6: Chapter 6 Da Chun's Mutated Martial Soul
When leaving Pei Luohan's villa...
...it was already noon.
Lin Mo went back to Niu Ers Food Stall and headed straight into the back room.
"Da Chun! Do you want to become a Soul Master? Just say the word, and your brother will make it happen for you right away!"
Da Chun was already used to Lin Mo's loud and dramatic antics. Without even looking up, he said in a muffled voice, "Then make it happen for me, then."
"Hey, you brat."
Lin Mo knew he didn't believe him. Regardless of whether Da Chun was willing, he grabbed him and ran outside. "Let's go, let's go! Stop washing dishes. Your brother is going to help you fulfill your dream of becoming a Soul Master right now!"
As they passed the kitchen, Auntie Lan poked her head out, her apron stained with grease. "Hey, Lin Mo, you rascal! Where are you taking my Da Chun to run wild again?"
Without looking back, Lin Mo shouted, "To help him become a Soul Master!"
Shortly after, on a wasteland by the river, the wind swept dry grass past their feet.
"Da Chun, here." Lin Mo handed over a cloth bag. "Don't say your brother doesn't look out for you. I've gathered all the materials needed to mutate your Martial Soul!"
Da Chun opened the bag and was instantly stunned. His fingers trembled slightly as he held the opening. "S-soul crystal! Brother Mo, where did you get this?"
soul crystals, especially those with elemental attributes, cost tens of thousands of credits each, even if they were only Tier 1.
Da Chun knew all too well how poor Lin Mo was.
Lin Mo pressed down on his shoulders and said with certainty, "Don't ask questions. Sit down quickly. Just absorb the soul crystal and materials in the order I tell you, and I guarantee you'll become a Soul Master!"
Da Chun didn't ask further. At this moment, a stormy wave of emotions crashed through his heart, filled with uncontrollable excitement.
For all these years, he had actually always believed in Lin Mo's theories. He just lacked the money to test them.
"First step, drink this bottle of Gilded Bear blood, and then absorb this Tier 1 metal-attribute Gilded Bear soul crystal..."
Half an hour later, Da Chun suddenly opened his eyes. A faint fluctuation of Soul Power rippled around his body, clearly perceptible.
"Brother, I-I think I did it! My Soul Power has risen to Rank 3, my Martial Soul has changed color, and its quality has upgraded to D-rank!"
"Good, good, good! Quick, check how many innate Soul Skills you have! How many Soul Skill slots do you have?" Lin Mo asked eagerly, sharing his joy.
"Okay, let me check!" Niu Dachun raised his hand, and a dark gold Frying Pan Martial Soul floated above his palm, its edges gleaming with a cold light.
"Uh, no innate Soul Skills..." Da Chun's eyes instantly dimmed, and the corners of his mouth drooped.
"It's no big deal."
Lin Mo patted him on the shoulder.
"Your dark gold Frying Pan Martial Soul has an inherent strength attribute. Worst case scenario, you can just swing it as a weapon. It'll still pack a punch. Besides, you still have one Soul Skill slot. I'll get you an awesome Soul Skill to equip later."
"Hehe, true. I have you, Brother Mo." Da Chun scratched his head, grinning foolishly to reveal two rows of white teeth.
"Haha, not bad!"
Lin Mo laughed, patting his shoulder. "The two of us can finally take the college entrance exam together!"
Even with System AI's help in calculating, Lin Mo couldn't guarantee that Da Chun's Martial Soul would upgrade to an even higher rank.
Once a Martial Soul mutated, its quality depended entirely on luck.
Just like how Lu Mengmeng's Four-Colored Clover could mutate into the S-rank Devil Vine.
It was entirely due to her own innate talent and a bit of good luck.
His F-rank Medicine Cauldron mutating into a C-rank alchemy furnace Martial Soul was also a random result.
Fortunately, Su Yan often said that they must put the Grandmaster's truth into practice.
"There are only trash Soul Masters, no trash Martial Souls."
Even if his and Da Chun's Martial Souls were only C-rank and D-rank, with the backing of his theories, they could still stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those geniuses who possessed SSS-rank Martial Souls.
He fed Da Chun's current data to System AI.
In less than a minute, the results were out.
"Based on your current data, there's a low-grade Profound-tier Soul Skill that's quite suitable for you. Once I have the materials ready, I'll awaken it for you."
"Waaah! Brother, thank you! If it weren't for you, I, Da Chun, would have spent my entire life washing dishes in the kitchen!"
Da Chun grabbed Lin Mo's leg, wailing loudly as tears and snot smeared all over his pant leg.
"Holy crap, let go! Your crying sounds worse than a dying pig, and your snot is a bit much, okay?"
Lin Mo kicked Da Chun away in disgust and brushed the dust off his pants.
He then put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, and assumed the posture of a grandmaster.
"Da Chun, you must believe that in the future Martial Soul world, there will definitely be a place for us brothers."
"Brother, I'm slow-witted. From now on, whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it without hesitation!"
"Great! Starting tomorrow, we're going back to school to train. The stronger our physiques, the better our chances of awakening high-rank Soul Skills in the future. We must let those who mocked us know that we brothers are not to be trifled with."
"Got it, Brother!"
Inside Niu Ers Food Stall.
Having finished the lunch rush, Niu Er and his wife sat at a table, two half-finished bowls of soup in front of them.
"That rascal Lin Mo, who knows where he took Da Chun to run wild again!"
Auntie Lan complained with a frown, though a trace of concern flickered in her eyes.
"Why do you worry so much?"
Da Chun's father had a cigarette in his mouth as he exhaled a ring of smoke, showing little worry on his face.
"I think Little Mo is a smart kid. He definitely wouldn't lead Da Chun astray."
"Shoo, shoo. I was just thinking, Lin Mo always sounds so convincing when he talks. Maybe he really can make Da Chun a Soul Master?"
Auntie Lan tapped the rim of her bowl, a glimmer of uncertain hope in her eyes.
"Old Niu, how about... we take out all our savings and give it to Lin Mo so he can help Da Chun try?"
"Whatever you want. The money is with you anyway; I've never even seen it."
"Oh, you stubborn ox! Are you complaining that I don't give you any money..."
Auntie Lan put her hands on her hips, about to start nagging.
Just then, Da Chun rushed in excitedly.
"Dad, Mom, my Soul Power is at Rank 3!"
The next day.
Linjiang No. 1 High School.
"Ah, I haven't been here for a week. I really miss those gossiping classmates of mine!"
Lin Mo stood at the school gate, looking up at the school's signboard.
He pulled out a cigarette, and Da Chun immediately produced a lighter to light it for him.
"Mm... quite sensible!" Seeing how quick-witted Da Chun was, Lin Mo praised him.
But before Lin Mo could continue showing off...
"Well, well! This is the first time this Dean has seen such an arrogant student. Now, give me your name and class!"
Lin Mo's action of holding the cigarette in his mouth froze instantly.
He slowly turned his head, only to see a middle-aged man in a grey Zhongshan suit glaring at him.
Pinned to his chest was a badge that read "Dean of Students," and he clutched a wooden ruler in his hand, looking just like an antique stepped out of an old photograph.
"Heh, hello, Dean."
Lin Mo instantly chickened out. He quickly snuffed out the cigarette, shoved it to Da Chun, and squeezed out a well-behaved smile. "I'm Song Wennuan from Senior Three, Class Seven, and this is my deskmate, Lv Dagen."
With that, he took off running.
"What guts! You dare run in front of this Dean? You can run, but you can't hide! Song Wennuan and Lv Dagen from Senior Three, Class Seven, right? This Dean will remember you."
..."