Yu Yuanchen, under the alias "Yu Chen," settled into his role as a practical combat instructor at Thunder Academy. He did not grow lax or arrogant just because his strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Soul Emperor. On the contrary, he was exceptionally conscientious and responsible. His teaching methods were completely different from those of traditional instructors who merely followed the textbook and emphasized only Soul Skill power and casting speed.
He placed greater emphasis on guiding students to "understand" their own Soul Power and Soul Skills.
"Releasing Thunder Dragon Claw does not simply mean pouring Soul Power into it. Try to sense the speed and density of Soul Power as it rushes through your meridians. Think about how slight adjustments could make the Dragon Claw more penetrating or widen its range."
"When facing a defensive opponent, do you directly bombard them with your lightning sphere? Or do you try to find a weak point in their defenses? Or use a continuous barrage of weaker lightning spheres to interfere with them and disrupt their rhythm?"
He encouraged the students to make all kinds of seemingly "unorthodox" attempts. He even personally stepped into the arena, suppressing his Cultivation Level to spar with them and teaching them in actual combat how to use their Soul Skills more flexibly and efficiently. This novel and highly effective teaching style quickly won the students' respect and affection, and the name "Teacher Yu Chen" rapidly spread among Thunder Academy's lower- and middle-level students.
During his teaching, Yu Yuanchen also came into contact with students of every kind. Though Thunder Academy primarily focused on orthodox, masculine lightning, the continent was vast, and there were always students with mutated Martial Souls or unusual physiques. He encountered one student whose Martial Soul was the Shadow Thunder Leopard. That student's lightning attribute leaned toward yin-like subtlety and concealment, carrying powerful paralysis and mental interference effects that were utterly different from the violent nature of orthodox lightning. Another student possessed the Lava Thunder Lizard Martial Soul, whose lightning actually contained a trace of scorching flame energy. Its destructive methods favored sustained burning and explosions.
These unusual cases were like bolts of lightning cutting through the darkness, providing Yu Yuanchen with tremendous inspiration. He carefully observed and recorded the subtle differences in how these students circulated their Soul Power, analyzing the similarities and differences between the nature of their Soul Power and orthodox lightning.
"Lightning is not merely destruction and violence. The subtle concealment of the Shadow Thunder Leopard and the blazing explosiveness of the Lava Thunder Bird both prove that even within the Lightning Attribute, there are different tendencies in 'nature.'" The concept in Yu Yuanchen's mind grew increasingly clear. "Then, if the Lightning Attribute itself can differentiate, does that mean a single attribute can, through acquired guidance and learning, imitate or even master certain 'natures' or 'traits' of other attributes?"
This thought took root in his heart like a seed. After nearly a month of observation, teaching, and accumulated personal insight, he felt that the time was ripe.
That day, he solemnly submitted a research proposal titled <Preliminary Concepts and Research Proposal on Soul Power Attribute Nature Transformation> to Thunder Academy's upper ranks, including Headmaster Lei Dongtian and several senior research Elders at the Soul Douluo and Soul Sage levels.
At the very beginning of the report, he threw out a startling proposition:
"Throughout history, the Soul Master World has clearly divided attributes. Lightning Attribute Soul Masters study lightning's violence and penetrating force, while Water Attribute Soul Masters pursue water's gentleness and versatility. It seems that an attribute inherently determines the traits of its power. But are the powers of attributes truly so distinct and impossible to cross?"
He cited examples such as the Shadow Thunder Leopard and Lava Thunder Bird within the academy, pointing out that nature differentiation already existed within the Lightning Attribute. He then put forward his core theory:
"I believe that attributes are more like a fundamental 'tendency' or 'label' of energy, rather than fixed shackles. Soul Power itself possesses tremendous plasticity. Through acquired learning, imitation, and deep mastery, Soul Masters may be fully capable of guiding their own Soul Power to imitate certain 'Nature Transformations' of other attributes within a certain range."
He gave examples. "For instance, the Lightning Attribute generally possesses violent, penetrating, and paralyzing traits, while the Water Attribute generally possesses gentle, flowing, and permeating traits. But that does not mean Lightning Attribute Soul Power cannot, through special circulation methods and spiritual guidance, imitate water-like traits of 'gentleness and nourishment,' perhaps for healing or nurturing the meridians. Conversely, could Water Attribute Soul Power also imitate lightning's 'penetration' or 'paralysis'? Could fire attribute energy imitate earth's 'solidity'? Could wind attribute energy imitate fire's 'violence'?"
In the report, he elaborated in detail on the concept of "Nature Transformation," distinguishing between "attribute essence" and "nature manifestation." He also outlined possible research directions, including but not limited to detailed observation and recording of the Soul Power traits of Soul Masters with different attributes, experimental methods for guiding one's own Soul Power to imitate different natures, and the Soul Skill innovations and applications that Nature Transformation might bring. The logic was rigorous and the structure clear. Though many of the ideas were still bold hypotheses, the foresight and pioneering nature they displayed were astonishing!
This report caused an enormous uproar among Thunder Academy's upper ranks!
When they first read it, several Elders considered it pure fantasy and dismissed it with scorn. But as they read further, especially the academy examples Yu Yuanchen had cited and his rigorous logical deductions, the contempt on their faces gradually gave way to shock and contemplation.
Headmaster Lei Dongtian read it three times in succession. Then he slammed his palm onto the table, a terrifying gleam bursting from his eyes. "Genius! No, this is the idea of a mad genius! If this project achieves anything, it will overturn the current boundaries of understanding regarding Soul Master combat and even cultivation!"
An Elder at the Soul Douluo level who specialized in Soul Power theory trembled, his beard quivering as he muttered, "Attribute barriers... could they truly be broken? If one could master multiple Nature Transformations, even if only through imitation, how terrifyingly would a Soul Master's adaptability and combat power increase?"
After intense discussion, the academy's upper ranks unanimously concluded that the "Soul Power Attribute Nature Transformation" project proposed by Instructor Yu Chen possessed epoch-making significance! Its concept was not a castle in the air. It had real examples to support it, its logic was sound, and it was worthy of dedicating resources to in-depth research!
However, another problem soon arose. Thunder Academy's accumulated texts and experience were almost entirely focused on developing the various traits of the Lightning Attribute itself. It had extremely little material on the fundamental natures of other attributes. To verify and advance this project, they would need detailed information on the four attributes of wind, fire, water, and earth, especially Core Secrets concerning their Soul Power traits, circulation patterns, and nature manifestations.
"Thunder Academy alone cannot support such a vast project," Lei Dongtian said gravely. "This concerns the future of the Soul Master World. It is not the private matter of a single academy. I propose inviting Godwind, Blazing Fire, Skywater, and Boulder Academies to participate in this research together! The project's proposer and leader—Instructor Yu Chen—will serve as the overall person in charge of the research!"
This decision sparked another round of debate. Letting such a young and inexperienced "Soul King" instructor lead a project of this importance, one involving the cooperation of the Five Academies, was unprecedented. But Lei Dongtian overrode all objections. "This project originated from Yu Chen's ideas. No one understands its core concepts better than he does. And judging from his teaching, his thinking is meticulous and he is skilled at guiding others. He will certainly be capable of the task!"
In the end, Thunder Academy sent formal letters to the other four elemental academies, attaching an abridged version of Yu Yuanchen's research report.
As expected, this official letter stirred up an even greater storm in Elemental City than it had within Thunder Academy itself!
When the upper ranks of Godwind Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, and Skywater Academy first heard of it, their reactions were exactly the same as those of Thunder Academy's Elders: from doubt, to shock, to unprecedented seriousness. They keenly realized that once this project made a breakthrough, it would have a profound impact on the entire Soul Master World, especially on academies like theirs that specialized in a single attribute!
Boulder Academy, whose situation was delicate, experienced even fiercer internal division after receiving the official letter. The Conservative Faction, led by the old headmaster, believed that participating in such pioneering research could perhaps raise the academy's prestige, strengthen its independent standing, and help it resist annexation by the Elephant Armored Sect. Meanwhile, some people infiltrated by the Elephant Armored Sect secretly obstructed the effort, claiming this was Thunder Academy's conspiracy to steal the Core Secrets of the various academies.
However, with Thunder Academy actively mediating and the other three academies clearly expressing their support and willingness to participate, Boulder Academy's old headmaster ultimately withstood the pressure and decided to join the collaboration.
After several rounds of intense negotiations, the Five Academies finally reached an agreement: they would establish the "Elemental Nature Transformation Joint Research Group." Each academy would provide materials related to Nature Transformation in its own attribute that did not involve its most closely guarded secret teachings, as well as some outstanding students and instructors to serve as research subjects and participants. The research site would be Thunder Academy, while Instructor "Yu Chen," the project's proposer, would serve as the research group's leader, fully responsible for setting the research direction and advancing the specific work!
Once the news spread, all of Elemental City was in an uproar. An unknown young instructor from Thunder Academy had suddenly become a central figure capable of influencing the Five Academies?
Yu Yuanchen, known as Yu Chen, stood before the window of his new office at Thunder Academy—also the temporary headquarters of the joint research group—and looked out at the bustling sights of Elemental City. A faint, imperceptible curve lifted at the corner of his mouth.
The plan was progressing smoothly according to his design. By using the power of the Five Academies to gather detailed information on the four attributes of wind, fire, water, and earth, he could use that foundation to deduce and imitate the corresponding Nature Transformations, helping him complete his Viscera Quenching concept. This would be more than a hundred times faster than exploring alone.
A transformation that would sweep through Elemental City and perhaps even affect the future direction of Soul Master development quietly began in the hands of this young "group leader," who had concealed his true identity and purpose. At last, he had also found the greatest support for his path of quenching his viscera and seeking the true essence of lightning.
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