Tang Sect's Zhang San

Tang Hao shuddered. The sight of Tang San bustling about struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

Tang Hao suddenly remembered that the child was only six years old this year, yet he had already held the family together on his own for three years. Shame washed over him.

"Little San... I..." Tang Hao opened his mouth, only to swallow the words on his lips.

Sizzle!

Tang San tipped the chopped greens into the wok and went on cooking without even turning his head, as though Tang Hao did not exist.

Tang Hao stood there in silence for a long time. Then he slowly took a book from his robes, placed it on the dining table, and said to Tang San, who was still stir-frying, "Little San, this is a meditation method. If you want to become a Soul Master... take it and cultivate."

With that, Tang Hao turned and silently walked back, his footsteps heavy.

Tang San's stirring paused for a moment. He glanced at the book on the table but did not immediately pick it up. Instead, he continued cooking.

Only after he had dished up the food, arranged it, brought it to the table, and put everything in order did Tang San wipe his hands and walk over to pick up the book. This should be a high-level meditation method passed down by the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang San knew that although Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy also taught a meditation method, it was the most basic kind. Tang Hao's method had probably been improved by many generations of the Clear Sky Sect, and whether in cultivation efficiency or future potential, those common methods were far beneath it.

Tang San closed the book and tucked it into his robes, calculating, For the sake of this meditation method, I'll waive Tang Hao's meal expenses for a month.

After the meal, Tang San continued living as he had for the past few years.

He set fish traps and snares, raised chickens and grew vegetables, and then practiced the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

The only change was that Tang San began cultivating the meditation method, meditating instead of sleeping every night.

Having read the original story, Tang San knew that although he did not yet have a Soul Ring, the Soul Power he gained through cultivation would still manifest once he obtained one.

Tang San did not ask Tang Hao for guidance, either, relying entirely on his own efforts to figure it out. The two lived under the same roof, each following his own course without interfering with the other.

Sometimes Tang San thought this was probably the most comfortable way for him and Tang Hao to get along.

Spirit City.

The entire city was built along a mountainside, magnificent and imposing. Spirit Hall stood at its very summit, looking down over all living beings.

It was a building that could inspire awe in anyone.

Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong sat upright on the papal throne.

Her papal robes, traced with purple and gold patterns, spread down from the throne, making her already slender, alluring figure even more captivating. Her fair skin, soft pink lips, enticing body, and long purple hair were a mesmerizing sight.

Bibi Dong's fingertips idly stroked the armrest of the throne, her movements slow and languid.

Below the jade steps, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stood bowed. Clad in a bright red brocade robe, his feminine, handsome face was full of respect. With his head lowered and body bent, he reported in a clear voice:

"Your Holiness, according to a deacon from the orphanage, this year's Martial Soul Awakening at the orphanage has produced a genius with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power."

At those words, Bibi Dong's fingertips paused on the armrest. Her long, narrow purple eyes slowly lifted. "Oh? Twin Martial Souls, and Innate Full Soul Power as well? What are the Martial Souls?"

"The First Martial Soul is the Beast Martial Soul Man-Faced Spider Emperor. The Second Martial Soul is a tool Martial Soul, a repeating crossbow. According to the orphan himself, it's called... the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow." A trace of excitement colored Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice. Spirit Hall was about to welcome another top-tier genius.

Bibi Dong raised her eyebrows slightly, a strange light flashing in her purple eyes. "Is this confirmed?" she asked unhurriedly.

"I have confirmed it," Chrysanthemum Douluo replied firmly. He added, "I personally investigated. There was nothing unusual about the Martial Soul Awakening, and the Innate Soul Power test was conducted by a Spirit Hall deacon himself. The results are beyond doubt."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly. Her slender fingers resumed stroking the armrest, as though she were considering something.

"Is this orphan's background clean?"

That was the question that concerned her most. Spirit Hall could nurture geniuses, but it must never nurture someone of unknown origins.

Chrysanthemum Douluo had clearly come prepared and answered at once, "I have already investigated thoroughly."

"The orphan's parents were once Spirit Hall deacons. His father's surname was Zhang, and his Martial Soul was a spider called the 'Ghost-Faced Spider,' a rather rare Beast Martial Soul. His mother's surname was Hu, and her Martial Soul was a powerful bow of superior quality. Both were formidable, having reached the Soul Saint level. They served Spirit Hall loyally for many years."

"Six years ago, while following the previous Pope in pursuit of Tang Hao... both died beneath Tang Hao's hammer."

When Chrysanthemum Douluo finished, he glanced at Bibi Dong. Seeing no change in her expression, he lowered his voice and continued:

"As their orphan, the child has always been raised in an orphanage directly affiliated with Spirit Hall," Chrysanthemum Douluo continued. "Since he had only recently been born, there was no way to learn what name his parents had given him. The child therefore chose a name for himself using his father's surname: Zhang San."

"Zhang San?" Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, a trace of surprise appearing on her face.

"Yes." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "As for his two Martial Souls, I surmise that they resulted from a beneficial mutation of his parents' Martial Souls. His father's spider Martial Soul fused and mutated with his mother's bow-and-arrow Martial Soul, giving birth to Martial Souls of the caliber of the Man-Faced Spider Emperor and the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment.

Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting dappled light and shadow across Bibi Dong's profile and making her flawless face even more radiant.

"Such a genius, and from a clean family background..."

Bibi Dong spoke slowly, her voice carrying an unquestionable resolve.

"Elder Ju, go and bring that child here yourself at once. I want to see him for myself."

"Yes, I obey."

Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed deeply, then turned and hurried away.

Bibi Dong leaned back on her throne, her purple eyes half-closed. Her fingertips continued stroking the armrest, and the corners of her mouth curved ever so slightly as she sank into thought.

Twin Martial Souls... Innate Full Soul Power... Man-Faced Spider Emperor... Zhuge Repeating Crossbow...

I must bring such a genius under my command and cultivate him into my sharpest blade for destroying the Angel Clan.

Half an hour later.

Chrysanthemum Douluo reappeared at the entrance to the hall, a small figure following behind him.

It was a boy who looked no more than five or six, about 1.2 meters tall and thin, dressed in gray cloth clothes washed until they had faded.

The boy had an ordinary face that would never have stood out among a group of children, but his eyes held a maturity wholly at odds with his age.

If Tang San had been there, he would surely have recognized him as the person who had beaten him senseless for no reason in the sea of consciousness—Tang San of the Tang Sect.

After the Tang Sect's Tang San had been squeezed out of Tang San's body by the system's energy, a mysterious force caused him to possess another body, making him the Zhang San he was now.