The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect moved with remarkable speed. Within just one day, specialized personnel were arranged to help the Yang family move. Everything, big and small, was relocated—even the small items Yang Xiong used for training.
Upon truly entering the inner sect, Yang Xiong finally experienced the splendor and wealth of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
The inner sect's architecture was magnificent, adorned with pavilions, lakes, artificial hills, and other features. The lake water shimmered like emerald jade, exuding an ethereal aura reminiscent of a fairyland. Even a simple tree in this place was extraordinarily valuable, its presence beneficial to soul masters.
The Yang family was assigned a courtyard near the western side. Though the family consisted of only four members—six if including their two assistants—the house alone had over ten rooms. The courtyard also included a large training ground, a small pond, and even hidden chambers, making it an ideal living environment.
The most delighted member of the family was undoubtedly Yang Wei, who had been studying in Tian Dou City. In the blink of an eye, his entire family had become inner sect disciples, and even his parents had been reassigned to new roles within the inner sect.
The difference in treatment between the inner and outer sects was stark. Inner sect members received monthly subsidies of money and medicinal pills, along with numerous other benefits.
Meanwhile, Yang Xiong sat at home, deeply engrossed in thought. Before him lay a stack of papers filled with various notes.
Selecting soul rings was of utmost importance to Yang Xiong, and he had spent a great deal of time contemplating his future development path.
A Body Martial Soul offered countless possibilities, but none seemed entirely ideal.
On the paper, Yang Xiong listed the eight fundamental attributes that formed the basis of the Douluo Continent: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, Darkness, and Space.
Beyond these, there were additional attributes such as Ice, Lightning, Wind, Poison, Strength, Speed, and Martial Soul. These were extensions or combinations of the fundamental attributes. For example, Ice was an extension of Water, while Lightning was a fusion of multiple attributes. Wind wasn't even considered a fundamental attribute.
Light, Darkness, and Space, on the other hand, were classified as advanced fundamental attributes.
Strength and Spiritual were more akin to derived attributes, representing the fusion of multiple fundamental attributes into something entirely new.
Take the Hao Tian Hammer of the Hao Tian Sect, for instance. At its core, it was simply a hammer imbued with the Metal attribute. However, through the addition of strength-oriented soul rings, it evolved into a terrifying weapon capable of unleashing overwhelming power, potentially even reaching the pinnacle of pure force in the future.
Similarly, the White Tiger martial soul of the Star Luo Empire's Dai family combined Strength and Metal attributes.
So-called strength-type soul beasts often blended Metal, Earth, and other attributes, sometimes incorporating additional ones.
For example, creatures like the Flame Lion and Monoceros Blazing Dragon possessed both immense physical strength and fire attributes, though the latter tended to dominate. The Deep Sea Devil Whale King, theoretically a Water attribute creature, also exhibited Lightning and Strength attributes.
Consider Tang Lie of the Hao Tian Sect. His Hao Tian Hammer, though rooted in Strength, manifested both Strength and Fire attributes, amplifying its destructive potential.
From this analysis, Strength appeared to be a powerful manifestation, a fusion of multiple attributes.
Based on his research into Body Martial Souls, Yang Xiong believed pursuing pure Strength would be the optimal path, as it would continuously enhance his physical prowess.
However, the Body Sect of the future hadn't followed this route. Both Du Busi and Du Bisi had pursued Poison attributes instead. Given the Body Sect's deep understanding of martial souls, surely some had attempted the pure Strength path, but their development likely fell short of expectations.
Take, for example, the single-attribute Four Families' Strength Family. They adhered strictly to the path of pure Strength, and their Ape Martial Soul wasn't weak by any means. Yet, they failed to produce even a single Title Douluo, and over time, their family faded into obscurity. Clearly, pure Strength wasn't necessarily the best path for growth.
After a full day of contemplation, Yang Xiong had essentially finalized his development plan.
He would pursue the path of Strength while incorporating all attributes. All his soul rings would be strength-oriented, each representing one of the eight fundamental attributes: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Light, Darkness, and Space.
Among these, the most challenging to find would be strength-type soul beasts with a Wood attribute. Other types could be found more easily.
Yang Xiong's reasoning was straightforward: Strength would significantly enhance his combat capabilities and physical attributes, potentially allowing him to leverage higher-level soul rings for a second awakening of his martial soul.
Beyond attributes, he would prioritize stronger soul beasts, particularly those with dragon lineage, which might offer additional advantages.
The foundation of this plan lay in the unique compatibility of Body Martial Souls. As his martial soul was tied to his body, he could absorb any type of soul ring without fear of rejection.
Yang Xiong even speculated that possessing all attributes might trigger a qualitative transformation in his body, elevating him to unprecedented levels of strength.
---
The next morning, Yang Xiong approached his homeroom teacher, Lin Gong, to discuss his requirements for soul rings.
When students of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect needed soul rings, specialized personnel were available to analyze and recommend suitable soul beasts.
The sect raised a vast number of soul beasts, mostly under a thousand years old. Additionally, the sect maintained its own Soul Beast Forest, spanning over fifty kilometers in width and length, housing beasts up to ten thousand years old. Beyond that, older soul beasts had to be hunted externally.
Ordinary students typically acquired soul rings from beasts under a thousand years old. Only high-ranking stewards required ten-thousand-year soul beasts, which fell outside the school's purview.
Acquiring ten-thousand-year soul rings was difficult and required significant contributions to the sect. Hunting in places like the Great Star Forest was fraught with danger.
Lin Gong retrieved a thick book detailing the sect's available soul beasts.
As Yang Xiong flipped through the pages, he discovered an abundance of options, ranging across various age categories. Common soul beasts were plentiful, while rare ones were reserved for exceptional talents.
The first page described the Thousand-Pound Ant.
"Thousand-Pound Ant, pure strength-type soul beast. One hundred years old: seventeen available. Two hundred years old: nine available…"
The second page featured the Soft Bone Rabbit. While Soft Bone Rabbits rarely became powerful soul beasts, they were suitable for speed-oriented soul masters.
…
Yang Xiong continued flipping through the records but couldn't find the soul beast he desired. Most captive-raised soul beasts were too ordinary, lacking the exceptional qualities he sought.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he examined a particular entry. "Teacher Lin, I've decided on this soul beast."
Lin Gong looked surprised. "Yang Xiong, are you sure? While this soul beast is of good quality, its age exceeds five hundred forty years, far surpassing the absorption limit for a first soul ring. Moreover, it's a defensive-type soul beast, which doesn't align well with your martial soul."
"This soul beast has been in our sect for many years, but no one has chosen it due to the limitations of turtle-type soul beasts. Their abilities are primarily defensive, and they're only suitable for turtle-type martial souls. Few in our sect have turtle-type martial souls, let alone students."
Yang Xiong quickly responded, "Teacher Lin, I've thought it through. I believe it's perfect for me."
Lin Gong nodded. "This matter is of great importance. I'll need to report it to the sect leader and inform your parents. If anything goes wrong, your cultivation could be ruined, and the consequences would be severe."
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