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As they ventured deeper into Hope Oasis, after about three hundred meters, Tang San and the others arrived at the edge of a ruin with Fire Phoenix and Huo Wu.
The ancient buildings were constructed simply with stacked stones, covered in various vines. However, there were seven or eight relatively clean houses. Upon closer inspection, they could still see some clothes and blankets inside.
Presumably, these were the belongings left behind by the hunting teams living in the Infinite Desert. They migrated and roamed between various oases, guiding soul masters who came to hunt soul beasts in exchange for supplies.
However, it wasn't the right time for Tang San and the others as there was no hunting team staying here at the moment.
But Tang San wasn't disappointed. After all, his spirit power hadn't reached level thirty yet, so he would need to spend some time in this desert. Additionally, the Sun-Moon Grass, a plant-type soul beast, only grew in oases with significant temperature differences between day and night. He could search for it slowly, and if it wasn't found, they could move on to the next oasis.
Therefore, the group decided to settle down in a few abandoned stone houses covered in vines.
Surviving in the wilderness wasn't easy for soul masters, but with a house, life spirit guidance devices, and a cleared area for activities, it was manageable.
With Tang San's help, the five of them cleaned up a small stone house. After tidying up, they found that it was quite cool inside.
Holding the life spirit fan borrowed from Tang San and his grandmother, Huo Wu asked, "Do you usually bring these things when you go hunting for soul beasts?"
Most people went hunting for soul beasts just to find suitable ones quickly and then return. But Tang San seemed to have brought life-spirit-type soul devices with him, as if he was moving house to live here.
However, this oasis was much cooler than the desert outside. Besides the sparse population, it was a good place to live if one could endure the loneliness.
"I'm only two levels away from level thirty, and I'll definitely need to spend some time in this desert. Naturally, I have to make my life better," Tang San said matter-of-factly. "Besides, I'm also studying soul devices. The manufacturing methods for life-spirit-type soul devices haven't been lost, but there are only a few basic types. No one has delved into the soul guidance pathways within them deeply. I think if I can decipher the principles behind them, it might bring about real change to the Douluo Continent."
"You're really amazing," Huo Wu didn't know what else to say.
"Don't you think the soul guidance pathways inside the soul devices are quite similar to the soul power circulation routes in soul rings? Just simplified," Tang San smiled and asked. "I have a feeling that if I can thoroughly research the soul guidance pathways, it might be very beneficial for practising fusion skills. Moreover, perhaps I can recreate other lost soul device manufacturing methods."
Huo Wu, who had practised fusion skills, naturally noticed the soul power circulation routes within the soul rings and knew Tang San wasn't making things up. But how much time would it take to thoroughly research the soul guidance pathways?
It might be more troublesome than practising fusion skills. Wasn't Tang San afraid of delaying his cultivation time?
"There will always be someone who needs to do the research," Tang San smiled. "Besides, my cultivation speed isn't slow."
With the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, how could his cultivation speed be slow?
"Alright, you know a lot, and what you said makes sense," Huo Wu felt that she couldn't compete with Tang San in terms of knowledge, but she might not necessarily be weaker in terms of combat power. "Let's have another fight after you reach the third soul ring?"
"Sure."
Tang San agreed. After all, Huo Wu's personality, although softened after revealing her true martial soul, still had a bit of a fighting spirit.
If he didn't agree, she might pester him until he did.
However, if they were to fight now, Huo Wu might lose her confidence due to repeated failures. It would be better to wait until he obtained the third soul ring.
"Oh right, the Blazing Lion King is bound to drop a soul bone, and it's an external soul bone. What kind of soul bone is it, and what is its effect?" Tang San asked about this matter, curious about the external soul bone that could evolve with the soul master.
Huo Wu didn't conceal it either. She activated her soul power, and a golden lion's mane appeared around her neck, covering her back like burning flames, as if she were wearing a peculiar cloak.
"An external soul bone related to fur? Quite enlightening," Tang San said with a surprised expression. He had thought that external soul bones could be related to things like spider legs, claws, or eyes, which were already quite unique. He hadn't expected there to be fur-related ones.
"I call it the Fiery Sun Feather Garment. I'm not entirely sure about its attack skills, but when I use it, I feel twice as powerful as before. It should be boosting all of my attributes," Huo Wu proudly stated. "Moreover, it can absorb sunlight, increasing the speed of my soul power cultivation."
"Can it absorb moonlight?" Tang San asked.
"It seems not, only sunlight can be absorbed... After all, it's called the Fiery Sun Lion King, so it definitely only absorbs sunlight, right? Why would you think it could absorb moonlight?" Xiao Wu was puzzled. As a master of soul theory, Tang San shouldn't be asking such a trivial question, right?
"In fact, the moon doesn't emit light; it's the reflected sunlight, like light shining on a mirror and being reflected," Tang San explained. "However, judging by the effect of your external soul bone, when sunlight is reflected by the moon, it not only becomes weaker but also seems to lose some special energy... However, some plants can absorb moonlight, perhaps losing something while gaining something else."
Perplexed, Huo Wu assumed that Tang San had thought of a question that her mind couldn't comprehend and quickly changed the subject, asking about something else: "Your relationship with those two little girls isn't just simple friends, is it?"
"That's correct." Seeing Huo Wu's slight nervousness, Tang San nodded and admitted, "Guang Ling is my disciple, with only a third-level innate soul power."
"Third level? I asked her; she's only seven years old, and she increased by seven levels in one year?" Huo Wu's mouth formed an "O" shape in astonishment.
"There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters," Tang San said. "Although I didn't coin the phrase, I am most qualified to say it."
"Indeed, with your Blue Silver Grass and her just an ordinary iron bow, she's reached a height that most people find hard to attain," Huo Wu agreed with a nod.
"Oh, just a reminder, Guang Ling's martial soul is truly ordinary, whereas my Blue Silver Grass and Xiao Wu's Soft Boned Rabbit are special cases," Tang San corrected. "They can't be considered truly useless martial souls."
"Are they mutated?" Huo Wu asked curiously.
Tang San didn't answer, but to Huo Wu, it seemed like he had tacitly agreed. Only mutated martial souls could allow Blue Silver Grass and Soft Boned Rabbit to cultivate so quickly.
However, Tang San's insights into martial soul theory were truly profound, especially given Guang Ling as the best evidence.
"Oh, by the way, you haven't said what your relationship is with Xiao Wu?" Huo Wu realized that Tang San might be changing the subject and quickly corrected herself.
"Sister."
"Huh?"
"But not by blood."
"Oh?"