Chapter 8: Yu Xiaogang?
His original intention of bringing Xiao Wu along had also faded; after all, Xiao Wu was just a six-year-old girl.
"Then I won't disturb you anymore, Brother Mo Bai."
With those words, Tang San prepared to leave.
Suddenly, Mo Bai called out to Tang San and asked, "Tang San, do you really believe that purple pole grass exists?"
Innate Full Spirit Power was already a certainty, but the trust level for the purple pole grass might drop if Tang San couldn't find it. As for a spatial spirit tool, there was no rush; he wasn't lacking one.
Therefore, prioritizing the harvest of the purple pole grass 'leek' was the best course of action.
"Of course." Tang San turned his head in confusion. He had seen the actual item and used its effects; the facts were right before his eyes, so how could it possibly be fake?
[Ding! Tang San has fully believed your lie—the existence of purple pole grass. Trust level: 100%. Manifestation level: 100%. Manifestation successful: one complete purple pole grass!]
"Then go ahead. Good luck."
Tang San gave Mo Bai a strange look, but he didn't take it to heart and left the classroom.
Only after Mo Bai watched Tang San's departing figure disappear did he stand up, preparing to return to the dormitory.
To test the effects of the purple pole grass.
...
The real purple pole grass had purple stems and leaves growing upwards like a blooming flower. However, in place of a flower were two slender leaves, each carrying a drop of medicinal liquid on the left and right.
The two drops corresponded exactly to a pair of eyes.
"So this is how Tang San imagined it."
Mo Bai gently collected the two drops of medicinal liquid. Manifested objects were generally imagined by the deceived person based on rumors; their appearance mostly came from the rumors, with a small portion coming from the person themselves.
And the effects should follow the rumors one hundred percent.
Without hesitation, Mo Bai dripped the two drops of medicinal liquid into his pupils. Instantly, a cool sensation rapidly spread from his eyes throughout his body, as if a barrier had been broken in his mind.
He could clearly perceive every cell cheering. From his perspective, it was as if he could gain insight into everything within his body—the growth of hair, the beating of his heart.
Even the sound of blood flowing.
This sensation continued to spread outward until it gradually dissipated about one centimeter away from his body.
Mo Bai opened his eyes; the pink strange glow in his pupils was even more intense, connecting to form a faint circle within his pupils.
"My Spiritual Power has broken through!"
The moment Mo Bai opened his eyes, he experienced a second of super-body reaction. This so-called super-body reaction is when the body cannot keep up with the consciousness. Even though he intended to raise his hand and stand up, his body remained motionless while his consciousness already told him those actions were complete; the body only followed belatedly.
The effect was better than expected. Mo Bai slowly clenched his fists, gradually adapting to this state, though it would take a little more time to adjust back to his normal condition.
"Tang San didn't imagine this thing as one of those herbs second only to an Immortal Herb, did he?"
Mo Bai's eyes flickered slightly. The rumors he spread weren't nearly this outrageous, which meant Tang San had filled in the blanks himself. Interesting; this kind of thriving 'leek' was exactly what he wanted.
"Shadow One, continue to spread the news. Say that another mercenary group found purple pole grass and I bought it as well for 200 gold coins."
The effect of the purple pole grass was quite good, and since Tang San wouldn't be able to find any in the Spirit Hunting Forest, his trust level would surely decrease after a day. However, as long as Mo Bai continued to provide evidence, he could maintain Tang San's trust at 100%.
After all, Tang San was searching alone, while nominally, Mo Bai had eight major mercenary groups and countless small vendors searching. If Tang San couldn't find it, he could only blame his own bad luck.
Shadow One was about to nod and leave.
Mo Bai spoke up to stop him.
"No rush. Look into my eyes."
Shadow One's calm, emotionless eyes met Mo Bai's as he released a Soul skills. In an instant, Shadow One's eyes turned gray and vacant. Mo Bai clearly felt the Soul Power and Spiritual Power within him being rapidly consumed.
But compared to the last time, when it was broken in less than a blink of an eye, it now lasted for a full second!
The effect had more than tripled!
And this was the result against someone over ten Ranks higher. If used against someone below his own Rank...
A slight smile curled at the corners of Mo Bai's mouth.
"Go."
"Yes!"
With Tang San away, it was time for him to harvest the Yu Xiaogang 'leek' that hadn't been touched for a while. He really needed to give proper thanks for the matter regarding the Innate Full Spirit Power.
After taking some time to adapt.
Mo Bai finally walked out of the dormitory and headed straight in one direction.
...
"There shouldn't be anything for us to talk about, right?"
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale, clearly not having recovered from the onset of the Datura Snake's toxin. Not long ago, Tang San had borrowed his Spirit Hall medallion.
Now Mo Bai had suddenly come to find him. Given this kid's habits, he certainly had no good intentions, just like when the boy had deceived him back then. Thinking of deception...
Yu Xiaogang frowned, faintly feeling a dull pain in his abdomen. That kick from the woman in black years ago had left the deepest impression on him in recent years. She was somewhat like someone he remembered, but it couldn't be.
As expected, with Yu Xiaogang's eyesight, he couldn't detect Mo Bai's changes at all. Mo Bai hid the hint of pink light in his pupils and put on his unchanging smile that he used for everyone.
"What are you saying, Master? After all, you were the first person I met here."
As Mo Bai spoke, his peripheral vision scanned the various books and papers of all sizes in the room. It was clear to the naked eye that Tang San was studying very hard here.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Why bring up those unpleasant past events?" Yu Xiaogang's eyes also scanned the surroundings. After not finding any sign of the woman in black, his tone became even colder.
Mo Bai maintained his smile. There were only two ways he could gain trust points from the Master: one was that he was very wealthy, and the other was that he had a guard whose strength exceeded his own.
As for exactly how strong, Yu Xiaogang probably didn't know. Back then, Yu Xiaogang hadn't even managed to force out Shadow One's Soul Rings before being taken out in one kick.
He didn't know whose image Yu Xiaogang had used to imagine the guard, but the strength was greater than others of the same level.
But the fact that Shadow One could be controlled by him, besides his own growth in strength, already indicated a problem: Shadow One's strength was gradually failing to keep up. That was why he had come to find Yu Xiaogang.
And incidentally, to experiment with the effects of psychological suggestion.
"I heard from Tang San that you were injured, so I came specifically to visit."
"Is there any point in doing this in front of me?" Yu Xiaogang could roughly confirm the guard wasn't around and spoke mercilessly. Even if the other party wanted to retaliate later, this was the academy.
Getting physical wouldn't benefit either of them. His reputation in the academy was already at rock bottom and couldn't get any lower, but the boy in front of him was different—he was a popular figure in the academy.
"Fine." Mo Bai gave a long sigh and said with a look of compromise, "Actually, I came this time to ask the Master about my guard obtaining a Soul Ring."
"Obtaining a Soul Ring? Humph!" Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly. No wonder the guard wasn't here; she had gone to hunt for a Soul Ring. That woman was stronger than him, at least above the Soul Elder level.
Being able to defeat him so quickly certainly wasn't because he was too weak, but because the opponent was of the agility-attack system that countered him, while also possessing considerable Soul Power.
Hunting for a Soul Ring now meant she was very likely a Spirit Ancestor, and at the very least a Soul King. With a Spirit Ancestor as a guard, Mo Bai must come from a small or medium-sized Family.
Their strongest member definitely wouldn't exceed the Soul Saint level. The eye Martial Soul was probably a mutated Spirit; he couldn't guess which Family it came from. It was also possible they didn't exist at all and it was just a bluff.
Yu Xiaogang thought of many things at once, but even if there was a Family, a mere Soul Saint... he had two such friends.
Mo Bai watched the changes in Yu Xiaogang's expression, ending in a look of realization tinged with slight disdain. Smart people were good.
Self-proclaimed smart people were even better. He didn't know what Yu Xiaogang was thinking, but he just needed to make Yu Xiaogang say it.
"For my guard's fifth Soul Ring, Master, do you have any recommendations?"
"Fifth Soul Ring? You mean the fourth Soul Ring." Yu Xiaogang's eyes were indifferent; he was back to speaking such nonsense again.
"Master, you think my guard is a four-ring Spirit Ancestor?" A few colors flashed in Mo Bai's eyes, and his voice sounded mysterious.
"What else could she be?" Yu Xiaogang gave a cold laugh.
Hearing this, Mo Bai slowly broke into a smile. "As expected, I still can't hide it from you, Master."
[Ding! Yu Xiaogang has fully believed your lie—Shadow One is a four-ring Spirit Ancestor. Trust level: 100%. Manifestation level: 20%. Manifestation successful: 1/5th of the Soul Power of a Rank 40 Spirit Ancestor!]
In a shadow within Nuoding City, a dark figure's Soul Power rapidly increased, breaking through two Ranks in succession.
Having achieved his goal, Mo Bai's expression changed, and he said with a beaming smile, "Actually, what I wanted to say was, even my guard has broken through. Master, why are you still standing still like a piece of trash? Are you really a Master?"
"You—!"
Yu Xiaogang slammed the table and stood up, glaring. He hadn't thought a person could change faces so quickly, yet it seemed reasonable for the person in front of him.
"Isn't it good to just be trash? Why must you mislead others?" Mo Bai's smile remained unchanged as a Soul Ring rose beneath his feet. "I heard you've been badmouthing me behind my back?"
Yu Xiaogang's face stiffened, and he turned his head away without answering.
Just now, it was the other party provoking him, but now he had been caught red-handed; he was in the wrong.
"Innate Full Spirit Power—did you really think I was lying to you? Oh, right, someone like you who just parrots others' ideas truly wouldn't know. I originally wanted to test your mettle, but it turns out you know absolutely nothing."
Mo Bai casually picked up one of the many books; even the Spirit Hall attribution at the bottom had disappeared, as if someone had deliberately erased it.
His expression was one of pure mockery.
Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted slightly. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Organs need to develop to mature. A ontological martial soul is a part of the human body, so naturally, it's the same; as one grows older, it reveals its complete form."
At this moment, Mo Bai was truly talking nonsense, yet facing the ignorant Yu Xiaogang, he spoke with confidence and disdain.
"You surely haven't investigated this, have you? Your so-called data was merely collected from the Spirit Hall. To dare to make a definitive conclusion upon encountering something unknown..."
"I wonder who gave you the courage?"
"If anyone entrusted their child to you, they would surely be led astray. Only Tang San, with no one to turn to, would be fooled by you. A Genius is a Genius; they aren't someone you can touch."
"If you still love... Tang San, then recognize your own limitations early and go home to farm!"
After Mo Bai finished his string of words, a pink glow flashed through his eyes. He didn't care at all about Yu Xiaogang's increasingly ashen face or the Luo San Pao that had already manifested beside him.
He turned and left, carrying the book from earlier.
He wasn't worried in the slightest about a desperate attack from Yu Xiaogang. Having escaped for so long, so many times, and given the strength of his own Martial Soul, what capital did Yu Xiaogang have left to attack?
Furthermore, his eyes were fixed on Yu Xiaogang; Mo Bai was confident he could adjust his aim before Luo San Pao could attack.
The final hint was complete; there was no need to stay longer.
Yu Xiaogang stared intently at Mo Bai's retreating figure, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white, lost in frowning contemplation.
Mo Bai was still the same Mo Bai, teasing him just like before. However, he had only told Little San about the Soul Ring matter. With Little San's cleverness, he shouldn't have been foolish enough to ask, but... he had miscalculated.
Being confronted today was unexpected but within reason. Fortunately, that woman wasn't there, and Mo Bai didn't intend to completely drop all pretenses.
ontological martial soul... growth... Innate Full Spirit Power? Thinking about it this way, the reason for not obtaining a Soul Ring for a year happened to coincide. Could it be that he really missed out on a Genius?
But the Spirit Hall had no records of this at all.
A strange pink hue flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but even so, it was impossible for him to let go of Tang San. Tang San was the focus of his blood, sweat, and dreams!
This would be his way of proving himself. A son of a Titled Douluo with twin spirits would definitely succeed!
...
"A peaceful student life, injected with some unusual emotions—now that is youth, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang."
He didn't know how effective the initial hint was, but from now on, as long as he gave a glance every day to maintain the hint, it would be fine. Given Yu Xiaogang's strength, unless he was truly weak, it was hard for it to take effect in one go.
Mo Bai held the book, recalling the scene from just now, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.
It was a pity Tang San had the Purple Demon Eye; he had resistance and could easily notice things, otherwise, he could have made it a mutual attraction.
Xiao Wu also had Spiritual attributes and was very sharp.
Otherwise, he could have definitely conditioned them over these past few years.
"That leaves Xiao Wu... what should I do this time?"
The previous cultivation and Soul Rings had already become Xiao Wu's current fixed perception. If he wanted to improve, he would have to wait a while before asking again for the credibility to be high.
He could ask about money, though. Recently, Xiao Wu had learned some human knowledge and should have some concept of money.
"As for money, the more the better."
...
In the evening, Tang San, who had found nothing after searching all day, dragged his weary body to the room where Yu Xiaogang taught him, preparing to begin the day's studies.
However, after he entered, his teacher's gaze was always on his face, even during instruction. He was likely concerned about whether he was injured but too embarrassed to say it.
Facing this unprecedented concern, the corners of Tang San's mouth curled up silently. If his father were like this, how wonderful it would be.
With this kind of emotion present, the Spiritual exhaustion from not finding anything today seemed to dissipate completely. He heard that other mercenary groups had found some, and they were also bought by Brother Mo Bai.
A person's energy is always limited.
But as long as they existed, he would eventually find them. There was also the matter of Innate Full Spirit Power and Brother Mo Bai; although he didn't know why his teacher wanted to hide it from him, now was not the time to bring it up.
Just as Brother Mo Bai said, he should prioritize what he saw himself. Finally...
'Having money is also truly good.'
On the other hand, the more Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, the more pleasing he found him. His heart, which had been silent for many years, began to throb. Could it be that he was stimulated by that boy Mo Bai, sparking his teaching Martial Soul?
Just wait, I will prove it to everyone!
Far outside the window.
Tang Hao frowned slightly as he watched the harmonious scene between the two. Teaching was one thing, but was it necessary to be so close? Was it necessary to speak up and warn them? Would that be making a mountain out of a molehill?
There was no need to expose his identity again for this.
Since he believed in Yu Xiaogang's ability, he should also believe in his character...
"Don't let me down, alright?"
...
In the following days, Mo Bai was constantly on the way to harvesting leeks, and Tang San completed the process for him every time.
On the first day, when Tang San came to find him, he once again brought out the stems and leaves of the purple pole grass, solidifying Tang San's trust, and then successfully harvested the Innate Full Spirit Power leek.
[Ding! Tang San has taken your lie—Innate Full Spirit Power—as truth. Trust level 100%, Manifestation level 100%, successfully manifested Innate Full Spirit Power!]
This meant that Yu Xiaogang was sensible enough that night not to mention this topic that would cause him to lose face and authority.
Because his Martial Soul needed to upgrade to Innate Full Spirit Power, Mo Bai took a day off that day and stayed in the dormitory, nourishing it with the juice of the purple pole grass for an entire night.
And after waking up the next day.
Mo Bai found that there wasn't much change compared to before, only that the pink halo around his pupils was slightly more concentrated, with a tiny bit of golden light.
In essence, he didn't feel any particularly special change for the time being.
Only his abilities had strengthened slightly.
Tang San still returned empty-handed that day, but with the reinforcement from Mo Bai's previous two times, he was already very firm in his heart about the fact that purple pole grass existed in the Spirit Hunting Forest.
All of this was observed by Tang Hao from the shadows. One day was fine, but two consecutive days were enough to prove the importance of that herb to Tang San.
But today, even that rich Young Master, who also had Innate Full Spirit Power like Tang San, hadn't managed to purchase any.
He couldn't even find someone to "ask" for it. Perhaps next time, he could snatch it before that rich Young Master; although he couldn't produce 200 gold coins, he could take action.
Mo Bai was somewhat hesitant about the purple pole grass because it was conceived by Tang San; possessing Tang San's common knowledge of herbs, one plant was excellent, but two had no effect.
He had already used one, so subsequent ones would have negligible effects on him. If he wanted to continue increasing his Spiritual Power...
He needed to use another topic.
The fall of a powerhouse, an Immortal Cave, or a treasure falling from the sky.
Each of these titles seemed a bit too grand and unrealistic for a small place like Nuoding City. If he overblew it, he might attract outside enemies into his greenhouse; this also had to be considered.
He needed to find something that happened randomly on the continent, could occur anytime and anywhere, was understandable to everyone, yet was very eye-catching.
Mo Bai's gaze fell on the book he had swiped from Yu Xiaogang, a Soul Beast illustrated handbook from the Spirit Hall. It was much thicker than the usual ones and recorded the common characteristics of Soul Beasts.
Every Soul Beast had the possibility of birthing a Soul Bone, even the weakest ten-year Spirit Beast. The higher the age, the greater the chance of a Soul Bone being born.
The more intense a Soul Beast's emotions were before death, the more it could increase the chance of Soul Bone generation. This was an event that didn't require any specific location, only a place where Soul Beasts lived, making it the most suitable as the next event.
Moreover, every Soul Bone was something every Soul Master dreamed of, and the random probability was clever enough.
Absorbing one could also increase Spiritual Power.
But how was he to make Tang San believe in the existence of a Soul Bone? He didn't have one and hadn't seen one. This would be credible in the future when Tang San obtained an External Soul Bone, but it was hard to arrange now.
Hmm? Why did it have to be Tang San? There was someone who had seen many Soul Bones, or rather, she had one herself.
Although Xiao Wu was only at 50%, it wasn't important in some aspects, such as an External Soul Bone that could grow infinitely.
But Xiao Wu was innocent, not stupid. To want such a Heaven-Defying piece of luck, he would have to build a persona of being extremely lucky himself.
This would also take a lot of time.
Should he shelve the Soul Bone? Switch to a powerhouse's cave?
Mo Bai's mind conjured up the so-called powerhouses around Nuoding City. The Soul Saint of Saint Spirit Village—Soul Saint level powerhouses were mostly recorded and easy to look up.
No, and the other levels were too low.