First Encounter with Tang San

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

These past three months had been incredibly hard on Xu Yuan.

He practiced the Tang Sect Secret Arts in the morning, then used the Clear Sky Hammer to find iron and practice forging in the afternoon.

The Purple Demon Eye had already reached the Overview Realm, which greatly surprised God King Tang San.

He knew perfectly well that, under normal circumstances, reaching the Overview Realm in three months was impossible.

When he had first come to the Douluo Continent, it had taken him quite some time to reach the Overview Realm.

And it had also taken him quite some time to reach the Micro-Perception Realm.

One had to know that the Micro-Perception Realm was a requirement for inner disciples.

Many people could never reach the Micro-Perception Realm in their entire lives.

As for the Mustard Seed Realm, not many people had reached it. The main reason was that once they reached the Micro-Perception Realm, few people continued practicing.

First, after reaching the Micro-Perception Realm, the Purple Demon Eye's progress slowed to a crawl. And absorbing Purple Qi from the East every single day without fail was no feat that could be explained away by mere perseverance.

Second, according to legend, a Tang Sect elder had once reached the Mustard Seed Realm with his Purple Demon Eye, but achieved nothing special. He could merely see a little more clearly than someone at the Micro-Perception Realm.

The Mysterious Jade Hand and the Hundred Explanations of Hidden Weapons had reached the minor mastery stage, while Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track had reached the beginner stage.

Xu Yuan's level had already reached 12, and he was twenty percent of the way to level 13.

With his meridians expanded by the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone, Xu Yuan cultivated faster than people with Innate Full Soul Power. Combined with the Mysterious Heaven Skill, his cultivation speed was like a rocket taking off.

He had once calculated Tang San's cultivation speed: Tang San gained 2.8 levels a year, or one level every four months.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Just as Xu Yuan had finished packing his things, someone knocked on the door.

Xu Yuan slung his bundle over his back and went to open the door. Chen Xiao was standing outside.

Chen Xiao smiled warmly at him. "Xiao Yuan, let's go. We'll head to Notting Academy together."

Looking at Chen Xiao's hearty smile, Xu Yuan nodded. "All right, Grandpa Village Chief. Let me lock the door first."

He turned and secured the crude wooden door. The bundle on his back wasn't too heavy; it contained a few changes of clothes and his bedding.

Xu Yuan remembered that the school didn't provide bedding.

The two set off together for Nuoding City.

On the way to Nuoding City, Xu Yuan and Chen Xiao ran into Old Jack and Tang San from Holy Soul Village.

When he saw Tang San, Xu Yuan was a little surprised.

Half of Tang San's face was covered in pimples. He looked rather ugly and a little strange.

God King Tang San, in Xu Yuan's Sea of Consciousness, noticed it too and was deeply puzzled, unable to understand what had happened to this other version of himself.

At the same time, God King Tang San noticed something else: the other version of himself possessed a large amount of his original power. As long as he killed him, he could reclaim it.

But God King Tang San knew he absolutely couldn't make a move just then.

His father was nearby. If he dared attack, Xu Yuan would be done for.

Xu Yuan couldn't die yet. He was going to be Tang San's future body. If Xu Yuan died, Tang San would die too, and that would be a terrible loss.

When Old Jack saw Chen Xiao, he looked quite pleased with himself. "Old Chen, a child in my village awakened Soul Power this year."

Chen Xiao's smile didn't falter. He patted Xu Yuan on the shoulder and said, "Old Jack, don't get too pleased with yourself yet. My Xiao Yuan has Soul Power too."

Old Jack paused and gave Xu Yuan a once-over. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly returned to his smug expression. "Oh, Old Chen, your boy certainly looks lively, but my Xiao San has Innate Full Soul Power!"

Though he didn't know just how impressive Innate Full Soul Power was, he had seen the Soul Master's reaction earlier and knew Tang San was more talented than an ordinary child with Soul Power.

Chen Xiao laughed. "Old Jack, Innate Full Soul Power is impressive, sure, but Xiao Yuan has Innate Full Soul Power too!"

"What? Xiao Yuan has Innate Full Soul Power too?" Old Jack's eyes widened in disbelief. The smug expression on his face froze instantly.

He looked Xu Yuan up and down again, shock and suspicion plain in his eyes.

Tang San raised his head slightly. Beneath the half of his face covered in pimples, a flicker of surprise crossed his bright eyes.

A feeling of disgust rose in his heart. He didn't much like this boy everyone called Xiao Yuan.

Old Jack took a moment to collect himself, then furrowed his brow. "Old Chen, don't make things up. Innate Full Soul Power doesn't come along that easily. How many years has it been since our Holy Soul Village produced a child with Innate Full Soul Power? Xiao San's the only one."

Chen Xiao thumped his chest, brimming with pride. "Old Jack, would I lie to you? I was there with my own eyes when Xiao Yuan awakened his Martial Soul and the Soul Master tested him."

The two walked along chatting, both in excellent spirits.

After walking for half a day, the four arrived at the gates of Notting Academy.

The gatekeeper never gave them any trouble, contrary to what Xu Yuan had expected, because Chen Xiao was related to him. The gatekeeper even greeted them warmly.

Thinking of the novel's plot, Xu Yuan smiled to himself.

Chen Xiao took Xu Yuan to the Academic Affairs Office to register and collect his uniform, then went with him to the dormitory.

At the dormitory entrance, Chen Xiao said, "Xiao Yuan, study hard at school and strive to become a powerful Soul Master."

Xu Yuan nodded firmly, determination shining in his eyes. "Grandpa Village Chief, don't worry. I'll do my best."

Chen Xiao affectionately patted Xu Yuan's head, then turned and left.

Old Jack gave Tang San a few words of advice, then left with Chen Xiao.

Xu Yuan and Tang San entered the dormitory together. It was a spacious room, nearly three hundred square meters, with a total of fifty beds.

There was nothing but the beds, and only eleven had bedding.

Seven or eight children were huddled together, doing who knew what.

Tang San knocked on the door, and the children who had been talking immediately turned to look in their direction.

One of the older boys looked at Tang San, whose clothes were covered in patches, then walked over to the two of them.

The boy asked them, "New work-study students?"

At his question, Xu Yuan and Tang San both nodded.

The boy introduced himself. "I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is War Tiger."

Xu Yuan and Tang San introduced themselves in turn. When they mentioned that their Martial Souls were Blue Silver Grass, they looked at each other.

Tang San hadn't expected such a coincidence: Xu Yuan also had the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

Wang Sheng was surprised too. This was the first time he'd seen two people with Blue Silver Grass who also had Soul Power. He'd even forgotten that he'd meant to put them in their place.

The other students nearby were just as astonished. They hadn't expected two people with such a trash Martial Soul to have Soul Power.

After all, there wasn't a single person with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in the entire academy.