The Characteristics of the Book (Please Add to Collections!!!)

Xiao Zhan was a Soul Saint-level powerhouse.

A Soul Master's strength underwent qualitative changes at several stages. The Soul Elder stage was one of them, representing a major bottleneck and the point at which one obtained their first Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Next came the Soul King stage, which marked the point of obtaining one's first Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Moreover, because of the Soul Tremor from the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, Soul King-level powerhouses possessed mental willpower far surpassing that of Soul Ancestors after absorbing one.

After that came what could be called a true qualitative transformation: the Soul Saint stage. Regardless of what Soul Beast the Seventh Soul Ring came from, it granted the ability to use a Martial Soul Avatar.

Finally, there was the last stage of a Soul Master's cultivation—the Titled Douluo stage. There was a huge gap between each rank of Titled Douluo, especially after the Ninety-fifth Rank.

"Martial Soul Avatar manifested differently for Soul Masters with different Martial Souls. When a Soul Master with a Beast Martial Soul used Martial Soul Avatar, they would transform into a beast soul, as though they had truly become their Martial Soul. Their physical strength and other attributes would undergo a qualitative leap. At the same time, the power of their Soul Skills would increase, while their consumption would decrease."

Although Su Wen had not reached this level, Xiao Zhan still explained it all. In his view, Su Wen was studying theory, so there was no problem with him learning this information in advance.

"As for Soul Masters with Tool Martial Souls, most of them would become as though they had fused with their Tool Martial Souls. Their Martial Souls would be greatly strengthened, and the amplification of their Soul Skills would be stronger than that of a Beast Martial Soul's Martial Soul Avatar. At the same time, their consumption would also be lower."

Su Wen nodded.

He actually knew all of this, but he still listened carefully to Xiao Zhan's explanation.

Different people had different insights, especially since Xiao Zhan himself was a Soul Saint with direct experience. His description was therefore more detailed.

"The technique Lao Bai and I developed is actually based on the different manifestations of Martial Soul Avatar.

"A Soul Master with a Beast Martial Soul can transform into a beast soul when using Martial Soul Avatar. Why can't a Soul Master with a Tool Martial Soul transform into a tool soul? Even if they can't take on the Martial Soul's appearance, what if the Martial Soul were fused into their body?

"Especially for a Soul Master like me, who doesn't treat his Tool Martial Soul as an actual weapon, fusing my Martial Soul into my body would make using Soul Skills and fighting much more convenient."

Su Wen suddenly understood, realizing the origin of Xiao Zhan's technique for using Soul Skills without releasing his Martial Soul.

"Of course, this is only the source of inspiration for the technique. Its actual development relied on another area of theory. After all, Martial Soul Avatar is also a trump card for powerhouses above the Soul Saint level. Its consumption is enormous, so it can't possibly be used as a regular method."

Before Xiao Zhan could continue explaining, Su Wen had already gained some insight.

"Uncle Zhan, this technique of yours should rely on the Fusion Degree between the Martial Soul and the Soul Master, right?"

"Huh?" Xiao Zhan was stunned. He had not expected Su Wen to answer ahead of him.

He immediately revealed an admiring expression and said, "That's right. It seems your research into Martial Soul cultivation really is profound."

Xiao Zhan had previously only learned from Bai Yuan that Su Wen had considerable insight into Martial Soul cultivation. He had not expected that, after merely explaining the source of his ideas and displaying the results just now, Su Wen would already guess the theoretical basis behind it.

"The cultivation of a Soul Master is, in the end, a process of constant fusion between the Martial Soul and the Soul Master. The Soul Saint stage is the first stage of transformation. Because of Martial Soul Avatar, the Fusion Degree between the Martial Soul and the Soul Master increases dramatically. Even without using Martial Soul Avatar, it is enough to bring a qualitative improvement to the Soul Master's strength. This shows the importance of the Fusion Degree between the Martial Soul and the Soul Master. In fact, according to the records of the Spirit Hall, during the later stages of a Titled Douluo's cultivation, accumulating Soul Power is not the bottleneck. The increase in Soul Power Level instead depends on the degree of fusion."

(The Original Work had this setting. It just seemed to be forgotten as the story went on.)

"In other words, Uncle Zhan, you achieved this technique by relying on the high degree of fusion between yourself and your Martial Soul?"

Xiao Zhan nodded and said, "That's right. I named it the Soul Fusion Method."

It was obvious that he was very proud.

"Actually, many Soul Masters have tried this before. After all, the Spirit Hall is not lacking in Theoretical Scholars. However, no one managed to develop the Soul Fusion Method." Xiao Zhan shook his head and said, "I only succeeded through a fortuitous opportunity and because of the special Inclusivity Trait of the Book Martial Soul."

"The Inclusivity Trait of the Book Martial Soul?" Su Wen murmured, pondering the meaning of the inclusivity Xiao Zhan mentioned.

"That's right." Xiao Zhan looked at Su Wen's puzzled expression and smiled.

It seems this kid still doesn't understand.

His research into Martial Soul cultivation is profound, but his understanding of his own Martial Soul seems lacking.

"A book is a carrier of knowledge. It can record everything."

"Record?" Su Wen vaguely understood what Xiao Zhan meant by inclusivity.

The so-called inclusivity was the book's recording trait.

A book could record.

"The fusion between a Martial Soul and a Soul Master isn't merely a superficial fusion. It is a complete fusion, and the traits of the Martial Soul will gradually merge into the Soul Master's body."

Su Wen nodded. By this point, he had roughly understood the principle behind the Soul Fusion Method.

Xiao Zhan continued explaining: "The Soul Fusion Method is about activating this trait and having the Martial Soul contain the Soul Ring—in other words, recording it."

In the end, it still comes down to completely mastering the Soul Skill, then using the traits of the Book Martial Soul to 'record' the Soul Skill, thereby gaining near-instinctive control over it. Su Wen thought to himself.

If Soul Skills could be recorded, what about Self-Created Soul Skills?

Su Wen's thoughts quickly began to branch out.

Seeing Su Wen thinking, Xiao Zhan also asked about the source of his confusion. After learning what Su Wen was wondering about, he smiled.

"As long as it can be contained, then it can be."

"So the Book Martial Soul has so many other benefits." Su Wen sighed as well.

Books truly were extraordinary.

A book was a carrier of knowledge. How could it be ordinary?

"It's just that I hadn't fully brought out the traits of the book before."

Su Wen's Martial Soul had gained the Wisdom trait after absorbing the First Soul Ring. Now that he thought about it, that was merely one of the book's traits.

"Recording is also one of a book's important abilities. In the future development of my Martial Soul, I'll have to excavate this trait as well."

Su Wen felt that recording was even closer to the essence of a book.

"All right. Barring an unexpected circumstance, it's impossible to cultivate the Soul Fusion Method before reaching the Soul Saint stage, so you don't need to investigate it too deeply." Xiao Zhan said, "Of course, you can start preparing now. To record a Soul Skill, you still need to master it on a deeper level."

Returning to his current cultivation plan, Su Wen needed to train his understanding of his Soul Skills.

However, Su Wen did not give up on the Soul Fusion Method simply because of what Xiao Zhan had said.

An unexpected circumstance?

But unexpected circumstances could happen everywhere in this world.

"I possess Enhanced Perception, and I've even developed this perception to the point of deeply sensing my Martial Soul Space. Perhaps this is the process of fusing with a Martial Soul?"

If that was the case, then without a doubt, Su Wen's Fusion Degree with his own Martial Soul was already quite high.

"In that case, it's not impossible for me to cultivate the Soul Fusion Method."