With a strong sense of curiosity, Xu Yuan inquired with Xu Shengqun.
This time, they were looking for a spirit soul suitable for the Brain Martial Soul.
For his Brain Martial Soul, it first needed to be of the spirit attribute.
In fact, Xu Yuan knew quite a few spirit-attribute soul beasts. After filtering, only a few met his criteria.
Among the various spirit-attribute soul beasts that Huo Yuhao possessed, both the Silverwing Beast and the Evil Eye Tyrant could be suitable for Xu Yuan's Brain Martial Soul. However, the imprinting of the Silverwing Beast held no meaning for Xu Yuan, so only the Evil Eye Tyrant was suitable for him.
The Silver Moon Wolf King and the Mermaid Princess excelled in spirit attributes but were not within Xu Yuan's consideration.
One possessed the Silver Dragon bloodline, leaning towards multiple elemental control, overlapping with Xu Yuan's Heavenly Origin Brush and possibly being suppressed by the Silver Dragon King.
The other leaned towards auxiliary and illusion side, with most of her soul skills being illusion-type and amplifying spirit attributes. This overlapped with Xu Yuan's existing abilities.
Did Xu Yuan have aspirations for ultimate perfection?
Yes!
His Heavenly Origin Five Elements Spear, his Seven Forbidden Techniques, were all about pursuing the ultimate, the pinnacle of spears, the zenith of weapon martial souls.
Beyond that, Xu Yuan's Brain Martial Soul and Heavenly Origin Brush took a comprehensive development route.
Xu Yuan already had some means of illusions and didn't want any additional illusion-type soul skills. He believed that the illusory effects of his dream space were already top-tier.
Xu Yuan waited for Xu Shengqun's response.
Xu Shengqun did not hesitate; upon hearing Xu Yuan's question, he immediately provided the information on that soul beast.
"It's an Evil Eye Tyrant; you should know about the Evil Eye Tyrant, right?" Xu Shengqun's voice came through.
Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.
An Evil Eye Tyrant could be considered.
However, it wasn't a hundred-thousand-year spirit.
Moreover, the master of the Evil Eye Tyrant had been fused by Huo Yuhao. If Xu Yuan fused this Evil Eye Tyrant as the final pièce de résistance for his Brain Martial Soul, wouldn't it seem a bit too lowbrow?
Of course, Xu Shengqun's voice interrupted Xu Yuan's concerns.
"This particular Evil Eye Tyrant is very special, possessing certain stellar attributes, though it hasn't completely mutated yet."
Stellar attributes?
The purest bloodline of the Evil Eye Tyrant was purely spirit-based. Beyond that, it could mutate into various attributes, such as spirit plus fire, spirit plus ice, or even combinations like spirit plus wind and fire. However, there was no doubt that the more attributes it mutated into, the more its power would disperse, preventing the body mechanisms designed solely for spirit-based soul skills from functioning at their maximum potential, thus weakening its strength.
However, if it mutated into powerful attributes like stars, destruction, or time-space, it would be different.
Although it only took a short while, Xu Shengqun had already mastered the information about this soul beast.
He just hadn't waited for Xu Yuan's second request to challenge the tower, rather than not having read Xu Zhi's last words beforehand. He had thoroughly understood this soul beast arranged by Xu Zhi.
"This soul beast is very special. Your father once took it out of the Spirit Pagoda and conducted research on it. Its stellar attribute wasn't innate but gradually developed after multiple resonances with the starry force of a galaxy."
Resonating with the starry force of a galaxy?
"That's right. According to your father's research, all the soul skills of this Evil Eye Tyrant are stronger than those of other Evil Eye Tyrants at the same level because it can borrow the power of that galaxy. Under special resonance mechanisms, its spiritual attribute attacks double."
Xu Yuan's eyes flickered.
He wasn't entirely attracted by the characteristics of this Evil Eye Tyrant.
Rather, the abilities of this Evil Eye Tyrant matched one of his soul skills perfectly.
Xu Yuan's Brain Martial Soul had six soul skills in total. The first three were bestowed by Yao Yao, each playing a significant role. The first soul skill, Spiritual Link, was a divine technique used in forging and mecha manufacturing to communicate with spirituality. The second soul skill, Dream Space, provided him with a learning venue where techniques like time acceleration and real-virtual transformation played extraordinary roles. The third soul skill, Phantasmal Bubbles, gave Xu Yuan the opportunity to transform his dream space from virtual to reality.
The subsequent three soul skills were all granted by the Phantom Beast. The fourth soul skill was Divided Mind Control, which could simulate multiple brain presences, helping Xu Yuan multitask and significantly enhance his ability to control spiritual power, soul power, and blood essence. Even his control over elemental power was augmented by this soul skill.
The fifth soul skill, Star Shift, constructed a mental chessboard to transfer the effects of mental-type soul skills among targets within the board. Xu Yuan had used it before during his battle with the Dark Blood Demon, finding it very practical against the curses and other soul skills of evil soul masters.
The sixth soul skill, Xu Yuan had yet to use.
This was a soul skill granted to Xu Yuan by the Phantom Beast, not originally one of its own soul skills but rather a trait, combined with Xu Yuan's various abilities, forming this Galaxy Myriad Phenomena soul skill.
Galaxy Myriad Phenomena, channeling starlight into the body to empower oneself.
Simple yet powerful.
This soul skill channeled not stellar power but was similar to what Xu Shengqun mentioned about the characteristic of that Evil Eye Tyrant, achieved through resonance with the stars.
Thus, theoretically, Xu Yuan's soul skill had the opportunity to combine with the characteristics of the Evil Eye Tyrant.
If it merely overlapped, it would be a loss.
But if it stacked, it would be entirely different.
Moreover, the Evil Eye Tyrant could definitely grant Xu Yuan a devastating offensive mental soul skill.
This would be a significant enhancement to Xu Yuan's capabilities.
From all aspects, this Evil Eye Tyrant was very compatible with Xu Yuan.
What truly puzzled Xu Yuan was that this spirit had been studied by his father, who had roughly calculated its mutation process and could basically determine that after contracting with a soul master possessing both stellar and spirit attributes, this soul beast could complete the final step of its mutation.
This seemed tailor-made for his current situation.
But how could Xu Zhi, who died thirteen years ago, predict the present Xu Yuan?
"Little Yuan, it seems you're curious too. I won't hide it from you. This is the spirit soul your father left for you, including that Phantom Beast, both prepared by your father for you. As for why he made these preparations, I have no idea. Also, after you fuse with this Evil Eye Tyrant, your father has some instructions. Perhaps you'll find the answers then." Xu Shengqun said.
In fact, Xu Shengqun was even more eager than Xu Yuan to uncover the truth.
Could Xu Zhi have foreseen the future?
How could that be possible?
"Phantom Beast!" Xu Yuan suddenly remembered that he had previously speculated that the Phantom Beast was left by his father, and now he had confirmation from his uncle.
Xu Yuan didn't think there would be any mistakes in the spirit souls arranged by his father.
Since his father left this spirit and instructed Xu Shengqun to release these two spirits to him at a specific time, he obviously had confidence in them.
After absorbing this Evil Eye Tyrant, it would certainly complete this mutation.
But
"Why did he have to arrange it this way?"
This Evil Eye Tyrant seemed to fit Xu Yuan well.
If paired, the Phantom Beast could surely pair with other spirits.
After all, the abilities of the spirit soul were a foundation. The soul skills ultimately bestowed upon the soul master were those most compatible with their abilities, not necessarily the soul skills the spirit itself possessed.
Xu Yuan also understood that any ferocious beast spirit, even with a somewhat forced compatibility reason, could grant the soul master sufficiently powerful soul skills after fusion.
"Does breaking through the bottleneck of a hundred thousand years hold any special significance?"
That's all Xu Yuan could think of.
Perhaps, the breakthrough of a spirit soul to a hundred thousand years was itself a rare opportunity?
In fact, realizing this point wasn't derived from Xu Yuan speculating on Xu Zhi's motives but rather from considering how to maximize the use of this Evil Eye Tyrant if he really fused with it.
"Breaking through to a hundred thousand years with my four spirit souls, perhaps I can use this opportunity to feel the breakthrough of the Evil Eye Tyrant to find the key to spirit souls breaking through to a hundred thousand years?"
If he could seize this opportunity, for this reason alone, foregoing a ferocious beast spirit and choosing a spirit likely to break through to a hundred thousand years wouldn't be a loss.
One ferocious beast spirit plus four ten-thousand-year spirits versus five hundred-thousand-year spirits, Xu Yuan chose the latter.
Cultivation, cultivation, understanding was crucial!
Xu Yuan inexplicably recalled Yun Ming's recent reminder.
"Advancing a spirit soul to a hundred thousand years might have special opportunities. Although I am a soul master, I can also take the chance to experience it. Perhaps there will be unexpected gains."
If replicated across Yao Yao and the other four, it would amount to five chances.
Five chances, especially the last four, could allow him to experience Yao Yao and the others' transformations from ten thousand to a hundred thousand years, which might be a unique experience.
"My father was a scientist. Perhaps he valued this process more and was trying to provide me with this opportunity?"
Regardless, Xu Yuan decided to challenge the Spirit Pagoda and take a look at that Evil Eye Tyrant.
However, since it was an Evil Eye Tyrant and not yet at a hundred thousand years, it would be on a lower floor. Xu Yuan decided not to bring Jiang Wuyue along.
After informing Jiang Wuyue, Xu Yuan left Shrek Academy alone.
As soon as he made the decision, Xu Shengqun in Tianhai City immediately filed a record for him.
Spirit Transmission Tower.
A silver-haired, purple-eyed girl was waiting at the entrance of the Spirit Transmission Tower.
Seeing the girl at the entrance of the Spirit Transmission Tower, Xu Yuan hesitated slightly.
With a hint of uncertainty, he called out, "Gu Yue?"
Is this Gu Yue?
Before leaving Shrek, Gu Yue's appearance was unremarkable, belonging to the type that grew on you. Her hair was black, and her eyes were normal black.
Now, Gu Yue had changed completely, not only in looks but also in her hair and eyes.
Moreover, Gu Yue's current appearance immediately reminded Xu Yuan of Na'er.
Upon closer inspection, Na'er had a touch more humanity, a bit more playfulness and cuteness, whereas Gu Yue's breathtaking beauty carried a distant, aloof feeling.
Gu Yue also saw Xu Yuan.
"Hmm, it's me," she nodded, confirming her identity.
Xu Yuan's mind was in chaos.
He could confirm that Na'er was still in the Demon Plane.
After all, Yun Ming had said that Na'er was training there continuously, so she couldn't sneak back under his nose.
Gu Yue hadn't been to the Demon Plane.
Across two planes, could she possibly fuse with Na'er?
Xu Yuan didn't believe it.
Therefore, there was only one explanation: Gu Yue naturally looked like this. Her previous appearance was due to sealing certain abilities, resulting in her earlier look. Na'er merely resembled her because she was separated from her.
In the original story, Gu Yue didn't directly unseal herself but unsealed everything during the process of fusing with Na'er, instantly reverting to her original form, leading people to believe she only transformed like this when merging with Na'er.
Moreover, Xu Yuan recalled a scene in the Dragon Valley during the contest for the Dragon God's dragon soul.
At that time, Gu Yue wore a veil, but her appearance wasn't ordinary—it should have been her current appearance.
Xu Yuan simulated it in his mind. With the veil Gu Yue wore back then, her current appearance was identical!
"My teacher said you're challenging the tower, so she sent me here to take you up." Gu Yue spoke.
Her tone showed no fluctuations.
"Then, thank you for the trouble."
Xu Yuan followed Gu Yue into the headquarters of the Spirit Transmission Tower.
"Your appearance has changed significantly, and your soul power..." Xu Yuan vaguely sensed Gu Yue's current soul power fluctuation.
Approaching seventy levels!
It should be noted that Wu Siduo, who had a higher soul power level than her when entering Shrek, was still in the mid-fifties.
"After returning to my family, I received some inheritance," Gu Yue said indifferently, offering no further explanation.
Xu Yuan didn't continue to ask.
Naturally, he didn't believe it.
What inheritance? She must have given herself a boost.
The process was the same as the first time entering the Spirit Pagoda. After arriving at the elevator of the Spirit Transmission Tower and waiting for the elevator doors to open, Xu Yuan reached Leng Yaozhu's office area.
"How is your teacher recently?"
Upon seeing Xu Yuan, Leng Yaozhu's first words were inquiring about Yun Ming's condition.
"My teacher has been in excellent condition recently."
"Hmm, since you're challenging the tower at this time, it's best to fuse with a hundred-thousand-year spirit soul. It might be difficult for one person, but at least try to advance several more floors. After all, even if you fail at one checkpoint, you can go back and absorb the spirit souls from the floors you've already passed."
Xu Yuan nodded in agreement.
What Leng Yaozhu said was already quite obvious.
The Spirit Transmission Tower might move the spirit souls suitable for you to later stages, so you should try to advance as far as possible and persist until the corresponding checkpoint.
Even if you fell at a certain level, you could choose the spirit souls from the levels you had already passed below that level.
The Spirit Pagoda was still the core of the Spirit Transmission Tower, so the direct control remained in the hands of the Qian Gu Dongfeng faction. Even if Xu Shengqun personally arrived, the outcome would be the same.
"Unfortunately, what I need isn't a hundred-thousand-year spirit soul," Xu Yuan thought silently.
"Hmm, follow me."
Familiar with the process, Xu Yuan entered the Spirit Pagoda.
As Xu Yuan entered the Spirit Pagoda, Qian Gu Dongfeng in the top office of the Spirit Transmission Tower also received the message and ordered the adjustment of several hundred-thousand-year spirit souls compatible with Xu Yuan to at least ten levels later.
Hundred-thousand-year spirit souls generally equaled the strength of a Title Douluo.
To consecutively fight through ten additional levels in a row would be unimaginably difficult for a seventy-level Soul Emperor.
If another Soul Emperor at seventy levels came to challenge, even though theoretically he would need a hundred-thousand-year spirit soul, the Spirit Transmission Tower wouldn't adjust the order of the spirit souls, as they didn't believe he could reach the checkpoint with hundred-thousand-year spirit souls.
However, Xu Yuan was different.
Qian Gu Dongfeng clearly knew that Xu Yuan had once exhibited the power of a Title Douluo.
During the battle with the Dark Blood Demon, Xu Yuan demonstrated his strength, and the final blow that blocked the Dark Blood Demon's attack and cut off its lifeline was known to him.
Therefore, adjusting the order of the spirit souls was inevitable.
"Much simpler compared to the last time I challenged the tower with Na'er."
Xu Yuan easily passed through the first eighteen levels of thousand-year spirit souls.
Starting from the nineteenth level, there were ten-thousand-year spirit souls.
Back then, Xu Yuan and Na'er needed to employ tactics to pass the nineteenth level together.
But now, Xu Yuan was leisurely strolling.
Holding his Heavenly Origin Five Elements Spear, with just one spear strike, the extreme spear glow pierced through a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
Monitoring room.
Leng Yaozhu watched this scene with considerable emotion.
"A seventy-level soul master killing a ten-thousand-year soul beast so effortlessly—I now believe he possesses the combat power of a Title Douluo."
Beside Leng Yaozhu, Gu Yue was also watching Xu Yuan's challenge throughout.
This was an excellent opportunity to understand Xu Yuan's abilities.
"The spirit compression technology at Xu Shengqun's place should be a result of Xu Yuan's help in research." Leng Yaozhu commented, "I never expected that besides you, Yue'er, Xu Yuan isn't just a genius in cultivation but also a genius in research."
"It doesn't matter. My technology has flaws; indeed, his direction is better. But my focus remains on creating artificial ten-thousand-year spirit souls." Gu Yue seemed unfazed by Xu Yuan's spirit compression technology.
The spirit compression technology aimed to increase the age of ten-thousand-year spirit souls and improve the efficiency of spirit usage in the process.
This technology forced Gu Yue's Beast Platform plan to be put on hold.
But Gu Yue didn't panic.
As she said, her true focus in constructing the Beast Platform was on creating artificial ten-thousand-year spirit souls, not on enhancing the lifespan of already ten-thousand-year-old spirit souls.
Currently, she had the latter technology, using it to apply for the construction of the Beast Platform, proceeding with its construction first.
As for the former, she hadn't developed it yet.
Xu Yuan's spirit compression technology forced her advanced Beast Platform construction plan to be canceled prematurely. But as long as her artificial ten-thousand-year spirit soul technology was completed, the Beast Platform would still be constructed.
Moreover, the Beast Platform would serve as the second high-level Ascension Platform, adopting Xu Yuan's technology.
As long as the technologies were compatible, the current high-level Ascension Platform would be abolished, and its spirit share could be allocated to the Beast Platform. By then, reviving numerous past soul beasts with artificial spirit soul technology would have resources.
Xu Yuan only fired one spear per level.
This prevented outsiders like Leng Yaozhu and Gu Yue from seeing his limits.
Until the thirty-sixth level, the last level of ten-thousand-year spirit souls.
"Hmm? Why is this spirit soul here?" Leng Yaozhu looked at the screen, surprised.
"Evil Eye Tyrant!" she whispered, "This shouldn't be."
This spirit soul wasn't among the candidate spirit souls of the Spirit Pagoda.
She remembered it clearly. This spirit soul was once researched by Xu Zhi and had never been returned to the spirit soul storage area of the Spirit Pagoda.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)