After reading nearly a thousand theoretical books on soul skills and martial spirits, Zhu Ziyang gradually categorized self-created soul skills into three distinct levels.
The first level involves expanding or innovating upon soul skills derived from soul rings. This is the simplest type — any soul master sufficiently familiar with their soul skills can do it. Generally speaking, this level isn't even recognized by high-level soul masters as true self-created soul skills.
The second level is based on developing and creating techniques that leverage the unique traits and capabilities of one's martial spirit. This requires deep understanding and control over the martial spirit. Zhu Ziyang currently operated within this level.
The final and highest level is completely independent of both soul skills and martial spirits. These abilities rely solely on training and refining one's soul power, spiritual power, or physical strength. Once developed, they are known as combat techniques. Such techniques can be passed down for generations as top-tier legacies. The most classic example is the Haotian Clan's "Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique." This is undoubtedly the most difficult to achieve, and throughout Douluo Continent's history, only a few have succeeded. Zhu Ziyang felt honored knowing he might meet one of them one day — the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Zhu Ziyang had a clear goal for his self-created skill — to develop a complete scythe technique.
To achieve this, he consulted over a thousand records and notes from soul masters specializing in polearms. He also studied numerous military manuals on training with long-handled weapons. After synthesizing combat principles from scythes, spears, halberds, staffs, cudgels, sabers, and poleaxes, he eventually created eleven foundational scythe moves.
Over nearly a year of refinement, he honed those eleven into five distinct scythe techniques, which he named the Zhu Clan's Five Scythe Techniques.
The First Style: Two Forms Rotating Slash.
Zhu Ziyang spins his scythe rapidly to form a circle, then throws it at high speed, transforming it into a kind of boomerang. As it travels, it generates a suction force, pulling in and shredding nearby enemies. In his ultimate vision, this technique would merge both the power of light and death, becoming a vortex of destruction — the Light and Death Spiral.
Unfortunately, Zhu Ziyang could currently only perform the first stage — throwing and retrieving the scythe while spinning. Integrating the power of light was barely manageable, but merging the power of death was still a theory, let alone combining both simultaneously.
He had used this move to kill the thousand-year Blazing Mantis.
The Second Style: Ninefold Chain Slash.
This style focuses on slashing nine times in rapid succession. Each slash is faster and stronger than the last, ultimately overwhelming the opponent. Zhu Ziyang envisioned that the ninth strike could even sever space itself. At his current level, he could manage four slashes at most.
The Third Style: Crescent of Death.
Leaping high into the air, Zhu Ziyang grips his scythe with both hands and swings it downward in a wide arc, forming a crescent-shaped energy blade that crashes down from the sky. In his vision, this attack should combine light and death, becoming a beautiful yet deadly moonlight that withers enemies in silence. Currently, he could produce one crescent slash with a power about double that of his first soul skill. If he infused light power, the strength could triple or even quadruple.
The Fourth Style: Four-Direction Defense.
This is a defensive technique that utilizes the scythe's double-edged blade, circular sub-blade, and spear tip to parry and counter in close combat. This move heavily tests his mastery over the weapon. Currently, it was the most complete of all five techniques.
The Fifth Style: Primordial Convergence.
In theory, this was a supreme slash that combines all his soul skills into one simple yet devastating strike. Zhu Ziyang envisioned merging all the powers of light and death into a single blow. However, this technique remained a mere concept, as he had not yet figured out how to truly fuse those two forces.
Although light and death weren't directly opposed like fire and ice, or light and darkness, they were still inherently incompatible. Their only similarity lay in their purifying traits — but even those were vastly different in nature. For Zhu Ziyang to fuse them, he had a long road ahead.
His only reference point was his own martial spirit, the Radiant Scythe, which somehow naturally harmonized the powers of light and death. Understanding how it achieved this was the key.
A long journey lies ahead.
Zhu Ziyang let out a sigh.
—
As dusk fell, Zhu Ziyang, after a full day of practice, began heading home.
Just as he approached Borth River Village, he suddenly heard a deep, low roar echoing behind him. Stopping in his tracks, he turned and discovered the roar came from deep within the rear mountains.
Curiosity piqued, Zhu Ziyang decided to investigate.
The rear mountains of Borth River Village belonged to the outermost perimeter of the Northern Mountain Range, bordering the Extreme North Icefield. Every year, soul beasts from the outer range would sometimes wander in. As a result, the city lord Hong Zhen led forces annually to drive them out and protect nearby villages. Just a month ago, soul masters from Anyang had cleared this region, so theoretically, no soul beasts should have appeared so soon.
Puzzled but vigilant, Zhu Ziyang pressed on. He was confident he could handle any soul beast under ten thousand years. Even if it was stronger, he could still escape without much difficulty.
After all, what ten-thousand-year soul beast would willingly live in such a barren place? The environment and resources here weren't even good enough for thousand-year beasts — only a few hundred-year ones found it tolerable.
So, Zhu Ziyang boldly advanced.
Following the roars, he arrived at a small cave roughly a hundred meters from his usual training spot. The entrance, hidden behind thick foliage, had escaped his notice until now.
As he drew closer, the roars grew clearer. He could now tell that they carried a note of weakness — the beast was injured, badly so.
Zhu Ziyang quickly deduced that this must be a heavily wounded soul beast that had fled here. Judging from the sound, it was likely a thousand-year-level creature.
He decided to investigate.
Pushing aside the leaves, a small opening emerged — just big enough for a six-year-old child. For his nearly 1.7-meter frame, it was clearly too narrow. He had to stoop down. At the entrance, he spotted dried blood trailing into the dark cave.
After a moment's thought, Zhu Ziyang hunched down and entered. The cave was cramped and narrow, clearly not a natural formation. It looked freshly dug. After walking in three or four meters, he reached the end. Beyond it was a slightly larger chamber.
And then, Zhu Ziyang froze.
Or rather — his legs buckled, nearly sending him to his knees.
At this moment, he had only one thought.
Run. Fast.
What… what had he just seen?
(End of Chapter)
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