Speaking of which, after Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the other four became gods, had their Spiritual Power automatically risen to the divine origin realm as well?
It probably had, right? Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain it.
Soon, the mechanical apparatus overhead slowly began to operate. A metal helmet descended along a mechanical arm, settling securely over Xu Qing's head.
Beside him, Yang Tao instructed, "Don't be too nervous. Just relax your whole body. You might feel a little dizzy in a moment. That's a normal reaction to the test, so don't worry about it."
"Okay," Xu Qing replied.
The next instant, a faint hum quietly sounded. A ring of soft white light lit up on the metal helmet's surface, and the test officially began.
Yang Tao and Zhou Yu turned their attention to the soul device display beside them.
The value on the screen instantly began jumping wildly, climbing at an incredible rate as the numbers rapidly refreshed.
Watching the rapidly refreshing numbers, Yang Tao and Zhou Yu both widened their eyes in disbelief.
How was this possible!
The number had already passed one hundred, reaching the level of the spirit connection realm.
Only after a while did the reading pause and stop rising, finally settling at around 125.
"Old Zhou, give me a pinch. See if I'm dreaming."
"Hiss-you actually pinched me!"
"Wasn't that what you asked for?"
Zhou Yu smiled awkwardly. "But is this normal?"
Yang Tao shook his head. "Honestly, this really is my first time seeing someone born with Spiritual Power in the spirit connection realm."
"They really exist?" Zhou Yu asked in puzzlement.
"Yes. Supposedly, there's someone like that in our Spirit Pagoda," Yang Tao said.
"But that person's Martial Soul is their brain. Do you think it's normal for someone with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to be born in the spirit connection realm?"
Zhou Yu nodded.
As the machine shut down, the metal helmet slowly rose on its own.
"Is it done?"
Xu Qing gradually recovered from his brief dizziness.
Looking at the child before him, Yang Tao's eyes were filled with deep regret. He sighed softly and said, "Child, honestly, I've never seen anyone test at the spirit connection realm on their very first Spiritual Power test. If your Martial Soul weren't Blue Silver Grass-if it were any other Martial Soul-I'd want to invite you to join the Spirit Pagoda."
Of course, worried that Xu Qing might not know what the spirit connection realm was, Yang Tao gave him a rough explanation.
"But don't worry. I'll issue you a test report later. When you enroll in an intermediate Soul Master Academy, you can submit it directly."
Hearing this, Zhou Yu's eyes likewise filled with deep regret.
Yet Xu Qing himself did not feel particularly disappointed. On the contrary, his expression was exceptionally calm.
His gaze also fell on the Spiritual Power reading frozen at 125 on the soul device screen, and he was thoroughly satisfied.
Sure enough, all his efforts over the years had not been wasted.
Afterward, Yang Tao led Xu Qing and the other two out of the Spiritual Power testing room and into the room next door.
This room was far more spacious than the previous one. In its very center stood an enormous soul device, three meters tall and six meters wide.
Countless spheres about a foot across floated inside the device. Each gave off a soft glow, and all were identical in shape.
Xu Qing's gaze swept over the device. If he was not mistaken, this was the apparatus used to draw Soul Spirits at random in the original story.
Yang Tao, however, did not look at the enormous device in the center. Instead, he walked straight to a small control console off to the side.
A soul device display was embedded in the console. He raised a hand and swiftly worked across the screen. A moment later, rows of detailed information on snake and spider Soul Beasts appeared on a huge display at the front of the room.
Looking at the screen full of nothing but animal Soul Spirit information, Xu Qing's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Before Xu Qing could speak, Yang Tao pointed at one of the pictures and began his introduction.
"This Soul Spirit is called a Mandala Snake. It's a very suitable Soul Spirit for your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul." As he spoke, reverence immediately filled Yang Tao's eyes. He continued, "You should know that the legendary Lord Sea God once absorbed this kind of Soul Beast. What do you think of this Soul Spirit?"
Zhou Yu nodded as well. "Xu Qing, a Mandala Snake really does suit you!"
I know you mean well, but this is kindness I can't afford to accept!
Xu Qing sighed and said somewhat helplessly, "Pagoda Master, Principal, I actually want to absorb a plant Soul Spirit."
Confusion immediately appeared on Yang Tao's face. "A plant Soul Spirit?"
Xu Qing nodded and continued, "By the way, Pagoda Master, are there any Soul Spirits that can provide a parasitic ability?"
"A parasitic ability?"
"There actually are! Hold on!"
As he spoke, Yang Tao turned around again, his fingertips swiping rapidly across the soul device display.
The information on snake and spider Soul Beasts quickly vanished from the screen, refreshing and being replaced.
A moment later, the screen settled, finally displaying pictures and descriptions of three entirely different plant Soul Spirits.
Pointing at the screen, Yang Tao slowly began to explain:
"At present, the Spirit Pagoda in Aolai City has only three kinds of hundred-year plant Soul Spirits with parasitic traits: Ghost Vine, Cordyceps, and Golden Dodder."
Xu Qing's gaze swept over the three Soul Spirit pictures on the screen, and his attention was soon drawn to the Cordyceps image in the middle.
He raised a hand slightly and pointed at the screen, asking curiously, "Pagoda Master, what's the origin of this Cordyceps Soul Spirit in the middle?"
Cordyceps? Isn't that a fungus?
Still, it's normal enough for it to be classified as a plant on the Douluo Continent.
After all, the nine-grade purple ganoderma in the original story was classified as a plant.
Yang Tao glanced at the Cordyceps picture in the middle and explained, "This Cordyceps Soul Spirit is very special. It isn't a true Soul Beast, but an artificial Soul Spirit cultivated by the Spirit Pagoda using some rare medicinal ingredients."
"However, I don't recommend choosing it. Compared with the other two Soul Spirits, although the Spirit Pagoda's research has shown that Cordyceps has some parasitic ability, it is ultimately an artificial Soul Spirit. There is still a certain gap between it and Soul Spirits created from real Soul Beasts. Moreover, it leans more toward being a medicinal ingredient, so most of those who choose it are food-type Soul Masters and healing-type Soul Masters."
Xu Qing nodded as he looked at the three Soul Spirits on the screen. Ghost Vine would definitely grant a parasitic Soul Skill; God King Tang had verified that, after all. As for Golden Dodder, it was a Soul Beast that parasitized trees, and its parasitic ability was actually quite good as well.
But when it came to comparing the parasitic abilities of these three, others might not know, but Xu Qing knew all too well.
Cordyceps was fundamentally a parasitic fungus!
If one were to ask which organisms had terrifying parasitic abilities, then aside from bacteria and viruses, fungi probably had the most terrifying parasitic abilities of all.
After all, Xu Qing really could not think of anything stronger than it off the top of his head.
After all, parasitism by Ghost Vine and Golden Dodder amounted to no more than binding and entangling the surface, then putting down roots to draw out nutrients.
But the most terrifying aspect of parasitism by a Cordyceps fungus was that it could invade flesh and blood, infect nerves, and even turn its host into its own puppet!
Yet there was another new problem. Although this Cordyceps had been cultivated to the hundred-year level, it was ultimately only an artificial Soul Spirit.
Should I choose it?
Xu Qing hesitated for only a moment before making up his mind. With the crystal core and the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, there was no way he would get stuck at level 30 like Yu Xiaogang.
And Cordyceps' parasitic ability was far too tempting.
Xu Qing looked at Yang Tao, his gaze utterly resolute. "Pagoda Master, I've made up my mind. This is the one!"
"What? You want to choose it?"
So everything I just said was wasted breath, was it!
Yang Tao had wanted to offer a few more words of persuasion.
Then he met Xu Qing's utterly resolute, unwavering eyes.
This...?!
Forget it!
In the end, he nodded and stopped trying to dissuade him, his fingertips moving expertly across the soul device screen.
As the machine officially started up, an enormous apparatus beside it slowly began to operate as well.
Soon, a Soul Spirit Ball was extracted from the apparatus.
"Since you've made your choice, I won't try to persuade you any further. I hope you won't regret it!"