Fleecing the Sheep

Su Yuntao was too embarrassed to stay any longer. After saying goodbye, he headed straight out, intending to return to Nuoding City. Ye's Parents naturally saw him off politely.

Ye Zhiqiu curled his lip and ignored them.

After sitting up from the ground, he fell into thought.

He was more interested in those three system notifications.

What had caused such a huge difference in Negative Emotion Value? Ye's Parents had only 6 points between them, Tang San had 66, while Su Yuntao had 266.

Was it because of their strength? Ye Zhiqiu frowned. Based on the limited information available, this was the only conclusion he could draw.

If that was really the case, then he had to find powerful Spirit Masters to farm Negative Emotion Value from. That would be much more efficient.

Of course, he might also get slapped to death in the process.

But as the old saying went, wealth came from danger.

At that moment, a bold idea suddenly occurred to Ye Zhiqiu.

At noon, after Ye Zhiqiu had finished lunch, he heard the clang-clang sounds of smithing coming from next door.

If he remembered correctly, Tang Hao was currently teaching Little San the force application techniques of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

How could he possibly miss a moment like this? Ye Zhiqiu took off running next door. He was not going there to secretly learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer; he was going to fleece the sheep.

A big fat sheep like Tang Hao did not show up often. He was either sleeping in or on his way to drink. Now that they finally had the chance to spend some time together, Ye Zhiqiu naturally had to seize it.

Pushing open the dilapidated wooden door of Tang San's home, Ye Zhiqiu found exactly what he expected: Tang Hao and Tang San were both standing before the forging platform.

Tang San was swinging a hammer, continuously striking a chunk of raw iron as large as a human head. Sparks flew everywhere.

Tang San was not circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill at this time, so he looked somewhat strained. Sweat dripped from his forehead and smeared across his face.

"Hey, Little San. The sun is shining brightly outside, and a gentle breeze is blowing. How can you waste such a wonderful day on smithing? Come out and have some fun with this old man." Ye Zhiqiu deliberately acted unreliable, teasing Tang San as he reached out to tug at his shoulder.

Tang San: . Tang Hao: . Negative Emotion Value from Tang San +66

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +966

"Ah Qiu, Dad is teaching me smithing techniques. I'm busy," Tang San said helplessly.

Ye Zhiqiu pretended that he had only just noticed Tang Hao, then laughed awkwardly. "I didn't expect Uncle Tang Hao to be here too. I didn't notice. Uncle Tang Hao, are you thirsty? I'll pour you some tea." With that, Ye Zhiqiu ran toward the table, where a teapot sat.

But it was empty. Ye Zhiqiu noticed as soon as he lifted it, yet he still pretended to pour twice before smiling awkwardly at Tang Hao.

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +966

Tang Hao's face darkened slightly, but he could not bring himself to argue with a little brat like Ye Zhiqiu. As a dignified Titled Douluo, he still had some pride to maintain.

Tang Hao could only pretend not to care and say coldly, "No need. I'm not thirsty."

"Oh, oh." Ye Zhiqiu nodded obediently, then ran back to Tang San's side and watched with great interest.

Tang San resumed swinging his hammer with difficulty, forging the raw iron atop the platform.

His father's task for him was to forge this head-sized chunk of raw iron down to the size of a fist without using Soul Power.

This was undoubtedly a difficult process, yet Tang San still did as instructed. He hammered away with great effort, and his little hand holding the hammer trembled slightly from the recoil after so much forging.

The clang-clang of smithing continued for more than ten minutes before Tang San finally set down his hammer, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and began to rest.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, Ye Zhiqiu had finally found his chance. If he was not seeking Negative Emotion Value from Tang San, this would all be meaningless.

"Little San, why do you work so hard?" Ye Zhiqiu asked with a serious expression.

Tang San froze. Yeah, why do I work so hard? Ever since childhood, he had continuously cultivated the Tang Sect's secret arts without interruption. Even now, he eagerly pursued every increase in strength.

His father had never urged him to cultivate. Everything had been learned of his own accord.

What exactly am I working so hard for? To revive the Tang Sect in this world? Tang San fell into deep thought for a moment.

Tang Hao was also quite interested in the question. He wanted to see how his son would answer, though his face remained expressionless.

"I don't know." After a long while, Tang San shook his head and answered. In truth, Tang San did have a goal in his heart: rebuilding the Tang Sect on the Douluo Continent. But he obviously could not say something like that aloud.

Tang San's answer made Tang Hao frown. He was not very satisfied with his son's response.

In the past, Tang Hao would not have concerned himself with such matters. But after Tang San awakened the Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Grass twin martial souls and decided to embark on the path of a Spirit Master, Tang Hao's attitude changed.

Because of his hostility toward Spirit Hall, once Tang San's identity was exposed, every step of his future path would become difficult. Therefore, Tang Hao now hoped even more that his son would become a powerful Spirit Master, have his own goal, and strive toward it.

A smile lingered at the corner of Ye Zhiqiu's eyes as he said carelessly, "Little San, it's right not to know what you're working hard for. I know a great poet named Lu Xun who once said that hard work might not lead to success, but if you don't work hard, life will definitely be easier. Come on, come out and play with me. Let's experience a relaxed and joyful life."

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +966

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +3

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +5

Negative Emotion Value from Tang Hao +4

The system notifications kept scrolling. Ye Zhiqiu froze. What kind of magical move was this?

Negative Emotion Value could be farmed like this too?

A sudden unease rose in his heart. It looks like I might have gone too far. Judging by this Negative Emotion Value, Uncle Tang Hao seems really angry. He isn't going to suddenly hit me with a hammer, is he? Ye Zhiqiu secretly glanced at Tang Hao's face. Hmm! Thankfully, thankfully. His face was merely dark with a tinge of green. He did not seem ready to pull out a hammer yet.

Looks like I can fleece him one more time? "Ah Qiu, this great poet named Lu Xun may not be very reliable if he can say things like that. You should spend less time around him in the future." Tang San rubbed his forehead. He remembered that Ye Zhiqiu had not been this unreliable before. Why had he suddenly changed? Could it be that he had learned it all from this great poet Lu Xun he kept talking about?

Ye Zhiqiu nodded in agreement on the surface while secretly delighting inside. He glanced at his Negative Emotion Value balance. It was just over 3,400, still a little short of 5,000.

It seemed he would have to keep working hard.

Ye Zhiqiu's goal was to purchase the Improved One-Tailed Shukaku Origin from the System Shop. Its effects were truly absurd.

Improved One-Tailed Shukaku Origin: Automatically converts into Soul Power cultivation, helping the host raise their Soul Power Level. When Soul Power reaches its threshold, the energy is instead used to nourish the body. In battle, if Soul Power is depleted, the energy within can be drawn upon to replenish it.

In Ye Zhiqiu's understanding, this was a powerful cheat device. Getting stronger while lying down—wasn't that wonderful?