So, Ge Long couldn't help but ask, "Nephew, what's going on with you?"
"Uncle Ge, are you talking about my Martial Soul?" Lin Rong understood what Ge Long was asking and replied:
"Just a few minor tricks, not worth mentioning."
In reality, as long as a Spirit Master has sufficient control over their own Martial Soul, they can reveal their Spirit Rings without releasing their Martial Soul.
In this world, the only reason Titled Douluo can achieve this is because Spirit Masters typically only reach the Titled Douluo realm after their control over their own Martial Soul meets the required standard.
Lin Rong had cultivated the Marrow Cleansing Scripture.
Ever since the Marrow Cleansing Scripture broke through its first major realm, "Mind Empty, Body Transforms Itself," Lin Rong had been able to achieve absolute control over his Nine Bend Vine Dragon Martial Soul.
Furthermore, when Lin Rong broke through level thirty and obtained the Spirit Ring of the Azure Vine, his Nine Bend Vine Dragon fully awakened, giving birth to a Dragon Soul consciousness that absolutely obeyed his commands.
With this Dragon Soul consciousness, even without the enhancement of "Mind Empty, Body Transforms Itself," Lin Rong could achieve complete control over his own Martial Soul by relying on the Dragon Soul's absolute obedience to him.
"Uncle Ge, I know you have your concerns," Lin Rong said, as Ge Long fell silent after asking his question. Lin Rong then spoke to persuade him:
"Imperial law strictly prohibits hereditary nobles from interfering with military power."
"Therefore, all past Imperial Grand Marshals have been Spirit Master prodigies from commoner backgrounds, just like you, Uncle Ge."
"However, Uncle Ge, although Hongjun has already been recruited by me, the fact that he comes from a commoner background is an undeniable truth."
"Most importantly, Hongjun is only nine years old this year. What kind of ill intentions could a nine-year-old child have?"
"This..." Ge Long said, revealing his final concern:
"Nephew, let me tell you."
"This child has no issues with his background and possesses sufficient talent. By all rights, he should be qualified to succeed me when he grows up."
"But the position of Imperial Grand Marshal isn't mine to give to whomever I please. It requires the current Emperor to personally issue a decree of enfeoffment."
"Although this child comes from a commoner background, he has been nurtured in your residence for several years. I fear His Majesty would not allow him to succeed me in this position."
Lin Rong understood that Ge Long himself was settled, and all that remained was to eliminate his final concern to achieve complete success.
"Uncle Ge, you don't need to worry about that."
"Have you ever heard the saying that when a person has the overwhelming support of the masses, no one can block their path!"
"As long as Hongjun can win the support of all the soldiers, I believe the wise and mighty Emperor will follow the sincere wishes of the soldiers."
"As for why I am so confident that Hongjun can win the support of all the soldiers, you'll understand if you experience it yourself."
After speaking, Lin Rong turned to Ma Hongjun and said:
"Hongjun, it's time to let Uncle Ge witness your third Spirit Skill. Remember, don't make the Spirit Skill's range too large; just cover this tent!"
"Yes!" Ma Hongjun replied crisply, then looked at Ge Long and said:
"Sir, please take a look!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the pale purple Spirit Ring beneath Ma Hongjun's feet lit up.
"Third Spirit Skill, Heavenly Phoenix Profound Sound!"
Clang~ Clang~
A clear and stirring phoenix cry echoed within the tent.
Upon hearing the phoenix cry, Ge Long immediately felt his fighting spirit surge, and his body filled with strength.
Simultaneously, a faint warm current flowed through his body, giving Ge Long an indescribable sense of comfort.
After experiencing it for a moment, Ge Long looked at Ma Hongjun and said:
"Child, your third Spirit Skill should have been taken from a flying Spirit Beast with the bloodline of a Seven-Colored Profound Sound Bird."
"It boosts fighting spirit, amplifies all attributes by three percent, and that faint warm current within me should be a continuous, mild healing effect."
"As for whether it dispels crowd control, I cannot say."
"The Fire Phoenix is indeed a top-tier flying Martial Soul. Even by absorbing a Spirit Ring from a Spirit Beast with the Seven-Colored Profound Sound Bird's bloodline, its Spirit Skill effects are almost indistinguishable from the legendary Profound Sound Heavenly Melody."
"Can you tell me, what is the coverage range of your third Spirit Skill?"
"Since my nephew is so confident, your Spirit Skill's coverage range should not disappoint me."
"Hehe." Ma Hongjun scratched his head and corrected him honestly:
"Sir, you guessed wrong!"
"My third Spirit Ring was actually taken from a genuine Seven-Colored Profound Sound Bird."
"As for the Spirit Skill's coverage range, its initial range is one kilometer, but it increases by one kilometer with each additional Spirit Ring."
"I am currently a three-ring Soul Elder, so the coverage range of my third Spirit Skill, Heavenly Phoenix Profound Sound, is four kilometers."
Ge Long was astonished and quickly calculated in his mind:
An initial range of one kilometer, and after cultivating to Titled Douluo, nine Spirit Rings would add nine kilometers, totaling ten kilometers.
If he were to unleash his Martial Soul True Body, the coverage range of his third Spirit Skill would double, making it twenty kilometers!
Ge Long, still in shock, glanced at Lin Rong beside him and sighed, "My dear nephew, you truly came prepared. I admit, I cannot refuse a genius Spirit Master with such a divine skill."
"No wonder you were so confident. With this divine skill, it's incredibly easy for this child to win the support of all the soldiers."
"It seems my position as Grand Marshal won't last many more years before I have to cede it to this child."
On the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes; when combat begins, it's either you die or I live.
Every time the soldiers go to the battlefield, they are walking a tightrope between life and death.
Especially the lowest-ranking soldiers, their chances of survival on the battlefield are slim, and even describing it as "nine deaths and one life" would be counting one's blessings.
At a time like this, Ma Hongjun's third Spirit Ring, Heavenly Phoenix Profound Sound, with its effects beyond the brief crowd control during skill release.
Whether it's boosting morale, providing a three percent all-attribute boost, or offering continuous minor healing, any one of these three effects alone could significantly increase the soldiers' chances of survival on the battlefield.
And when these three effects are combined, unless the opposing enemy force is a Spirit Master legion, it will be a completely crushing battle.
Ma Hongjun's Spirit Skill greatly enhances the soldiers' chances of survival on the battlefield, naturally earning him the heartfelt support of all the soldiers.
At that time, with Ma Hongjun's prestige within the army, even if he wasn't the Grand Marshal, he could defy orders, lead all the soldiers to openly disobey the Heaven Dou Emperor's command, and still come out unscathed.
As long as Ma Hongjun doesn't raise an army to rebel, the Heaven Dou Emperor will choose to turn a blind eye due to his prestige within the army.
Moreover, raising an army to rebel would tarnish Ma Hongjun's image in the hearts of the soldiers.
Therefore, if Lin Rong wants to seize the Heaven Dou throne, he can only shift the blame for the destruction of the Heaven Dou imperial family onto Qian Renxue.
To minimize the risk of retaliation from Spirit Hall, he also needs to shift the blame for disrupting Qian Renxue's plan onto Tang San, making him help attract Spirit Hall's hatred and firepower.
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