"Secondly, the vitality of the Blue Silver Grass cannot be forgotten. We must continuously enhance its life force until it transforms into a Natural Treasure."
While many plants are edible, the key to a Food System Martial Soul lies in whether it tastes good and whether consuming it provides a beneficial effect.
Otherwise, every plant-type Martial Soul could be considered food.
"Furthermore, it would be best if the Blue Silver Grass could produce something like a fruit, or if consuming it doesn't affect the Soul Master's own capabilities."
What Xiao Lin meant was that the Blue Silver Grass needed a soul skill that allowed for rapid regeneration after being damaged, or one that allowed it to produce seeds.
It was precisely because of this that the Blue Silver Grass required immense vitality.
"Standard Food System Soul Masters usually summon their Martial Souls specifically for consumption. Their Martial Souls don't have a primary main body, nor do they split off sub-bodies for people to eat."
More importantly, they weren't like Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, which could be summoned for direct combat.
Therefore, if Tang San's Blue Silver Grass truly wanted the effects of a Food System Soul Master, it was highly likely that someone would have to eat Tang San's actual Martial Soul, rather than just the vines summoned by it.
This was the most fundamental trait of a Food System Soul Master. If a Food System Soul Master could summon food as freely and abundantly as Blue Silver Grass, they wouldn't be so rare or highly sought after.
Tang San nodded in deep agreement.
Everything Xiao Lin said was grounded in logic rather than baseless speculation.
"In that case, choosing a Thousand-Year soul beast, the Fluffy Cotton, for my next soul ring shouldn't be a problem." Tang San thought about it, his face filling with anticipation.
The path of a Food System Soul Master currently aligned with the path of a Vitality-based Support Soul Master he was already walking.
Even if something went wrong, he could stop in time.
Xiao Lin nodded.
"Exactly. The soul rings I've picked for you are all fundamental and difficult to mess up."
Then, Xiao Lin held up three fingers.
"Thirdly, to become a Food System Soul Master, you need a Soul Incantation. This isn't just you shouting something like 'Blue Silver Regeneration Ring.'"
"I've researched several Soul Masters with Food System Martial Souls. They must chant an incantation to produce food. Perhaps extremely high-level Food System Soul Masters don't need to shout it, but low-level ones definitely do."
"So, Little San, if you want the abilities of a Food System Soul Master, it's best if you have at least one soul ring that requires an incantation to release. Only then will your path as a Food System Soul Master be viable."
As Xiao Lin finished, Tang San immediately furrowed his brows, tilting his head as if deep in thought.
"An incantation like... 'I have a strand of Blue Silver Grass'?" Tang San looked at Xiao Lin and asked softly.
He felt that such an incantation would be incredibly strange.
"Yeah, something like that. In short, this path will be very difficult. We must stick as closely as possible to all the standards of a Food System Soul Master." Xiao Lin affirmed seriously. Researching Martial Souls was never simple.
"If you choose a soul skill—or rather, a food item—that can be released without an incantation, the effects would likely drop significantly, right?" Xiao Lin's rhetorical question made perfect sense to Tang San.
Tang San nodded quickly, signaling for Xiao Lin to continue.
"Lastly, we come to the most important point for a Food System Soul Master: Adaptability."
Tang San's eyes filled with curiosity.
Do Food System Soul Masters need adaptability too?
"Food System Soul Masters and Food System Martial Souls actually have incredibly powerful adaptability. This adaptability is second only to your Blue Silver Grass, so this last point actually isn't a problem for you." Xiao Lin waved his hand.
The adaptability of Blue Silver Grass was arguably the highest in all of Douluo Dalu.
It was this very adaptability that allowed the Tang San of the original timeline to absorb useless poison-attribute soul rings and still have his Blue Silver Grass evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor later on.
The inclusive nature of Blue Silver Grass was truly formidable.
"Is that so?" Seeing Xiao Lin dismiss the "most important point" as a non-issue, Tang San didn't press further.
He understood the adaptability of his grass well; even around this scorching blacksmith shop, several stalks of Blue Silver Grass grew tenaciously. He even wondered if the shop would eventually be swallowed and surrounded by them.
"Xiao Lin, explain it in more detail."
Suddenly, a thick and resonant voice reached their ears.
Both boys turned around in surprise.
A tall, sturdy middle-aged man dressed in a black robe stood before them.
"Uncle Hao?" "Dad!"
Both Xiao Lin and Tang San were surprised; they hadn't seen Tang Hao for several days.
Xiao Lin had even assumed Tang Hao had gone to visit Tang San's mother and wouldn't be back for a while (thinking Tang Hao might only reappear after Tang San graduated).
"Xiao Lin, tell me about the final condition for Blue Silver Grass to become a Food System Martial Soul." Tang Hao's face was covered in stubble, and his rugged features were filled with curiosity.
As a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao understood the power of Food System Soul Masters very well.
Tang San had the potential to become a Titled Douluo or even a Limit Douluo. If Tang San's Blue Silver Grass gained the effects of a Food System Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Sect could mobilize a powerful army at any time to seek revenge against Spirit Hall.
A Food System Titled Douluo... had such a thing ever appeared in the history of Douluo Dalu?
Tang Hao was deeply intrigued and highly expectant of Xiao Lin's theory.
He wanted to hear it all to decide if Tang San should attempt the Food System path or perhaps even switch to it entirely.
"Alright then."
Xiao Lin shrugged, adopting an 'if you want to hear it, I'll tell you' attitude.
"The adaptability of a Food System Martial Soul is reflected not only in its ability to absorb almost any soul ring but also in its ability to possess seemingly impossible soul skills."
"For example, if the Food System Martial Soul is a bun, absorbing an animal-type soul beast would turn it into a meat bun. If the soul ring comes from a soul beast like a Vajra Giant Ox, the skill might provide strength and defense buffs."
"Similarly, if it absorbs a plant-type soul ring like the Fluffy Cotton, it might become a vegetarian bun with healing capabilities. Finally, if it absorbs a soul beast like a Mirror Beast, it might awaken a soul skill that temporarily clones a 'Mirror Martial Soul.'"
"This mirror clone could come from any Martial Soul—it could be the Clear Sky Hammer, the Evil Eye White Tiger, or the Hell Spirit Cat. It could even clone a portion of the strength of a mirrored individual—like a portion of Uncle Hao's strength."
"The former is an invincible Tool Martial Soul, the second is a powerful Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and the most exaggerated of all would be a portion of a Titled Douluo's power."
Xiao Lin's theory was born from the books he had read and the successful examples from the original story.
He believed the probability of success was very high.
Hiss!
Xiao Lin's words caused both Tang Hao and Tang San to suck in a breath of cold air.
Tang Hao fell silent; Tang San was shocked!
Both were stunned by Xiao Lin's final example. Food items from a Food System Martial Soul can usually be stored for several days, sometimes up to a month. While called "temporary" cloning, how was that different from owning the power permanently?
Specifically regarding the Mirror Beast's soul skill—cloning a Martial Soul.
If Tang San had such a skill, could he clone the Clear Sky Hammer and give it to others in the Clear Sky Sect to eat? Not everyone in the Clear Sky Sect awakened the Clear Sky Hammer, not to mention the four great subsidiary clans.
Tang Hao was already contemplating whether he should reclaim the Four Great Subsidiary Clans and then have Tang San absorb a soul ring from a Mirror Beast.