At Graduation

Three years later, Red Mountain Academy.

Wan Yunchao wriggled his chubby body over to Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin and said in a low voice, "Wulin, Wuyang, I heard Zhou Shaolong broke through to Level Ten. He's going to buy a Soul Spirit tonight."

"How are you two doing?"

"Hey, Wuyang, didn't you say you were already Level Nine last time? We're about to graduate. If you still haven't reached Level Ten by then, you'll have to go home and cultivate on your own."

"And Wulin, didn't you already reach Level Ten? When I asked before, you said you were still saving money. What about now? Have you saved enough?"

"If you can't get the academy's Recommendation Letter, getting into an Intermediate Academy later will be a lot harder."

Three years had passed, and the Brothers had changed considerably.

They had grown from one meter twenty to over one meter forty, making them taller than most children their age. Tang Wuyang was even slightly taller than his Older brother, Tang Wulin, though only by a little.

The Brothers were well-proportioned, lean and tall. As they grew older, their features became increasingly refined.

Tang Wulin still wore his hair short and neat, while Tang Wuyang still had shoulder-length, androgynous medium-length hair. The Hair Strands below his shoulders were tied with a light-blue ribbon, and the ends still carried a faint Light Gold tint.

Strangely enough, even if he was taken to get a haircut, the tips would turn gold again after just one night.

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue had worried about it for some time, but after discovering that it had no Influence on their Younger son, they let him be.

Although neither of them had broken through to become Soul Masters yet, that did not stop them from becoming extremely popular at the academy.

Wan Yunchao was the Little Fatty who had come looking for trouble when they had first enrolled.

He had initially looked down on Tang Wulin. However, once, when Tang Wuyang was absent, he had taken the initiative to bully Tang Wulin, only to be badly beaten up by him. After that, he behaved himself for quite a while.

After a period of study, Lin Ximeng discovered that Tang Wuyang, who possessed a Beast Martial Soul, advanced his Soul Power more slowly than Tang Wulin, who possessed the typical Useless Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. As a result, her initial attention toward him gradually faded.

Still unwilling to give up, Wan Yunchao immediately concluded that Tang Wuyang's Qilin Martial Soul was a Useless Martial Soul just like Blue Silver Grass, so he directly turned his attention toward Tang Wuyang.

However, things did not go as he wished. He never expected Tang Wuyang, whose Soul Power was lower than Tang Wulin's, to be even stronger than Tang Wulin.

Faced with Wan Yunchao's provocation, Tang Wuyang did not indulge him. While beating him up, he lifted Wan Yunchao completely over his head.

Wan Yunchao was so frightened that he screamed his head off. From then on, he was traumatized and finally became completely obedient.

Among the dozen or so Students in this year's Martial Soul class, six had already reached Level Ten, allowing them to advance from the lowest rank of Soul Master, Soul Master, to become Soul Masters.

Of course, that was on the premise that they possessed a Soul Spirit of their own.

Three years had passed, and they were about to complete their studies at the Primary Academy.

At an Intermediate Academy, Soul Masters would be separated out and attend specialized academies.

A Small City like Aolai City did not have a primary academy for Soul Masters.

To attend a Soul Master Intermediate Academy in a medium-sized city, one had to possess a Soul Spirit before enrollment.

Wan Yunchao was one of the six Students whose Soul Power had reached Level Ten. Reaching Level Ten before graduating from the Primary Academy allowed one to receive the academy's Recommendation Letter. With it, entering an Intermediate Academy would be much easier.

Being able to obtain a Recommendation Letter proved that a Student's Talent was sufficiently good.

However, if one only reached Level Ten after turning ten, then entering an Intermediate Academy would require passing many more examinations.

"Almost. Wuyang should be close to breaking through too, right? We'll go together then." Tang Wulin replied with a smile.

"Um~, I feel like one more night of Meditation should do it." Tang Wuyang answered with certainty.

When Lin Ximeng saw Tang Wuyang's Innate Soul Power level and his cultivation speed, she judged that his Qilin Martial Soul was probably a weakened mutation of a Martial Soul. While disappointed, she could not help but feel regretful.

However, after guiding them many times, Lin Ximeng discovered that although the two Brothers, Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, possessed Blue Silver Grass, a Useless Martial Soul, and what she considered a weakened mutated Martial Soul respectively, they were exceptionally talented at Meditation.

Whenever they meditated, they could easily sense the energy particles in the air most suited to them, and both of them were particularly focused while meditating.

Later, Lin Ximeng guessed that perhaps the Brothers' Spirit Power was somewhat stronger than that of their peers, which was why this happened.

Having two more children reach Level Ten before graduation was an honor for a Homeroom Teacher, and it also meant Prize Money.

Thus, during the final school year, Lin Ximeng clearly placed much more importance on Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, often giving them extra guidance.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang did not disappoint her. With only half a month left until graduation, Tang Wulin was the first to reach Level Ten, while Tang Wuyang had reached the peak of Level Nine, only a step away from Level Ten.

After learning that Tang Wulin had reached Level Ten, Lin Ximeng had repeatedly asked when he wanted to request leave to obtain a Soul Spirit, but Tang Wulin always fobbed her off with excuses.

Later, she roughly guessed that Tang Wulin was probably waiting for Tang Wuyang, so she stopped urging him.

What she did not know was that Tang Wulin had another reason for not obtaining a Soul Spirit, besides waiting for Tang Wuyang.

That was because he had not saved enough money to buy a Soul Spirit.

Although Tang Wuyang had said at the time that Tang Wulin could use his money first, Tang Wulin firmly refused.

"Add Oil, Add Oil. Maybe we can Pass the Exam for the same Intermediate Academy." Wan Yunchao chuckled. "Don't say Ge is bullying you two. Once you both have Soul Spirits, we'll fight again and see whose Soul Skill is stronger."

Tang Wuyang shot him a glance, then slung his schoolbag over his back and Stood Up with Tang Wulin. "Keep dreaming."

He would not tell Wan Yunchao just how great his strength was now.

Tang Wulin watched the enthusiastic Wan Yunchao with a smile but said nothing. Just as Tang Wuyang had hidden his strength, over the past three years, Tang Wulin had only revealed his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to his Teacher and classmates. He had kept the Holy Dragon Spear Martial Soul hidden, just as Tang Ziran had instructed.

The Brothers arrived at the school gate. Tang Wuyang did not continue forward, instead stopping outside the gate.

Tang Wulin did not find this strange. He turned his head and said, "Wuyang, I'll head off first."

"Okay."

Tang Wuyang watched Tang Wulin's departing back and quietly waited where he was.

Before long, a streak of silver light came running out from the direction of the main Teaching Building.

"Na'er, slow down. Be careful not to fall." Tang Wuyang's voice was full of affection.

Three years had passed, and Na'er still had short silver hair. Her appearance had barely changed; she had only grown a little taller and was still tiny.

Standing beside Tang Wuyang, she did not look like she was a year younger than him at all.

"Older brother, I want Sugar-coated haws and lollipops." Na'er skipped over to Tang Wuyang and threw herself directly into his In Arms.

"Alright, Older brother will take you to buy them. Once I send you home, I'll go to the workshop." Tang Wuyang hugged Na'er's soft body and rubbed her Little Head.

The Students passing by after school had long since grown used to this sight.

In the second year after Na'er came to the Tang Family, she created a miracle during the Awakening Ceremony.

This miracle was not because she awakened a powerful Martial Soul, but because she did not possess a Martial Soul at all.

That was an extremely rare situation in the entire history of Douluo Continent.

Without a Martial Soul, she naturally could only enter the academy's regular class and study normally.

Because Na'er was very pretty, she drew the jealousy of the girls her age and the curiosity of the boys in her class.

Because of this, Tang Wuyang had gotten into no shortage of fights over the past three years.

Once, the two of them were surrounded by a group of male classmates. Tang Wuyang could not defeat them alone, so he held Na'er tightly In Arms and used his own body to protect her.

As a result, his entire body was covered in injuries, while Na'er, in his arms, had only gotten a little dirt on her.

When they returned home, Tang Wulin saw them and immediately ran toward the door, intending to avenge his Younger brother. However, Tang Wuyang stepped in front of him and stopped him.

"Ge, I want to handle this myself."

Seeing the determination in his Younger brother's eyes, Tang Wulin gradually calmed down and Nodded. "Alright, but be careful. Don't get hurt again."

"Um~, I understand." Tang Wuyang quickly agreed.

The next day, Tang Wuyang directly sought out the instigator and fought him desperately every day until he scared the other party so badly that he never dared bully Na'er again.

Since he was in the Soul Master class, he did not receive much punishment. That battle made him famous, and no one in all of Red Mountain Academy dared bully Na'er again.

Ever since Na'er started school, Tang Wuyang had shouldered the responsibility of caring for her as he had promised, picking up and dropping off his Younger sister every day.

After taking Na'er to buy some snacks and sending her home, Tang Wuyang put down his schoolbag, changed into a thick work uniform, and left home for Mang Tian's Workshop.

"Wuyang, you're here! Your Older brother has already started." A Young man in his twenties greeted Tang Wuyang.

Tang Wuyang smiled. "Brother Long, hello. What tasks did Teacher assign today?"

Brother Long smiled and said, "Quite a few. Go take a look at your room and you'll know."

"Come to think of it, I'm a little jealous of you Brothers. How old are you? Your workload has already caught up to mine."

In the Forging trade, the more one worked, the more one earned.

Tang Wuyang scratched his head and said modestly, "How could we compare to Brother Long? Teacher still won't let Older brother and me forge large components yet!"

Brother Long said, "That's also so your foundation will be more solid. Alright, hurry along. Otherwise, you won't finish in two hours today."

Mang Tian's Workshop actually had only four people: Mang Tian, Brother Long, and the two Brothers, Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang.

Originally, Brother Long had been Mang Tian's only disciple. After Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang arrived, the workshop suddenly became much livelier.

Mang Tian was a very strict Teacher with high standards, but he also taught very carefully.

Here, everyone had a Forging Room of their own. Mang Tian would take on jobs forging Mecha components from outside and distribute them among them.

The simple jobs went to Brother Long, Tang Wulin, and Tang Wuyang, while he handled the complex ones himself.

One day each week was Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's dedicated study time. On that day, Mang Tian taught them hand in hand.

On the remaining days, they had to complete the tasks Mang Tian assigned. The more they did, the better, and the higher their income would be.

Tang Wuyang arrived at his Forging Room. Some raw materials had already been placed on the Forging Table, with blueprints beside them.

When the two had first arrived, Mang Tian made them hammer iron blocks for a full three months. He only taught them the techniques of striking and Force Application, and they had to hammer for two full hours every day.

With continuous practice, Tang Wuyang's already considerable strength continued to grow, and the hammer In Hand gradually grew larger as well.

Tang Wulin's strength also improved, but just as Tang Wuyang's Soul Power grew more slowly than his, Tang Wulin's strength also did not increase as quickly as Tang Wuyang's.

Only after studying Forging for a full year did the two begin producing the simplest small components.

Half a year ago, they had finally advanced from small components to medium-sized ones.

After carefully examining the blueprint, Tang Wuyang instantly understood that today's task was ten joints.

These were Mecha Elbow Joints, spherical in shape.

Forging, like Soul Master ranks, was divided into many levels.

Most pieces underwent Hundred Refinements. So-called Hundred Refinements meant every part of a component had to be completed through more than a hundred hammer strikes.

Above Hundred Refinements was Thousand Forging. The more times a piece was hammered, the fewer impurities remained inside the metal.

Tang Wuyang skillfully pressed the buttons on the Forging Table, and two pitch-black Iron Hammers appeared in his hands.

This pair of Iron Hammers had been Mang Tian's gift to them exactly one year after they came here. Tang Wulin had an identical pair.

They were Thousand Refinement Tungsten Steel Hammers personally crafted by Mang Tian, each weighing more than eighty jin.

Under the intense heat of the Smelting Furnace, the metal quickly burned red-hot.

Tang Wuyang used the Forging Hammer in his right hand to push against the Card slot, while the Tungsten Steel Hammer in his Left Hand pressed down from above the metal.

The two Forging Hammers moved one above and one below, clamping the smelted metal out.

After placing the metal on the platform, Tang Wuyang raised his right hand high, then smashed it down fiercely. A series of "ding ding dang dang" sounds immediately rang through the Forging Room.

Forging was a craft, so when Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang had first started learning Forging, Mang Tian told them that to become qualified Forging Masters, they had to use their brains.

During the hammering process, they had to use the rebound force and changes in the metal to judge the metal's own characteristics and grain structure. Only by mastering those things could they forge true fine products.

The Brothers, Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, both had excellent comprehension in this regard. What they did not know was that when Mang Tian gave them the Tungsten Steel Hammers in their hands, it meant they had already become official Forging Masters.

Although their monthly income was not much, they each consistently saved a portion of it.

After discussing it, Tang Wuyang used the rest of his money to buy snacks for Na'er or little miscellaneous items for the three of them, while Tang Wulin gave his share to Lang Yue to help support the household.

Although they were both only nine years old, three years of Forging had made them more composed than their peers.

It took Tang Wuyang a full two hours to finish the final component. He grabbed a towel beside him, wiped the sweat from his face, and left the Forging Room to find Mang Tian and Hand Over his work.

When Tang Wuyang reached Mang Tian's room, he happened to see Tang Wulin preparing to knock on the door.

"Ge, you're done too?"

"Um~." Tang Wulin Nodded.

The two entered Mang Tian's room together. "Teacher, we've finished."

Mang Tian Stood Up and took the two of them to Tang Wulin's room first to inspect his work.

Afterward, he went to Tang Wuyang's room Next door, took a look, and Nodded.

Satisfied, Mang Tian turned around and handed each of them a stack of Banknotes. "This month's wages. You did well."

"Thank you, Teacher."

After thanking him in unison, the two quickly accepted the Banknotes, tucked them In Arms, and excitedly pumped their fists.

Mang Tian looked at the usually steady pair in confusion. "You don't usually look this happy when you get paid every month."

Tang Wuyang looked at Mang Tian with bright eyes. "Teacher, we've saved enough money to buy Soul Spirits."

Mang Tian was stunned for a moment, then slightly moved. "You mean both of you have reached Level Ten?"

He knew Tang Wulin had reached Level Ten, but Tang Wuyang had only been Level Nine when he came yesterday.

Tang Wulin Nodded and said, "Wuyang said he feels he's almost there."

Mang Tian rarely revealed a trace of a smile. "Add Oil."

"Teacher, Older brother and I will head back first."

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin bowed to Mang Tian at the same time, then eagerly ran outside.

Watching the two children's backs, Mang Tian's smile deepened. "These two Kids finally look a little like children."

"Ah, what a pity. One has the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, while the other has a malignant mutation of a Beast Martial Soul. No matter what Soul Spirits they obtain, I'm afraid they will..."

"Still, perhaps that is also my good fortune. In Forging, these two children's Talent is enough to inherit my legacy."