Xu Yuan's Doubt (Please Keep Reading!!!)

"I know." Xu Yuan's expression was calm, carrying a trace of resolve.

"First of all, this path cannot be separated from one thing: my own cultivation."

The Spear Soul Spirit was a true Artificial Soul Spirit, one without any existing Soul Beast genes as a template. Although it could naturally possess certain abilities and grant Soul Masters Soul Skills, it was ultimately a newborn "species," far too immature. If he did not want to obtain useless Soul Skills, he would need to use his own cultivation to drive the Soul Spirit's repeated evolution, allowing it to grow in sync with his Martial Soul.

This meant that a Soul Master's Soul Rings and Soul Skills would no longer be obtained externally, but sought from within.

What was sought from within would be the ability of one's own Martial Soul, though the Spear Soul Spirit might at most influence the form that the Soul Skill took.

It would not only be the Spear Soul Spirit. In the future, Xu Yuan would continue strengthening his Heaven Origin Brush-Spear, pairing it with different Metal Soul Spirits to strengthen the pen spear form of this Weapon Soul to the utmost limit.

This was the path Xu Yuan had spoken of.

The reason Zhen Hua said it would be difficult was, first and foremost, because no Soul Master had ever taken this path before. There were no examples to follow, and the path itself was extraordinarily difficult.

"If you insist on taking such a path, then among your Sub-Professions, you may still need to study Forging Mastery."

The Spear Soul Spirit's foundation was excellent, but it had not undergone forging itself. It could be improved through forging in the future, and if it became Xu Yuan's Soul Spirit, then having Xu Yuan forge and improve it himself would clearly be the best choice.

"And you will also need a deep understanding of all kinds of Rare Metals and forging in order to plan how to pair Metal Soul Spirits."

Xu Yuan listened to Zhen Hua and silently nodded.

After a while, he said, "Martial Uncle, forging consumes far too much energy. I have too many cultivation tasks, so I may not be able to devote myself wholeheartedly to becoming a Forging Master."

Zhen Hua stared at Xu Yuan. After a long time, he sighed.

"Ah, forget it. In your spare time, follow me and study the theoretical knowledge of forging. I'll also teach you some Auxiliary Forging Methods."

Auxiliary Forging Methods, as the name implied, were methods for assisting with forging.

This was also a common forging method on the continent. However, it was not cultivated by pure Forging Masters, but prepared for Battle Armor Masters seeking greater heights. They assisted a Forging Master through the forging process and, at the moment the metal took shape, seized the opportunity to take over and complete the final hammer strike.

In other words, it was finishing the job—cough, cough, finishing the hammering.

However, this first required finding a true Forging Master with whom one had perfect coordination, and one also needed that person's consent. After all, the vast majority of Forging Masters would not allow others to watch from the side while they forged, much less participate in the forging itself.

"Xiao Yuan, even if it is an Auxiliary Forging Method, you still need to participate in the entire forging process. Once one enters true Spirit Forging and Soul Forging, the entire process becomes a unified whole. Awakening the spirituality of metal and granting it life must be done without interruption from start to finish. The assisting Forging Master must also participate throughout, with both Forging Masters communicating with the metal at the same frequency."

That was the truly difficult part.

With Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's methods, he could bring Xu Yuan into the rhythm. For Spirit Forging and Soul Forging, as long as Xu Yuan's foundation was solid enough, synchronized forging could be achieved. But Heavenly Forging was simply far too difficult.

"Martial Uncle, this is already more than enough," Xu Yuan said to Zhen Hua.

"Mm."

"Enough of that nonsense. Eat first." Mu Ye's voice came from nearby, accompanied by a rich fragrance.

Xu Yuan and Zhen Hua both stopped their discussion and went to the kitchen, where they saw a large gelatinous object resembling jelly on a plate, giving off a rich aroma.

What was this?

Mu Ye introduced it from the side.

"This is Whale Rubber. Consuming it can strengthen a Soul Master's physique. Back in the era before Soul Spirits appeared, it was an essential Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure for Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings beyond their level.

"Of course, even now, this Whale Rubber is still significant when it comes to enduring the Soul Rings granted by Soul Spirits beyond one's level. Although accommodating a Soul Spirit depends on Spiritual Power, the Soul Rings it grants must still be borne by the Soul Master's own body. Improving a Soul Master's physical condition remains important.

"This piece of Whale Rubber was cooked using my Body Sect Secret Technique. Some of its side effects have been removed, and many other Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures have been incorporated into it. Its effects are even better."

Hearing Mu Ye's introduction, Xu Yuan swallowed. Inwardly, he sighed that becoming Mu Ye's disciple had absolutely been the most correct choice.

He really did give out good stuff.

Of course, Xu Yuan also knew that when it came time to cultivate, Mu Ye would be truly ruthless as well.

Luckily, while I'm still all arms and legs, I can enjoy this for a few more years.

Casting aside the abuse he might suffer in the future, Xu Yuan stepped forward and began eating voraciously.

The fifth day after arriving at the Forging Master Association headquarters.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged. Having just finished the medicinal meal, he refined the medicinal power within his body. His Soul Power was like surging waves, washing repeatedly through the meridians in his body.

Rumble!

Suddenly, Xu Yuan's Soul Power swelled within his body, rushing through his meridians and erupting with a thunderous roar.

Level 9!

Before coming to Heaven Dou City, Xu Yuan had only just broken through to Level 8.

Going back a little further, it had only been around ten days since he awakened his Martial Soul, yet he had already risen two levels in succession.

The last time, he had already been close to a breakthrough. After his Soul Power completed a cycle within his body, he had naturally broken through. This time, however, Xu Yuan had consumed too many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. The Soul Power accumulated within his body far exceeded Level 8, directly breaking through the bottleneck.

Breaking through to Level 10 within a month seems completely doable. Looking at it this way, how is my starting point any different from Innate Full Soul Power?

"You're improving a little too quickly, kid. Once this month is over, you absolutely cannot use Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to increase your Soul Power for at least the next five years." Mu Ye stroked his chin as he observed Xu Yuan.

There was nothing wrong with using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to increase one's Soul Power.

What was wrong was neglecting the cultivation of one's Soul Power after doing so.

On Douluo Continent, the concept of one's foundation was rarely mentioned. It only emerged before the Federation was unified, when Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire became obsessed with crafting Soul Tools. They needed Soul Power to support their work but lacked the energy to cultivate it, so they used Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to pile up their Soul Power without cultivating it themselves. Over time, this caused their Soul Power to become unstable.

This kind of power needed to be cultivated by oneself in order to be reliable, and only then could it be controlled more deeply.

Once one reached the level of Super Douluo or above, even the slightest degree of control could make a world of difference.

Mu Ye did not make Xu Yuan suppress his level. He merely restricted Xu Yuan from using Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to increase his Soul Power again within the next five years.

"Teacher, I suddenly had an idea just now." Xu Yuan did not object to having his use of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures restricted. Instead, he explained the insight he had gained during his breakthrough.

"Speak." Mu Ye was concise.

Xu Yuan organized his thoughts and described his doubt.

"Teacher, every tiny bit of progress in Soul Power cultivation requires arduous meditation. Yet after Soul Power is depleted, it can recover rapidly. Why is that?"