Successive Blows

Morning.

The two brothers had both gotten up early that day. Even at breakfast, they ate less than usual.

As their father, Tang Ziran naturally understood how restless his two sons felt.

Seeing how eager they were, Tang Ziran could not help but smile. "It's rare to see you two little ones this unsettled. Don't rush. If we get there too early, the Spirit Pagoda won't even be open yet."

For Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang, this was undoubtedly an especially important day. They were going to buy Soul Spirits.

"Dad, what kind of Soul Spirits do you think Wuyang and I will get?"

As Tang Wulin spoke, Tang Wuyang also looked at their father with eyes full of anticipation.

No matter how composed they usually were, they were still only nine-year-old children.

For three years, they had worked tirelessly for this very day. Now that the day of harvest had finally arrived, how could they possibly remain calm?

Tang Ziran smiled slightly. "Dad doesn't know either. But no matter what kind of Soul Spirits you obtain, you'll be able to advance from Soul Masters to One-Ring Soul Masters. Once you become Soul Masters, you'll begin to pull away from ordinary people."

"Mm!" Tang Wulin nodded excitedly, while Tang Wuyang's imagination was also filled with thoughts of Soul Spirits.

The two children were so caught up in their excitement that they did not notice the undertones in their father's voice.

Watching her two brothers anxiously drag their father out of the house, Na'er stood at the doorway and watched the three of them disappear into the distance. Confusion appeared in her beautiful eyes once more.

With her brows slightly furrowed, Na'er seemed to be struggling to think of something.

"Dad, hurry up! Faster!" Tang Wulin happily walked ahead while pulling his brother along, occasionally turning back to urge their father onward.

Watching the two children bounce with excitement, Tang Ziran helplessly shook his head. Deep in his eyes, a trace of worry flickered.

Obtaining a suitable Soul Spirit was not so easy. It was not something that could simply be bought at will.

The Spirit Pagoda Organization had existed for ten thousand years and spread across the continent. Not only was it present on Douluo Continent, but it had also expanded to the other two continents discovered over the past several thousand years.

Although Aolai City was a small city in a remote region, it still had a Spirit Pagoda branch, located at the center of the city.

When the three arrived, the Spirit Pagoda's main doors had already opened, though there were few people inside.

After all, only Soul Masters came here, and the number of Soul Masters in Aolai City could be counted on one hand.

Tang Ziran led his two children into the Spirit Pagoda. Their gazes continuously swept across their surroundings as they examined this legendary place.

The Spirit Pagoda was octagonal, with three stories and wide-open interior space. The floor was marble engraved with the Spirit Pagoda's emblem.

A ring of doors leading who knew where surrounded the room. Directly ahead was something like a counter, behind which sat a Spirit Transmission Master in a gray robe.

Seeing one adult and two children approach, the Spirit Transmission Master stood up. His gaze landed on Tang Ziran. "Hello. What can I do for you?"

Tang Ziran hurriedly replied respectfully, "Hello, Spirit Transmission Master. I brought my two sons here to purchase Soul Spirits. Their Soul Power has both reached Level Ten."

At those words, much of the Spirit Transmission Master's initial warmth faded from his face.

Clearly, this middle-aged man was not a Soul Master.

"Did you bring enough money?" the Spirit Transmission Master asked coldly.

Tang Wulin quickly answered, "We did. We brought enough."

"What grade of Soul Spirit do you wish to purchase?"

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Tang Ziran's face as he cautiously asked, "Spirit Transmission Master, we don't know much about this. Could I trouble you to explain it to us?"

The Spirit Transmission Master sounded somewhat impatient. "You came without looking into it first?"

"In a small place like Aolai City, our Spirit Pagoda only offers three types of Soul Spirits: Ten-Year White Soul Spirits, Century Yellow Soul Spirits, and Random Soul Spirits."

"There are seventy-three choices of Ten-Year White Soul Spirits and eleven choices of Century Yellow Soul Spirits."

"A White Soul Spirit costs seventy thousand each, while a Yellow Soul Spirit costs one million each. Which kind do you want?"

After hearing the Spirit Transmission Master's explanation, Tang Wulin's little face immediately turned pale. He had clearly been frightened by the exorbitant prices.

Tang Wuyang's face was also filled with shock. "Spirit Transmission Master, aren't Soul Spirits thirty thousand? H-how..."

The Spirit Transmission Master glanced at the two children. "Thirty thousand is for a Random Soul Spirit. You might draw a ten-year one, or you might draw a century one, but you cannot determine the type. There is a strong chance you'll draw one incompatible with your Martial Soul."

"Some people choose this method because they want to save money and gamble on their luck."

"I don't recommend it. Choosing a Ten-Year White Soul Spirit that suits you directly would help you more."

From their clothes and manner of speaking, he could tell that they were definitely not people who could afford Century Soul Spirits.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin turned to look at their father at the same time. All their earlier excitement and anticipation vanished in that instant.

Tang Ziran crouched down and looked at his two sons, unable to find words for a moment.

"Linlin, Yangyang, let's choose Random Soul Spirits. Both of your Martial Souls are fairly adaptable, so you should be able to fuse with most Soul Spirits."

If Tang Wulin's Martial Soul had not been Blue Silver Grass, or if Tang Wuyang's Innate Soul Power had been a little higher, Tang Ziran would never have chosen such a risky method.

From what he had learned from the academy teachers, his younger son's Martial Soul was likely what was known as a malignant mutation. One of his older son's Martial Souls was also a classic useless Martial Soul, while his Innate Soul Power was not high either. His talent clearly could not compare to those true geniuses with Twin Martial Souls.

The fact that the two children had managed to cultivate to Level Ten before graduation had already brought him no small surprise.

"I must remind you of something." The Spirit Transmission Master's voice immediately drew the attention of the father and sons.

"When drawing Random Soul Spirits, you may draw a Century Soul Spirit, but you may also draw defective goods."

Tang Ziran froze. "Defective goods? What are defective goods?"

The Spirit Transmission Master explained, "Artificial Soul Spirits are not successfully produced every time. Sometimes, defective goods can appear during their creation."

"These defective goods also require considerable effort to make, and they can still be fused, so they are placed among the random draws."

"Otherwise, if random draws contained only White or Yellow Soul Spirits, wouldn't anyone manipulating the results be guaranteed a profit?"

"Judging by your circumstances, sixty thousand Federation Coins is no small sum for you two children. So you'd better think this through carefully."

Tang Ziran turned toward his sons. Tang Wulin's gaze had become somewhat vacant, while Tang Wuyang's face was filled with confusion.

Neither of them had imagined that after working hard for three years and coming to the Spirit Pagoda full of joy, this was what they would face.

"Linlin, Yangyang, how about we go home first? Dad will think of another way."

"If it comes to it, I'll borrow some money and try to gather enough for the seventy thousand needed for Ten-Year Soul Spirits..."

Seeing the looks on his two sons' faces, Tang Ziran felt waves of pain rise in his heart.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang exchanged glances. Seeing the question in his older brother's eyes, the confusion in Tang Wuyang's eyes instantly turned into determination. He nodded firmly at Tang Wulin.

Then, together with Tang Wulin, he looked at Tang Ziran. "Dad, we'll choose this one. You and Mom already work so hard for us every day. Maybe Brother and I will get lucky and happen to draw good Soul Spirits."

Tang Wulin also chimed in, "Yeah, Dad. You and Mom work so hard. Besides, my Martial Soul is only Blue Silver Grass."

Ever since their Martial Soul Awakening, Tang Wuyang's appetite had risen sharply. Although Tang Wulin's was not as exaggerated as Tang Wuyang's, it had still doubled. And then there was Na'er, whose appetite was nearly equal to Tang Wuyang's.

For a working-class family, it was already difficult enough for Tang Ziran and Lang Yue to support them. Whenever there was anything good to eat, they always saved it for the three children. The couple could not even bear to eat meat themselves.

Children from poor families grew up early. Though Tang Ziran and Lang Yue had never said anything, the brothers had seen it all.

The family was already struggling. If their parents had to borrow money for them as well, how would they live in the future?

"What sensible children."

The Spirit Transmission Master, who had been somewhat impatient before, could not help but soften his expression upon hearing Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's words.

"Ah..." Tang Ziran sighed painfully. "It's because Dad is useless."

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin each took one of their father's hands. Looking at the Spirit Transmission Master before them, they spoke in unison. "Spirit Transmission Master, please take us to choose Random Soul Spirits."

As they spoke, they placed the thirty thousand Federation Coins each had painstakingly saved over three years onto the counter.

The Spirit Transmission Master nodded. "You two really are sensible. You're far better than that brat of mine."

"Normally, the Spirit Power test conducted before selecting a Soul Spirit also costs money. But today, I'll make the decision. I'll waive the testing fee for you."

Both boys froze for a moment, then hurriedly said in unison, "Thank you, Spirit Transmission Master."

The Spirit Transmission Master smiled and patted their heads. "Come with me. This father can wait here. The world of Soul Masters isn't something ordinary people can glimpse."

He brought Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin to a room filled with various instruments, gestured for them to sit in chairs, and casually asked, "Do you know why your Spirit Power needs to be tested?"

The two boys shook their heads blankly.

The Spirit Transmission Master explained, "Because the strength of one's Spirit Power determines what level of Soul Spirit one can fuse with. Ten thousand years ago, before Soul Spirits existed, there was no classification for Spirit Power."

"But as Soul Spirits appeared, people realized that fusing Soul Spirits required more attention to Spirit Power than fusing Soul Rings did."

"Only through continuous research did people establish the classification of Spirit Power levels."

The Spirit Transmission Master placed metal helmet-like devices over their heads and continued, "From low to high, Spirit Power is divided into the Spirit Origin Realm, Spirit Connection Realm, Spirit Sea Realm, Spirit Abyss Realm, Spirit Domain Realm, and the legendary God Origin Realm."

"You'll learn all of this at the academy later. For now, let's see what stage of the Spirit Origin Realm you've reached."

A faint humming sound began, and numbers started flashing across the Soul Guidance Screens beside them.

At first, the numbers changed rapidly. After a while, they gradually stabilized.

When the Spirit Transmission Master saw the numbers on the two screens, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

After a while, the numbers stopped changing. He shut down the instruments, and the helmets rose.

"Done."

Tang Wuyang felt dizzy. During the test, he had vaguely seen the Golden World from his Martial Soul Awakening again, but before he could react, the test had ended.

"Very good results. Little Tang Wulin, your Spirit Power is forty."

"Little Tang Wuyang, your Spirit Power is forty-five."

"Congratulations. These are the highest results among the Soul Masters I've tested in nearly a year."

"I'll prepare test reports for you later. When you attend an Intermediate Soul Master Academy, you can submit them directly."

The two boys looked somewhat confused after hearing this, so the Spirit Transmission Master kindly explained, "Spirit Power in the Spirit Origin Realm ranges from one to one hundred."

"Below thirty is the Spirit Origin Realm Initial Stage. Thirty to sixty is the Intermediate Stage, sixty to ninety is the Advanced Stage, and ninety to one hundred is the Spirit Origin Realm Peak."

"At your young age, reaching the Spirit Origin Realm Intermediate Stage is already very impressive."

"I'm currently a Twenty-Eighth Rank Soul Grandmaster, yet my Spirit Power is only eighty-seven. With your Spirit Power, even fusing with a Century Yellow Soul Spirit would not be a problem. Now we'll see how lucky you are."

The Spirit Transmission Master led them to another room. Inside stood a massive machine three meters tall and six meters wide.

They could clearly see many identical spherical objects inside the machine.

The Spirit Transmission Master pointed to it. "The green button starts it, and the Red Button stops it. Whatever rolls out after it stops is the Soul Spirit you draw. Who wants to go first?"

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin exchanged glances. Looking at this unfamiliar yet novel machine, both of them could not help feeling nervous.

Lin Ximeng, their teacher, had once explained in class that the quality of a Soul Spirit would largely determine a Soul Master's strength.

A powerful Soul Spirit could even help a Soul Master raise their Soul Power Level after fusion.

Conversely, if a Soul Spirit was too weak, the Soul Skill it gave its Soul Master would also be weak.

Under normal circumstances, a Soul Master could possess at most nine Soul Skills in a lifetime. Situations like Tang Wulin's Twin Martial Souls were truly rare.

Soul Masters capable of cultivating to the Nine Ring level were exceedingly scarce. Thus, for Soul Masters with low Innate Soul Power, every Soul Skill was immensely important.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath. "Then... I'll go first."

He pressed the green button, then placed his hand over the Red Button. After pausing for a moment, he pressed it.

A pure white Soul Spirit ball rolled out from the exit and fell into the metal box below it.

Tang Wulin reached out and accepted the Soul Spirit ball handed to him by the Spirit Transmission Master, then turned to Tang Wuyang. "Wuyang, it's your turn."

Tang Wuyang's left hand hanging at his side clenched slightly. He stepped before the machine and repeated Tang Wulin's actions.

Once the Spirit Transmission Master saw that both of them had received Soul Spirit balls, he said, "Let's go. We'll look at them outside."

The two followed the Spirit Transmission Master back to the main hall and walked over to Tang Ziran.

The Spirit Transmission Master handed them each an oval-shaped device. "Press this button, and the Soul Spirit will be released."

Tang Wuyang nervously looked at the device in his hand. Together with Tang Wulin, he pressed the button. The Soul Spirit balls slowly opened, and identical white light shone from their palms.

Seeing the white light, the Spirit Transmission Master said, "Ten-Year Soul Spirits."

Inside Tang Wuyang's Soul Spirit ball lay a small creature resembling a lion. Its entire body was snow-white and without the slightest impurity, while a small silvery-white horn stood in the center of its forehead.

Looking at the Soul Spirit in Tang Wuyang's hand, surprise flashed through the Spirit Transmission Master's eyes before turning into regret. "Th-this is Bai Ze?"

Tang Wuyang's attention was entirely focused on the little beast in his palm, and he did not notice the change in the Spirit Transmission Master's expression beside him.

The Spirit Transmission Master then shifted his gaze to the other child.

Inside Tang Wulin's Soul Spirit ball was a coiled indigo little snake.

It looked very frail, only around fifteen centimeters long. On its forehead were two tiny bumps that could easily be overlooked.

Seeing the true forms of their Soul Spirits, the Spirit Transmission Master could not help sighing. Regretfully, he said, "When it rains, it pours. Children, although your Soul Spirits aren't defective goods, they're not much better than defective goods."

He happened to know the origins of these two Soul Spirits.

"Children, both of your Soul Spirits have their own flaws."

"Little Tang Wulin, this Grass Snake is not only just thirty years old, but it also has almost no attack power. I believe you can see that it is very weak. After fusion, it definitely won't give you a good Soul Skill. It may even waste one of your Soul Skill slots."

"As for little Tang Wuyang's Bai Ze, it is a special case that our Spirit Pagoda researchers produced by chance. Not only is it full of unknowns, with no one knowing what kind of Soul Skill it will bring after fusion, but its age is far too low. Its age is even lower than little Tang Wulin's Grass Snake, barely reaching ten years."

"Ah." The Spirit Transmission Master sighed. "Once Soul Spirits are drawn, they are activated. Fusion must be completed within twenty-four hours, or they will dissipate and die."

"You can decide for yourselves whether you truly wish to fuse with them. If you choose to give up, you can come back later and select other Soul Spirits."

Tang Ziran looked at his two sons, whose faces were pale and expressions vacant. He barely suppressed the pain in his heart and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. "Linlin, Yangyang, let's go home."

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin merely followed silently behind their father, taking slow steps toward the exit.

"Wait." Seeing how dejected the two children were, the Spirit Transmission Master ultimately could not stop himself from calling out to them.

"You should still give up these two Soul Spirits. Although they are successful experimental products, there is a greater chance that they will have harmful effects on your Martial Souls after fusion."

Out of pity, he still tried to persuade the two children to give up these weak Soul Spirits.