Chapter 89: Explaining Soul Master Knowledge to the Old Man

Hearing Miguel's words, the old man was relieved. Then he asked again, "Miguel, why can't I increase my soul power recently? Also, I feel like my physical fitness has improved a lot. Do you know why?"

"Grandpa, didn't you ask anyone else?"

“I didn’t ask, because I was afraid it would cause you trouble,” the old man replied.

"Thank you, Grandpa. Now I'll explain your situation to you. First of all, the levels in Douluo Continent are divided into ten levels: Soul Warrior, Soul Master, Great Soul Master, Soul Venerable, Soul Sect Master, Soul King, Soul Emperor, Soul Saint, Soul Douluo, and Titled Douluo. Every time you reach a level ten or twentieth, you need to absorb a Soul Ring in order to cultivate to the next level. You are currently at level ten, the peak of Soul Warrior. What you need to do now is absorb a Soul Ring so you can continue cultivating."

As for the improvement in your physical fitness, it's due to the faith feedback from the Lord of Light. Because you can't level up, the soul power that comes back helps you train your body, thereby improving your physical fitness. Physical fitness is related to the age of the soul rings you can absorb. Below ten thousand years, the higher your physical fitness, the higher the age of the soul rings you can absorb.

Those spirit rings older than ten thousand years require a certain level of mental strength. If one's mental strength is insufficient, there's a high chance of being driven mad by the resentment contained within the spirit ring. The color of the spirit ring is determined by its age: ten years is white, a hundred years is yellow, a thousand years is purple, ten thousand years is black, and a hundred thousand years is red. Take your familiar Uncle Su Yuntao as an example; Uncle Su Yuntao is level twenty-four and possesses one white and one yellow spirit ring,” Miguel patiently explained.

"Grandson, where do you get the spirit rings you mentioned earlier? And what's with the resentment inside the spirit rings?" the old man asked, puzzled.

"There are two ways to obtain spirit rings. One is the method commonly used in the spirit master world: hunting spirit beasts. As long as you are the last person to kill that spirit beast, you can absorb the spirit ring it produces. As for spirit beasts, they are similar to the poultry and livestock we usually see, except that they possess spirit power and are more aggressive. To give an inappropriate analogy, Grandpa, people like you without talent are equivalent to ordinary livestock, while spirit masters are equivalent to spirit beasts. Grandpa, do you understand my analogy?"

"I understand, grandson. Is the resentment you mentioned just now because the soul beast was unwilling to accept that we killed it?" the old man asked.

"Yes, apart from some exceptionally gifted soul beasts, most soul beasts develop intelligence after ten thousand years. When they cultivate for a hundred thousand years, their intelligence is almost the same as that of an adult. However, since they live in the forest, they are a little simpler. After a soul beast develops intelligence, it will create a soul impact after it dies, which is what I just mentioned as resentment. After all, no one wants to die if they can live."

"Grandson, after they develop sentience, killing them is no different from murder. I really can't bring myself to do it. Maybe I should just give up cultivation!" the old man said with a look of reluctance.

"Grandpa, you must remember, it's only natural for Soul Masters to kill Soul Beasts, and for Soul Beasts to eat people, so there's nothing to be reluctant about. Moreover, Grandpa, you must understand that the world of Soul Masters is not as wonderful as you imagine. The world of Soul Masters is cruel, a world where the strong prey on the weak, and every Soul Master's hands will be stained with blood, even mine."

"Grandpa, as the saying goes, 'I won't offend others unless they offend me.' I won't kill anyone unprovoked, but that doesn't mean others can provoke me. Also, Grandpa, becoming a Soul Master means there's no turning back. If I don't fight, I might get caught up in battle due to various accidents and end up losing my life. So all I can do is not kill unprovoked; everything else, I can only let nature take its course," Miguel said expressionlessly.