Martial Soul Instinct, Facing the Sacred Dragon

Inside the pavilion, slightly tipsy, under the perfect moonlight, the three talked freely about the future, their hearts brimming with lofty ambitions, as if they could already see the path to divinity in sight.

Tang Chen tilted his head back and gulped down another bowl of strong liquor. The alcohol made his face flush. He wiped his mouth, as if he had suddenly remembered something important. He reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a while, then pulled out two large red invitation cards with gold lettering. He handed them to Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu respectively.

"Oh, I almost forgot the important thing." Tang Chen grinned, a smug yet slightly embarrassed smile on his face. "In three months, I... cough cough, I'm getting married! You two have to come to the wedding banquet! No refusing!"

Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu were both taken aback and accepted the invitation. Upon opening it, they found it was indeed the wedding invitation of Tang Chen, the young master of the Clear Sky Sect. The bride was a woman of excellent talent and appearance from an affiliated family of the Clear Sky Sect. She came from a respectable family and was considered a good match for Tang Chen.

Qian Daoliu gracefully closed the invitation, nodded slightly, and revealed a rare, gentle smile, "Congratulations, Brother Tang. This is a perfect match, a joyous occasion. I will certainly prepare a generous gift and visit you on the day."

Yu Yuanchen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, "Congratulations, Brother Tang! I must drink this celebratory wine." He was slightly moved. Tang Chen was now over thirty years old and Cultivation Level the level of Titled Douluo. It was only natural for the sect to arrange a marriage for him to stabilize his foundation and pass on his bloodline.

However, Tang Chen's unexpected wedding invitation was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in Yu Yuanchen's heart. He subconsciously thought of Ye Zhilan.

He and Zhilan had known each other for a long time and had a deep affection for one another; they had long since recognized each other's worth. Now that his strength was enough to make him stand out among his peers and his sect was stable, it seemed... it was time to consider his marriage. Zhilan's age was indeed not young in this world.

The idea, once it took root, quietly took hold. Perhaps it was time to discuss it with my grandfather and Grandpa Ye and put the wedding on the agenda.

The following day, as the sun rose, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen took their leave. Qian Daoliu returned to the Spirit Hall to prepare for seclusion to digest what he had learned from this exchange and to begin planning the dissemination of the Method of Soul Cores.

Tang Chen, filled with boundless anticipation for the future and the joy of getting married, rushed back to the Clear Sky Sect. While preparing for his wedding, he also began to ponder his grand plan to "Forging into God."

After seeing the two off, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan returned to its usual tranquility. Yu Yuanchen also focused his mind back on cultivation.

The self-created "Yin-Yang Five Thunders Method" has taken initial shape; all that remains is to hone it through continuous practice, refinement, and deepening. The techniques and Artistic Conception of spear fighting have also been initially integrated, but they need to be honed through countless trials in actual combat. These two paths are clear in direction, requiring only painstaking effort.

So, where should we focus our spiritual practice going forward?

Yu Yuanchen turned his gaze to his own Martial Soul Avatar — the Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body.

The Martial Soul Avatar is a transformative ability granted by Soul Master's Seventh Soul Ring. It greatly stimulates the Origin Power the Martial Soul, transforming it into the Martial Soul's true form and causing a surge in combat power. His Thunder Sacred Dragon True Body is among the best, possessing unparalleled power.

However, as his strength increased and his horizons broadened, Yu Yuanchen gradually noticed a "flaw" in his Martial Soul Avatar. When he unleashed his True Body, transforming into Thunder Sacred Dragon tens of meters long or even larger, his power was indeed awe-inspiring and immense. However, when facing opponents of different sizes (especially human Soul Master), his massive size could sometimes become a burden. His power was too dispersed and not concentrated enough, making it difficult to execute many exquisite moves. It was more like a "brute force" approach to overpower others.

In the past, when facing enemies, he had intentionally controlled his true body size, sometimes more than ten meters, sometimes several meters, in order to concentrate his power more. But now, after careful reflection, he realized that even so, he still could not unleash the full power of his Martial Soul Avatar. That enormous Dragon Body was more of a constraint of "form".

"Why must we maintain the dragon form?" A bold idea arose in Yu Yuanchen's mind. "The essence of the Martial Soul Avatar is the ultimate explosion and manifestation of the Martial Soul 'Origin Power. Its core is 'power,' not 'form.' If we can control this power, why can't we maintain the human form while its amplification remains undiminished? Why can we contain the True Dragon Power within our human body?"

The human body, being a Daoist body, is most in harmony with the laws of heaven and earth, possessing a natural advantage in circulating energy and employing skills. If one can harness the True Dragon Power in a human body, it will undoubtedly elevate one's combat strength to a whole new level—possessing both the might of True Dragon and the agility of a human!

Without hesitation, Yu Yuanchen immediately went into seclusion and began his experiment.

He activated his Soul Power and triggered his Seventh Soul Ring, but instead of letting his Martial Soul power fully erupt and change its form as usual, he tried to forcibly restrain this power, allowing it to empower himself while maintaining his human form.

"Boom!"

The Purple-Gold lightning had just erupted when it instantly went out of control! The terrifying Thunder Power, like a wild horse, surged wildly within his body, trying to break free of its restraints and reshape its dragon form! A tearing pain shot through his meridians, Yu Yuanchen groaned, forced to immediately disperse his Soul Power, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

First attempt, failed!

Undeterred, he tried again. This time, he was even more cautious, using his powerful Spiritual Power and Soul Power to precisely control the power, as if riding a wild horse. However, whenever the power of his Martial Soul Avatar was drawn to a certain extent, the "instinct" originating from the Martial Soul Origin —the urge to transform into True Dragon —became incredibly strong. Forcibly maintaining his human form was like wrestling with another version of himself, not only consuming enormous amounts of energy but also yielding minimal results.

After several failures, Yu Yuanchen stopped, his brows furrowed.

"No... the problem isn't with controlling the power, but at a deeper level." He fell into deep thought. "Martial Soul ... seems to have its own 'will'? Or rather, is it a 'will' deeply rooted in the bloodline, originating from the source?"

This discovery sent a chill down his spine. Soul Master had always considered their Martial Soul to be an extension of themselves, as easy as their own limbs. But perhaps they had never truly "controlled" their Martial Soul; it was more of a "symbiotic" and "guiding" relationship. This was especially true of high-quality Martial Soul; they were inherently powerful, and also inherently possessed the characteristics of their race and... arrogance!

Martial Soul is a reflection of the soul, a material manifestation of the rules; it inherently possesses a certain spirituality, or rather, "instinct"! Low-level Martial Soul have weak instincts and are easy to control; while high-level Martial Soul, especially top-tier Beast Martial Soul and Weapon Soul, have stronger instincts and even possess certain characteristics of their prototypes—such as the arrogance inherent in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul and the killing intent inherent in the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul. The relationship between Soul Master and their Martial Soul is more like a symbiosis and cooperation. As Cultivation Level improves and compatibility increases, the cooperation becomes increasingly tacit.

"Like the erosion of Dragon Nature within me... it's not just the influence of Dragon Power, but also the inherent arrogance of the Thunder Sacred Dragon Martial Soul itself, assimilating my mind and character during its fusion with me!" A glint flashed in Yu Yuanchen's eyes as he grasped the key point. "To completely control the Martial Soul Avatar and achieve the state of a ' Humanoid True Dragon,' one must first completely 'control' the Martial Soul itself! It's not simply about using it, but about fully understanding, fusing with, and even... mastering it from the very Life Origin!"

This is a path that no one has ever thought of, or even considered necessary. Under normal circumstances, as a Soul Master's Cultivation Level increases and they spend time with their Martial Soul, the Martial Soul will naturally and completely merge with the Soul Master, becoming inseparable.

An ordinary Iron Sword Martial Soul, if its owner is a genius with unparalleled talent and a passion for Iron Sword Martial Soul, who pours their heart and soul into it for decades, may undergo a subtle transformation, becoming extraordinary. Conversely, if an ordinary person obtains Top-tier Martial Soul but lacks the willpower to bear its weight, the Top-tier Martial Soul may be Mingzhu, its spiritual essence gradually lost. (Ji Juechen and Yu Xiaogang, I believe, truly exemplify the famous Douluo saying, "There are no useless Martial Soul, only useless people.")

Of course, it's more likely that ordinary Martial Soul limit the potential of geniuses, while Top-tier Martial Soul raise the starting point for mediocre people. In the Douluo Continent, the importance of Martial Soul is beyond doubt.

"My Thunder Sacred Dragon Martial Soul of extremely high quality. Originally, with my current Cultivation Level and compatibility, I should have completely fused with it long ago. But..." Yu Yuanchen looked inward at himself, feeling the vast Dragon Power hidden deep in his bloodline and the source enhancement brought by the Dragon King's Crown between his eyebrows.

"After absorbing the Dragon Power Ice Fire Dragon King and the Dragon King's Crown, my Martial Soul essence underwent another leap, becoming even stronger. However, this also made the 'dragon' will imprint in the Martial Soul Origin more profound, powerful, and 'ancient,' breaking the original steadily growing fusion process. This prolonged the process of complete fusion."

He didn't want to passively wait for things to fall into place. He wanted to take the initiative and complete this final integration in his own way, thereby achieving true and absolute control!

"Confront it, understand it, and then... master it!"

Yu Yuanchen took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and focused his mind.

To deeply perceive the Martial Soul Origin, the first requirement is powerful Spiritual Power. Coincidentally, since absorbing the Dragon King's Crown, his Spiritual Power has surged to an unbelievable level, as deep and boundless as an abyss, reaching the highest heavens and the deepest hells. According to his own estimation, he may have reached the level of what later generations called the "Spirit Abyss Realm" in his memory.

He discarded all distracting thoughts, slowly gathering his boundless Spiritual Power. He no longer projected it outward to perceive the world, but instead, like the finest tentacles, probed into the very source of his bloodline and the depths of his soul. He wanted to actively "see" his Martial Soul, to communicate with its fundamental consciousness, or rather... to conquer it!

Consciousness continued to sink, as if traversing boundless darkness and chaos. Time lost its meaning, and after an unknown amount of time, a glimmer of light appeared at the edge of the "field of vision" of mental perception.

Yu Yuanchen "looked" over.

It was a magnificent sight beyond words. Endless Purple-Gold Lightning formed the backdrop, like a boiling Sea of Thunder of thunder. And in the center of this Sea of Thunder, a colossal creature coiled!

Its entire body was covered with incomparably noble Purple-Gold dragon scales, each scale seemingly carved from the most perfect purple-gold divine crystal, flowing with tangible lightning.

The Dragon Body is strong and graceful, full of power, and as it winds and coils, it exudes an ancient, vast, and supreme majesty. Its eyes are closed, but its very existence carries an arrogance that looks down on all living beings and reigns supreme over all things!

It was his Martial Soul — the Thunder Sacred Dragon!

Just by watching this Martial Soul Origin manifest, Yu Yuanchen could clearly feel the oppressive aura originating from the level of Life, as well as the pride and domineering nature of a top-tier Dragon Clan deeply rooted in his soul. This pride was even more deeply ingrained than his instinctive awe of the Silver Dragon King, because it was a manifestation of "self".

"So... this is your true nature." Yu Yuanchen's mental thoughts conveyed a calm fluctuation.

Seemingly sensing his "gaze," the coiled phantom of the Thunder Sacred Dragon slowly opened its eyes!

"Roar--!!!"

What majestic dragon eyes they were! Purely composed of Purple-Gold lightning, within which countless worlds seemed to be Life and Death! A silent Dragon Roar exploded deep within Yu Yuanchen's soul, carrying scrutiny, majesty, and a hint of... displeasure at being offended!

The terrifying Dragon Might, almost tangible, assaulted Yu Yuanchen's spirit. In the past, he might have felt uncomfortable. But now, Yu Yuanchen's Spiritual Power remained as firm as Rock Academy. His will was still calm, even carrying a hint of inquiry:

"You are me, and I am you. Why reject each other?"

His response was met with even more violent thunder and an even more arrogant Dragon Might! The Martial Soul's instincts resisted this "equal" communication; it seemed more accustomed to "granting" power from a superior position than to "merging" with its host. It acknowledged Yu Yuanchen, but it did not want to be controlled by him.

Yu Yuanchen understood. Complete fusion was not simply a fusion of powers, but a contest of wills, a collision and unification of the will of "human" and the nature of "dragon"!

Without further hesitation, with a thought, the liquefied Thunder Soul Core in his dantian spun wildly at an unprecedented speed. The pure and powerful Thunder True Essence, like a flood bursting its banks, surged into the space where the Martial Soul Origin manifested, following some mysterious connection!

At the same time, the Dragon King's Crown between his brows tingled slightly, and a faint, even more ancient and supreme aura of the Thunder Dragon King emanated from it. Though weak, it carried an absolute suppression in terms of rank! But Yu Yuanchen did not use it; he wanted to conquer his own Martial Soul with his own power in a fair and square manner.

"Today, with my will and my strength, I will help you... and also help myself, to complete this final fusion!"

Yu Yuanchen's Thunder True Essence transformed into an invisible and intangible yet incredibly steadfast "bridge," forcefully penetrating the proudly standing phantom of the Thunder Sacred Dragon!

"Boom--!"

Within the Martial Soul Space, it was as if the heavens and earth had been created! The purple-gold sea of lightning boiled completely, and the phantom of the Thunder Holy Dragon roared in fury, its body thrashing as endless lightning bombarded Yu Yuanchen's will! This was its instinctive resistance, a counterattack of the dignity of a top-tier Martial Soul!

Yu Yuanchen's will was like a lone boat in a raging storm, yet as steady as Mount Tai. He displayed his understanding of the Thunder Law, his control over the changes of Yin-Yang, and even that Artistic Conception of transcendent artistic conception inherited from the Thunder God Inheritance without reservation, like the most magnificent painting, before the Martial Soul Origin.

He was proving to his Martial Soul that he, Yu Yuanchen, was qualified to be its true master and capable of leading it to a future far more glorious than it was now!

This is not Destruction, but fusion! It is forcibly breaking down that final barrier, allowing the heart of "humanity" and the power of "dragon" to completely merge and become one!

The process was painful and lengthy; each clash of wills felt like the soul being torn apart and reassembled. But Yu Yuanchen's Dao heart was unbreakable. His desire to control power and his pursuit of surpassing limits sustained him through this unimaginable torment.

Gradually, the roar of the Thunder Sacred Dragon phantom subsided, replaced by a hint of bewilderment, followed by a trace of acceptance... The proud dragon head slowly, very slowly, lowered towards the "bridge" formed by Yu Yuanchen's will.

The instant the dragon's head touched the bridge of will—

"Buzz!"

Yu Yuanchen felt his entire soul tremble! An unprecedented sense of harmony and clarity surged through his body! It was as if some innate shackle had been broken! There was no longer any barrier between him and the Thunder Sacred Dragon Martial Soul, and he had truly reached the perfect state of "I am the Martial Soul, Martial Soul is me"!

Inside the secluded meditation room, Yu Yuanchen suddenly opened his eyes!

A flash of Purple-Gold lightning streaked across his eyes, no longer as domineering and outward as before, but rather deep and restrained, as if containing the entire thunderous universe. With a slight thought, he did not activate his Soul Ring, but the Soul Power flowing naturally around him carried a trace of the pure Thunder Sacred Dragon's original aura, which could only be found when activating his Martial Soul Avatar! Majestic, noble, and powerful!

He attempted to activate the power of his Seventh Soul Ring once more. This time, the immense power no longer tried to change his form, but instead gently and perfectly merged into his limbs and bones, filling his meridians, flesh, and bones! His physique remained unchanged, still humanoid, but beneath his skin, faint Purple-Gold dragon scale patterns appeared and disappeared. The pressure emanating from his body was more concentrated and terrifying than when he transformed into a giant dragon before!

Humanoid True Dragon is beginning to emerge!

"Success..." Yu Yuanchen felt the terrifying, perfectly controlled power within his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.