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*****
"I've never heard of such an analogy before," Ye Lingling exclaimed, never considering that after a martial soul gained a soul ring, its soul skill could still be compared to a puzzle.
Most martial souls only have a framework by nature, and the puzzle needs to be acquired through soul rings based on their own circumstances.
However, for a small portion of martial souls, upon awakening, the puzzle already exists and is complete, only restricted by the world's rules, requiring the soul ring to unlock the "seal."
"So, you don't need to think that the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple martial soul is flawed," Tang San smiled, "In my opinion, what others call a flaw is just that they see your soul skill only as a healing one. But what flaw is there in that? When you become a Titled Douluo, your healing ability, I'm afraid, will be unmatched in the world."
"When one aspect is taken to the extreme, who can mock you?"
"It's just that in this era, people perceive soul masters as having formidable combat power."
"That's indeed true, but why must martial souls be used for combat?"
"Just like your Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple, not suitable for combat."
Comforted by Tang San in this way, Ye Lingling felt much better.
It wasn't that her viewpoint was immediately corrected by Tang San's thoughts, but conversing with someone like Tang San, who exuded a strong vitality, would naturally nourish one's mood, making it more pleasant.
"And you want to develop self-created soul skills..."
The soul skills of the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple martial soul are all healing ones. The method of use is under Ye Lingling's control, with petals falling and drifting from the martial soul onto others.
They can either penetrate the skin directly and enter the body or be ingested, with both methods having almost identical effects.
Tang San instructed Ye Lingling to display the skills of each soul ring. He noticed that when Ye Lingling couldn't control the petals' movement -
Using the first soul skill, nine petals would fall, encircling Ye Lingling's body in a peculiar trajectory; using the second soul skill, eighteen petals would do the same.
The third soul skill had thirty-six petals, and the fourth had seventy-two.
"So that's how it is," Tang San seemed to understand something.
"This is also the characteristic of my martial soul. The first soul skill can produce nine petals, able to heal nine people. The second soul skill is for eighteen people, and so on, doubling the number of people who can be healed," Ye Lingling thought Tang San would be surprised by the exponential increase in the number of people she could heal simultaneously with each soul ring, and a hint of pride appeared on her face.
"I'm not talking about that," Tang San shook his head, "Haven't you noticed that with each healing soul skill you use, the petals differentiated by your Nine Heart Sea Anemone martial soul move around you in a specific trajectory?"
"Indeed, but what's the use of that?" Ye Lingling wondered.
"It seems useless on the surface," Tang San rubbed his chin, "But you know, me and Guang Ling are researching soul tools, and inside them are soul guide arrays composed of basic soul guide runes that facilitate the flow of soul power."
"The use of soul skills, to some extent, is similar to the function of soul tools. It's just that most of the soul power circulation routes, within the soul rings, are assisted by the soul rings for soul masters."
"And for martial souls like yours, the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple, according to my earlier puzzle analogy, the soul skill itself exists within the martial soul, but its use requires the soul ring to be lit up, like a switch for a circuit... well, forget it, you probably don't understand."
Ye Lingling: "..."
To Tang San, the use of soul skills by soul masters using soul rings could be compared to a simple series circuit test using light bulbs.
Although the "series" within the soul rings is much more complex, the principle of operation is similar -
Activating the switch is equivalent to lighting up the soul ring, the soul power flowing through the soul ring is equivalent to the current flowing through the circuit, and using the soul skill is like the light bulb emitting light.
It's just that for the vast majority of soul masters, the "switch" and "circuit" are mostly within the soul rings, with only a few needing the soul master to perform specific actions or chant corresponding soul incantations.
But for Ye Lingling, the martial soul itself carries the soul power circulation route for the soul skills, and the soul ring is just the "switch."
Such an advantage is that she doesn't need to worry like other soul masters, who can't use multiple soul ring abilities simultaneously... well, not that they can't, but other soul masters mostly don't pay attention to the combination and coordination of soul ring skills. Even if their spiritual power becomes powerful in the future, they can only use the skills of the soul rings one after another, just better at controlling the corresponding timing.
And Ye Lingling?
Soul skills are inherent, and all are still from the martial soul itself.
Isn't this like a "series circuit"?
Based on the display of each soul skill by Ye Lingling, the principle is actually the same; it's just that the number of petals is greater, and the efficiency is higher, nothing more.
From this perspective, with the same principle, it also means that Ye Lingling can simultaneously use all soul skills, which is a natural advantage far exceeding other soul masters.
It's just, how to make Ye Lingling realize it?
After pondering for a moment, Tang San said, "Lingling, the direction for your future self-created soul skills should be based on the movement trajectory of the petals after using your soul rings. Combine the movement trajectories of two soul skills' petals. After achieving this, you can combine three soul skills, and so on, ultimately combining nine soul skills."
"This could be a kind of self-soul skill fusion, which might form a certain soul skill formation, or something akin to a domain."
"I've observed that your martial soul naturally possesses attributes of light, water, and life. Healing abilities, which fall into these three categories, are well-suited for healing. When you attempt to combine the movement trajectories of soul skill petals, you can come to me or Guang Ling for guidance on the routes constructed by basic soul guide runes of light, water, and life. This will likely reduce the time it takes for you to develop self-created soul skills."
Ye Lingling was overjoyed. Although Tang San's suggestion for her path of self-created soul skills didn't lean towards combat, as a support-type, if she could create skills resembling formations or domains, her value would greatly increase, the importance of which was self-evident.
"Thank you, Captain," Ye Lingling expressed her gratitude, then called Ning Rongrong and Bai Chenxiang over.
As for Bai Chenxiang, her soul skills were all about acceleration. However, unlike Ye Lingling, her situation was different. These skills weren't inherent to her martial soul but were chosen by the Agility Clan when selecting soul beasts that could provide them with acceleration skills.
Therefore, although their soul skills were all about acceleration, the internal circulation routes within each soul ring were not nearly as similar as in Ye Lingling's case.
"Chenxiang... well, I'll just call you by your full name, Bai Chenxiang, otherwise, I'll be reminded of a certain filial boy," Tang San decided to call Bai Chenxiang by her full name, as otherwise, the first impression that came to mind was of that Chenxiang who split mountains to save his mother.
Bai Chenxiang: "..."
Though she said so, the slightly resentful look in Bai Chenxiang's eyes indicated she was somewhat bothered.
"Cough, with your speed, in straight flight, without considering major turns, within the team, apart from me and Xiaowu, who can rival you with the Nine Steps of Heaven, no one else can."
Tang San coughed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, then continued seriously, "This also means you lack combat power and need to rely on weapons to capitalize on advantages that ordinary people can't see to assassinate enemies."
"Primary reconnaissance, secondary assassination, and then interference. But, how should I put it, your soul skills are too singular, and your situation is different from Ye Lingling's..."
"Therefore, I can't give you many thoughts on your path of self-created soul skills. But if you want to become stronger, there are many ways."
Bai Chenxiang also understood the peculiarity of her lineage's choice of soul rings and wasn't too disappointed. But upon hearing that Tang San had other ways to make her stronger, she was eager to hear more.
"The first is to practice knife skills, preferably daggers. Although in the continent-wide competitions, apart from martial souls and soul bones, other weapons can't be used, there aren't as many rules outside of the competitions."
"I've analyzed your advantages in the past, being in the agility and attack category. Besides reconnaissance, assassination is your forte. With speeds that ordinary soul masters can't perceive, after some training and understanding of the basic requirements of assassins, your lineage is the best assassin in the world, without question."
Bai Chenxiang nodded.
She already knew this, but most people in the clan still didn't favor that approach, as they didn't want their lineage to be associated with such things.
Moreover, now that she had also joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Although secretly, some clan members were already practicing to become qualified cold weapon assassins, but openly -
Good reputation was important.
"The second is to learn from Yufeng. His first soul skill is Wing Blade, transforming wings into blades for attack."
"Although you don't have corresponding attack soul skills, both your Sharp-tailed Rain Swallow and Wind Chime Bird are birds and can mimic. And in terms of wing sharpness, the Sharp-tailed Rain Swallow has the advantage, given that its wings are as thin as cicada wings for faster flight."
"Furthermore, speed and strength."
"If you can unleash your speed advantage, you can turn your wings into the strongest weapons!"
A piece of paper accelerated to a certain speed can cut through trees, let alone a martial soul like the Sharp-tailed Rain Swallow with extreme flying speed?
As for why the previous Agility Clan members didn't think of this...
Most likely due to fixed thinking.
Some ideas never come to mind unless someone brings them up.
"The third option is to prioritize strengthening your wings rather than speed when adding soul rings in the future. You can add one or more soul rings that can reinforce your wings, even making them as strong as steel."
"If you don't want to be purely speed-based, this is the best choice."
Bai Chenxiang nodded, saying, "I'll consider it."
To be honest, Tang San's three suggestions for her were all objective, but she hesitated about which one to choose...
"How can I create my own soul skills?" Ning Rongrong asked with interest.
"Your situation is similar to Ye Lingling's..." Tang San slightly modified his analysis for Ning Rongrong, "However, compared to the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple martial soul, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda still has flaws. Although your martial soul has evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, besides the first seven soul skills that are inherent, acquiring the eighth and ninth soul rings in the future doesn't guarantee that the soul skills will be inherent."
"Although it's possible that they could be inherent, it's not certain, as there are no relevant records in history."
"However, to reach that level, you'll have to reach the level of Titled Douluo or even Titled Douluo. For now, I think you can try using the four soul skills you currently possess simultaneously."
Ning Rongrong naturally said, "Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a method of mind control, so I can use them simultaneously."
"In the past, when I used multiple soul skills simultaneously, I thought it was just the effect of enhancing my spiritual power. But as I delved deeper into the study of martial souls and soul devices, I understood that your mind control is only auxiliary."
The protagonist in the original story gained the method of mind control, which only made the use of soul skills more flexible, evolving into the Blue Silver Spike Array, but couldn't use multiple soul ring abilities simultaneously.
This also indirectly proves the completeness of martial souls like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple.
"What I mean by simultaneously using multiple soul skills isn't just using them separately, but rather allowing the soul skills to combine, even fuse together."
"The way you manifest your soul skills relies on the illumination of light. Have you ever considered that light also has a trajectory of movement?"
"Comprehend the trajectory of amplifying light from your current four major soul skills and fuse them together. Your auxiliary abilities will become even stronger."
Ning Rongrong pondered for a moment before nodding, "I will give it a try."
"If you don't understand anything, you can come to me or Guang Ling. We can provide relevant advice and guidance on the construction of light element soul guide circuits."
To motivate Ning Rongrong, after saying this, Tang San continued, "Oh, the advice I gave Ye Lingling is similar to yours. If she succeeds in the end, the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple might surpass the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Although you're an amplification type and she's a healing type, there's no direct conflict of interest. And the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple is limited by the number of hearts it can have, only being able to exist in two at a time. According to the current concept of development in this era, the size of clans and sects can never surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"But most ordinary people, common soul masters, don't understand these things. They'll only think that both are auxiliary type martial souls, and the Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple has surpassed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda..."
Hearing Tang San say this, Ning Rongrong knew he was trying to provoke her, but she still fell for it. Members of major sects all believe that their own martial souls are the best.
She snorted, "Wait and see. I won't let any other auxiliary martial soul surpass the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Lastly, there were the twins, Shimu and Shimai.
"Your martial souls are exactly the same, both are Xuantu turtles, focusing on defense, and possess water elements. You are both physical and energy dual-defense-type soul masters."
At this point, Tang San suddenly paused and asked, "Don't you two have a martial soul fusion technique?"
"Um... we've tried, but our martial souls can't fuse," Shimu shook his head, "However, the soul skills of the two of us can be combined."
"That's true," Shimai agreed.
"I recently submitted a theory to the 'Soul Master Newspaper' called 'Three Major Classifications of Martial Soul Fusion Techniques.' It's probably still in the testing phase and hasn't been published yet. But in my opinion, the combination of soul skills is also a form of martial soul fusion technique," Tang San confidently said, "And you two are twins, with the same martial soul and the same attributes, proving that the attributes carried by the soul power cultivated are also the same."
"In this way, you naturally have an advantage that others don't have, which is to let the soul power fuse."
Zhi Mo and Shi Mo looked at each other in amazement, then asked in unison, "How do we fuse?"
"Positive and negative, yin and yang."
During the examination of these brothers' martial souls, Tang San found that although their martial souls were exactly the same and both had water attributes, there were some differences between the two types of water attributes.
Shi mo, the elder brother, had a more violent water attribute, similar to the raging waves of a river, with a fierce momentum, and his personality was more unruly.
While Zhi mo, the younger brother, had a more gentle water attribute, like a calm lake as clear as a mirror, stable and steadfast, and his personality was more introverted.
Water, when fierce, can create towering waves, destroying vitality; when calm, it can carry boats and nourish all things.
If the two brothers strengthen themselves based on different states of the water attribute and then initiate soul power fusion, they may gradually change the properties of their martial souls and truly merge them. Even if they can't achieve that, if they can only achieve fusion between soul power and water element, then after becoming Titled Douluos in the future, the power of their martial soul fusion technique will certainly not be inferior to the Two-Polar Stagnation Fields of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
"Your training method is simple: rotate, release soul power, bind it in your palms, and rotate to merge, deepening the connection between each other."
"Captain, is it really that simple?" Shimo was a bit uncertain.
"Don't think it's simple; you'll know when you try it," Tang San chuckled.
The two incredulous brothers exchanged glances, raised their hands, gathered soul power, controlled it to rotate, and then brought their four hands together.
Suddenly, two blue soul forces began to attract each other actively.
The two brothers were surprised, realizing that Tang San's words were correct, and immediately increased their soul power.
However, the amount of soul power exerted by the two was different, causing the blue soul force ball to be uncontrollable. It collided instantly within five meters, enveloping the two brothers themselves.
"Ah!"
"Help!"
The two rotated within the soul force ball. In less than ten seconds, the soul force ball dissipated, and the two flew backward in opposite directions for thirty to forty meters, tumbling around helplessly...
In this story setting: Ye Lingling heals in a petal-like manner, and regarding Ye Lingling's martial soul, the so-called "defect" is that regardless of obtaining soul rings from any soul beast, her soul skills are fixed as healing... The author still believes it's the limitations of Douluo's thinking. Personally, I think this type of martial soul is the perfect representation of perfection in martial souls — at least in its respective aspect.
External soul rings cannot change the state of her martial soul, proving its extremely strong stability.
Such as Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire, that's a mutated defect. The Nine Heart Sea Flowering Apple is not a defect; it just focuses everything on healing, which is more specialized.
(End of this chapter)