Chapter 282: Spirit Development Plan

After deciding on a method to find the Dragon King's bones, everyone's expressions relaxed at once.

Xuanzi said with a chuckle:

"Wulin, do you have anything else to say? If not, we can adjourn the meeting."

Tang Wulin's return put him in a great mood and gave him a huge appetite, especially after learning about Tang Wulin's experiences over the past few years, which made it even more so.

He couldn't wait to adjourn the meeting and enjoy a good meal.

However, Tang Wulin seriously nodded.

"I do have something else to say, but this should be said by Yutong."

Saying this, he gestured to Huo Yutong to invite her to explain.

Huo Yutong stood up, facing the gazes of the senior elders, and said:

"Because of some coincidences, Wulin and I have created a novel way to help soul masters break through. If this technology can gradually develop and improve, it might possibly replace traditional soul rings and ease the conflict between humans and soul beasts."

"What?!" Xuanzi had been about to stand up and leave, but hearing this he quickly changed his mind and earnestly urged: "Tell us in detail."

Shrek Academy, as the first and most crucial line of defense against the Star Dou Great Forest, has always had a poor relationship with it.

If they could successfully ease relations with the forest, Xuanzi would naturally welcome it.

Huo Yutong looked at Tang Wulin.

"Wulin, release Little Red and Little Blue."

Little Red, Little Blue…

Tang Wulin's eyelids twitched.

When did Yutong give the two Dragon Kings nicknames like the Light Dragon King?

However, miraculously, he felt no sense of rejection from the two Dragon Kings; they even seemed quite happy.

Thus Tang Wulin reached out, and two giant dragons instantly appeared in the hall of the Sea God Pavilion, making the hall suddenly feel crowded.

Xuanzi's face changed instantly.

"They are——"

He hadn't forgotten that it was these two guys who had dragged Tang Wulin into Dragon Valley back then.

Tang Wulin nodded and said:

"They are the dragon souls of the Water Fire Dragon King, the source of my fourth and fifth soul rings, and now they are my spirit partners."

Saying this, he released his Blue Silver Emperor soul ring.

Black, black, black, red, blue — this abnormal soul-ring combination reappeared, causing the senior elders' eyes to widen involuntarily.

Having lived over a hundred years, they could naturally see that Tang Wulin's fifth soul ring was not just blue, and his fourth red soul ring was also abnormal.

At first glance this red soul ring looks like a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, but ordinarily a hundred-thousand-year soul ring's color should be like congealed blood — a blood red — whereas Tang Wulin's is fiery red, with a faint golden glow within.

Moreover, even if it truly were a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, it would be somewhat absurd for a fourth ring to absorb a hundred-thousand-year one.

Huo Yutong explained:

"As you senior elders can see, a spirit is a special soul-ring form that preserves a soul beast's soul and hosts it within the soul ring."

"Compared to traditional soul rings, spirits have many advantages: they place lower demands on the body's tolerance, powerful spirits can assist the master in battle, and they can provide multiple soul rings according to their age — all major advantages of spirits."

"Moreover, the most important difference from traditional soul rings is that, if the soul beast serving as a spirit is willing, the spirit can be inherited."

"What?!" This time not only the Sea God Pavilion senior elders, but even Tang Wulin was stunned.

He had never heard of this function before.

Obviously, during these two years of his dragon burial, Ilex has made new progress in spirit research.

Don't underestimate this final function; if what Yutong says is true, a single spirit could potentially be passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years in a great clan, which would be absolutely desirable for both soul beasts and soul masters.

Xuanzi swallowed and asked:

"You've listed so many advantages; is there really no drawback at all?"

"Of course there is." Huo Yutong nodded. "The most important factor for a spirit is the soul beast's willingness; if the soul beast itself is unwilling, the spirit ritual is hard to succeed."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Sea God Pavilion senior elders finally calmed somewhat.

Though this drawback sounds minor, it is actually extremely fatal.

The conflict between soul beasts and soul masters is irreconcilable, and the number of soul beasts willing to voluntarily become soul masters' spirits is extremely small.

Theoretically only soul beasts about to die might be willing to do this, but first, it's difficult to explain the specific benefits of the spirit ritual to them, and second, where would we find so many soul beasts on the brink of death?

To expand this technology, the only option is——

"Cooperate with the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Upon hearing Zhang Lexuan's words, Huo Yutong nodded.

"Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking."

Only a fierce beast capable of controlling all soul beasts can persuade them to cooperate in the ritual.

But Song Lao shook his head.

"No, we can't look for them; you're still thinking too simply."

Zhang Lexuan frowned and said:

"Song Lao, although we've always had conflicts with the Star Dou Great Forest, this is clearly beneficial to both sides; I believe they should be willing to cooperate with us."

After all, as Yutong just said, a spirit can potentially provide multiple soul rings, a function traditional soul rings lack; if spirits spread, theoretically they could greatly reduce the number of soul beasts killed by soul masters.

"So you're still thinking too simply." Song Lao said calmly: "Do you really think those fierce beasts are that easy to persuade? Don't forget, the premise of the spirit ritual is voluntariness — where in this world are there so many soul beasts willing to become soul masters' soul rings? And top-tier soul masters need a full nine soul rings; spirits cannot possibly completely resolve our conflict, they would only make human power stronger, then we'd go hunt them again. Do you think the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest would allow this to happen?"

Zhang Lexuan was left speechless.

What Song Lao said is correct; although spirits appear beneficial to both sides, in reality the benefits they bring to soul masters far outweigh those for soul beasts.

If soul beasts casually agree to cooperate, it's no different from drinking poison to quench thirst; all that awaits them is a slow death.

Tang Wulin respectfully asked:

"Then may I ask, Song Lao, do you have any ideas?"

"During the last Holy Spirit Sect incident, he had already realized that Song Lao, the current Deputy Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, possessed a vision far superior to that of these youngsters; listening to her opinion would not be wrong."

"Song Lao shook their head."

"What can I do? I'm old, no longer useful, can't keep up with the times. Solutions should be thought up by you; I can only advise you not to always look for shortcuts—sometimes people need a bit of foolish determination."

"Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong exchanged a glance, both seeming to understand something."

"Indeed, they cannot just think about taking shortcuts; if they want to cooperate with soul beasts, what they primarily need is a fully perfected soul spirit system."

"And a fully perfected soul spirit system can only wait for Ilex to develop it before we can talk about it."

"(End of chapter)"