Martial souls were different from soul skills.
Martial souls were almost impossible to conceal. Even the most inconspicuous body martial souls showed clear signs when used.
Soul skills, however, were different.
Because obtaining soul rings was a matter of chance, every soul master's soul skills varied enormously. They were the foundation on which each soul master stood and survived.
Even when registering students, Shrek Academy only recorded their martial souls and soul power levels, never asking about their soul skills.
But as teammates fighting shoulder to shoulder, they were bound to make mistakes in their coordination if they did not even know one another's soul skills.
After all, this world had no option to turn off friendly fire.
Xiao Xiao waved her hand, and a great cauldron appeared before them. Inscriptions were carved into its surface, with dragons and phoenixes soaring across it.
"This is my martial soul, the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron. Right now, it mainly focuses on the Control System. My first soul skill, Cauldron's Tremor, lets it split into three to unleash area-wide tremors. My second soul skill, Cauldron's Swing, stuns a single target."
"When the Three Cauldrons United, its defense increases dramatically. Even Wang Dong can't break through it." Xiao Xiao lifted her head proudly.
"And I also have a second martial soul." Xiao Xiao hesitated before adding this.
A second martial soul?
Huo Yuhao's and Wang Dong's eyes lit up. Twin martial souls had been rare throughout history, and almost everyone who possessed them had become a Titled Douluo.
The reason was simple: someone fighting you with two sets of skills had a wealth of tactical options.
The Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron vanished, and a jade flute of emerald green appeared in Xiao Xiao's hand, with a phoenix coiled around it.
"The Nine Phoenixes Saluting Flute. I haven't added any soul rings to it yet. For now, it can reduce an enemy's speed."
"You're right not to add soul rings," Wang Dong said approvingly. "The greatest advantage soul masters with twin martial souls have over ordinary soul masters is that you can wait until you're at a high level before obtaining soul rings for your second martial soul. By then, your physique will be strong enough to absorb them."
Huo Yuhao listened attentively as well, because Brother Sky Dream had told him that once he reached rank twenty, he would take him to the Far North to obtain his second martial soul.
Qi Xuan's mind had wandered off into the heavens, and he was staring into space.
He had noticed something interesting.
Xiao Xiao had openly revealed her twin martial souls, Wang Dong was hiding hers, and Huo Yuhao had his on credit. With Elder Yi living in his head, Qi Xuan himself could just about count as having twin martial souls too.
That meant their little team had eight martial souls in total, one more than even a standard seven-person tournament team.
It would be difficult to find a team with more martial souls than theirs anywhere on the continent.
Wang Dong went next.
She spread her gorgeous wings and pointed at her soul rings. "My first soul skill, Winged Guillotine, hardens the edges of my wings for close-range physical combat. My second soul skill, Butterfly God's Light, is a concentrated energy attack."
As she spoke, she glanced at Huo Yuhao again.
Huo Yuhao said openly, "My martial soul is Spirit Eyes, and I'm also a Control-Type Battle Spirit Master. I only have one soul skill right now, Spiritual Detection. It can scan everything within thirty meters."
When Qi Xuan's turn came, he spread his hands. "I have an elemental martial soul: lightning. I haven't gone looking for my Three Rings yet. My first soul skill is Discharge, and my second is Acceleration."
His explanation was concise, but Wang Dong had seen both his soul skills in action: simple mechanics, with numbers apparently mashed in by someone's feet.
"Now, then," Wang Dong cleared her throat, "who's going to be our team's lead control soul master?"
In team battles, Control System soul masters often served as the team's brain, devising plans and making decisions.
As everyone knew, aside from two-headed ogres, normal humans could not have two brains. Thus, in a lineup with multiple Control System soul masters, one soul master would take the lead control role.
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance. Both were thin-skinned and too embarrassed to put themselves forward, so Qi Xuan spoke up on his behalf.
"I recommend Huo Yuhao."
"Why? Huo Yuhao's only rank fifteen, isn't he?" Wang Dong offered the obligatory objection.
Qi Xuan could not be bothered to explain further. "Yuhao, let them experience your first soul skill."
When a precise image of their surroundings appeared in both girls' minds exactly as it was, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were stunned.
"A ten-year soul ring can give someone a soul skill like this?"
Qi Xuan brushed it off with practiced ease. "Probably a martial soul mutation. It's a vast world-there's no end to its wonders."
Now Xiao Xiao was wholeheartedly willing to have Huo Yuhao serve as their lead control soul master. Even if this was his only soul skill, it was more than enough.
"Xiao Xiao, do you want to keep following the Control System path?" Qi Xuan beckoned Xiao Xiao over and began chatting with her.
That left Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong together.
Brother, this is as far as I can help you.
Qi Xuan tossed that strange thought out of his mind.
Xiao Xiao shook her head, her twin ponytails bouncing along with it. "I haven't decided yet. The teachers all say the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron has plenty of room to develop, whether in defense, control, or support."
Qi Xuan suggested, "I think you could try focusing on defense. Since you have two martial souls, making both of them control or support types would probably waste their potential. Besides, a cauldron is a National Treasure to begin with—grand and imposing, with the force of a thousand jun."
Xiao Xiao gave him a suspicious look. "Why do I get the feeling you're up to no good?"
Of course Qi Xuan had his own motives. In a chaotic team battle, if he and Wang Dong were both tied down, Huo Yuhao currently had no way to fend off a surprise attack. But with Xiao Xiao protecting him, he would be much safer.
"It's only natural. One person's strength is always limited. Who knows? We might still be on the same team in the future."
"You want this young lady working for you for the rest of her life?" Xiao Xiao arched her delicate brows. "I'll see how you perform in this freshman tournament before I consider it."
Meanwhile, over by Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao.
The two exchanged a slightly awkward glance. For some reason, whenever they were alone together, the atmosphere always felt subtly strange.
"Huo Yuhao, if your soul skill is Spiritual Detection, what ability did you use to attack me that day?" Wang Dong suddenly spotted a crucial detail.
Fortunately, Huo Yuhao had already prepared an answer. "With Spiritual System martial souls like ours, we can use spiritual power to attack, not just soul power. Most soul masters don't specifically cultivate their spiritual power."
"So that's how it works." Understanding dawned on Wang Dong.
"By the way, thank you for the Spirit-Moistening Pill," Huo Yuhao said sincerely. The pill had helped purge the impurities from his body and could also slowly nourish his physique.
For Huo Yuhao, whose vital energy and blood had been deficient from birth, that was exactly what he needed most.
"It was my fault to begin with." Wang Dong waved a hand. "We're teammates now. Let's just do our best together."
Not far away, Qi Xuan and Xiao Xiao finished their conversation and walked over.
Huo Yuhao was the first to extend his right hand. Wang Dong paused, then placed her right hand on his. Xiao Xiao followed, then Qi Xuan.
The four stacked their hands together and swung them down hard.
"Let's do this!"
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