Hardcore Hustling

"You just said knowledge shouldn't be sold at a high price, didn't you?"

Ah Yin felt as though she had been deceived. He had sounded so righteous just moments ago—how had he changed his tune in the blink of an eye?

Were men really this fickle too?

"You don't have to listen!"

Tian Hao remained utterly confident. These were precious theories he had painstakingly summarized and verified. Letting them hear even a little in advance was already generous.

Though he wanted to verify once more whether this method of spreading knowledge truly caused his fortune to grow, that did not stop him from making money.

Even if he could only charge one Silver Soul Coin each time, he could do it several more times.

"You'll end up obsessed with money sooner or later."

Puffing out her cheeks, Ah Yin took out another Silver Soul Coin and handed it over. The money was nothing to her, but the feeling was infuriating.

"I mentioned using soul beast soul rings to evolve a Martial Soul before. Another external method is to use certain heavenly treasures. You should all know about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but perhaps you don't know that it once had a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul wielder who cultivated to become a Titled Douluo.

"I read in a book that this powerful member of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect seemed to have consumed a medicinal herb containing divine power, allowing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to break through its limits and evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda..."

Carefully putting away the Silver Soul Coin, Tian Hao honestly explained the second path of external evolution while sensing the fragment of the Jade Disc of Creation within his mind.

When he discovered that fortune had indeed flowed in again, he was so delighted that he wanted to go dance on his parents' graves.

As for the legend of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he had not made it up. It was recorded in the Great Library of Martial Soul Academy, though the specific herb involved had not been recorded.

Moreover, when Ning Fengzhi saw his daughter's Martial Soul evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in the original story, he had mentioned the legend as well. Clearly, there had been a precedent.

"I've heard that legend before. I always thought it was just a lie."

Tang Hao's expression turned solemn. He had indeed heard the legend, and it was not even much of a secret within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

It was said that if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda encountered a special opportunity, it could evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Not only would it strengthen the Soul Master's foundation and potential, but it would also grant far greater room for growth.

Once a Soul Master with a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda cultivated to the level of a nine-ring Titled Douluo, they could be called a god of support, capable of turning the tide of an entire battlefield by themselves.

He had never paid attention to such rumors and legends before, but now that he considered them carefully, they did not seem entirely baseless.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already become one of the Upper Three Sects solely through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. How terrifying would it be if they evolved a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?

"That kind of heavenly treasure must be very rare, right?"

Ah Yin, however, seemed thoughtful. She did know that such special medicinal herbs existed. Some could even evolve into soul beasts, with bloodline potential comparable to top-tier soul beasts.

Yet such beings were extremely rare. Even she had only heard of them and never seen one. Presumably, only those great powers possessed such treasures.

Thinking of this, Ah Yin roughly understood why Tian Hao wanted to seek refuge with Spirit Hall. He probably wanted to borrow Spirit Hall's power to search for heavenly treasures that could alter one's aptitude. It was even possible that Spirit Hall already possessed such a treasure.

"Though heavenly treasures are rare, the corresponding Martial Souls still have inheritances. For example, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, the Nine Heart Begonia, and so on. Those are all top-tier Martial Souls.

"Some Martial Soul Fusion Skills can also evolve Martial Souls, though that is only a temporary state of evolution. If it could be solidified, that would be a genuine evolution."

Tian Hao had no idea what Ah Yin was thinking and continued explaining.

He was not making this up. He had even seen Yue Guan while at Martial Soul Academy. Yue Guan had only been a Soul Douluo at the time and probably had not yet become a Titled Douluo, though that should happen soon enough.

As for Martial Soul Fusion Skills, they truly were a form of evolution. The most typical example was the Hell White Tiger of the Star Luo Empire's royal family. If one party could devour the other's Martial Soul, they should be able to achieve a true evolution.

"Hey! You still haven't explained how to evolve a Martial Soul through self-cultivation."

While lost in thought, Ah Yin suddenly saw Tian Hao walk out of the Forge Room and hurriedly reminded him.

"Pay first, then I'll talk!"

Tian Hao casually replied as he carried the kettle to the hand pump. He worked the handle up and down, quickly drawing out cool underground water.

He had built this hand pump himself. It had been common in rural areas in his previous life, though it was only suitable for places with shallow water tables.

The principle was actually common in everyday life as well. For instance, some medicine sprayers operated on the same principle.

Once the kettle was full, Tian Hao placed it on the stove in the Forge Room and lit the small side furnace to boil the water.

Their family had no kitchen, and he himself had grown up eating meals provided by the villagers. Boiling water in the Forge Room was enough to make do.

"Here!"

Ah Yin slapped a Silver Soul Coin down beside the furnace, signaling for the youth to start talking. Tang Hao also stopped working and listened closely.

He had not thought much of it when reading that notebook earlier, but after hearing the youth's detailed explanation, he realized it was far from simple.

At the very least, he personally felt that it seemed somewhat reasonable.

"There are roughly those two methods of external evolution. As for Martial Soul evolution through self-cultivation, I only have some general ideas. One is to actively cultivate an attribute that matches the Martial Soul's innate characteristics.

"For example, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Martial Soul naturally possesses lightning attributes. If one focused on cultivating lightning, absorbed lightning elements, comprehended a lightning domain, and continuously transformed and elevated it, that should drive the Martial Soul's evolution..."

After accepting the Silver Soul Coin, Tian Hao continued his hardcore hustling.

How could he refuse something that not only earned him fortune but also made him a little money?

Tian Someone accepted this Silver Soul Coin through tears. Still, he was not merely fooling them. Martial Soul evolution did indeed exist, and it could happen even after awakening. For instance, the future Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, evolved his Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

Ah Yin listened with great interest. This tuition fee was absolutely worth it.

Seeing his girlfriend so engrossed, Tang Hao grew jealous and could not help but refute him.

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is already the strongest Beast Martial Soul. How could it possibly evolve further?"

"I was just giving an example. Do you understand what an example is? And who told you the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is the strongest Beast Martial Soul?"

Tian Hao shot him a sidelong glance, annoyed at being interrupted. Ignorant mortal!

"Isn't that common knowledge?"

Tang Hao did not think there was anything wrong with what he said. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was the strongest Beast Martial Soul in the world; otherwise, it would not have become one of the Upper Three Sects.

Though there were quite a few Beast Martial Souls that could rival it, such as the White Tiger Martial Soul of the Star Luo Empire's royal family, there was not a single one stronger than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

"Ignorant. I've studied some historical records and mythological legends. I suspect that we humans and soul beasts share the same ancestor. You could even say that the humans of Douluo Continent originated from the soul beast race..."

This time, Tian Hao was not bluffing. During the year he had been studied at Martial Soul Academy, he had indeed seen related books. They even contained obscure records of legends surrounding the Dragon Clan's Nine Dragon Kings and the Dragon God.

After all, Spirit Hall had been established by the Angel Clan's Qian Clan. Its inheritance was ancient, and it even possessed the Angel God's legacy. It knew quite a few secrets, and the books it had gathered over the long years were countless.

Some that appeared to hold little value had been placed on the first floor of Martial Soul Academy's Great Library. Any Martial Soul Academy student could read them freely, which had conveniently benefited Tian Hao.

"Absurd! How could we humans possibly originate from soul beasts?"

Tang Hao could not help interrupting Tian Hao again. This claim was far too absurd. It was practically rubbing the intelligence of the Clear Sky Sect's young master into the ground.

"Let him speak."

Before Tian Hao could say anything, Ah Yin unhappily glared at her fiancé and then signaled for Tian Hao to continue.

Tang Hao might not know much about ancient secrets, but she had lived for nearly a hundred thousand years and knew many hidden legacies, especially those concerning soul beasts.

Tang Hao was dumbfounded after being lightly rebuked by his girlfriend, then filled with grievance.

Ah Yin had actually scolded him—for a man... no, a youth she had known for less than a day.

Feeling deeply wronged, Tang Hao could not help developing resentment toward a certain youth. The more he looked at him, the less he liked him.

This brat had not only delayed his return home to get engaged, but was also driving a wedge between him and Ah Yin.

If Ah Yin had not been right there, he would have hung him up and whipped him already.