Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Soul Master |
| Alias(es) | 魂师 |
| Occupation/Role | Martial Soul cultivator who develops Soul Power, absorbs Soul Rings, and wields Soul Skills |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soul Power Level 10 / first Soul Ring | 3 | Su Fan reaches level 10 before absorbing his first Soul Ring, gaining a Soul Skill. |
| Soul King / fifth Soul Ring | 19, 67 | The fifth ring brings a soul shock that tempers spiritual power; from this point, further Soul Power breakthroughs have increasingly pronounced spiritual-power requirements. |
| Title Douluo / Soul Core | 135 | A Soul Core allows a Title Douluo to mobilize the power of heaven and earth more readily. |
| Super Douluo | 135 | Cultivation centers increasingly on a deeper understanding and use of the power of heaven and earth. |
| Limit Douluo / dual Soul Cores | 80 | Condensing two Soul Cores is exceptionally rare and is associated with reaching the Limit Douluo realm. Three Soul Cores remain theoretical. |
Martial Souls and Soul Rings
A Soul Master's cultivation begins with a Martial Soul and innate Soul Power. Innate Soul Power strongly affects early cultivation, though a Body Martial Soul can receive reciprocal nourishment as its user's Soul Power grows, improving the Martial Soul in a positive-feedback cycle. 1
Soul Rings are absorbed from Soul Beasts to grant Soul Skills and integrate aspects of the corresponding beast's abilities into the user's Martial Soul. 71 Absorbing rings beyond one's normal capacity can provide additional Soul Power feedback and improve Martial Soul development, but the gains are usually limited and the process carries substantial physical and mental risk. 15 16
Soul Skills
Soul Rings allow a Soul Master to use Soul Skills through predetermined Soul Power circulation paths and the special properties contained within the ring. 19
- A skill's execution depends on both its Soul Power route and its inherent properties. 19
- Higher-quality or over-limit Soul Rings can greatly increase a Soul Skill's power and the feedback received by the Martial Soul. 3 26
- Soul Skills may be offensive, defensive, control-oriented, movement-based, mental, elemental, or supportive in function. 3 9 43
- Soul Bone skills and Soul Ring skills from the same Soul Beast can reinforce one another and may form a complementary ability set. 44
Aperture Method
The Aperture Method is an unconventional Soul Master cultivation path developed around condensing internal Apertures. It improves Soul Power circulation, storage, and control, while allowing Core Arrays from Soul Tools to be inscribed within the body. 19 23
Aperture Cultivation
| Milestone | Ordinary Soul Master Path | Su Fan's Documented Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| Before first Soul Ring | 1 Aperture | 9 Apertures |
| Before second Soul Ring | 9 Apertures | 36 Apertures |
| Before third Soul Ring | 18 Apertures | 108 Apertures |
| Before fourth Soul Ring | 27 Apertures | Heavenly Circuit Apertures |
| Before fifth Soul Ring | Not specified; Soul Apertures may be introduced | 36 Soul Apertures |
| Nine Soul Rings | 81 Apertures | Not specified |
The ordinary progression of nine rings and eighty-one Apertures represents the baseline path; Su Fan's early Aperture counts are described as the upper limit rather than a standard that other Soul Masters can easily reproduce. 47
Physical and Soul Apertures
A complete Aperture consists of a physical Aperture and a corresponding Soul Aperture. The physical component can record a Soul Skill's Soul Power circulation through a Core Array, while the Soul Aperture preserves the skill's properties and intent. A merged pair can hold one complete Soul Skill. 19
- Physical Apertures — improve Soul Power routing and can host Soul Tool Core Arrays. 4 19
- Soul Apertures — store spiritual comprehension and the special characteristics needed to reproduce a Soul Skill. 19
- Heavenly Circuit Apertures — form a body-wide system with exceptional Soul Power reserves, circulation efficiency, and capacity to support over-limit Soul Ring absorption. 23 43
- Heavenly Gate — connects the practitioner’s essence, energy, and spirit with heaven and earth; Su Fan opened one after resonating nine Soul Apertures. 20
The method is difficult to adopt without spatial talent, especially when attempting to condense Apertures throughout the body's meridians. 43 Nevertheless, the Body Sect's practitioners used it to overcome bottlenecks, producing breakthroughs among elders and disciples. 76
Soul Tools
Soul Tools supplement Soul Masters through combat, auxiliary, and civilian functions. 49
- Combat Soul Tools — include weapons and devices intended for direct fighting. 49
- Auxiliary Soul Tools — provide practical enhancements, such as the Soul Paralysis Ray's paralysis effect. 22
- Civilian Soul Tools — include everyday devices such as lamps, conveyor systems, focus pendants, and vision-enhancing glasses. 49
- Core Arrays — can reproduce or record aspects of Soul Skills and are central to integrating Soul Tool functions with the Aperture Method. 19 23
A Soul Master equipped with a complete set of high-level Soul Tools can possess combat capability beyond what their conventional role would suggest. 9
Notable Soul Masters
- Su Fan — Developed the Aperture Method, cultivated Heavenly Circuit Apertures, and repeatedly absorbed Soul Rings beyond his normal level. 3 19 47
- Du Busi — Body Sect master who cultivated Heavenly Circuit Apertures and successfully transferred a Soul Core with Apertures replacing its original function. 75
- Huo Yuhao — Possesses the Spirit Eye, a mental-attribute Body Martial Soul whose early development inspired Su Fan's approach to cultivating Apertures. 1
- Director Chi — A defense-type Soul Saint of Dou Ling Royal Soul Master Academy who led Soul Beast hunts for Su Fan. 15