Solitary Bamboo

"Ultimately, it was still relying on external help!"

Han Tao let out a faint sigh, unable to suppress his emotions.

Using external aids like Immortal Herbs and Flora Essence to break through was not exactly wrong.

But the sense of accomplishment it brought was far inferior to the success gained from researching theories and exploring methods himself.

He shook his head, emptied his mind, and began to sense and explore with his Mental Power.

"Flora Essence is a mixture of the Soul Power attributes of high-grade herbs and Advanced Plants."

Han Tao had already reached a conclusion before: neither total Soul Power nor total Mental Power was the restriction on breaking through.

So what was the true constraint? "Soul Power Quality!"

Yes, Soul Power Quality was the core of breaking through the shackles.

But that alone was not enough to satisfy Han Tao.

"What value did the Simulated Training Field provide?"

The Blue Silver Grass's dedicated Simulated Training Field possessed a unique compatibility with his own Soul Power. Because of that, controlling and directing his Soul Power had become much easier.

This was the key to his breaking through the shackles.

"So—"

Inspiration surged through his mind. "The two functions of Innate Soul Power."

"The higher a Soul Master's Innate Soul Power, the higher the quality of the Soul Power they cultivated, and the less likely they were to be restrained by their level!"

"At the same time, Innate Soul Power could strengthen the compatibility between a Soul Master and natural Soul Power."

This part was somewhat complicated.

The essence of Mimicry Cultivation was to make nature actively adapt to a Soul Master's Soul Power, replacing part of Innate Soul Power's function.

"No, Innate Soul Power is far more valuable than that!"

A customized Simulated Training Field could only make natural Soul Power compatible with one's Martial Soul, while Innate Soul Power allowed a Soul Master to adapt to everything. Taking out his Diary, Han Tao wrote down three key conclusions:

Innate Soul Power determined Soul Power Quality.

Innate Soul Power affected the compatibility between a Soul Master and natural Soul Power.

A Simulated Training Field made natural Soul Power compatible with a Soul Master.

After a long while, Han Tao revealed a satisfied smile.

He examined the remaining Flora Essence again. "A small amount of Advanced Medicinal Material."

"I just don't know what kind of Medicinal Material it is."

Han Tao sighed regretfully. Pharmacology was an extremely complex discipline. Studying it required talent and a very, very long time.

It would inevitably become relevant later, but building it from nothing would take time.

As he walked out of the Mimicry Cultivation room, he nearly collided with a girl.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I don't think I've seen you before."

Her Silver White Short Hair fell loosely over her shoulders. Her clean, fair Short Skirt curled slightly at the hem. She was at precisely the age when a flower blossomed.

"Han Tao!"

Han Tao stated his name.

Having just gained some theoretical insight, he was in an excellent mood. Looking at her, he asked, "You weren't waiting outside for quite a while, were you?"

The girl stood there blankly, not even knowing to knock.

But precisely because of that, she had not interrupted his train of thought, so Han Tao had a good impression of her.

"Han Tao, a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"I came here this time to borrow one of your academy's cultivation rooms."

She merely gave a soft "Oh," then passed by Han Tao expressionlessly.

Entering the Mimicry Cultivation room, she acted as if she had claimed her own territory and adjusted the furnishings around her.

Then she turned around and smiled brilliantly. "Ye Lingling!"

Han Tao froze.

Ye Lingling, Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul.

"But damn it, this is a Blue Silver Grass Simulated Training Field!"

Indeed, the Nine Heart Begonia was exceptionally rare. The Heaven Dou Empire did not deserve a dedicated Simulated Training Field for the Nine Heart Begonia.

But there were so many Plant Martial Souls. Why had she chosen the weakest Blue Silver Grass of all things?

"Mm."

Han Tao looked conflicted.

Yet he still rashly stepped inside and asked, "Why did you choose this cultivation room?"

Ye Lingling was incomparably aloof and did not answer Han Tao.

Han Tao awkwardly scratched his head, retreated from the doorway, and even helped her close the door.

"The relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Nine Heart Begonia..."

"Doesn't seem too great!"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was Douluo Continent's number one Support Martial Soul, while the Nine Heart Begonia was Douluo Continent's number one healing Martial Soul. Even if Ye Lingling and Ning Fengzhi bore no personal grudge against each other, they were both representative figures of their Martial Soul categories.

Interests would push Soul Masters into those positions, making them fight over the title of number one.

It was like modern times, where people could argue endlessly over whether lions or tigers were stronger, let alone a dispute over Martial Soul Strength.

"I'm Level 20 now. What Soul Ring should I choose?"

He took out the Spirit Beast Encyclopedia and began selecting among plant-type Soul Beasts.

Blue Silver Grass was incredibly weak. Its absorption ability toward animal-type Soul Beasts was limited, and so was its carrying capacity.

"Entanglement, I don't need that."

"Toughness could be somewhat useful, but it doesn't mean much."

"Flexibility, now that is somewhat interesting, though it isn't a core need."

Ning Tian would probably like this very much.

The moment he saw the introduction to that Soul Skill, that thought arose involuntarily.

"Strange." He thought of a possibility.

Han Tao opened the Martial Soul Level Combat Strength Prediction. It recorded comparative combat strength data for Soul Masters of various Martial Souls at different levels.

Ning Fengzhi had a habit: whenever he believed the data was incorrect, he would add special markings to the book.

These markings served as records for later verification of the data's accuracy, a method of ensuring rigor while researching theory.

A few days ago, Han Tao had discovered that the combat strength data for the Swan Martial Soul had been revised, and data for the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul had been added. From that, he had inferred the key information that Ning Fengzhi had discovered Xue Qinghe's true identity.

However, that was not the only revision in this book.

The combat strength records for weak plant-type Martial Souls had also been modified many times.

"Why?"

"What caused Ning Fengzhi's data to be wrong?"

This phenomenon was widespread and shared. It meant this was not some special exception.

Rather, some "special reason" had caused the combat strength of certain plant-type Martial Souls to rise.

Why did Han Tao place such particular importance on this?

"Because my Martial Soul is a Plant System Martial Soul!"

Since it involved his own Martial Soul, he naturally had to be sensitive to the data! The combat strength prediction for a Level 20 Blue Silver Grass had been 5–12 before correction, but after correction, it was 5–8.

Thus, Han Tao desperately wanted to understand where those extra four points of combat strength came from and whether there was a way to obtain that boost.

"No choice. I'm poor!"

Every bit of data was something Han Tao desperately needed.

As though clutching at a lifeline, he began exploring the phenomena already before him.

Blue Silver Grass, vines, begonia flowers, Sunflowers, Three Leaf Clovers—for three whole months, he traveled through various towns and visited different Martial Souls.

Plant Martial Souls came in countless strange forms, while theoretical experience was vast and complex. When thoughts collided through exchange, sparks of inspiration burst forth.

An old man told Han Tao, "I casually picked up a Solitary Bamboo by the roadside for my first Soul Ring. Villagers helped me hunt a wolf for my second Soul Ring."

"My grandpa told me that my first Soul Ring had to be Solitary Bamboo. I don't know why either, haha."

The boy in his early teens said this with a smile.

Han Tao's expression turned solemn. "They..."

"What value did this Solitary Bamboo that they kept mentioning actually hold?"

Recording data, summarizing phenomena, and thinking meticulously, he reached a conclusion.

Ten Year Solitary Bamboo Soul Rings, Hundred Year Solitary Bamboo Soul Rings, Soul Masters' Level 10 data, Level 20 data, Level 30 data. Han Tao stroked his chin as he examined the investigation report in his hand. "Hundred Year Solitary Bamboo Soul Rings show no change in Growth Base."

"Ten years, twenty years... seventy-year Solitary Bamboo Soul Rings show no change in Growth Base."

The paper stated the answer plainly:

"Eighty- to 99-year Solitary Bamboo: Soul Masters gained 0.2 Additional Growth Base."

Growth Base was the increase in Physique, Soul Power, and Mental Power that a Soul Master gained upon breaking through.

A Growth Base of 0.2 was the difference between a Top Martial Soul and a God-level Martial Soul.

Han Tao suddenly thought, What if I obtained a Solitary Bamboo Soul Ring myself?

The prospect was simply too enticing. This was 0.2 Growth Base, raising Han Tao's growth values by 200%!

He would become absurdly powerful later on, and in the early stages, he would be insanely strong too! "What was the cost?"

"Sacrificing one Soul Ring?"

Han Tao laughed. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect protecting him, early-stage combat strength did not matter to him.

But ordinary wandering Soul Masters absolutely could not make such a choice. Han Tao gazed into the distance and suddenly remembered that there happened to be a Solitary Bamboo Soul Beast nearly a hundred years old at the entrance to Holy Soul Village.

"Fortune."

In a realm he had never understood, Fortune had likewise given Tang San a gift.

Thanks to Master's professional guidance, Tang San had missed out on this opportunity. However, before making his decision, Han Tao still needed to consider everything comprehensively.

"Blue Silver Grass, or Solitary Bamboo?"

Blue Silver Grass was the orthodox path of source evolution.

Blue Silver Grass, Blue Silver King, Blue Silver Emperor—the orthodox evolution of its bloodline.

But expecting a single Hundred Year Blue Silver Grass to transform his Blue Silver Grass was a little too naive. If his Martial Soul could not transform, then he still would not be able to break through Level 29.

After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, Han Tao finally made up his mind. "The next one will be Blue Silver Grass!"

"A Thousand Year Blue Silver Grass is equivalent to ten Hundred Year Blue Silver Grasses, but Solitary Bamboo cannot be obtained repeatedly."