In the ancient era of Tang San and the Spirit Hall, twenty millennia past, the concept of mental strength existed, but it was a subtle, overlooked aspect of a Soul Master's power. They prioritized raw soul power and mighty soul skills, viewing the mind as a mere vessel, not a weapon to be honed.
This changed with the dawn of Huo Yuhao and the advent of the soul spirit ten thousand years ago. The act of fusing with a soul spirit—of housing another consciousness within one's own—demanded a formidable will. Mental strength was no longer a passive trait; it became the very bedrock of a Soul Master's progression. The stronger the soul spirit, the greater the mental fortitude required to subdue its will and achieve perfect harmony.
Through centuries of meticulous research, the Spirit Pagoda codified mental strength into six distinct realms, each a testament to a Soul Master's spiritual evolution. For clarity, they assigned numerical values to this abstract power.
Spirit Origin Realm (0-99 points): The foundational stage. This level of mental strength can support a soul spirit up to the hundred-year (yellow) level. It is the starting point for all.
Spirit Connection Realm (100-499 points): Here, a Soul Master gains conscious control over their mental power, allowing them to fuse with thousand-year (purple) soul spirits and utilize more complex soul tools.
Spirit Sea Realm (500-4,999 points): The mind becomes as deep and vast as an ocean. This is the hallmark of a truly powerful Soul Master and the prerequisite for bearing a ten-thousand-year (black) soul spirit. For the vast majority, this is the absolute peak of their spiritual journey.
Spirit Abyss Realm (5,000-19,999 points): At this staggering level, mental strength begins to warp reality on a minor scale. It is the foundation for becoming a Title Douluo and allows one to fuse with the legendary hundred-thousand-year (red) soul spirit. Reaching this realm places one among the pinnacle of human capability.
Spirit Domain Realm (20,000-49,999 points): The mind can manifest its own domain, a territory where the Soul Master's will becomes law. This is the realm of the Limit Douluo, allowing the fusion of soul spirits of any age with near-absolute authority.
Divine Origin Realm (50,000+ points): A mythical state, the sole province of deities. It is said only Huo Yuhao, the founder of the Spirit Pagoda who ascended to godhood, ever attained such heights of spiritual power.
"Don't be nervous. Stay relaxed," the Spirit Master's voice cut through Yao Xuan's internal recitation of this knowledge. "You may feel a slight dizziness during the test; it's perfectly normal. Just remain calm."
"Yes, sir. I understand," Yao Xuan replied, focusing his attention.
Satisfied, the Spirit Master pressed a sequence of buttons on his console. The silvery helmet encasing Yao Xuan's head emitted a soft, white luminescence. On the adjacent soul guidance screen, crimson digits began to flicker to life.
20... 30... 40...
The numbers climbed rapidly, a reflection of the probing energy scanning the depths of his consciousness.
...80... 81... 82...
The ascent slowed, each digit a deliberate confirmation.
...84... 85.
The numbers stabilized, holding firm at 85.
The Spirit Master, who had been monitoring the process with practiced detachment, stiffened. His eyes widened, and he leaned closer to the screen as if unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Eighty-five points?" he muttered, the words a disbelieving exhale. "How is that possible? The instrument must be malfunctioning." He turned to Yao Xuan, his professional composure cracking. "Child, there seems to be an anomaly with your reading. The machine might be faulty. Don't be alarmed; we will run the test again."
He reset the apparatus, the humming energy dying down and then surging back to life. The helmet glowed once more. Yao Xuan sat perfectly still, his mind a calm lake. The numbers on the screen flickered and danced, but their final destination was inevitable.
85.
The result was identical. The machine was not broken. The boy was the anomaly.
"Eighty-five points of mental strength..." the Spirit Master breathed, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and excitement. "A genius... a true genius! Child, what is your level of innate soul power?"
"Innate Soul Power?" Yao Xuan met his gaze, his expression one of innocent honesty. "It is level five." There was no need to lie; this was a matter of public record.
"Level five?" The light in the Spirit Master's eyes dimmed, replaced by a profound, almost painful regret. "What a pity! Such a waste! If your innate soul power were level seven or higher, with mental strength like this... the Spirit Pagoda would have recommended you for direct recruitment and intensive training without a second thought. What a cruel twist of fate."
For an average soul master of seven and a half years, a mental strength of thirty points was considered normal. Yao Xuan's 85 points were almost triple that—a monstrous, innate advantage for future soul spirit fusion and high-level cultivation. Individuals with such spiritual prowess, when paired with high innate soul power, were almost guaranteed to reach the ranks of Soul Sage or even Soul Douluo. They were treasures every major organization sought to hoard.
But a level five innate soul power? That was mediocre. Convention held that such individuals would be lucky to breach the Soul King or Soul Emperor realm. The Spirit Pagoda's resources were vast but not infinite; they were not wasted on those without the foundational soul power to match their spiritual potential.
A sudden, crystal-clear understanding dawned on Yao Xuan. 'So this is why the system set my innate soul power at level five,' he realized, a wave of admiration for the system's foresight washing over him. As a transmigrator, his mental strength was naturally superior. Had his soul power been equally exceptional, he would have been whisked away into the heart of a powerful faction like the Spirit Pagoda or the Federal military. He would have gained resources but lost his freedom—and, most crucially, the chance to meet Na'er and weave his destiny with Tang Wulin. It would have been a catastrophic trade, sacrificing the entire orchard for a single, gilded tree.
"Master Spirit Transmission," Yao Xuan asked, feigning naive curiosity, "is my mental strength really that unusual?"
"Unusual? It's phenomenal!" the Spirit Master exclaimed, his fervor returning. "You are, without a doubt, the most mentally gifted Soul Master I have ever tested at your age! It's a genuine tragedy that your soul power doesn't match it." Seeing the boy's composed face, he softened his tone, offering encouragement. "But do not be disheartened. This mental strength will be a tremendous boon in your cultivation. As long as you remain diligent, entry into a top-tier intermediate academy is assured. If you can advance to the Soul King realm and pilot a mecha, you will still become a significant figure in the world of Soul Masters."
His demeanor now markedly warmer, the Spirit Master activated a soul-guided printer. It whirred to life, producing a formal test report. "I will issue your results. You can submit this when you apply to intermediate academies; it will greatly bolster your application." He handed the crisp document to Yao Xuan. "Now, come. Let us go and select your soul spirit."
Yao Xuan accepted the paper, the number '85' boldly printed upon it. It was not just a measure of his mind, but a key—a key that had just unlocked the next door on his carefully chosen path, all while keeping his greatest secrets safely hidden away.