Combining these three things was no easy feat.
The first step was obtaining a Spirit Bone that shared the same origin as one's Martial Soul. That alone was enough to deter countless people.
Most people would rather absorb the bone themselves than waste such a precious Spirit Bone on a so-called Soul Tool, let alone one that had to share the same origin as their Martial Soul.
Spirit Bones possessed a spiritual vitality of their own, allowing them to connect with the body's meridians and the Martial Soul Origin. Naturally, they could serve as a living bridge between a Martial Soul and a Soul Tool.
The Martial Soul Origin, meanwhile, was the innate source of a Soul Master's Soul Power, so it could be used as a permanent power source for a Soul Tool.
Only after a Soul Tool had both of these could it truly become an external extension of a Martial Soul.
Xian Lin'er's Green Flame Dragon Spear and Kong Deming's future Silver Moon Protective Shield were examples of this.
Compared with the latter, however, Xian Lin'er's Green Flame Dragon Spear only combined with part of her Martial Soul Origin. It was like a simplified version.
Kong Deming was different. He combined his entire Martial Soul Origin with his Soul Tool, achieving a perfect fusion. His was the complete version.
The one who truly mastered this theory was Lao Huo, with his Ice Extreme War God Armor. It was also the prototype of the Battle Armor that would appear in the future.
As everyone knew, most people had only one Martial Soul Origin, unless they possessed Twin Martial Souls.
Mu Guiyun was different. His Eight Great Elements were not connected to one another, which meant that each element was its own Martial Soul Origin!
Not only that, but even his accompanying Seventh Sense could count as an independent Martial Soul Origin.
At the thought, Mu Guiyun's hands itched with eagerness. He could hardly wait to rush into the laboratory and put his theory to the test.
"All right, what you need to do now is focus on your cultivation."
Xian Lin'er waved her delicate hand in front of Mu Guiyun's eyes and chuckled. "With your current Soul Power Level, you can't even manage the most basic Spirit Bone carving."
His train of thought interrupted, Mu Guiyun could only return to the present with a helpless smile.
"Hehe!"
Spending time with Mu Guiyun seemed to bring Xian Lin'er back to her carefree days as a student. Even her tone had grown much lighter. "Guiyun, why don't you join the Spirit Tool Department? You know what that old fox Yan Shaozhe is like."
As she tried to recruit Mu Guiyun, Xian Lin'er couldn't resist putting Yan Shaozhe down, too.
At that, Mu Guiyun couldn't help smiling. "I'll think about it."
Seeing that Mu Guiyun still wouldn't give her an answer, Xian Lin'er was so annoyed that she jabbed him hard in the forehead with her jade finger. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Think about it? How long have you been thinking about it? I swear, you little rascal just look down on our Spirit Tool Department!"
"I don't! I haven't! Don't you go putting words in my mouth!"
Mu Guiyun shook his head and denied it three times in a row.
Both Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er had watched him grow up. Mu Guiyun didn't want to choose one and hurt the other.
So he simply left the dilemma to Mu En.
If they wanted to fight over him, they could argue it out at the Sea God Pavilion Meeting. Mu En would have the final say anyway.
Besides, only children had to choose!
"It's getting late. I'll be going now, Senior Sister."
After glancing at the sky, which had grown completely dark, Mu Guiyun started to get up and leave. Then he realized that Xian Lin'er had somehow taken his hand in hers.
Confusion flickered in Mu Guiyun's eyes. "Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
"Um... why don't you stay here tonight? You haven't been back in ages."
Xian Lin'er's gaze darted away as her thoughts drifted to what had happened that afternoon.
Early the next morning, Mu Guiyun hurried to Sea God Pavilion. Since he needed a Spirit Bone, he had decided to hit up his teacher for some free stuff.
He stopped outside the familiar little room. Before he could knock, Mu En's voice came from within. "Come in, child."
Hearing this, Mu Guiyun pushed the door open and smiled. "Teacher, I came to see you."
"See me? Hahaha, do you think I don't know what you're like? You never come without a reason. Come on, what trouble have you run into this time?"
Mu En shook his head with a laugh, then gestured. "Take me outside for a walk."
"Hehe."
Seeing that his little scheme had been seen through, Mu Guiyun grinned and stepped forward to wheel Mu En out of Sea God Pavilion.
"Teacher, could you give me a few low-grade Spirit Bones? I don't care about their age; a few thousand years will do. But it'd be best if they had Wind, Gold, or Lightning attributes."
As the old man and the young man walked across Sea God Island, Mu Guiyun stated his purpose directly.
There was no need to mention anything else. When it came to Spirit Bones, if Shrek Academy claimed second place, no faction on the continent would dare claim first!
Every year, plenty of Spirit Bones appeared at Shrek Academy's Treasure Appreciation Fair—and no two were alike!
That showed just how terrifying Shrek Academy's Spirit Bone reserves were!
Low-grade Spirit Bones?
Mu En furrowed his brow and asked, "What do you need them for?"
Mu Guiyun immediately explained his idea to Mu En.
Hearing this, Mu En fell silent. After a long while, he finally replied unhurriedly, "I agree. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll have someone deliver the Spirit Bones to you."
"But don't spread the word. You should understand the saying: a man is innocent, but his jade brings guilt upon him."
"Don't worry, Teacher. I know that much."
Mu Guiyun smiled. He wasn't exactly a blabbermouth.
At the end, Mu En made a little joke. "You're not going to lose control and absorb those Spirit Bones yourself, are you?"
Absorb those Spirit Bones? No way!
If I absorbed that junk, wouldn't my transmigration have been for nothing?
Knowing Mu En was joking, Mu Guiyun didn't bother answering. Instead, he asked about Zhang Lexuan. "Teacher, how is Senior Sister?"
In the original story, Zhang Lexuan had risked her life to absorb the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring while seriously injured. Though she succeeded, her wounds were so severe that she spent two whole years recuperating.
Seeing Mu Guiyun bring up Zhang Lexuan on his own, Mu En gave him a mysterious smile. "That Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring left Lexuan with a few minor injuries, but it's nothing serious. With Xiao Zhuang there, she'll be fully recovered in a few days."
Hearing this, Mu Guiyun nodded.
The Xiao Zhuang Mu En mentioned was one of the Sea God Pavilion Elders.
He possessed the top-tier healing Martial Soul, the Tree of Life, and had reached the astonishing rank of 96.
"Oh, right. That girl Lexuan asked me to give this to you. What you do with it is up to you."
Mu En took a jade box from his Soul Tool and handed it to Mu Guiyun.
Mu Guiyun opened it and saw a deep-purple bone lying inside, shaped like a spine.
The 100,000-Year Moon-Eroding Wolf Emperor Torso Bone!