Passing the Torch

Shen Moxin looked at Lu Yuan's profile, the lamplight casting shadows on his face. She suddenly realized that Lu Yuan was asking not only about the future of "Spark," but also about his own future.

She didn't urge him to rest anymore.

The next morning, she went to the research room. The drafts on the table had been organized, and the top stack of covers bore Lu Yuan's handwriting—"A Preliminary Study of Origin, Volume One".

She opened it, and the first sentence read, "The first step in Soul Master's cultivation is not how to acquire power, but how to see clearly what they hold in their hands."

Shen Moxin sat down and read carefully.

As the sun rose higher, Lu Yuan pushed open the door and came in, carrying two bowls of porridge. He saw Shen Moxin buried in her work at the table.

"Have something to eat."

Shen Moxin raised her head, her eyes shining. "Sir, the classification model of Martial Soul energy structure in this preliminary treatise... if we follow this line of thought, we can find evidence to support the underestimated potential of many Auxiliary System Martial Soul!"

"It's just the framework." Lu Yuan sat down. "As for the specifics for each individual, we'll have to figure it out ourselves."

"But with a framework, the path becomes clear." Shen Moxin stroked the pages. "Could you first organize the core members and a few disciples with good comprehension to listen to you explain the basics?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment, "Alright, tomorrow. Put it on the preaching platform."

The preaching platform is built against a huge rock on the north side of the valley, with bluestone steps and a small platform.

The next day at noon, when Lu Yuan stepped onto the stage, there were more than a dozen people sitting below. Shen Moxin, Mo Chen and other core members were in the front row, followed by seven or eight young disciples. The youngest, A Liang, was only fourteen years old, Martial Soul was the "Illumination Stone," with Innate Soul Power at level three.

Lu Yuan sat down cross-legged.

"Today we won't discuss cultivation methods or teach Soul Skill," he began. "We'll talk about what Soul Power is and what Martial Soul is."

Some disciples looked puzzled.

Lu Yuan raised his right hand, and a wisp of pale green energy rose from his palm. "This is Soul Power. Look closely, how is it different from the Soul Power you usually circulate?"

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, sensing an indescribable "vitality" and "stability" in that aura.

"It's very 'quiet'," Shen Moxin said softly.

"Yes." Lu Yuan nodded, "Because I temporarily stripped it of its 'use' of 'driving the Martial Soul,' leaving it simply as it is."

He let his breath spread in the air. "Soul Power is essentially a special kind of energy that can be absorbed and transformed by living beings. But it will create a unique 'resonance' and 'bond' with our spirit, bloodline, and especially our Martial Soul."

A Liang raised his hand, somewhat nervously. "Sir, is it because my Martial Soul can only glow, or is it because it's not properly bound?"

"Your A Liang? Release your Martial Soul; you don't need to inject Soul Power."

A Liang did as instructed. A translucent stone emitting a soft white light appeared in the shadow.

Lu Yuan stepped off the stage, his fingertip lightly touching the center of the stone shadow. "Feel your Martial Soul. Forget its 'purpose,' only feel its existence—its structure, the way its internal energy flows, and the 'point' that connects to your spirit."

A Liang closed his eyes and tried his best to do as instructed. Gradually, he "saw" the energy inside the ball of light circulating like a stream along a fixed path, with the connection point resembling the center of a vortex.

"Can you feel it?"

A Liang opened his eyes and nodded vigorously, his face filled with surprise.

"The energy flow within your Martial Soul has a natural 'rhythm'," Lu Yuan returned to the stage. "Traditionally, it's believed that the Illumination Stone can only convert Soul Power into light. But if we look at it from a different angle—light itself is also a form of energy, and energy can be converted."

A Liang's eyes widened.

"What you need to do now is not to desperately pour Soul Power into your Martial Soul to make it brighter," Lu Yuan said, "But to carefully experience the rhythm you just sensed. Try to use your Soul Power to 'imitate' or even 'slightly push' that rhythm, and see what happens."

He looked at Shen Moxin: "Teacher Shen, for the next few days, have A Liang keep records. Record any subtle changes."

Shen Moxin solemnly agreed.

Lu Yuan continued. He discussed the basic attributes of Soul Power and the classification of Martial Soul energy structures, using many metaphors and simple model diagrams. He repeatedly emphasized, "What I'm talking about are only 'possibilities,' not 'conclusive conclusions.' Ultimately, you must verify them through practice and revise them through reflection."

Some people in the audience frowned in deep thought, while others suddenly had a breakthrough.

Without exception, they were all thinking the same thing.

In the days that followed, New Fire Valley underwent some changes.

A Liang immersed himself in the experimental corner, repeatedly sensing the energy rhythm inside the Illumination Stone, attempting to "resonate" it with his Soul Power.

Three days later, in the afternoon, he ran to the research lab, covered in sweat, holding the Martial Soul in his hands. The white light of the stone phantom was edged with a very faint light green.

"I think I've changed it a little," A Liang said nervously. "There seems to be a slightly different feeling in the light now."

Shen Moxin carefully sensed it, a look of surprise appearing in her eyes. "It's a faint life force."

Lu Yuan gestured for A Liang to bring his Martial Soul closer to a pot of wilted herbs. A halo of light enveloped the leaves for a moment, and the wilted leaves straightened up slightly.

"There's a trace of calming and life-promoting energy fluctuation mixed in with the light energy," Lu Yuan judged. "The direction is right. Keep exploring."

Xiao Ling, a female disciple with the Wind Chime Grass Martial Soul, borrowed a frequency-measuring Soul Tool from Mo Chen and recorded hundreds of sets of data. She discovered that when the sound frequency approached a specific value, the Soul Power ripples would intensify and have a "vibration" feel.

"What if I didn't just use sound to interfere," she said timidly during the group discussion, "But instead focused this 'oscillation' on a single point... would that work?"

Shen Moxin encouraged her to give it a try.

A few days later, Xiao Ling released her Martial Soul at the wooden target in the training ground. The wind chimes tinkled softly, and an almost invisible transparent ripple struck the wooden target, leaving a shallow dent on its surface.

Mo Chen stayed up all night discussing with her whether they could combine "Shockwave" with the Soul Tool.

Similar subtle changes are quietly taking place among the younger generation. Of course, not everyone finds direction immediately, but at least they are starting to ask "why," and beginning to observe, record, and think for themselves.

"The changes are not limited to the New Fire Valley."

In the remote town of the Soul Master Hall in northwestern China, an old Soul Master, while sorting through a backlog of letters, discovered an unsigned letter with neat handwriting. The letter discussed whether the efficiency of Soul Power circulation was necessarily absolutely limited by the Innate Soul Power level.

He initially didn't take it seriously. But a few days later, while instructing a young Soul Master Innate Soul Power at level two and Martial Soul "Iron Shovel," he watched the other party struggle with the obscure flow of Soul Power and inexplicably recalled a few words from the letter.

He instructed the young Soul Master to use the simple self-check method in the letter to sense the flow of Soul Power at the core node of their Martial Soul. The other party pointed out that the Soul Power always "went around a bend" at a certain location.

The veteran Soul Master tried to guide him to "smooth out" the twists and turns with a gentler Soul Power. Three days later, the young Soul Master's Soul Power, which had been stuck for half a year, increased by a barely perceptible amount.

The old Soul Master locked the letter in the bottom of the drawer. He didn't tell anyone, but something stirred within him.

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Heaven Dou City, a core disciple put away the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and reported to the elder, "Following the summary of ' Martial Soul Synergy Enhancement' passed down by Sect Master Ning, I adjusted the rhythm of the auxiliary Soul Power output, attempting to synchronize it with the Soul Power fluctuations of the recipient... The duration of the continuous amplification has been extended by about 10%, and the consumption has been reduced by 50%."

The elder stroked his beard and pondered, "Where did the sect leader obtain that summary?"

"This disciple does not know. The sect leader only said it was a collection of writings by a reclusive master, for everyone to refer to."

The elder nodded, looking at the disciple with a steady aura before him. He then recalled several other promising young disciples in the sect who had recently received "guidance from hermits," and whose progress in cultivation was quite remarkable.

The sect leader's evaluation of that "hermit" seems to be constantly improving.

"New Fire Valley Preaching Platform."

After finishing his lecture, Lu Yuan walked to the edge of the stage and looked at the young faces below. A Liang was gesturing and discussing the direction of energy conversion of the Illumination Stone with his companion, Xiao Ling was chasing after Mo Chen to ask about the vibration parameters, Lin Xiao and Shi Jian were sparring, Su Yan was practicing Soul Power etching under a tree, and Shen Moxin was walking among the disciples taking notes.

The warm sunlight streamed down, and the valley was filled with the lively sounds of life.

Lu Yuan watched quietly. He felt a faint yet clear resonance emanating from the Stone Gate Mark between his brows, connecting him with this valley and with the people who were striving to "see" themselves.

He opened his palm, and a wisp of pale green "Primordial Qi" rose up, swirling at his fingertips.

This was not the end. The "noise" and "cracks" within his Soul Power system became increasingly clear to him. He knew that one day he would have to confront something deeper, and might even need to try to "repair" it.

But that was no longer a responsibility he had to shoulder alone.

He flicked his finger lightly, Primordial Qi transformed into specks of light that scattered into the valley breeze.

The torch has been passed on; the future is promising.

Shen Moxin seemed to sense something from afar and looked up. Lu Yuan nodded slightly to her. A faint smile curved Shen Moxin's lips as she turned back to continue instructing the confused disciple beside her.

Just then, the disciples on guard from the direction of the valley entrance ran quickly toward the preaching platform.