For most people, cultivating was a tedious and monotonous task.
But for Huo Yuhao, it was different.
When progress was visible, and the more impurities he expelled, the faster his cultivation advanced, it became utterly addictive.
For two days straight, he spent every moment not eating in the corner practicing the Muscle Transformation Manual. Finally, tonight, he broke through, his soul power reaching level 12.
[ Huo Yuhao's destiny has been altered. +200 Fortune Points! ]
Zhuge Lan pondered this. Were Fortune Points awarded for every breakthrough? Or was it because Huo Yuhao had broken through earlier than expected?
It didn't matter. With this new cheat, Huo Yuhao's breakthroughs would only come faster and stronger than in the original story!
Outside, Huo Yuhao could barely contain his excitement.
He leaped two meters high, then paused just before cheering, remembering something and covering his mouth.
He landed with practiced grace, glancing cautiously at the old man reclining on the lounge chair. The elder remained undisturbed.
Phew.
"Brother Lan! Brother Tianmeng! I've broken through!" Huo Yuhao exclaimed mentally, bursting with joy.
"Got it, got it. Just level 12. You still have a long way to go," Tianmeng Iceworm retorted, his words like a bucket of cold water.
Huo Yuhao's elation dimmed slightly, and he was about to start self-critiquing when Zhuge Lan chimed in, clearly displeased.
"Hey! Don't break someone spirit when they are happy!" Zhuge Lan protested.
"Little Yuhao took over five years to advance nine levels. Now he's leveled up in just three days! That's tremendous progress!"
Huo Yuhao's face lit up again.
"It's all thanks to the Muscle Transformation Manual Brother Lan gave me," he said. "By cultivating while improving my foundation, my current cultivation speed is over five times faster than when I started!"
"Hey, hey, hey!" Tianmeng Iceworm objected, clearly disgruntled. "I sacrificed some of my soul power during my awakening. Even at my old cultivation speed, I would have broken through within a month at most!"
"So you're claiming credit now?" Zhuge Lan teased. "What were you doing earlier?"
Tianmeng Iceworm seethed. But he needed this person to awaken his spiritual power.
With no other choice, he turned to Huo Yuhao.
"Little Yuhao, what do you say?"
Huo Yuhao's grin widened even further.
The Tianmeng Iceworm now felt like a child vying for attention. Even as a million-year soul beast, it was still so childish.
Huo Yuhao spoke in a coaxing tone, "Thanks, Brother Tianmeng. You and Brother Lan each deserve half the credit for this advancement."
"Hmph! That's better!"
Zhuge Lan chuckled.
Huo Yuhao didn't continue teasing the immature creature.
"Now that your level has increased, Little Yuhao, it's time to fulfill your promise."
"School starts officially tomorrow, and we'll be pressed for time after that."
Huo Yuhao froze, then gasped!
Mu En, reclining on his lounge chair, jolted upright, startling awake.
Huo Yuhao: "..."
Still startled awake by someone else.
"My apologies, Grandpa. Did I disturb your rest?"
"The old man's light sleeper. No matter," Mu En said casually. "You seem steady enough. Why so easily startled?"
Huo Yuhao scratched his head awkwardly.
"I've been so focused on cultivation these past few days that I forgot about my promise to a friend."
"While there's still time, I'll hurry and take care of it."
"Grandpa, please continue sleeping."
He bid farewell.
Huo Yuhao casually washed up at the communal bath before hurrying straight to Dorm 316.
Knock, knock, knock!
The dorm door swung open from the inside, and a small, yellow-haired figure poked his head out, pausing when he saw Huo Yuhao.
"What a beautiful little junior brother! Are you here to see Bei Bei?"
"Could you be the Little Yuhao Bei Bei mentioned?"
Huo Yuhao's expression stiffened slightly.
Beautiful?
Isn't that word usually used to describe girls?
Smack! A hand clapped onto the yellow-haired figure's shoulder, pulling him aside to reveal Bei Bei's handsome face.
"Little Yuhao's here!" Bei Bei said with a smile. "That's my friend Xu Sanshi, always letting his mouth run wild. Don't mind him."
Huo Yuhao quickly waved his hand.
"It's no problem. Actually, I should be the one apologizing for dragging this until the last night."
"As long as you're within the agreed timeframe, there's nothing to apologize for," Bei Bei said warmly. "Perfect timing, actually. Third Brother Sanshi also needs you to take a look at something. What do you think?"
Huo Yuhao instinctively glanced at Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi had clearly been expecting this.
He undid his belt, retrieved a white jade porcelain bottle, and used his soul power to float it towards Huo Yuhao.
"These are my payment: three Profound Water Pills. They possess miraculous effects—purifying the meridians and marrow, safely enhancing soul power levels, and improving a soul master's cultivation aptitude."
As he spoke, he watched Huo Yuhao intently, gauging his reaction.
Most people would be astonished by the miraculous effects of this medicine.
But Huo Yuhao remained unfazed, even inwardly questioning, "Brother Lan, the Profound Water Pill's effects are similar to the Muscle transformation manual. Shouldn't we ask for Gold Soul Coins instead?"
"At least it can enhance soul power slightly, and combined with the Muscle Transformation Manual, it can speed up the purging of impurities. Let's stick with this," Zhuge Lan said.
Huo Yuhao nodded and accepted the Profound Water Pill.
He then activated his Spirit Eye and looked at Xu Sanshi, noticing that the latter was also scrutinizing him, though he paid it no mind.
Following Zhuge Lan's instructions, he spoke:
"Senior Xu, your Martial Soul is similar to Brother Beibei's, in an unstable state that can evolve autonomously, correct?"
"It seems this instability is caused by an incomplete ritual."
"To stabilize your evolved Martial Soul, you could try absorbing a soul ring or soul bone from a Golden Sea Turtle. If you can't find one, since your Martial Soul has both water and earth attributes, but the water attribute is dominant while the earth attribute is weak, replenishing the earth attribute would undoubtedly be greatly beneficial."
"Even if it doesn't fully stabilize your Martial Soul evolution, it should at least reduce the side effects of autonomous evolution."
Xu Sanshi's expression was priceless!
He snapped his fan shut, pointed at Huo Yuhao, then glanced at Bei Bei.
"Beibei, did you tell him my information?"
Bei Bei looked at him as if he were a fool.
Did he really think such things could be casually revealed?
Xu Sanshi slapped his forehead with his fan, realizing the situation.
With a smooth sidestep, he approached Huo Yuhao and warmly took his hand.
"Little Yuhao, I apologize for the earlier misunderstanding. Come, come, don't just stand in the doorway. Please, come in and have a seat."
"Beibei, weren't you going to call someone else? You can go ahead and do that."
"I'll take care of Little Yuhao here and make sure he feels right at home!"
Huo Yuhao, bewildered, was pulled into the dormitory while his original owner, Bei Bei, was pushed out the door.
Xu Sanshi pressed Huo Yuhao into a chair, then retrieved a ceramic jar from his storage belt.
He carefully removed some tea leaves and began brewing them.
Before long, a rich tea aroma filled the air. Just breathing it in made Huo Yuhao feel his soul power circulating slightly faster.
"Here, Little Yuhao, try this," Xu Sanshi said warmly. "This is top-grade Azure Spring Tea harvested from Ten-Thousand-Year Azure Spring Soul Beasts. It's one of the ingredients for the Profound Water Pill, and regular consumption can enhance your soul power."
'This is so precious!' Huo Yuhao instinctively wanted to refuse, but the teacup was already pushed toward him. To back out now would be impolite and insulting. "Thank you for the hospitality, Senior Xu."
"Hey, no need for formalities. Just call me Third Brother Sanshi, like you would Beibei," Xu Sanshi said with a smile.
"Alright, Third Brother Sanshi," Huo Yuhao readily agreed.
Xu Sanshi nodded with a smile. 'This young man is worth teaching.'