The Secret of the Body Martial Soul

Had he really learned it?

Without a doubt, Long Aotian had no talent for teaching.

Though he had grasped Unity of Heaven and Man and attained an Epiphany in using the momentum of heaven and earth through Qi Condensing into Momentum, he could not put it into words.

Yet Mu Yuan had understood the vague, abstract understanding Long Aotian taught—and even gained some insight from it?

Du Busi sighed. "As expected, I have no experience with reaching Unity of Heaven and Man at your level. I don't understand what guidance people at your level need."

Even so, he still taught Mu Yuan according to his own understanding of Mu Yuan's situation.

The Heavenly Thunder Power in Mu Yuan's palm became increasingly stable.

At first, he had needed to adjust it through the position of his fingers.

Before long, his fingers could spread normally. With only Soul Power and intent—namely, Mental Power—he could keep the Heavenly Thunder as stable as possible in his palm.

Mu Yuan's astonishing rate of progress made Du Busi unable to resist marveling.

"Your Mental Power is too strong."

Yes, through Mu Yuan's progress, Du Busi had seen the root of why he was advancing so quickly.

In such a short time, Mu Yuan's upper limit of control over the Heavenly Thunder had not actually improved much.

The fact that he could discard the posture of his fingers showed that this factor had accounted for only a small portion of his control over the Heavenly Thunder.

But at the beginning, it had been indispensable.

Only after finding the feeling of controlling it for the first time could Mu Yuan gradually discard that minor stepping stone.

With hand seals not mattering much and his Soul Power not being particularly strong, the key to Mu Yuan's control over the Heavenly Thunder was obvious.

Mu Yuan had no way to explain that.

If his transmigration had given him any advantage, it was probably only his Mental Power.

More precisely, his initial Mental Power.

His talent for spiritual cultivation was another matter entirely.

Controlling the Heavenly Thunder was a major step forward.

After absorbing his Second Soul Ring, Mu Yuan had realized the importance of cultivating in this area. He had even worried whether he could master it quickly.

He had not expected that, not long after returning to Heaven Dou City, he would make such progress.

Mu Yuan glanced at Long Aotian.

He owed this pleasant surprise largely to his Senior Brother.

Noticing Mu Yuan's gaze, Du Busi assumed that after hearing about his own advantages, Mu Yuan wanted to know why Long Aotian, his Senior Brother, could master Unity of Heaven and Man.

"Your Senior Brother's Martial Soul Skin differs from ordinary skin. It possesses the qualities of jade—pure and flawless—and can serve as a bridge between his senses and heaven and earth."

A look of surprise flashed through Mu Yuan's eyes.

He truly had not expected Long Aotian's talent to stem from this.

But after thinking about it, it made perfect sense.

The Body Martial Soul had few advantages, but one of them was that the Martial Soul was a tangible part of one's own body, making all senses sharper.

Suddenly, Mu Yuan looked at Elder Yugu. Elder Yugu's title also contained the word jade.

"Yu Gu's situation is similar. His bones have undergone jadeification, but he only began enjoying the convenience of comprehending heaven and earth after his Secondary Awakening, when his jade bones could be released externally."

Mu Yuan clicked his tongue inwardly. He now had a deeper understanding of the Body Martial Soul.

There were countless Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent. It truly contained every strange thing imaginable.

Even identical Martial Souls could have different emphases.

That was the diversity of inheritance.

"Wait, Sect Master!"

Mu Yuan suddenly realized something.

"What is it?" Du Busi asked.

"Is Senior Brother's cultivation speed also related to his Martial Soul?"

Du Busi paused, then smiled. "A little, but his diligence is the greater reason. His Jade Skin helps him absorb Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, but the effect is not obvious. Perhaps after his Martial Soul Second Awakening, the effect will become more apparent."

Mu Yuan clicked his tongue inwardly.

With all those cheats on him, Senior Brother truly lived up to that title.

(This is how I understand Long Aotian's cultivation speed and Unity of Heaven and Man in the original work. There's no need to think he's cheating or anything; his speed and talent were already like this in the original. Since the protagonist spends so much time with him, they'll naturally be compared, and in the end, the protagonist will surpass him.)

Cultivation continued.

In the days that followed, whenever Mu Yuan did not understand something, he would first discuss it with Long Aotian before asking Du Busi and Elder Yugu.

The martial brothers also advanced by leaps and bounds in their cultivation.

Spring passed into autumn.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

Back when he had obtained his thousand-year Second Soul Ring, Mu Yuan's Soul Power had directly broken through to level twenty-two.

With the help of a Soul Ascension Pill, he broke through seven more levels in two years, reaching level thirty.

This was the first bottleneck Mu Yuan had encountered.

"This bottleneck from level twenty-nine to level thirty actually took a full half year to break through."

Mu Yuan sighed with feeling.

After all, he was only nine and a half years old now, yet he had already broken through to level thirty.

This speed even surpassed Long Aotian and Wei Na, truly setting a Body Sect record for Soul Elders.

"Before hunting for a soul beast this time, I need to make a trip to Star Luo City first."

At that thought, a smile could not help appearing in Mu Yuan's eyes.

It had to be said that the Body Sect's mindset was not so stubborn that it could not change.

Shrek was burdened by deep-rooted problems. Even with Mu En, a dignified Pavilion Elder, pushing for it, support for the Soul Tool Department could not continue. The Soul Tool Department below and many Pavilion Elders obstructed it at every turn, guarding talented students tightly and giving the Soul Tool Department no chance to develop.

The Body Sect was different. Although Sect Master Du Busi himself was clearly one of the stubborn ones, under the persuasion of Mu Yuan and Wei Na, his two disciples, he quickly came around and began accepting Soul Tools.

Yes, the Body Sect had gradually begun accepting Soul Tools over the past two years.

For now, they remained limited to the use of certain everyday Soul Tools.

Those Soul Tools had been developed for convenience in the first place. Once people tried them, they became hooked.

Because they had joined forces to persuade Du Busi to accept Soul Tools, Mu Yuan and Wei Na's relationship had also developed quite well over the past two years.

As for Long Aotian, he and Mu Yuan had explored Unity of Heaven and Man together. One was responsible for feeling it, the other for providing material; one was responsible for relaying it, the other for learning it. Both had made considerable progress.

"Junior Brother, your cultivation speed is just too outrageous."

Wei Na's voice rang out.

She wore a goose-yellow long dress, carrying a gentle temperament and the soft warmth of an older sister. The admiration in her eyes pleased Mu Yuan greatly.

Wei Na was sincerely astonished that he had reached level thirty at only nine and a half years old.

Mu Yuan was sincerely pleased as well.

"It's all thanks to Senior Sister. If not for the good news you brought me, I might have remained trapped at this bottleneck for who knows how much longer without such a cheerful mood," Mu Yuan replied.

At that, Wei Na's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

This little Junior Brother really knew how to talk.

Though happy, she quickly put on a serious expression.

"Junior Brother, that engraving knife may be easy to obtain, but it is indeed a vicious weapon. Do you truly intend to use it to make Soul Tools? If not, I can have my father search for some top-grade engraving knives for you. Even if they are not on the Engraving Knife Ranking, they would at least be safe."

Mu Yuan waved his hand.

"Senior Sister, my mind is made up. I have mastered Vajra and Heavenly Thunder Power. They are supremely yang and unyielding; I am confident I can suppress the resentful spirit within that Malevolent Blade."

What Mu Yuan did not say was that this was not a matter of confidence. It was something he had to do.

He now appeared to have embarked upon the proper path. As long as he cultivated step by step, condensed the Eight-Armed God Demon Dharma Image, and underwent Martial Soul Second Awakening, he would have hope of securing a place on this continent.

But in truth, something had already gone wrong with his cultivation.