Zhen Hua's Advice

In the blink of an eye, Xu Yuan had already been enrolled for a month.

The Inner Courtyard had no fixed curriculum. After asking Shen Yi for leave, Xu Yuan boarded the Soul Train bound for Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou City.

Forging Master Association.

"Martial Uncle."

A year had passed, yet Zhen Hua appeared no different physically.

In truth, compared to the vast majority of Soul Masters, Zhen Hua's Bloodline Power was exceptionally strong—even stronger than Xu Yuan's eldest uncle, Xu Shengqun. It was only because Mu Ye had been by his side before that his Bloodline Power had not seemed particularly outstanding.

Over the past year, Xu Yuan had met many ordinary Soul Masters and even some Pavilion Elders at Shrek Academy. After making a true comparison, he realized that his martial uncle Zhen Hua's Bloodline Power was genuinely formidable.

"Why did you suddenly decide to cultivate Bloodline Power, kid?" Zhen Hua asked curiously.

Xu Yuan did not choose to conceal anything.

"I want to separate the two major forms within my Martial Soul, but I can't achieve Twin Martial Souls through Martial Soul Split."

Ji Juechen of ten thousand years ago had possessed a single Martial Soul slot. He had fused his Martial Soul into Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron, then achieved unity between man and sword, completely merging his Martial Soul with himself. He still only had one Martial Soul slot.

Split a Martial Soul, then copy a Martial Soul slot out of thin air?

Only gods could accomplish that.

Xu Yuan merely wanted to transfer some of his Martial Soul's characteristics and merge them into the Five Elements Spear Spirit. Then, through a contract between the Five Elements Spear Spirit and Bloodline Power, he would create an alternative form of Triple Martial Soul.

As for the endurance limits of Soul Spirits and Soul Rings.

If he truly succeeded, then with the spiritual talent of Xu Yuan's Brain Martial Soul, his Spiritual Power's capacity to bear a Soul Spirit could be guaranteed. As for his physical strength, once he had a Vital Energy Martial Soul, his Bloodline Cultivation could be Martial Soul-based. Combined with the fact that he was already a disciple of the Body Sect, there was every hope that his physical strength could keep up.

After hearing Xu Yuan's idea, Zhen Hua sank into thought.

He looked at Xu Yuan with an unusual expression in his eyes.

"You really resemble your father." After watching him for a long while, that was all he could say with a sigh.

Yes, they truly were alike.

"Back then, your father should have researched this project as well. I discussed it with him and even recommended him to your teacher, hoping he could cooperate with the Body Sect. Unfortunately, there were no results in the end." Zhen Hua sighed.

However, he did not use that fact to discourage Xu Yuan.

Because he had participated in that research almost from beginning to end, he knew where it had failed.

Xu Yuan's father, Xu Zhi, had focused on using Soul Spirit contracts to integrate Bloodline Power into a Martial Soul. Xu Yuan, meanwhile, was inclined toward forming contracts between Soul Spirits and Bloodline Power.

One sought to transform a Martial Soul through Bloodline Power, while the other sought to create an alternative Vital Energy Martial Soul.

"Actually, you can take it step by step," Zhen Hua suggested.

"Oh?"

Xu Yuan had not expected Zhen Hua not only to refrain from stopping him, but even to offer advice.

"For instance, first cultivate Bloodline Power yourself. As long as you condense Bloodline Power, your bloodline strength will already surpass the standard of Level 10 Soul Power. At that point, you can try forming a contract with a Soul Spirit using Bloodline Power."

Zhen Hua looked at Xu Yuan as he explained his understanding.

"You want to create a Vital Energy Martial Soul. That's a grand idea, but it certainly can't be achieved overnight. It requires long-term cultivation. Take the fusion of my Martial Soul and Bloodline Power as an example—it only began to show signs after a mutation. Then, through gradual adjustment, the degree of fusion deepened, until eventually I was able to use my Martial Soul to cultivate my body."

And Ji Juechen from ten thousand years ago was the same. When he first fused his Sword Soul into the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Iron Sword, it was not accomplished overnight either. It was completed step by step alongside his Soul Power cultivation. Even his unity of man and sword only truly reached completion at Level Seventy."

Though he was offering Xu Yuan advice and did not oppose him in the slightest, he repeatedly emphasized taking things slowly, advising him to pursue a true Vital Energy Martial Soul only after reaching Level Seventy.

It had to be said that Zhen Hua truly knew how to persuade people.

However, he did not genuinely oppose Xu Yuan's idea either.

He was also offering practical advice.

"First, perfect the Soul Spirit contract method. Your father should have already left behind a half-finished version. If you can complete it and achieve a contract between Bloodline Power and a Soul Spirit, then you can gradually try merging Spear Intent and Spear Will into the Five Elements Spear Spirit, then integrate them into your bloodline to nourish your Bloodline Cultivation in return."

"The following steps must also be carried out bit by bit. First separate the two major Martial Souls. The Five Elements Spear Spirit can still form simultaneous contracts with multiple parties, but try granting its next Soul Ring only to your bloodline. Or simply do not attempt that at all, and instead only add a Second Soul Spirit to the Heaven Origin Brush."

"Once you find a Soul Spirit more suitable than the Five Elements Spear Spirit, one that matches the Five Elements Control of your Heaven Origin Brush's First Soul Skill, you can complete the final handover. Use the new Soul Spirit to replace the Five Elements Spear Spirit's position, completely separating the Five Elements Spear Spirit from the Heaven Origin Brush Martial Soul while also completing the final step of the Vital Energy Martial Soul."

Though Zhen Hua was a blacksmith, his thinking was remarkably clear, and he explained everything in an orderly manner.

Seeing Xu Yuan pondering seriously, he knew his suggestion had worked, so he simply pointed out the key issue.

"Actually, I more or less know where your impatience comes from. You want to improve your physical constitution because your Spiritual Power talent is being restricted by your physical condition. But with my method, once you complete the bloodline contract, it should help you solve that problem."

"Xiao Yuan, your talent is already among the best on the continent. It's not that you can't take risks, but you still need to be steady. Recklessness won't do."

A storage disk appeared in Zhen Hua's hand. He placed it in Xu Yuan's palm, patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder, then returned to his seat and watched Xu Yuan think.

Xu Yuan remained in Heaven Dou City for two days. He displayed his recent forging results and received Zhen Hua's guidance. Two days later, he boarded the Soul Train again and returned to Shrek.

"Martial Uncle was right. I need time to grow. Just like Huo Yuhao sorting out his Soul Cores, separating the Vital Energy Soul Core, Soul Power Soul Core, and Spiritual Soul Core only began when he was breaking through his limits. I can't be impatient either."

Xu Yuan reflected on himself.

It seemed he had become a little overconfident.

"Perhaps having my Spiritual Power restricted by my body for too long has changed my mentality." After reflecting, Xu Yuan calmed himself down.

Cultivation required both exertion and rest, advancing steadily.

Xu Yuan adjusted his cultivation plan.

He would continue accepting Association missions as usual and could not neglect his daily training. Under those conditions, he would set aside time to study this so-called bloodline contract.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, two months went by.

While cultivating, Xu Yuan's Soul Guidance Communication device vibrated.

"Teacher?"

"Mm. I'm in Shrek City now. I've sent you the address. Come find me."

"Alright."

Xu Yuan ended the call, tidied himself up, and left the academy.

After finding his teacher's hotel, Xu Yuan arrived at Room 404 on the second floor and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Xu Yuan entered. Mu Ye quickly shut the door and sealed the room with Soul Power.

Inside the room, Xu Yuan saw an enormous Wooden Barrel. A crimson liquid churned within it, surging with dense energy.