Martial Soul

Biodata

Power Progression

Awakening

A Martial Soul is awakened through a ceremony conducted with six black stones. The awakening activates a person's internal Soul Power and causes their Martial Soul to manifest. Those without Soul Power cannot become Soul Masters. 6 8

Innate Full Soul Power is an exceptionally rare aptitude. Su Yun and Tang San both awaken with it in Holy Soul Village, allowing them to begin at Level 10. 7 8

• A Martial Soul may be powerful even before receiving a soul ring, as shown by Su Yun's Shadow Scythe cutting through a waist-thick tree. 11
• A person may possess Twin Martial Souls. Su Yun possesses Shadow Scythe and Superman Physique, while Tang San possesses Blue Silver Grass and Clear Sky Hammer. 14
• Twin Martial Soul users may delay adding rings to their second Martial Soul until Level 50, potentially allowing it to receive higher-age rings; however, their physical strength must withstand the rings' power. 15

Classifications

Manifestation and Possession

Body-type Martial Souls

A body-type Martial Soul's enhancements require active Martial Soul Possession. When Su Yun activates Superman Physique, he transforms into a Supergirl-like form and gains immense physical strength; after deactivation, those enhancements disappear. 11

• Superman Physique converts absorbed sunlight into Soul Power. 8 13
• Its stated future abilities include flight, Laser Eyes, and a bio-magnetic field. 3
• Its known limitation is that physical buffs are not continuously active outside Martial Soul Possession or active Soul Power circulation. 11 13

Tool-type Martial Souls

Tool-type Martial Souls can be summoned as weapons or equipment. Su Yun's Shadow Scythe manifests as a gothic, purple-glowing scythe nearly two meters long, with a skull motif where its blade meets the hilt. 6 11

• The Shadow Scythe is also referred to as a War Scythe. 14 15
• Its basic effect gives each damaging strike a chance to inflict Grievous Injury or Bleeding. 6
• Each additional Soul Ring increases the number of debuffs the Shadow Scythe can inflict by one. 6
• Following Su Yun's first ring, the weapon becomes heavier and sharper, its blade marked with demonic-rune-like patterns. 34

Soul Ring Development

Soul Rings are necessary for a Soul Master to advance past the peak of a stage. They are acquired by hunting Soul Beasts or through other methods, and their age affects both their power and the danger of absorption. 28 32 34 40

Soul Skills

A Soul Ring can produce a Soul Skill reflecting the Soul Beast's traits or instincts, adapted to the Martial Soul and the Soul Master's intent. 16

• A hundred-year Solitary Bamboo is considered suitable for strengthening the penetration and durability of Wen Wu's wooden arrows. 31
• Su Yun's thousand-year first ring grants the Shadow Scythe Pain Intensification, increasing the pain suffered by wounded targets by two or three times. The multiplier rises by one for every ten levels gained. 34
• The same ring causes Superman Physique to awaken Super Brain, improving learning ability, memory, processing capacity, neural reflexes, and dynamic vision without directly increasing intelligence. 34 35

Martial Soul Planning

Martial Soul planning is the process of deciding a Martial Soul's eventual role and combat style, then selecting Soul Rings that move it toward that goal. 40

Su Yun advocates developing a Martial Soul around its strengths rather than forcing it to compete directly with superior Martial Souls on the same path. He proposes that Soul Rings can be chosen for unconventional effects, including armor-breaking, control, poisoning, debuffs, mobility, and defense. 15 41

• Su Yun plans to develop Shadow Scythe as an assault-type Martial Soul focused on close-quarters burst damage and debuff amplification. 15
• He advises Tang San to develop Blue Silver Grass around its low consumption and vitality, emphasizing support, evolution, and eventual transformation. 15 16
• He also recommends using debuff-oriented Soul Beasts to give otherwise weaker Martial Souls alternative combat paths. 41 42

Notable Martial Souls

Trivia

• Su Yun's first soul ring is a thousand-year ring, an achievement considered unprecedented among known disciples of the major public powers on the continent. 38
• Su Yun's Twin Martial Souls are revealed to Tang San as a gesture of trust, prompting Tang San to reveal his own Twin Martial Souls. 14