Ning Fengzhi's Test

"What did he do with those 50 Gold Soul Coins?"

Ning Fengzhi stood atop the tower and asked Manager Ning.

"He sent them out. Some went to Holy Soul Village, and some went to Notting City," Manager Ning replied.

Ning Fengzhi listened to his report and nodded in satisfaction.

"Looks like I didn't misjudge him!"

"Your Excellency, Sect Leader Ning, has a discerning eye. That's how you were able to discover such a pure-hearted piece of jade."

Hearing the flattery, Ning Fengzhi laughed twice. Han Tao's actions had clearly pleased him.

"In a little over three years, he went from level 1 Soul Power to level 12, gaining nearly three levels of Soul Power each year."

"Rongrong's Cultivation Speed is only about the same!"

"Then there's his Physique. This growth curve clearly doesn't follow the rules of Blue Silver Grass. You should have felt it."

Ning Fengzhi was referring to the pat on Han Tao's shoulder from the Coachman.

From some microscopic data, Ning Fengzhi had reached a shocking conclusion: this brat Han Tao was probably a genius.

Manager Ning congratulated him from the side. "Looks like our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has welcomed another Tiger General."

"His temperament has been tested enough. Find a suitable opportunity and give him the Heart Separation Control Method!"

Ning Fengzhi spoke indifferently. The Heart Separation Control Method was one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's core techniques. According to common sense, it could not be casually taught to outsiders.

Therefore, this lesson would be Ning Fengzhi's fourth test for Han Tao.

The first test had been the questions at the Mountain Gate.

The second test had been the Coachman's conversation. The third test had been how Han Tao handled the Gold Soul Coins. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's external forces were enormous. After investigating, they naturally learned about Han Tao's conduct at Notting City Soul Master Academy. His attitudes toward his Teacher, the Principal, and his Classmates had all been laid before Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi knew that Han Tao owed Old Jack and Xiao Chenyu quite a bit of money, so he had deliberately raised his Gold Soul Coin stipend to 50 to see how Han Tao would handle it.

If Han Tao had not used the money to repay his debts after receiving it, there would naturally have been no next-stage test.

As for the fourth test, teaching Han Tao the Secret Method of Heart Separation Control was essentially an exchange.

If Han Tao could voluntarily hand over his method of improving his Physique to the Sect, he would pass this test. If not, although the Sect would not kill him to keep it secret, it would also mean that he could never enter the core.

The Sect Master still had many cards in hand.

After Han Tao received his stipend, he thought it over and still sent the Gold Soul Coins away.

Although he did not believe Ning Fengzhi valued him, he would not gamble on the one chance in ten thousand that he was wrong.

When there was an optimal strategy, he would choose it, just as he did when selecting Soul Skills subjectively.

When he was uncertain whether something would be useful, he would simply treat "useful" as the answer.

After completing three cycles of the Meditation Method, Han Tao arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Book Collection Pavilion. In many novels, places like this were where one obtained miraculous cultivation techniques and fortuitous encounters.

Han Tao was no exception. He wanted to see whether he could obtain some marvelous technique as well.

"You can read, right?"

Before he could enter, Han Tao was stopped by the Hall Guardian Elder.

The elder took out a board, casually wrote down a few characters, and asked Han Tao to read them.

"Young man," "mathematics," "ideals."

After a simple test, the elder no longer made things difficult for Han Tao and let him enter.

What met his eyes was a vast array of complicated bookshelves.

Han Tao casually took out a book. On its cover were the words, Affairs of the Empire.

Seeing Han Tao take out that book, the elder's eyes held a hint of disdain. He sneered,

"That book is borrowed the most, so we put it right at the front."

Han Tao muttered, "Good grief," and casually flipped through two pages of Illustrations and Text that made his ears burn and his eyes twitch before hurriedly stuffing it back onto the shelf.

Seeing Han Tao return the book, the elder handed him a Book Inspection Catalog.

Then he returned to his place and began reading a book.

If Han Tao had turned around, he would have discovered that the book the elder was reading was none other than Affairs of the Empire—Refined Edition.

The Book Inspection Catalog contained several sections. The uppermost ones were Martial Souls, levels, and Soul Rings.

Following the catalog's directions, Han Tao came to the shelves in the Martial Soul Area. Soon, he found a book that surprised him.

Martial Soul Level Combat Strength Prediction.

Han Tao quickly flipped to his own Martial Soul. The introduction there was not very detailed.

text
Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass (No Soul Ring)

Soul Power: Level 10; Combat Strength: 2–4

Soul Power: Level 20; Combat Strength: 5–8

"There's no data for level 30. I suppose there's no precedent for breaking through level 30. Let's look at the others."

Han Tao flipped to the page for the Clear Sky Hammer.

text
Martial Soul: Clear Sky Hammer (No Soul Ring)

Soul Power: Level 10; Combat Strength: 9–11

Soul Power: Level 20; Combat Strength: 26–29

Soul Power: Level 30; Combat Strength: 51–55

Soul Power: Level 40; Combat Strength: 84–89

"If my guess is right, the Clear Sky Hammer's growth coefficient is 0.8. Every time its level increases by ten, the growth coefficient doubles."

"According to the rules of attribute growth, when Blue Silver Grass reaches level 50, its Combat Strength panel should reach 26–32, matching a level 20 Clear Sky Hammer."

Han Tao's Physique had already reached 8.1, barely touching the Clear Sky Hammer's floor. However, his Soul Power and Mental Power were still a complete mess, and he had no way to resolve that for now.

"The exercise techniques from my previous life are becoming less and less effective. Looks like I need to think of something."

Push-ups and squats were exercises that involved overcoming gravity. As his Physique improved, the effects produced by such exercises rapidly declined.

"The simplest method is adding weight, but training while wearing weighted equipment doesn't produce comprehensive results."

"If only there were a Gravity Domain. Even without one, a lesser substitute would do. It seems there's a Soul Master in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect whose Soul Skill is related to gravity?"

After returning the book, Han Tao found Manager Ning and explained his purpose.

"Manager Ning, I've encountered some problems in my cultivation. I may need your help."

Manager Ning froze and gave Han Tao a subtle look before responding coldly, "Oh?"

"It's like this. I've noticed that the effects of my training have been getting weaker lately, so I want to find a Soul Master who can increase gravity and use it to improve my Physique."

Hearing Han Tao's words, Manager Ning's brows rose slightly in surprise.

"You have a way to improve your Physique?"

"Anyone knows that training can improve the Physique, but training can easily cause injuries, leading to irreversible effects on the body."

Manager Ning did not interrupt Han Tao.

"Therefore, training, dietary supplements, and healing are complementary. None of the three can be omitted."

Manager Ning waved his hand. Everything Han Tao had said was common knowledge and held no special meaning.

He thought Han Tao was merely humoring him. A child's theories were always childish and laughable, though understandable.

"We already know all that, and we even tested it in detail. We once invited the finest Nine Star Begonia Soul Master. In the end, we discovered that this method would greatly affect growth potential, making it meaningless."

Han Tao's heart jolted. Manager Ning's words startled him for a moment.

But truth became clearer through debate. Regardless of whether his theory was correct, he had to continue explaining it.

"There are many kinds of Healing Type Soul Skills. Different healing Soul Skills produce different effects. But aside from the Healing Effect, there's another more fundamental attribute: healing depth."

"The Soul Power of the Begonia Flower can rapidly repair an organism's skin and muscles, but it cannot reach the microscopic level or involve the Meridians. That's what you mean by potential."

As Han Tao spoke, his voice suddenly stopped.

Because at that moment, Manager Ning instantly seized him by the collar and flew toward the Sect Master's room with his body in tow.