The More You Refuse, the More You Want It

The More You Refuse, the More You Want It

Time flowed like water. Another month had passed since Tang San was defeated by Xiao Chenyu.

Over the past month, Tang San had once again asked Yu Xiaogang to arrange a spar with Xiao Chenyu. The result was still his defeat. Having already trapped himself in a dead end, Tang San took advantage of Xiao Chenyu being away today and followed Yu Xiaogang to an alley in Nuoding City.

"Little San, are you still dwelling on your previous defeat? There's no need to overthink it. You should know that your use and development of your martial soul, as well as your talent, far surpass Xiao Chenyu's. There is only one reason you lost: your martial soul was restrained by a fire martial soul."

"This is a matter of elemental restraint between martial souls. It cannot be avoided. Besides, Little San, don't forget that you have another martial soul. Are you going to stay this dejected for the rest of your life?"

"Wake up, Little San. Or do you think your hammer martial soul is also afraid of fire? If that is all the resolve you possess, then go back. Consider my search for an opportunity for your Martial Soul Evolution an act of needless sentimentality."

Yu Xiaogang was highly skilled at suppressive education. Although he cared for Tang San and tried his best to avoid putting him down, even letting Tang San feel more concern and warmth, he still could not resist giving him a blow when he saw Tang San so dispirited.

"What? Martial Soul Evolution? Teacher, can my martial soul really evolve?"

"Teacher, my Blue Silver Grass is only a useless martial soul. How could it possibly have room to evolve? Didn't you once say that martial souls could only be promoted through absorbing soul rings? Then why—"

Yu Xiaogang interrupted Tang San's self-pity and sighed.

"Little San, Teacher lied to you. In truth, I was not the first to discover the theory that martial souls could evolve by absorbing soul rings. Someone else discovered it."

"Two years ago, I encountered him at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy." As Yu Xiaogang walked through the alley, he began recounting his meeting with Wang Qi two years earlier: Wang Qi's talent for researching martial soul theory, as well as the process of verifying that theory.

Of course, Yu Xiaogang placed special emphasis on the role he had played in that theoretical verification and the guidance he had given Wang Qi. In short, it all came down to one sentence.

Without Yu Xiaogang, that theory might never have been established.

"Teacher, then there was nothing wrong with you saying before that you discovered the theory that soul rings promote Martial Soul Evolution. On the contrary, without your help, that Wang Qi would definitely have run into walls in the early stages."

"Sigh. When Wang Qi left two years ago, I originally thought he would completely abandon martial soul theory research. I thought that when we met again in this life, it would only be at the pinnacle of the theoretical world. Yet after a month of investigation, I discovered that Wang Qi had actually returned."

"Teacher, do you mean that Xiao Chenyu's Martial Soul Evolution has something to do with that man named Wang Qi?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded, but did not directly answer Tang San's question. Reaching an ancient-looking gate, Yu Xiaogang knocked on it.

At that moment, Wang Qi, who was meditating with his eyes closed in the small courtyard, suddenly opened his eyes. A nearly imperceptible smile appeared on his face as he looked toward the knocked-on gate.

"They're finally here. To wait for the two of you, I spent two whole months laying the groundwork and preparing contingencies."

When he pulled open the gate, two Simulation Panels that gleamed with golden light in Wang Qi's eyes came into view.

Soul Master Yu Xiaogang, Golden Sacred Dragon bloodline (thin), extraction success rate: 70%. 99% compatibility with Golden Flame Body martial soul. Break talent shackles; 100% chance of completing a positive martial soul mutation.

Soul Master Tang San, Blue Silver Emperor bloodline (dormant), extraction success rate: 100%. 99% compatibility with Medicine Refining Furnace martial soul. Martial soul transformation; gains the trait of enhancing fused medicinal effects.

To Wang Qi, the attributes on these two Simulation Panels were no different from pulling two gold cards in a gacha game.

He had thought Yu Xiaogang's surprise was already great enough, but Tang San had unexpectedly given him such an enormous surprise as well.

He did not know whether it was an illusion, but ever since Wang Qi met Dai Mubai, his luck seemed to have improved.

"Oh? Grandmaster? Why are you here? Please, come in. I only returned to Nuoding City a while ago and had planned to visit you in the next few days. I never expected Grandmaster to come personally. How impolite of me."

"And this is?" As Wang Qi led Yu Xiaogang and Tang San into the courtyard, he instinctively guided the conversation toward Tang San.

Yu Xiaogang repeatedly waved his hand and said casually, "We are both people who study martial soul theory. Naturally, I understand the focus required when researching martial soul theory. How could I possibly blame you?"

"His name is Tang San, my disciple. Little San, this is the theory Grandmaster I told you about before, whose future achievements in martial soul theory will be no weaker than mine. Likewise, he is your senior. His name is Wang Qi."

Tang San obediently stepped before Wang Qi and gave him the greeting of a junior. He looked as well-behaved as could be.

If not for Tang San's utterly ordinary face—the kind one could not find again after tossing it into a crowd—the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges tied around his waist, and Wang Qi's Simulation Eye, Wang Qi truly would not have believed this fellow was the future protagonist.

"So you are Grandmaster's disciple. We even share the relationship of senior and junior. Come, come inside."

Wang Qi was so enthusiastic that even Yu Xiaogang, who lived off others without the slightest shame, felt too embarrassed to bring up the theory of Martial Soul Evolution himself.

Seeing Yu Xiaogang's expression as though he wanted to speak but could not bring himself to, Wang Qi could not help laughing inwardly.

For this day, Wang Qi had spent two full months preparing. In his own little courtyard, he had rehearsed for two whole months.

What did the theory of Martial Soul Evolution mean for the entire Soul World? It meant that so long as one held Wang Qi in their grasp, a faction could produce hundreds or even thousands of high-level combatants in the future.

And for Wang Qi, that was not a good thing. Wang Qi concealed it, and Wang Qi repeatedly changed the subject, making the theory seem all the more genuine.

In short, the harsher Wang Qi was, the more Yu Xiaogang and Tang San believed him.

To play the role of an expert, one had to act like one. Wang Qi believed that in the world of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, if Feng Qingyang had handed Nine Swords of Dugu to Linghu Chong while acting like an obsequious lapdog, Nine Swords of Dugu would have spread among a small circle within three years.

It was like a salesperson refusing to let a customer bargain, only for the customer to insist. Once the deal was made, the salesperson profited, while the customer also felt that he had gotten a bargain.

It was the same principle. The tighter Wang Qi kept his secret, the more genuine it appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

The three chatted from morning until noon, then continued after lunch. Even though Wang Qi hinted more than once during the conversation that he wished to see them off, Yu Xiaogang acted as if he could not hear it and remained completely unmoved.

It left Wang Qi both annoyed and amused.

"Grandmaster, Junior Brother Tang San, it's getting late. Let me treat you to a meal. After dinner, I still need to cultivate, so I won't keep the two of you today."