Chen Jieqi watched the earth element swirling around Dugu Yan and explained softly:
"Yanyan, your ability to control it so quickly isn't just thanks to your training.
"It's also because the Single-Horned Golden Flood Dragon's Martial Soul is far superior to your old Jade Phosphorous Serpent in both quality and completeness."
Dugu Yan stopped and tilted her head.
"Martial Soul quality and the completeness of its awakening?"
"Exactly."
Chen Jieqi nodded.
"Do you know why Innate Soul Power is so important to a Soul Master?"
He looked up, his gaze thoughtful.
"When a Martial Soul awakens, your bloodline lays the foundation. The higher its quality, the higher the minimum level of Innate Soul Power.
"Take the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, for example. I've heard that no one who awakens it has ever had less than five levels of Soul Power.
"So the general understanding among Soul Masters is that the higher the quality of your Martial Soul, the higher your Innate Soul Power and potential. The opposite is true as well. Over time, this became common knowledge."
Dugu Yan folded her arms and replied softly:
"I've heard Grandpa say that the better the Martial Soul, the greater its potential.
"But if two people have the same top-tier Martial Soul, why can their Innate Soul Power levels differ?"
"That comes down to how completely the Martial Soul awakens."
Chen Jieqi smiled.
"The more thoroughly a Martial Soul awakens, the higher the Innate Soul Power can be, and the greater its utilization and growth potential.
"Still, it's not set in stone. Some Martial Souls mutate after awakening, or change when their owners absorb Soul Rings or Spirit Bones.
"And heavenly treasures like the Earth Dragon Golden Melon you ate can give a Martial Soul new traits or cause it to change.
"All of these can improve how well you use your Martial Soul and raise its upper limit. This is especially noticeable with Beast Martial Souls."
Chen Jieqi paused, his gaze settling on Dugu Yan.
"That's why your use of earth attributes is stronger now than your old Jade Phosphor Snake's use of poison."
"Take the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. The higher its user's Innate Soul Power, the more complete the Martial Soul, and the greater the physical enhancement and efficiency in using its lightning attribute.
"That's also why, when Soul Masters absorb Soul Rings of the same age, those with higher Innate Soul Power get stronger Soul Skill enhancements and multipliers."
"You mean that if two Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Masters obtain their first Soul Skill, the one with seven levels of Innate Soul Power will get a stronger skill than the one with five?"
Dugu Yan interjected.
"Exactly. That's how Martial Soul completeness and utilization show themselves.
"Besides, after hundreds or even thousands of years of exploration and development, their clan settled on a fairly consistent choice for their first three Soul Rings: Soul Beasts with lightning attributes and Sub-Dragon Species.
"That choice greatly strengthens the traits of their Beast Martial Soul and lays the foundation for their bodies to undergo 'Dragon Transformation' later on.
"It also further enhances their lightning attribute and ensures they can hit hard."
"But their use of lightning is so shallow,"
Chen Jieqi said with a hint of regret.
"They just coat themselves in the attribute to increase their power, or throw out a few ranged attacks. They can't use it to turn the tide of a battle.
"And yet, they still earned the title of 'the greatest Beast Martial Soul under heaven.'"
Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow.
"What about my Single-Horned Golden Flood Dragon?
"How does it compare?"
"Yanyan, yours is different."
Chen Jieqi straightened up, his tone turning serious.
"As a Sub-Dragon Species, the Single-Horned Golden Flood Dragon's physical strength is a little inferior to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's, but it can still overpower most Beast Martial Souls.
"The key is how you use its attributes.
"Your first two Soul Skills don't strengthen your body at all. They directly enhance your attributes and let you simulate elements. That's what makes them so rare."
Chen Jieqi looked at Dugu Yan with a trace of envy.
"The attribute enhancement speaks for itself. But the real key is Elemental Simulation.
"Your Soul Power is still shallow, and your spiritual power isn't concentrated enough, so you can only simulate simple earth spikes, earthen walls, and stone armor to attack, restrain enemies, or protect yourself.
"But once your Soul Power Level rises and your spiritual power grows more refined, you'll be able to cause earthquakes across a wide area or create cages of rock.
"You might even cover an entire battlefield in stone armor. These abilities will grow step by step as your attributes improve, until they can change the course of a battle."
Chen Jieqi's eyes brimmed with hope.
"You might not match the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon in a one-on-one fight, but when it comes to controlling a battlefield or supporting your allies, they won't hold a candle to you!"
Dugu Yan listened, her eyes full of longing.
"Xiao Qi, what should I do to make the most of it?"
"Yanyan, for now, you should keep refining your Soul Power control and improving your spiritual power.
"Later, you can follow the same path I did and focus on a single element.
"Then, when you reach the later stages, you'll be able to contend with even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"
"Focusing on a single element..."
She repeated the words softly, a confident smile curving her lips.
"That sounds much more interesting than simply transforming into a dragon."
Chen Jieqi saw the sharpness in her eyes and nodded gently.
"It's a pity we don't have the Mimicry Cultivation Environment at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy here.
"There, Soul Masters can immerse themselves in pure earth, fire, or light elements, making their senses several times sharper.
"If we had an environment like that, you could master the earth element several times faster."
"Then how should I train now?"
Dugu Yan pressed him.
"I feel like there's something between my Soul Power and the earth and stone."
Chen Jieqi smiled and placed a hand on the tree trunk beside him.
"Start with 'Rooting.'
"Try to let your Soul Power sink through your body and into the earth. Feel the dampness of the soil and the texture of the stones.
"Listen for the tremors deep underground, just as I merge my Soul Power with the sunlight to sense the flow of light."
"Once you can clearly 'see' the pattern of every grain of soil beneath your feet, try using your Soul Power to guide them.
"First gather them into pebbles, then pile them into stone spikes, and finally shape them into armor."
Chen Jieqi's voice was gentle yet firm.
"Spiritual power is the bridge, Soul Power is the force, and resonance is the key.
"Once you truly resonate with the earth element, causing earthquakes across a wide area won't be the limit. You might even be able to topple a mountain."
Dugu Yan closed her eyes and, as instructed, slowly sank her Soul Power into the ground.
At first, she felt only a blur. But as she calmed her mind, she gradually sensed the warmth of the soil and the hardness of the stones,
and even the paths of distant tree roots spreading through the earth.
"I... I can feel it!"
She opened her eyes abruptly, delight shining in her earth-yellow gaze.
"The pulse of the earth!"
Chen Jieqi saw the light in her eyes and smiled faintly.
"That's the first step.
"Spend half an hour each day 'listening' to the earth from now on.
"Refine your Soul Power's precision, then gradually try simulating more complex forms."
As the two shared heartfelt conversations day after day,
time flew by like a white horse passing through a crack...
In the morning light, Chen Jieqi would sit with Dugu Yan on a rocky outcrop, watching her sink her Soul Power into the earth and sense the pulse of the earth element.
At dusk, Dugu Yan would listen as he explained how to refine holy light. Their earth-yellow and pale-gold glows often mingled beside the campfire, forming gentle ribbons of light.