Douluo: Martial Soul Research Diary

Chapter 23 The Soul Beast That Was Never Taken Seriously
Guzhu's absorption criteria are quite demanding.

"First and foremost, it must be a plant-based martial soul!"

Weapon-type and beast-type martial souls differ in their absorption of plant characteristics, making it impossible to obtain the characteristics of the solitary bamboo.

"Secondly."

"Damn it, the martial spirit's origin must be weaker than Gu Zhu's!"

That's far too harsh.

The strength of a hundred-year-old Lone Bamboo is between 0.2 and 0.3, and only Lone Bamboo less than a hundred years old has this characteristic. In other words, when absorbing a Lone Bamboo Soul Ring, your Martial Soul strength cannot exceed 0.2!

"Useless martial souls" like Blue Silver Grass are uniquely blessed!

Soul Hunting Forest.

"Bamboo less than ten meters tall is considered ten-year-old bamboo, while bamboo taller than ten meters tall is considered a hundred-year-old bamboo."

"For every meter of growth, the lifespan of the spirit ring increases by ten years."

Han Tao stopped and stood there, now somewhat hesitant.

Although the characteristics of the solitary bamboo have been widely verified in other plant-type soul masters.

However, when it comes to practice, one inevitably struggles with the decision repeatedly.

He was good at planning but indecisive, a trait that was perfectly embodied in himself at that moment.

Ultimately, what made Han Tao make up his mind was not his lengthy theoretical analysis, but his firsthand experience of Guzhu.

"Bamboo itself possesses resilience and pride; uprightness and integrity are its fundamental qualities."

Bamboo typically grows in large groves or patches.

The solitary bamboo defies this law; it is a single stalk, swaying in the wind and rain, growing under the sunlight.

A festival every ten years, a transformation every century, rising higher and higher with each passing year.

"Next, I need to find a solitary bamboo that is nearly a hundred years old."

It should last for nearly a century, but absolutely not more than a century.

The lower the age of the spirit ring, the less the spirit beast's essence is, making it difficult to shake the Blue Silver Grass's spirit.

"After breaking through a century, Guzhu will absorb its innate characteristics and transform them into nutrients for growth."

"If you hunt a century-old lone bamboo, you will not be able to obtain its characteristics."

Yes, Guzhu defies common sense in this way.

Those with powerful martial spirits cannot acquire their unique characteristics.

A high level of soul power cannot acquire its characteristics.

Only by killing the 90-year-old Guzhu and absorbing Guzhu's innate essence when taking the soul ring can one obtain the hard-won 0.2 growth base.

For low-level Soul Masters, even with a base growth rate of 0.2, the increase in combat power will not be greater than that from a single Soul Skill.
High-level Soul Masters with excellent Martial Soul quality can forget about it.

"Therefore, this spirit beast has never been taken seriously until now."

The blade was very sharp, befitting its unique price. With a light swing, Han Tao severed the lone bamboo.

A surge of soul power emanated from the solitary bamboo, containing a wisp of seven-colored light, like an illusion under the warm sunlight.

The white aura mixed with the seven-colored glow condensed in the air to form a white soul ring.

Between the spirit rings, a faint yellow light emanated.

"Spirit Ring, Absorb!"

The spirit ring was drawn to Han Tao's spirit.

The colorful glow dissipated as the soul ring absorbed it.

"This ray of light may be the manifestation of destiny."

"Second Soul Skill, Blue Silver Bamboo!"

Three Blue Silver Grasses intertwined and coiled into the shape of a bamboo, a classic example of a useless skill.

Han Tao smiled, not paying attention to the effect of the soul skill.

"In exchange for sacrificing one spirit ring, an additional 0.2 growth base is gained."

The weakness of the soul skill was to be expected.

Looking at his Blue Silver Grass again, he saw that its quality had not improved and there was no change whatsoever.

Could it be that he really absorbed a useless spirit ring?

"impossible!"

Thousands of data comparisons, experience exchanges among hundreds of plant-based soul masters, and three months of on-site investigation.

It took dozens of plant-based soul masters successfully acquiring case studies and conducting dozens of possibility analyses before finally selecting this solitary bamboo from among thousands of soul beasts.

Truth may be questioned, but objectivity is unmoved by will.

The inability to observe or understand changes may be due to one's own shortcomings.

"The level has not been raised, and the change in the growth base still needs to be verified."

The Guzhu clan has existed for no more than a hundred years, offering Han Tao extremely limited growth in soul power, and even his physique remained unchanged. If there were a detailed experience bar representing soul power levels, then Han Tao's experience bar would have only increased by a mere tenth at this moment.

The Soul Hunting Forest is a place where low-level Soul Masters hunt for Soul Rings; there are no high-level Soul Beasts there, but it is still dangerous for Han Tao.

Don't expect a level 20 Blue Silver Grass Soul Master to defeat a 400-year-old Mandragora Serpent.

At this moment, although Han Tao has a physique of 18, physical attributes are not equivalent to combat strength.

Han Tao has been at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for over a year, and has only studied theoretical knowledge and cultivated his soul power under the pressure of gravity.

You ask how much practical combat experience he has?

It's no exaggeration to say that he was utterly terrible. With his level 20 soul power attribute, he barely managed to fight Xiao Chenyu, who was level 12, to a draw.

Knowing his own combat level, Han Tao quickly fled from the edge of the Soul Hunter Forest after obtaining the Soul Ring.

Han Tao, being extremely cautious, encountered no trouble in the beginner village and returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School smoothly.

Soon, he approached Xiao Yuan.

Han Tao needs to break through to level 21 as soon as possible to feel the bonus to his physique and soul power when he breaks through, in order to judge whether the growth base of his martial soul has changed like other soul masters.

"Brother Xiao Yuan, the gravity compression training is still the same as before."

Xiao Yuan had no objection and activated his Gravity Soul Skill as usual.

Han Tao frowned.

As soul power level increases, the cultivation effect brought about by gravity pressure will gradually decrease; this is an objective reality.

However, after breaking through level 20, the impact of this diminishing returns is too great.

When Han Tao reached level ten, with the combination of gravity pressure and deep healing, he was able to break through to level one of soul power in just one month. However, when he reached level twenty of soul power, the effect of his cultivation was greatly slowed down.

Even now, it might take two months to break through to the first level of soul power.

"It seems it's time to improve my meditation techniques."

Improving meditation methods—that's easy to say.

In the Douluo Continent, among so many Soul Masters, has no one thought of improving the meditation method?

Everyone was thinking about it, but no one dared to try it, because if the test went wrong, the meridians would be damaged.

Damage to the meridians means a decrease in cultivation talent, and few soul masters can accept this result.

Even though Han Tao possessed deep healing skills, he never explored new meditation methods at level 10.

why?
Because the recovery of meridians takes time, and the golden period for a Soul Master's cultivation is limited, no one is willing to gamble their time on the extremely low probability of developing a meditation method.

But why is Han Tao willing now?
After a detailed analysis of the current predicament and advantages, and after repeated deliberation, Han Tao believes it is worthwhile to do so.

Limited by his talent, Han Tao's cultivation speed will become slower and slower. If he doesn't plan ahead and study meditation methods, he might get stuck at a certain stage and never be able to break through in his lifetime.

Han Tao has been exploring the "acupoints" for four years and has met the prerequisites for "deep treatment".

After sorting out his thoughts, Han Tao set his goals and began a new round of planning.

"No rush!" The plan was implemented after verification.

The current focus is on breaking through to level 21 with soul power to verify whether "Guzhu" can increase the additional growth base by 0.2.

"I've heard of a second thousand-year spirit ring, but I've never actually seen a second spirit ring chosen for ten years."

Clearly, Ning Fengzhi had learned of Han Tao's actions and was making sarcastic remarks from the side.

"I had thought that you would achieve some amazing results by visiting various cities on the mainland."

Ning Fengzhi's tone never stopped, and he kept shaking his head and sighing.

Han Tao remained silent.

The old fox seemed to be expressing regret, but in reality, he was gathering information to find out why he chose this ten-year soul ring.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

Seeing that Han Tao remained silent, Ning Fengzhi's eyes gradually turned cold, and he shouted a question.

"Teacher, I have my own choices and judgments."

"It's just that it hasn't been verified yet, so I can't say more, but I haven't given up."

Upon hearing Han Tao's answer, the sect leader stepped forward, patted Han Tao on the shoulder, shook his head, and left.

Ning Fengzhi was angry because he was afraid that Han Tao had given up his future.

Since he has his own judgment, there's nothing more to say.

However, we need to find a way to trick him into revealing his research findings.

"Old fox."

As his master left, Han Tao felt a slight warmth in his heart and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ning Fengzhi is a complex person. He genuinely cares about himself, and he also genuinely wants to get something for free.

There is no conflict between the two.

(End of this chapter)