"That's based on statistics from extensive records-"
"Could a Tool Martial Soul master with rank-one Soul Power beat a Beast Martial Soul master with rank-ten Soul Power?"
Chen Mo countered, "In a fight, you have to consider the person, the Soul Rings, and how they counter each other."
"And you settled the fate of both schools with a single sentence?"
"Then let me ask you: between a plant-type Tool Martial Soul and a Beast Martial Soul, which is stronger? How do you decide?"
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth but could not say a word.
"Point eight."
Chen Mo raised his fifth finger, his voice growing a little heavier:
"You said there are no Trash Martial Souls in this world, only trash Soul Masters."
"Yes! That's my central creed!" Yu Xiaogang said urgently.
"Then let me ask you, Grandmaster!"
Chen Mo stood up, walked over to Yu Xiaogang, and looked down at him:
"Aren't you a Soul Grandmaster who's been stuck at rank twenty-nine for over a decade?"
"By your own words, aren't you admitting you're a trash Soul Master?"
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
He felt as though the towering edifice of theory he had built over the past twenty years was nothing but paper before this six-year-old boy.
One point, two points, three points...
In one go, Chen Mo picked apart every flaw he could find in the Ten Core Competencies.
Every point struck a vital spot. Every point left Yu Xiaogang speechless.
Tang San listened from the side, dumbstruck.
He had never imagined his teacher's theories could have so many holes!
Battered beyond recognition by Chen Mo's barrage of questions, Yu Xiaogang slumped in his chair, his eyes vacant, as though everything he believed in had crumbled.
Watching Yu Xiaogang question his entire life, Chen Mo laughed inwardly.
That should do it.
He chanted silently, Idiocy Aura, targets: Yu Xiaogang and Tang San. Activate!
An invisible ripple spread from Chen Mo, enveloping Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. When he looked at Chen Mo again, his gaze instantly changed-from shame and anger to fervent worship.
Tang San shook his head too. The look he gave Chen Mo went from "That's my big brother" to "That's my own father."
"Xiao Mo... no, Grandmaster Chen Mo!"
Yu Xiaogang dropped to his knees with a thud, his hands trembling with excitement as he said:
"Everything you just said-is it all true?! Please explain it to me properly!"
Chen Mo inwardly reveled in satisfaction.
Here it comes.
He cleared his throat and began spouting whatever came to mind.
"Gangzi, your theory was headed in the wrong direction from the start."
Chen Mo wore an unfathomable expression as he said:
"What's the most fundamental part of a Soul Master's cultivation? The compatibility between their Martial Soul and Soul Rings!"
"You can't just slap any old Soul Ring onto yourself."
"Let me give you an example. Take the same Blue Silver Grass. If its First Soul Ring comes from a thirty-year poison-type Soul Beast, its development will be completely different from one whose First Soul Ring comes from a hundred-year strength-type Soul Beast."
"Your Ten Core Competencies don't even mention something as basic as compatibility. If that isn't fighting battles on paper, what is?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes shone brighter and brighter as he listened. He hurriedly took out a pen and notebook and began taking notes.
"Also, Soul Skills aren't simply a matter of copying a Soul Beast's abilities."
Chen Mo continued making things up. "You need to develop your Soul Skills into combination skills, variant skills, and chain skills based on your own Martial Soul's characteristics."
"Take Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass. I heard his First Soul Skill is Entanglement. If his Second Soul Skill is Paralysis, combining them gives him an 'Entanglement + Paralysis' control chain."
"If his Third Soul Skill adds Toxin, that makes 'Entanglement + Paralysis + Toxin'-triple control. That's the correct way to cultivate."
Yu Xiaogang wrote until his hand nearly fell off, nodding as he took notes:
"Yes, yes, yes! Compatibility! Combination skills! Why didn't I think of that!"
"And another thing!"
Chen Mo continued, "You said Plant-type Martial Souls can absorb animal-type Soul Rings. That's not entirely correct either."
"Oh? How so?" Yu Xiaogang hurriedly asked.
"A Soul Ring is, in essence, an imprint of a Soul Beast's energy on a Martial Soul."
Chen Mo spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face. "If your Martial Soul is plant-type and you absorb a Soul Ring from an animal-type Soul Beast, their energy attributes clash. In a mild case, your Soul Power goes into disorder; in a severe case, your Martial Soul is damaged."
"Then why can some people absorb them?" Yu Xiaogang pressed.
"Because their Martial Souls are high-quality and can withstand it."
"Have someone with a Trash Martial Soul try it. Their body will explode, killing them outright."
"So that theory of yours only applies to high-quality Martial Souls, not all Soul Masters."
Understanding dawned on Yu Xiaogang. "So that's it! Why didn't I think of that before!"
Tang San also listened from the side with worship written all over his face.
"Big Brother, you're incredible!"
Tang San said excitedly, "You overturned theories Teacher spent twenty years researching in a single day!"
Chen Mo patted Tang San's shoulder. "Xiao San, remember: cultivation isn't about blindly studying books. You need to apply what you learn flexibly."
"Yes, Big Brother!" Tang San nodded vigorously, stars filling his eyes.
The more Yu Xiaogang listened, the more absorbed he became. Finally, he shot to his feet and bowed deeply to Chen Mo.
"Grandmaster Chen Mo!"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Chen Mo and said excitedly:
"I, Yu Xiaogang, have studied theory my entire life, but only today have I learned what it means to gaze at the sky from the bottom of a well!"
"I... I want to take you as my master! Please accept me as your disciple!"
Tang San: "???"
Teacher? Weren't you just trying to take my brother as your disciple? How did it turn the other way around?!
Chen Mo: "..."
"Teacher, y-you're making me..."
"Xiao San! Don't worry. From now on, we'll keep our relationships separate. You call me Teacher, and I'll call you Martial Uncle."
Good grief, was the Idiocy Aura really this powerful?
It had actually made Yu Xiaogang turn around and ask to become his disciple?
But Chen Mo quickly realized that if Yu Xiaogang kept acting abnormally after the Idiocy Aura was canceled, he might notice something.
Chen Mo hurriedly held Yu Xiaogang up. "Grandmaster, you mustn't! We're exchanging academic ideas here. There's no question of taking a master!"
Yu Xiaogang was so moved that tears streamed down his aged face. "Grandmaster Chen Mo, you've given me a second life! From now on, whatever you say goes!"
Chen Mo patted Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, laughing inwardly.
After leaving the office, Tang San was utterly dazed.
He still could not understand why his teacher, who had been so aggressive about taking his big brother as a disciple just moments ago, had suddenly turned around and wanted to become his brother's disciple instead.
Chen Mo patted Tang San's shoulder. "Xiao San, remember to learn more from your big brother from now on."
Tang San nodded in a daze.
Chen Mo looked up and happened to see Xiao Wu waving to Tang San from nearby.
Tang San's eyes lit up. He immediately forgot all about Chen Mo and eagerly trotted over to Xiao Wu.
Watching Tang San say one thing and do another, Chen Mo could not help shaking his head with a smile.
Last night, he had drunkenly cried and shouted about cutting ties. Now that he was sober, he carried on just as before.
Men. Heh.
[This book never got a trial recommendation slot, but I still want to thank all you big brothers for your recommendation votes!]