Growth Base

Tang San's enrollment date was one Han Tao avoided, because Master would expose his Twin Martial Souls. If he had not become his disciple, Yu Xiaogang would also have had the Way to court death.

Han Tao once again avoided the time when Tang San went out to hunt for a Soul Ring, because Tang San would immediately get into a fight with Xiao Chenyu after returning.

With only one level of Soul Power, why bother going over there to get himself beaten up?

In Tang San's eyes, a minor character like Han Tao, with only one level of Soul Power, was completely beneath his notice.

He himself was a major figure—a major figure with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. He had also received guidance from the Theoretical Master Yu Xiaogang. How could he possibly look favorably upon a minor character with only one level of Soul Power?

Old Jack or Han Tao, it made no difference. Neither was destined to exist in the same world as him.

Let us turn to the other side of the story.

Thanks to his painstaking efforts—or perhaps the advancement of his Meditation Technique—Han Tao finally broke through to the second level of Soul Power half a year after enrolling!!

"I'm level two!"

"I'm level two!"

This behavior of breaking through a single level and wishing he could announce it to the entire world was clownish.

But it was also the best way to make people lower their guard.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San looked at the delighted Han Tao, shook their heads, and let out contemptuous laughs.

Perhaps the two of them still understood some modesty, but the Hundred Thousand Year rabbit beside them had no idea what politeness was and laughed outright.

"I was already level ten right after awakening. You're only level two now, and you actually have something to celebrate?"

As if only realizing it belatedly, Han Tao noticed Xiao Wu laughing at him. He put on a timid expression and took half a step back.

Han Tao looked as though he had been struck hard. He lowered his head in shame and hurriedly quickened his pace to leave.

"Han Tao, it's all right. Low Innate Soul Power doesn't mean anything," Ling Feng consoled him from the side.

"Besides, Master said it too: there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters!"

Han Tao: "..."

His silence was Han Tao's response. He had not been discouraged. Instead, he quietly began recording his observations.

After his Soul Power rose by one level, his Physique and Soul Power had both increased by close to ten percent, though not quite reaching it. This showed that below level ten, increasing one's Soul Power Level caused the Physique to grow by an equal amount.

"Wait!"

Han Tao suddenly turned around and looked at Ling Feng.

"Ling Feng, can you lift this stone?"

Ling Feng froze, then agreed. He walked over and strained mightily to lift the stone.

"What is it?" he asked, turning around in confusion.

"Nothing. You're pretty strong."

Han Tao casually replied.

Ling Feng put the stone down and gave a simpleminded grin, clearly very pleased by Han Tao's approval.

Han Tao, however, stood rooted to the spot. If the Physique growth at every level was equal, then according to his estimates, Ling Feng should not have been able to lift that stone.

"What caused the difference in physical qualities?"

"There must be something fishy going on!"

After a long while, Han Tao slapped his forehead.

"Martial Souls!"

"As everyone knows, Soul Masters with Weapon Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls have significantly stronger physiques than those with Support Martial Souls."

"The quality of a Martial Soul also affects the benefits gained at each level."

"I don't know whether this benefit gained at each level has been defined in the Soul Master World. I'll set that aside for now and call it the Growth Base."

After defining the increase gained at each level, Han Tao gradually understood why Ling Feng had been able to lift that stone: the Growth Base of his Martial Soul was significantly higher than that of Blue Silver Grass.

At the same time, Han Tao began probing indirectly into the Growth Bases of different Martial Souls.

But soon, he discovered an objective fact that was despairing—even terrifying.

Blue Silver Grass had a Growth Base of 0.1, while Boss Xiao's Martial Soul was a wolf, with a Growth Base of 0.5.

And that was only an ordinary Martial Soul. Han Tao did not even dare imagine how terrifying the Growth Bases of those Top Martial Souls, or even God-level Martial Souls, might be.

"Looking at it this way, Blue Silver Grass really is useless!!"

The gap between them was like a natural chasm stretching across Han Tao's path. After completing his theoretical analysis, he was left with even deeper despair.

Blue Silver Grass as a Martial Soul and one level of Innate Soul Power did not merely mean that leveling up would be extremely difficult. It also meant that even after leveling up, it would possess no strength whatsoever.

Alas! Han Tao let out a deep sigh. This world's demands regarding talent were simply that harsh.

Tang San's Martial Soul was not Blue Silver Grass. Moreover, he also had a Martial Soul called the Clear Sky Hammer.

Objective facts were often ice-cold, but they were right there. Whether one accepted them or not, one had no choice but to face them.

"Wait, the Growth Base theory seriously conflicts with Yu Xiaogang's Soul Ring Age theory!"

The choice of Soul Ring Age depended on a Soul Master's physical qualities. And because Growth Bases existed, there was an almost insurmountable gap between "useless Martial Souls" and Top Martial Souls.

The Physique data of two people could be completely different, so how could the same Soul Ring Age theory possibly apply to both? Han Tao began pondering the reason.

"Garbage Martial Souls can't reach high levels at all. Their Physique data doesn't differ much in the early stages, which is why the Soul Ring Age theory holds true."

"Low Innate Soul Power means a slow Cultivation Speed. By the time they obtain a Soul Ring, they're older, and their basic Physique is considerably stronger."

"With poor talent, Soul Power Cultivation is slow. To stay alive, they naturally have to exercise."

"This damn well means that Yu Xiaogang's Soul Ring theory only applies to intermediate-level and higher Martial Souls. If low-level and ordinary Martial Souls believe his nonsense, they'll die the moment they absorb a Soul Ring."

"Once everyone's dead, naturally no one can refute his theory."

"Now I want to know what the Growth Base of his damned Luo Sanpao is. Why doesn't he explode himself?"

After recognizing reality, Han Tao grew increasingly silent. He often wandered alone between the library and the dormitory, as though he could no longer see any emotion.

At first, Han Tao's roommates tried to console him, but after seeing several times that it had no effect, they gave up. In their eyes, Han Tao had simply been traumatized by Xiao Wu.

After some time, he would naturally recover.

Four months later, Han Tao clung tightly to Boss Xiao's leg.

"Boss Xiao, I can't lose you!!"

Xiao Chenyu was already in his sixth year. He would graduate at the end of the year and leave Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy.

"Boss, you know my situation. I borrowed my tuition from the village chief..."

Xiao Chenyu stared straight ahead without responding, pretending to be some lofty expert.

But before long, he gave in, because more and more people were gathering around to watch.

Han Tao could throw away his dignity, but as the boss, Xiao Chenyu's face was extremely important—even though he was about to graduate.

Xiao Chenyu asked indifferently, "Tell me, what do you want?"

"Gold Soul Coins, Boss Xiao. Please, lend me twenty Gold Soul Coins!"

"These twenty Gold Soul Coins are proof of our friendship, Boss!"

Xiao Chenyu sighed, handed Han Tao twenty-five Gold Soul Coins, and said loudly,

"How can twenty be enough? Your boss isn't such a stingy person!"

His heart ached, but he still pretended to be magnanimous. Twenty Gold Soul Coins were no small sum. Even he needed to suffer a pang over them.

But since he had to give the money anyway, he might as well be generous. That was the only way to display the style of a boss.

Han Tao accepted the money, looked at Xiao Chenyu's face with utmost solemnity, and thanked him sincerely and emotionally.

"Thank you, Boss Xiao. You'll be my boss for the rest of my life!"

After seeing Boss Xiao off from the academy, Han Tao went to the Principal's office and paid next year's tuition.

That was right. He had no intention of repaying Old Jack's tuition yet. Instead, he planned to study for another year.

If he had the chance to become a Soul Master, the Spirit Hall's subsidy could make up for all his debts. That was Han Tao's current plan.

Over these four months, Han Tao's understanding of the Meditation Technique had deepened considerably. He could now circulate Soul Power through his Meridians continuously for two hours, and this prolonged circulation of Soul Power allowed him to discover an unusual phenomenon.

It was a hope that brought a ray of light into the boundless darkness.