The Douluo world is blessed with the existence of Martial Souls. These gifts allow a human being to master the supernatural forces and rise against the heavens. However, even among these martial souls, various categories were already born. One of the major characterizations is Beast/Tool Martial Soul. The other one is 'Good' and Trash spirits. Then comes the variations.
In the world of Spirit Masters, there is a trait known as Twin Spirits where an individual is able to use two martial souls with one body. The records on such individuals are extremely short because there are less than ten known users of twin spirits in the records of the continent. There might be others but nobody knows what may have happened to them.
Just like Twin Spirits, there is another trait— Enlightenment. In this world, there exist Martial Souls that can display innate intelligence. In the tome of bloodline, these forms of Martial Souls are considered extremely potent. Ja Sun had read about only two enlightened martial souls in that tome. One was named Evil Eye Sword, and the other one was titled: Wisteria of Passion.
The reason why these forms of martial souls are so potent is not because of their intelligence itself, but because of their latent potential. An innately intelligent martial soul can affect a human's body at a young age so instinctively, the souls of these spirit masters shackle the newly originated enlightened martial souls. At the age of awakening, these kinds of Martial souls are only considered variants, and because these martial souls are blocked from the stage of infancy, most often than not, these martial souls are considered trash due to the slow speed of cultivation.
The dog-like martial soul in front of Ja Sun was one such specimen. Usually, the number of shackles does not exceed 3, but nothing is certain about these forms of martial souls. The only way described in tome is that the spirit master must face some fortuitous encounter and unshackle themselves.
"These martial souls can be considered... partially spirit beasts..." Ja Sun's eyes glowed for a moment. But without the incantations of the spirit master, this particular martial soul was quite useless even if it bore its fangs cruelly.
"The mission is completed. Now..." Ja Sun stepped forward and kicked the puppy out of his way with reluctance. After all, he might love to bully, but not puppies.
As the dog was flung back, the spirit master's body shuddered and Ja Sun frowned, 'Shared senses?' He concluded but it was simple speculation. Patting down the youth's body, Ja Sun didn't find anything aside from the belt with black stripes and nail-sized round pieces of jades inlaid.
'A storage essence tool,' Ja Sun instantly realized and he unbuckled the belt before pulling away. By now, the dog had returned with a loud bark.
"Let's see," Ja Sun hummed, sending his spirit energy inside the belt, and was surprised to find that each round jade represented a cubic meter of space and there were a total of 24 pieces. Unlike the ring with the huge space, this one was more beneficial for organizing and storing items and weapons needed daily.
Finally, Ja Sun pulled out a square red token with the nickname: Luo San Pao, etched on it. There were no merit points which made Ja Sun sigh.
But he wasn't done. He had quite a lot of time this time so he gazed at the cautious dog licking his master's face while barking towards Ja Sun occasionally.
'The martial soul has shared senses with the spirit master. Are there any limitations to distance? I did kick the poor guy pretty far away. Maybe the further apart the two of them are, the higher the consumption of spirit energy? The danger of such a martial soul is already apparent. Despite falling unconscious, the martial soul will continue to drain spirit energy until he is exhausted... or maybe not even then. It can be fatal...'
"But the thing I'm most interested in is if..." Ja Sun's eyes turned serene. He did not look at the martial soul as a dog but as a tool to further his understanding, it became significantly easier to commit what he was thinking.
A small purple ring moved around his finger and his fists and feet were surrounded by a sharp silver glow.
The Bright Goddess Butterfly in Ja Sun's space also revealed excitement. Stepping forward, Ja Sun struck the martial soul.
Other martial souls are not intelligent. He had never heard of any martial soul dying. But if nobody ever achieved it, this did not mean that he couldn't. With utmost brilliance in his eyes, Ja Sun's output wasn't lowered. His palm landed over the hog's body and instead of guiding the shock force, he instantly chose to explode it!
Whether the martial soul had internal organs or not, Ja Sun did not care. He only cared about the consequences of his action and much to his amazement, the martial soul gave a long howl. Its pupils turned vertical momentarily and a strange pressure enveloped Ja Sun. It was a meager pressure but strange nonetheless.
But the dog disappeared with a bang. Instead of the expected blood and gore, it dispersed in buzzing, electric light while a yellow crystal fell down.
Cautiously calling out Bright Goddess out, Ja Sun directed her to approach the thumb-sized yellow crystal. On the other hand, the spirit master's body was trembling continuously. Blood poured out of his facial orifices and his spiritual fluctuations continued to recede!
He was growing astonishingly weak.
Meanwhile, Ja Sun was even more shocked to find the yellow crystal being absorbed by the Bright Goddess Butterfly. Her cultivation rose drastically. By six hundred years, no less!
But it would seem that the day's surprises wouldn't end here as the spirit master suddenly roared.
*Raaagghhhhhhh*
Feeling guilty, Bright Goddess flashed into Ja Sun's brows while currents of blue lightning exploded out of the man's body, making his clothes turn into ash!
The arcs of lightning slowly congealed together and turned into an extremely exquisite, arm-length eastern dragon. Its blue scales more brilliant than dark sapphires while a thin horn with tiny arcs of lightning around the tip grew out of the middle of its head.
The lightning dragon rotated over the spirit master and then leisurely turned towards Ja Sun. Its eyes revealed hatred but Ja Sun could actually care less about it.
'Enlightened beasts... shackles... and six hundred years worth of cultivation...' His eyes glowed before he carefully memorized the man's features. Ja Sun felt like he had found an extremely great secret to cultivation and soul origins themselves!
*Aaannngggg*
With a sonorous roar, the blue lightning dragon opened its mouth and spat currents of electricity towards Ja Sun.
Flashing away, Ja Sun gazed at the man one last time and left. His stare was extremely weird. It was as if he was looking at a stalk of Aroma Silk Tulip.
A reusable cultivation resource!
---
"Ugh..." Yu Xiaogang slowly opened his eyes. A feeling of warmth and comfort passed through his body and he uttered a soft groan. His body made popping sounds as he slowly sat up. A feeling of strength and endurance made Xiaogang feel as if he was flying above the clouds!
'What happened?' He cautiously looked around but instinctively, he understood a few changes in his body. It was as if a very intimate part of himself had changed. And for the better. His gaze glimmered and before he could do anything, a cold voice shook him greatly.
"Yu Xiaogang, Origin: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Martial Soul: Luo San Pao. Age: 24. Special Nobility clause executed.
For the failure of the mission and losing the blood token, Yu Xiaogang will be barred from the war. If found otherwise, he will be executed."
Three individuals appeared in front of him. Two of them belonged to Spirit Hall while the last figure was actually a blonde youth. His facial features similar to Yu Xiaogang, but his robust body and majestic aura around him stated otherwise.
A sense of deep helplessness could be felt from the eyes of this particular man as he whispered softly, "Xiaogang..."
Xiaogang didn't need to hear anymore. He was aware of his circumstances but strangely... his heart felt wild and indignant. He revealed an equally wry look and smiled, "At least, I didn't die..." he muttered. Even being a noble, others aren't allowed to interfere in the war. His father knew it and still sent him here. If Xiaogang didn't know the blonde man in front of him, he would have felt that he was sent here to cut loose ties!
"Brother..." Xiaogang stood up. Naked. He didn't ask the blonde youth's assistance on the matter but looked straight at the two cardinals from the Spirit Hall.
Bowing slightly towards the two cardinals of Spirit Hall, Yu Xiaogang's words shocked the blonde man but the strange sense of vigor contained in his voice could no longer be restrained.
"The Spirit Hall will take any and every spirit master without any record of offense against the Hall. I want to enlist myself in the clergy, too."
"Xiao!" Yu Xiaogang's Brother called out, agitation clear in his voice while shockingly, six spirit rings appeared around his body!
"Young Lord Yu Shandian, please calm yourself. The noble clause only restricts the act of execution of noble relatives after their failures. We can recruit whoever we want in the ranks of failures," six spirit rings floated around the Cardinals, too!
Three sets of: Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, and black spirit rings, created an overbearing pressure but Yu Xiaogang had an odd glint in his eyes.
"Brother... Lord Father doesn't acknowledge me as a clan member much less his son. If it wasn't for you, I would have been exiled long ago. This bet... was merely an unreasonable cause to exile me.
Lord Cardinals, Brother, I vow on my Martial Soul that I will never reveal any information about Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but, if I'm shown kindness by the Spirit Hall, I will return it a hundred times more!"
As he said that, thick arcs of lightning spread out of his body. A pressure so faint yet dangerous locked onto the three spirit emperors, shocking them. From over his head, an actual blue lightning dragon appeared. It moved freely as if nothing could stop it. Its slick serpentine body revealing elegance that even made Yu Shandian enchanted for a moment.
If the Cardinals previously wanted Yu Xiaogang for his knowledge of one of the three greatest clans, then now, they wanted Yu Xiaogang just because of this rare martial soul!
If Ja Sun was present here, he would have the widest smile.
To reuse the Aroma Silk Tulip, it needed to be planted again. Similarly, to reuse this... beautiful being, it needed to be nurtured again. Heavily, if possible. And what other better place than Spirit Hall?
However, Yu Shandian's body trembled momentarily as he felt a strange sense of belonging towards the flying dragon.
But seeing the resolute expression on his face, recalling the injustice he had faced in the clan, Yu Shandian reluctantly stopped.
"Elder Brother... I have nothing I can give to the clan. Despite the maliciousness, the clan nurtured me. My father gave up on me, but you didn't."
Yu Xiaogang bowed to Shandian. His waist was bent completely, showing his sincerity.
"Next time, I hope to at least be able to match your strength, Brother."
---
Earning his 80 merit points of the mission, Ja Sun looked at the white-clothed receptionist in one of the merit rooms.
In just this single mission, he had attained a total of 126 merit points, easily covering the cost of the Aroma Silk Tulip. The next enticing reward cost around 300 merit points. A herb, once again.
After gazing through the list of rewards and noting a lack of any recent additions, Ja Sun left and returned to the Inn. His mind still continuously played the image of the thing blue dragon moving around the body of the unknown spirit master. Even though he wanted to bring the man alongside himself, Ja Sun would have been pursued by the Spirit Hall.
If his conclusion was correct then what Bright Goddess Butterfly had absorbed wasn't the Soul Origin like he had speculated previously, but the condensation of the cultivation of the spirit rings that once were absorbed by that spirit master.
And this is why Ja Sun didn't kill the man after he revealed an even stronger enlightened martial soul. Once he becomes strong, Ja Sun can reap the rewards once again!
But this encounter already hinted to Ja Sun that it was entirely possible to cultivate in a completely new manner. Even Violet's situation might be solved with this and most importantly, he can reap more rewards by hunting humans and beasts alike!
With a pleased expression, Ja Sun opened the door to the Inn when he found Ah Yin...
'Sweet lord I'm in heaven!' Ja Sun's eyes instantly lingered over Ah Yin's body. Why she was without clothes, Ja Sun didn't know. But did he blame her for this form of sexual harassment? No!
Ah Yin's skin wasn't pale. It was healthy and one look of her smooth skin, and supple butt cheeks made Ja Sun smirk. Closing the door behind him as Ah Yin's first instinct was to scramble inside the bed, she looked at Ja Sun with a slightly flushed expression. But forcefully, she spoke with a calm tone.
"You returned quicker than I expected... this was my fault. I should have used the bathroom to change clothes or closed the curtains."
Ah Yin's slightly wet blue hair stuck to her body. Her eyes carefully examining Ja Sun as he slumped on the chair with... quite a remarkable indifference. Waving his hand as if this was a small matter, Ja Sun replied calmly, "No, you can change wherever you want. I did say my mission's time limit was 5 days."
Ja Sun's previous urge of teasing surprisingly subsided when he heard Ah Yin blushing and apologizing. This was a new feeling for him.
Pride.
He just walked in on a naked, and might he add, absolutely ravishing woman, but instead, she apologized to him. Who would he dare push further and probe? His heart was already swelling with hubris!
"You did say the time limit was 5 days. Why are you back so early?"
"I completed it. The mission was slightly exciting," Ja Sun smiled, his eyes lingering over Ah Yin as if continuing silently: But not as exciting as this.
Ah Yin scowled slightly and spoke up.
"Will you close the curtains? I need to change."
"Tch, fine!" Ja Sun clicked his tongue and stood up. Covering the interior of the room by pulling the curtains open, Ja Sun grumbled softly and waited for Ah Yin to change.
Showing her remarkable intellect and belief in Ja Sun, Ah Yin hurried into the bathroom and locked the door. Ja Sun's plan on peeking crumbled and she finally returned properly clothed.
"So? Are you going to run around for missions all the time?" She calmly sat in front of Ja Sun as if she wasn't just exposed to him.
"Fighting expends spirit energy and the recovery of it increases one's reserves. Of course, I'll try to improve myself when possible," Ja Sun replied. He could easily stay back and earn the single S-rank reward without risking any injury. But if he makes an effort, he stands to earn at least two S-rank rewards. To his addicted mind, this was pure ecstasy.
"With your constant disappearing, my own cultivation has slowed down," Ah Yin replied candidly.
"It's just for a short period of time," Ja Sun smiled.
"How can you know when the war is going to end?"
"Easy," Ja Sun shrugged, "Each successive mission is harder than the last one and the rewards grow alongside, too. And these missions are all based on war tactics. Assassination is part of these tactics and someone is bound to get the mission to assassinate the Third Prince of the Silvers Kingdom. The merit system is going on for a long time. Soon enough, someone will complete this mission."
Ah Yin sighed and leaned back on her chair.
"Even you have to admit that it is boring, right?" Ja Sun chuckled. Nodding in reply, Ah Yin smiled, "But this happens to be the safest option."
"For what?" He leaned forward slightly, curiosity once again flickering in his eyes.
"Not telling," She smirked. They didn't lie anymore. But instead, they would simply reject disclosing the truth. That way, their relationship remained clean and simple.
"Heh... this secret is even greater than your body?" Ja Sun waggled his brows with a dirty grin. He finally couldn't restrain himself from teasing her but much to Ja Sun's surprise, instead of striking him with vine or even insulting him, Ah Yin smiled peacefully while closing her eyes, "I can reveal my body to you anytime I want and it wouldn't mean anything. My secret... that means everything to me. Hush now, I cultivated all night. I need sleep."
"Sleep on the bed, then," Ja Sun shook his head but Ah Yin didn't reply.
Recalling how she would blanket him with blue silver grass, Ja Sun sighed and walked towards the bed to pick up the quilt then he thought differently.
"Why not bring Ah Yin to the quilt instead?"
Afraid that he might lose this rather wonderful chance, Ja Sun moved faster than the wind. He instantly wrapped Ah Yin in his arms and pulled her up before moving even quicker. Even if Ah Yin was truly asleep, she could only wake up but strangely, her eyes remained shut.
Though reluctant, Ja Sun didn't let his lower head think for his upper one and he set Ah Yin on the bed before covering her with the quilt.
"There," he nodded with satisfaction.
Before he left, Ja Sun glanced at the planted Aroma Silk Tulip, and seeing that it would still need a few days to completely regain its medicinal effect, he left the room.
He wanted to find buyers for his multiple sets of armors to free up some space. This time, he had almost filled all his storage essence tools!
***
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