Yu Xiaogang's Plea

Regarding Tang Hao, Wang Qi had read the Original Work and, after arriving in Nuoding City, tested Tang Hao's character. Combining the two, Tang Hao gradually took on a rough image in Wang Qi's mind.

Wang Qi believed that Tang Hao had always carried a set of scales in his heart.

Before Tang San awakened his Martial Soul, the order of importance in Tang Hao's heart was: sect > Ah Yin > Tang Hao > Tang San.

To keep Ah Yin from being captured, Tang Hao chose to leave the sect and wander the world with her. In the end, they were discovered by Spirit Hall. Ah Yin sacrificed herself, and Tang Hao did not kill the Pope because he feared the sect would be implicated. He eventually raised Tang San through hardship, while Tang Hao himself sank completely into despair.

After Tang San awakened his Martial Soul, he possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power—the finest talent possible. As long as Tang San did not die, he was bound to become a powerhouse. So long as Tang Hao guided Tang San toward the sect, the Clear Sky Sect would surely rise again. Thus, Tang San's place in Tang Hao's heart soared, and the order became: sect > Tang San > Ah Yin > Tang Hao.

Against someone whose entire character revolved around being a slave to his sect, Wang Qi only needed to seize Tang San. Tang Hao would never choose mutual destruction. After two months of testing, Wang Qi found that this was indeed the case.

And that was the confidence Wang Qi had to gamble with his life.

As for failure? If he failed, he would smash the board and flip the table. Having lived through the age of information explosion, Wang Qi had naturally heard the story of copying the Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual ten thousand times and distributing it across the country.

Tang Hao, hidden beneath his black cloak, had no idea that every move he made next would determine the fates of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Hao, Tang San, and even Ah Yin.

"Not enough. I still have enemies I cannot deal with right now. I need you to swear as well that you will never tell anyone what happened here today."

"Fine. I, Wang Qi, swear upon my Martial Soul that I will never reveal what happened here today to anyone other than those present. If I violate this oath, my Martial Soul will shatter, and my soul will suffer the agony of being burned by blazing flames for all eternity."

"Senior, how is that? I've already sworn. What about you?"

Tang Hao was amused by how decisively Wang Qi swore. Because of the oath, Tang Hao's tone and the atmosphere at the scene were no longer quite so oppressive.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you first?"

"No. The trump card in my hand was never some so-called oath, but these two. Senior, it's your turn."

The rest was simple. Tang Hao swore an oath, exchanged a few words with Wang Qi, and left the courtyard. At the same time, Wang Qi released Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

"The deal continues. Of course, Grandmaster, if you have any new trump cards, you can show them first. I'll see whether I can deal with them."

"If not, then let me state my terms. Tang San, I'll find a way to strengthen your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. I can't say how much stronger it can become yet, but one thing is certain—it will definitely be stronger than it is now."

"What you need to do now is swear upon your Martial Soul. If you reveal what happened here today to anyone not present, then you'll both... well, something along the lines of your Martial Souls shattering, dying, and your Martial Souls being destroyed."

"Of course, Grandmaster, the same goes for you. Once you've sworn, Tang San will come with me. Next, I'll help him complete his Martial Soul transformation."

Wang Qi calmly took out a pill from his Soul Tool. After swallowing it, he sat cross-legged on the ground and entered meditation, not the least bit worried that the two would flee.

Yu Xiaogang was overjoyed. Although there had been a slight twist in the process, the result was good. At the very least, Yu Xiaogang truly had a chance to evolve his Martial Soul.

What? Wang Qi had said transformation, not evolution? In Yu Xiaogang's understanding, they meant the same thing.

What did Yu Xiaogang care about most in this life? His reputation—the reputation of the Martial Soul Theory Master.

He valued it so much because he could not break through the shackles of his Martial Soul talent and become a powerhouse. Left with no other choice, he placed great importance on his reputation, because Yu Xiaogang knew that aside from the reputation of Martial Soul Theory Master, he had nothing.

Did Soul Masters hold high status? Their status was not as lofty as people imagined. Commoners regarded becoming a Soul Master as an honor because, relying on imagination alone, they found it difficult to understand the class of Soul Masters.

Soul Masters of different ranks likewise had class divisions. Low-level Soul Masters were those below level thirty. They had status, but it was only slightly above that of ordinary people.

Mid-level Soul Masters ranged from Soul Elders to below Soul Kings. Soul Masters of this rank generally possessed fairly high status. Though they could not compare to nobles, their strength was, in some respects, not much different from that of minor nobles.

High-level Soul Masters ranged from Soul Kings to below Soul Saints. These people formed the backbone of most factions. If they joined an empire, its rulers would generally grant them noble status.

Top-level Soul Masters were those above Soul Saints, including Titled Douluo. These people were the continent's high-end fighting force, and their numbers could even alter the outcome of a small-scale battle.

The low-level Soul Master class did not receive many privileges. Even ordinary people, if they planned carefully and caught them off guard, could potentially kill a Soul Master—or even a Soul Grandmaster.

And because of the status Soul Masters held, Soul Grand Masters often did things that harmed ordinary people. This created conflicts between low-level Soul Masters and commoners.

That Xiao Zhang Wang Qi killed in the first chapter had once been harmed by low-level Soul Masters. Furthermore, having come from Gengxin City, he had gained some experience. Unfortunately, he ran into Wang Qi, who had cheats. Otherwise, Xiao Zhang might truly have accomplished the feat of killing a young Soul Master as an ordinary person.

Yu Xiaogang happened to belong to the ranks of low-level Soul Masters, which was why he was mocked.

"Alright, Grandmaster, you may leave now. Little San, swear your oath."

Seeing that even his most respected teacher had sworn an oath, Tang San immediately swore to the sky as well. Driven by his thirst for strength and his determination to defeat Xiao Chenyu, Tang San failed to notice Yu Xiaogang's face, which looked as though a question mark were hanging over his head.

"No, what do you mean? Didn't you promise—"

"I promised Senior that I would help Tang San complete his Martial Soul transformation, but I never promised to help you complete a Martial Soul transformation. Besides, didn't you say so yourself earlier? You don't care about these things at all."

"Since that's the case, whether your Martial Soul transforms or not seemingly has no effect on you. Alright, Little San, come with me. I'll take you—"

Yu Xiaogang stood there in a daze, watching Wang Qi lead Tang San toward the room. He quickly reviewed everything Wang Qi had said earlier in his mind and realized that it was indeed true.

"Wait, Wang Qi, wait."

"What do I need to offer for you to be willing to help me complete my Martial Soul Evolution?"

"I am the son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Titled Douluo clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects. As long as you help me complete my Martial Soul Evolution, so long as it is something I can do, I will never refuse."

"Don't worry. I've sworn an oath. I will not tell anyone what happens next."

"So, please."

Yu Xiaogang bowed ninety degrees. Tang San felt a pang of sorrow at the sight, thinking that his proud teacher had suffered such humiliation. Even if Wang Qi helped him complete his Martial Soul Evolution, he still deserved death.

Yet Wang Qi found the scene deeply ironic.