Recognition

Lin Yaodong thought for a moment and answered seriously, "I used to want to, but not so much anymore. I don't really want to become a Soul Master this early now. I'll become one when Boss thinks I'm ready."

Lin Yaodong had wanted to become a Soul Master before, but after seeing his father's Soul Skill, he figured becoming one could wait.

So that was all a Soul Grandmaster could do?

Lin Yaodong became even more resolute in his conviction.

He had to keep close to Boss's footsteps.

If Father Lin knew that showing his strength had only made Lin Yaodong more determined, he would probably be even more speechless.

These days, could there really be someone who didn't want to become a Soul Master?

Father Lin's heart was a jumble of feelings. How had a perfectly normal person turned out like this?

What bewitching soup had that Chen kid fed his son?

He had to go to the Chen family and demand an explanation!

Ruining someone's future was an unforgivable offense!

Father Lin cursed, "Hmph! If I can't deal with you, can't I deal with that Chen kid?"

Hearing that his father was going to make trouble for Boss, Lin Yaodong was startled.

If Boss lost his temper, how could his father come out of it unscathed?

Boss might always look refined and courteous, but Lin Yaodong knew very well that he wasn't a good-tempered man.

More importantly, if Boss found out that he had not only failed to settle the matter but had even troubled him with it, he would probably be done for.

Lin Yaodong hurriedly stopped his father and said, "This was my own choice. It has nothing to do with Boss."

Father Lin was so furious he laughed.

Father Lin said, "Heh, nothing to do with him? You don't get to decide that. I do! Stay at home and reflect on your behavior behind closed doors. You're not going anywhere!"

Lin Yaodong looked firmly at his father, his tone growing heavier.

Lin Yaodong said, "I told you, this was my own choice. It has nothing to do with Boss. Please don't go and trouble him and put him in a difficult position, Father."

Father Lin said angrily, "Huh? Put him in a difficult position? Who does he think he is? I'm putting him in a difficult position? And I'm your father! Get out of my way."

Lin Yaodong said nothing and refused to move, standing directly in front of Father Lin.

The two stared at each other for a while.

In the end, Father Lin took a deep breath and went around Lin Yaodong.

As soon as he did, Lin Yaodong turned and grabbed his shoulder.

Father Lin said, "Let go, or don't blame me for getting rough."

Lin Yaodong neither spoke nor loosened his grip.

Because of the Blood Refiner System, Lin Yaodong was already over 1.8 meters tall, a good deal taller than his father.

And so the scene unfolded: one man tried to leave, while the other held him by the shoulder and wouldn't let him go.

What a heartwarming father and son!

The two remained locked in a stalemate.

As time passed, Father Lin grew more and more astonished.

He was already using his Martial Soul and Soul Power, so how was he still unable to break free of this unfilial son's hand?

He had already used all his strength, stopping just short of using the Soul Skill in his Soul Ring, yet his unfilial son's hand was like a boulder, showing no sign of loosening its grip.

While Father Lin was still bewildered, Lin Yaodong finally spoke.

At the same time, a terrifying presence erupted from Lin Yaodong, pressing down on Father Lin's chest like a massive rock.

Lin Yaodong said, "Please don't put Boss in a difficult position. Don't go. Father, I can listen to you about anything else, but on this matter, please trust my choice."

Father Lin was utterly shocked. He turned and looked at his son in disbelief.

Father Lin suddenly realized that his own son seemed so unfamiliar.

That presence was stronger than his own.

Could it be that his son was stronger than him?

Father Lin instinctively wanted to reject the thought, but the more he tried not to think along those lines, the more convinced he became.

Just how had his son done it? Hadn't he yet to become a Soul Master?

Or had he already become one?

No, he didn't have a Soul Ring yet. How could he be a Soul Master?

Could it be that the Chen kid had taught him all this?

If that were true, everything seemed to make sense.

But what puzzled Father Lin was how he had done it.

Astonished and puzzled, Father Lin asked, "Your strength... did that Chen kid, Chen Mo, teach you all of this?"

Lin Yaodong said nothing.

Boss Chen Mo had said that if he dared to tell anyone about the Seven Forms of the Martial God, someone would die!

Faced with Lin Yaodong's silence, Father Lin already had an implausible answer in his heart. He could only let out a long sigh.

"Sigh!"

Then Father Lin said, with a touch of emotion and anger, "I'm old, and your wings have grown strong. I can't control you anymore. From today on, make your own decisions about everything. You don't need to come back."

In the end, Lin Yaodong didn't even know how he had gotten back. He only said one thing to Chen Mo: "Boss, I'll always be your little brother."

Then he went back to his bed and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

That time, for once, Chen Mo left him alone.

Come to think of it, more than a year had passed since then.

It had also been more than a year since Lin Yaodong had fallen out with his family.

Whether Lin Yaodong was truly foolish or just pretending, he really hadn't gone home again.

During that year, Lin Yaodong had maintained the routine Chen Mo had arranged for him. Chen Mo had also taught him a visualization method.

Visualization couldn't increase Soul Power, but it could improve spiritual power. Lin Yaodong had no spiritual roots, so Chen Mo couldn't teach him an Immortal Cultivator's cultivation method.

Absorbing a Soul Ring over ten thousand years old would cause Soul Shock, and Chen Mo didn't want to teach him cultivation methods from high-martial worlds so soon.

Besides, when it came to spiritual power, a cultivation method wouldn't necessarily improve it more than visualization.

Immortal cultivation depended on a thing called fate.

A year ago, Chen Mo had asked him to make that decision to see whether they were bound by fate.

If he had chosen to become a Soul Master, then his fated connection with Chen Mo would have ended.

For the sake of their years together, Chen Mo would have personally picked a good Soul Ring for him, one at least a thousand years old.

With Soul Rings under ten thousand years old, there would be no problem as long as his body could withstand them.

Although Chen Mo hadn't put his heart and soul into training Lin Yaodong, treating him as merely a casually placed piece, it was enough to benefit him for life.

His physical strength was probably only several times that of his peers, but his body's recovery ability and vitality were at least dozens of times greater.

At the very least, Lin Yaodong would have no trouble with most Soul Rings under three thousand years old.

Fortunately, he had made the right choice.

Even so, Chen Mo hadn't immediately devoted himself to training him. He had only added a visualization method to his daily routine.

This was a second test for him, of his endurance and temperament.

It would last a year.

During that time, all Lin Yaodong had to do was say he wanted to become a Soul Master, and Chen Mo would take him to obtain a Soul Ring over a thousand years old without another word. But from then on, the two would become strangers.

To Chen Mo's gratification, however, no matter what he told Lin Yaodong to do, Lin Yaodong never complained or asked why.

I'll do whatever Boss says. Boss won't harm me anyway.

Now that the year was up, it was time for Chen Mo to teach him more.

Chen Mo said, "Dongzi, I kept you from becoming a Soul Master. Over the past year, have you ever resented me for it?"

Lin Yaodong answered respectfully, "No! I believe you wouldn't harm me, Boss. You must have your reasons for doing this. I believe in you."

Chen Mo changed the subject.

Chen Mo said, "We've graduated already. Six years have passed in the blink of an eye. Do you have any plans?"

Lin Yaodong replied calmly, "I'll follow you, Boss. Wherever you go, I'll go."

Chen Mo smiled playfully. "Oh? Is that so? I plan to travel across the entire Douluo Continent. Are you planning to come with me too?"

Lin Yaodong gave the same answer. "Wherever you go, Boss, I'll go."

Chen Mo said solemnly, "Aren't you afraid of the danger? Even high-level Soul Masters would face considerable danger, let alone two 'ordinary people' like us who aren't even Soul Masters."

Even now, Chen Mo didn't forget to lead Lin Yaodong on.

Lin Yaodong said, "I'm not afraid. As long as I'm with you, Boss, I'm not afraid of anything."

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes and looked straight into Lin Yaodong's, using a certain degree of Genjutsu on him.

Chen Mo whispered, "Are you really not afraid? Everything you just said was a lie, wasn't it? You actually hate me deep down, don't you? You've always wanted to become a Soul Master, but you never dared defy me because you were afraid of my tyranny. You've been wishing I would die for a long time now, haven't you?"

Lin Yaodong's eyes were somewhat vacant, and his voice was mechanical as he said, "No. Boss is strict with me, but he wouldn't really harm me. Boss naturally has his reasons for doing this. I believe things will only get better if I follow him."

Chen Mo wasn't surprised by Lin Yaodong's answer. After all, he had lost count of how many times he had used Genjutsu or hypnosis on him over the past year, and the answers had all been much the same.

After all, cultivation methods were not to be passed on lightly.

Until Lin Yaodong truly earned Chen Mo's recognition, Chen Mo would not impart any true cultivation methods to him.

Even the Blood Refiner System had to be used in conjunction with medicinal baths. Forcing oneself to practice the Seven Forms of the Martial God without them was courting death!

"It seems you really are willing to follow me! You weren't lying."

"You haven't let me down, and I won't let you down either."

Chen Mo murmured to himself.

Then Chen Mo released the Genjutsu.

Lin Yaodong soon came to his senses, his eyes a little dazed and puzzled.

Chen Mo said calmly, "You zoned out again? The usual rules. You know what to do."

Lin Yaodong couldn't understand why he so often zoned out for no apparent reason when facing Boss, only to be punished for it every time.

Lin Yaodong obediently knelt in his own designated kneeling pit, with a strange picture before him.

He had grown used to practicing visualization while being punished.

Chen Mo said, "Also, starting today, stop calling me Boss. Call me big brother."

Lin Yaodong was a little excited.

Did this mean Boss considered me real family?

Lin Yaodong answered excitedly, "Yes, big brother."