"There's only one Blue Silver Emperor on each continent, and it's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. There's no way I can do that."
Tang Ya walked beside Bei Bei, taking small, seemingly graceful steps. Somewhat puzzled, she said, "Mutations are rare. Most happen during Martial Soul Awakening, and most of those are harmful."
"With your talent, there's no chance you'll reach Titled Douluo right now. Even if you encountered a Blue Silver Emperor, you wouldn't be able to absorb it," Bei Bei continued.
"So your only option is to make your Martial Soul mutate and improve its quality. Only then will it have enough potential to take you further along your path of cultivation," Bei Bei said with a smile.
"What should I do?" Tang Ya pressed him urgently, since everything he said sounded so logical.
"Every time a Soul Master absorbs a Soul Ring, they're actually improving their Martial Soul," Bei Bei said, looking at Tang Ya.
"As long as the Soul Ring is high enough in quality and compatible enough, the Martial Soul will undergo a certain degree of mutation or enhancement, improving its quality."
"Just like me. I place great importance on the quality of my Soul Rings, and I've absorbed every one beyond its age limit," Bei Bei said with a grin, pointing at himself.
"After each absorption, my Martial Soul grows stronger. I prefer to call this process an enhancement of the Martial Soul Origin."
After years of self-study and experiencing a second evolution of his Martial Soul, Bei Bei had gained a profound understanding of the nature of Martial Souls, Soul Power, and cultivation.
"I believe a Soul Master's talent depends on the quality of their Martial Soul, the strength of their bones and meridians, and how well their soul matches their Martial Soul," Bei Bei said, holding up three fingers.
"The higher the quality of a Martial Soul, the faster it absorbs and converts the world's energy into Soul Power, and the purer that Soul Power will be."
"The stronger your bones and meridians, the more Soul Power your meridians can hold."
"Everyone's soul is unique, and everyone's personality is different. Someone with a dark heart naturally can't make perfect use of a light-type Martial Soul. That would weaken their control over their Martial Soul and keep them from displaying its full power."
Tang Ya listened, feeling a little lost. She didn't know much about theoretical knowledge.
She spent most of her time cultivating. Unlike Bei Bei, she never set aside several hours each day to read in the Library Pavilion.
This was a common failing among Soul Masters: they never thought about the nature of their Martial Souls. They only focused on increasing their strength.
If someone didn't even understand their own Martial Soul, how could they ever become strong?
Seeing that she didn't quite understand, Bei Bei simply asked, "Xiao Ya, what Soul Beasts did you get your first two Soul Rings from?"
"The Datura Snake and the Ghost Vine. The Soul Skills I got were Bind and Parasite," Tang Ya replied. "I followed the Soul Ring Configuration of Sect Master Tang San from ten thousand years ago. There shouldn't be anything wrong with that."
"What if he was wrong?" Bei Bei turned to look at Tang Ya, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile that held a deeper meaning.
Bei Bei's words surprised and confused Tang Ya. She found it hard to believe that anyone would think that person could be wrong!
"How could that be? He was..." Tang Ya said, unable to believe it.
"His Martial Soul was an unevolved Blue Silver Emperor, unlike your ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Even if his early Soul Rings were wrong, he could make up for it later by becoming the Blue Silver Emperor. It wouldn't affect his potential," Bei Bei analyzed.
"But what about you? Can you afford to make mistakes? Do you really understand the nature of Blue Silver Grass? Do you truly think giving Blue Silver Grass beast-type Soul Rings is the best choice?"
As they talked, they arrived at the edge of a small forest.
Bei Bei stopped and continued, looking at Tang Ya. "I told you: the fact that your Blue Silver Grass has reached its current level means that it has hidden traits."
Bei Bei pointed toward the woods ahead. "Release your Martial Soul and Soul Skills. Let me see."
Tang Ya was a little confused, but she still did as Bei Bei asked. She summoned her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and a small blue-and-silver blade of grass appeared in her palm.
Two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet.
She activated her first Soul Skill. Dozens of vines burst from the ground and quickly wrapped around several trees ahead.
Then she activated her second Soul Skill, Parasite. Countless spores erupted from the Blue Silver Vines.
Wherever the spores fell, masses of Blue Silver Vines sprouted, soon winding around a large patch of trees ahead.
"Now, carefully sense your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Feel its Martial Soul Origin, and the power hidden deep within you," Bei Bei said from beside her.
Tang Ya followed Bei Bei's instructions and, for the first time, delved deep into the feeling of her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. She closed her eyes, and a blade of Blue Silver Grass appeared in her mind.
A wisp of black energy drifted from the grass. In the blink of an eye, its color gradually deepened, turning dark blue.
At the same time, an evil aura rushed toward her. Tang Ya's eyes flew open, and she was drenched in sweat.
"It seems pretty clear now. The hidden talent in your Blue Silver Grass is devouring—the ability to devour life force," Bei Bei said, pointing ahead.
Tang Ya looked up. At some point, the Blue Silver Vines she'd released had all turned dark blue.
They were constantly draining the life force from the trees they'd ensnared, converting it into Soul Power and sending it along the vines into her body.
In just a moment, dozens of trees ahead had withered. Tang Ya could feel her Soul Power rising, by far more than she would gain from several days of cultivation.
Tang Ya didn't feel happy at all. Instead, a chill ran through her. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, her face went deathly pale, and her eyes widened. "I... I'm an Evil Soul Master?"
"Why? Why am I an Evil Soul Master?" Tang Ya cried out, her voice hoarse.
She felt that the heavens had treated her so unfairly. She'd lost her parents at a young age and had been left with nowhere to go, and now the heavens had turned her into an Evil Soul Master.
Tang Ya collapsed to the ground, dazed. Her eyes were vacant, drained of all light.
As her mind reeled, the out-of-control Blue Silver Grass Vines began spreading in every direction, drawing life force from the trees and multiplying without end.
Some of the vines even sensed the life force within Bei Bei and tried to attack him.
Golden lightning flashed around Bei Bei, and the vines that came near were blasted into charcoal.
Looking at Tang Ya, Bei Bei understood more clearly: when an Evil Soul Master's resolve faltered, their Martial Soul would go out of control.
An Evil Soul Master's Martial Soul would also grow somewhat stronger. The root cause was that their mind wasn't steadfast enough to keep it in check.