By the time Xiao Lin found Tang San to boast, Tang San had already finished one round of forging.
A piece of red-hot iron was being meticulously purified by Tang San using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Method, and Xiao Lin found the process endlessly fascinating.
Truly worthy of being an exceptionally powerful self-created soul skill.
On the Douluo Continent, creating a powerful soul skill was extremely difficult.
Xiao Lin was referring to self-created soul skills that could be practiced by all soul masters, not those that relied on the specific traits of their martial souls.
Not the kind of self-created skill where Tang San could casually release Blue Silver Bind, but something like the Spiral Pill or a laser beam.
For example, Xiao Lin had once attempted to release a laser beam using an external spirit bone, but ultimately gave up due to insufficient soul power. Later, he consulted Tang San.
He asked whether it was possible for a soul master to manually generate a laser beam as a soul skill.
Tang San's answer was that ordinary soul masters could never achieve such a technique.
Even if they knew the training method.
At that time, Xiao Lin was curious and asked why. Tang San gave him this explanation:
Because people in this world had too little understanding and utilization of meridians.
To manually generate a laser beam, one would need to compress soul power and release it through their fingers.
This required the soul master to have extremely strong control abilities, powerful spiritual energy, and a deep understanding of the meridians in their fingers.
Finally, the soul master would need to perfectly develop the meridians in their fingers to withstand the compressed soul power.
It was then that Xiao Lin suddenly realized—his previous attempt to use an external spirit bone to release a laser beam was actually the best choice.
Since external spirit bones did not have meridian constraints, all Xiao Lin needed to do was compress and channel his soul power into it.
Although he ultimately failed due to a lack of soul power, his technique couldn't be considered a complete failure.
As long as he solved the issue of soul power consumption, there was a high probability that he could succeed.
Speaking of self-created soul skills, Xiao Lin had somewhat given up on them, instead focusing on training his physical abilities and spiritual power.
After all, the difficulty of creating soul skills was immense, and Xiao Lin wasn't about to waste valuable time on self-created techniques when he was in the easiest and most efficient phase of cultivation.
Most of the time, Xiao Lin would simply share his ideas with Tang San, letting this martial arts prodigy refine and complete them.
Then, Tang San would personally teach Xiao Lin.
This way, Xiao Lin not only had more time for cultivation but also helped the support-oriented Tang San develop some offensive techniques.
This was something Tang San himself desired, as his Clear Sky Hammer couldn't be easily exposed unless absolutely necessary.
Using hidden weapons was also too dangerous for simple sparring.
Meanwhile, Xiao Lin provided Tang San with better and more optimized soul ring choices and configurations. This was a win-win collaboration between the two.
When Xiao Lin arrived at the blacksmith shop looking for him, Tang San knew he could no longer make excuses and avoid him. With an awkward smile, he casually asked,
"Brother Lin, what brings you here?"
Tang San didn't want to reveal his sleeve dart project, feeling somewhat guilty. He just wanted to win a match, that was all.
"Heh, heh. Little San, let me tell you something—my paper sold like crazy!"
Xiao Lin handed Tang San a copy of the Martial Soul Report, looking immensely proud.
"This…"
Looking at the contents of the Martial Soul Report and then at Xiao Lin's smug expression, how could Tang San not understand Xiao Lin's intent?
"Brother Lin, I'll admit it—you're impressive."
Hearing Tang San's acknowledgment, Xiao Lin felt as refreshed as if he had eaten an ice pop on a sweltering summer day.
"Ha, Little San, hearing your recognition is really something special."
Xiao Lin's lips curled into a grin.
Tang San, by nature, was someone who hated to admit defeat and had extraordinary perseverance.
Even when he lost to Xiao Lin in a fight, he refused to outright admit defeat, always keeping up a stubborn front.
But when it came to martial soul theories, Tang San had no problem admitting that Xiao Lin was superior.
Sometimes, it even dampened Xiao Lin's sense of accomplishment because Tang San recognized his expertise so readily.
"Oh well, at least I got my satisfaction this time. I'm not here to spar today, anyway," Xiao Lin said casually, as if he had only come to chat.
Sitting beside Tang San to rest, Xiao Lin then brought up the topic of the day.
"A few days ago, I studied Grandpa's martial soul and came up with a new hypothesis."
Xiao Lin spoke while Tang San leaned forward, listening intently.
"My theory is that there's a possibility for Blue Silver Grass to become a food-type martial soul, enhancing your support capabilities to the maximum."
The moment Xiao Lin finished speaking, Tang San was utterly stunned, blurting out in shock,
"A food-type martial soul?! Is that even possible?"
Tang San's face was filled with curiosity. After all the common-sense lessons Xiao Lin had given him, Tang San was no longer an ignorant beginner when it came to martial souls.
He had learned from Xiao Lin that food-type martial souls were considered the strongest form of support-type martial souls.
And the reason?
Because food-type martial souls could be stored and then consumed later.
Individually, a food-type soul skill might not be as powerful as those of top-tier support-type martial souls, but what if large quantities were stored?
Combined with the fact that a food-type soul master could keep creating more food on the spot, Tang San could barely imagine how strong his Blue Silver Grass could become.
Moreover, if a food-type martial soul had an exceptionally effective soul skill, it might even accelerate soul masters' cultivation.
It could be a "the more you eat, the stronger you get" scenario—a relaxed and effortless way to become powerful.
"Yes, if my theory is correct, it's entirely possible," Xiao Lin said with confidence.
"Of course, the life force of Blue Silver Grass still has to be maintained."
Xiao Lin had no intention of turning Tang San into a pure food-type soul master.
Continuously enhancing Blue Silver Grass's life force and evolving it into the Blue Silver Emperor had always been his strategic goal.
Now, he just wanted to tweak some of the tactical details.
"If Blue Silver Grass continues to absorb soul rings that enhance its life force, even if it gains food-type martial soul abilities, those abilities would likely be related to healing or regeneration," Xiao Lin explained.
Hearing this, Tang San immediately grasped the idea and blurted out,
"If my Blue Silver Grass maintains its powerful life force, then even if it gains food-type abilities, it would still produce healing-type or attribute-boosting effects!"
Tang San had already learned to extrapolate from what he had been taught, proving that Xiao Lin's guidance had not gone to waste.
"Exactly! That's what I was thinking. And since your Blue Silver Grass's life force would be exceptionally strong, it might even have a soul skill that enhances all attributes of the user."
Xiao Lin nodded in approval.
For support-type soul masters, self-buffs were generally the weakest effect, but when applied to a powerful attack-type soul master, the result would be even greater strength.
This would apply to both Xiao Lin and Tang San when he eventually wielded the Clear Sky Hammer.
If things went as Xiao Lin predicted, Tang San could already foresee how powerful his Clear Sky Hammer would become.
"Alright, I'm willing to try incorporating food-type martial soul capabilities."
At this moment, Tang San had absolute trust in Xiao Lin, believing that his theories were never baseless.
"Good! Then let me explain my theory."
Feeling the unwavering trust of his close friend, Xiao Lin was filled with enthusiasm.
"First, Blue Silver Grass is edible, meaning it has the basic conditions to become a food-type martial soul."
Xiao Lin's reasoning was solid.
After all, Tang San had seen villagers in Holy Soul Village cutting Blue Silver Grass to feed pigs ever since he was a child.
"Second…"
(End of Chapter)