"You~ little~ jerk~!" Xiao Wu rushed at Gu You as if to smack him, but Tang San immediately stepped in to stop her. "Calm down, calm down, Xiao Wu. Xiao You is just that kind of person."
Gu You picked up his teacup again, took a sip, exhaled, and continued, "We're not that familiar. Giving you advice on two Soul Rings is already pretty good. What you do after graduation has nothing to do with me."
Xiao Wu forcibly calmed herself and asked, suppressing her anger and displeasure, "Then what would it take for you to keep helping me plan my Martial Soul's development?"
Gu You set down his teacup and walked up to Xiao Wu. Though she was well-proportioned and tall, Gu You had shot up in height after awakening his Martial Soul. He looked down at her from above, while Xiao Wu refused to back down and glared up at him.
"I need you to join us. My goal is to change the entire world of Soul Masters, so I need a lot... of people's help." Gu You had originally wanted to say many lives, but remembering that he should not yet know Xiao Wu was a transformed Soul Beast, he changed it to people.
Xiao Wu and Tang San thought Gu You's pause had been meant to increase the pressure. Gu You continued, "You have Innate Full Soul Power. Your talent is enough to support you in keeping pace with Tang San and me as we grow. I don't know why, but it's obvious you need power. Become my test subject, and I'll give you power."
At that moment, it was as though the souls of countless villainous masterminds had possessed him. Gu You felt like a mafia godfather inviting some green kid into his family. It was cool as hell.
Lost in his own world, Gu You failed to notice Xiao Wu blink in slight confusion. Tang San walked over to her and whispered, "Xiao You is just like this. You should be getting used to it by now."
He then explained, "Although Xiao You puts it that way, both my Martial Soul development path and Soul Skills, as well as his own, were planned and decided by him. You've probably noticed too that he truly uses the most suitable options to plan Martial Souls and Soul Skills."
"My Soul Skill, Rooting, and its support effects—you've seen them too. You may not know this, but there's a Martial Soul researcher nicknamed the Grandmaster staying at our academy."
"The Grandmaster? Then he must be amazing, right?" Xiao Wu asked expectantly, though a slight tremble could be heard in her voice if one listened closely.
"Amazing?" Tang San shook his head. "No. His Soul Power Level is only 29, and apparently it has been that way for many years. As for Martial Soul knowledge, he once suggested that I attach Poison Attribute Soul Rings to Blue Silver Grass." By the end, Tang San's tone had turned faintly hostile.
Xiao Wu was startled by that suggestion. "Poison Attribute? On Blue Silver Grass?"
Tang San explained, "Exactly. If Xiao You hadn't told me that continuing to add Poison Attribute this way might cause my Martial Soul to be corroded instead, I might have been fooled into absorbing poison Soul Rings. He even wanted me to develop as a Control System Soul Master and absorb Soul Rings from animal-type Soul Beasts. He wanted me to give up Blue Silver Grass's own advantages and instead model its development after rope-type Martial Souls. I have no idea how he earned the title of Grandmaster."
"My current focus on the Support System was also Xiao You's suggestion. I should make use of Blue Silver Grass's vitality and leave combat to my teammates."
Tang San said earnestly, "Xiao Wu, don't judge Xiao You by how he acts. He really does have his own unique insights into Martial Souls and Soul Beasts. I sincerely suggest you consider his proposal."
Hearing Tang San's words, Xiao Wu seriously considered it too, though she still muttered things like, "Xiao You is bullying her."
"Fine, I agree." After considering it, Xiao Wu decided that helping Gu You conduct Martial Soul research was an acceptable condition.
"What?" Gu You snapped awake from his fantasy of punching the Sea God, kicking the Asura God, and leading humanity out of the Milky Way with one hand. "You agreed?"
Gu You truly had not expected that after treating Xiao Wu like this, she would still be willing to cooperate with him.
What Gu You did not know was just how promising a pair of geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power was. Xiao Wu had already noticed Gu You and Tang San's immense potential during the Martial Soul test: one possessed a top-tier Power Attack System Beast Martial Soul that had never even heard of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, while the other was a Support System Soul Master with incredibly powerful healing support abilities. As long as she built a good relationship with them, she might one day be able to use their strength to avenge her mother.
Although she did not know who that woman was, anyone capable of defeating her mother, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, had to be extremely powerful. As long as she became strong as well, she would eventually find her.
Xiao Wu nodded. "I agree to help you with Martial Soul research, but I have some requirements."
Xiao Wu paused to see whether Gu You had anything to say. Gu You gave a slight nod, signaling for her to continue, and Xiao Wu said, "The Soul Rings I add to my Martial Soul can only come from rabbit Soul Beasts. You must guarantee my safety. And you can't casually harm Soul Beasts during your research."
"Fine." Gu You agreed. "Starting tomorrow, you'll come over every afternoon to help me. I'll teach you all kinds of knowledge until you can at least understand what I'm asking for."
Xiao Wu became anxious. He made it sound like she was an idiot.
She tried to endure it, but failed. Xiao Wu still cursed, "What do you mean? Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Heh." Gu You rolled his eyes and began shooing them out without even bothering to respond to Xiao Wu.
As Gu You pushed him toward the door, Tang San hurriedly said, "Xiao You, I've already found a blacksmith's shop. Next time, just come find me at the blacksmith's shop beneath the southern city wall. Unless something comes up, I'll be there."
"That's great. Xiao San, while you're smithing, help me test which metals can conduct Soul Power better. I'll have a use for it later."
"Sure. Is there anything else you need me to do?" Tang San and Xiao Wu had already been pushed to the doorway. Seeing Gu You preparing to close the door, Tang San hurriedly asked.
Gu You thought for a moment, then took out the Gold Soul Coin he had only recently received from his pocket and handed it to Tang San. "Xiao San, please give this Gold Soul Coin to Brother Niu, Niu Dazhuang, at the village entrance and have him pass it on to my grandfather. Also tell him that I'm already a Soul Master now and can receive the Soul Master subsidy, so he doesn't need to worry about my living expenses anymore."
Tang San nodded. Hearing Gu You say that reminded him of Tang Hao at home. He planned to have Niu Dazhuang bring his own Gold Soul Coin back as well, and tell Tang Hao not to keep drinking cheap liquor all the time.
After Tang San took the Gold Soul Coin, Gu You slammed the door shut with a bang. Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a look, shrugged, and went their separate ways. One headed east through the city to find Niu Dazhuang, while the other returned to the academy to continue cultivating.
In the basement, Gu You looked at the materials on the table, rubbed his chin, and began considering his next task.
Which topic should he choose for his submission? If he started by tearing the Grandmaster's crowning work to shreds, would he be dead by the next day?
PS: I suddenly realized I never mentioned the protagonist's and Tang San's Soul Power Levels. The protagonist is level 11, while Tang San is level 12 (his Soul Ring suited him exceptionally well, plus his proficiency in the Mysterious Heaven Skill). In this book, Soul Power cultivation emphasizes balancing work and rest, rather than cultivating nonstop for decades after going into seclusion like in xianxia stories. Five hours of quiet Soul Power cultivation a day is about enough; any more would instead damage the meridians.
I wrote half of it last night and finished it at noon today. I'm going to take a nap now. Good night ┗(ω)┛ Please vote, bookmark, and send monthly tickets~
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