Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never a Slave

Knowing what Zhao Mu intended to do, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan also looked over curiously.

As Soul Power surged, four Soul Rings emerged one after another beneath Zhao Mu's feet. Their unusual color combination made people unable to resist taking a second look every time they saw them.

First, the First Soul Ring emitted faint glimmers of light. With a furious roar, Heibai transformed, taking on Thunder Form and gaining control over violet and silver lightning.

After completing the transformation into its first form, Zhao Mu turned his attention to his Second Soul Ring.

Since this was his first attempt at fusing forms, it was naturally best to start with the relatively weaker First and Second Soul Rings.

"Second Soul Skill, Immovable as a Mountain, Unbreakable!"

Driven by Soul Power, Zhao Mu immediately activated his Second Soul Skill.

Previously, it had always been a form transformation. This time, however, it was a form overlay.

Heibai, with lightning crackling in both paws and electric arcs coursing across its entire body, began to radiate a dark golden glow.

The glow spread over Heibai's entire body, though its shape could vaguely be seen changing within it.

When the radiance faded, Heibai's fused form was revealed.

Black and white?

Its limbs, eye patches, and ears were black?

Its face, waist, and belly were white?

Those obscure, ancient patterns on its forehead?

Those savage, domineering fangs?

That black-and-red ring around its neck?

Wasn't this the appearance of the Fourth Form, Demon God Form...

"Grandfather, wasn't he supposed to be trying out a fused form? Why did he suddenly use that terrifying form from his Fourth Soul Skill instead?"

Seeing Heibai's transformation, Dugu Yan instinctively asked Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo was more composed, and naturally noticed more details.

Dugu Bo looked at Zhao Mu and said, "Only the First and Second Soul Rings displayed unusual Soul Power fluctuations, so Second Brother indeed only used his First and Second Soul Skills. Moreover, Heibai's size differs from its Fourth Soul Skill form. That form is six or seven meters long, while this one is only two meters."

After Dugu Bo's reminder, Dugu Yan also noticed the difference. It indeed seemed to be as Dugu Bo had said.

"Then why does it look like the terrifying Fourth Form?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion.

"Perhaps the fusion of the First Soul Skill's Thunder Form and the Second Soul Skill's Diamond Form simply takes the appearance of the Fourth Form."

Dugu Bo could not help recalling what he had seen when his Martial Soul had evolved through Heibai's blood.

The bear that had fought the Twin-Winged True Dragon back then had resembled the Fourth Form, likewise black and white.

So black and white was its most primordial form, as well as its ultimate form?

Compared to Dugu Bo, who was merely observing, Zhao Mu understood far more through personally experiencing it.

When Heibai's bear paw slammed down and lightning exploded, it was enough to prove that this was indeed not the Fourth Soul Skill, Demon God Descent. It truly was a fusion of the First and Second Forms.

After the fusion, Heibai not only possessed the traits of both forms, but its power had also increased by twenty percent over its original foundation. It could control lightning, while its body was as indestructible as rock.

Thump!

Zhao Mu's heart suddenly gave a violent beat.

It was extremely similar to when he had consumed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

Could it be that he was about to evolve again?

Just as Zhao Mu thought this, he realized that the evolution he had imagined did not occur. Instead, his Fourth Soul Ring inexplicably lit up.

It was that Demonic Rhyme Seed!

As if possessed, Zhao Mu activated his Fourth Soul Skill again while under the enhancement of his First and Second Soul Skills.

With a violent roar from Heibai, the three forms completely fused together.

The form before them still resembled the Demon God Form from the Fourth Soul Skill, but compared to the Demon God Form alone, this fused form was visibly stronger. Even Heibai's body had grown taller and bulkier.

Heibai's eyes became far more savage after the fusion. When it inadvertently met Zhao Mu's gaze, a chill ran through Zhao Mu's heart.

Would fused Heibai stop obeying him?

Why did that look seem a little like it wanted to eat someone?!

This little fellow wasn't planning to eat him, was it?

The first step of falling into demonic corruption: devour your own family?

No way. Heibai was so well-behaved—how could it possibly eat him!

Besides, he treated it so well, feeding and housing it. This little fellow would never treat him like that.

The fusion of three forms not only granted the traits of all three forms, but also increased their power by thirty percent each.

The fusion of two forms increased power by twenty percent, while the fusion of three forms increased it by thirty percent. Then if nine forms fused, would the power increase by ninety percent? Nearly double!

The fusion of three forms lasted only a moment before Zhao Mu dispelled it.

After the fused form was released, Zhao Mu could still clearly sense the Demonic Rhyme Seed within his Fourth Soul Ring. Moreover, perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt as though the thing had grown stronger.

Could form fusion promote the growth of the Demonic Rhyme Seed?

While Zhao Mu was pondering this, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan walked back over.

"Second Grandfather, how does Heibai feel after fusing its forms?"

Faced with Dugu Yan's question, Zhao Mu explained his feelings in detail.

"Since form fusion not only gives it the traits of different forms but also increases its power, why not just use fused forms every time?"

Zhao Mu slowly shook his head.

"Isn't that right?" Seeing Zhao Mu shake his head, Dugu Yan continued, "Are there some limitations or drawbacks?"

Before Zhao Mu could answer, Dugu Bo guessed first, "If this old man is not mistaken, it should be the Soul Power consumption! The fused forms are stronger, but the corresponding Soul Power consumption also becomes greater?"

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Although Dugu Bo had once been the gatekeeper among Title Douluo, he was still a genuine Title Douluo. He possessed this degree of insight.

Zhao Mu nodded. "That's right. Just as Big Brother said, under form fusion, the rate of Soul Power consumption increases exponentially."

During the fusion experiment just now, Zhao Mu had roughly estimated the rate of Soul Power consumption.

With two forms fused, Soul Power was consumed at twice the rate of a single form.

When three forms fused, the rate at which his Soul Power was consumed became roughly four times that of a single form!

By that logic, four fused forms would consume eight times as much, and five forms would consume sixteen times as much...

Restricted by such heavy Soul Power consumption, Zhao Mu's primary forms in ordinary combat would still be either a single form or the fusion of two forms.

After all, two forms only doubled the Soul Power consumption rate. That was far more cost-effective!

"If it only increases the rate of Soul Power consumption, then you've still come out ahead," Dugu Bo said afterward.

Although form fusion increased the rate of Soul Power consumption, that did not diminish its practicality.

During their repeated sparring sessions, Dugu Bo could actually feel a faint trace of pressure.

A level ninety-three Title Douluo could actually feel pressure from a level fifty Quasi-Soul King?!

Though it would be rather embarrassing to say aloud, it was the truth.

The greatest reason for this was Heibai's formidable combat strength.

Heibai's various forms were one reason, while the series of skills Zhao Mu had tailored specifically for Heibai was another.

Its powerful innate attributes, coupled with the versatility of its skills, left Dugu Bo somewhat overwhelmed.

Not to mention anything else, Dugu Bo only had nine Soul Skills. Even including his Soul Bone skills, he had just over ten.

Yet the number of skills Zhao Mu had developed for Heibai was no fewer than the number Dugu Bo currently possessed.

Being versatile but not specialized was all nonsense!

While practicing this series of skills, Zhao Mu felt that his training of Heibai should also enter its next stage.

A good beast tamer...

Pah, pah, pah.

A good Soul Master could never allow the development and training of his Martial Soul to stagnate.

The next step would be to try developing changes in elemental properties.

The First Soul Skill's Thunder Form represented the properties of lightning;

The Second Soul Skill's Diamond Form represented the properties of earth;

The Third Soul Skill's Ice-Fire Form represented the properties of water and fire;