Awakening

"Blue Silver Grass martial soul, and Innate Full Soul Power at that!"

The device testing martial souls emitted a blinding white light. Although several children with Innate Soul Power had been found earlier, no one had expected the boy before them to possess Innate Full Soul Power!

This was Innate Full Soul Power. Even if it came with a useless martial soul, such aptitude was truly rare.

The church immediately erupted in astonishment. Old Jack rubbed his hands excitedly, tears glinting in his eyes. "Xiao San... this child has finally made something of himself!"

Tang San was also stunned by the result. He could clearly feel Soul Power flowing through his body, countless times stronger than what the other village children had possessed upon awakening. The seemingly ordinary Blue Silver Grass in his hand seemed to come alive, bound to him by blood.

"Xiao San, would you like to attend Spirit Academy?" Su Yuntao crouched down and met Tang San's eyes. "Although your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power is exceptionally rare. Spirit Hall will devote every effort to nurturing a genius like you."

Tang San's throat tightened. He knew this was an opportunity to change his fate, but his father's gloomy face immediately surfaced in his mind.

"I... I need to ask my father." Tang San answered softly. Though he said that, he felt his father should agree. After all, no parent would fail to hope that their child could become a Spirit Master.

Even if his father had never seemed to love him much, he should not stop him.

Su Yuntao nodded understandingly. "Of course, this is a major matter. But..." Thinking of Tang Hao's character, he could not help lowering his voice. "If your father refuses, you can come find me. Spirit Hall will not allow any talented child to be buried away in the countryside."

Sister Eliza quietly came over and whispered into Tang San's ear, "Child, don't worry. The Lord will guide your path."

After the awakening ceremony ended, Tang San walked alone along the road back to the blacksmith's shop, his emotions in turmoil. The rising sun stretched his shadow long behind him, like his chaotic thoughts.

He pushed open the creaking wooden door, and a strong stench of alcohol hit him in the face. Tang Hao slumped in the corner, several empty bottles lying at his feet.

"Dad, my martial soul awakened." Tang San spoke cautiously.

Tang Hao raised his head through bleary, drunken eyes. "Oh? What martial soul?"

"Blue Silver Grass... Innate Full Soul Power." A trace of anticipation filled Tang San's voice. "Father Su said I can attend Spirit Academy..."

"What?!" Tang Hao abruptly rose to his feet. A bottle was kicked over, shattering with a crisp crash. "Spirit Hall's academy? No! Absolutely not! Even if a useless martial soul awakens Innate Full Soul Power, it is still a useless martial soul! And you want to attend an academy? I'd be laughed to death!"

Tang San was frightened by his father's sudden rage. "But Dad, this is my chance to change my fate..."

"Change your fate?" Tang Hao sneered. "With a useless martial soul, what makes you think you can change your fate?"

Tang San felt somewhat unwilling. When his martial soul had awakened, he had sensed something strange—he seemed to have a second martial soul. He had originally intended to come back and ask his father about it. But seeing Tang Hao's attitude, he held it in.

Even if I tell Dad that I have a second martial soul, perhaps nothing will change.

More importantly, was the man before me really worthy of being my father?

Still, Tang San continued trying to persuade him. "Dad, Father Su said that admission to Spirit Hall Academy is completely free. And someone like me with Innate Full Soul Power can obtain a soul... obtain a soul ring as soon as I enter. After becoming a First Ring Spirit Master, I can even receive a stipend..."

"Shut up! Do you know what Spirit Hall is? They are a pack of sanctimonious hypocrites! Their hands are stained with the blood of innocents!" Tang Hao rose to his feet with a twisted expression and slapped Tang San across the face.

Tang San staggered back two steps, staring in shock at his father's distorted face. In six years, he had never seen his father this agitated.

"But... Spirit Hall has helped many people in the village..." Tang San tried to argue. "Sister Eliza often gives me food, and Father Su also..."

"Shut up!" Tang Hao slapped Tang San across the face again. The force was so great that Tang San stumbled into the wall. "That is all an illusion! A few petty favors were enough to buy you short-sighted fools!"

Tang San clutched his burning cheek, tears welling in his eyes. At that moment, his long-standing tolerance for his father finally reached its limit.

"What about you?" Tang San raised his head, his voice trembling yet firm. "For six years, all you have done is drink and beat me. If not for the people from Spirit Hall, I might have starved to death long ago!"

Tang Hao froze, seemingly never expecting his always-obedient son to resist. His expression shifted from rage to pain, and his eyes turned vicious enough to devour someone.

This son was probably beyond saving. Not only had his awakened martial soul been Blue Silver Grass, but his heart had also sided with Spirit Hall.

If he had not been the child Ah Yin had given birth to at the cost of her life, Tang Hao would have wanted to slap Tang San to death right now!

Tang Hao had originally planned that once Tang San's martial soul awakened, if he awakened the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, Tang Hao would personally teach him and help him quickly become a Titled Douluo. Then the father and son could seek revenge against Spirit Hall.

But Tang San had not awakened his Clear Sky Hammer. He had awakened the useless martial soul Blue Silver Grass instead.

There was certainly no hope for revenge now.

Tang Hao snorted coldly. "Then go if you want. But don't expect to get a single coin from me in the future! If I had known I would sire trash like you, I should have shot you onto the wall!"

After those words, there was no longer any room for reconciliation between father and son.

Elsewhere, at the Angel Sanctuary in Spirit City.

Ye Su slowly woke up. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw that his Reputation Value and Favorability had risen by a substantial amount again. I can cause trouble to my heart's content again!

But that could wait. The six-year period had ended, so he should awaken a martial soul for fun first!

Ye Su's awakening quickly alerted Qian Daoliu. Nearly all of Spirit Hall's high-ranking combat forces gathered here, and even Bibi Dong came over while holding her nose.

She had long wanted to see who this person was whom that old fox Qian Daoliu had hidden away for so long. She had never expected him to be a child.

"The Lord, you have finally awakened!" Upon seeing Ye Su, Qian Daoliu reverently dropped to one knee and placed his right hand over his chest to show his loyalty.

The others behind him also knelt in unison. Only Bibi Dong remained standing there foolishly.

Ye Su casually glanced at the breathtakingly beautiful woman, a nearly imperceptible trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes.

She must be Bibi Dong.

Qian Daoliu naturally noticed the commotion as well. His brows furrowed. Over the past six years, his martial soul had undergone a second transformation, and his strength had long since reached the realm of a Limit Douluo.

Before Ye Su could say anything, he secretly released his pressure and forced Bibi Dong to her knees!