Then Awaken the Martial Spirit

"I am your father." That is the explanation I give you.

Tang Hao replied indifferently.

Tang Liu understood the subtext behind Tang Hao's words, which only made him feel more irritated, along with a touch of grievance.

He stared stubbornly at Tang Hao, even as beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and his small, thin frame began to tremble slightly.

He simply refused to sit down under the pressure; he refused to submit before him.

If you have the ability, then use your pressure to crush me to death!

Even if you are a Titled Douluo, even if you are my father!

I will not bow my head!

Tang Liu's eyes conveyed this message, and even if Tang Hao could not understand it with absolute precision, he could grasp the general meaning.

A trace of imperceptible relief and astonishment flashed across his face, seen by no one.

"Xiao Liu, what's wrong with you?" Tang San saw Tang Liu's face flushed red and immediately understood where the problem lay, so he trotted to Tang Liu's side and reached out to support him.

Just then, Tang Hao withdrew his pressure, and Tang Liu's body went limp, only staying upright because Tang San was holding him.

"Xiao Liu, are you alright?" Tang San asked with concern before looking at Tang Hao, "Dad, what did you do to Xiao Liu?"

Tang Hao did not answer him, instead asking in return, "What is it you wanted to say?"

Tang San was stunned. He frowned and was just about to speak when Tang Liu stopped him.

"Brother, tell him what you wanted to say earlier."

Even though he was trying his best to hide it, Tang Liu's voice still trembled slightly and carried a note of weakness.

Tang San looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then said to Tang Hao, "Can you teach me how to forge?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Hao finally looked at him seriously, though his tone remained cold, "Why do you suddenly want to learn?"

"That way, I can help you take on business," Tang San said, revealing part of his motive for wanting to learn.

"A blacksmith... that doesn't seem too bad," Tang Hao muttered.

"Can you or can't you? Give us an answer!" Seeing Tang Hao remain unresponsive for so long, Tang Liu flared up again.

Tang Hao turned his gaze back to Tang Liu. He had intended to glare at him, but seeing his small face—now deathly pale after enduring his pressure—and recalling the way he had tried to control his voice while still sounding like a cute, naive child, his heart softened, and he ignored him.

His expression turned serious as he said to Tang San, "Xiao San, let me ask you, what kind of blacksmith makes a good blacksmith?"

Tang San paused, likely thinking, before giving his own answer, "It should be..."

But before he could finish his sentence, Tang Liu, whom he was supporting, finally reached his limit, rolled his eyes back, and fainted.

"Xiao Liu!" Tang San exclaimed.

Tang Hao moved in a flash, arriving at Tang San's side and taking the unconscious Tang Liu from his arms.

Tang San, worried for his brother, didn't even notice the astonishing speed Tang Hao had just displayed, and asked, "Dad, what's wrong with Xiao Liu!"

Tang Hao frowned, extending his large, rough right palm to cover Tang Liu's lower abdomen. A moment later, he finished checking Tang Liu's physical condition with his soul power, and his furrowed brow relaxed.

"He's fine, just tired and fell asleep," Tang Hao said indifferently, then carried Tang Liu toward the brothers' room, "You stay here; I still have things to say to you."

That single sentence stopped Tang San, who had wanted to follow.

Inside the room, Tang Hao gently placed Tang Liu on the relatively soft bed and tucked him in.

Looking at Tang Liu's facial features—which were remarkably similar to Ah Yin's yet inherited a few of his own rugged lines—a rare look of tenderness appeared on Tang Hao's face.

"Acting tough at such a young age; I don't know who you take after."

He shook his head and walked outside.

Several days later, the day of the Martial Soul awakening arrived.

Jack, the village head of Holy Soul Village, led the brothers Tang San and Tang Liu toward the large wooden house in the center of the village: the Martial Soul Hall.

There were eight children in total needing their Martial Souls awakened this year, and Tang San and Tang Liu were the last to arrive.

"Seriously, for such an important matter, the old man didn't even come with us..." Once inside the Martial Soul Hall, Tang Liu couldn't help but complain to Tang San.

Tang San patted his shoulder, "Dad has things to do today; don't blame him."

Tang Liu pursed his lips and muttered, "Drinking? Or sleeping? What could he possibly have to do..." His voice was very soft, and Tang San did not hear him.

Soon, they stood in a line with the other six children.

Village head Jack stepped forward to converse with a handsome young man in his twenties, his demeanor respectful.

Tang Liu also looked curiously at the young man, Su Yuntao.

"So this is the 'iron-willed Su Yuntao'? I wonder if that makes me the 'flowing protagonist'?" Tang Liu mocked himself inwardly.

After all, it would be a lie to say he wasn't curious about something as novel as a Martial Soul awakening. Besides, he had been a high school student in his previous life; even after being deeply scarred by society, a bit of "middle-school syndrome" still remained.

"I wonder what kind of Martial Soul I'll awaken, and if it will be the same as Third Brother's?" he thought to himself, watching Su Yuntao as he began the awakening process for the first child.

At this moment, Su Yuntao was already in his state of Martial Soul Possession, with one white and one yellow ring pulsing around his body.

So those must be the Spirit Rings... Tang Liu observed quietly.

A faint pressure emanated from the transformed Su Yuntao, yet Tang Liu felt no discomfort at all; perhaps it was because he had already been baptized by the pressure of Tang Hao that day.

Soon, it was the turn of Tang San, who stood right beside him.

Just as in the original story, Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Grass, but Tang Liu, who had been standing behind him, noticed a flash of extremely dense and heavy black light vanish from Tang San's left hand, which was hidden behind his back.

That must be the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Liu thought with certainty.

"Blue Silver Grass, a trash Martial Soul." Su Yuntao shook his head and took out the crystal ball for testing Spirit Power. "Oh well, come and test your Spirit Power."

Tang San followed the instructions and placed his palm on the crystal ball; the next moment, the sphere erupted with a dazzling blue light.

"Heavens, it's actually Innate Full Soul Power!" Su Yuntao exclaimed.

"Uncle, what is Innate Full Soul Power?" Tang San asked, looking at Su Yuntao with a puzzled expression.

Following this, Su Yuntao began to explain to Tang San what Spirit Power was and what it meant to have Innate Full Soul Power.

After a good while, it was finally Tang Liu's turn to awaken his Martial Soul.

Tang Liu walked into the center of the formation made of six black stones, his face calm, though he was actually quite nervous inside.

Phew, I wonder what I'll awaken. Come to think of it, that little girl with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul from the original story didn't seem to appear. Could it be because of my arrival? Is the butterfly effect starting to manifest?