System Mission, Su Yuntao's Arrival

Blacksmith Shop.

Old Jack pushed the door open and led Lu Mingchuan inside. Tang Hao, who was lying in a chair drinking, noticed them and spoke without turning his head. "Old Jack, if you need something repaired or farm tools made, leave the tools at the door or state your requirements. Come pick them up tomorrow."

"If there's nothing else, go back. Don't disturb me while I'm drinking."

Seeing Tang Hao like this, Old Jack could not stand the sight of him. He snorted irritably. "I came to ask you to make a bow and arrows for my grandson, Lu Mingchuan."

Hearing this, Tang Hao rose from his chair and turned to look at Lu Mingchuan, who stood beside Old Jack.

Taking this chance, Lu Mingchuan finally got a clear look at the famed Tang Hao of Douluo Continent—the "wife-sacrificer, father of a God King, youngest Titled Douluo," Tang Big Hammer! At this point, Tang Hao had just suffered the pain of losing his wife. He was broad and sturdy but unkempt, with disheveled hair. The stubble on his face grew as wildly as roadside Blue Silver Grass, and he reeked of alcohol. Toss him outside, and he would look exactly like a drunkard who had just gotten wasted.

After glancing at Lu Mingchuan, Tang Hao turned around and sat back down. Then his indifferent voice drifted out.

"Old Jack, same rules as always. Put ten Copper Soul Coins on the table and come get it tomorrow at noon."

Having achieved his goal, Old Jack did not want to say anything more. He simply took Lu Mingchuan's hand and headed back, as though he did not want to remain in the Blacksmith Shop for even another moment.

On the way back, Old Jack kept criticizing Tang Hao for his lack of ambition. Lu Mingchuan could only keep nodding along. Watching Old Jack vent so freely, Lu Mingchuan could not help chuckling inwardly.

Once you find out Tang Hao's identity, you'll be able to say you once lectured a Titled Douluo.

Once they got home, Old Jack sent Lu Mingchuan off to play while he went around the village visiting people. Lu Mingchuan was more than happy with that arrangement.

Lu Mingchuan returned to his secret base and was about to continue refining his training plan when the system suddenly emerged from its silence.

"Ding. Congratulations, Host, for activating a mission. Would you like to accept it?"

"System, is there any punishment if I accept it but fail to complete it?"

Lu Mingchuan asked in his mind.

"Ding. There will be no punishment for failing to complete an accepted mission."

"Then if I don't accept the mission, will it disappear?"

Lu Mingchuan pressed on.

"Ding. No."

Lu Mingchuan nodded and began examining the mission.

Mission: Awaken Spirit Reward: 1,000 Points, ten Character Draws, one Exclusive Spirit Ring.

Lu Mingchuan was delighted when he saw the mission. Clearly, this was a newbie benefit provided by the system.

After thinking it over, Lu Mingchuan asked the system, "System, are the characters drawn from the lottery restricted in strength?"

"Ding. The highest strength a character drawn by the Host can currently unlock is Level 99 Peerless Douluo."

"That's good."

Lu Mingchuan set aside his worries and began his training.

Time was like money in a wallet—it vanished before you noticed it. By the time Lu Mingchuan finished his routine, the sky had already turned to afternoon. After resting for a while, he headed home.

Old Jack had already prepared the meal and was just waiting for Lu Mingchuan to return. When he saw him, Old Jack once again helped wipe away his sweat.

After dinner, Old Jack went out for a walk while Lu Mingchuan returned to his room to sleep.

After all, today's exertion had taken quite a toll on Lu Mingchuan.

Lying on the bed and feeling the exhaustion in his body, Lu Mingchuan unknowingly fell asleep. Meanwhile, his body silently absorbed the ever-present Imaginary Energy, strengthening him.

Time flew.

Three years later, in the forest near the Back Mountain of Holy Soul Village, a boy around 1.4 meters tall held a longbow and focused intently.

He repeatedly drew his bow and loosed arrows. The arrows struck targets placed all around from all sorts of angles, and some even pierced straight through the targets before embedding themselves deep in the rocks behind them.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Mingchuan retrieved every arrow that had not been ruined and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then he checked his haul: two plump rabbits.

After confirming everything, he hurried home.

Upon arriving home, Old Jack told him some good news: the soul master responsible for awakening their spirits would be arriving shortly.

Hearing this, Lu Mingchuan could barely contain his excitement. He set down the rabbits in his hands, tidied himself up, and then followed Old Jack to wait outside the Spirit Awakening Hall.

After giving him a few more instructions, Old Jack turned and went to find Tang San.

Lu Mingchuan looked around. Quite a few children of the right age were waiting there, excitedly discussing Spirit Awakening with familiar friends. Lu Mingchuan, meanwhile, sank his consciousness into the system to inspect his status panel.

Name: Lu Mingchuan

Age: 6
Level: 20 (converted to Soul Power)

Items: Steel Wheel Bow, several iron arrows, various Soul Coins, miscellaneous items, Earth Dragon Golden Gourd ×1
Spirit Rings: None

Skill: Archery Expert lv2
Ranks from highest to lowest: Grandmaster - Master - Expert - Proficient - Skilled - Novice
Each rank has 5 levels

Points: 4000

After three years of effort, Lu Mingchuan's level, converted into Soul Power, had reached a full Level 20. This was despite the fact that he had used most of his Imaginary Energy to strengthen his body.

His archery skill had also risen from a blank slate to Archery Expert lv2. Over the past few years, he had earned quite a few Points by constantly bothering Tang San. The Steel Wheel Bow, Earth Dragon Golden Gourd, Gold Soul Coins, and most of the miscellaneous items had all been obtained through the system's draws.

While Lu Mingchuan was checking his status panel, Old Jack arrived with Tang San.

Tang San looked at Lu Mingchuan, who was leaning against the side with his eyes closed, and a deep killing intent flashed through his eyes before he quickly concealed it.

During one of Lu Mingchuan's morning training sessions when he was five, he had accidentally witnessed Tang San cultivating. It was as if he had triggered Tang San's path to death. Tang San had tried to kill him, but Lu Mingchuan's physique far surpassed Tang San's, causing Tang San's attempt to silence him to fail.

After that, Lu Mingchuan had rarely seen Tang San. But judging by Tang Buddha's personality, who knew where he might be hiding and waiting for an opportunity to put his path to death into practice.

After bringing Tang San over, Old Jack led the children to a boulder ahead bearing a palm print. He pointed at the massive rock, a hint of pride on his face.

"Children, look! That palm print was made by the Soul Sage who came from our Holy Soul Village! It symbolizes our village's pride!"

He then began enthusiastically recounting Holy Soul Village's glorious history. At that moment, a faint sound of rushing wind reached Lu Mingchuan's ears, and the corners of his lips curled upward slightly.

Looks like that legendary Blind Douluo, Su Yuntao, has arrived.

He then turned to look at Tang San. At that moment, Tang San's eyes were gradually turning purple. Noticing Lu Mingchuan's gaze, Tang San turned to look at him.

Lu Mingchuan gave him a wide smile. Tang San merely snorted coldly and turned away.

Soon after, a man dressed in the pale blue uniform unique to Spirit Hall walked over with a calm expression... Seeing him, Old Jack slowly approached and bowed slightly. "Lord Su Yuntao."

Su Yuntao replied indifferently, "Is everyone here?"

Before coming to Holy Soul Village to awaken spirits, Su Yuntao had already visited countless villages. Yet without exception, none had produced a child with the potential to become a soul master. By now, he no longer held much hope.