Blue Silver Grass Strategy (Douluo Dalu Fiction)

“So, martial souls and soul skills can be used like that?”

Dugu Bo asked, “Is it true that Ling Yi’s martial soul is the so-called useless ‘Blue Silver Grass’?”

Long Yin nodded, “Correct!”

“And his innate soul power is really only half a level?” Dugu Bo asked again.

Zhang Mufeng nodded as well, “Indeed!”

“Are you saying Ling Yi’s family background is just that of ordinary village commoners, and there were never any soul masters among his ancestors? He’s the first one?!”

Dugu Bo’s eyes widened, his breathing became involuntarily heavy.

Qingqiu Xin, Li Zhishu, and Jiang Yuan all nodded in unison, “Yes! That’s right!”

Dugu Bo exclaimed, “Damn—!”

This conversation occurred more than half an hour after their meal, having moved from a restaurant’s private room to a blacksmith shop in ‘Sabak City’ owned by a master craftsman.

Dugu Bo’s eyes were filled with an unmistakable sense of awe as he looked at Ling Yi standing several meters away by the forge, observing the flames licking the metal ingots, turning them red and soft.

For a moment, Dugu Bo wanted to go home and bring his thirteen-year-old son here to see what a truly exceptional person looks like!

Yes, exceptional person—not a mere genius!

There can be many geniuses. Dugu Bo himself was one; he became a Soul Emperor at forty-one, and Jiang Yuan next to him was one too—a Soul King at thirty-four!

Individuals like Dugu Bo and Jiang Yuan were geniuses with the potential to become Soul Douluo. In the Douluo Continent, such talents are widely admired wherever they go.

However, Ling Yi was different. He was a force capable of stirring the winds of change in a specific region and era, a figure whose achievements would be lauded for years to come.

In Dugu Bo's eyes, Ling Yi seemed to be such a person at this moment.

Although his martial soul was considered inferior, known as the "worthless martial soul," and despite his low natural potential and a mere half-level innate soul power, supposedly marking a short path ahead as a soul master,

even now, unexpectedly, he had become a two-ring great soul master. The possibility of reaching the 30th level and becoming a Soul Elder seemed only a matter of time.

Yet, almost everyone doubted that Ling Yi was a genius on the path of martial souls and soul mastery.

"Blue Silver Grass" and half-level innate soul power nearly sealed off Ling Yi's future potential!

But even so, Ling Yi remained a significant figure in the Waterwood Duchy today!

From Archduke Mufeng and Marquis Cedar to the common people, whenever Ling Yi's name was mentioned, it was only met with praise.

Truly, Ling Yi's background and experiences, and the accomplishments he had achieved so far, were incredibly inspiring!

Even Archduke Mufeng, in the past two years, often referenced "Look at how Ling Yi has done this or that..." when educating his heir, Little Lord Mufeng.

To speak with the simplest and most intuitive data,

since the establishment of the [Blacksmith Guild · Waterwood Duchy Branch], the Gross Domestic Product of the entire Waterwood Duchy had increased by nearly twenty percent!

Initially, everyone found it puzzling. Clearly, only the income of blacksmiths improved; only the duchy's military department gained real benefits, yet it seemed the overall wealth of the entire duchy increased!

It wasn't until Ling Yi explained to Archduke Mufeng and the duchy's upper echelons that it became clear. Since the blacksmiths now had money, they purchased not only raw materials but also other goods, thus allowing the currency to flow into the hands of common people and professionals from other industries.

With their pockets filled, people began buying what they needed, making wealth flow like water.

At this moment, the entire Waterwood Duchy seemed to awaken as if a fledgling opened its eyes for the first time, finally seeing the world clearly.

It turned out, for a nation's power, wealth wasn't about how deep the pockets of the high-ranking lords were, but rather in the circulation among its citizens, creating diverse value in the process!

In the Waterwood Duchy, though Ling Yi remained a small baron, just an ordinary Master Soul in the Soul Master community, he enjoyed privileges higher than those of a Count!

And all of this was due to a sixteen-year-old boy from a humble village background, with a "Blue Silver Grass" spirit labeled as useless and possessing only half-tier innate soul power, who through diligence and intelligence, achieved such feats.

“Clang!”

The crisp sound pulled Dugu Bo back to reality from his wandering thoughts.

Focusing his gaze, he saw that a large mass of metal, having cooled and solidified, had formed under a large, black forge hammer when the temperature dropped.

The next moment, wielding the forging hammer, Ling Yi spun like a whirlwind, becoming a human top.

From about three to four meters away, the blacksmith shop owner stared intently at Ling Yi’s movements and the forging hammer that used to belong to him.

In everyone’s eyes, Ling Yi’s figure began to emit an aura as he moved, an aura as intense as fire!

Unlike the real flames in the furnace that only caused heat, the intensity radiating from Ling Yi's body was more pure, triggering an involuntary heart-pounding sensation.

Unknown when, Dugu Bo had moved beside the blacksmith, asking the approaching Long Yin and others.

“That’s vitality!” Zhang Mufeng answered, saying, “Brother Yi said, this power comes from our bodies, unrestricted by martial soul, soul power, or soul rings, as one of the purest forms of power!”

"Bang bang bang—!!"

The rapid, rhythmic pounding sounded like an energetic percussion performance in the midst of a storm.

Watching the scene unfold, Dugu Bo’s eyes lit up with excitement: "This power... it has surpassed my abilities when I was a Soul Master!"

Contemplating this, Dugu Bo suddenly furrowed his brows, casting a glance at the blacksmith shop owner, who watched on with fervor, almost as if he were witnessing a sacred event.

Dugu Bo opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately said nothing, focusing instead on Ling Yi’s skillful movements as he silently waited.

Having been introduced to the market long ago, the “Onyx Silver Inner Armor” required Ling Yi to be well-versed in both the smelting and forging of raw materials, as well as the subsequent weaving process and completion.

As the moon reached its zenith, the empty street outside was covered in silvery frost, while a silver-gray inner armor lay prominently displayed on the workbench inside the blacksmith shop, still emanating a slight warmth from the furnace heat.

Quietly storing the "Onyx Silver Inner Armor" into his soul guide storage device, Dugu Bo looked on as Ling Yi shared his numerous insights and experiences from the forging process with Zhang Mufeng, Long Yin, Qingqiu Xin, and the blacksmith shop owner, answering questions and addressing any uncertainties they had.

Among those present, the shop owner was the most inquisitive.

Initially hesitant, he soon warmed up to Ling Yi’s patient and friendly attitude, displaying increasing openness and eagerness as he poured out questions that had troubled him as an advanced blacksmith for years.

After more than half an hour, despite the shop owner’s insistence on not accepting any fees for tool or material usage and his reluctance to see them leave, Ling Yi and the others bade their farewells.

On the way back to the hotel, Dugu Bo could no longer contain his curiosity and spoke to Ling Yi: "Ling Yi, your ‘Azure Sea Onyx Alloy’ recipe and the ‘Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique’ they just mentioned—in theory, those are the foundational elements of your blacksmithing career…"

Glancing at Zhang Mufeng and the other two, he continued: "Those three kids are your followers, so it makes sense to teach them, but why did you share this with that blacksmith as well...?"

Staring at Dugu Bo's gaunt face, naturally exuding a hint of chill, Ling Yi suddenly found himself associating him with the image of Orochimaru from the 'Naruto World.'

Perhaps it was because Dugu Bo's introduction in the original story left a deep impression, or maybe it was because Dugu Bo's spirit, both a snake and poisonous, instinctively led people to label him with words like sinister, fierce, and venomous.

But upon further thought, in front of his granddaughter Dugu Yan, he's just an ordinary old man; after being impressed by Tang San's knowledge of poison, as a titled Douluo, he befriended Tang San, who was just a spirit master with three rings at the time; after receiving kindness from the Heaven Dou Empire, he became one of the rare titled Douluos on the Douluo Continent to stand up for national forces and contribute his power...

And all this, even after experiencing the pain of losing his son in midlife and suffering from the constant backlash of poison.

So, what was the personality of the young Dugu Bo, whose strength had not yet reached the top of Douluo Continent and who still had a family with a wife and children?

Suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his mind, Ling Yi gave Dugu Bo a bright smile. Although the moon was high in the sky, Dugu Bo seemed to see the sun in a trance.

“Senior Dugu, I have always believed that knowledge and skills are priceless.”

“Priceless, in the sense that they are both invaluable and sometimes worthless.”

“In my view, shared knowledge can create limitless value, but if it remains in the hands of a few and even risks being lost one day, it eventually becomes worthless.”

“You see the knowledge I taught that owner as my livelihood, but my understanding still resides in my mind and will only grow more profound as I continue learning!”

“Don't you think that teaching that owner today could lead to a future where he or his successor devises even better techniques, and when these refined creations make their way into the continent, it will be something wonderful?”

“I have sown the seeds. In the future, there is hope for a new continent full of blossoms!”

This perspective was five centuries ahead of Douluo Continent!

I've come to a realization. Since I'm not relying on the royalties from writing novels to make a living—it’s more like earning some pocket money—why make myself unhappy over it? So, I've decided to follow my own pace. As for results and followers, I’ll let fate decide. Nonetheless, I truly appreciate everyone's support and recognition!

(End of Chapter)