Douluo Continent: Not enough bloodline? Make up for it with brains

Chapter 12 Xu Yuan's Doubts (Please read on!!!)

"I know." Xu Yuan's expression was calm, yet firm.

"First of all, this path is inseparable from one thing: my own self-cultivation."

The spear spirit is a true artificial spirit, without any existing soul beast genes as a template. Even if it can be born with some abilities, thus giving soul masters soul skills, it is still a new 'race' and is too immature. If you don't want to get useless soul skills, you have to cultivate yourself to drive the spirit to evolve time and time again, growing in sync with your own martial soul.

This means that a Soul Master's Soul Rings and Soul Skills are no longer obtained from external sources, but rather sought from within.

If you seek it internally, the soul skill you obtain will be the ability of your own martial soul, and at most, the form of the soul skill may be determined by the influence of the spear soul spirit.

Not only the spear spirit, but Xu Yuan will continue to strengthen his Heavenly Origin Pen Spear in the future, combining it with different metal spirits to enhance the pen spear form of this weapon spirit to its extreme.

This is the road that Xu Yuan was referring to.

Zhenhua said this was difficult primarily because no Soul Master had ever walked this path before, and there were no precedents to follow, making it extremely challenging.

"If you insist on taking this path, then you may still need to learn blacksmithing as a side job."

The spear spirit's base is excellent, but it hasn't been forged yet. It can be improved through forging in the future. However, if it becomes Xu Yuan's spirit, it's obviously the best choice to let Xu Yuan forge and improve it himself.

"There are also ways to combine metal spirits, which require a deep understanding of various rare metals and forging techniques."

Xu Yuan listened to what Zhenhua said and nodded silently.

After a while, he spoke up: "Uncle-Master, blacksmithing consumes too much energy. I have too many cultivation tasks, so I may not be able to devote myself to becoming a blacksmith."

Zhenhua stared at Xu Yuan for a long time before sighing.

"Sigh, fine. In the future, you can follow your master uncle to learn the theoretical knowledge of forging in your spare time. Your master uncle will also teach you some auxiliary forging methods."

The method of auxiliary forging, as the name suggests, is a method that assists in forging.

This is also a common forging method on the mainland, but it is not for pure blacksmiths to practice. Instead, it is prepared for those battle armor masters who pursue the ultimate. It assists the blacksmith in the forging process and seizes the opportunity at the moment when the metal is finally formed to take over from the real blacksmith and complete the final hammer forging.

In other words, it's about finishing off the opponent—cough cough, finishing off the opponent's weakness.

However, this requires finding a skilled blacksmith with whom you can work well, and also obtaining their consent. It's important to know that most blacksmiths will not allow others to watch them forge, let alone join in the forging process.

"Xiao Yuan, although it is an auxiliary forging method, you still need to participate in the entire forging process. Because when you enter the true spirit forging and soul forging, the whole process is integrated. The process of awakening the spirit of the metal and giving it life needs to be uninterrupted throughout. The auxiliary forging master must also participate in the whole process. The two masters communicate with the metal in the same frequency."

That's the hardest part.

With Zhenhua's master craftsmanship, he could guide Xu Yuan into the rhythm. As for spirit forging and soul forging, as long as Xu Yuan's foundation is solid enough, it is possible to achieve synchronous forging. However, heaven forging is far too difficult.

"Uncle-Master, this is more than enough," Xu Yuan said to Zhenhua.

"Um."

"Stop talking nonsense and eat first," came Makino's voice, accompanied by a rich aroma.

Xu Yuanzhen and Hua stopped their discussion and went to the kitchen, where they saw a large, gelatinous, jelly-like substance on a plate, emitting a rich aroma.

This is?

Makino explained from the side.

"This is whale glue. Taking it can enhance a Soul Master's physique. In the era before Soul Spirits appeared, it was an essential natural treasure for Soul Masters to absorb power beyond their level."

Of course, even now, whale glue is still of great significance for bearing the spirit rings bestowed by spirits of higher levels. After all, although the bearing of a spirit depends on spiritual power, the spirit rings bestowed by it still have to be borne by the spirit master himself, so improving the spirit master's physical fitness is still important.

This whale glue was prepared using my own secret method, which removed some of its side effects and incorporated many other rare and precious ingredients, making it even more effective.

Upon hearing Mu Ye's introduction, Xu Yuan swallowed hard, inwardly marveling that becoming Mu Ye's apprentice was definitely the right choice.

He really gives out good stuff.

Of course, Xu Yuan also knew that Mu Ye could be truly ruthless when it came to the time for cultivation.

"Luckily, I'm still small and weak, so I can enjoy this for a few more years."

Xu Yuan disregarded the potential for future abuse and began to devour the food.

The fifth day since arriving at the headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Association.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged, having just finished his medicinal meal. He was refining the medicinal power within his body, and his soul power was like waves, washing over his meridians again and again.

Rumble!

Suddenly, Xu Yuan's soul power surged, coursing through his meridians and unleashing a booming sound.

Level 9!

Before arriving in Tiandou City, Xu Yuan had just broken through to level eight.

Going back a little further, he had only awakened his martial soul for about ten days, yet he had already leveled up twice.

Last time, he was already close to breaking through, and his breakthrough occurred naturally after his soul power completed its cycle. This time, however, Xu Yuan consumed too many rare and precious herbs, causing his soul power to accumulate far beyond level eight, which allowed him to break through the shackles.

"Breaking through level ten within a month seems entirely feasible. In that case, what's the difference between my starting point and one with innate full soul power?"

"You've improved a bit too fast, kid. Once this month is over, you won't be able to use rare and precious materials to improve your soul power for the next five years," Mu Ye said, stroking his chin as he observed Xu Yuan.

Using rare and precious materials to enhance soul power is not wrong.

The mistake lies in neglecting cultivation that leads to the enhancement of one's soul power.

The concept of "foundation" rarely appears in Douluo Continent. This concept only appeared before the unification of the Federation. Soul Masters of the Sun Moon Empire were so engrossed in making Soul Tools that they needed Soul Power to support them but had no energy to cultivate Soul Power. So they used rare and precious materials to accumulate their own Soul Power without cultivating it themselves. Over time, this caused their Soul Power to become weak and unstable.

Soul power is a power that one must cultivate to feel secure and to gain deeper control over.

At the level of Super Douluo and above, even the slightest bit of control makes a world of difference.

Mu Ye did not force Xu Yuan to lower his level, but only restricted Xu Yuan from using rare and precious materials to enhance his soul power for five years.

"Teacher, I just had a sudden idea." Xu Yuan didn't object to the restriction on the use of rare and precious materials. Instead, he shared some insights he had gained during his breakthrough.

"Speak," Makino said succinctly.

Xu Yuan organized his thoughts and described his doubts.

"Teacher, in the cultivation of soul power, every slight progress requires diligent meditation to achieve. However, the recovery of soul power after it is consumed can be done quickly. Why is that?"

(End of this chapter)