"Soul bone?"
Dusty Jade (Chen Yu) continued with a calm voice, "Soul bones also follow similar growth rules as soul skills. Even if you acquire a soul bone at the thousand-year or ten-thousand-year level, it can indeed grow with your strength. But there are upper limits too."
"If a soul bone is at the ten-thousand-year level, it might possibly evolve to twenty or thirty thousand years with time and cultivation. But to break through fifty thousand years is very difficult, and as for reaching the hundred-thousand-year level—"
Dusty Jade shook his head slowly, "Basically impossible."
"This is because the leap between these thresholds isn't just a matter of quantity, but of quality. The power at fifty thousand years, eighty thousand years, and especially one hundred thousand years, represents a fundamental transformation. If the soul bone itself doesn't meet the foundation, it simply can't grow that far."
Chen Xiaojun was speechless for a moment, then asked, "Then what about those so-called divine-level soul bones or soul bones beyond a hundred thousand years?"
Dusty Jade smiled faintly. "That is beyond our understanding. They are either created from divine beasts far beyond the standard life span or come from divine inheritances. Not within the scope of what we're discussing today."
After a pause, Dusty Jade added thoughtfully, "Anyway, you just need to remember: growth has boundaries. The idea of a soul skill or soul bone naturally growing to one hundred thousand years is a fantasy. If it were possible, the soul master world would've long been turned upside down."
"Yes, soul bones can increase the duration and power of their soul skills through long-term nurturing by soul masters, and it's possible for a ten-thousand-year soul bone's skill to gain an additional ten or twenty thousand years in power.
However, just like growth-type soul skills of soul rings, they can't surpass the thresholds: fifty thousand can't break into eighty thousand, and eighty thousand can't reach one hundred thousand.
If soul bones can't surpass the threshold, then neither can soul skills. The principle is the same—unless one uses divine power to force a breakthrough." Chen Yu opened the window, and a cool breeze drifted in.
"Divine power to force a breakthrough?"
"Yes. The Spirit Hall possesses a set of soul bones passed down for thousands of years, each bone at 99,999 years.
Just one step short of the 100,000-year threshold—there's no way they hunted all of those.
Obtaining a single 99,999-year soul bone could be seen as luck, but all six of them? Where in the world would you find that many 99,999-year soul beasts to hunt, and all with matching affinities?
So, only a divine being could make that happen," Chen Yu said with deep emotion.
"That's such simple logic! Grandpa, you're amazing!" Chen Xiaojun gave a thumbs-up.
"..."
"Grandpa, did you say that was a soul bone set?" Chen Xiaojun tried to get more information.
"Those six soul bones can only be used by a soul master with the Seraphim Martial Soul.
Only someone who can use all six at once can push them to the 100,000-year level, becoming a godlike existence.
This set of six is called the Angelic Divine Set.
It's the true legacy the Angel God left to the Spirit Hall."
"Then why didn't the Angel God just directly make them all full 100,000 years?" This was something that had puzzled Chen Xiaojun for a long time.
"Maybe even the Angel God couldn't do that," Chen Yu turned around and sighed.
"Even so, that's terrifying. Wouldn't Spirit Hall be able to sweep across the world?"
"The Angelic Divine Set isn't that easy to wear. Although soul bones enhance a soul master's physique, too much is as bad as too little. If all six are simultaneously activated to 100,000 years, the body required to bear that is unbelievably powerful.
If the burden is too much and surpasses the limits of the human body, the result is tragic—at best, your meridians burst and you become crippled; at worst, your body explodes and you die.
That's why, over the generations, very few Seraphim Martial Soul users have managed to pull it off." A hint of shadow crossed Chen Yu's brow.
"Grandpa, are there other sets like this?"
"Maybe Sea God Island has one. If the Angel God could do it, so could the Sea God. As for others, I haven't heard of any."
Chen Xiaojun then brought up a previous thought, "Grandpa, I had this idea: since the soul power in the soul's bones is relatively mild, can we use soul bone fusion to raise the age limit of soul rings we can absorb?"
Chen Yu frowned, patted his shoulder, and said, "Not a good idea. Soul bones do have milder energy than soul rings, but that's only relatively speaking.
As I said, because of long-term nurturing by previous users, soul bones exceed their original year limits. Even if they've been unused for a long time, with some energy loss, they won't fall below their original age.
If you fuse a soul bone and can't handle it, your body will explode.
According to research, soul masters can't absorb soul bones that exceed a thousand years unless they're at the Soul Grandmaster level. Below Soul Grandmaster, you can't take in ten-thousand-year soul bones.
Unless you're absorbing hundred-year soul bones—which are incredibly rare, nearly as rare as hundred-thousand-year ones.
Our Chen family doesn't have any. I don't even know who does.
Absorbing a thousand-year soul bone below the Soul Grandmaster level is not worth it—it would take up a precious bone slot and drain your future potential.
So, this idea doesn't suit you.
This line of thinking has been explored before, but was abandoned for lacking practical value."
Chen Xiaojun swallowed and asked quietly, "About soul bones—grandpa, books say that of the traditional six soul bones, the strongest is the torso bone, followed by the skull, then left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg. Is that true?" This had been a long-standing question from his previous life.
"Not necessarily. The birth of the soul's bones follows certain patterns.
Spiritual-type soul beasts often produce skulls; strength types often produce arm bones; speed types produce leg bones; defense and physique-heavy types produce torso bones.
A soul bone becomes the part of the beast that was most characteristic or combat-effective in life.
So the usefulness of a soul bone depends on when you absorb it and whether its attributes match yours—either to enhance your strengths or compensate for weaknesses.
So here's the question: That saying 'torso strongest, then skull, then limbs' is just a relative statement. Who do you think made it—or what type of soul master does it apply to?" Chen Yu guided him toward deeper thought.
Chen Xiaojun thought for a moment, then guessed, "Right-handed soul masters?"
Chen Yu nodded, "Not quite, but not far off.
The torso bone mainly boosts the physical body, not soul skills. Among the six, it provides the greatest enhancement to physique and defense.
The skull mainly boosts mental power, and spiritual abilities are rare and valuable.
The three foundations of a soul master are soul power, physical body, and spiritual strength. But most soul masters focus on soul power, neglecting the other two. So it makes sense that torso and skull bones rank highest.
The rest—arm and leg bones—depend on the individual. The order 'left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg' suits balanced-type right-handed soul masters.
For right-handed extreme types, the right arm is more important than the left. For balanced left-handed ones, still, the right arm is still more important.
For soul masters who prioritize legwork—speed-type attackers like rabbits, cats, frogs, goats, leopards, some tigers, and lions, even flying martial souls—leg bones are more important than arm bones.
So it's all relative. At least your grandfather prefers the left arm bone first, and your father probably went for the right arm bone."
Chen Xiaojun continued, "Grandpa, what about external soul bones?"
"External soul bones are the most special and rare category—distinct from the traditional six.
Anything like shoulder bones, ribcages, wings, tails, palm bones, foot bones, eye bones, horns, claws, multi-legged limbs, and even weapon-type bones—all count as external.
They're nearly as precious as top-tier soul bones, second only to hundred-thousand-year soul rings in the soul master world.
What makes external bones unique is that they evolve along with the soul master's power. So the earlier you get one, the more time it has to grow—earlier is better.
If the chance of a soul bone appearing from a beast is one in a thousand, then for external soul bones it's less than one in ten thousand.
And they don't appear like other bones. They can only appear after a soul master absorbs a soul ring."
"So it's not something that appears naturally," Chen Xiaojun caught the key point.
Chen Yu smiled approvingly, "Exactly. You're perceptive! Our Chen family's theoretical genius, ancestor Chen Qianhua, concluded after extensive research that external soul bones are a form of bone hyperplasia—meaning they grow out from the soul master's body after absorbing the ring.
The reason lies in the essence within soul rings—skills, soul power, body essence, and spirit. The issue is with the body's essence.
If the slain beast had far more body essence than normal, and the soul master's body could endure it without exploding, this surplus might react unpredictably with the soul master's strong physique and produce new bones in non-traditional locations—thus, external bones.
Supporting this: soul rings yield soul skills (dominated by innate skill energy), while external bones offer only physical functions, showing they're dominated by body essence.
They grow stronger with the soul master's growth, fusing with their body.
Also, being made of body essence, they aren't restricted by natural laws limiting soul power, so they can grow endlessly.
And when the soul master dies, traditional bones remain, but external ones do not—because they are the soul master's bones, grown from within. Human bodies don't retain bones under the laws that preserve the soul's bones."
"I see," Chen Xiaojun nodded seriously, comprehension lighting up his eyes. "No wonder Tang San's Eight Spider Lances grew from his body after absorbing the ring, instead of being a ready-made bone. And his Lances had no soul skill—only absorption and devouring functions."
"Looks like you already had questions. I merely helped clarify. With your exposure and insight, it's only natural you'd reach your conclusions," Chen Yu smiled approvingly.
"Grandpa, I overheard you say something to Great-Uncle yesterday—that breaking through Title Douluo before age 80 is promising. Is there a reason for that?"
It was something that had been bugging him since yesterday.
"Human age caps at 120. In theory, a soul master's qi and physical strength begin declining at a certain point—it varies per individual. But generally, around age 80, their vitality weakens and they can no longer bear high-level rings. So age 80 is the best time to break through," Chen Yu explained.
Chen Xiaojun leaned on his palm, thoughtful. "I've always had a question about reading books. They list all kinds of ages—what is the actual human lifespan?"
"Theoretically, it's 120. But due to physical constitution, genetics, habits, living, and medical conditions, only 60–70% make it. The average person lives about 60–80 years," Chen Yu explained in detail.
"That short?" Chen Xiaojun was surprised.
"Soul masters are closely tied to their Martial Soul, soul power, spiritual power, and physical condition, so their lifespan is affected by that.
With soul ring 'baptism,' soul masters generally live longer. Reaching 100 isn't rare if things go well," Chen Yu continued.
"Their lifespan also depends on things like soul power attributes, Martial Soul type, internal injuries... Negative factors reduce lifespan.
Generally, a Soul Sage gets +30 years, Douluo +30 more, Title Douluo +60. So 240 years theoretically.
But again, only 60–70% get that. A Title Douluo can live 150–180 years.
Super Douluo lives even longer.
Some Martial Souls are naturally suited to longevity—like turtle-type ones.
Certain meditation methods also help with health."
"But few Title Douluo live that long. Too much chaos on the continent—death can strike at any time."
Chen Xiaojun sighed, "So if I don't die early, I might live until the timeline of Douluo Dalu 1 starts..."
Suddenly remembering yesterday's scene, he asked, "Grandpa, I saw Uncle Chen Wu and Great-Uncle Yunxiao use different sword techniques—what were those?"
Chen Yu's face lit up with pride. "Good question. Swordsmanship has six forms: Sword Howl, Sword Qi, Sword Glow, Sword Gang, Sword Momentum, and Sword Intent."
Chen Xiaojun was puzzled. "Can you explain each in detail?"
"Of course," Chen Yu said patiently. "When a soul master swings fast, the sword hums—that's Sword Howl.
If the speed and power are great enough, the air disturbance becomes Sword Qi—extending the attack range. Throwing out Sword Qi with soul power makes it a powerful ranged physical attack.
When the Sword Qi can be controlled to cling to the blade, that's Sword Glow.
If it materializes and leaves the sword, becoming independent energy, it's Sword Gang.
If the sword creates an aura that distorts the surroundings, that's Sword Momentum.
These five are not levels—they're different techniques. Sword Qi isn't necessarily weaker than Glow or Gang.
Our Chen family's Sword Control Art, aside from sword arrays and teleportation strikes, features five high-level techniques based on these—Blue Sea Heavenly Sword is a Sword Glow technique; Ocean Moon over Vast Sea is Sword Momentum.
As for Sword Intent, that's an even more profound level—it's the projection of one's will via spiritual power, affecting reality. Essentially, it will make manifest."
"So the proper names would be 'Sword Glow: Blue Sea Heavenly Sword' and 'Sword Momentum: Ocean Moon over Vast Sea'?" Chen Xiaojun confirmed.
"Exactly. Any more questions?" Chen Yu looked at him lovingly, clearly proud of his understanding.
Chen Xiaojun hesitated, then asked, "Yesterday's gale wolf pack seemed to come in three colors—light blue, blue, and dark blue. Are those three different stages of gale wolves? Do black moon wolves have three types too?"
Chen Yu nodded with a smile. "You observed well.
Light blue is base Gale Wolves; the blue and dark blue ones are advanced evolutions: Azure Gale Wolves and Hurricane Demon Wolves.
They evolve in three ways:
Reaching sufficient cultivation—hundred-year Gale Wolves evolve to Azure Gale Wolves, thousand-year ones to Hurricane Demon Wolves or kings.
Inherited bloodline—offspring of high-level wolves may be born and evolved.
Consuming rare treasures or higher-bloodline meat can trigger early evolution.
Black Moon Wolves evolve the same: to Black Moon Ghost Wolves and Black Moon Shadowkill Wolves.
Oh, and did you know? Wolf tribes are extremely hierarchical, and names mean a lot.
Those with names like 'Cang' (Azure), 'You' (Ghost), 'Xue' (Blood), and 'Kuang' (Mad) are mid-tier beasts.
Those with 'Mo' (Demon), 'Sha' (Kill), 'Wang' (King), and 'Bao' (Violent) are high-tier.
Also, wolf clans have many branches, so mutations are common—especially in multi-headed wolves.
Two-headed ones always have dual attributes and are high-tier; three-headed ones are top high-tier beasts, even prototypes of super-class soul beasts."
Chen Xiaojun hesitated before asking, "But why do wolf soul beasts of the same race always fight when they meet?"
Chen Yu gave him a long look. "Do you know about the Howling Moon Celestial Wolf?"
Chen Xiaojun nodded with a hint of doubt. "Yes, it's a divine beast of the wolf type—probably the strongest wolf soul beast."
Chen Yu nodded and continued, "The Martial Academy over there has records about divine beasts—go check them.
Wolf types are divided into five: Forest Wolves, Prairie Wolves, Ice Wolves, Desert Wolves, and Underground Wolves. Each has a divine beast. The Howling Moon Celestial Wolf belongs to the Forest type and is indeed the wolf clan's top being.
It has two direct descendants: the Howling Moon Silver Wolf and the Black Moon Shadowkill Wolf. Their bloodlines devolve to Silver Moon Wolf and Black Moon Wolf.
You can think of them as embodying the light and dark sides of the moon—naturally opposed.
Legend says if they devour each other's flesh, they may evolve and awaken the Celestial Wolf's blood, even becoming its prototype.
Coincidentally, the two wind-based wolf clans—the Gale Wolf and the Black Wind Wolf—are the same.
One emphasizes speed for slicing attacks; the other pursues wind's destructive power.
They form two alliances: Silver Moon Wolves ally with Gale Wolves; and Black Moon Wolves with Black Wind Wolves.
So in fact, Gale Wolves and Black Wind Wolves are mortal enemies. With Black Moon Wolves, they're simply not friendly—but with time, grudges have built up."