Zhang Wei wasn't scared.
Thanks to Su Ming's prior assurance, Zhang Wei knew his safety was guaranteed.
However, after the meeting concluded the day before yesterday, Zhang Wei had returned to his normal spy life.
If not for Su Ming's advance warning, if he hadn't known about Mingde Hall's plan to raid the black market, he would have thought nothing was amiss when the shop owner left and was unreachable for two days. He wouldn't have been so clear-headed when he himself was targeted.
But in reality, after Su Ming's reminder, he had become aware.
He could see the entire situation clearly.
That shop owner had learned the news in advance and evacuated alone, leaving behind Zhang Wei and the other shop assistants to stall Mingde Hall.
Yes, while Mingde Hall appeared to be suppressing Evil Spirit Masters, wasn't it also aiming to purge the various spies within the black market? They certainly needed to catch some Shrek spies. If they caught none, a deeper purge would inevitably follow.
Shrek couldn't take that gamble.
To protect the spies embedded deeper, they had to sacrifice a few minor characters like them.
Zhang Wei had even held some hope for that shop owner. Over the past two days, he had frantically searched for clues, thinking the owner might have retained a shred of humanity and left them some hint.
Unfortunately, even knowing the answer and looking for the problem, he found nothing.
Zhang Wei wasn't afraid of the raid itself; he just felt a chill in his heart.
This was Shrek.
On the surface, so righteous and majestic, yet in private, so full of darkness and filth.
"Simply put, this is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Shrek's existence isn't proof of the brilliance of human nature and order, but a blatant endorsement of this law of the jungle," Su Ming explained to Zhang Wei from the side.
"They are strong, so all the geniuses of the three Douluo empires must gather in their hands. Their goal isn't to turn ordinary people into geniuses, but to turn geniuses into even greater geniuses."
"There was never any 'Shrek is skilled at nurturing geniuses.' They merely gained an advantage ten thousand years ago, established a powerful foundation, and then used that strength as a reason to grow even stronger."
"Within the academy, the law of the jungle is thoroughly implemented. Even with the same strength, all treatment is tied to talent, which essentially means looking at one's future potential."
"You, falling into Shrek's hands, were ultimately one of those destined to be discarded, because they would never unearth your true talent."
"Zhang Wei, release your Spirit Skills. I haven't seen them yet."
Zhang Wei was currently at a critical juncture of decision.
Betrayed by Shrek, his heart was now filled with thoughts of revenge, but his fear of Shrek made it difficult for him to make a choice.
Su Ming's final words made his heart tremble.
Zhang Wei no longer hesitated.
Gritting his teeth, he made his decision.
White, Yellow, Purple, Purple – four Spirit Rings rose from his feet.
All four Spirit Rings shone simultaneously.
"First Spirit Skill, Fearless!"
"Second Spirit Skill, Courage Embodied!"
"Third Spirit Skill, Tiger Soul Vajra Transformation!"
"Fourth Spirit Skill, All Things Dissolution!"
Su Ming watched as Zhang Wei's expression shifted from hesitation to determination, his gaze firming from being unfocused, finally gaining a hint of intimidating power. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
The Spirit Skills of the Courage Martial Soul were indeed linked to willpower, and Zhang Wei had obtained this type of skill for his first three Spirit Skills.
First Spirit Skill, Fearless: Willpower becomes exceptionally firm, able to eliminate negative emotions like nervousness and fear, while simultaneously increasing all attacks and defenses performed by twenty percent.
Second Spirit Skill, Courage Embodied: All attributes increased by fifty percent. When combined with the Fourth Spirit Skill, it can rapidly digest the vital energy of Heaven and Earth to recover Spirit Power and heal injuries.
Third Spirit Skill, Tiger Soul Vajra Transformation: As if possessed by a White Tiger, physical quality increases by two hundred percent. Condenses a Tiger Soul above the head, causing a deterrence effect on enemies with lower mental power than oneself.
Fourth Spirit Skill, All Things Dissolution: Enhances digestive capacity.
"Very good. Remember this feeling. Your Martial Soul has strengthened your will. This shouldn't be temporary; it should be permanent. Once your own willpower becomes as strong as it is now, your Martial Soul's Spirit Skills will further amplify your will, until your will becomes infinitely powerful."
Zhang Wei's body shuddered.
Clearly, he had never considered this.
Shrek Academy had never thought of it either.
"This is the nature of a Body Sect Martial Soul. Ultimately, all cultivation relies on the Spirit Master themselves. You must cultivate your will yourself, then combine it with the Martial Soul's effect to achieve this cycle of feedback."
Hearing this, Zhang Wei nodded gravely.
"Lord Sect Master, I understand!"
At this moment, the mental obstacles in his heart were broken. Having received Su Ming's true teaching and learned the genuine cultivation direction for his Martial Soul, he possessed real courage.
Shrek was nothing to fear!
As long as I am strong enough, I don't need to be timid and hesitant!
This is the truth the Sect Master has taught me.
Su Ming raised an eyebrow.
"Your willpower seems to be tangibly related to your actual strength."
Zhang Wei also felt the change within himself, closing his eyes to contemplate.
"Indeed. My willpower just broke through. Although the amplification of my First Spirit Skill is still twenty percent, it's no longer calculated on a base of one hundred, but on a base of one hundred and fifty."
A twenty percent value wasn't high, even for a First Spirit Skill; it could only be considered very low, especially since this was a Spirit Skill that integrated willpower into Spirit Power for an outburst.
However, the mechanism of this Spirit Skill was extremely exaggerated. The so-called amplification included the effects of all subsequent Spirit Skills.
"Excavate your willpower. Use your First Spirit Skill as the core to develop your will. When your Martial Soul undergoes its Second Awakening, you will reap unexpected surprises."
Su Ming said this with a trace of envy in his voice.
Body Sect Martial Soul Second Awakenings held surprises. If a Body Sect Spirit Master could develop their Spirit Skills to a certain degree, they could utilize the Second Awakening to mutate their Spirit Rings, increasing their Spirit Ring year.
Su Ming of the Past had already completed his Martial Soul's Second Awakening, but unfortunately, he did not obtain this mutation effect.
Su Ming suspected this was due to the Spirit Soul.
During the Douluo 3 era, he had asked Mu Ye about the effects of the Martial Soul's Second Awakening and received a more specific answer.
Spirit Souls attach themselves to Spirit Masters; their essence is fundamentally pressed onto the Spirit Master's Spirit Rings. Therefore, for a Spirit Ring to mutate, it must first drive the enhancement of the Spirit Soul.
This was very difficult, a whole level harder than simply mutating a Spirit Ring.
Therefore, when Body Sect Spirit Masters with Spirit Souls undergo their Second Awakening, their Spirit Rings rarely mutate. Unless the Spirit Soul itself is at a node easily stimulated, for example, at nine thousand nine hundred years.
Because of this limitation imposed by Spirit Souls, the Present Su Ming did not plan to fuse with any more Spirit Souls for his upcoming Fourth and even Fifth Spirit Rings.
What if the Spirit Skill obtained was suitable as a core skill for his own system, and he could develop it fully?
With his goal achieved, Su Ming took Zhang Wei and left this black market.
The Body Sect branch would likely gain another capable subordinate in the future.
***
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(Chapter 170 - End)