A New Theory

"Perhaps you think my theory sounds like nonsense, even utter drivel. But it's worth considering, isn't it?" Qin Ming looked at his students.

"First, let me ask a simple question. Is it right to pursue Soul Rings with the greatest possible age?"

A student called out from below, "Of course! Everyone on the continent knows that the older a Soul Ring is, the stronger its Soul Skill."

Hearing the answer, Qin Ming said slowly, "Most Soul Masters believe that the older a Soul Ring is, the stronger they become. That's accepted wisdom across the continent, isn't it?"

"But everyone on the continent also knows that an ice-attribute Soul Master must never absorb a fire-attribute Soul Ring. At best, their Martial Soul will degenerate. At worst, their body will explode. The higher-level the ring, the greater the harm. Seen this way, perhaps that first belief is incomplete."

At Qin Ming's explanation, even the students who had been dismissive slowly sat up. The classroom fell quiet as they watched the lecturer, waiting to hear what startling claim he would make next.

"That's why I believe a Soul Master should first consider their Martial Soul Origin when acquiring a Soul Ring."

The students were taken aback, curiosity and doubt rising in their eyes.

Qin Ming raised a hand. A faint strand of pure Soul Power gathered at his fingertip as he explained:

"Most Soul Masters make the same mistake throughout their lives: they treat their Martial Soul as a fixed tool and rely on Soul Rings to pile on strength.

"But that isn't how it works. A Martial Soul has never been an isolated vessel of power. It depends on its environment, resonates with the world, and grows according to its surroundings.

"All things hold potential, and every environment holds power. The origin of each Martial Soul corresponds to a particular force in the world.

"To achieve harmony with a Martial Soul, you must find the environment best suited to it, allowing your Soul Power, Martial Soul Origin, and the power around you to resonate together.

"Mimicry Cultivation is an advanced method founded on this principle.

"You don't deliberately activate Soul Skills or force out Soul Power. Instead, you immerse yourself in a suitable environment, emulate the growth of your Martial Soul Origin, and use the power of the world to nourish the Martial Soul itself.

"Given two Soul Masters with equal Soul Power and comparable Soul Rings, the one who has practiced Mimicry Cultivation for years will far surpass the one who has trained behind closed doors in Martial Soul purity, strength ceiling, and potential to evolve."

Qin Ming built his explanation step by step, his logic fresh and clear.

The students each fell into thought. What Qin Ming had said aligned with some of the ideas held by their own families.

Seeing them reflect, Qin Ming continued, "So I have another thought: absorbing different Soul Rings may be one of the best opportunities to strengthen your Martial Soul."

He went on:

"A Martial Soul is the resonance of our soul and bloodline with the power of the world.

"It is more than a tool for releasing Soul Skills.

"Every Martial Soul has an innate will of its own. It has instincts and limitations, but also hidden power.

"Many Soul Masters do nothing but absorb Soul Rings and stack Soul Skills, neglecting to connect with their Martial Soul Origin.

"Some have immense potential, yet waste their talent because they don't understand how to work with their Martial Soul's nature.

"Our task is not merely to command our Martial Soul. We must understand it.

"Only by understanding what it needs and what lies at its core can we draw out its full power."

He spoke at an unhurried pace, giving examples of how Martial Souls differed at their core: the primal instincts of beast Martial Souls, the capacity of tool Martial Souls to contain and bear the laws of the world, and the vitality and protective nature of plant Martial Souls.

Jiang Baiyu sat absorbed in the lecture.

Teacher Qin Ming really knows his stuff. Some of Qin Ming's ideas matched his own. When Jiang Baiyu had absorbed his second Soul Ring, he had discovered that each ring left a corresponding divine pattern on his cauldron. The Shennong Cauldron also took on the Soul Beast's original aura and bore the essence of its nature.

Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing had gained an insight of her own. She pondered in silence, her gaze cool.

The Hell Spirit Cat belonged to the shadows. Speed and stealth were its best means of attack, while dark forests and hidden places suited it best. Her path of cultivation suddenly became clear.

Seeing the students deep in thought, Qin Ming pressed on. "Yu Tianheng, let me ask you something. Does the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have strict requirements for the Soul Beasts used for your first few rings? Of course, you needn't answer if it's a family secret."

Asked directly, Yu Tianheng replied, "Yes. Those of us in the main bloodline obtain our first few rings from a fixed selection of Soul Beasts."

No one in the class seemed surprised. Like Yu Tianheng, they had long known which Soul Beasts their families had chosen for their first few rings. All that remained was to find beasts of the right age and wait until their Soul Power reached the necessary level.

"Then tell me this. Would absorbing the wrong Soul Ring affect your Martial Soul?" Qin Ming's question was pointed.

Yu Tianheng's expression darkened as a memory came to mind, but he answered anyway. "Yes. An uncle in my clan once chose a Soul Ring outside those selections to prove his own theory. Afterward, he couldn't even use the most basic form of dragon transformation."

His words reminded another student of an elder who had absorbed a ring from a Mutated Soul Beast. Not only had the absorption failed, but the elder's Martial Soul Origin had been damaged. His Soul Power could no longer advance, and even his body had suffered. Yet that species was recorded in the family's inherited teachings. It should have been a safe choice.

A thought flashed through the student's mind. The flames breathed by that mutated Flame Sparrow had felt strangely cold.

Could it be...?

Qin Ming said, "Based on my recent research, I've come to believe that absorbing a Soul Ring strengthens and alters a Martial Soul Origin. A ring's age measures the extent of that change."

"As you all know, my first Soul Ring was a ten-year ring from a common Forest Wolf. Although I've absorbed fire-attribute rings ever since, my flames are far weaker than those of other fire-attribute Soul Masters at my level."

"That's why I believe the first Soul Ring is especially important. It all but determines which direction your Martial Soul will develop!"

"For example, if a plant-type Soul Master's first ring comes from a plant Soul Beast without another attribute, their Martial Soul will grow stronger because the beast adds the special attribute of vitality. But if they absorb a fire-attribute ring, the plant may gain some resistance to flames while barely improving otherwise. Its Martial Soul might even degenerate!"

By this point, fervor burned in Qin Ming's eyes.

Jiang Baiyu lowered his gaze, absently rubbing his fingertips together as he turned the theory over in his mind.

Zhu Zhuqing, too, looked thoughtful. Her family had indeed settled long ago which Soul Rings the Hell Spirit Cat should acquire.

Yu Tianheng frowned slightly. Qin Ming's words had begun to churn in his mind.

Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others also sank into thought.

The entire Skyreach Class classroom fell silent, everyone immersed in this new theory.

Then Jiang Baiyu asked, "Teacher Qin Ming, according to your theory, if a Soul Master with a snake Martial Soul kept absorbing rings from dragon-type Soul Beasts, could their Martial Soul Evolution turn it into a dragon-type Martial Soul?"

No one in the class dismissed Jiang Baiyu's seemingly fanciful question. Instead, they carefully considered whether it might work.

The more they thought about it, the more possible it seemed!

Dugu Yan's eyes shone. That's right! By absorbing Dragon Soul Rings, members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan gradually gain the ability to transform parts of their bodies into a dragon's. What if I absorb them too? Could my Martial Soul Evolution turn it into a dragon-type Martial Soul? With a dragon's powerful body, perhaps I could resolve the poison from my Martial Soul. Excitement filled her eyes.

Qin Ming gave Jiang Baiyu an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Jiang Baiyu. This is only a hypothesis I formed from my own experience and the academy's Mimicry Cultivation method. I can't give you a definite answer."

Jiang Baiyu wasn't disappointed. He admired the teacher before him even more. In his previous life as in this one, rigor and a willingness to question results were essential to experimentation.

"Thank you, Teacher Qin Ming," Jiang Baiyu said sincerely.

"You're welcome." Looking at the students still deep in thought, Qin Ming bowed. "And thank you all for listening to a down-on-his-luck Soul Emperor explain his humble theory. I hope you'll keep moving forward on your paths as Soul Masters!"

Sincere applause rose from the class. Everyone there was clever enough to know that Qin Ming's theory was anything but humble. He had laid the foundation for an entirely new school of thought.