"Embedded Rings and Exploding Rings are secret techniques used by soul masters themselves. But Merging Rings and Stacking Rings are fusion techniques!
Not all martial souls are capable of Merging Rings—it can be said to be one in ten thousand.
Normally, every soul skill a soul master possesses corresponds to a specific soul ring. But a soul master with the Merging Ring talent can fuse the soul power of different attributes into a single-attribute soul power, and then apply it to themselves or others. It can be used to fuse one's rings, or someone else's.
As for fusing others, generally speaking, it's only possible when the martial souls and soul skills are extremely similar or compatible. After performing a merge, the merged soul ring cannot be used again for some time, similar to the Exploding Ring.
Stacking Rings is similar to Merging Rings but with a lower threshold. It can be executed by multiple people at once and doesn't require matching soul skills. It leans more toward fusing and channeling soul power—similar to a formation array. If you're interested later, we can go deeper into it."
Chen Cong took a sip of Fragrant Snow Spirit Tea, its taste sweet and cool. Only with mountain spring water could its flavor be fully expressed. It had the effect of clearing the mind and sharpening focus.
This tea was one of the ingredients in Chen Xiaojun's medicinal bath formula. It was not only beloved by elite circles but also a favorite among scholar-types like Chen Cong.
"Lastly, let's talk about the third exclusive trait of the Seven Kill Sword: When paired with our clan's secret techniques, it significantly increases the probability of comprehending a Slaughter-type Domain—of course, that's only possible with a very profound mastery of swordsmanship.
Looking at our clan's history, ever since Ancestor Chen Xili created the Impartial Sword Qi Manual, and Ancestor Chen Feiyi developed the Seven Kill Aura Concealment Technique, half of the Title Douluos in our family have achieved a Domain. That's a shocking ratio across the continent—less than 10% of Title Douluos ever gain a Domain.
And the closer we get to the present generation, the higher the ratio becomes. This is the benefit of inheritance—those who come later reap the fruits of those who came before."
(PS: The author doesn't agree with the idea that the Seven Kill Sword automatically generates a unique Domain once soul power reaches a certain level. After all, there's no evidence that the famed Clear Sky Hammer naturally manifests a Clear Sky Domain. This isn't something martial souls alone can produce.)
"Ancestor gods, so badass!" Chen Xiaojun shouted excitedly.
Chen Yu's face darkened.
"Don't use such crude words to describe our ancestors."
"Okay, okay, okay—my bad."
"Now, let me give you a few more examples. Let's analyze two martial souls that stand shoulder to shoulder with ours: the Clear Sky Hammer and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The Clear Sky Hammer, like our Seven Kill Sword, is a battle-type tool for martial soul. They share many common traits: it can leave the body, it's hard to destroy, it only manifests one instance at a time, and being a hammer, it naturally carries attributes like strength, striking force, vibration, and sturdiness.
Let's focus on the Clear Sky Hammer's exclusive traits:
First, the Exploding Ring technique, which we already discussed.
Second, the Clear Sky Hammer is known for having the greatest raw strength. Its terrifying explosive power comes from what trait? — Weight. The more advanced the soul master's cultivation, the heavier the hammer becomes, and the more domineering its attacks are.
Third, it naturally suppresses most other tool-type martial souls. Against many other weapon souls, it holds an absolute advantage—though this doesn't work against our clan's Seven Kill Sword or other high-grade weapons. But how many top-tier grade-nine martial souls even exist on the continent?"
"As for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, it's the number one support-type martial soul. Its exclusive traits:
First, it greatly enhances the soul master's micro-perception. When this pagoda is activated, it massively amplifies the user's sensory perception, allowing them to precisely recognize and monitor any target they've previously encountered. This is also the foundation of the split-focus control technique that the Seven Treasures clan is famous for.
This ability even gives them treasure appraisal skills—an extremely valuable trait, granting wealth, influence, and power.
Second, the soul ring skills of the Seven Treasures Pagoda are all growth-type skills.
It's well known that high-level soul masters rarely use early-stage skills because hundred- and thousand-year skills can't keep up with later needs. As cultivation progresses, the amplification effects of these lower-tier soul skills diminish significantly. If a 100-year soul skill still offered 50–100% boosts to a Soul Sage or Title Douluo, that would be a joke.
So, growth-type soul skills are incredibly rare. Most soul masters only get them by sheer luck, from rare soul beasts. But Seven Treasures Pagoda users don't need that—their growth attributes come directly from their martial soul.
Third, and most importantly—the foundation of their sect—solidification!
Their support amplification starts at 20%, and with each additional soul ring, another 10% is added. By the time they reach Soul Sage, their boost reaches a fixed 80%, regardless of the target's level. No other soul master with growth-type skills can match this level of support. And it's comprehensive.
This level-agnostic amplification is the result of solidification. That's what makes the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda the top support martial soul.
Unfortunately, their martial soul has a flaw—they cannot break through to Soul Douluo."
"Yes! Second Granduncle, you've explained all these tool-type martial souls. Could you tell me more about the other kinds?"
"Well, since we've already covered two of the Upper Three Sects, I'll talk about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
First, the dragon might. Beast-type martial souls suppress lower-ranked martial souls far more obviously than tool-type souls—especially dragon-types, which are the most oppressive of all. And this one's a Heavenly Dragon.
Second, the lightning attribute. As everyone knows, of all elemental attributes, lightning is the most powerful—its destructive effect is unmatched.
Third, Dragonification. From level 30 onwards, every soul ring a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soul master gains adds a new dragon-like transformation to their body.
By the time they reach level 70, they can fully transform into a dragon, unleashing terrifying power. They are regarded as the most fearsome power-type soul masters at the same level.
Compared to human soul masters who rely on soul power and spiritual cultivation, soul beasts develop primarily through physical growth—absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, nature, and life. This enhances their bodies, guides their soul power and spiritual force, and activates innate skills.
When we absorb soul rings, we're also absorbing their soul power, innate skills, as well as their physical essence, and spiritual strength. That physical essence enhances our bodies even more than soul power or mental breakthroughs.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's transformation is a true physical transformation into a dragon, with an extremely powerful body—not just an energy-form manifestation like most martial souls.
Finally, we have the mutation.
The phrase "a dragon gives birth to nine sons, each different" applies here. This martial soul has a much higher chance of mutating than most.
Because the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is a super martial soul, it can't be awakened naturally. It usually manifests as either lateral mutations or downgraded variants. Even the so-called positive mutations only bring marginal improvements—not true upgrades—and can't break through to the super martial soul level.
There's a simple way to judge the quality of the mutation—the closer the appearance resembles a true heavenly dragon, the better. Large, round scales mean strong lineage. Small, sharp ones indicate degeneration.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan is plagued by malignant mutations. I suspect this is because trying to break through into a super martial soul backfires, harming the martial soul itself.
While a martial soul can't fundamentally evolve, some inherited positive mutations grant innate high or full soul power. That's why they've had many Super Douluos in their clan's history.
Curiously, few in their clan can fully awaken the original martial soul's power. Thus, Title Douluos with the original form is rare, while mutated martial souls achieving that level are far more common."
"Second Granduncle, is it impossible to inherit a super martial soul?"
"Well, at least our ancestors concluded so. Maybe it's a restriction of heaven and earth, or maybe human children just can't handle super martial souls. Most people who awaken divine beast martial souls have problems—resulting in subpar variants. Divine beast souls or ultimate tool souls aren't so easy to come by.
Otherwise, how do you explain all the high-end martial souls with defects—not just those 'flawed' divine beast martial souls, but also the limited floors of the Seven Treasures Pagoda, the soul ring constraints of the Break Soul Spear, and the pure healing of the Nine Heart Begonia?
On the flip side, any top-tier martial soul that overcomes its flaw can be called a super martial soul. As long as they break through, they'll become a super martial soul."
"Even the pure-healing Nine Heart Begonia?"
"Of course. There's no other martial soul in the soul master world with a single purpose. According to records, someone from that clan once evolved it into Nine Heart Blood Begonia—capable not only of healing but also of manipulating blood and stealing life. Extremely domineering!" Chen Cong's eyes gleamed like he had spotted a priceless treasure.
"Soul masters must start with their martial soul traits as the entry point. They develop their martial soul based on those traits and their personal preferences, choosing soul rings to create attack, control, defense, or other specialized types.
So to understand a soul master, you must understand their martial soul traits—not just your own, but those of others. You never know when you'll face them.
Especially signature martial soul traits or species-based traits—you must be able to recognize them at a glance.
For example:
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's Dragonification,
Green Scale Snake's venom,
Demon Fox's charm,
Pangolin's burrowing,
Hound's scent tracking,
Bat's echolocation,
and even Carrot's accelerated growth!
In the second bookshelf in the rear hall, third cabinet on the right, and third row from the bottom, you'll find several books on martial soul traits:
Summary of Martial Soul Trait Patterns
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Martial Soul Traits
On the Limits of Common Traits
Some are collected over the generations; others are written by our ancestors. These are the result of thousands of years of accumulated knowledge. If you don't understand something, feel free to ask me.
This is part of your required curriculum!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Xiaojun stood solemnly, answering with both hands respectfully clasped.
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