"Xiao San? Did you... run into some good fortune?"
Tang San panicked inwardly, nearly failing to rein in the smile on his face.
"N-no... nothing, Teacher."
"Nothing?"
Yu Xiaogang eyed Tang San suspiciously, circling him twice as he said:
"Your face is practically blooming with smiles. Tell me, did you wheedle something out of your big brother?"
Under his stare, Tang San felt guilty, his eyes darting about evasively.
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. He clasped his hands behind his back and put on the air of a master:
"Xiao San, do you no longer regard me as your master?"
Tang San agonized for "ages," caught between the divine artifact his big brother had told him to keep secret and his master's questioning.
Finally, Tang San gritted his teeth and told him everything he could.
"Teacher... my big brother... he's the God of Nature's successor."
Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted, and he nearly jumped up. "The God of Nature?!"
"Yes. He received the God of Nature's inheritance at rank 30. He has a divine artifact called the 'Seed of the World Tree.' Wearing it greatly increases his cultivation speed."
Tang San lowered his voice. "But that divine artifact has already acknowledged its master. If he dies, it'll fly back to the god. No one can steal it."
When Yu Xiaogang heard "no one can steal it," he completely deflated.
He had been thinking that if it could be stolen, he would swallow his pride and return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to beg his father, but now...
Yu Xiaogang slumped into a chair, his eyes vacant, as though his soul had been sucked out.
A divine artifact... a divine artifact that increased cultivation speed...
And he couldn't use it! He had been stuck at rank 29 for twenty years!
If he had that divine artifact... he would have broken through long ago!
The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the more he fell apart. He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood, and even his hands were shaking.
Seeing his teacher like that, Tang San hurriedly added:
"But, Teacher! My brother said that once he reaches rank 40, the divine artifact can produce a clone every ten ranks to help others cultivate! He said he'll give me that clone tomorrow!"
Yu Xiaogang had already collapsed into his chair.
At those words, he shot upright.
Light rekindled in his eyes, like a starving man catching sight of a Manchu-Han imperial feast.
One clone at rank 40...
Then, since he was rank 46 now, he already had one clone?
The one at rank 40 went to Xiao San...
Then what about the one at rank 50?
What about the one at rank 60?
Yu Xiaogang's heart beat faster and faster, pounding like a drum. He licked his lips and began to scheme.
No, he had to find a way to curry favor with that Chen Mo.
As long as he kept Chen Mo happy, then that rank-50 clone... couldn't it go to him?
He had been stuck at rank 29 for twenty years!
With just one divine artifact clone helping him cultivate, he might be able to break through to rank 30!
The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the more excited he became. He paced around the room, rubbing his hands together, his grin nearly stretching to his ears.
Tang San watched from the side, utterly bewildered.
What was wrong with Teacher?
In a rented courtyard in Nuoding City.
Chen Mo put away his diary and yawned.
The Blue Silver Emperor extended a branch from the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse and draped a blanket over him.
Chen Mo smiled and patted the Blue Silver Grass's leaves.
Today's haul had been pretty good.
He had fooled Tang San and, along the way, gotten that old bastard Yu Xiaogang coveting his "divine artifact clones."
From now on, he could fool them however he pleased.
He rolled over, ready to sleep.
Tomorrow, he still had to "hand out a divine artifact" to Tang San.
Although that so-called divine artifact clone was actually his Dandelion External Soul Bone.
But Tang San didn't know that.
"Hehe, Xiao San, just focus on cultivating! The more you cultivate, the more your big brother profits when I take it back! It's a win-win."
Early the next morning, before Chen Mo had even gotten out of bed, Tang San came running over, unable to wait any longer.
Tang San stood at the courtyard gate in a brand-new set of short, practical clothes, his hair neatly combed and irrepressible excitement on his face.
"Big Brother! I'm here!" Tang San pushed the gate open and entered, his face blooming with smiles.
Chen Mo laughed inwardly at the sight of him, but kept his tone perfectly calm.
"You're here? Have a seat."
There was no way Tang San could sit still. He wandered around the courtyard, looking at Chen Mo with sparkling eyes.
Only after leisurely finishing his tea did Chen Mo put down his cup and extend a hand.
"Come here."
Tang San hurried over.
Chen Mo rested his hand on Tang San's shoulder and secretly activated the Dandelion Clone, splitting off a tiny speck of golden light that slipped soundlessly into Tang San's body.
Tang San froze for a moment as he felt a warm current flow from his shoulder throughout his body, so comfortable that he nearly moaned.
"How does it feel?" Chen Mo asked.
"Comfortable!"
Tang San's eyes lit up. "It's warm, like soaking in a hot spring!"
"Then it's working. This is the divine artifact clone."
With an inscrutable expression, Chen Mo said:
"It will live as a parasite inside you, helping you absorb the free-floating Soul Power between heaven and earth and increasing your cultivation speed."
"From now on, cultivating will feel much easier than before, and you'll progress much faster."
Tang San nearly jumped with excitement.
"Really?!"
"Of course."
Chen Mo patted Tang San's shoulder and said:
"But remember, you can't tell anyone about this. If bad people learn about the God of Nature's inheritance, there'll be trouble."
At first, Tang San felt a little guilty, but he quickly nodded emphatically:
"Don't worry, Big Brother! I understand!! I absolutely won't tell anyone!"
Hearing Tang San say that, Chen Mo nodded in satisfaction.
There. The Dandelion Clone had officially settled in.
From now on, for every bit Tang San cultivated, he would receive half.
When he took it back later, principal and interest would all be his.
Tang San stayed in the courtyard a little longer, then, eager to go back and test the cultivation effect, said goodbye to Chen Mo and ran off.
Chen Mo watched his retreating figure, smiled, then turned and headed toward the academy.
Today, it was time to find Xiao Wu.
When he reached the academy's training grounds, he saw Xiao Wu sitting alone on a large rock, hugging her knees, lost in unknown thoughts.
Tang San wasn't there.
Chen Mo walked over and sat down beside her.
"Why are you sitting here alone?"
Xiao Wu startled. Looking up and seeing Chen Mo, she instinctively shrank back.
But remembering that the system had said, "The diary's owner won't hurt you," she slowly relaxed again.
"N-no... no reason." Xiao Wu lowered her head, her voice tiny.
Chen Mo laughed inwardly at the sight of her.
It seemed yesterday's diary entry had worked quite well.
Now, Xiao Wu probably looked at Tang San as though he were a raging flood or a savage beast.
"What's wrong? Did you fight with Tang San?" Chen Mo asked, feigning a casual tone.
At the name "Tang San," Xiao Wu's body visibly stiffened.
[Let me say something here about the plans for the Second Soul Skill. Later, I'll change it into vine armor that covers the protagonist's entire body! Then it'll boost his whole-body attributes! If anyone has any cool-looking wood-attribute armor, you can post it so we can use it as a reference!]