The morning breeze swept gently across the hillside.
Su Yuxuan slowly opened his eyes, he let out a long breath, ending his cultivation session.
Without realizing it, nearly half a day had passed.
He lowered his head and carefully examined himself.
"My vitality has increased."
He clenched and unclenched his fists.
The increase wasn't dramatic.
If he had to describe it, it was like adding another drop of water into a bucket.
By itself, the change was insignificant.
But after hundreds or even thousands of such drops, the bucket would eventually overflow.
Cultivation had always been about accumulation, no one became powerful overnight.
Yuxuan stood up and stretched.
His body felt lighter than when he had arrived that morning.
Cultivating amidst a field of Blue Silver Grass had indeed helped him better resonate with his martial soul.
"It seems Grandmother's notes were correct." Satisfied with the results, he didn't continue cultivating.
Instead, he began his daily exercise routine.
Running.
Jumping.
Bodyweight squats.
Push-ups adjusted for his small frame.
Followed by flexibility exercises and breathing practice.
An hour passed quickly.
Sweat soaked his clothes, but his breathing remained steady.
After washing his face in the nearby stream, Yuxuan smiled in satisfaction.
"That's enough for today."
Overtraining was just as harmful as not training at all, his body was still that of a six-year-old child.
He needed to improve steadily rather than recklessly.
Besides, there was another reason he wasn't in a hurry.
"My soul power is already level ten."
Thanks to the Choice System, his innate soul power had already reached its limit before obtaining a spirit ring.
No matter how diligently he cultivated now, his soul power wouldn't advance to level eleven.
Not until he attached his first spirit ring.
Still.
That didn't mean today's cultivation was meaningless.
His control over soul power was improving.
His body's vitality was increasing.
His foundation was becoming increasingly solid.
Those benefits would remain with him long after he obtained his first spirit ring.
"As for my first martial soul" Yuxuan looked at the Blue Silver Grass that appeared briefly in his palm.
"I've already decided."
"This will be my primary martial soul."
His second martial soul, the Spirit Pearl, would remain hidden for now.
Not because it was powerful.
Quite the opposite.
Precisely because it was weak.
There was no reason to reveal it and invite unnecessary questions.
Blue Silver Grass alone was enough to explain his cultivation.
With his decision made, Yuxuan dispersed the martial soul and headed home.
---
After lunch, he entered the small study his grandparents had left behind.
Although modest in size, it contained several shelves filled with books.
Some recorded cultivation experiences, others discussed martial souls.
Several focused entirely on spirit beasts.
Yuxuan pulled out a thick volume bound in dark leather.
The title read:
A Soul Master's Guide to Spirit Beast Identification.
He opened the first page.
Detailed illustrations filled the book.
Every entry contained descriptions of a spirit beast's appearance, habits, preferred habitat, strengths, weaknesses, and approximate age.
Ten-year spirit beasts.
Hundred-year spirit beasts.
Thousand-year spirit beasts.
There were even simplified explanations for stronger species rarely encountered by ordinary soul masters.
Yuxuan nodded in satisfaction.
"This is exactly what I need."
Knowledge like this was indispensable.
A soul master who couldn't distinguish spirit beasts from one another or couldn't estimate their age.
Might very well choose an unsuitable spirit ring.
Or worse.
Accidentally provoke a spirit beast beyond their ability to defeat.
That wasn't ignorance.
It was courting death.
As he flipped through the pages, Yuxuan couldn't help recalling the original story.
He chuckled to himself.
"In my previous life."
"Many readers praised Tang San's ability to identify spirit beasts."
In reality.
That wasn't some extraordinary talent, it was basic knowledge.
Elementary soul master academies taught the fundamentals of spirit beast identification.
Advanced soul master academies expanded upon that knowledge.
Any diligent student could learn it.
Tang San simply paid attention in class.
Unfortunately some people didn't.
Yuxuan remembered Ma Hongjun and Oscar from Shrek Academy.
The two often relied on Tang San to identify spirit beasts during their adventures.
At first glance, it made Tang San seem exceptionally knowledgeable.
But thinking about it carefully, it was rather embarrassing.
"Knowing common spirit beasts should be part of a soul master's education."
He smiled wryly.
"Then again."
"Shrek Academy isn't exactly famous for classroom teaching."
Its strength lay in practical combat and cultivating exceptional geniuses.
Academic instruction had always taken a back seat.
That didn't make its teachers incompetent, it simply reflected the academy's philosophy.
Yuxuan turned another page.
An illustration of a Mandala Snake appeared.
Its distinctive markings, venomous fangs, and preferred hunting methods were described in detail.
He memorized every word.
Knowledge was one of the few advantages anyone could obtain through diligence alone.
Unlike innate talent.
Unlike powerful martial souls.
It belonged equally to everyone willing to study.
Yuxuan smiled as he continued reading.
"If strength determines a soul master's upper limit."
"Then knowledge determines how safely they reach it."
For him neither would be neglected.
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Hey Author here! đź‘‹
A few information for those who Is reading this Story.
1. My Main language is not English so there will be some or plenty of Grammatical error along with mistakes.
2. The story update is Once per day until the story Reach CH 15 or 20, depending on my Free time as I have work.
3. If I haven't update the story for more than two or three days it means that I am busy with work but I will Gave an explanation if I cant update for more than three days.