Against the Usual Playbook

The Four Elements Academy had some good ideas, but only a little.

Just like the Blazing Fire Academy, they only knew that elements countered one another, never considering how they could reinforce one another.

They were both fire, yet they had never thought to borrow the wind's momentum...

They were all like that, let alone other Soul Masters. They only knew how to make broad choices, and after hunting a Spirit Beast, they picked up whatever Spirit Skill they happened to get.

"Okay."

Seeing that the other man was still utterly confused, Su Yun knew he was casting pearls before swine. He might as well give him the answer directly.

"I have two suggestions.

First, you could absorb a Spirit Ring that grants a debuff.

For example, one from an Earth Demon Bear, a Man Faced Demon Spider, or a Bloodthirsty Mosquito Emperor..."

But just as Su Yun named those Spirit Beasts, the middle-aged man beside him opened his eyes. The mustache on either side of his mouth trembled furiously with anger as he snapped,

"Preposterous! Utterly preposterous!

Which one of those Spirit Beasts is suitable for him?

A thin-rope Martial Soul should hunt snake- and vine-type Spirit Beasts. They can make the rope tougher, so once it binds an enemy, it's harder for them to break free."

As he said this, the middle-aged man seemed to regain his confidence.

"The Spirit Beasts you mentioned are

simply misleading the young!"

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he assumed most of the people present would side with him. Unexpectedly, everyone glared at him with displeasure.

"What are you shouting about?"

"Exactly. Can't you let Miss Su finish?"

"That's right! You think it's preposterous because your level of understanding isn't high enough. Miss Su must have a reason for using those Spirit Beasts as examples."

"Shut up! Keep running your mouth and I'll beat you to death!"

Seeing everyone's reaction, the middle-aged man was dumbfounded.

He had no idea he'd already made himself a laughingstock. Across from him sat the daughter of a hidden family.

Her First Soul Ring had been a thousand-year one, and you expect me to ignore her and listen to some laughingstock like you?

The murderous intent in Tang San's eyes, like the Silent Sleeve Arrow in his hand, was almost too much to keep under control.

He'd contradicted Yun again! The Way of Seeking Death! The Way of Seeking Death!

Su Yun knew nothing about this. He was in a great mood, especially with the Friendship Points he was earning.

Watching the bystanders gang up on a die-hard fan for his sake felt pretty satisfying too.

Still, he was a little disappointed that no one present had figured out why he'd chosen those Spirit Beasts.

But when he thought about it, it made sense.

Soul Master development in Douluo Continent was still far too backward.

Even Yu Xiaogang, the son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's leader, one of the Upper Three Sects, had only begun researching theory after compiling the materials he'd obtained from Spirit Hall. Then, after much painstaking thought, he finally chose a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo for Tang San's First Soul Ring. If Tang San hadn't been capable, he might not even have gotten Blue Silver Entanglement.

So Su Yun let it go.

If even Yu Xiaogang was still like that, what could he expect from everyone else?

Su Yun pursed his lips and tossed a question at the middle-aged man, who still looked unconvinced.

"Between his thin-rope Martial Soul and a vine or wire Martial Soul, which one is better at binding?"

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow, unsure what Su Yun meant, but answered anyway.

"Obviously the vine and wire Martial Souls."

"Mm."

Su Yun nodded lightly, agreeing.

"Then if all three Martial Souls received Soul Rings of the same age, could the thin-rope Martial Soul surpass the vine and wire Martial Souls?"

Faced with a question even a child could answer, the middle-aged man said nothing. He felt it insulted his intelligence, so he retorted,

"What exactly are you getting at?"

Su Yun didn't answer him. Instead, he looked around at the crowd.

"I'm sure everyone already knows the answer.

It can't!

That's the difference in Martial Soul quality, and it's hard to make up for it later by following the same path.

If it can't compete in toughness and strength, why not take another path?"

As he spoke, Soul Power surged in Su Yun's hand, and a dagger appeared.

"Everyone, take a look!

This is a dagger that cost ten Silver Soul Coins!

In terms of sharpness alone, it obviously can't compare to an unrivaled divine weapon. But what if I coat it with a deadly poison that kills with a single drop of blood?"

At the words "deadly poison," everyone present felt their hearts leap. They seemed to understand what Su Yun meant, and their faces lit up with realization.

"This... this is the other path? It's an ordinary dagger to begin with. Why compare its sharpness to an unrivaled divine weapon?"

"Exactly! An unrivaled divine weapon is sharp enough to pierce an opponent's defenses and kill with one strike. My ordinary dagger doesn't need to be all that sharp. If it's coated in deadly poison, even a tiny scratch will kill them!"

"That's right! I get it!"

"As expected of... the young lady of a hidden Soul Master family!"

In an instant, the whole place erupted. It was as if a door had opened in everyone's minds.

[Friendship Points from Zhang Wu +4]

[Friendship Points from Ji Qi +6]

[Friendship Points from Lu Renjia +3]

Watching the Friendship Points panel keep popping up, Su Yun was delighted.

A casual word of guidance had earned him so much.

All he could say was that the Soul Masters of Douluo Continent had suffered for far too long.

He didn't know if the Soul Masters of Douluo Continent were too honest or just brainless.

Either way, when it came to developing their Martial Souls, they basically just did whatever came to mind. They had no systematic plan at all.

In the original story, Su Yun thought Dai Mubai had one of the better Soul Ring setups.

Three of his first five Spirit Skills were enhancement skills.

White Tiger Protection Barrier, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, White Tiger Demon God Transformation.

Each one greatly increased his attributes.

Wouldn't it be great to keep training his body and stack enhancement skills to build up his stats?

Instead, he insisted on some sort of balance, needing offense, defense, and area-of-effect attacks. In the end, a powerful Martial Soul focused on killing turned into a complete mess.

The middle-aged man finally came to his senses. After mulling it over, he realized Su Yun's words did make some sense.

If it couldn't compete in offense, why not find another way?

No! That wasn't right!

That was heresy!

Martial Soul development wasn't supposed to work like that! The middle-aged man shook his head, trying to cast off the terrifying idea, then loudly objected,

"But I can't see what those Spirit Beasts you mentioned have to do with a thin rope."

The middle-aged man's sudden interruption cut short Su Yun's joy at earning Friendship Points. Su Yun immediately gave him a sour look.

"That's because you're stupid and can't figure it out!

The Man Faced Demon Spider is an evil Spirit Beast with a powerful killing instinct. Its web attack carries a neurotoxin. Once it hits, it can interfere with a Soul Master's Soul Power, and even interrupt their Spirit Skills.

If he absorbs one, he'll get a Spirit Skill that poisons an enemy and interrupts their Spirit Skill when it hits. Isn't that better than your lousy Entanglement?

Next is the Earth Demon Bear, famous for its gravity. Once hunted, if the thin rope gains its ability..."

This time, Su Yun didn't finish. The young man beside him took over, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Then once the thin rope ensnares an enemy, it can impose gravity on them. If they try to break free, they'll have to fight against both the rope's toughness and their own increased weight, draining their stamina considerably."