Did they really think Tang San was someone who followed the rules?
If Yu Xiaogang's example of farting two students to death and getting thrown in prison by a Spirit Hall deacon hadn't served as a warning to Tang San, he wouldn't have cared about any of that nonsense.
Back when he didn't know Spirit Hall's rules, he had even been ready to knife that somewhat harsh gatekeeper.
That alone showed that Tang San didn't regard human lives as lives at all.
It was only because people couldn't be killed casually on Douluo Continent that he chose a gentler approach first.
And if Xiao Chenyu couldn't give him the answer he wanted, Tang San wouldn't mind resuming his old line of work for Yu Xiaogang's sake.
Elsewhere.
Xiao Chenyu found Chen Yumo, who had been waiting for a long time, in the dormitory.
That was right—waiting for a long time.
From the moment Chen Yumo decided to execute Gangzi, he had planned every step, including the possibility that Tang San or Gangzi would come to ask—or directly interrogate—him after news of his Martial Soul Evolution spread.
He just hadn't expected Tang San and Gangzi not to show up personally, instead sending Xiao Chenyu to embarrass himself for them.
That made it even more ridiculous.
Had the master and disciple who pointed at Chen Yumo's nose and cursed him two years ago now lost even the courage to stand before him?
He rated the two of them as Shuke and Beita, and the Haier Brothers.
"That's what happened." Xiao Chenyu told Chen Yumo about Tang San coming to see him earlier, then said guiltily, "I can't afford to offend them either, so I could only do what they told me."
"But it's fine. I also told Tang San that even if you're my little brother, you have no obligation to reveal the secret of your Martial Soul Evolution. I didn't come because I absolutely had to complete Tang San's assignment. Whether you tell me or not doesn't matter."
Was it really that simple?
Chen Yumo laughed to himself.
Never overestimate the bottom line of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, those Haier Brothers, because their bottom line would always be far, far, far lower than one could imagine.
If he didn't say it now, he would probably have to Bind with Tang San's mother later.
"It's fine, Xiao Lao Da. There's nothing I can't say." Chen Yumo smiled brightly.
"You... If you don't want to say it, then don't." Xiao Chenyu hesitated. He was clearly being threatened, so why was he smiling so happily?
He had to be forcing a smile, right?
No, I really was this happy.
The smile on Chen Yumo's face grew even brighter. "It's not forced, really. If they want to know, I'll let them know."
"But before that, let me ask you a question first, Xiao Lao Da."
Xiao Chenyu was slightly taken aback, then nodded. "Sure, ask away. I came here to ask you such an awkward question, so even if you ask me how many lovers my father has outside, I'll tell you every last detail."
Six six six.
What a loving father and filial son.
"That has nothing to do with it." Chen Yumo awkwardly scratched his cheek. "What I want to ask is simple. Do you know at what age people eat the most and grow the fastest?"
"Do you even need to ask? It's obviously when they're young. At our age, we can eat three big bowls a day, and our height and weight keep shooting up every year." Xiao Chenyu answered without hesitation.
"Martial Souls are actually the same as people." Chen Yumo nodded with a smile. "A Spirit Master's best cultivation years are also when their Martial Soul is most active. During that period, a Martial Soul is like a human child—given enough nutrients and sufficient training, it can grow rapidly."
"The nutrients are resources, and the training is meditation. Give it the right resources, meditate long enough for the Martial Soul to digest those nutrients, and it will naturally grow."
"Over the past two years, I fed my Ice Silkworm Martial Soul enough Cold Mulberry Leaves to accumulate sufficient energy for Metamorphosis. When I obtained my Spirit Ring, it was then able to naturally Break Cocoon and become a butterfly. It isn't some great secret. I simply treated my Martial Soul as a partner that truly possessed life."
"A partner that truly possesses life..." Xiao Chenyu was stunned as he instinctively lowered his head to look at his right hand.
Whenever he used his Martial Soul, his right hand was always the first to transform into a wolf claw.
Thinking honestly, had he ever treated his Martial Soul as a partner?
No.
He had only treated his Martial Soul as power—as a tool.
After realizing his own mindset and changing how he viewed his Martial Soul, he actually felt that his wolf Martial Soul had become a little more in harmony with him.
"I've learned a great deal!" Xiao Chenyu gave Chen Yumo a deep bow.
"Everyone's Martial Soul possesses spirituality, without exception. It's just that the stronger the Martial Soul, the greater its spirituality," Chen Yumo said.
"In that case, can the Master's Martial Soul evolve like your Ice Silkworm?" Xiao Chenyu asked.
"Theoretically, no. In practice, there is a faint possibility." Chen Yumo shook his head.
"Like you just said, a person grows fastest during childhood. Once they have fully grown into an adult, no matter how much nutrition they take in, it becomes difficult to grow taller. They can only keep getting fatter. Martial Souls are the same."
"Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao has already obtained two Spirit Rings, losing two opportunities to evolve. The fact that it has remained at level twenty-nine for so long proves that its potential has already been exhausted. Further cultivation at this point is meaningless. No matter how many resources you feed it, it can't grow taller—it can only get fatter."
"And in reality, getting fatter isn't a good sign of growth. It's merely fat formed from large amounts of energy that cannot be digested and end up accumulating in the body. Too much accumulation is instead harmful."
"As for why I say it is impossible in theory but has a slight chance in practice, it's because there are too many opportunities in this world. Perhaps there might happen to be some opportunity that can help him evolve. But that kind of opportunity can only be sought little by little through practice and luck."
"But on my end, Yu Xiaogang can't evolve using my method. He has already missed the most suitable stage of growth."
"Don't call me boss anymore. Let me call you boss instead." Xiao Chenyu's eyes were filled with shock as he blurted out, "Compared to you, what the hell kind of theoretical master is Yu Xiaogang?!"
"He can't even compare to a single hair on your head!"
"Hey, keep it low-key." Chen Yumo calmly waved his hand. "Did you remember everything I said? Just answer Tang San like that."
"There's no secret to Martial Soul Evolution, and no secret technique was used. I simply raised my Martial Soul as a partner with life and let it grow naturally."
"I remembered it all. I'll go answer Tang San right away!" Xiao Chenyu nodded. He had completely changed from Xiao Lao Da into Xiao Lao Di, automatically accepting his role as Chen Yumo's little brother.
After closing the door, Chen Yumo smiled faintly.
"Gangzi, I hope you like this gift I've given you."
Before you continue