Chapter Fifty-Three: The Hall of Martial Souls

The Martial Soul Hall of the Shi family had five floors in total. Each floor corresponded to a different realm, housing texts appropriate for each stage. The first and second floors contained mortal-level martial techniques; typically, warriors of the Acquired Realm would select a suitable technique from the first floor for cultivation, while those of the Innate Realm would choose from the second floor.

On the third and fourth floors were profound-level techniques. Warriors at the Human Position Realm would select from the third floor, while those at the Hundred Tribulations Realm could access the fourth floor’s techniques.

It was said that on the fifth floor of the Martial Soul Hall, the Shi family stored its only spirit-level martial technique. Unfortunately, this floor was not open to anyone; only the family head, Shi Jian, would occasionally ascend.

Spirit-level techniques were extraordinary. Even some of the family’s most honored elders were not permitted to study them. Only direct descendants of the Shi family, and those who reached the Earth Position Realm, were eligible to cultivate such a technique.

Yet, among Shi Jian’s descendants, even the most advanced, Shi Dang, was only at the third level of the Hundred Tribulations Realm, still a step away from the Earth Position Realm.

…

Shi Jian led Shi Yan all the way to the Martial Soul Hall. At its entrance stood an elderly woman, her face deeply wrinkled like ravines. Seeing Shi Jian approach, she bowed and said, "Master."

The old woman, Yun Luo, was one of the Shi family’s senior elders. Like Han Feng, she too was at the first level of the Nirvana Realm. It was rumored she was even older than Shi Jian; even when Shi Jian was a child, she already served as an elder of the Shi family.

Because she had served the family for so many years, she had earned Shi Jian’s complete trust. Thus, the task of guarding the Martial Soul Hall was handed to her.

"I’ve brought Shi Yan to choose a martial technique," Shi Jian said, striding up to the door. He turned to Han Feng and Yang Hai, saying, "You two wait outside."

Han Feng and Yang Hai both nodded.

Yun Luo stepped aside, bowing to allow Shi Jian and Shi Yan to enter. Once they went in, she stood at the door, nodding to Han Feng with a strange expression.

Since Shi Yan’s return, Shi Jian had been keeping a close watch over him, confining him to the gravity chamber with no chance to leave. Not even Yun Luo, nor many of the direct family members, knew much about Shi Yan.

Now, with Shi Jian personally leading Shi Yan to the Martial Soul Hall to select a technique—what did this mean? It meant Shi Yan must have become a martial artist!

Yun Luo knew a little about Shi Yan. She knew this young master was born without a martial soul, had never been passionate about martial arts, and now, at seventeen, had actually become a martial artist. This was highly unusual.

Yun Luo couldn’t help but be puzzled. She glanced at Han Feng for answers but he only shook his head, indicating he couldn’t say. Her doubts deepened, but she asked no more, standing at the door lost in thought.

Normally, she would have let down the iron gate to the Martial Soul Hall, entered herself, and watched those who came to select martial techniques, to prevent anyone from entering a floor beyond their realm.

But since Shi Jian had come in person with Shi Yan, she had no need to be so cautious this time.

…

"There are eighteen mortal-level techniques on each of the first and second floors. The third floor contains eight profound-level techniques, the fourth floor has four. Now that you’re at the third level of the Innate Realm, you can go straight to the second floor to choose a technique," Shi Jian explained simply, leading Shi Yan up to the second floor.

On every floor, the walls were carved out with stone niches, each holding a martial technique text. Outside every niche was a dark green crystal cover, with a tiny keyhole in the center. Below the keyhole was a sheet of paper with a brief introduction to the technique within.

Shi Yan walked around the second floor and found that out of the eighteen techniques, at least ten were common ones—martial skills widely known and practiced by mercenaries and warriors. For instance, the "Chaotic Star Fist" used by Jin Mo was among these mortal-level techniques.

Only eight of the techniques were rarely seen outside. Yet, their power and cultivation methods didn’t seem especially challenging to Shi Yan; they lacked any sense of difficulty or excitement.

At his core, Shi Yan was someone who relished challenges—the process of overcoming obstacles.

So, after making a round of the second floor, Shi Yan shook his head and said, "Grandfather, the techniques here are not interesting. Take me upstairs for a look."

In the past, Shi Yan would never have spoken to Shi Jian this way. But now, having deliberately revealed his Undying Martial Soul, making his dual martial soul status known, he did so for this very purpose.

He believed that only the mysterious martial soul was his true foundation, and he guarded all its secrets jealously, never telling anyone and hiding them deep in his heart.

But the Undying Martial Soul, on the other hand, was not something he minded exposing. Only by making his regenerative abilities known could he gain more privileges in the Shi family and have Shi Jian arrange a better training path.

Dual martial souls were enough to make Shi Jian tolerate any caprice.

Sure enough, Shi Jian showed no displeasure, only a trace of hesitation. He said, "You’re only at the Innate Realm. Recklessly cultivating profound-level techniques isn’t necessarily a good thing."

"Am I the same as others? You’ve seen it yourself—I’m only at the Innate Realm, but my petrification is already at the second stage. Also, I have a recovery ability others lack. Techniques others can’t cultivate, perhaps I can."

Shi Jian was taken aback by this, then nodded. "True. All right, I’ll take you to see the third and fourth floors."

One by one, rare martial techniques were displayed in the niches. Shi Jian stood beside him, and whenever Shi Yan showed interest in one, Shi Jian would patiently explain its characteristics and cultivation methods.

"Indeed, the techniques on the third floor are much more interesting," Shi Yan nodded repeatedly, quickly committing each technique to memory. After a while, he said, "Let’s have a look at the fourth floor too."

"Very well. I’ll explain the four techniques on the fourth floor in detail. You’re different from others; you can know these in advance," Shi Jian said, leading Shi Yan straight to the fourth floor.

On the fourth floor, Shi Jian walked up to a niche. "This is the ‘Star-Shattering Net.’ It condenses the vital energy in your body into points of light, weaving them into a net of starry radiance. It can directly bind the opponent’s vital energy, preventing them from mustering strength."

"Interesting."

"But don’t think about this one. To cultivate the ‘Star-Shattering Net’ requires extremely strong reserves of vital energy and skilled control. You’re nowhere near that level yet!" Shi Jian said bluntly. He then moved to another niche. "This is the ‘Eight Desolation Seals.’ Once performed, seals form on all sides, sealing off every escape and forcing the opponent into a direct confrontation. Thanks to our family’s martial soul, we excel at close combat, making this technique especially suitable for us!"

"That sounds good too."

"Don’t get your hopes up. Unless you reach the Hundred Tribulations Realm, you can’t cultivate it; for the same reason—it requires immense vital energy. If you can’t even form a single seal, how can you trap someone from all sides?"

"And the next one?"

"Shadow of the Dark Moon. It’s a movement technique. At its peak, your body becomes an elusive shadow. But it’s very difficult, requiring a high realm and the Hundred Tribulations level’s sense for aura. Don’t even think about it."

"One last niche."

"The Finger Spear Technique!" Shi Jian exclaimed, as if suddenly recalling something. His eyes lit up, but then he hesitated. After a moment, he said, "This is a technique for training the ten fingers. Once mastered, your fingers become like steel spears—one strike can pierce an enemy’s body. All ten fingers together can rip out a heart or lungs with ease. Up close, combined with our Petrifying Martial Soul, it’s terrifyingly lethal!"

"I’m interested in this one!" Shi Yan’s eyes gleamed. "Are there any special requirements?"

"There are, but you’re well suited," Shi Jian replied after a pause. "To cultivate the Finger Spear Technique, you must first reach the second stage of the Petrifying Martial Soul. When your body petrifies, black light must appear. Only then can you ensure your fingers won’t snap during training. You’ve just met the requirements."

"Then this is the one," Shi Yan decided without hesitation.

Shi Jian stared at him strangely, lost in thought.

"What’s wrong? Is there a problem?" Shi Yan began to feel uneasy.

"Boy, do you really intend to practice the Finger Spear Technique?" Shi Jian took a deep breath, his expression growing more and more peculiar.

"Why not?"

"You can indeed practice it, and master it quickly. Your Undying Martial Soul will be useful here," Shi Jian said, pausing. "But, the training is excruciating—almost inhuman torture, far more painful than smashing yourself a thousand times daily with the spiked club! Are you sure you want the Finger Spear Technique, and not one of the much easier mortal-level techniques on the second floor?"

"Yes!"

"Very well, then I’ll explain the cultivation method. Once mastered, your ten fingers become unimaginably sharp, each thrust leaving a bloody hole—a truly vicious technique. But the training process is quite unpleasant…"

…

One day later, in the gravity chamber.

Six of the seven gravity pillars were wrapped in the hide of the Silver Jiao, a level five demon beast; the Silver Jiao hide could block gravity, so now the gravity in the chamber was only twice normal.

By the one pillar left unwrapped, Shi Yan balanced upside down, his body pressed against the pillar, supporting himself with just the tip of his left index finger.

That single, slender finger bore his entire body weight. Under double gravity, his weight doubled.

His finger trembled slightly, as if about to snap.

Shi Yan’s face flushed crimson, the muscles in his left arm twitching, blue veins writhing like snakes beneath the skin, threatening to burst through.

The pain radiating from his fingertip was unforgettable—like countless tiny needles pricking at the finger without pause, waves of agony crashing over his nerves, on the verge of breaking his spirit.

Endure!

Shi Yan gritted his teeth, his face so red it seemed blood might seep out. In an inverted position, his blood rushed to his head, making him dizzy and uncomfortable.

Five minutes.

After only five minutes, Shi Yan’s mind was nearly at its breaking point. The pain in his supporting finger almost made him give up; if not for his petrified finger, the bones would have broken long ago.

Endure!

Six minutes! Seven minutes!

By the eighth minute, Shi Yan was on the verge of collapse, his consciousness fading, even his senses going numb…

At that moment!

In the acupoints on his head, all sorts of negative energies suddenly exploded forth!

Wisps of dark aura erupted, flooding madly into his mind!

This was the sign of Berserk being triggered.

…