In a small border town in the Fasno Province.
Notting Academy.
The place was bustling with activity, and the streets were crowded with people.
Since the academy required a Martial Soul certificate issued by Spirit Hall, most primary academies had some connection with Spirit Hall.
Under Qian Daoliu's arrangements, various Spirit Hall branches chose academies as the venues to announce Lin Feng's theory.
They also invited people from all walks of life to attend.
A frail and listless figure stood in a corner of the crowd, listening with curiosity to the announcement from the stage.
Master Ma Xiunuo, dressed formally, looked at the packed square with pride.
He announced loudly:
"Everyone! The history of soul masters spans millions of years, and the meditation method has remained unchanged since its inception.
Today, Spirit Hall announces that the future of soul masters will undergo another revolution!
The cultivation methods of soul masters will reach new heights!
Our Spirit Hall scholar, Lin Feng, has created the Innate Soul Evolution Art, which explores the hidden soul power pathways within the soul master's body.
This first pathway will provide at least a 5% increase in cultivation speed and enhance physical fitness!"
The crowd erupted in noise.
As Ma Xiunuo expected, the audience was immediately abuzz.
Opinions were divided, and debates broke out.
"Is Spirit Hall bored? A technique with only a 5% boost, and they're making such a big deal out of it?"
"Idiot! Didn't you listen to Master Ma Xiunuo? This is something all soul masters can use!
And did you miss the last part? This is just the first pathway!"
"Who are you calling an idiot?
It's just one pathway. Why make it sound so impressive?"
The first speaker smacked the other on the head.
"You're the idiot! If there's a first pathway, there's bound to be a second, a third. That scholar Lin Feng must have already developed them.
Do you think Spirit Hall wouldn't keep some secrets for something that benefits the entire world? Listen carefully, you fool!"
The other person stammered and fell silent.
"Master Ma Xiunuo, who is this scholar Lin Feng? Why haven't we heard of him before?"
Ma Xiunuo waited for the noise to die down before continuing.
"Scholar Lin Feng is now a high-ranking member of Spirit Hall.
It's said that his innate soul power was only level one, but in just a few years, he broke through the limitation that level one innate soul power couldn't surpass Soul Elder.
After breaking through, he gained insights and created the Innate Soul Evolution Art!"
"What!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in disbelief. His frail body pushed through the crowd.
He approached Ma Xiunuo, his voice trembling with excitement.
"How is this possible? How can someone break through the limitation of level one innate soul power?
Level one innate soul power means a useless Martial Soul. There's no room for growth!"
Ma Xiunuo looked at the newcomer with disdain.
"Why not? There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters!"
"You… you…"
Yu Xiaogang pointed at Ma Xiunuo, his face red with anger. The other man clearly knew who he was, and this was a blatant insult.
Relying on his connections with the academy dean to freeload here, and with the dean promoting his title of "Master," it was impossible for Ma Xiunuo not to know him.
"Who is this guy? Get out of the way! Let Master Ma Xiunuo continue!"
"Yeah, move aside! Some down-and-out soul master with a dirty face. Get lost!"
Amid the jostling crowd, Yu Xiaogang was pushed away from the front.
A few people even hit him hard, leaving his ribs and feet in pain.
Gasping for breath, Yu Xiaogang stared at Ma Xiunuo, not wanting to miss a single word.
He muttered to himself, "Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Ma Xiunuo sneered and continued.
"As you all guessed, Scholar Lin Feng has already developed subsequent pathways.
This time, we're only releasing the first pathway to give everyone time to adjust to the new theory.
After all, it takes time for most people to accept something new.
Rest assured, Spirit Hall will release the subsequent pathways at the appropriate time."
"Additionally!"
Ma Xiunuo raised his voice, infused with soul power.
"After experiencing the benefits of this technique, do not attempt to explore further pathways on your own.
Without Scholar Lin Feng's unique method, forcibly opening pathways will only endanger your lives!
Spirit Hall will not be responsible for those who recklessly attempt it and suffer the consequences!"
"Here is the manual for the first pathway. You may take it freely.
After one day, those who come to request it will need to pay one copper coin.
After three days, one silver coin.
After seven days, one gold soul coin.
After that, we will no longer provide it."
After finishing, Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao stood at the back of the stage, distributing the manuals and ignoring further questions.
The crowd hesitated, then surged forward to grab the manuals.
Yu Xiaogang, under Ma Xiunuo's mocking gaze, tremblingly took a manual.
Returning to his room, he swallowed hard and opened the manual.
Following the pathway described, he began circulating his soul power. His eyes lost focus.
"It's real… So this Lin Feng really broke through to Soul Elder…"
Spirit Hall wouldn't joke about something like this.
"How did he do it? Just by following this pathway?
Yes, that must be it. If I diligently cultivate this pathway and the subsequent ones Spirit Hall releases, I can also break through to Soul Elder!"
Like his so-called "Ten Core Competitiveness Theories," Yu Xiaogang's reasoning was completely illogical.
In his extreme joy, shock, and despair, he misunderstood one crucial point.
The pathway was created by Lin Feng after he broke through the limitation, not the other way around.
This should have been obvious, but in Yu Xiaogang's current state, he couldn't see it. Stuck at level 29 for so long, he clung to any hope.
However, as someone who claimed to be a master of Martial Souls, he should have known his own Martial Soul best.
Yet, he fed Luo Sanpao radishes and other foods that only produced gas.
After his first soul ring, he should have realized that such a pathetic soul skill wasn't the right way to nurture Luo Sanpao.
A level 29 Soul Grandmaster being beaten by a hundred-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider was probably unique.
By now, Luo Sanpao's body was likely filled with impurities, making further evolution impossible.
Yu Xiaogang thought of Ma Xiunuo's disdainful look and felt as if a thousand-pound stone was pressing on his chest.
"Lin Feng broke through the Soul Elder limitation. Once his theory spreads, my reputation in the soul master world will plummet…
My theories will no longer be recognized. I need someone… I need someone to prove my theories."
Yu Xiaogang muttered to himself, but in this moment, he didn't recall the phrase he often repeated.
"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters."
So, what did that make him?