Obtaining Bury on the Other Shore!

Blade did not let himself idle away. His mind remained fixed on the unused reward from the system—a precious Lottery Chance.

Once he had some free time, he calmed himself down and prepared to make good use of this opportunity.

He closed his eyes, focused his mind, and the familiar system panel emerged in his thoughts.

It was a virtual interface formed from points of light and lines, every icon gleaming with alluring radiance.

Blade's gaze swept rapidly across the panel. Suddenly, he realized that its design was astonishingly similar to the interface of a game he had once played, "Honkai: Star Rail."

Not noticing the resemblance would have been fine, but once he did, he was completely screwed.

He had truly had enough of those MiHoYo Games staples.

Relics, the Constellation System, Soft Pity, Hard Pity Banners, Talents, and so on.

Especially that most infuriating part—pulling banners.

The banners were filled with nothing but trash, at most tossing you a few shop currencies and forcing you to painstakingly save up before exchanging them.

And there were barely any worthwhile characters in the standard banner, either.

As someone already dead, Blade should have feared nothing. Yet now, he was genuinely a little scared. As an Unlucky Player before transmigrating, he really could not take it anymore.

Still, he did not dwell on it. Since he had obtained one Lottery Chance, even if it did not say what he would get, it was still an opportunity. He immediately used the Lottery Draw Count.

Very soon—

Ding! The host has used one Lottery Chance!

Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Shu Hu's Grace (Passive Talent), Level 2!

Ding! Additional reward for this draw: 10,000 Gold Soul Coins, Undying Embers: 200!

Ding! Shop exchange Embers obtained. Shop unlocked!

As the system's voice faded—

Blade stood frozen for a moment. The feeling was far too familiar. Wasn't this MiHoYo's classic setup?

It was just that he had drawn Blade's Talent skill—the ridiculously cool skill that constantly unleashed Bury on the Other Shore.

This draw had even given additional rewards. It really was exactly like MiHoYo's banner system. However, the rewards here were far more generous. Not only had it given him currency from Douluo Continent, it had also given him Undying Embers from the game. This was the good stuff he always used to exchange for tickets after the shop refreshed each month!

Blade soon looked over the newly unlocked shop. However, the moment he opened it, he discovered that it was not filled with items from Star Rail as he had imagined, but rather strange items from the world of Douluo Continent.

The shop interface was simple and clear, but its contents surprised Blade somewhat. Only one item category was currently unlocked, and it displayed all sorts of medicinal herbs. Even their names sounded fantastical, making one wonder what miraculous effects they might possess.

Aromatic Silk Beauty, Star Anise Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and more.

Moreover, the prices were quite affordable. At a glance, most of these Immortal Grasses cost only one to two Undying Embers.

Seeing this, Blade suddenly remembered that Tang San seemed to need all of these.

Blade stroked Shizun's Sword in his hand, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

It seemed he had an idea—use bait to fish, use grass to fish for Tang.

On the Other Side, Tang San's Thatched Cottage stood quietly in one corner of the village. Sunlight filtered through sparse clouds and fell upon this humble yet lively patch of land. The little stream beside the house babbled softly, as though recounting the stories of this place.

Old Jack stood before the Thatched Cottage, his brows tightly furrowed. He had called Tang Hao's name several times in a row, his voice full of anxiety and helplessness. Finally, just as Old Jack was about to lose his patience, Tang Hao slowly appeared in the doorway.

Tang Hao's hair was a mess, his clothes disheveled, and his face bore the expression of someone who had not yet woken up. His eyes were unfocused, as though he were still immersed in a dream, making him seem utterly dispirited and dejected.

He rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked in that numb tone of his,

"Old Jack, what is it?"

The moment Old Jack saw Tang Hao looking like this, anger flared in his heart. He could not help raising his voice.

"Today is the day your son undergoes Spirit Awakening! Don't you know how important this is?!"

However, Tang Hao seemed completely unconcerned. He still wore that indifferent expression. After letting out a huge yawn, he staggered over to Tang San as though he were stepping on cotton.

"Xiao San, what is your Spirit?" Tang Hao asked carelessly.

Hearing his father's voice, Tang San snapped out of the thoughts that had occupied him along the way. His gaze was calm as still water, as though he had long expected this moment. He answered blandly,

"It's Blue Silver Grass." A trace of determination colored his tone, as though he were declaring the path he would walk in the future.

The instant those words fell, Tang Hao's eyes underwent a drastic change. His previously listless, unfocused gaze seemed to be pierced by ice, instantly sharpening into needlepoints.

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his pupils contracted, as though he were searching for something under blinding light. That intense concentration seemed capable of piercing through Tang San's skin and staring directly into the depths of his soul.

As a killer with sharp senses, Tang San naturally could not miss this subtle change in his father's expression!

What was that reaction? Could Blue Silver Grass have some special quality? Something that idiot at level twenty-six couldn't see? After all, he did give birth to me and raise me after I came here. Pah! He should know something I don't. As expected of me—how could a transmigrated Protagonist not have something special about him?! Looks like I need to ask him properly!

However, before Tang San could delve deeper into his thoughts, Old Jack beside him noticed Tang Hao's change in expression. He misunderstood Tang Hao's stare, believing it stemmed from disdain for the Blue Silver Grass Spirit. Old Jack struck the ground hard with his cane, producing a crisp sound, and spoke with a stern expression and firm tone.

"Even though it's Blue Silver Grass, Xiao San is a Genius with Innate Full Soul Power!"

"I've already decided! Xiao San will take one of the village's Work-Study Student slots this year!"

"He will go to Nuoding City's Junior Soul Master Academy to study, and the village will cover all travel expenses!"

Old Jack stated in one breath the generous conditions he had secured for Tang San. His voice echoed through the Thatched Cottage, filled with unquestionable authority.

However, just when everyone thought Tang Hao would be moved by this, he merely muttered "Blue Silver Grass" a few times before making his decision.

"No!"

Tang Hao's voice was like a heavy stone smashing fiercely into Old Jack's heart.

"What?!"

Old Jack was instantly dumbfounded. His eyes widened and his mouth hung slightly open, clearly unable to understand Tang Hao's refusal. His brows knitted together, his face filled with confusion and disbelief.

Old Jack blurted it out instinctively, but he quickly realized he could not give up just like that. He took a deep breath and struck the ground forcefully with his cane again and again, as though he wanted to hammer a hole into the earth.

His voice rose with it, filled with urgency and emphasis.

"Tang Hao, you should know how precious this opportunity is for Xiao San, who possesses Innate Full Soul Power! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!"

"Perhaps Xiao San will become someone great in the future and become the pride of our village!" Old Jack's words were filled with anticipation and hope. He looked eagerly at Tang San, as though he could already see his bright future.

However, Tang Hao was unusually stubborn. His voice was cold and hard, devoid of emotion. "What use is becoming someone great? If he leaves, who will cook for me? Blue Silver Grass is nothing but a Waste Spirit. What can he possibly cultivate?"

"You should leave. He isn't going." Tang Hao's words were like a cold blade, cutting off all hope at once.

"Tang Hao, you—" Old Jack's face turned purple with rage. The cane in his hand trembled, and Tang Hao's attitude had clearly angered him beyond words.

Seeing Old Jack so angry, Tang San grew anxious as well. He hurried forward and gently supported Old Jack, wearing a sensible smile as he comforted him.

"Grandpa Jack, don't be angry. Father is right. Blue Silver Grass is a Waste Spirit, so I won't go. Thank you for your kindness. I'll find another way to make myself stronger." Tang San's voice was gentle yet firm, and an unyielding light shone in his eyes. Though unwilling in his heart, he was even more unwilling to see Old Jack become angry for his sake.

After he finished speaking, Tang San saw that Old Jack seemed about to say something else, and he grew restless again. Old Jack, please just leave already! As the Protagonist, I have a feeling! My mysterious father looks like he wants to tell me something privately. You being here is really inconvenient. I still need to ask about that hammer. If you stay any longer, I really will be asking about nothing but a hammer!

Old Jack did not know Tang San's true thoughts. He only felt that this child was far too sensible—so sensible that it broke one's heart. In Old Jack's eyes, Tang San's maturity was nothing like what a child his age should possess.

At such a young age, he had to care for that father who spent every day drunk and lost in dreams. From food and clothing to daily chores, Tang San silently shouldered everything. Old Jack only wished he could look at this resilient child a little longer.

Old Jack's eyes were full of affection and pity. He gently stroked Tang San's head, and the anger Tang Hao had stirred in him eased somewhat the moment his hand touched Tang San's soft hair. He said gently,

"Good child, Grandpa isn't angry."

Supported by Tang San, Old Jack slowly walked toward the door. Just as he was about to step over the threshold, he could not help looking back. His gaze passed through the dimness of the Thatched Cottage and fell upon Tang Hao, his tone carrying a trace of reproach and concern.

"Tang Hao, perhaps your life is already like this, but Xiao San is still young. His future holds endless possibilities. Don't you think you should give him a better means of making a living?

"Don't let your stubbornness delay his chance to become a Soul Master. At the very least, he won't repeat your mistakes in the future.

"If you ever change your mind, come find me. There are still three months until Luoding Soul Master Academy's registration period this year."

After saying this, Old Jack slowly walked out of the Thatched Cottage beneath Tang San's gaze. Only after his figure disappeared beyond the door did Tang San slowly withdraw his eyes.

Tang San pondered silently, *I guess I indirectly gave things a push. Hopefully, my father in this world will wake up sooner. Maybe in a moment, he'll teach me some secret skill or something?

After all, since he could produce someone like me, he can't really be a mediocrity, can he?* A glimmer of anticipation flashed through Tang San's eyes as he waited quietly, hoping Tang Hao would give him a surprise.