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Looking at the Tianyuan Brush in his hand, Xu Yuan gained a profound understanding of the path he would take in the future.
Spear techniques were undoubtedly his strongest weapon.
Even if his Tianyuan Brush martial soul evolved, Xu Yuan would never abandon this path.
His brain martial soul provided him with his greatest advantage—powerful spiritual strength.
The strength of his spirit and its ability to aid in cultivation were unparalleled.
Now, the Tianyuan Brush had also found its purpose.
"The Tianyuan Brush will gather materials for me."
The abilities to replicate and materialize allowed Xu Yuan to quickly experience the powers of other martial souls and spirit beasts firsthand, further refining his spear techniques.
However, this time, after replicating Mo Jue's martial soul and soul skills, Xu Yuan's goal wasn't to perfect his spear techniques but to enhance the Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique.
"It's been a long time since the Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique was last improved. I wonder if Senior Mo's third soul skill's devouring effect will be useful."
Xu Yuan waved the Tianyuan Brush, drawing a stroke across the spatial scroll in front of him. The image of a black swan appeared on the paper.
This wasn't something he drew himself—it was a replication of the Black Swan martial soul.
After some thought, Xu Yuan allowed the paper spirit soul to merge with his body.
Xu Yuan's appearance began to change. A pair of wings spread from his back, and black feathers rapidly covered his body. Waves of dark energy emanated from him.
"So this is what it feels like to have a beast-type martial soul?"
It was somewhat regrettable that despite having three martial souls, Xu Yuan had never experienced the sensation of a beast-type martial soul attaching to his body.
Now, feeling the enhancement brought by the beast-type martial soul for the first time, he couldn't help but marvel.
"The innate physical superiority of beast-type martial souls isn't without reason."
Each time a beast-type martial soul attached to his body, his base attributes were doubled, not to mention the additional boosts from self-strengthening soul skills.
In truth, any beast-type martial soul could enhance physical attributes more easily than martial soul masters who specialized in weapon-type martial souls.
As cultivation progressed and soul power levels increased, the fusion between the martial soul and the body deepened, and the feedback from the martial soul itself grew stronger.
Weapon-type martial soul masters would eventually catch up later, using their connection with their weapon-type martial souls to distribute damage to their weapons and strengthen their bodies through their martial soul's power.
But that only happened once they reached the Soul Sage level and possessed their true martial soul form.
"If I get the chance, I should replicate Yang Nianxia's Dark Golden Bear martial soul and experience the sensation of the bear attaching to my body. It should help improve my physique and blood essence even further."
Xu Yuan made a mental note of this action and then began testing Mo Jue's Black Swan martial soul's soul skills.
"First soul skill, Weakening Curse—this can complement my Seven Forbidden Techniques."
"Second soul skill, Dark Magic Flame—a dual attack that burns both the spirit and the physical body. Though it doesn't align well with my abilities, it's still worth studying. Perhaps I can develop my own blood essence flames and life force flames."
"Third soul skill, Darkness Erosion—this is the most valuable to me. It contains the most primal force of darkness-based devouring."
Xu Yuan tested each soul skill one by one, focusing particularly on the third soul skill.
As dark elements converged, the wings on Xu Yuan's back suddenly spread wide. With a flap, a ring of dark green light emerged, swallowing everything in front of him, even seemingly devouring a portion of space itself.
Xu Yuan's eyes flickered as he carefully analyzed the entire process of the devouring force.
His powerful spiritual strength allowed him to clearly sense the devouring force contained within the dark green ring, making it easier for him to comprehend the essence of this ability.
"Darkness devours everything, but I don't possess the dark attribute. Still, I can borrow from its principles."
If darkness could erode everything, it naturally gained the ability to devour.
What abilities did Xu Yuan possess that could erode everything?
He reflected on his own powers.
Waving the Tianyuan Brush in his hand, the five elemental forces converged.
"The Five Elements encompass all things."
The Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—are the foundation of creation, working in harmony with yin and yang to form the essence of all things.
When all Five Elements are present, their mutual generation and restraint can evolve into the natural world. When combined with yin and yang attributes, the Five Elements can create and transform everything.
Conversely, all things can be contained within the Five Elements.
Wasn't this another form of devouring?
Xu Yuan pondered deeply, adding a new direction to the development of his Tianyuan Five Elements Spear.
Using the Five Elements as a foundation, evolving yin and yang, devouring everything, and achieving supremacy!
Returning to the main point.
Xu Yuan carefully studied the third soul skill of the Black Swan, analyzing the principle behind Darkness Erosion and contemplating whether it could be applied to the Five Elements.
This wasn't an answer that could be reached overnight, but fortunately, he had his dreamscape.
After gaining some insights, he entered the dreamscape, pulling the paper spirit soul into it. He allowed the replicated Black Swan martial soul to merge with his consciousness and tested the Darkness Erosion soul skill within the dreamscape.
Xu Yuan didn't forget to replicate the Dark Golden Bear as well. Frequent attachments indeed had a positive effect on improving his blood essence and physical conditioning.
Fortunately, he acted quickly. After replicating the martial souls of the two seniors, they had already returned home.
Vacation.
"It's about time to go home and visit."
Xu Yuan felt a sense of joy in his heart.
In previous holidays, it wasn't that he hadn't gone home, but over the past two years, he hadn't returned because his uncle Xu Shengqun had gone missing. Returning home alone, he simply chose to stay at the academy instead.
Now that his uncle had returned, he naturally had to go home.
Moreover, he had learned from his uncle that he now had a younger brother. This was the perfect opportunity to meet him.
"Class Monitor, want to head back together?" Tang Wulin approached Xu Yuan.
He remembered that Xu Yuan was from Tianhai City, so their routes coincided. They could buy tickets for the same soul-guided train.
"You're going back too?" Xu Yuan reflexively asked.
If he remembered correctly, Tang Wulin's adoptive parents should currently be missing.
"Yeah, I have some matters to attend to," Tang Wulin nodded.
"By the way, Xie Xie and Xiaoyan are coming along too."
(T/N: Almost typed it as Xiao Yan out of reflex lol)
Xu Yuan shook his head.
He didn't dare ride the same soul-guided train as Tang Wulin.
"I'll pass—I have my own means of transportation." He summoned his mech.
Tang Wulin looked envious.
"I almost forgot, Class Monitor has such a mech."
He silently resolved that if he had time, he'd go to the Mech Association to custom-order a mech for himself.
Even if it couldn't match his class monitor's mech, it would at least make a decent mode of transportation.
Xu Yuan entered his mech and shot into the sky, heading toward Tianhai City.
Mid-flight, Xu Yuan felt slightly puzzled.
What was Tang Wulin doing returning to Donghai City?
Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it.
The mech's flight speed was naturally faster than the soul-guided train.
In just one day, Xu Yuan arrived at Tianhai City.
The mech landed in the courtyard of the Xu family estate. As Xu Yuan opened the cockpit, he was greeted by his uncle Xu Shengqun, his aunt Ye Yuan, and a chubby little boy.
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