The Martial Soul Skeleton, in Douluo Continent's Bone-Changing Susanoo

Chapter 12 Soul Beast Manuscript

"Because my martial soul underwent a malignant mutation, I was born with only a 0.5 level of soul power. I knew that I could no longer make progress in cultivation, so I focused on theoretical research."

At this point, a glint of pride flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. "Because of this, I possess theoretical knowledge that even Title Douluos don't have. Long ago, I was also known as a theoretical master for publishing the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls. Now that you know my story, are you still unwilling to become my disciple?"

Xia Liang shook his head again. "I don't want to."

"You!" Yu Xiaogang was clearly not expected to be rejected again, and his face showed some displeasure. "Xia Liang, do you know the importance of theoretical knowledge? I've already devised a training plan for your Skeleton Martial Soul, aiming to develop you into a defensive Soul Master. If you can receive my theoretical guidance, even if your Skeleton Martial Soul is crippled, you can still become the number one defender on the continent!"

Xia Liang frowned. "May I ask, Master, since your theoretical guidance is so impressive, is your malignant mutated martial soul the best on the continent in some aspect?"

"No," Yu Xiaogang hesitated for a few seconds before saying, "but I am the number one theoretical master on the mainland."

"The number one theoretical master who hasn't even absorbed experience for his third spirit ring?" Xia Liang continued to ask.

Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment and couldn't refute it.

"How about this," Xia Liang changed the subject, "Master, I found a book that summarizes theoretical knowledge. Although I've lost the book, I clearly remember all the important theories mentioned in it. You don't need to take me as your apprentice, and I don't need to become your disciple. We can simply exchange knowledge. How about that?"

"A book summarizing theoretical knowledge?" Yu Xiaogang asked instinctively. "What theories are in it?"

"One of the theories concerns the malignant mutation of martial souls. The book mentions that the malignant mutation of martial souls is very likely related to the accumulation of impurities in the martial soul bloodline."

Looking back at Yu Xiaogang's curious gaze, Xia Liang made up a story, "Let's assume that starting from your great-grandfather, through generation after generation of martial soul inheritance, until your parents gave birth to you. Then the martial soul inheritance in you actually accumulates the martial soul bloodline of countless ancestors."

"Among countless martial soul bloodlines, there is a possibility of a return to simplicity, causing a chicken martial soul to mutate into a phoenix. There is also the possibility of two martial soul bloodlines with extremely poor compatibility, such as a water attribute martial soul bloodline and a fire attribute martial soul bloodline."

"This kind of incompatible martial soul bloodline is like an impurity. Once too many impurities with conflicting attributes accumulate, they will affect the purity of your manifest martial soul bloodline, thus causing your manifest martial soul bloodline to undergo malignant mutation."

After hearing this explanation, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but gasp. "A manifested martial soul bloodline? What's that?"

Xia Liang smiled and said, "If you awaken your father's martial soul, then the martial soul bloodline of your father within you is called the dominant martial soul bloodline. And the martial soul bloodline of your mother is called the recessive one. In the future, your grandchildren may awaken the recessive martial soul bloodline, which is your mother's martial soul."

"There's such a thing as manifest and latent martial spirit bloodlines?" Yu Xiaogang stared at Xia Liang in surprise. "Where is this knowledge recorded?"

Xia Liang nodded. "Of course. How could an eight-year-old like me know these things? Besides the theory of malignant mutation of martial souls, that book also records other theories. Master, if you want to know more..."

"Okay. An exchange of knowledge, is that it? I agree."

Before Xia Liang could finish speaking, Yu Xiaogang interrupted, "What knowledge do you want to exchange with me?"

"Soul Beast knowledge." Xia Liang held up three fingers. "I'll trade four theories mentioned in that book for one book on soul beasts. What do you say?"

"Soul Beast books are a precious resource no matter where you are. Even I couldn't possibly exchange a complete soul beast book for you. However, if you want a copy of a soul beast book, I do have one."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang took out a book several centimeters thick from the soul tool in his belt.

The book's cover has only a few simple words: Soul Beast Manuscript.

Yu Xiaogang shook the book in his hand and said, "Compared to the original, this copy lacks illustrations of every soul beast. However, the knowledge about soul beasts recorded within is consistent with the original. If you can accept this, I'll exchange it for the theories you gained from that book."

Xia Liang was overjoyed when he saw the copy of the Soul Beast handed to him.

Yu Xiaogang may be unreliable in theory, but most of his knowledge of spirit beasts comes from the Spirit Hall's library, and it is genuine.

Adding nine of the most suitable spirit rings to a skeleton martial soul requires a great deal of knowledge about spirit beasts, which is why the theory was offered in exchange with Yu Xiaogang.

Actually, there isn't a book that summarizes any theoretical knowledge. The explicit and implicit martial soul bloodlines I mentioned earlier were just something I made up based on my own speculation.

Exchanging a nonsensical theory for a copy of a book on soul beasts from Yu Xiaogang is definitely a worthwhile investment.

What's more, Yu Xiaogang would use these nonsensical theories to harm Tang San.

If Tang San were to be ruined by Yu Xiaogang, he might lose one less competitor for his future chance to become a god.

"Master, may I take a look at this copy of the Soul Beast?" Xia Liang asked tentatively.

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

Xia Liang took the handwritten copy of the soul beast and carefully flipped through each page.

It contains knowledge about various high-grade soul beasts, including the Earth King, a high-grade fire-type soul beast mentioned in the original work, as well as the Death Spider, and even the top-level Death Spider Emperor.

Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?

Xia Liang was taken aback. This copy of the soul beasts even contained information about the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, as well as top-tier soul beasts with ancient bloodlines such as the Titan Giant Ape and the Flame Lord.

It is likely that only the Spirit Hall, with its millennia-long history, could possibly have recorded information about ancient bloodline spirit beasts.

This copy of the spirit beast manuscript was most likely copied by Yu Xiaogang from the Spirit Hall's library.

With this, I'll never have to worry about my knowledge of soul beasts again.

"In addition to common soul beasts, it also records many rare and precious soul beast species, and includes knowledge about most known soul beasts."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Xia Liang with intense gaze and asked, "So? You should be able to accept my offer to exchange this copy of the Soul Beast Manual for the theories mentioned in that book, right?"

"Alright." Xia Liang closed the Soul Beast Manuscript, smiled mysteriously, and said, "Of the theories mentioned in that book, four impressed me the most, along with some concepts that no Soul Master on the continent has ever heard of. Master, listen carefully."

"The first theory is that a Soul Master can become stronger through theory, but if one blindly pursues theory without strengthening oneself, then such a Soul Master is destined to be nothing but a waste until old age."

"The second theory is that, under certain specific circumstances, a Soul Master's Martial Soul may mutate into a combination of Weapon and Beast. The so-called combination of Weapon and Beast means that a Martial Soul can have two forms: Weapon Martial Soul and Beast Martial Soul."

"The third theory is that every martial soul has the potential to be cultivated into a top-tier martial soul. Even the most useless Blue Silver Grass martial soul can become a top-tier existence in a certain field if it finds a suitable cultivation path. Everyone has their own unique talents, and this is exactly the principle."

"The fourth theory is that the poison attribute can transform any martial soul into a highly aggressive combat-type martial soul."

"Even the weakest Blue Silver Grass martial soul, though easily broken and lacking offensive power, becomes dangerous and aggressive if a poison-attribute soul ring is added to it, turning it into a poisonous plant."

(End of this chapter)