Moonflower Hotel Private Room 1704 Wu Tong pushed the door open and stepped inside, where the entire spirit-hunting team was already gathere
Moonflower Hotel
Private Room 1704
Wu Tong pushed the door open and stepped inside, where the entire spirit-hunting team was already gathered.
"Ah, little brother Wu Tong, you're here! Come in, come in! You haven't eaten yet, right? Let's have a meal first, and we'll talk afterward."
As soon as Wu Tu spotted Wu Tong, he enthusiastically strode forward and wrapped an arm around the younger boy's shoulders, ushering him inside. Wu Tong tried to dodge, but against a level-50 Spirit King, a mere level-13 Spirit Master like him was as helpless as a child.
As expected, Wu Tu caught him effortlessly. A faint scent of sweat mixed with the pungent reek of alcohol assaulted Wu Tong's senses.
"Uncle Wu Tu, how much have you drunk? You smell like you've been dunked in a liquor vat," Wu Tong couldn't help but complain.
"Not much, not much! Let's eat, come on!" Wu Tu chuckled awkwardly, deftly changing the subject as he urged Wu Tong to join the meal.
After several rounds of drinks and a hearty dinner, the group gathered around the table to discuss their plans. Meanwhile, Wu Tong pored over the spirit beast profiles they had prepared for Mu Lan.
[Starburst Bamboo]
A healing-type plant spirit beast. Its crystalline blue body is dotted with white specks, resembling a starry night sky—hence its name. The Starburst Bamboo possesses no offensive capabilities, but in exchange, it boasts unparalleled healing properties. The sap that flows from its wounds can cure all manner of injuries, internal or external. The older the bamboo, the more potent its effects.
"The Starburst Bamboo… The only possible spirit skill it could provide is healing, but that would just overlap with her second spirit skill. Pass."
Wu Tong shook his head, dismissing the idea. Mu Lan's second spirit skill, Healing Melody, was already focused on restoration. He flipped the page to the next entry.
[Lunar Cicada]
A winged animal spirit beast. Its silver-white body looks as if carved from moonlight, with wings as thin as cicada membranes yet capable of tearing through the void. Its crystalline form seems to embody the essence of heaven and earth, the spiritual energy of the moon. With every beat of its wings, faint silver light flickers as it darts through the clouds at blinding speeds...
"It's a good fit—it could grant a speed-boosting spirit skill—but how are we supposed to hunt it? A thousand-year Lunar Cicada is so fast that even an Agility-type Spirit Emperor would struggle to keep up. Impossible. Pass."
Wu Tong didn't even finish reading before letting out a bitter laugh and moving on.
[Shadow Fiend]
Known as the Emissary of the Night, this humanoid spirit beast is clad in deep indigo scales resembling the night sky. Its lithe, agile form moves as silently as a ghost. Its elongated ears can detect the faintest sounds—whether the breath of prey or the approach of danger—making it an unparalleled hunter...
"Hmm… This seems more suited for an Agility-type Spirit Master. I wonder who suggested it. It might grant a speed-enhancing ability, but they're too rare. The odds of finding one are slim. Pass."
[Soul-Cleansing Jade Lotus]
A plant-type spirit beast… capable of purging all negative effects.
"This one's viable. Backup option." Wu Tong rubbed his chin and added it to the shortlist.
[Cloudveil Tree]
A plant-type spirit beast…
"Not ideal for Mu Lan, but the Mountain-Moving Ants that live symbiotically with it might be worth considering. They could provide a strength-enhancing spirit skill, though the attribute isn't a perfect match. Tentative backup."
...
After reviewing all the spirit beast profiles prepared by Wu Tu and the others, Wu Tong let out a long exhale.
There was a wide variety of enhancement-type spirit beasts, and it was clear they had put thought into the selections. However, their approach still adhered to the standard spirit-hunting mindset prevalent on the Douluo Continent—prioritizing raw power over depth.
"Sigh…"
Wu Tong sighed helplessly, rubbing his temples before voicing his thoughts.
"Listen, everyone. Choosing a spirit ring requires extreme caution. An ordinary person can only obtain nine spirit rings in their lifetime, so we can't afford to be careless in our selections."
"I've reviewed the targets you've picked, and only a few are remotely suitable. Most of these spirit beasts' traits simply don't align with Sister Mu Lan's Moonlit Radiance Zither."
His words drew everyone's attention, and he continued without mincing words.
"Little brother Wu Tong, what do you mean by 'traits'?" Wu Tu asked, baffled. "Aren't spirit rings just about the skills they provide?"
"Traits—that's a term I coined. It refers to a spirit beast's unique attributes, or more precisely, the defining characteristics shaped by its nature, strengths, and habits. And it's not just spirit beasts; every person's martial soul has its own traits too."
Wu Tong then presented a theory he had developed while compiling cultivation techniques—one he called the Theory of Martial Soul Evolution.
The core idea was that by absorbing spirit rings from carefully selected spirit beasts, one could compensate for a martial soul's weaknesses, refine its flaws, and ultimately achieve martial soul evolution.
"As we all know, our martial souls are part of our bodies, but spirit rings aren't—they're external additions. So, I believe that while spirit rings help us break through cultivation barriers, they also influence our martial souls."
"Therefore, when attaching a spirit ring, we must consider whether it harmonizes with the martial soul's traits. Otherwise, haphazardly absorbing rings will only pollute the martial soul's purity and stunt its potential."
"From now on, whenever you hunt for spirit rings, you should think carefully about your martial soul's core traits. Use them as a foundation to enhance your martial soul's strengths. Only then can you walk further on the path of cultivation."
"For example, take my martial soul—the Brain. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a brain?"
"Brains? Smart people." "Intelligence." "Genius?" The group pondered the question, offering varied answers.
"From what I'm hearing, most of you associate it with wisdom, intellect, and the like. That's exactly what I thought too."
"So, I've decided to focus my martial soul's development on intelligence. That's its defining trait. Other aspects, like spiritual power, are secondary."
"That's why I prioritize hunting spirit beasts that can help develop my brain's capabilities."
Seeing that their answers aligned with his own reasoning, Wu Tong nodded before continuing.
"At the same time, we can't just focus on the spirit skills a beast provides. We must also pay attention to its most outstanding traits. After all, spirit rings come from spirit beasts, so they inherently carry some of those traits. If utilized properly, these traits could push our martial souls to new heights—even triggering a qualitative transformation through accumulated quantitative changes, leading to martial soul evolution."
"Martial Soul Evolution?!" Before Wu Tong could finish, the group erupted in unison, their voices thick with disbelief.
"That's right. By carefully selecting spirit rings, your martial soul can undergo strengthening. Mine has already evolved once."
The moment Wu Tong revealed this, a fire ignited in everyone's eyes. A mere theory might have piqued their interest, but since Wu Tong had already succeeded, this was no longer just speculation.
Their curiosity burned fiercely, eager to learn the details of Wu Tong's martial soul evolution.
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