Tang San and Tang Hao

The so-called Agility is a technique that uses Soul Power to strengthen the legs, significantly increasing their endurance, explosive power, and running speed.

Over the past month, Ye Chen conducted tests and comparisons, concluding that after manifesting his Body Martial Soul, his physical strength improved, allowing him to run a hundred meters in about nine seconds.

When using Agility, however, he could cover the same distance in just four seconds.

Although it lacks the ability to create multiple illusory afterimages like Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, the speed generated by Agility is not much inferior.

From the descriptions in the original work, it is known that Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track is driven by Mysterious Heaven Skill internal energy, which is essentially Soul Power. Agility is likewise driven by Soul Power.

Therefore, whether it is Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track or Agility, their potency is directly proportional to one's Soul Power Level.

If the Soul Power Levels were identical, the speed of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track would likely be slightly faster than Agility.

Regrettably, Tang San's current Soul Power Level is at most twelve, while Ye Chen's is fifteen.

Because of this three-level gap, the speed Ye Chen generates when using Agility is far faster than Tang San's Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.

Consequently, just as Tang San bypassed Torchic and prepared to attack Ye Chen, Ye Chen had already arrived before him by relying on Agility.

Tang San clearly did not expect Ye Chen's movement speed to become so fast so suddenly. In his panic, he tried to retreat using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but Ye Chen grabbed his shoulder, rendering him unable to move.

"You lost!" With that, Ye Chen pressed his left index finger against Tang San's chest.

Just as Tang San realized what was happening, Ye Chen clenched his fist, channeled his Inch Punch, and unleashed a heavy blow that instantly sent Tang San flying ten meters away.

This was precisely the Mega Punch, executed by reinforcing his arm strength with Soul Power.

Of course, "Mega" is merely an exaggerated adjective specifically denoting the ferocity of the force, rather than literally delivering a million tons of power in a single strike.

However, having taken the punch while completely unguarded, Tang San truly felt as if a million-ton object had slammed into his chest. As he was sent flying, the shock of the force left him nearly unconscious.

Fortunately, protected by his Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang San managed to endure the blow. He stood up, clutching his chest, and was about to launch a Blue Silver Vine Bind, but was preempted by Torchic behind him, which delivered a fierce flying kick to his back.

"Ahhh--"

Accompanied by a scream, Tang San was kicked forward, rolling several times before collapsing unconscious at Ye Chen's feet. And so, this sparring match came to an end.

Tang San never would have imagined that he would be knocked out before he could even use his Hammer Martial Soul or hidden weapon techniques to launch a sneak attack.

This clearly showed that the gap in their strength was growing ever wider.

Looking at Tang San lying at his feet, Ye Chen noticed his own Soul Power had increased. This was due to the combat experience feedback received after Torchic defeated Tang San, raising his Soul Power from level fifteen to sixteen.

In truth, if he had channeled all his Soul Power into that Mega Punch earlier, he could have knocked Tang San out with a single strike.

The reason he didn't was for fear of accidentally causing Tang San severe injury and inviting retaliation from Tang Hao.

Furthermore, only by letting Torchic personally defeat Tang San could he receive the combat experience feedback; otherwise, he would have wasted a chance to increase his Soul Power through battle.

What Ye Chen found regrettable was that after reaching level sixteen, Torchic had not evolved.

It seems he must obtain his first Soul Ring to advance; otherwise, Torchic is like a creature holding an "Everstone" that suppresses evolution, making it impossible to evolve even if its Soul Power reached level one hundred.

Just as Ye Chen was lost in thought, the fire-attribute essence within Torchic suddenly became restless. It looked up to the sky and let out a strange "Chamo-Chamo" cry, spitting out countless small flames that shot straight into the sky.

Suddenly, the surrounding air grew hot. Old Jack was startled by the sight of Torchic breathing fire and instinctively took several steps back.

Tang San remained unconscious at Ye Chen's feet, unaware of this scene, while Ye Chen watched with a face full of pleasant surprise.

After his Soul Power rose to level sixteen, although Torchic did not evolve, its aura surged, far exceeding that of an ordinary Martial Soul, and it even comprehended a fire-attribute skill called "Ember."

This skill involves firing small flames at an opponent; while not immensely powerful, it allows for long-range attacks and carries the potential to inflict burns on the target.

Since Torchic is a fire-attribute Martial Soul, now bolstered by the innate skill Ember, it possesses both long-range and melee capabilities. Its strength has advanced by leaps and bounds, likely no longer inferior to a century-old Soul Beast.

Thinking of this, Ye Chen said with some excitement, "Torchic, you did well!"

Hearing this affirmation, Torchic stopped releasing Ember and began to dance happily, letting out "Chamo-Chamo" cries.

"Little Chen, I never expected your Torchic Martial Soul to be so formidable."

Old Jack looked at Ye Chen and Torchic, both excited and somewhat regretful as he said, "Sigh, Grandpa is reluctant to let you go to another village, but since I've already given my word, I cannot go back on it. Let's go. We'll drop Little San back at the smithy first, then head to Pallet Village."

Noon.

Holy Soul Village, the smithy.

Inside the back room.

Tang San sat up abruptly from his bed. He clutched his chest, which was still aching faintly, only to discover a burning pain on his back as well.

"Drink the porridge on the table once you're awake." A gruff voice sounded from outside the room.

Looking toward the door, Tang San realized the speaker was Tang Hao, who was busy smithing at the stove.

"Dad, was I knocked out again?" Tang San finally recalled the sparring match with Ye Chen that morning; he had taken a heavy punch and a kick, after which his memory went blank.

Watching Tang San's bewildered expression, Tang Hao couldn't help but recall the morning's sparring.

He had been observing from the shadows, thinking that after two previous defeats, Tang San would have learned enough of a lesson to win this time, but he hadn't expected a third consecutive loss.

This showed that it wasn't that Tang San was weak, but that this child named Ye Chen far surpassed his peers in strength.

Realizing this, a thoughtful light flickered in Tang Hao's eyes.

This child named Ye Chen not only possessed a Torchic Martial Soul that could self-comprehend skills, but he himself could also self-comprehend techniques. Could these benefits all stem from a benignly mutated External Martial Soul?

Or perhaps, this child is the orphan of some soul master family, and the skills he comprehended on his own are actually secret family techniques?

If this child were merely the orphan of some soul master family, it would be fine, but if he were related to Martial Soul Hall, then he would have no choice but to strike and nip the threat in the bud!

Coming back to his senses, Tang Hao realized that his son, Tang San, had already suffered three consecutive defeats.

It seemed that the next time Tang San went to spar with that Ye Chen, he would have to secretly lend a hand.

Otherwise, suffering defeat after defeat would surely damage Tang San's confidence, leading him to doubt his cultivation of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

Thinking of this, a trace of sorrow appeared in Tang Hao's eyes; every time something related to Blue Silver Grass was mentioned, his emotions would always be tinged with a hint of loneliness and desolation.

"Dad, you said that in the future, when cultivating the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, I must never expose the Hammer Martial Soul in front of others, let alone attach soul rings to it. But judging from my three exchanges with Ye Chen, the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul doesn't seem to have any potential for cultivation. If..."

Before Tang San could finish his sentence, Tang Hao's gaze turned sharp. "The Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is not as simple as you think! Little San, if you do not listen to me, then stay in the village and be a blacksmith for the rest of your life. Don't even think about becoming a soul master. Anyway, you said yourself that being a blacksmith is quite good, didn't you?"