The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul

"Next, please welcome Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang to present his landmark theory: The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul!"

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly.

Time to show them what I can do!

"Ahem. The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul are the result of years of research and exploration. Since I published them, they have brought sweeping changes to soul masters across the continent and given their cultivation a theoretical foundation.

"Now, let me explain them to you!

"1. Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to a martial soul's strength: only those who awaken with Soul Power at age six can become soul masters. The higher their Innate Soul Power, the greater their martial soul's potential.

"2. There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters: even someone with an ordinary martial soul can reach the pinnacle through the right methods and hard work, while someone with a top-tier martial soul can still end up mediocre.

"3. Martial souls fall into two categories, beast and tool: beast martial souls possess their users and enhance their bodies, while tool martial souls are wielded outside the body. Beast martial souls have the advantage before level seventy, but tool martial souls overtake them afterward through their true forms. Tool martial souls are also more often supportive than beast martial souls: beast martial souls tend toward attack, while tool martial souls often provide support or control, as with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. This is not absolute.

"4. The theory of maximum Spirit Ring absorption ages: each Spirit Ring a soul master absorbs has a maximum age they can withstand. Exceeding it will cause their body to explode. The safe limits for rings one through nine are 423 years, 764 years...

"5. Soul masters must choose a clear path of development: they should select an assault, control, agility attack, support, defense, or other path according to their martial soul's traits to avoid conflicting Spirit Rings.

"6. Spirit Ring rules: Spirit Rings are obtained by killing soul beasts. Their ages are divided into ten years (white), hundred years (yellow), thousand years (purple), ten thousand years (black), and hundred thousand years (red). Only the person who kills a soul beast can absorb its ring.

"7. A Spirit Ring bottleneck does not prevent Soul Power from accumulating: Soul Power continues to grow during a bottleneck. Without a Spirit Ring, a soul master simply cannot advance in level; once they absorb one, they advance immediately.

"8. Plant-type and tool martial souls can absorb beast Spirit Rings, breaking down the barrier between types.

"9. Martial soul mutation and fusion: mutation is rare but can make a martial soul stronger. Under specific conditions, multiple martial souls can combine into a powerful fusion skill.

"10. Spirit Bones provide crucial enhancements: internal and External Soul Bones grant additional attributes, with their effectiveness determined by compatibility. They are rare and precious."

After hearing Grandmaster's theory, many who had not investigated his background and had been curious about him found their mouths twitching.

Did that really count as a theory? One worth publishing? Take the sixth point: the colors of Spirit Rings, and the fact that you could only absorb a ring from a soul beast you had killed yourself.

Isn't that obvious? If we didn't know we had to kill a soul beast ourselves to absorb its ring, how would we have become soul masters?

And that theory about absorption limits—wasn't that obvious too?

If we didn't have some idea of the limits, wouldn't countless people be exploding every day?

It might have been useful back when soul masters had first appeared.

But Spirit Hall and its predecessor, the Angel Church, had existed for at least ten thousand years!

Were ten thousand years' worth of soul masters all fools? Had none of them figured this out?

Besides, when Bibi Dong had displayed her Spirit Rings yesterday, she had already broken those supposed limits. How could he still present this "theory" so proudly today? Wasn't he embarrassed?!

Of course, the most ridiculous part was the second point:

There were no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.

If you know so much theory, why haven't you become a powerful soul master? Why are you still stuck at Soul Grandmaster?

Could it be because you awakened a useless Pig Spirit?

Otherwise, how do you explain being a useless soul master?

Everyone exchanged glances, unsure how to react. Were they supposed to applaud?

An awkward silence fell.

Yu Xiaogang had expected thunderous applause after presenting the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.

Instead, not one person clapped. Even his father failed to lead the applause.

Yu Xiaogang was stunned at first, then embarrassed and angry.

Do these people not recognize brilliance, or has my theory left them speechless?

"Clap, clap, clap. Excellent." A few claps slowly broke the silence.

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Qian Xunji smiling at Yu Xiaogang, clapping now and then.

When the others saw Qian Xunji leading the applause, they reluctantly joined in. Anyone paying attention, though, could see that their faces looked as if they had swallowed something foul.

Clearly, they weren't happy about it.

Scattered applause continued around the room.

Yu Xiaogang, however, failed to notice their expressions. He only looked at Qian Xunji with gratitude.

Then he turned to Bibi Dong, his eyes brimming with tears.

Dong'er, I knew you still loved me!

The look in Yu Xiaogang's eyes disgusted Bibi Dong, but she could hardly lose her temper there and then. All she could do was shoot Qian Xunji a reproachful glance.

Yu Yuanzhen looked at Qian Xunji in confusion. Did Spirit Hall genuinely value Xiao Gang's so-called theory? Surely it wasn't that simple.

When the applause ended, Qian Xunji turned to Yu Yuanzhen and said evenly:

"Clan Leader Yu, your son developed this theory. Why don't you give us your assessment?"

Yu Yuanzhen's face darkened. As expected, Spirit Hall was targeting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The Eighth Worshipper had put him in an impossible position. If he openly rejected Xiao Gang's theory, it would deal his son a devastating blow. Spirit Hall would seize the chance to spread word that father and son had turned against each other. Once Xiao Gang's theory became widely known as well, his son might never recover his reputation!

And Xiao Gang's reputation would drag down the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's standing too.

But if he voiced approval and praised Xiao Gang's theory...

That would be an even bigger joke! Everyone present knew Xiao Gang's so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul were laughable.

If he, the leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, encouraged such rubbish, wouldn't he be lowering himself and his entire clan to Xiao Gang's level?

Spirit Hall could then publicize his endorsement while relentlessly attacking the flaws in Xiao Gang's theory. The damage to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's reputation would be irreparable.

He turned to Yu Xiaogang out of habit, hoping to see whether Xiao Gang had noticed Spirit Hall's plot. Instead, his son was looking at him with pride and anticipation!

That damned brat!

Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, was even more pleased with Qian Xunji after hearing what he had said. As expected of Dong'er's trusted aide, he knew exactly what to do. Yu Xiaogang could hardly wait for his father's praise!

Yu Yuanzhen hesitated, then braced himself against the table and rose shakily. He took a deep breath and looked at Yu Xiaogang.

"My son Yu Xiaogang's theory is... not bad, though there's still room for improvement..." Yu Yuanzhen tried to gloss over it.

But his father's words immediately displeased Yu Xiaogang. This theory was the fruit of decades of work! He was counting on it to turn his fortunes around, earn him fame, and win him the respect of others!

No one could belittle his theory—not even his father! Yu Xiaogang sprang up to object:

"Father, what do you mean by that?! Are you saying my theory isn't perfect enough?! I spent decades researching it! It's an achievement that will make me famous across the continent and secure my place in history!

"Can you produce a theory more perfect than mine?! You can't! My theory is epoch-making! No one can refute my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul! No one!"