"I can now confirm that Huo Wu's martial soul possesses the light attribute," Tang San said. "As for the martial soul fusion skill, I only have a slight sense of it. After all, my Blue Silver Grass is rather unique. However, compared to other martial soul fusion skills, our martial souls are indeed more compatible."
When it came to martial soul fusion skills, the two most famous ones that Tang San could think of were the Nether White Tiger of the Star Luo Empire and the Two Extremes Static Domain of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo of Spirit Hall.
The Nether White Tiger couldn't be performed by just any White Tiger and Nether Cat martial soul pair—there had to be a spiritual and emotional resonance between the users.
On the other hand, the fusion between Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo seemed more like a domain-type ability rather than a true transformation fusion.
The former required a connection between the people. The latter, Tang San estimated, relied more on mutual compatibility and attribute balancing to allow harmony.
Of course, this excluded divine-level interference.
Otherwise, the martial soul fusion skills between the male and female leads of Unrivaled Tang Sect would be completely illogical.
A hammer, a butterfly, a spirit eye, and a scorpion—what kind of shared foundation could those four martial souls possibly have?
Their attributes were also completely mismatched.
If one had to insist on a connection, maybe you could argue the spirit eye looked like patterns on butterfly wings.
But even that was a stretch.
"Since we've confirmed it's a light attribute, let's have a fight and see who's stronger."
Huo Wu's eyes gleamed. She didn't mention martial soul fusion skills again—she just wanted to test her strength against Tang San.
"No disrespect!"
Fire Phoenix immediately blocked Huo Wu.
She didn't want this potential son-in-law to be bullied by her granddaughter.
Besides, he already had two pretty girls at his side. If Huo Wu started throwing punches, she might lose her one and only chance.
After all, the two of them had a martial soul fusion skill!
Even if they didn't end up together, if something did happen and left behind some seeds, the Huo Family would still profit.
She absolutely couldn't let Huo Wu act recklessly.
Fire Phoenix thought through many things in an instant, then asked, "Master Tang San, may I ask which soul beast would be the best choice for Huo Wu's third soul ring?"
"Sun Lion," Tang San replied.
"This soul beast can absorb sunlight to cultivate. It will almost certainly awaken the true form of Huo Wu's martial soul. Even if it doesn't, it will help her Fire Shadow absorb the light element and grow. One day, it will fully transform. When that happens, her first and second soul skills will also evolve along with her awakened martial soul."
"This soul beast exists in the Green Shade Prairie of the Star Luo Empire. It's a bit far away," Fire Phoenix frowned. It would take too much time to travel that far.
"If you want to hunt a suitable soul beast here in the Infinite Desert, there's actually another option."
Tang San paused. "It depends on whether you have good enough luck."
Fire Phoenix leaned in. "What soul beast is it?"
"A variation of the Blazing Lion—the Blazing Sun Lion King."
Tang San revealed the name.
"This soul beast doesn't evolve from an older Blazing Lion. Instead, it's born under special circumstances. When a Blazing Lioness is pregnant and swallows a rare mineral called a Sun Stone, the cub inside may mutate into a Blazing Sun Lion King."
"This soul beast is born with both flame and light attributes. Huo Wu's martial soul contains both, so it's the most compatible match possible. Even the regular Sun Lion wouldn't compare."
Fire Phoenix had never heard of such a soul beast, but she trusted that Tang San wouldn't make up something like this.
Besides, there was a Sun Stone mine in the Infinite Desert.
If a lioness swallowed a Sun Stone, then yes—it was possible for the cub to mutate.
"Does the Blazing Sun Lion King live among the Blazing Lions?" Fire Phoenix asked.
"Not quite," Tang San replied. "Unlike normal lion kings who rule over a group, the Blazing Sun Lion King is a natural monarch. Once it matures, it kills all other males and gathers the lionesses, ruling alone."
"A lion pack can only have one male lion, maybe three at most. Any more, and they fight. If a Blazing Sun Lion King appears and grows up, it'll slaughter the others and take over."
Tang San sighed.
This soul beast reminded him strangely of the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Because of that," he continued, "no lion pack allows a Blazing Sun Lion King to live. If one is born, it's hunted immediately. Only a few lucky ones escape, live in exile, and grow in isolation—hoping to someday reclaim the pride."
"Legend says that once a Blazing Sun Lion King reaches a thousand years, it's guaranteed to drop a soul bone. And not just any bone—an external soul bone."
"It ranks just under ten-thousand-year soul bones in rarity. It grows with the user's soul power and, once absorbed, cannot be dropped upon death. It perishes with the soul master."
Fire Phoenix's breath hitched.
Her voice trembled.
"Master Tang San, are you saying a Blazing Sun Lion King over a thousand years will definitely drop an external soul bone?"
"That's what it says in the book Where Are the Magical Soul Beasts, at least," Tang San replied.
He wasn't entirely sure.
The book also mentioned another case—someone captured a pregnant Blazing Lioness and fed her a Sun Stone, hoping for a Blazing Sun Lion King.
But the cub turned out to be just a Blazing Lion.
So Tang San speculated that the Sun Stone might be necessary—but not the only requirement.
Other unknown factors must be involved.
Fire Phoenix was a little disappointed, but not too much.
Even if she couldn't find a Blazing Sun Lion King, she could still take Huo Wu to the Green Shade Prairie.
The Sun Lion was also a solid option that could awaken the martial soul's true nature.
With that, the group decided to temporarily settle at the oasis.
But Huo Wu still hadn't forgotten about her promised fight with Tang San.
And Tang San agreed.
"Huo Wu, level 29, long-range output-type assault battle soul master. Please guide me."
Huo Wu tossed aside her windbreaker and removed her goggles.
She flipped her reddish-brown hair, revealing bronze-colored skin and a bold, fiery demeanor.
Tang San released his Blue Silver Grass martial soul and said calmly, "Tang San, level 28, all-around support soul master. Please guide me."
The duel began.
Huo Wu charged first.
Tang San sidestepped easily and touched the ground, causing his Blue Silver Grass to take root.
Then, he began wearing her down in a battle of attrition.
It had to be said—Huo Wu got carried away in combat.
She called herself a long-range soul master, but fought like a melee control-type.
Her first two soul skills—Defying Flame Ring and Flame Ascension—were used to push back and empower herself.
What kind of "ranged output" was this?
She had no actual ranged attacks.
She was clearly a control-type assault soul master.
Or was she just lying about her type to confuse people?
Still, if her third soul skill came from the Sun Lion or Blazing Sun Lion King, she might gain a powerful ranged skill for real.
Tang San dodged while silently roasting her fighting style.
Then, once his Blue Silver Grass was fully rooted, he activated Endless Grassfield.
Countless Blue Silver Grass vines wrapped around Huo Wu.
Her flames were incredibly hot, but once Endless Grassfield took root underground, it became nearly impossible to burn it all.
As long as the roots survived, the Blue Silver Grass was limitless.
And Huo Wu… she was slowly running out of soul power.