Request, Show Value

"Why?" Salas frowned.

"Because I want to participate in the next All-Continent Soul Master Competition," Yang Yunhai replied. "Spirit Hall only has one competing team, and with my current cultivation, I don't think I can squeeze into it. So I want to find an academy team around Heaven Dou City to join."

"Bishop, the reason I dared to try drawing lightning into my body and attempt Cross-Level Soul Ring Absorption was not just because I'm an orphan with no family to speak of—if I died, then I died. More importantly, I wanted to go farther down the path of a soul master and grow stronger without stopping."

"I believe that fighting different soul masters is the best form of tempering. So I don't want to miss this soul master competition."

"I hope Bishop can understand that." His expression was exceptionally earnest.

"Why are you so set on this one? With your talent, you would definitely shine brilliantly in the competition after next," Salas could not help saying.

"But the opponents in the competition after next would be different," Yang Yunhai said quietly.

Salas immediately fell silent.

After a moment, as though he had thought of something, he asked, "Have you considered which academy you want to go to?"

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy. What do you think, Bishop?" Yang Yunhai replied. "From what I've heard along the way, the most competitive teams around Heaven Dou City right now, aside from the Five Element Academy, are this year's Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Canghui Academy is supposedly quite competitive too, but I heard that their specialty is illusion techniques, which clearly don't suit me. The Five Element Academy specializes in single elements, so getting in would be a problem for me to begin with. Better to forget it."

"Besides, I don't dare go to an academy with deep sect affiliations. I'm worried that it would be hard to leave later."

"So after thinking it over, Heaven Dou Royal Academy seems the most suitable."

"Your considerations are not without merit." Salas nodded slightly, then said, "All right, I agree."

If it had been another academy, he might have needed to deliberate. But Heaven Dou Royal Academy was under that person's management. Given Yang Yunhai's Martial Soul control ability, he would presumably be able to help Heaven Dou Royal Academy achieve good results. That person's reputation would rise accordingly, which would undoubtedly be more beneficial to that person's plans.

"Thank you, Bishop," Yang Yunhai said at once.

Salas nodded and looked toward the sofa in the distance. "Go sit over there first. There are still a few matters I need to clarify with you."

"All right." Yang Yunhai nodded, turned, and walked toward the sofa.

Before long, the two returned to their original seats.

"First question: do you think this method of using lightning to cultivate and temper the body can be widely promoted?" Salas asked solemnly. As someone who had personally endured countless lightning strikes, he felt that Yang Yunhai, standing before him, had the greatest right to speak on this matter.

"I'm afraid that would be difficult." Yang Yunhai answered without much thought. "In my view, the greatest difficulty in using lightning for cultivation is allowing the lightning to pass smoothly through the body after making contact, directing most of the Thunder Attribute energy into the ground while retaining only a tiny portion within the body, so it doesn't cause excessive damage to the flesh. Of course, one must also consider the body's affinity for Thunder Attribute energy, its tolerance, and so on."

"As for my own case, I suspect it may be because I was struck by lightning when I was very young, causing my Martial Soul to mutate by accident. That may be why lightning can pass through my body smoothly every time. As for why I can actively draw lightning down, that is probably related as well."

He had actually suspected this for a long time and had considered two possibilities.

First, his body and Martial Soul might contain Thunder Attribute energy, making him like a human-shaped conductor and allowing lightning currents to pass through his body more easily.

Second, it might be related to his soul. He had been struck to death by lightning in his previous life, so perhaps his soul had been tainted by lightning and undergone some kind of mutation during his transmigration and rebirth. He did not know what sort of mutation it was, but the fact that lightning struck him so easily—and that he could later actively draw it down—made it seem highly likely that the two were connected. And since he could draw down lightning, perhaps that mutation also allowed him to guide electrical currents safely through his body.

With both factors working in tandem, he had managed not to be struck to death by lightning even now.

An innate ability gained from an accidental Martial Soul mutation? On the other side, Salas frowned slightly.

If that was the case, then it could not be promoted on a large scale.

"Though I can't say for certain whether other soul masters can draw natural lightning into their bodies to aid cultivation," Yang Yunhai continued, "Bishop, I think we can take a step back and let soul masters with Thunder Attribute Martial Souls replace it. We can test the results first."

"I believe the increase in physical strength after being struck by lightning is essentially because Thunder Attribute energy stimulates the flesh."

Salas nodded slightly, then, unusually, offered praise. "Yang Yunhai, you truly possess exceptional talent in theoretical research."

"I will report your idea to His Holiness the Pope as well." At this point, his tone shifted. "Then, the second question: does your Soul Power possess a certain healing effect? I sensed it carefully just now and found that your Soul Power carries an extremely vibrant vitality. I have felt this sensation before from certain healing-type support soul masters."

"Yes." Yang Yunhai admitted openly. "My Soul Power does indeed have a certain healing effect. It was very weak before, but it became somewhat stronger after my Martial Soul Evolution."

Since he had already joined Spirit Hall, he could not hesitate when it was time to display his value appropriately. Only then would he have the chance to secure benefits for himself.

It really did! Salas was secretly astonished.

Its control ability was astonishing, its Thunder Attribute attacks were also formidable, and it could heal as well. It could control, fight, and heal—this Martial Soul was practically omnipotent. It did not matter if the healing effect was a little lacking now. After absorbing a few more soul rings, perhaps it could grow even stronger.

At that moment, his overall assessment of Yang Yunhai rose another level.

If one had to say which types of soul masters were the rarest and most sought-after in the soul master world, it was undoubtedly food-type and healing-type soul masters.

Never mind elsewhere—just consider the military. They would fight over them. Whenever war was involved, food supplies and the treatment of wounded soldiers were eternal concerns. With these two types of soul masters around, countless problems could be avoided, and enormous amounts of provisions and medicinal materials could be saved.

With that thought, Salas unhesitatingly raised his right hand before Yang Yunhai. He brushed his thumb across the tip of his index finger, and a bloody cut immediately appeared. "Come, try circulating your Soul Power. Let me see exactly how effective your healing is."

"All right." Yang Yunhai nodded, raised his hand, moved it closer, and released his Soul Power over the bloody cut.

In only a few blinks, the bleeding stopped. Then, the blood around the wound dried visibly, scabbed over, and finally the scar curled up and fell away, revealing skin with barely any trace of a scar.

"This!" Salas was inwardly shocked. Could this healing effect be called weak?

Perhaps it could not compare to a proper healing-type soul master of the same rank, but its healing speed and effectiveness were truly not bad at all!

"It seems Spirit Hall has picked up a treasure this time." He sighed inwardly, while voicing his praise as well.

"An exceptionally good healing ability."

"Then, the final question."

Salas continued, "It concerns the reward for the soul master theory you submitted. Since you do not intend to accompany me to Spirit Hall, if there is any reward you want, you may bring it up now. I will report it to His Holiness the Pope together with everything else."

Thinking of Yang Yunhai's age, he added, "No need to be restrained. Go ahead and ask boldly. This is what you deserve. Spirit Hall will never mistreat anyone who has rendered merit."