More importantly, because of the firm belief that this was "Cold Iron Essence."
Under this psychological influence, Little Iron Hammer actually felt a cool current welling up inside.
"Wow! There really is an energy reaction! I feel like my handle's gotten harder! My head's heavier!"
"That jerk... no, that master actually found me something good!"
Little Iron Hammer was deeply moved.
So he hadn't been treating the hammer as a mere tool!
He really was trying to find ways to make the hammer stronger!
It had been so wrong to misunderstand him before, and even curse him in the Sea of Consciousness!
Early the next morning.
Tang Tian was jolted awake by a rapid barrage of system notifications.
[Ding! Your Tool Martial Soul, Little Iron Hammer, has been detected devouring ordinary pig iron and is in an extremely delighted mood!] [Little Iron Hammer feels wonderful, believes the host has provided meticulous care, and feels guilt and gratitude.] [Calculating Affection Level...] [Affection Level +5!] [Affection Level +5!] [Affection Level +10!] [Congratulations, host! Little Iron Hammer's Affection Level has increased by 20 points! Current Affection Level: 4/100 (ordinary).] [A single increase of more than 20 points in Affection Level has triggered a critical reward!] [Congratulations, host, on obtaining a special bond effect-Tool Martial Soul Resonance: the Soul Power compatibility between the host and Little Iron Hammer has greatly increased. Cultivation speed increased by 50%!]
Tang Tian bolted upright in bed.
Looking at the completely empty bedside table, he was utterly dumbfounded.
"Holy shit??"
"Making up stories actually worked? That was just a piece of scrap iron I bought for two lousy copper coins!"
Tang Tian sensed within his Sea of Consciousness.
There was the little hammer, glowing faintly and acting cute toward him.
Not only had its Affection Level gone from negative to positive, it had even handed him a 50% cultivation speed boost?!
This dumb hammer... isn't it way too easy to fool?
But feeling the Soul Power in his body, several times more active than usual, Tang Tian immediately smiled.
Xiao Wu's 30% + Little Iron Hammer's 50% = an 80% cultivation speed boost!
And there's Little Blue's separate 40% multiplier!
If I combine that with a Mimicry Cultivation Environment, won't my speed take flight?
Over the next few days.
Two busy figures could often be seen in the woods on the hill behind Nuoding Academy.
Tang Tian took Tang San along.
They "invited" back practically every wild patch of Blue Silver Grass within several li of the academy.
He had spoken to Director Su beforehand, and after receiving permission.
Under Tang Tian's planning, the originally sparse woods in the rear courtyard.
Were soon covered in densely packed Blue Silver Grass.
It formed a lush blue ocean.
"Brother, why are we transplanting so much Blue Silver Grass?"
Tang San wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked in puzzlement.
Tang Tian gave a mysterious smile and pointed at the sea of grass.
"San, sit in there and try cultivating. This is called a Mimicry Cultivation Environment."
"When you're in an environment highly compatible with your Martial Soul's attributes, you get twice the results for half the effort."
Though Tang San was skeptical, he still followed the instructions and sat cross-legged in the middle of the grass.
The moment he entered meditation, his expression changed.
Countless faint auras of life around him seemed to cheer.
They formed a wondrous resonance with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul inside him.
His previously sluggish Soul Power circulation now flowed as smoothly as if it had been oiled!
After completing one full cycle.
Tang San opened his eyes, his face full of astonishment.
"Brother! This is incredible! My cultivation speed actually increased by thirty percent!"
This speed.
For him, who had yet to absorb a Soul Ring.
Was practically like riding a rocket!
Yet faced with Tang San's excitement.
Tang Tian frowned slightly.
With the look of someone exasperated that iron would not turn to steel, he sighed.
"Ah, only thirty percent..."
"I thought this-this high-density mimicry environment would at least double it."
"Looks like ordinary Blue Silver Grass is still too poor in quality. Barely passable."
He felt that Tang San's Mimicry Cultivation efficiency probably fell short of his own.
By at least several times!
Tang San: "..."
Looking at his elder brother's regretful expression, Tang San's mouth twitched.
He thinks a thirty-percent increase is too little?
If Yu Xiaogang found out about this, he'd probably eat his theory books on the spot!
Brother, you really deserve a beating for saying that...
Is this the legendary humblebragging?
Just then, a pink figure came bouncing into the grass as well.
"Hey, what are you two hiding here for? I want to play too!"
Xiao Wu curiously moved up beside Tang Tian.
She copied them and sat cross-legged.
The moment she sat down, she too exclaimed.
"Huh? How strange. Why does it feel like my Soul Power is flowing faster?"
She sensed it briefly, then looked at Tang Tian in surprise.
"It's actually about thirty percent faster!"
"Is this the effect of that thing you mentioned... Blue Silver Grass mimicry?"
"It even works for my Martial Soul?"
Tang Tian glanced at Xiao Wu sitting right beside him and laughed inwardly.
Silly rabbit, that's not the Blue Silver Grass's doing. That's our bond buff taking effect.
But he nodded with a perfectly straight face and spun his tale.
"Yes, that makes perfect sense."
"Think about it. Blue Silver Grass is grass, and rabbits eat grass."
"You're happy sitting in a pile of food, relaxed in body and mind, so naturally you cultivate faster."
"This is called affinity with all things."
Xiao Wu blinked, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
But it also seemed to make a lot of sense.
So she happily squeezed into a spot beside Tang Tian and sat down to cultivate.
Thus, with this strange combination's support, the three of them entered the fast lane of cultivation.
Under the combined effects of the mimicry environment and the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang San's Soul Power not only became more condensed.
More importantly.
Under Tang Tian's devilish physical training.
His body underwent a qualitative transformation.
Half a month later.
Tang San clenched his fists, feeling explosive strength filling his entire body.
Though he still looked thin.
His muscle density and bone strength.
Had more than doubled compared with half a month earlier!
"Brother, I think my body has already reached its limit."
"Training more won't bring much improvement. I have to absorb a Soul Ring to break through the bottleneck."
Tang San stood up from the Blue Silver Grass and looked at Tang Tian with bright, intent eyes.
By now, the Blue Silver Grass in the rear courtyard had grown knee-high, flourishing to a somewhat excessive degree.
Tang Tian squeezed Tang San's shoulder.
Feeling the firm muscles push back, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. You're still a little thin, but this physique..."
Tang Tian made an estimate inwardly.
In the original story, Tang San had absorbed a Mandala Snake over four hundred years old.
That had just reached the limit of what his body could withstand.
But the current Tang San's physique was more than twice as strong as it had been at the same point in the original story!
"With this build, absorbing a six-hundred- to eight-hundred-year Soul Ring will definitely be no problem!"
Breaking Yu Xiaogang's so-called 423-year limit would be as easy as turning over his hand.
"Since you're ready, let's head out Soul Hunting."
Tang Tian made the decision.
Tang San said, "Are we going to find that Yu Xiaogang? He does know a lot about Soul Beasts..."
"But we're not going to that Yu Xiaogang."
Tang San froze for a moment. "Then who are we asking to help us hunt Soul Beasts? It's too dangerous with just us."
In his view, even swallowing his grievances and going to Yu Xiaogang was better than letting his elder brother fall into danger alongside him.
After all, he was the one who needed to absorb a Soul Ring.
"Don't worry. Your brother has a plan."
Tang Tian smiled confidently, pulled Tang San along to straighten up their clothes, and headed straight for the Academic Affairs Office.
There, they found Director Su, who had handled their enrollment back then.
Before you continue