Birthday

He hadn't told anyone about this, not even Old Jack or Su Yuntao, the Martial Soul Hall executor who had helped awaken his spirit.

After all, those were all outsiders.

[Tang Sect Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, General Outline, Article One: Never let anyone you cannot fully trust know your true strength.]

Tang San had long since memorized the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record by heart, and he held absolute, unwavering faith in its general outline, treating it as a guiding principle of life.

The door curtain was suddenly flung open, and Tang Hao strode out. The shock on his face was evident; his eyes were bloodshot, as if he had just been crying.

Before Tang Hao could speak, Tang San revealed his other martial soul. With a flash of black light, a hammer materialized in Tang San's left hand.

It was a pitch-black hammer, the handle about half a foot long, the head a cylindrical shape that looked very much like a miniature forging hammer. But on that black surface, there was a peculiar luster, and a faint pattern coiled around the cylindrical hammerhead.

The moment the hammer appeared, Tang San felt his inner energy completely drained, and the hammer was astonishingly heavy, making it extremely difficult to lift.

When he saw the hammer martial soul, Tang Hao's dead-fish eyes reignited like embers catching flame, and he became excited again. "Twin martial souls—it's actually twin martial souls. My son, my son."

Tang Hao suddenly pulled Tang San into his embrace, his strong, solid arms holding him tightly.

Tang Hao's movements were rough; the strength in his arms even made Tang San's bones creak slightly. But being held in his father's iron-like embrace, Tang San felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

Family affection—was this what family affection felt like?

Tang San closed his eyes slightly. How he wished time would stop at this moment. A father's love, family affection—it was so wonderful!

From birth until now, this was the first time Tang San had experienced a father's love, and the feeling was so wonderful.

Even though he had lived two lifetimes, even though he was nearly thirty in his previous life, this was a feeling he had never had before.

At this moment, Tang San couldn't help but think, having a father is truly wonderful, and being a son is truly wonderful.

The father and son lingered in this warmth for a long time before reluctantly parting.

"Xiao San, remember, in the future, you must use the hammer in your left hand to protect the grass in your right hand. Always." Tang Hao's expression was dead serious.

Although Tang San felt it was a bit inexplicable, being as filial as he was, how could he argue with Tang Hao?

At noon, after lunch, Tang San first washed the pots and dishes, then cleaned up the house.

After finishing all that, he continued his day-in, day-out blacksmithing. Unusually, Tang Hao didn't go to sleep but instead watched Tang San forge.

After watching for a while, when Tang San was drenched in sweat, Tang Hao called him to stop.

"What you're doing is wrong."

Tang San lifted his dark, grimy face to look at the towering Tang Hao. "Dad, then what should I do?"

Tang Hao began teaching him some forging techniques, then personally demonstrated, guiding Tang San hand in hand.

And so, Tang San began his three-month stint of blacksmithing. It was only later that he learned Tang Hao had taught him the famous Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique, which could be used not only for forging but also in battle.

In Notting City, inside a magnificent mansion, Lin Ye sat on a swing in the courtyard, swaying slowly back and forth.

He held a copy of the Encyclopedia of Soul Beasts in his hands, reading with great interest.

Bing Di sat close beside him, holding half a large watermelon and scooping it out with a spoon, looking very content.

Time flew like a shuttle. It had been over nine months since he had crossed over as a soul, and Lin Ye was about to welcome his long-awaited sixth birthday.

Over the past few months, Lin Ye had eaten and drunk well, no longer in the malnourished state he had been in at the start.

His hair was thick and jet-black, neatly covering his small head like ink, exuding a lively aura. A pair of red pupils were especially striking, like two dazzling red gemstones, shining with a mysterious and translucent light.

His face still had a bit of childish baby fat, chubby and very cute. His fair skin formed a sharp and captivating contrast with his black hair and red eyes, making it easy to spot this particularly striking little boy in a crowd.

His small body swayed with the motion of the swing, a smile spreading across his face. Tomorrow was his birthday.

Tomorrow, he would awaken his martial soul. Lin Ye was looking forward to it.

Over the past half year or so, he had also consumed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew he had obtained from the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well, along with the earlier Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Blazing Apricot Jiao Sparse. With these Celestial Grade Herbs as a foundation, he was confident that his martial soul's Innate Soul Power would not be low.

Through these days of getting along, Bing Di had also changed. The most obvious sign was that she no longer clashed with Lin Ye at every turn like she had at the beginning.

Just then, Xue Di walked into the courtyard with light steps.

But Xue Di wasn't alone; behind her followed two figures, one large and one small.

Lin Ye jumped off the swing and went to meet them. "Grandfather Dugu, Sister Yan, why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming?"

That's right, the visitors were Dugu Bo and his granddaughter Dugu Yan. Ever since Xue Di had helped the grandfather and granddaughter, the two had often come to visit and socialize.

Over time, the relationship between both sides naturally grew close.

"Haha, isn't it because we heard you're about to awaken your martial soul? We came to offer our congratulations. With our relationship, why be so formal?" Dugu Bo said with a chuckle.

When they first started interacting, he had been extremely respectful, but after getting to know him, he found that this little fellow Lin Ye was easy to get along with and didn't have the usual arrogance of rich kids. So they gradually became familiar, and his speech was no longer so distant.

"Alright then, make yourselves at home."

Lin Ye didn't bother playing host to the grandfather and granddaughter. They had come many times and were already very familiar.

In fact, the two even had fixed rooms here.

Lin Ye sat back down on the swing, and Dugu Yan proactively came up behind him to gently push the swing.

Thanks to Lin Ye's advice, she had consumed the Celestial Grade Herb Earth Dragon Golden Melon. Not only had her soul power surged, but her martial soul had also evolved from a Jade Phosphorous Serpent into a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor.

And also because of Lin Ye and his two companions, the Severe Poison on her and her grandfather had been resolved.

Because of this, whenever she spent time with Lin Ye, she always carried a sense of closeness.

"Xiao Ye, you're awakening your martial spirit tomorrow. Have you decided which Soul Master Academy to attend?" Dugu Yan asked.

Lin Ye shook his head. "No. Why go to a Soul Master Academy? It's a waste of time."

"How can you say that? You should be around people your own age more. Don't you want to make new friends?"

Dugu Yan felt that children should act like children—spending time with their peers was good for their mental and physical health.

Lin Ye could actually guess what she was thinking. Dugu Yan still saw him as a child. But the truth was, he had already been through the whole schooling experience and had no desire to live that repetitive life again.

"Sister Yan, let's drop this. I just don't click with those little brats. Let's talk about you instead. By the way, Sister Yan, what's your soul power level now?"

At this, Dugu Yan's face lit up with joy. "I just broke through to level 31 not long ago. And I owe it all to you. If you hadn't pointed out that Earth Dragon Golden Melon, I wouldn't have had this opportunity, right?"

Sister Yan's talent isn't that great, Lin Ye thought. Dugu Yan was thirteen years old at level 31, which matched Tang San's original progress—but Tang San hadn't eaten any immortal herbs in the early stages.