"Why?" Salas frowned.
"Because I want to participate in the next Continental Soul Master Tournament." Yang Yunhai replied, "Our Spirit Hall only sends one team. With my current strength, I don't think I can squeeze in. That's why I want to find an academy team around Heaven Dou City to join."
"Lord Bishop, the reason I dared to risk drawing lightning into my body, and the reason I dared to attempt absorbing soul rings beyond my level, isn't only because I'm an orphan with no family, so if I died it wouldn't matter. There's another, even more important reason—I want to walk further down the path of a soul master and keep becoming stronger."
"I believe that fighting different soul masters is the best way to temper myself. So this tournament, I don't want to miss it." His expression was extremely serious.
"Why cling so tightly to this one? With your talent, the next tournament would be your stage to shine." Salas asked.
"The opponents in the next one would be different." Yang Yunhai said softly.
Salas fell silent.
After a moment, like something occurred to him, he asked, "Have you decided which academy you want to go to?"
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Lord Bishop, what do you think?" Yang Yunhai replied, "From what I've heard on my way here, the competitive teams near Heaven Dou City right now are the Five Element Academies and this year's Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Canghui Academy is said to be strong too, but I heard their specialty is illusions, which obviously doesn't suit me. The Five Element Academies focus on single attributes—I probably wouldn't even be admitted, so that's out."
"As for academies with strong sect backgrounds, I don't dare go. I'm worried that once I join, it'll be hard to leave later."
"So after weighing all this, Heaven Dou Royal Academy seems the most suitable."
"Your reasoning is sound." Salas nodded slightly, then said, "Very well, I agree."
If it were some other academy, he might have had to think twice. But Heaven Dou Royal Academy? That was under that person's control. With Yang Yunhai's soul skill and martial soul ability, he could help that academy achieve results, which in turn would boost that person's reputation, and that was exactly what suited that person's plans.
"Thank you, Lord Bishop." Yang Yunhai said at once.
Salas nodded, then gestured toward the nearby sofa. "Sit down. There are still some things I need to ask you clearly."
"Alright." Yang Yunhai nodded, turning to sit.
Soon, both were seated as before.
"First question," Salas began seriously, "do you think this lightning-tempering method of cultivation can be promoted on a large scale?"
Having endured countless lightning strikes himself, Yang Yunhai was the most qualified to answer.
"I think it'd be difficult." Yang Yunhai answered without hesitation. "The hardest part of drawing lightning into the body is making sure the current passes through smoothly, with most of the energy flowing into the ground, leaving only a tiny amount inside without causing fatal damage. And even that depends on physical tolerance and affinity to lightning."
"In my case, I suspect it's because I was struck by lightning when I was very young, which caused my martial soul to mutate. That mutation must be why lightning passes through me smoothly each time. And why I can actively draw it down in the first place."
He had long suspected two possibilities.
One: his body and martial soul carried lightning energy, turning him into a human conductor, making it easier for lightning to pass through.
Two: it was tied to his soul. Since his previous life ended by lightning, his soul might have carried that mark, mutating when he reincarnated. He didn't know the details, but being so easily struck, and later able to summon lightning, seemed too much of a coincidence. If that mutation also allowed him to guide the current through his body, then that explained his survival.
'So, a mutated martial soul caused by accident?' Salas frowned.
If that was the case, then it could not be replicated or spread.
"Even if most soul masters can't channel natural lightning, Lord Bishop," Yang Yunhai added, "I think a fallback could be to try with those who have lightning-attribute martial souls. Let them imitate it and see the results."
"After all, the reason lightning strengthens the body is essentially because lightning energy stimulates the flesh."
Salas nodded slowly, then said with rare praise, "Yang Yunhai, you truly have a gift for theoretical research."
"I'll report this idea to Her Holiness the Pope." Then his tone shifted, "Second question. Is your soul power able to heal? Just now, when I examined you, I felt your soul power contained strong vitality. I've only sensed this in healing-type support soul masters."
"Yes." Yang Yunhai admitted readily. "My soul power does carry some healing effect. It was very weak before, but after my martial soul evolved, it grew stronger."
Since he was part of Spirit Hall now, it was the right time to show his value.
'So he really does have it!' Salas thought in surprise.
Control, lightning attack, and now healing. A martial soul that could control, strike, and heal—it was practically all-purpose. The healing was weak for now, but if he kept absorbing rings, it could easily strengthen.
His evaluation of Yang Yunhai rose another level.
In the soul master world, the rarest and most valuable were food-type and healing-type soul masters.
For armies, they were priceless. Wars were always about supply lines and treating the wounded. A single healer could save untold medicine and lives.
Without hesitation, Salas lifted his right hand and dragged his thumb across his index finger, leaving a shallow cut. "Go ahead, channel your soul power, let me see the effect."
"Alright." Yang Yunhai pressed his palm over the wound, releasing soul power.
In just a few seconds, the bleeding stopped. The flesh scabbed over, then the scab peeled, revealing fresh new skin, barely marked.
"This—!" Salas was stunned. 'And he called this weak?'
It might not match a specialized healer of the same rank, but the effect and speed were already impressive.
'Spirit Hall has really picked up a treasure.'
He said aloud, "A very fine healing ability."
"Now for the last question."
Salas leaned forward. "Regarding the theory you submitted. You know we will reward you for it. Since you don't plan to follow me to Spirit City, you can name what you want as your reward. I will report it along with your theory to Her Holiness."
Considering Yang Yunhai's youth, he added, "Don't hold back. Be bold. You earned it. Spirit Hall never shortchanges those who make contributions."
(End of Chapter)
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