Martial Soul

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Martial Soul (武魂)
Alias(es)	Wuhun
Occupation/Role	A spiritual manifestation used by Soul Masters for cultivation, combat, and soul-skill development 1 21
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Awakening	1	A Martial Soul manifests during an awakening ceremony; a crystal ball measures the wielder's Innate Soul Power. Lin Huai awakened the humanoid Malenia Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power.
First Soul Ring	3	After Lin Huai absorbed the Flash Shadow Golden Feather Eagle's ring, Malenia transmitted a swordsmanship that could suppress Scarlet Rot. The ring granted Flash Shadow.
Martial Soul Possession	13	Lin Huai's possession manifested Malenia's Winged Helm, Arm Guard, and Prosthetic Blade while allowing Malenia to remain externally summoned.
Mutation through immortal herbs	12	Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Snake evolved into the Jade Scale Tiger Dragon, resolving its poison-related defect.
God-level mutation	13	Qian Renxue's angel Martial Soul evolved into the Eight-Winged Blazing Light Holy Angel after absorbing immortal herbs.
Second Soul Ring	26	Lin Huai's second ring produced Highest Good is Like Water, a deflection and control ability derived from his understanding of the Flowing Water Sword Technique.

Nature and Awakening

Martial Souls awaken through a designated formation, with their wielder's Innate Soul Power tested immediately afterward. The awakening can produce vastly different manifestations, including beast-type, tool-type, and humanoid Martial Souls. Examples recorded during Lin Huai's ceremony include the Dazed Duck, a hoe, and the humanoid Malenia. 1

A Martial Soul's form strongly affects its cultivation path and combat style. Beast Martial Souls may grant physical transformations, while tool-type manifestations provide weapons or specialized functions. Malenia is an exceptionally unusual humanoid Martial Soul whose characteristics combine external manifestation, partial possession, autonomous consciousness, and a cursed domain. 1 7 13

Cultivation Mechanics

Soul Rings

Soul Masters obtain Soul Skills by absorbing Soul Rings from Spirit Beasts. The resulting skill may adapt to the wielder's attributes: a beast's Charge ability, for example, can become Flame Charge for a fire-attribute wielder or Acceleration for a speed-oriented one. 21

Absorption is not wholly natural to human soul-power circulation. According to Malenia, part of the pain of absorbing a Soul Ring comes from soul power forcibly opening the meridians needed to execute the Spirit Beast's skill trajectory. 21

For Lin Huai, Soul Rings function differently. Malenia states that her own techniques and experience are imprinted onto his rings, making his Soul Skills expressions of her abilities rather than simple Spirit Beast techniques. 21

Martial Soul Possession

Martial Soul Possession normally enhances the wielder by merging or manifesting the Martial Soul's attributes. Dugu Yan's possession covered her body in scales, formed a horn and tail, and allowed her attacks to carry Jade Scale toxin. 12

Lin Huai's Malenia possession is atypical:

• It manifests Malenia's Winged Helm, Arm Guard, and Prosthetic Blade without fully merging her into his body. 13
• The helm improves his sensory perception and lets him better control the extreme acceleration of Flash Shadow. 13
• Malenia can remain separately summoned while Lin Huai uses partial possession, effectively allowing simultaneous two-on-one combat. 13
• Her independent techniques still consume Lin Huai's soul power. 26

Mutations and Defects

A Martial Soul may carry hereditary or innate defects. Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Snake poison accumulated within himself, preventing further advancement without the toxin-suppressing environment of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 5

Immortal herbs can resolve defects or cause evolution:

• Dugu Yan — The Jade Scale Nine Nether Lotus eliminated the harmful toxin accumulation of her Martial Soul and transformed it into the Jade Scale Tiger Dragon. 12
• Qian Renxue — Her angel Martial Soul mutated into the Eight-Winged Blazing Light Holy Angel after absorbing two immortal herbs. 13
• Malenia — Her Scarlet Rot grants immense destructive potential but erodes both the Martial Soul and Lin Huai's body. 1

Malenia Martial Soul

Malenia is Lin Huai's humanoid Martial Soul and the most extensively documented Martial Soul in the story. Qian Daoliu could sense its extraordinary strength but could not identify its exact nature. Yue Guan later judged its possessed Prosthetic Blade comparable to a top-tier tool-type Martial Soul, not inferior to the Seven Kill Sword. 1 13

Appearance

Malenia manifests as a tall woman with crimson hair reaching her waist, extensive burn-like scars, and mechanical prostheses.

• A winged helmet covers her head during Martial Soul Possession. 1 13
• Her right arm, left leg, and lower right leg are gold-colored metal prostheses. 1
• Her right-arm armor connects to a slender, handleless Prosthetic Blade marked with intricate patterns. 1
• Scarlet Rot has visibly eroded portions of her face and body. 1

Autonomous Consciousness

Malenia possesses an autonomous consciousness that Lin Huai can contact in his mental space. His mental power initially limits her ability to fully manifest, leaving him able to summon her body and inherent combat instincts rather than her complete self. 3 7

She can transmit knowledge directly through their shared consciousness, including swordsmanship, combat experience, and Golden Order incantations. 3 6 22

Scarlet Rot Domain

Malenia possesses an innate Scarlet Rot Domain that Lin Huai discovered during his early research.

• The domain instantly killed a Soft Bone Rabbit used in Lin Huai's experiments. 1
• It allows his manifested Prosthetic Blade to carry Scarlet Rot during attacks. 1
• Activating it makes the Rot within Lin Huai far more active and difficult to restrain. 1
• The curse initially left Lin Huai with an estimated ten-year lifespan if he continued cultivating or absorbing rings. 1

Malenia later taught Lin Huai that he must comprehend the Flowing Water Sword Technique before using Rot excessively. 6

Swordsmanship and Suppression

Malenia transmitted a swordsmanship once used by her teacher to suppress Scarlet Rot. It does not remove the curse at its source, but it allows Lin Huai to cultivate and employ his domain without being immediately overwhelmed by Rot. 3

Qian Daoliu identifies Sword Intent—specifically Lin Huai's comprehension of the Flowing Water Sword Technique's underlying Intent—as the route to completely resolving the curse. 7

Flash Shadow

Lin Huai's first Soul Skill, obtained from the twelve-hundred-year Flash Shadow Golden Feather Eagle, manifests Malenia's lunging technique. 3 21

• Increases Lin Huai's and Malenia's speed by 100% and attack power by 50% for ten minutes. 3
• Can consume soul power at up to triple the usual rate for a 200% speed increase. 3
• Initially exceeded Lin Huai's ability to control his own movement at maximum output. 12
• Martial Soul Possession lets him withstand and control the enhanced speed more effectively. 13

Highest Good is Like Water

Lin Huai's second Soul Skill was gained from a Slime exceeding seven thousand years in age. 26

• Deflects incoming physical attacks through a precise parry-like motion. 26
• Can control opponents after successfully redirecting their attacks. 26
• Malenia can perform the technique herself without Lin Huai releasing his Soul Rings. 26

Waterfowl Dance

Waterfowl Dance is Malenia's high-speed multi-phase blade technique. Lin Huai first observed it in his mind while practicing the basics of blade combat. 8

• Malenia can rapidly close distance and unleash consecutive slashes in multiple sequences. 26
• It shattered Qian Renxue's defensive barrier with its first strike during their spar. 26
• Lin Huai's second Soul Skill was originally intended to become Waterfowl Dance, but Malenia withheld that version because his understanding of the Flowing Water Sword Technique differed from hers. 26

Golden Order Incantations

Malenia knows Golden Order incantations, though Lin Huai lacks the innate talent to use them independently. He can cast them through Martial Soul Possession by relying on Malenia's aptitude. 6 22

• Discus of Light / Halo / Triple Rings of Light — Thrown rings of golden energy; their damage was insufficient to breach Qian Daoliu's soul-power barrier. 22
• Order Healing — An incantation specialized against the undead. 22
• Blessing's Boon — Creates a small golden field that gradually heals allies and restores their soul power. 22
• The incantations use energy converted from soul power during possession rather than ordinary soul power. 22

Notable Martial Souls

• Malenia — Lin Huai's cursed humanoid Martial Soul; possesses autonomous consciousness, the Scarlet Rot Domain, swordsmanship, and partial externalized possession. 1 7 13
• Jade Scale Tiger Dragon — Dugu Yan's evolved Martial Soul; its toxin is stored in its horn rather than harming its wielder. 12
• Eight-Winged Blazing Light Holy Angel — Qian Renxue's mutated god-level angel Martial Soul, distinguished by four pairs of wings and golden-red flames. 13
• Jade Phosphor Snake — Dugu Bo's original Martial Soul; its poison defect required the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for suppression. 5
• Golden Crocodile King — Tian Yue's powerful beast Martial Soul, regarded as superior to Dai Mubai's White Tiger and Ma Hongjun's flawed Evil Fire Phoenix. 45
• Coiling Dragon Staff — Qiangu Yichen's Martial Soul; its dragon soul mutated to gain increased destructive force and a Shatter effect. 19