Chapter 65: Pursue Glory
"It is precisely for this reason," Furina clasped her hands gracefully before her, her gaze flowing across the hall like a steady, unhurried stream, "that unraveling the mysteries of martial soul evolution has become our most urgent and pressing subject."
She paused briefly, ensuring everyone had kept pace with her train of thought. "Now, let us re-examine: the upper limit of soul ring absorption is, in its essence, a matter intimately intertwined with multiple dimensions—martial soul quality, physical constitution, spiritual power, and more."
Her fingertip traced an intricate path through the air. "This is the ultimate proposition of a soul master's existence — a question you will need a lifetime's dedication to solve. I require that you take this as your core and launch a new, systematic journey of research."
She then laid out concrete research directions. "Your first priority is to develop a soul tool capable of precisely measuring a soul master's spiritual power."
Her voice was firm and clear. "This is the critical step that will push our research from qualitative guesswork to quantitative precision, and it is the technical foundation for realizing 'tailored' soul ring solutions in the future. You may recruit volunteers within the church or seek cooperation outside it—but you must strictly adhere to research ethics. Fully inform participants of potential risks. Sign voluntary consent agreements. I will not tolerate any conduct that damages the reputation of the Church of the Water God. Is this understood?"
"Understood!" This time, the response was unified and resonant, charged with a clear sense of purpose and mission.
"As for the question of martial soul and soul ring compatibility," Furina continued, her voice now carrying an almost inspirational cadence, "I want you to utterly shatter the mental shackles that have bound us for a thousand years."
Her gaze deepened. "Why must we cling rigidly to these ossified categories—Assault, Control, Agility, Support, Defense? Why must the soul skills of a plant-type control martial soul be limited to 'Entangle' and 'Bind'? Why can they not be 'Accelerated Growth,' 'Rapid Regeneration,' or even 'Life Drain' and 'Symbiosis Domain'?"
She leaned forward slightly—a movement so subtle that everyone in the hall unconsciously held their breath. "Think further: why should support-type soul masters be denied the ability to defend themselves, or even to counterattack? A healing soul master, if they possessed a soul skill that healed their comrades while simultaneously dealing backlash damage to the enemy—would that not be a combat strategy far more aligned with the wisdom of survival?"
Her voice rose steadily. "Rigid, frozen matching patterns are strangling the infinite potential of soul master development. They are turning what should be uniquely formidable individuals into uniform, mass-produced tools."
She then offered her own penetrating insight. "According to my research, when a martial soul absorbs the soul ring of a soul beast of the same origin and type, it often stimulates its inner potential far more effectively. This not only heightens the compatibility of the soul skills but may also trigger a deep-seated bloodline resonance within the martial soul, catalyzing evolution. Ten thousand years ago, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent evolving into the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor is the perfect example."
For the cultivation path of top-tier prodigies, she possessed insights that far transcended the era. "For those soul masters of extraordinary talent and exceptional martial souls, I believe that for their first four, even their first five soul rings, there is no need whatsoever to rush for offensive soul skills. Instead, they should all select amplification-type, attribute-enhancement, or special domain-effect soul rings."
She swept her eyes across the assembly, noting the thoughtful expressions surfacing on some scholars' faces. "The reason is simple—by the time they reach the level of Soul Sage or even Titled Douluo, the power of those early attack-oriented soul skills will have become negligible. But those amplification soul skills that permanently elevate base attributes or provide unique rule-based effects will instead become the sturdiest stepping stones carrying them to the very summit."
The assembled scholars exchanged glances, their faces a canvas of tangled emotions. Shock. Admiration. A burning sense of inadequacy—all these feelings intertwined in their hearts. This young Pope, who appeared barely past her twentieth year, possessed a depth of thought, a breadth of vision, and an insight into the very essence of the soul master system that far outstripped their own, despite their lives buried in books and research.
"Very well. I have said all that needs to be said." Furina's tone shifted abruptly, now carrying the unmistakable finality of a judge passing sentence. "The path ahead—you must walk it yourselves."
She straightened her posture, like a goddess pronouncing judgment. "I hereby formally declare: all members of the Research Department, effective immediately, are demoted to provisional status. This includes your interim department head. Salaries will be reduced by one tier accordingly."
This decree hit like a bucket of ice water in the depths of winter, making many hearts clench. But Furina's next words kindled a flame of hope within them once more.
"However—research funding will continue to be allocated as usual. In fact, for projects showing potential, I will see that investment is increased." Her gaze sharpened. "At the same time, the Internal Affairs Department will intervene to oversee the use of every single coin of funding, ensuring it is genuinely spent on research and not squandered or wasted."
She raised a single finger. "I am giving you one year. Within that year, those who can produce substantive results will not only have their full member status restored—their compensation will be raised. Those who cannot will either continue under observation as provisional members, or... submit a request for transfer to another, more suitable department."
Just as the assembly was still digesting this monumental decision, Furina did something that caught everyone utterly off guard.
With unhurried composure, she retrieved several items from her storage soul tool. They were bones—gleaming with a soft, iridescent light. Even though they were only of the ten-year and hundred-year tiers, the pure energy fluctuations they radiated proclaimed their identity beyond any doubt: soul bones!
These precious research materials were items she had exchanged from the system shop. Though the points required for thousand-year soul bones were still beyond what she could comfortably afford, these low-tier soul bones were more than enough to ignite a breakthrough in their research.
In an instant, a wave of sharp, collective gasps swept through the hall. The scholars' eyes locked onto those soul bones, their gazes so scorching they seemed ready to melt them. Soul bones! Even of the lowest age, they were priceless treasures with no market to be found!
"These ten-year and hundred-year soul bones," Furina's voice was as calm as if she were introducing ordinary laboratory equipment, "shall serve as your research materials. As for their source—" She lifted her chin slightly. "You need not ask. After all, I am the Water God—the Water God and Pope of the Church of the Water God." Her words held just the right mixture of mystery and majesty, both blocking further inquiry and reinforcing her transcendent identity.
"Remember—these are church property. No one is to covet or secretly hoard them." Her voice dropped to an icy edge. "Furthermore, lower-ranked soul masters within the church may cooperate with you in non-harmful experiments, but they must be given fair compensation and strict adherence to the principle of voluntary participation. If your research requires it, you may also apply for the capture of soul beasts of a thousand years' cultivation or below for observational study."
Her gaze swept the hall once more, and her tone softened, though it carried an even deeper meaning. "I have pointed the way. I have shattered the mental chains binding your thoughts. I have provided ample funding. And now, I have entrusted even precious resources like soul bones into your hands." She let out a soft sigh. "I only hope—do not disappoint me."
Then, she cast out a temptation that set every scholar's heart racing. "Of course, even if you do ultimately disappoint me, perhaps it matters little. After all, you could always choose to pass the rest of your lives in quiet obscurity. But I imagine..." Her gaze turned profound. "Among those gathered here, there must be some who yearn to leave their names in the annals of history?"
She paused deliberately, allowing the thought to ferment in every heart, then pressed further. "To those researchers who produce outstanding results and make exceptional contributions, I shall also confer the title of 'Doctor'—as our church's highest honor. When the time is ripe, the Intelligence Department will spread word of their deeds across the empire, even across the entire continent, making their names resound throughout the soul master world."
A white-haired elder scholar asked in a trembling voice, "Your Holiness, are you not concerned that once such news spreads, other powers will try to poach them away?"
The corner of Furina's lips curved into a confident smile. "I am not."
Her voice was crisp and unwavering. "Whatever they can offer, the Church of the Water God can offer. What they cannot offer, the Church of the Water God can offer still." Her eyes abruptly sharpened. "Besides, all of you understand well the consequences of betraying the Church of the Water God. The faithless and disloyal find no welcome anywhere. And furthermore..." Her voice carried a faint, implicit warning. "You should know—since I have the power to raise you up onto the altar, I naturally also have the means to send you plummeting from the clouds."
"Understood, Your Holiness." The old scholar bowed his head in deep respect, not a sliver of doubt remaining in his heart.
At this moment, the scholars present had nothing left to say. Resources. Direction. Opportunity. Even the most intoxicating lure of all—renown and glory—this young Pope had, with astonishing generosity, laid it all before them. Those soul bones, low-tier though they were, lay resting there in silence, embodying infinite possibility.
An unprecedented surge of motivation and fervent zeal blazed to life in the hearts of many of the scholars. Most of them had once languished, unrecognized and frustrated, within the old academic systems. And now, a grand, broad road leading to a revolution in soul master theory was unfurling before their very eyes. That title—"Doctor"—symbolized the academic honor and social status they had dreamed of all their lives.
"So then," Furina's voice rang out like the final beat of a war drum, "pour everything you have into this. Give it a mighty, glorious effort."
"Yes! Your Holiness!" This time, the response was no longer the mere unified, fearful chorus of before. It trembled with excitement, with the resolve to burn one's bridges and leave no path of retreat—and it blazed with that newly ignited, fiercely burning flame called ambition.
The tremendous sound echoed through the hall, long and unceasing, as if heralding that an unprecedented revolution in the soul master world was about to begin—right here, from this very room.