Spirit Awakening Complete

"Oh." Soul Rings and Soul Beasts—these two brand-new terms kept echoing in Tang San's mind. Although he could not be sure whether his guess was correct, the Mysterious Heaven Skill had always been unable to break through its bottleneck. These Soul Rings were clearly a possible opening.

Jack had come back to his senses by then. Looking down at Tang San and Lan Xue, he said in surprise, "Little San, are you two the boy and girl Master mentioned—the ones with Innate Full Soul Power and Blue Silver Grass martial souls?"

Tang San nodded. "That's us."

Old Jack crouched down and looked Tang San and Little Xue in the eye. "Little San, Little Xue, I never expected your talent to be so outstanding. It's a pity you have a father like that, one who couldn't pass down a good martial soul to you. Otherwise, perhaps you really could have become the second Soul Saints from our village. Tell Grandpa, do you want to attend a specialized academy and learn how Soul Masters cultivate? Only there can you learn all the most accurate knowledge about martial souls."

Tang San and Lan Xue had already developed a deep interest in martial souls, especially since they were connected to Tang San's own Mysterious Heaven Skill. Still, they did not give a direct affirmative answer. "Grandpa Jack, we have to ask Father first."

Jack suddenly realized his mistake. Yes, no matter how sensible they were, they were still children. He had to ask Tang Hao for his opinion.

A hint of determination flashed in his eyes. Though he truly did not want to see that scruffy fellow, for the sake of producing another Soul Master from the village, he could not worry about such things.

"Come on, Little San, Little Xue. Grandpa will take you home." Old Jack first sent the other children away and had their parents collect them, then brought Tang San and Lan Xue back to the blacksmith shop.

Morning was Tang Hao's usual sleeping time, and the blacksmith shop was silent.

"Tang Hao! Tang Hao!" Old Jack did not care whether Tang Hao was asleep. He deeply detested that scruffy blacksmith. If not for the extremely low prices of the farming tools he forged, Old Jack would have long since wanted to kick Tang Hao out of the village.

As he called for Tang Hao, Old Jack swept his gaze around, intending to find a chair to sit on. But seeing all those battered and broken things, he simply did not dare pull one over. He was no longer young and had no wish to break his bones in this place.

"Who's making such a racket?" Tang Hao's faintly irritated voice sounded. The curtain to the inner room was lifted, and he slowly walked out. He first saw his son and Little Xue before shifting his gaze to Jack. "Old Jack, what is it?"

Jack said irritably, "Today was your son's Spirit Awakening day. Don't you know how important that is? Every other family had both parents accompany their child, but you were still the same as always."

Tang Hao seemed not to hear Jack's sarcasm. He looked at his children again. "Little San, Little Xue, what martial souls did you awaken?"

"Father, Blue Silver Grass," Tang San said.

"Uncle, a magnolia flower," Lan Xue said.

"Blue Silver Grass?" For some reason, when Tang Hao heard those three words, his body suddenly trembled. A peculiar light also appeared in his eyes, though he had always shown little interest in anything around him.

Only Tang San and Little Xue noticed the change in Tang Hao's expression. Naturally, Old Jack did not care about a scruffy blacksmith's expression and said directly, "Though it's Blue Silver Grass, Little San has Innate Full Soul Power, while Little Xue has Innate Exceeding Soul Power. Tang Hao, I've decided that this year's work-study student slot for the village will go to Little San. He'll attend the Notting Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City. The village will cover his travel expenses."

"Blue Silver Grass... Blue Silver Grass..." Tang Hao murmured the words twice, then abruptly raised his head. A firm light Tang San had never seen before appeared in his eyes as he said gravely, "No."

"What did you say? Did I hear that right?" Jack dug at his ear and stared at Tang Hao in shock. "You should know how precious this opportunity is. Even though Holy Soul Village once produced a Soul Saint, we only get one slot a year. Other villages need two or three villages to share a single slot. Do you know what a good opportunity this is? Maybe Little San could become someone important in the future."

Tang Hao shot Jack a cold look. "What use is being someone important? All I know is that if he leaves, no one will cook for me. Blue Silver Grass—what do you think a Blue Silver Grass martial soul can cultivate into? It's just a useless martial soul."

Old Jack said angrily, "But he has Innate Full Soul Power! As long as he obtains one Soul Ring, even one of the poorest quality, he can immediately become a Soul Master. A Soul Master, do you understand? Our village hasn't produced a Soul Master in many years."

Tang Hao said blandly, "That's your real purpose, isn't it? I said no, so it's no. You can leave now."

"Tang Hao!" The anger in Old Jack's chest had reached its limit.

Tang Hao still looked lazy and indifferent. "No need to shout so loudly. I'm not deaf. I said, you can leave now."

"Grandpa Jack, please don't be angry. I won't go study Soul Master abilities after all. Father is right. Blue Silver Grass is only a useless martial soul. Thank you for your kindness."

Though Jack utterly detested Tang Hao, he was very fond of the sensible Tang San. The rage in his heart gradually subsided, and he let out a long sigh. "Good child, Grandpa isn't angry. All right, Grandpa should go now." With that, he turned and walked outside.

Tang San and Lan Xue hurried after him to see him off. They could ignore their father, but Jack was the village chief and had treated them well. They would not neglect proper courtesy.

Jack stopped at the entrance of the blacksmith shop and turned to look at Tang Hao. Earnestly, he said, "Tang Hao, your life may be over, but Little San is still young. Don't you think you should give him some way to make a living? Don't hold him back. If he becomes a Soul Master, at least he won't end up as destitute as you. If you change your mind, come find me. There are still three months until this year's enrollment at the Notting Junior Soul Master Academy."