Methods of Perfect Evolution

After looking over the Novice Gift Pack, Chen Yumo took a deep breath, and his earlier disappointment was swept away.

Although the system's starting capital had not directly evolved his Martial Soul, increased his Soul Power, or improved his talent, it had given him the confidence to make his way in the world.

Money meant he would not have to worry about making a living. Knowledge meant he would not be embarrassed by ignorance. Strength meant he would not have to fear weakness.

Other than not making him invincible outright, the system had already given him everything he currently lacked.

So what did he have to wallow in self-pity about?

"Just wait, Brother System! I'll definitely evolve my Martial Soul perfectly, then empty out your little treasury!" Chen Yumo said with a confident smile.

[Alright, Host. May your future be bright.]

Even the system's cold voice seemed to carry a trace of amusement.

With his fighting spirit stirred, the next thing to consider was naturally the path he would take.

The system's name had effectively already chosen that path for Chen Yumo: continuously evolve his Martial Soul. As long as he succeeded in evolving it, he would receive system rewards, steadily snowballing until he finally crossed the Stairway to Godhood.

That was the general direction, but the details required him to consider which direction his Martial Soul should evolve toward, what Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones he should use, and what heavenly treasures could assist him in ensuring the evolution met his expectations.

From that perspective, the Encyclopedia rewarded by the system was perhaps what Chen Yumo needed most urgently.

Without knowledge, he would not even know what kind of soul beast to hunt for his Spirit Rings.

On Douluo Continent, Spirit Rings were undoubtedly the best nourishment for a Martial Soul. If a soul master could cultivate normally to the rank of Title Douluo, he could attach a full nine Spirit Rings. Countless theories of Martial Soul Evolution on Douluo Continent were based largely on the addition of Spirit Rings.

"Silkworms... do silkworms have any particularly powerful races?" Chen Yumo asked himself.

They did, brother. Of course they did!

In Shrouding the Heavens, there was the Ancient Divine Silkworm Emperor!

"Nine transformations, invincible above and below heaven; ten transformations, looking down upon all of ancient and modern times, past and future!" A gleam flashed through Chen Yumo's eyes. "How similar is that to Douluo Continent? The nine Spirit Rings each correspond to one of the Divine Silkworm's nine transformations, while reaching level one hundred and becoming a god corresponds to the ultimate leap of the Divine Silkworm's tenth transformation!"

"When the Divine Silkworm Breaks Cocoon, a divine beast is born! Breaking free of the cocoon to become a butterfly—isn't that the most complete Metamorphosis on the path of evolution? Completely shedding the old body and transforming into a more powerful creature!"

Thinking about it this way, Chen Yumo was even glad that his Martial Soul was merely an Ice Silkworm!

If it had been Blue Silver Grass, there would have been only a few possible evolutionary paths. At most, it could evolve from Blue Silver Grass into a Blue Silver King, then into a Blue Silver Emperor, and perhaps upon becoming a god, into the never-before-seen Blue Silver God.

Even counting it all up, that was only three stages of evolution.

Now look at the Ice Silkworm.

In theory, Chen Yumo had a chance to evolve once with every Spirit Ring. At the limit, he could evolve a full nine times and fleece the evolution system for rewards nine times!

He would accumulate foundations during the Soul Power growth stage, unleash them all at once when he obtained a Spirit Ring, break free of the cocoon and become a butterfly, then accumulate foundations again and wait for the next eruption of strength, repeating the cycle...

After nine Metamorphoses, just how powerful would Chen Yumo become?!

"Hahaha... Who says Ice Silkworms cannot produce an emperor? If the Ice Silkworm's future is truly shrouded in darkness, then I, Chen Yumo, will become the only light upon that dark road ahead!"

At that moment, heroic ambition surged in Chen Yumo's chest. He swore to trample this entire Douluo Continent beneath his feet!

That afternoon, Old Jack came to Chen Yumo's home.

"Little Mo, Grandpa has already asked around for you. No child in neighboring Radish Village awakened Soul Power this year, so when the time comes, you can use Radish Village's spot to attend Nuoding Academy as a Work-Study Student!" Old Jack said kindly.

Seeing the sweat on Old Jack's forehead, Chen Yumo was touched. He hurriedly fetched a bowl of cooled boiled water and placed it before him.

"Grandpa Jack, have some water first! It's hot outside."

Old Jack did not refuse. He picked up the bowl and gulped it down, clearly parched.

Each village had only one Work-Study Student spot. Radish Village was at least ten li from Holy Soul Village, and the entire route was mountain roads. Judging by the timing, Old Jack had likely rushed to Radish Village without stopping immediately after the Martial Soul awakening, and had barely rested during the round trip.

That was why Chen Yumo was moved.

Even though he could now be considered immensely wealthy, could enroll even without becoming a Work-Study Student, and could even live very comfortably.

But Old Jack did not know that!

He was willing to walk all the way to neighboring Radish Village to secure a spot for Chen Yumo. Chen Yumo had to remember that kindness.

The two chatted for a while longer. Old Jack said nothing more than that Chen Yumo should not lose heart because his talent was poor, and that as long as he was willing to work hard, there would always come a day when he would rise above the rest. Chen Yumo went along with Old Jack's words, making the old man happy.

After seeing Old Jack off, Chen Yumo pursed his somewhat dry lips and began his cultivation.

Do not misunderstand—it was not meditation.

Before entering the academy, children like them who had only just awakened their Martial Souls did not have meditation techniques. A Spirit Hall deacon like Su Yuntao was only responsible for awakening Martial Souls, not teaching them meditation techniques.

If they wanted to cultivate, they could only rely on the inefficient method of breathing in and refining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which was far less effective than a systematic meditation technique.

Therefore, Chen Yumo's cultivation was actually studying the knowledge within the Four-in-One Encyclopedia.

There were still three months before Nuoding Academy began classes. Though that was not a long time, it was enough for Chen Yumo to roughly go through the entire Encyclopedia once.

He did not need to memorize all the knowledge in the book. He only needed a general grasp of its contents, to know roughly where each kind of information was located, so he could quickly find it whenever he needed it.

His Innate Soul Power was only level one. Cultivating to level ten would not be easy, and he still had plenty of time to prepare for his first evolution.

Elsewhere.

Chen Yumo's appearance had not changed Tang San's path. Tang Hao's classic scene of changing his expression faster than flipping a page still took place.

Tang San: My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass.

Tang Hao: Oh.

Tang San: I also have a hammer Martial Soul.

Tang Hao: My good son!

Chen Yumo was busy reading and did not dare go watch the excitement. Otherwise, if he had witnessed that legendary scene, he probably would have laughed out loud right in front of Tang Hao.

Who could hold that in?

Having successfully escaped the state of being unloved by both mother and father, Tang San finally felt fatherly love. During the three months before heading to Nuoding Academy, Chen Yumo read books while Tang San studied the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer under Tang Hao's guidance.

Both of them had their own matters to keep them busy.

Just like that, three months quickly passed. Early one morning, Chen Yumo and Tang San gathered once more at Old Jack's house.

"Are you both ready?" Old Jack asked as he looked at Chen Yumo and Tang San. After seeing them both nod, the three set out together on the road to Nuoding Academy.