All rights reserved to the respective authors.
"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.
'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.
[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.
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[The reason Soul Beasts choose to re-cultivate as humans is simple: survival. After reaching 100,000 years of cultivation, Soul Beasts face countless restrictions in this world, leaving them with little choice but to seek a new path. Xiao Wu is no exception. Even though she carries the weight of her mother's murder, she never truly focused on cultivating after coming to the human world. While her previous cultivation could passively transform, active cultivation would have significantly accelerated this process. Not to mention, by harnessing her martial soul, she could have absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, converting it into spirit power. With such a multiplier effect, why didn't she take advantage of it? What exactly was her purpose? Her goal?]
[Instead, she spent her days clinging to Tang San, flirting, acting spoiled, and playing cute. Even after obtaining the Yearning Heartbroken Red Immortal Herb, she didn't consume it, resulting in her true form being exposed during the final match against Spirit Hall Academy in the Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. If she had eaten it, not only would her strength have increased, but she might also have inherited the hidden properties of the immortal herb. Would events have unfolded differently then?]
[It's infuriating. Such an opportunity, completely wasted. This foolish rabbit truly gives me a headache.]
[Yet, whether Xiao Wu was genuinely innocent or simply pretending, it doesn't concern me. Her hatred toward Spirit Hall is understandable; it would be strange if she didn't harbor resentment. After all, Bibi Dong killed her mother, turning her into a spirit ring. But that brings me to a puzzling realization. In the original timeline, Xiao Wu should have been consumed by hatred toward Bibi Dong. After transforming, her primary focus should've been on cultivating to reach Titled Douluo strength as soon as possible.]
[So why did she waste six years at Notting College, playing the role of Tang San's sister? How did she end up developing feelings for him? As a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, her innate spirit power was undoubtedly high. Yet, six years later, her power level was the same as Tang San's—level 29. Tang San's level was understandable since he was limited by human constraints, but Xiao Wu was different.]
[She had an incomparably solid foundation. As long as she focused on cultivation, her progress should have far surpassed Tang San's. Even when the other Shrek Seven Monsters consumed immortal herbs and saw rapid spirit power growth, Xiao Wu's cultivation speed didn't lag behind—despite not consuming any.]
[This can only mean one thing: Xiao Wu was lazy in her training. Is this truly the Xiao Wu who's supposed to avenge her mother? Everything about her actions contradicts her supposed desire for revenge. It almost feels like she prioritized her relationship with Tang San over vengeance.]
The heroines were left in shock as they read through Tenshin's analysis.
Xiao Wu's behavior seemed completely out of character to them. She had abandoned all the advantages and opportunities others would kill for, choosing instead to act like an innocent girl, as if her mother had never been killed and she had no vendetta to pursue. They struggled to comprehend her mindset.
Although they understood Xiao Wu's hatred for Spirit Hall, they couldn't ignore the fact that this conflict had no absolute right or wrong. It was all about perspective. After all, soul masters and soul beasts had been natural enemies since ancient times. Their opposition was deeply ingrained, an irreconcilable contradiction.
This was simply the way of the world: soul masters hunted soul beasts to grow stronger, and in turn, soul beasts faced extinction. It was a cruel cycle, an unchangeable law that governed their existence.
Bibi Dong's expression darkened as she closed the diary, her fingers tightening around its edges. "To think she threw away her potential for a fleeting fantasy... Pathetic." Yet, a flicker of emotion crossed her face as she recalled her own past—the choices she made, the love she left behind. For a moment, her anger was tinged with bitter understanding.
'Damn, she was given such an opportunity, yet she wasted it! This foolish rabbit really gives me a headache.' Tenshin shook his head, discarding his needless speculations. 'Anyway, whether Xiao Wu was pretending to be pure or not doesn't concern me. Let Tang San bear the burdens and the green hat that comes with Xiao Wu.'
He closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
The following day would start with an opening ceremony in the morning.
In the afternoon, since he didn't need to clean the garden, Tenshin went straight to work at the blacksmith workshop. In the late afternoon, after taking a bath in the inner room of the workshop, he returned to the academy.
When Tenshin entered the dormitory, Wang Sheng looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Tenshin, what did you do this afternoon?"
"I went to work," Tenshin replied with a smile. "Usually, I do physical training to counteract my martial soul's lack of battle power. Also, I need money, and with classes, work, and cultivation, my schedule will be tight. So, I thought working as a blacksmith would help me exercise my body, and now I'm an apprentice blacksmith."
"Tenshin, you're pretty smart to come up with that," Xiao Wu remarked, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Plus, your physical strength is quite decent, so it's the perfect job for you."
"I think so too," Wang Sheng agreed with a nod.
Tenshin grinned. "Alright, I'm heading to the canteen for some food." The blacksmith's staff had invited him to have dinner with them, but he had politely declined.
As he walked toward the canteen, Tenshin's thoughts drifted. 'After I eat, I'll check out the school library. That was one of the main reasons I was so excited to come here.'
Half an hour later
Tenshin stood before the library door, its wooden surface warped and peeling from years of neglect. He sighed quietly, his fingers tracing the rough texture.
"According to the professors, this is the place..." He frowned, taking in the worn appearance. "Judging by its state, students must rarely visit. I guess the staff sees no reason to maintain it..."
Shaking his head, he muttered, "What a shame... What a waste of knowledge."
He pushed the door, which creaked as it opened, revealing a dim room heavy with the scent of dust and age.
Inside, rows of old shelves stood unevenly, some leaning precariously as if they had long since given up standing tall. A layer of dust covered most of the books, their spines cracked, their titles faded beyond recognition. A few tables and chairs were scattered throughout, scratched and worn from years of use—or disuse. The only sign of care was that the windows had been left open, allowing just enough light to keep the room from feeling completely lifeless.
"I expected this, given the state of the door... but still, I can't believe how little they value knowledge," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
With a determined sigh, he moved toward the shelves, his eyes scanning the dust-covered labels. His fingers glided over the books until he selected several volumes—history of the Continent, Soul Beasts and their abilities, basic cultivation theories, and incomplete body diagrams showing energy routes and acupuncture points. The knowledge in these books wasn't as advanced as what the great clans and sects possessed, but it was enough for him.
'Even if the content is basic, these books will give me a sense of the knowledge base in Douluo Continent,' he thought as he carried the books to a quiet corner. Placing them neatly on the table, he settled into a chair and opened the first book.
Time passed unnoticed. With his exceptional mental power, aided by the Celestial Book's passive boost and the Celestial Library, his reading speed was astonishing. His mind processed the information with remarkable clarity. As he read, much of what knew from knowledge of the canon began to make sense. Ideas he had been contemplating started to take a more solid form.
'This knowledge might be limited compared to what the great forces have accumulated over centuries, or even the information from the sequels of the original novel... but it's enough for now,' he thought. 'I don't want to limit myself to what I know about the future. My perspective is different from the natives of this world, and it would be a waste not to use that advantage.'
Three hours later
After several hours of reading, Tenshin closed the last book and exhaled. 'That was enlightening. Many of my questions were answered, and problems that would've taken days to solve were clarified here,' he thought, carefully returning the books to their places.
Back at the dormitory, he noticed the other students cultivating—well, almost all of them. Xiao Wu was fast asleep, sprawled comfortably on her bed. Moving quietly, he settled onto his own bed and began cultivating his soul power.
Although the knowledge in the books was repetitive at times, Tenshin continued to read every night. Even if the general content was the same, small details could differ between books, and each author had a unique understanding of the same topic. Some even presented theories—most of them flawed or impractical, but occasionally insightful.
His routine quickly settled into a steady rhythm. In the mornings, he attended classes. In the afternoons, he worked at the blacksmith workshop. In the evenings, he read in the library, followed by soul power cultivation before bed. Every day or two, he wrote in his diary, recording his thoughts and progress.
And just like that, the days flowed by.
Until Tang San returned.
'Yu Xiaogang is still poisoned. It seems Tang San's first spirit ring is still from the Datura Snake.'
Observing through Yu Xiaogang's room window, Tenshin could clearly see that Yu Xiaogang had been helped back by Tang San and was now bedridden. In addition, before Tang San left, he took a book from the bookshelf nearby, which, according to Yu Xiaogang, contained some techniques for cultivating soul power.
This was exactly what Tenshin needed at the moment. So, over the next few hours, he paid extra attention to Tang San's movements.
During his surveillance, Tenshin discovered another function of the Celestial Library. One day, while observing, he realized that if he focused his mental power on his martial soul, it would begin to create a copy of the books close to him. However, this process took a considerable amount of time depending on the amount of information within the book.
Even after scanning, the knowledge didn't immediately transfer to him. When he entered the Celestial Library, he found that one of the previously empty bookshelves now held "ghost" versions of the books he had scanned. These "ghosts" would only become real books in his library after he fully read them, just like the rest of his knowledge and memories.
With this discovery, Tenshin spent the next few days scanning as many books as Yu Xiaogang had. Although some were filled with Yu Xiaogang's flawed theories, most of the knowledge came from the Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
But, as always, his actions had a cost. For him, that meant f****** headaches and mental exhaustion.
What surprised Tenshin a little was that the method of soul power cultivation recorded in the book was very similar to the internal power cultivation methods found in martial arts novels.
According to the book, when soul power flowed inside a Soul Master's body, it would instinctively circulate along a specific route, even during normal times when nothing was being done. The so-called meditation method involved actively guiding the soul power through meditation, accelerating its natural flow. This was also the cultivation method adopted by the vast majority of Soul Masters on the continent.
'No wonder when I first cultivated using the meditation method given by Su Yuntao, it felt similar to cultivating internal energy in martial arts novels.'
Tenshin sat cross-legged on his bed, feeling the spirit energy flowing through his meridians.
'Just like how blood flows through veins on its own, soul power also flows through the meridians by itself.'
'However, the normal circulation speed is too slow and doesn't allow the Martial Soul to absorb the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy to convert it into soul power. Only by actively accelerating this flow can one truly cultivate soul power.'
'Still, this cultivation method is too crude and slow.' Tenshin sighed quietly.
'A truly effective meditation method would involve redesigning the soul power's circulation route within the body's meridians, greatly increasing the absorption speed of spiritual energy. Additionally, due to differences in individual physiques, the optimal routes would also vary, leading to different cultivation effects. Of course, there are also neutral-attribute universal meditation methods, like Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill.'
'After all, the Tang Sect has been passed down for generations with countless disciples, male and female alike. If there were limitations based on physique or attribute, how could it be universally taught?'
'According to the original story, the Mysterious Heaven Skill is a superior internal energy training method with neutral attributes, continuous vitality, immense resilience, and powerful adaptability. It also strengthens the meridians and enhances self-healing. In the original story, it even helped Tang Hao regenerate severed limbs and was effective in dispelling poison, as shown when Tang San expelled the snake venom from Yu Xiaogang using its internal energy.'
'As for Tang San telling Dai Mubai that he'd need to abolish his martial soul realm and start cultivating from scratch... that's pure nonsense. Dai Mubai and the others never changed their soul power circulation routes to cultivate any internal training methods, so where would a conflict arise from? And regarding attribute conflicts, none of the later protagonists faced any issues while learning it. Tang Wulin and Huo Yuhao both learned it after reaching level ten without needing to abolish their martial soul or cultivation.'
Clearing his thoughts, Tenshin recalled the book's contents and the accompanying human body diagrams.
'These soul power circulation routes seem to have been summarized by the Spirit Hall through experiments conducted by the Soul Masters under its command. They're much more comprehensive than the ones from the books I read in the school library. However, they don't form a complete system yet. The notes merely record more meridians suitable for soul power circulation but don't connect them into a fully developed training method.'
'Regarding some routes that work for certain people but not others, it's likely due to individual differences in meridian blockages.'
'Unfortunately, in my previous life, I didn't learn anything about meridians or traditional medicine, so I can't distinguish the differences between these meridians.'
'I also don't know whether the so-called strange meridians and eight extraordinary meridians are included here, or which ones they might be. It's such a headache—worse than the one I already have. If I can't understand them clearly, experimenting could be risky. Practicing incorrectly could lead to serious consequences.'
Feeling a bit discouraged, Tenshin sighed.
'On the bright side, a few of the routes are confirmed as safe in the notes. I can at least try them out. They should be better than the meditation method I'm currently using.'
With this thought, Tenshin smirked and began writing in his diary.
[Yu Xiaogang even claimed that these are his own research results. How shameless. Just this human body diagram with annotations... did you, Yu Xiaogang, even dissect corpses to get this knowledge?]
[However, it's no wonder that the Soul Master community places so much importance on Innate Soul Power Levels. Without internal techniques to accelerate cultivation and help open up the meridians, innate qualifications naturally become the only standard of assessment.]
[And the reason why the Spirit Hall has so many Titled Douluo, far surpassing the other forces, is probably also related to this type of research. After all, accumulating a large quantity inevitably leads to greater overall power.]
When the heroines read the first entry, they were mildly curious but not surprised. Their perception of Yu Xiaogang was already negative—almost shattered for Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong due to recent revelations.
The second entry piqued their curiosity. They recalled the discussions about Tang San's internal technique and its impact on cultivation. Some had even begun researching known and safe energy pathways within the human body since then.
However, as they continued reading, discomfort grew among those not aligned with Spirit Hall. Liu Erlong and Tang Yuehua, both linked to two of the three great clans, were particularly unsettled. Ning Rongrong, though, was too young to grasp the full implications.
Tenshin stopped writing in the diary and decided to stop thinking about it, not wanting to make his headache worse. He began to cultivate his soul power.
There weren't many operation routes to try, and Tenshin quickly realized that the soul power was flowing smoothly. As he had suspected, the cultivation speed was about 15% faster.
Before he knew it, time had passed, and it was late at night.