Chapter 52: Martial Soul Attribute Detector
Calmly sipping his tea, Ye Wen considered who might be seeking him out on Spirit Hall's territory. Only a few powers would have the courage and clout to do so: either the top three sects or one of the two great empires. Yet the royal families, with their long held traditions, were unlikely to look for him so urgently. This left only the top sects, specifically the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, known for their pride and formidable martial soul.
But with Yu Xiaogang, the clan's lesser known but problematic son, things changed. As the son of the clan's only Titled Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang's lack of progress surely embarrassed his proud family. Nodding to himself, Ye Wen guessed his services were wanted to address this issue. It made sense but also made him wary. Setting down his tea, he gestured for the cloaked guard to lead the way.
As Ye Wen walked openly with his escort, other powers observing him in Spirit City took note and quickly reported back to their own factions.
"Heh, the old dragon finally swallowed his pride. But can that wastrel even be helped?" scoffed one influential onlooker.
"Quite audacious does he expect that poor master to find a cure for his son?" remarked another.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is already a top tier power. If they can't cultivate him into something respectable by now, then no one can," concluded a third, shaking his head.
Upon arriving at the clan's temporary residence, Ye Wen noticed the towering figure of Yu Yuanzhen seated imposingly in the center of the reception hall. Unintentionally, he felt a twinge of apprehension. Martial souls with lightning elements often made their bearers temperamental, and he knew Yu Yuanzhen's famed "Thunder Fury" well enough to tread carefully.
"Master Ye Wen," Yu Yuanzhen said, his tone deep and guarded, "I trust you can already guess why I've invited you here." His gaze was intense as he glanced at Yu Xiaogang, who stood off to the side.
Nodding, Ye Wen cast a quick glance at the young master. Yu Yuanzhen continued, "If you can find a way to correct his martial soul's deficiency, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will owe you a favor."
A favor from a Titled Douluo was tempting indeed. But Ye Wen noticed, with some irritation, that no one had invited him to sit. They clearly considered themselves superior despite asking for his help. He held back his resentment, mindful of Yu Yuanzhen's pride.
To keep things professional, Ye Wen took a small copper disc from his pocket and handed it to Yu Xiaogang. "This," he said, "is a prototype I created a rudimentary soul tool called a Martial Soul Attribute Detector. It analyzes the martial soul's elemental composition. Please channel your soul power into it."
Yu Xiaogang followed instructions, infusing his soul power into the disc. Immediately, a golden and a violet metal sphere on the device lit up. Ye Wen examined it briefly and then gestured for Yu Xiaogang to return the tool.
"Given these results, I have a clearer picture. Despite your son's setbacks, his martial soul should at least allow him to surpass rank 30 by now. His issues stem from incorrect soul ring choices. I suspect that his martial soul originally held only a light attribute, yet he was given soul rings from lightning based soul beasts."
Yu Yuanzhen stiffened. Ye Wen's diagnosis precisely matched Yu Xiaogang's situation. When Yu Xiaogang first showed signs of difficulty cultivating, his soul rings were chosen from lightning aligned beasts as was customary in the clan. Only later did the clan realize that his martial soul deviated from the norm, manifesting as an inferior version with weak attributes.
Yu Yuanzhen spoke up, his voice tense. "And what does that mean? Is there a solution?"
Ye Wen didn't respond immediately. "Tell me, Your Excellency, have you read my work On the Essence of Martial Souls?"
Yu Yuanzhen shook his head. "I've heard of it, but I've had no time to read it myself. If there's something worth explaining, go ahead, Master Ye."
Standing silently, Yu Xiaogang seemed to realize something, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Ye Wen explained. "In that text, I propose that soul masters should prioritize soul beasts whose attributes match their martial soul's core. This not only increases martial soul compatibility but can gradually enhance the martial soul itself. In some cases, after enough soul rings with a certain affinity, the martial soul may even evolve. Take, for example, a soul master with a basic wolf martial soul who continuously absorbs soul rings from wind aligned wolf beasts. By his third or fourth ring, his martial soul could shift into a Wind Wolf form, elevating his power and potentially passing on these new traits to descendants."
Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang both listened intently.
Ye Wen continued, "I even experimented with one of my own disciples. She originally possessed a Blue Silver Grass martial soul. After hunting rings from plants with high vitality and absorbing a Blue Silver Vine spirit beast, her martial soul evolved into Blue Silver Vine. While it's still only a common martial soul, she's taken the first step toward refining what was once a trash tier soul."
"Then… my son?" Yu Yuanzhen asked, his tone nearly pleading.
"Yes," Ye Wen replied, "Yu Xiaogang is stuck at rank 30 because he absorbed incompatible soul rings. Had his rings aligned with his martial soul's primary light attribute, his growth might have been entirely different."
(End of Chapter)
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