A month flew by in the blink of an eye.
During that month, Yu Xiaogang came knocking every few days, determined to uncover the secret behind Xiao Wu's rapid Soul Power growth through fighting.
Xiao Wu told him the truth: all she had to do was keep sparring with people.
But Yu Xiaogang was convinced there had to be some special cultivation method hidden behind it. He stubbornly refused to believe her and pestered Chen Yang and Xiao Wu with endless questions every day.
Eventually, Jerry could take no more. He stepped in and gave Yu Xiaogang such a vicious beating that he no longer dared come around to bother them.
Instead, he sent Tang San to ask.
Chen Yang and Xiao Wu had just returned from shopping and stepped onto the academy path when Tang San blocked their way.
Irritation surged through Chen Yang. Why was Tang San like a dog-skin plaster, impossible to shake off?
"We've told you several times already. Just keep fighting. If you won't believe us, why do you keep blocking our way?"
Tang San wore a solemn expression, his words dripping with lofty righteousness.
"Chen Yang, Xiao Wu, you're being far too selfish. If you gave this cultivation method to my teacher to study, it could help countless Soul Masters improve in the future. Keeping it hidden is simply heartless."
With that grand moral accusation dropped on their heads, he made it sound as though they had committed some terrible crime.
Xiao Wu immediately widened her eyes and snapped back indignantly:
"Why should we?! You can suddenly make your eyes glow and your palms turn white, so why have you never shared those abilities with us? If anyone's selfish, it's you!"
"That's different. My techniques can't be passed on to outsiders."
Fucking brilliant. Just what I'd expect from you, Chen Yang silently scoffed.
That was Tang San, all right. Only he could spout such blatant double standards without batting an eye.
Your own techniques can't be shared, but everyone else's unique abilities should be handed out freely?
Chen Yang rolled his eyes dramatically, took Xiao Wu's hand, and prepared to walk around him and head straight back to the dormitory.
Tang San hurried forward and reached out to block their path.
"Why don't we make a wager?"
Bravo. Now even the classic wager routine has come out.
Chen Yang folded his arms across his chest, waiting to hear what outrageous nonsense Tang San would say next.
"We'll have a sparring match. If I win, you'll tell me your method for cultivating quickly. If I lose, I'll never bother you again."
Chen Yang nearly laughed in anger. Tang San stood to benefit from every part of that wager. Losing would cost him nothing, while winning would get him exactly what he wanted. What a finely calculated little scheme.
"Dumbass."
After cursing him, Chen Yang slapped Tang San's hand aside.
Although Tang San didn't understand the insult, he could tell Chen Yang was cursing him, and his expression immediately darkened.
Does he think my wager isn't enough? What a greedy fellow.
"I'll add two gold coins!"
Tang San felt a sharp pang. That was the spending money his teacher had given him!
It was practically everything he owned, but for his teacher, it was worth it!
Xiao Wu stopped walking and gave Chen Yang a gentle tug.
"Brother, that's two gold coins! We could buy loads of stuff! Besides, hasn't nobody been willing to fight us lately? We might as well beat him up. What do you think?"
Chen Yang cast Tang San a sideways glance. His level was fairly low right now, so fighting him wouldn't yield much experience.
But he had the Mysterious Heaven Skill and cultivated faster than other people. He should make a useful tool for farming experience over the long term.
[Species: Soft-Bone Charm Rabbit / Human??? Types: Normal, Fighting type Level: 19 (5/1141) Talent: High Skills: Waist Bow, Double Kick, Cut, Everlasting Primordial Essence Art (First stage: automatic mana regeneration, reduced Soul Power consumption). Ability: Limber (Highly flexible body, immune to paralysis, can learn certain skills) Personality: So foolish she seems wise, social terrorist.]
Hmm, we've pretty much farmed the entire starter village. Fighting them now only gives single-digit experience, so there's no point anymore.
Xiao Wu had already reached the first stage of the Everlasting Primordial Essence Art. Although she couldn't cultivate automatically the way he could, her Soul Power was still growing quite quickly.
Thanks to sharing half of Xiao Wu's cultivation speed, he had also reached level 19 and could break through at any moment.
After a month of battles, Chen Yang had figured out how experience gains worked.
For the same person: the higher their level, the more experience they gave.
At the same level: the higher the quality of their Martial Soul-and thus their base experience-the more experience they gave.
Experience gained = the opponent's base experience × the opponent's level.
Tang San had an unawakened Blue Silver Emperor and the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, but without a Soul Ring, he was still level 10. Their last fight seemed to have given only 50 experience.
Still, even a mosquito's leg was meat, however small. He might as well have a taste first.
"Fine. Xiao Wu, you're up!"
"Yeah!!!"
Xiao Wu excitedly summoned her Martial Soul, itching to get started.
Seeing that they had accepted the wager, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief.
Last time was just an accident. Now that I'm prepared, I'll definitely win.
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue-"
"Cut!"
Tang San stared in horror at the white slash hurtling toward him.
You have no martial honor!!
Aren't we supposed to announce our Martial Souls and levels before sparring?!
In that instant, his father's figure suddenly appeared before his eyes, along with a somewhat indistinct woman who was beckoning to him.
No! My life is flashing before my eyes!!
Come out! Hammer Martial Soul!! Mysterious Jade Hand!!!
The blade of light from Cut collided with the Clear Sky Hammer.
Crack-
Under Tang San's incredulous gaze, a crack was actually sliced into his immensely heavy hammer Martial Soul, running through nearly half the hammer!
"Pfft-"
With his Martial Soul fractured, Tang San instantly suffered backlash.
Agonizing pain swept through his chest as though a massive boulder had slammed into him. He staggered backward repeatedly, his face rapidly turning deathly pale as strength drained from his body.
Clutching his chest, he gasped for breath, his eyes filled with shock:
"How... how could my hammer Martial Soul crack?"
Xiao Wu gave him no chance to hesitate. She landed a Rabbit-Kicking Eagle squarely on his chest, sending him flying like a dead dog.
Xiao Wu smugly swiped a finger beneath her nose.
"You little scrub. You've got no strength at all."
"Ding! Congratulations, host. By directing your Pokémon to inflict Martial Soul fracture backlash damage on the child of destiny, you have delayed his acquisition of a Soul Ring and plundered a tiny amount of destiny. Reward: Rare Candy ×1"
The system notification rang out in his mind, and Chen Yang's eyes widened.
Holy shit, it's actually Rare Candy!
That miraculous item that instantly raises a Pokémon's level by one!!
If Xiao Wu eats it, we'll both jump straight to level 20, and we can go catch the Titan Giant Ape right away!!
Oh, Tang San, I misunderstood you.
You're not a dog-skin plaster. You're a little god of wealth delivering riches!
Please keep pestering us!!
"Great job, Xiao Wu!"
Chen Yang first rubbed Xiao Wu's head encouragingly, then went over enthusiastically to help Tang San up.
"Oh dear, look at you. How did you end up covered in injuries? Honestly, Xiao Wu went far too hard."
Chen Yang took out some paper and wiped the blood from the corner of Tang San's mouth.
Tang San looked utterly baffled, unable to understand why Chen Yang was suddenly being so nice to him.
Wasn't he barely willing to acknowledge me before?
Could this be the soul-splitting disorder described in the ancient texts from my previous life-dual personalities?
"Cough, cough... thank you... I'm fine. My heart just hurts a little. A couple of days' rest should do it."
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