Chapter 86: The Revelation
Half an hour passed, and even Ye Wen, with his extraordinary stamina, felt exhausted. He scanned Ah Ba's body one last time with his soul power his injuries had finally been mended.
After administering a diluted dose of Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum essence, Ah Ba's internal injuries began healing rapidly, and the newly stitched wounds were recovering at an accelerated rate.
As the door to the operating room opened, Chen Youyu finally breathed a sigh of relief, watching her brother lie peacefully on a gurney. Ye Wen instructed her with a steady tone.
"His injuries are treated, but for the next month, you'll need to keep a close eye on him. Don't let him roam or do any physical training, and certainly no fighting. The life energy here in the Blue Silver Forest will help him recover, but if he overexerts himself, his wounds will reopen and cause even worse damage."
Chen Youyu bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Master."
"No need for that. You're family now. Take him back to rest. Once he wakes tomorrow, come find me I'll lay out a training path for both of you."
"Yes, Master," she replied.
The next morning, Ah Ba and Chen Youyu approached Ye Wen, thanking him and asking for guidance in their future cultivation.
"First, Youyu, your martial spirit has innate flaws, so reaching Soul Grandmaster at your age is proof of your dedication. But relentless training only gets a soul master to their minimum potential. To break past your limits, you need to unlock hidden potential through other means," Ye Wen said, addressing her directly.
Surprisingly, Ye Wen hadn't started with Ah Ba, who possessed greater natural talent. Instead, he began explaining to his younger sister. Chen Youyu accepted her limits without protest and listened attentively, already admiring Ye Wen's famed theory, The Source Principle, which had become widely respected across the continent.
"So, you don't need to fret about soul rings for now. Follow the path you've set focus on wind elemental soul beasts for future rings," Ye Wen continued. "But keep in mind, even among wind attributes, there's a hierarchy. Now, tell me which soul beasts provided your current rings. That'll help me plan your training more effectively."
"My first ring came from a three hundred year Sword Willow. My school's instructor suggested that sword type martial spirits should develop ranged abilities early on, and I gained my Sword Qi skill."
"That's reasonable, even if it isn't the most optimal choice," Ye Wen nodded.
"My second ring came from a five hundred year Qing Ling Bird. It granted my second skill, Song of the Gale, which boosts my overall speed by twenty percent," she added.
While her rings were not at maximum capacity, for a civilian born soul master like Chen Youyu, they were impressive. However, these two soul beasts had conflicting natures, limiting her potential slightly. Still, Ye Wen knew it wasn't a major setback, as early soul rings often offered limited benefits. Later on, soul masters often stopped using century level soul skills entirely, as their core principles could be reproduced with soul power alone.
After pondering, Ye Wen offered his advice. "Though your rings came from different beasts, it's not a problem. From now on, you should look for bird type wind elemental soul beasts for future rings. But as a sword wielding soul master, remember that martial spirits and soul rings provide little enhancement. True mastery comes from your own cultivation. That's why you'll train in the Six Forms I created, which will significantly improve your foundation. Eventually, you'll develop your own unique soul techniques personal techniques that are both low cost and tailor made for you."
"Thank you, Master," Chen Youyu said gratefully.
Ye Wen then turned his attention to Ah Ba. Instead of asking about his soul rings, he posed a question.
"What's your view on your martial spirit?" he asked.
Ah Ba grinned in his usual straightforward manner. "It's a sturdy blade, and it feels great for cutting down enemies."
"Is that so?" Ye Wen chuckled. Ordinary people tended to shy away from admitting to such desires. Ah Ba's frankness, in a way, reflected an unfiltered honesty.
Ye Wen continued, "A martial spirit is a curious thing. It's not just a tool for growth; it's also an element that can shape a soul master's life. I once studied twenty soul masters with frog type spirits. Before awakening their martial spirits, they were normal children lively, but nothing out of the ordinary. After awakening, though, they developed an unusual appetite for insects. Similarly, soul masters with snail type spirits took on a sluggish demeanor, while those with tiger or wolf spirits grew to love meat. Meanwhile, those with herbivorous spirits tend to prefer vegetarian diets.
"But this influence is more pronounced with beast type spirits, while tool spirits usually leave a soul master's personality intact. However, your Remnant Blade martial spirit, while low in innate power, has pushed you into an extreme bloodlust. That's... unusual."
While Ah Ba wasn't unintelligent, his combat driven life had left him somewhat oblivious to theory. He asked bluntly, "So what? It's worked for me so far. This bloodthirst has helped me reach thirty eight ranks at my age. Training by the book would be slower than watching grass grow."
Ah Ba grumbled, clearly dissatisfied with the slow progress of conventional cultivation.
"Indeed. But have you ever considered that you've become enslaved to your own martial spirit?" Ye Wen replied. "What separates us as humans is the ability to control our desires, knowing when to push and when to hold back. When you let unrestrained urges control you, you risk losing yourself."
Ye Wen's meaningful glance hit home, and Ah Ba's expression turned thoughtful.
"So, this approach is wrong?" he asked, tentatively.
"What do you think?" Ye Wen's gaze was penetrating. "Without discipline, you'll be consumed by your spirit's bloodlust, becoming a rogue soul master hunted by the Soul Palace."
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