Chapter 20: Wang Dong — "I Can Give You Anything You Want…"
"What method? Impossible! Unless it's some evil soul master technique, there's no way anyone can cultivate that fast!" Wang Dong immediately rejected the idea.
He wasn't naive, nor was he an ordinary person. Even if he trained lazily, he'd been raised with countless high-level teachings since childhood. It would take more than a boast to fool him.
Moreover, when Ye Chen said that, a flicker of wariness rose in his heart.
Could it be… Ye Chen was a dark soul master?
"It's a secret art from my family," Ye Chen said calmly. "Hardly evil. Otherwise, how would I have passed Shrek Academy's exams?"
He raised a brow and added, "If you don't believe me, I can let you experience its effect for yourself. For a short time, it allows another person to share my cultivation speed."
"Oh really? I'll believe that when I see it! There's no way such a ridiculous secret technique exists!" Wang Dong snapped, accepting immediately nonetheless.
He'd see how this supposed prodigy had achieved his level. How could someone with only rank-2 innate soul power reach such a realm without using some underhanded trick?
With fifty laps left each, they quickly finished the task before heading to a nearby rest chamber.
The "rest rooms" were small and simple—each with a few chairs, a table, some drinking water, and nutrient packs for soul masters. It wasn't much, but it sufficed for brief meditation.
"Sit down," Ye Chen said with a faint smile. "I'll channel my secret art so you can experience what true talent feels like."
He didn't bother hiding anything.
After all, they were all students. Naive.
No one would think to doubt his motives—not yet.
"Hmph, let's see how real this so-called secret art is," Wang Dong scoffed, feigning skepticism, though the excitement in his eyes betrayed him.
If Ye Chen had refused now, Wang Dong might've begged to try.
Of course, Ye Chen wasn't about to toy with him that way.
Soon, Wang Dong sat cross-legged opposite him.
"Move closer," Ye Chen said evenly.
"…Why?"
Wang Dong's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Was this guy into men?
He'd just finished running a hundred laps, his body still warm and slick with sweat—it wasn't exactly his most flattering moment.
"The range is limited—only half a meter," Ye Chen explained.
He deliberately halved the effective range of his "secret art." The closer they were, the stronger the "connection."
And, well, Wang Dong might currently look like a boy, but Ye Chen wasn't complaining about the view—or the subtle scent wafting closer.
"This technique's really weird…" Wang Dong muttered, but, curiosity winning out, he shuffled forward until he was within arm's reach.
Even then, sitting so close made him a bit flustered.
From this distance, he could smell the faint mixture of Ye Chen's clean soap scent and post-training musk—oddly refreshing.
He subconsciously sniffed again.
Strange. Not unpleasant at all. Kind of… nice.
Way better than Huo Yuhao's constant smell of fatigue and sweat.
"This guy's way too good-looking… and he even smells good…" Wang Dong thought while sneaking a glance at Ye Chen.
Well, since he was a "boy" right now, staring a little couldn't hurt.
"There. Happy? But if you're lying, I'll be very mad," Wang Dong said, pretending to sound threatening as he flexed his fist meaninglessly.
"All set," Ye Chen replied with a faint grin.
He could smell Wang Dong's fragrance up close now—sweet with a hint of warmth, faintly floral yet still carrying traces of perspiration. Strangely enticing.
"As expected of a goddess reborn," he thought. "Everything about you is flawless."
"Alright, start cultivating," Ye Chen said with a calm tone. "I'll align the energy flow. Follow my rhythm for the best effect."
He didn't push further. Wang Dong—still in disguise—was a "boy" after all. Any rash move would draw the wrong sort of suspicion.
Then he silently activated Resonance and bound it to Wang Dong.
"Fine."
Wang Dong shut his eyes, still unconvinced but intrigued enough to obey.
He began to circulate his soul power—and immediately gasped.
His entire body trembled as his energy channels suddenly became impossibly smooth, like slick threads of silk guiding an endless current.
His cultivation speed skyrocketed—all flow, no resistance.
"This… this is insane!"
His eyes flew open as he stared at Ye Chen in shock.
"Focus," Ye Chen said softly. "Maintaining this technique costs me a lot."
"O-oh, right!"
Wang Dong quickly closed his eyes again and concentrated completely.
Her—no, his—talent was already top-tier. Usually, laziness slowed down progress, but now, with tenfold acceleration and focus combined, the effect was explosive.
One hour later—
Boom!
Soul power surged outward as Wang Dong's pressure skyrocketed.
"I… I broke through!"
His blue-and-pink eyes widened in disbelief.
He had just ascended to rank 24.
After taking a Soul Ascending Pill, he had stalled at mid-level 23 for weeks. Breaking to 24 should've taken half a month of steady work at least.
Now, one hour later—done.
Her mind buzzed. The technique was flawless. No backlash, no instability.
Pure, amplified growth.
Tenfold cultivation efficiency—no exaggeration, no side effects.
If this got out, the entire continent would lose its mind.
"This is a mutated martial soul ability of mine," Ye Chen said nonchalantly, as though reading Wang Dong's thoughts. "Only I can use it, and it consumes far more energy than it looks."
"Ye Chen…"
Wang Dong's voice softened as he hesitated, twisting his fingers nervously. Her vibrant eyes darted toward him, full of hesitation—and something else.
Still, temptation won.
"So, um… I want to train with you every day! I'll compensate you however you want. Anything you need—I'll give it to you."
The tone was earnest, the meaning simple.
Whatever price—money, treasures, anything—he would pay it.
He was from the Clear Sky Clan, with more money than he'd ever need.
Even a hundred or a thousand gold soul coins per session would be worth it.
Ye Chen smiled faintly, pretending to think it over.
"How about this," he said. "You move into my dorm. I already need to use this secret art when I train anyway. Adding one more person doesn't change much."
He paused, then added with a grin, "As for payment—one hundred gold soul coins per session sounds fair."
(END CHAPTER)
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