Douluo: Brains Over Bloodline

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"Teacher is free now," Xu Yuan said.

Xu Shengqun paced a few steps, contemplating the specific operation of luring out their enemies, and began discussing it with Xu Yuan.

"Xiao Tian, how's your spear technique practice going?"

Xu Yuan came to the backyard and saw the little boy diligently swinging his wooden spear. Unable to resist, he asked.

"Hmph, ha!"

To show off, Xiao Tian dragged his wooden spear toward Xu Yuan, then turned around and swung it down forcefully. Xu Yuan dodged, and Xiao Tian thrust forward again.

Xu Yuan caught the wooden spear with one hand.

"Not bad. You've mastered the basic spear techniques quite well."

Xiao Tian wrinkled his nose.

"Big Brother, but I feel like spear techniques are only these basic moves. Could there really be anything more advanced?"

Hearing his question, Xu Yuan smiled and clarified for him.

"You're right. Spear techniques ultimately boil down to these few basic moves. However, the transitions between each move can vary infinitely. A soul master's grasp of timing is also crucial. Finding the moment to deliver a fatal strike is often the key to whether a soul master's spear technique is truly powerful."

"Of course, aside from timing, there's also the application of strength. The same sweeping motion, with different soul power enhancements, can produce vastly different effects. You'll understand this once you gain your martial soul and soul skills."

Xiao Tian still wrinkled his nose, clearly not fully grasping the answer.

Once I have soul skills, I'll understand?

Xiao Tian couldn't comprehend it yet.

Whether from Xu Shengqun or Xu Yuan, the answers he received were always the same.

But how much variation could soul power bring to spear techniques?

Xu Yuan patted Xiao Tian's head and didn't elaborate further.

The wonders of soul power can only be understood once you truly master it.

As for what soul power could do to spear techniques, even seeing it firsthand wouldn't compare to experiencing it in combat and personal practice.

From an external perspective, the same thrust could bring completely different sensations.

Take Xu Yuan's spear techniques, for example—most of them were straightforward thrusts, but every strike was imbued with terrifying ambient energy.

Facing his spear meant facing the entire world, the forces of the five elements, the surging blood essence of ferocious beasts, and the intense mental impact.

This was the application of strength.

The thrusting motion might look the same, but the use of soul power, blood essence, and spiritual force made the spear techniques evolve.

After two more days of preparation in Tianhai City, Xu Yuan and Xu Shengqun returned to Shrek together.

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Shrek Academy, Sea God Island

"Congratulations," Yun Ming said to Xu Shengqun.

A Limit Douluo represents the endpoint of soul power cultivation for soul masters.

No matter how you look at it, it's one of the pinnacles of the entire Douluo Plane.

Xu Shengqun had just broken through. With his conditions, he only needed a few years of consolidation before reaching quasi-god status.

Currently, Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua's physical condition would struggle to forge another set of four-word battle armor, but Xu Yuan was a promising candidate Divine Craftsman. If all went well, Xu Shengqun would also become a four-word battle armor master in the future.

Four-word battle armor master, quasi-god—such strength placed him among the top tier.

Consider this: even Qiangu Dongfeng, the Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda, held immense power over the continent despite being at the quasi-god level.

"I heard Elder Feng has also refined his forging techniques. I hope you'll convey my congratulations," Xu Shengqun said.

After exchanging pleasantries, they moved on to the main topic.

"Leng Yulai? One of the Four Great Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Sect?"

Yun Ming listened to Xu Yuan's recounting, his expression remaining calm throughout.

But when he heard how Xu Yuan had survived, his lips twitched slightly.

"How did you know all this?"

I certainly didn't casually reveal it. Ya Li is here on Sea God Island. If she finds out, it'll be troublesome.

"Of course, it's from researching evil soul masters," Xu Yuan said with a smile.

After the first academic year ended, he had looked up information on evil soul masters in the academy's archives and also asked Yun Ming about it.

In fact, they had even discussed soul masters with the Dark Phoenix martial soul—Leng Yulai.

"We only talked about martial souls that could fall due to improper cultivation," Yun Ming firmly stated.

That was absolutely as far as their discussion went.

"Mm, those were things I investigated myself. As for her conflict with the Sky Phoenix Douluo stemming from a misunderstanding, I secretly read about it in my father's diary when I was young. My father once discussed it with the Sky Phoenix Douluo."

Why would your father discuss this with the Sky Phoenix Douluo?

And why would the Sky Phoenix Douluo tell your father these things?

Yun Ming was speechless.

It must be said that both father and son shared a passion for studying evil soul masters.

"By the way, I haven't asked—why are you researching evil soul masters?"

Yun Ming was genuinely curious.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and decided to demonstrate.

"Evil soul masters aren't necessarily evil—it's their methods that appear evil. In reality, their rapid increase in soul power and overwhelming strength stem from the mutation of their martial souls, which possess certain unique factors."

Xu Yuan raised his right hand, and a green light appeared.

The green light merged into Yun Ming's body.

Yun Ming furrowed his brows.

He felt it—the green light clinging to his spiritual sea.

Under his suppression, the green light merely adhered to the surface of his spiritual sea.

"This green light is the final desperate measure of an evil soul master who called himself the Plague Bringer. It was used on me at the time. While it wasn't fatally lethal, it could attach to the target's spiritual power, affecting their physical blood essence and gradually weakening their bodily state. It could even interfere with their soul power cultivation, worsening over time."

Xu Yuan activated the green light, and Yun Ming felt its effects.

His body was slightly influenced.

"The mechanism of the green light works by triggering a certain medium—a medium that influences the body through the spirit."

This was related to willpower.

"I've also studied the martial soul of another evil soul master—their martial soul is Blood Demon, capable of stripping bloodlines and drawing out the essence within."

This was tied to the medium through which soul power affects bloodlines.

Specific details were still unclear to Xu Yuan.

In a sense, every evil soul master was a treasure trove. Understanding the essence of their martial souls was akin to having a man-made cheat.

This was Yun Ming's first time witnessing the application of an evil soul master's abilities.

"Your father was probably studying this too. I remember he even used the resources of the Spirit Pagoda to capture some evil soul masters. If you can find the research materials he left behind, you'll likely make significant progress."

Xu Shengqun spoke up at this point.

"My father's research materials? Are they in the Spirit Pagoda?"

"No." Xu Shengqun shook his head. "This research was his private achievement, which he concealed. But where he hid it, I don't know—or perhaps there were no records at all. Everything might have been destroyed."

Xu Yuan felt a tinge of disappointment.

He had hoped to take a shortcut.

Honestly, standing on the shoulders of his father, a giant in his own right, Xu Yuan had never walked an easy path without success.

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