Designing an Invincible Martial Soul

Mu Yi asked, "So, what's the process?"

"What process?"

"The transmigration process. Like getting hit by a truck, or accidentally knocking over water beside my computer desk and then bzzz..."

"That trope's too old, so I didn't arrange it. And I couldn't think of any new twists right away, so..."

"So I somehow ended up in your book and became the protagonist?" For a moment, Mu Yi did not know what to say.

"Alright, alright..." He scratched his head and looked around at the chaotic space. "Where did you bring me, Quiet Apocalypse?"

"I'm planning to write a Douluo fanfiction."

"So where's Douluo Continent? Don't tell me this empty world is Douluo Continent," Mu Yi asked.

"Well, I'm still thinking about the setting. I haven't started writing yet."

Mu Yi said furiously, "So you haven't even started digging the pit, and you already dragged me over to be the protagonist? You damn author, could you be any more irresponsible?"

The author sitting before the computer desk said somewhat awkwardly, "Well, if you're unwilling, I can send you back first and find someone else to be the protagonist. Before transmigrating, you were just lying in bed asleep anyway."

Go back?

Go back to waking before dawn and returning after dark to deliver packages, working like a beast of burden for that pathetic little paycheck?

At that thought, Mu Yi refused. If one could transmigrate, who would not want to?

"No, no, no, dear author, I'm not unwilling at all. Please let me keep being your protagonist." Mu Yi immediately changed his tune. "I promise I'll play the protagonist of your novel well."

And so, the protagonist of our novel, Mu Yi, came to understand his current situation.

He had been chosen by the damn author to become the protagonist of a new book. But because of the author's irresponsible behavior, he had become the protagonist of a story that did not yet have a worldview or plotline. The only thing certain was that he would become the male lead of a future Douluo fanfiction power fantasy.

"So, Lord Quiet, have you decided what genre you're going to write?" Mu Yi asked cautiously.

"Not yet. Maybe an invincible protagonist story, maybe a progression story, maybe something like pretending to be weak while crushing the strong!" Quiet Apocalypse asked, "Which do you think is better?"

"An invincible protagonist story. Trust me," Mu Yi said without hesitation.

The direction of this book would determine his fate as the protagonist. Progression stories were satisfying too, but if he could stand at the pinnacle of the world from the very beginning, why should he suffer through the grind of a progression story?

"But progression stories have more plot to explore. With an invincible protagonist story, you need to keep coming up with new gimmicks to create fresh plotlines and attract readers, so you can make the story longer and earn a living from it. And the gimmicks can't be too bad, or the readers won't buy it. It's not easy to design," Quiet Apocalypse said.

"That's simple. I'm pretty good at coming up with gimmicks. I guarantee this novel will earn you a living from beginning to end." Mu Yi patted his chest as he spoke.

"Well..." There was a hint of temptation and concern in the author's voice. "But invincible protagonist stories are getting a little clichéd."

"If invincible protagonist stories are stale, then progression stories are even staler. Don't the vast majority of fanfictions follow the progression route? Compared to that, if an invincible protagonist story can still come up with something new, it definitely has a market. Trust me."

"When you put it that way, it does make some sense."

"And I'm your loyal reader! You've already completed three invincible fanfictions. Isn't this genre what you're best at? I'll provide the inspiration, you'll bring the plot to life, I'll be the protagonist of this book, and you'll earn a living from it. It's a win-win."

"Alright, then we'll keep writing an invincible protagonist story."

After a serious discussion between the author and protagonist, the novel's direction was basically set: primarily Douluo 1, an invincible protagonist story, tormenting Tang San, tormenting Yu Xiaogang, and tormenting Tang Hao!

"Next is how to make the invincible protagonist truly invincible." Quiet Apocalypse pondered. "I plan to start with the Martial Soul and design an absurdly powerful Martial Soul for you!"

"That sounds great." Mu Yi gave the author a huge thumbs-up. "What Martial Soul will it be? A primordial Ancestral Dragon Martial Soul, a Three-Legged Golden Crow Martial Soul, or..."

"Neither. People have already written those settings. I plan to turn the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body from Shrouding the Heavens into a body Martial Soul. What do you think?"

"It's not bad, but people have already written that kind of Martial Soul too. It isn't exactly novel," Mu Yi muttered.

Quiet Apocalypse spoke mysteriously. "But my Sacred Body Martial Soul setting will be different from the other Sacred Body Martial Souls that came to Douluo."

"What's different about it?"

"Tell me, what is the most important setting of the Sacred Body in the world of Shrouding the Heavens?" Quiet Apocalypse asked.

"A Sacred Body at the ninth level of the Quasi-Emperor realm is called a Great Accomplished Sacred Body and can contend against Great Emperors..." Mu Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully.

This was the Sacred Body's core setting. The supreme beings of the forbidden zones regarded other level-nine Quasi-Emperors as ants, yet feared level-nine Sacred Bodies. That alone showed the gap between them.

"So, you intend to?" Mu Yi quickly caught on.

"Just as you think, I designed a mechanic for this absurdly powerful Martial Soul." Quiet Apocalypse typed out the setting on the keyboard as he spoke. "Using the standard Soul Ring configuration of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, once you cultivate the Sacred Body Martial Soul to level 99, Limit Douluo, in the novel, your Sacred Body will reach Great Accomplishment. You won't need to become a god. A Great Accomplished Sacred Body can contend against a level-100 True God. Above level 99 Limit Douluo, there are realms such as Demi-God and Quasi-God. Once you reach the Quasi-God realm, you can fight and kill a level-100 True God with a divine spark. What do you think of this setting?"

"This setting is great, but I think there's one small flaw," Mu Yi said.

"What flaw?" Quiet Apocalypse asked.

"Author, you forgot that Douluo Continent is a series. A level-100 True God is not the end. Level 100 is ultimately just a God Official, a dog in the God Realm that people order around. Above God Officials are Third-Level Gods, Second-Level Gods, First-Level Gods, God Kings, and Supreme God Kings. If your Great Accomplished Sacred Body can only contend against a level-100 True God, then it cannot be called invincible. This mechanic needs changing." Mu Yi wore a serious expression.

"You have a point. How do you think it should be changed?"

"Reaching level 99 should make one a Great Accomplished Sacred Body, and a Great Accomplished Sacred Body should be able to contend against God Kings. No, what level are God Kings even supposed to be? It should be the other way around: the God Kings of the God Realm should be able to contend against a level-99 Great Accomplished Sacred Body." Mu Yi grinned smugly.

"Isn't that a little exaggerated?" Quiet Apocalypse frowned and asked.

"Big brother, you're writing an invincible protagonist story already, so why not make it more exaggerated? As the saying goes, the bolder a man is, the greater his harvest." Mu Yi said, then changed the subject. "Besides, how else am I supposed to show off the prestige of the Shrouding the Heavens Sacred Body Martial Soul?"

"Alright, we'll change it that way." Quiet Apocalypse deleted part of the previous setting and began typing again, speaking as he typed:

"Using the basic Soul Ring configuration of yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black: below level 50, the Sacred Body Martial Soul is invincible among those of the same rank and can remain undefeated against opponents two major realms higher."

"Upon reaching level 50, the Soul King realm, the Sacred Body Martial Soul reaches Minor Accomplishment and can battle a Title Douluo. After that, each additional Soul Ring causes its combat power to rise exponentially. At level 70, the Soul Sage realm, it can battle a Limit Douluo. At level 90, it is invincible below the god realm and can fight God Officials. After obtaining a Title, it gradually gains the combat power of a Third-Level God, with each level being a whole new heaven."

"At level 96, the Super Douluo realm, it can battle a First-Level God, and its physical body is comparable to a divine artifact. At level 98 Super Douluo, the Sacred Body's flesh can rival a super divine artifact and gradually gains the ability to fight God Kings. At level 99, the Sacred Body reaches Great Accomplishment. The situation reverses: the five God Kings of the God Realm must join forces to contend against a Great Accomplished Sacred Body. What do you think?"

Mu Yi's grin had already stretched to the back of his ears. With this setting, the Dragon God Martial Soul of Douluo 5's trashy salted fish could only count as roadside fodder.

Mu Yi seemed to think of something and continued, "What about lifespan? Although the Sacred Body Martial Soul possesses the combat power of a god, there should still be a lifespan limit, right?"

"Mm." Quiet Apocalypse said, "That needs a setting too. Normally, a Limit Douluo only lives for around a thousand years. The Sacred Body Martial Soul will have a lifespan of ten thousand years. What do you think?"

"I don't think that works," Mu Yi said. "Without becoming a god, one's lifespan will eventually be depleted. If I ultimately die because my lifespan runs out, then that cannot be called invincible."

"You can seize a godhood from the God Realm."

"The Sacred Body is already this awesome. Godhoods from the God Realm, even the Dragon God's godhood, aren't worthy of it. The Sacred Body should have a unique godhood of its own."

"Alright, then we'll set it up like this..." Quiet Apocalypse said while typing. "The Sacred Body itself nurtures a divine spark. You can comprehend the laws of heaven and earth. Once the laws are perfected and recorded into the divine spark, you can ultimately break through and become a god. After becoming a god at level 100, your combat power will be enough to pick up the Dragon God, stand him upright, and split him like an earthworm. What do you think?"

"This is great. Perfect, absolutely perfect."

"After that, every Soul Ring your Sacred Body Martial Soul gains that exceeds one hundred thousand years will automatically grant a Nine Secret Techniques skill. The Nine Secret Techniques represent the ultimate forms of nine laws. Once each is perfected, it can be fused into the divine spark. When all nine Secret Techniques are perfected and fused into the divine spark, you will become a god in one stroke. Then, throughout the entire Douluo universe, you can do as you please right before the Creation God."

"Good, good, that's the setting." Mu Yi said.

The sound of typing in the void stopped.

"I've designed your invincible cheat, but you need to carry the plot properly too. If this book can't earn a living, this author will have to enter the palace and meet the sage."

"If you enter the palace and meet the sage, what will happen to me in this world?"

"You'll fall into a loop... Only when a book reaches a perfect ending and the author puts down their pen will the world finally move toward an open ending. You'll retain your final combat power and be free to do as you please..."

"Of course, if this book does well, there'll be benefits for you too. At the grand finale, I'll revise your setting and make you directly become a Great Dao Sage of this book, Beyond Sacrificial Dao, Eternal Life Realm..."

"That works too?" Mu Yi was shocked.

"Nonsense! What is Beyond Sacrificial Dao called?"

"Half-step Author Realm."

"Isn't that still short of the Author Realm? It's nothing more than a setting."

"Alright, kid, work hard at coming up with gimmicks for that goal--"