them, but the others couldn't learn them."

"This also explains why the Soul Skills of Soul Masters from powerful inherited clans are all the same."

"Because only this way can their descendants achieve the same conditions and Soul Power properties as their ancestors when they created their Self-Created Soul Skills, allowing them to learn them successfully."

"Self-Created Soul Skills." Hearing Gu You's explanation, Tang San thought of the Tang Sect Secret Arts he knew.

The Mysterious Heaven Skill for cultivation, the Hundred Methods of Hidden Weapons for Hidden Weapon techniques, the Purple Demon Eye for observation, the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track for evasion, the Mysterious Jade Hand for defense, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon for control.

Tang San planned to tell Gu You about all the Tang Sect Secret Arts except the Hundred Methods of Hidden Weapons, using the excuse that an old man had taught them to him. Just as he was about to speak, Gu You interrupted him.

"Stop, Xiao San. I know what you want to say. After all, you haven't exactly kept it from me."

"But this is too valuable. Trading the suggestion for one Soul Ring for one technique is already the limit."

Gu You smiled. "When I have something else suitable in the future, I'll come find you to make another trade. Don't refuse me then."

Hearing Gu You's words, Tang San could hear his determination. He could only accept the suggestion, while secretly deciding that once Gu You told him which Soul Beast to choose for his second Soul Ring, he would let Gu You choose which one he wanted to learn.

Gu You turned and warned Xiao Wu, "You also need to be careful not to tell anyone that Xiao San possesses a Self-Created Soul Skill."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes, turned her head away, and said angrily, "Of course I know that. You don't need to remind me."

After explaining everything he could currently confirm, Gu You took the two of them back to the academy to see whether the holes they had dug that morning were still there.

On the way, they passed a candied hawthorn stall. Xiao Wu skipped over and asked, "Boss, how much is one skewer of candied hawthorns?"

Seeing a cute little girl asking him a question, the stall owner smiled and said, "Four Copper Soul Coins per skewer."

When he saw Gu You and Tang San following behind her and noticed that all three were wearing the same Soul Master Academy uniforms, the stall owner added, "Are the three of you together? Three skewers for only ten Copper Soul Coins."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu turned to look at Gu You and held out her right hand. "Pay up."

Xiao Wu's utterly self-righteous attitude stunned Gu You. "Why should I pay when you're the one buying candied hawthorns?"

"Your royalties. Didn't you say you'd give me a portion?" Xiao Wu was instead puzzled that Gu You hadn't understood what she meant.

Hearing this, Gu You could only explain, "Sis, how far do you think this place is from Spirit City? How could it happen so quickly?"

"Hasn't a week already passed?"

Seeing Gu You's devastated expression, Tang San could only take over the task of explaining to Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu, publishing an article isn't that simple. First, the Martial Soul Daily is the most authoritative newspaper on the entire continent, and large numbers of Martial Soul researchers submit articles to it every day."

"Among all those submissions, the editors read each article and make a preliminary judgment about whether it's true or feasible. Only after deciding that it's feasible do they pass it to the editor-in-chief. The editor-in-chief then judges its feasibility again based on experience and arranges for Soul Masters under Spirit Hall to conduct experiments. It won't be published until the results are confirmed to be correct. It takes at least three or four months."

After Tang San finished explaining, Gu You added, "That's only for articles whose results can be seen relatively quickly. Articles that require long-term experiments to assess will take even longer."

Xiao Wu's face fell. "Then what about my share—"

Gu You spread both hands. "You'll just have to wait."

By the time Xiao Wu returned to the academy, she had two skewers of candied hawthorns in her hands and was still eating another.

Gu You touched the wallet in his trouser pocket, now noticeably thinner, and felt like crying.

Xiao Wu ran straight to the place where they had conducted their experiments that morning. By the time Gu You and Tang San arrived, Xiao Wu was pointing at the open ground with one hand, while the skewer of candied hawthorns she had been holding in her mouth had already fallen to the ground.

"Th-this... what is this?"

Following the direction Xiao Wu pointed, Gu You and Tang San turned to look. The holes Gu You and Xiao Wu had made were still exactly as they had been, but Tang San's hole had been completely covered by densely packed Blue Silver Grass.

The Blue Silver Grass was lush and verdant. The tallest clump even reached Gu You's waist. If this had been in a village, it would have been cut down long ago to feed the cattle.

Tang San's eyes widened. He couldn't imagine that something like this could happen. At that moment, Gu You's voice came from beside him. "Just as I thought."

Tang San and Xiao Wu looked at Gu You at the same time. As Gu You walked forward, he said, "Vitality. Xiao San's Soul Power has taken on the characteristics of the Blue Silver Grass's vitality. After the impact of the Soul Power itself broke through the ground, the remaining Soul Power clung to the soil. The dormant Blue Silver Grass seeds absorbed that Soul Power, which was why they grew so lush so quickly."

Walking to the edge of the flourishing Blue Silver Grass, Gu You turned around, looked at the two of them, and said with a smile, "All right. The research for the second subject officially begins."

When the three returned to the dormitory, Gu You quietly slowed down with Tang San until they fell behind Xiao Wu. He leaned close to Tang San's ear and whispered, "Xiao San, come out after cultivating tonight. There's something I need to tell you."

Tang San gave a slight nod.

That night, in the Seventh Dormitory.

The other Work-Study Students gradually finished their cultivation and lay down to sleep. Only Gu You, Tang San, and Xiao Wu continued cultivating.

Gu You completed his final circulation first, then quietly left the dormitory. After a while, Tang San also finished cultivating. When he saw that Gu You wasn't on his bed, he knew Gu You was waiting for him outside.

When Tang San reached the pavilion outside the dormitory, he saw Gu You standing with his back to him, looking up at the starry sky.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Gu You didn't turn his head. "You still came."

"...Weren't you the one who called me here?" Tang San covered his face. "Just tell me what it is. I'm still in a hurry to go back to sleep."

"Let's answer your question from this afternoon first. I advised you not to add a strongly offensive Soul Ring to your Blue Silver Grass because of the... Soul Skill you're hoping for."

"If your Soul Power carries an offensive property, I'm worried that the thing you use to bring it out might also carry that property, which would affect the result."

Although he didn't say it outright, both of them knew he was referring to resurrection. Tang San thought it over and felt that it was indeed possible. He couldn't afford to take that risk.

"The other matter is your left hand. If that thing also begins to be used, it could affect the nature of your Soul Power. Before you accomplish that goal, try not to use or strengthen the other one."

"After all, such heavy power isn't suitable for awakening."

Gu You turned around and met Tang San's eyes, revealing a confident smile.

"Lastly, you must always believe in me. I'm a genius, after all. I'll find a way."

Looking at Gu You, Tang San smiled as well.

"Yeah, I know."

P.S. Actually, this can also explain why everyone in Dugu Bo's family was poisoned. If they only played around with Poison without adding something to neutralize it, exceeding the limit their Martial Souls could withstand would naturally poison themselves.

I took a look at everyone's comments. The general reaction was that there was too much solid information and it was hard to swallow it all at once (laughs). You also gave me quite a few suggestions about the pacing, and I felt they made a lot of sense, so I've decided to adjust the pacing a little. Doctor Lizard's image didn't turn out well, so I've decided to delete it. As for the protagonist's appearance, everyone can imagine it freely. Please keep voting, collecting, and buying monthly tickets~