After Xiao Lin finished drawing the martial soul data panels for Tang San and Xiao Wu, the two couldn't wait to look them over.
[Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass]
Destructive Power: D (A normal person would struggle to tear it)
Speed: C (Roughly the speed of an average person)
Attack Range: B (More than several hundred meters)
Endurance: A (Consumes almost no energy)
Precision: B (Can multitask, strong spiritual power)
Growth Potential: A (Very high growth potential, requires highly compatible spirit rings)
Special Energy: A (Life energy—very powerful)
[Martial Soul: Soft Bone Rabbit]
Destructive Power: C+ (Slightly stronger than an average person)
Speed: B (Quite fast)
Attack Range: C (Similar to an unarmed human)
Endurance: B (Spirit skills enhance waist and leg strength, focused on close-combat techniques with lasting power)
Precision: C+ (Clumsy with swordplay, slightly poor coordination; likely better at leg attacks)
Growth Potential: B+ (There are rabbit-type soul beasts highly compatible with the Soft Bone Rabbit; spirit ring synergy can make up for the weak martial soul)
Special Energy: C (Currently no observed special energy)
"So that's how it is… my Blue Silver Grass isn't too bad," Tang San said.
"What!? How can I be this weak!?" Xiao Wu cried out.
At nearly the same time, Tang San and Xiao Wu finished reading their martial soul data panels and had completely opposite reactions.
Tang San was rather accepting of Xiao Lin's assessment. Although many of the stats were weak, he had long since determined his path—walking the road of immense life force and martial soul evolution to become stronger.
Plus, seeing the high growth potential and powerful life-energy rating brought a knowing smile to his face. Xiao Lin had once casually said that if something had an A in growth potential, the rest of the panel could be ignored.
So Tang San remained confident in his Blue Silver Grass.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, didn't buy it. She refused to believe her martial soul was that bad.
Some of the content on the panel even caused her to waver in her belief that she could avenge her clan.
Luckily, Xiao Lin hadn't included details about her second spirit ring's lightning attribute or her secret knowledge of her 100,000-year spirit power.
So, while Xiao Wu denied it verbally, deep down she had already acknowledged the validity of Xiao Lin's martial soul panel.
What's more, she felt proud—she had a secret weapon.
Her self-condensed spirit ring was her hidden ace—her cheat.
According to Xiao Lin, if a spirit master strongly desired a certain ring, chances were high they'd get it. As long as compatibility issues were addressed, one spirit ring could also manifest multiple effects.
And those "extra effects" weren't even considered actual spirit skills—they could be developed later as self-created skills.
Wasn't that everything she needed? She wanted the Lightning Rabbit's speed, lightning enhancements, and agility. With that, she could solve several problems at once.
"I'm such a genius!" Xiao Wu thought to herself, smugly.
Seeing the two of them overreacting, Xiao Lin ignored their drama and handed them a black leather book he had found.
"The book basically says that the Blood Red Honey Jujube Fruit increases the chance for soul beasts to produce soul bones."
"The Blood Red Agate, however, is an external soul bone with side effects."
"Lastly, there's a section on Martial Soul Fusion Techniques."
"I'm not planning to use the first two. The side effects are too great. I'll only keep them for research or trade for better resources."
"But I do want to try the Martial Soul Fusion Technique with you, Little San."
Xiao Lin explained concisely, but both Tang San and Xiao Wu were utterly stunned.
"Defective soul bones! External soul bones with strong side effects! Martial Soul Fusion Techniques!"
They shouted in unison, then exchanged shocked glances.
They both saw disbelief and horror on each other's faces.
"This kind of research is way too evil…" Xiao Wu muttered.
She really wanted to stop Xiao Lin from doing such twisted experiments.
"Yeah," Xiao Lin nodded, "I want to find a way to get soul bones without doing evil."
"Of course, if it's a naturally evil soul beast, then anything I do doesn't count as evil."
Though he said this, Xiao Lin wasn't actually all that interested in the Human-Faced Demon Spider anymore.
"Whew…"
Hearing this, Xiao Wu quietly sighed in relief. Thankfully, Xiao Lin wasn't that twisted.
Xiao Lin definitely wasn't going to go full mad scientist. In this world, people who randomly killed soul beasts would be jailed. Most spirit masters simply obtained the soul ring they needed and moved on—why randomly kill?
After all, soul beasts were vital resources for future spirit masters.
"But how exactly do we succeed in a Martial Soul Fusion Technique?"
Tang San had no objections to Xiao Lin's use of the first two items. He walked the life-force path and had no use for "evil" materials.
But when it came to fusion techniques, he was clueless.
How do you fuse Blue Silver Grass with the Coiling Dragon Staff?
If it were the Clear Sky Hammer, maybe. But grass and a staff?
A grass-stick fusion!?
Seeing the confusion on Tang San's face, Xiao Lin knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Actually, the book says that the secret behind fusion techniques is mostly about mutual understanding between spirit masters—"
"—a bond, in other words."
"As for what gets strengthened after the fusion… I haven't considered it deeply yet."
"Even if our martial souls aren't that compatible, after fusion, I can still use your spirit power in battle."
"Little San, you get what I'm saying, right?"
Xiao Lin waved casually, looking calmly at Tang San.
"So that's it… even a basic fusion where we just merge spirit power is already a big deal," Tang San nodded.
His own spirit power consumption was low, and his recovery was fast. Combine that with Xiao Lin's powerful Artifact Martial Soul True Form Buff, and it became even more efficient.
The two of them together would already be incredibly strong—even before considering Xiao Lin's near-invincible Coiling Dragon Staff.
Add in their special energies—Indestructible Vajra and Endless Vitality—and Tang San couldn't even imagine how powerful their fusion would be.
"But what's the trigger for martial soul fusion? Just a bond probably isn't enough, right?"
Tang San propped up his chin and voiced his concern.
"A crisis… true connection… trusting each other in a desperate moment."
That's what Xiao Lin could think of for now. He had some additional theories but chose not to share them just yet.
This whole martial soul fusion bond stuff feels a lot like Pokémon mechanics…
Mega Evolution, Z-Moves, Gigantamax, Terastalization…?
Martial Soul Fusion Techniques really did have the vibe of soul evolutions, super moves, even changing attributes.
Nether White Tiger, Golden Holy Dragon…
(Chapter End)