[Remember to check the author's notes at the end of the chapter, there's quite a bit in there, and they don't count towards the main text word count]
Xiao Hongchen was surprised.
Absorbing his fifth Soul Ring, which was a Ten Thousand Years Soul Ring, he felt he was close to reaching Level 52.
At the peak of Level 51, he was about to reach Level 52.
And then there was Su Yu.
He absorbed a fifteen thousand years Soul Ring!
And before absorbing the Soul Ring, Su Yu was only at Level 40.
No matter how incomplete the absorption, he should at least reach the peak of Level 42, and normally, he might even reach Level 43, right?
How is he only at Level 41?
Moreover, he just reached Level 41.
Giving off a feeling that he might fall back.
Contrary to Xiao Hongchen's confusion, Mirror Hongchen smiled.
"Indeed."
"Hahaha!"
Mirror Hongchen laughed heartily, visibly excited.
"Grandfather, Su Yu only broke through one Level Soul Power."
"You rascal, what do you know!"
Upon hearing Xiao Hongchen's words, Mirror Hongchen slapped his head, exasperated.
"I've told you, while research on soul-guiding devices is important, the fundamental aspect is Soul Power. Even if you're not the best at Martial Soul cultivation, you should at least have a basic understanding, right?"
Xiao Hongchen felt aggrieved.
"Xiaoyu's Martial Soul has evolved to Extreme Attribute."
Mirror Hongchen grinned widely, still looking very thrilled.
Throughout the Douluo Continent, examples of Extreme Attributes are few and far between.
And every generation, those with Extreme Attribute, once they grow up, are almost always figures that stir up storms across the continent.
Unfortunately, such Soul Masters mostly appear at Shrek Academy.
But things are different now.
The Sun and Moon Empire, Sun and Moon Royal Soul Guide Academy, has a Soul Master with Extreme Attribute!
The strength of a Martial Soul with Extreme Attribute far surpasses ordinary Martial Soul, but it also comes with a price, which is a much slower cultivation speed.
Cultivation for Extreme Attributes requires more refined Soul Power, and it's extremely slow between Level 30 to Level 70.
Su Yu's Martial Soul transformed to Extreme Attribute when he absorbed his Fourth Soul Ring, compensating the missing portion from Level 30 to Level 40 with the Soul Power from the Sword Grass Soul Ring.
The extreme attribute caused his Soul Power to drastically shrink in quantity to compensate for the quality.
The total amount remains unchanged, but it's more like the density increased, resulting in a smaller volume.
Reaching Level 41, it's already remarkable that he hasn't fallen below Level 40, thanks to the powerful Sword Grass Soul Ring.
"It's not truly an Extreme Attribute yet."
Su Yu shook his head, fully aware of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's current state.
One could say, with the Mutated Sword Grass's support, his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's Life Attribute has completely transformed.
Yet, it's still a bit lacking.
It's not that the Life Attribute's quantity or quality is insufficient.
"The essence of Blue Silver Grass is still too weak..."
However, it's not a failed evolution, but rather an overfeeding.
The attributes of Blue Silver Grass have become Extreme Life Attribute, but the Martial Soul itself hasn't caught up in strength.
Its inherent weakness doesn't mean its potential is capped, but the leap is so huge, digesting it won't be easy.
As time passes, Su Yu's Blue Silver Grass will gradually improve to reach the corresponding level.
Before, during the absorption of three Soul Rings, since Su Yu didn't have a clear standard, he didn't know whether he was pressed or wasn't.
But now, with the transformation to Extreme Attribute, Su Yu could feel it clearly.
The attribute is being tapped, the Martial Soul being propelled into evolution.
This is a very distinct perception.
"My Blue Silver Grass will need time to settle, and it will take a few years before it truly transforms into an Extreme Martial Soul."
Mirror Hongchen was not disheartened by this.
"It's alright, though it only has Extreme Attribute for now, it's better than having no hope."
It's already entered, but isn't accustomed yet.
"Extreme Life Attribute is a pretty explosive presence on the Douluo Continent, isn't it?"
Ultimate Ice, Ultimate Fire, these attributes are more common because Martial Souls of both types are prevalent, and Ultimate Power occasionally appears too.
But Extreme Life Attribute, that's truly unheard of.
After absorbing the Soul Ring, the trio didn't delay and headed back to Mingdu at a faster pace. Along the way, Su Yu also explained the effects of his Fourth Soul Ring in more detail.
"My Fourth Soul Skill is the Grass Sword Technique, capable of attaching Sword Qi to Blue Silver Grass for attacks. The strength of Sword Qi can be enhanced as my Soul Power rises, reaching the level of Mutated Sword Grass at the same Soul level.
Moreover, the Fourth Soul Skill can be combined with the Godslaying Sword, utilizing it to perform the Fourth Soul Skill, able to gather Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to coagulate the Heaven-Shocking Slash."
More gathered Soul Power and Primordial Qi results in stronger bursts.
After hearing Su Yu's description, Mirror Hongchen was filled with emotion.
He's witnessed the power of the Mutated Sword Grass.
At the time, sixteen suppression bombs were Fifth-level, and they were coordinated in suppression, yet the Sword Grass sliced through with point-breaking-face, shattering confines. That strike's power was no weaker than a Soul Saint's full-force attack.
Mirror Hongchen felt that under his pressure, the Mutated Sword Grass underwent a transformation at that moment.
However, he killed it in the end, so he didn't linger too much on it.
...
"The cultivation of Extreme Attributes between Level 30 to Level 70 is slow, prepare yourself mentally."
Before parting ways, Mirror Hongchen advised Su Yu.
He worried that Su Yu might struggle to accept the fact of snail-paced Soul Power cultivation. After all, Su Yu was only thirteen years old, and he's already cultivated to Level 40.
On average throughout the year, Su Yu has been rising five and a half levels!
After becoming an Extreme Attribute, Su Yu's cultivation would be much more arduous, and maybe he wouldn't even rise a single level in a year.
Extreme Attribute Soul Masters have only been nurtured by Shrek. Other academies have seen Extreme Attributes, but their cultivation is so slow that they couldn't reach Level 70, hence failing to unleash the fullest extent of Extreme Martial Soul.
Mirror Hongchen doesn't know how Shrek boosts the cultivation of Extreme Attribute Martial Souls. However, in their Sun and Moon Empire, they truly lack no resources for cultivating Soul Power.
"Herbal baths, elixirs, medicated diets, all will be arranged. I refuse to believe Su Yu won't grow."
Returning to the dormitory, Su Yu took a full, round elixir.
Mirror Hongchen upgraded his treatment.
The medicated diets are no longer provided by the academy, but directly supplied by Mingde Hall, all offered to Su Yu as if he were a Seventh-level Soul Guide.
Besides the medicated diets, there are elixirs, various auxiliary cultivation elixirs, almost without side effects, and each month Su Yu receives one.
There's also the herbal bath.
Mirror Hongchen already instructed Mingde Hall's related personnel for preparation.
Merely these three points showcase Mirror Hongchen's commitment to nurturing Su Yu.
Don't just talk about Mirror Hongchen, when Kong Deming returns and knows about Su Yu's situation, he might even provide additional resources.
...
Compared to Mirror Hongchen, Su Yu, on the other hand, wasn't worried about his future cultivation speed.
"I've previously explored quite a few Soul Power circulation routes, enough to refine and optimize my cultivation techniques.
Elder Yi has awakened as well, perhaps he can assist in perfecting the cultivation techniques.
Lastly, there's also the Spiritual Power cultivation method that can aid in cultivation."