The Day of Departure

"I suggest the host add acidic water equal to one-third the volume of the soup now; this will ensure the most delicious flavor. Wild Sichuan peppercorns have a heavy numbing taste, so I suggest using only eighteen grains. Additionally, I suggest the host pluck the six most tender perilla leaves, tear each one by hand into thin strips approximately one centimeter wide and five centimeters long, and add them to the soup. Finally, stuff all the remaining perilla into the chicken's cavity. Steam on high heat for fifteen minutes, then switch to low heat for half an hour; this will make the chicken taste its absolute best."

As the system provided suggestions, Tang Liu followed them step by step. Even though some procedures were quite troublesome, he performed them with extreme seriousness.

Finally finishing everything, Tang Liu covered the pot and let out a soft breath. After washing his hands, he walked toward Tang Hao's room.

Lifting the curtain, the familiar, pungent scent of alcohol greeted him.

Tang Liu frowned, but his footsteps did not falter.

He walked to the side of the bed where Tang Hao lay with his back turned, pulled over a small stool, and sat down.

He looked at Tang Hao's spine for a long while before finally speaking softly.

"Dad, I know you aren't asleep."

Tang Hao on the bed did not move in the slightest.

"We can only return once a year, but when we come back, will you be gone?" Tang Liu spoke again.

Tang Hao's body seemed to stiffen, but Tang Liu could not tell.

"I know you have things you need to do, I just..."

Tang Liu paused, and after a long moment, he sighed and continued: "Can you take me with you? I should be able to help..."

Tang Hao still did not respond.

At this moment, a faint commotion came from outside. Tang Liu understood that it must be Tang San returning.

Not long after, Old Jack's voice came from outside the door.

"Little San, Little Liu, Grandpa is here to pick you up!"

Then Tang San's voice rang out: "Shh, Grandpa Jack, Dad doesn't like others disturbing his sleep."

Tang Liu looked back toward the curtain, then turned back around.

"Dad, I'm leaving. Drink less; although that alcohol doesn't affect you. There is porridge and stewed chicken in the pot, don't forget to eat."

He stood up and walked toward the door. But after only a few steps, he stopped, turned around, rushed to Tang Hao's side, and hugged his shoulders.

"Goodbye!"

He ran out of the room immediately, but before lifting the curtain to leave, he quickly wiped his eyes with his hand.

Seeing Tang Liu, Tang San asked: "Little Liu, is Dad still sleeping?"

Tang Liu's face showed no signs of anything unusual; he smiled and said: "Yeah, he's still sleeping."

"Alright, then leave a note for Dad, tell him not to forget to eat," Tang San said.

Tang Liu shook his head: "You do it, Third Brother," he looked back at the lowered curtain, "I... I'll pass."

"Alright." Sensing that his younger brother's mood was a bit off, Tang San nodded without saying much. He pulled a piece of charcoal that hadn't finished burning from the stove, quickly wrote a line on the ground, took one last lingering look at Tang Hao's room, and finally left with Old Jack and Tang Liu.

The door curtain was lifted at this moment, and Tang Hao walked out, his eyes showing no trace of sleepiness. He walked to the door and saw Old Jack and the backs of the two little ones.

He walked back and saw the words Tang San had left.

Just like Tang Liu, it reminded him to take care of his health and drink less. There was porridge and stewed chicken in the pot.

He rushed to the stove, swept his hand, and the two pot lids fell off.

In an instant, the clear fragrance of rice porridge and the savory aroma of stewed chicken filled the dilapidated little shack...

Nuoding City, Notting Academy.

Old Jack brought Tang San and Tang Liu to the front gate of Notting Academy, but they were stopped by the gatekeeper, leading to a dispute.

Tang San naturally stepped in to teach the gatekeeper a lesson, while Tang Liu watched the spectacle from the side.

Just like in the original story, Grandmaster soon appeared and brought Tang San and Tang Liu into Notting Academy. Old Jack naturally returned to Holy Soul Village.

Likewise, Grandmaster later asked Tang San if he was willing to take him as his teacher.

After some conversation, Tang San agreed to become his apprentice.

"And what about you? As the fourth person in a hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls, are you willing to take me as your teacher?" Grandmaster looked at Tang Liu.

Tang Liu smiled: "Grandmaster, I do not have Twin Martial Souls."

Hearing this, Tang San was stunned, and Grandmaster also let out an "Oh," looking at Tang Liu with interest: "Then tell me, if you don't have Twin Martial Souls, how did you manage to achieve Innate Full Soul Power with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"

Tang Liu's expression was full of confidence: "My martial soul is not Blue Silver Grass; it is a mutated martial soul, the Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor."

"Oh? Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor? What kind of martial soul is that?" Grandmaster paused, then said: "But since it is a mutated martial soul, it is not impossible to have Innate Full Soul Power. Tang Liu, can you release your martial soul for me to see?"

Tang Liu first looked at Tang San, and after receiving permission, he raised his left hand and released his martial soul.

A small, translucent, blue-glowing blade of grass grew out slowly.

Grandmaster looked at the golden veins on that blade of grass, a look of wonder appearing on his face: "Is this really still Blue Silver Grass? It faintly exudes a trace of imperial majesty." Grandmaster reached out a finger to touch the Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor in Tang Liu's palm, but it passed right through the crystal-like leaf: "It has no physical form? No wonder, Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor. Another powerful martial soul I have never seen before... If my guess is correct, after your martial soul mutated like this, it should have lost its offensive or control capabilities, but possesses support capabilities, right?"

Hearing this, Tang Liu was completely impressed in his heart. As expected of the number one theorist, Grandmaster had identified the characteristics of his martial soul just by looking and touching it once.

"That's right, my Ethereal Blue Silver Emperor is a support-type martial soul." Since it had already been seen through, there was no need to hide it any longer.

As for why he did not reveal the fact that he possessed Twin Martial Souls to Grandmaster, Tang Liu had his own plans.

"Then, are you willing to take me as your master?" Grandmaster asked again.

Tang Liu merely smiled. "I will not take you as my master, because my brother has already done so, which is equivalent to me having done the same."

Grandmaster was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "That is true. Let's go, I will take you both to the Academic Affairs Office to register."

Tang San, standing to the side, glanced at Tang Liu.

He had a lingering feeling that his younger brother had changed in some way.

Tang Liu sensed Tang San's gaze and gave a bitter smile in his heart.

He did not possess Innate Full Soul Power.

Instead, he possessed Innate Level 20 Super Soul Power.

Currently, in the entire Douluo Continent, only Qian Renxue possessed Innate Super Soul Power.

Given his family's situation, they were destined to be in an irreconcilable conflict with Martial Soul Hall.

Therefore, he would not be staying here for very long.