Douluo: Breathing Makes Me Stronger, Tang San Was Terrified!

"Two children had exceptional talent. Both possessed Innate Full Soul Power, yet their Martial Souls were actually the useless Blue Silver Grass."

"What future could such trash Martial Souls possibly have? Even if they absorbed Spirit Rings and became Spirit Masters, they would still be the lowest-grade Spirit Masters."

After saying that, Su Yuntao headed for the next village without looking back.

Old Jack stood there in a daze for a long time, unable to recover. The two children had the greatest talent, yet they possessed the most useless Martial Souls.

It made Old Jack feel like coughing up blood!

Soon, all the children came out of the wooden house, with Lu Chen and Tang San walking at the very end.

Old Jack looked at Lu Chen and Tang San at the back, and his heart stirred. He hurriedly asked:

"Little Chen, Little San, Lord Soul Master just said that two children had exceptional talent, but both awakened the most useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. He wasn't talking about you two, was he?"

Lu Chen glanced at Tang San and answered:

"Grandpa Village Chief, he was talking about us."

After Lu Chen finished speaking, Tang San nodded along.

Old Jack's vision went dark, and he once again felt like coughing up blood. The two children he had held in the highest regard had indeed lived up to expectations and possessed extraordinary talent, but they had failed to awaken good Martial Souls.

Old Jack beat his chest and stamped his feet. After quite a while, he finally frowned deeply and said with a sorrowful expression:

"Little Chen, Little San, you both have the talent to become Spirit Masters. Even the most useless Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master is still a Spirit Master, far beyond ordinary people like us."

"Unfortunately, Holy Soul Village only has one Work-Study Student slot. Only one of you can use it."

"Come with me. I'll discuss it with your parents, and everyone can draw lots to see who gets to use the Work-Study Student slot."

"As for the other one, we'll think of another way. If it truly comes down to it, I'll swallow my pride and ask the other villages whether they have any vacant Work-Study Student slots."

Old Jack's voice was resolute. He had made up his mind to support Lu Chen and Tang San. Even the most useless Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master would be better than remaining in the village as an ordinary person.

Afterward, Old Jack, Tang San, Lu Chen, and Lu Chen's parents headed together to Tang San's home.

Lu Chen had both parents. Though they were merely ordinary farmers, his parents were nothing like that drunkard Tang Hao.

Lu Chen's parents had accompanied him to the Martial Soul Awakening. As for that drunkard Tang Hao, after getting drunk, he was probably still snoring away at home. Thus, everyone could only go to his house to discuss the matter.

The Struggle for the Slot

Inside Tang San's home, snores could be heard even in broad daylight.

Hearing them, Old Jack became furious. On such an important day as the Martial Soul Awakening, Tang Hao could still sleep soundly.

He raised his hand and pounded on Tang San's wooden door until it boomed, shouting angrily as he knocked:

"Tang Hao! Tang Hao! Get out here right now!"

After a long while, the snoring from inside abruptly stopped.

Then came a series of heavy footsteps, drawing closer and closer. With a creak, the wooden door opened.

A tall man stood behind the door. He was sloppily dressed, his clothes covered in patches, his hair as messy as a bird's nest, and beneath that bird's nest sat a rugged, stubbled face. He spoke irritably:

"Old Jack, what are you knocking for? You're about to break the door down! I'm still sleeping this morning. If you want farming tools made, come back this afternoon."

This tall man was Tang San's father, Tang Hao!

Although he looked utterly disheveled, his burly body still exerted an immense pressure. Most people would lose their nerve in front of him.

But as the village chief, Old Jack remained imposing even before Tang Hao.

Old Jack widened his eyes. Looking at the unambitious Tang Hao, he was so furious that his beard trembled as he cursed:

"Tang Hao, how can you still be sleeping? Do you know what day this is? Today is the annual Martial Soul Awakening day!"

"It is the one chance in a lifetime for the village children to change their fate! If they awaken a powerful Martial Soul and become noble Spirit Masters, they can leave this village!"

Hearing Old Jack's words, Tang Hao stretched out his large hand and scratched his head indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of mockery:

"Spirit Masters? Heh... Spirit Masters, are they really that impressive? They're not as practical as a good drinking session. Little San, what are you still doing outside? Hurry back and cook for me!"

As an heir of feudalism, Tang San was submissive toward figures such as monarchs and fathers. Hearing Tang Hao's order, he obediently went back to cook.

Tang San was just that kind of person. When facing monarchs or fathers, he never dared to resist in the slightest.

Once he became a God King and a father himself, he freely manipulated both his subordinates and children, never caring about what others thought.

Only Old Jack was so enraged by Tang Hao that he nearly jumped in place. Their village was called Holy Soul Village because a Soul Sage had once emerged from it, and that was Old Jack's greatest pride.

Old Jack dreamed of seeing another Soul Sage emerge from the village. Now that he heard Tang Hao belittling Spirit Masters like this, he was utterly infuriated.

Old Jack had long since given up all hope for worthless mud and rotten wood like Tang Hao, but he was still willing to give Tang San a chance.

Old Jack glared at Tang Hao, spittle flying everywhere as he said:

"Tang Hao, go ahead and be a drunkard for the rest of your life, but Little San is still young. He cannot become a drunkard like you."

"Little San, along with Little Chen from the village, only awakened Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls. But even the Lord Soul Master responsible for the awakening said that their talent was excellent. They both possess Innate Full Soul Power."

"The village has one Work-Study Student slot. I've decided to let Little San and Little Chen draw lots to see who gets to use it."

A strange glint flashed through Tang Hao's eyes upon hearing this, but he quickly returned to his indifferent demeanor.

"Blue Silver Grass, that kind of useless Martial Soul—even pigs would turn up their noses at it if you fed it to them. So what if they have Innate Full Soul Power? Give that Work-Study Student slot to whoever you want. We don't care for it."

"Besides, Little San still has to cook for me. If he goes to school, who will cook for me afterward?"

After saying that, Tang Hao slammed the door shut with a bang and ignored Old Jack completely.

Even though Old Jack was boiling with rage, there was nothing he could do. Tang Hao was Tang San's father, after all, and Old Jack could not make decisions for Tang San in his place.

That meant there was no longer any need to draw lots to determine who would receive the Work-Study Student slot.

Old Jack turned around and looked at Lu Chen's family of three. There was still some anger on his face, but his tone had softened compared to before.

"Little Chen, since Tang Hao doesn't care for the Work-Study Student slot, then our village's slot is yours. Go back and prepare properly. When Notting Academy in Notting City begins its term, I'll personally take Little Chen there to enroll."

After Old Jack handed the Work-Study Student slot to Lu Chen, Lu Chen's father, Lu An, and Lu Chen's mother, Rose, were both overjoyed.

Their son was going to make something of himself!

Even if he was only a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master, he would still be a noble Lord Soul Master. He would no longer be an ordinary villager in the future.

Lu Chen wore a smile, thinking with some amusement:

Does this count as intercepting Tang San's fate? Tang San won't be able to attend Notting Academy, and he'll become just another ordinary villager in the future. This development is rather interesting.

After settling who would receive the slot, Old Jack and Lu Chen's family of three left together.

But before they had gone far, Tang San's door creaked open again. Tang Hao came rushing after them with Tang San, father and son striding forward in great steps.

Old Jack and Lu Chen's family of three all turned around in confusion.

After catching up to them, Tang Hao's eyes widened like bronze bells as he spoke in a rough voice:

"Old Jack, you said the Holy Soul Village Work-Study Student slot would be decided by drawing lots, right? I agree."

Old Jack frowned and rebuked him loudly:

"Tang Hao, what madness are you up to now? You were the one who said you didn't care about this Work-Study Student slot!"

"I've already given the slot to Little Chen, and now you come asking for it? Let me tell you, you're too late."

The slot had already been given away!

Tang Hao immediately furrowed his brows!

Just now, he had thought Tang San had only awakened the useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, so he had been listless and unconcerned about the slot.

But now he knew that Tang San had also awakened his Clear Sky Hammer. Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power—this allowed Tang Hao to see hope for revenge, so naturally he wanted to fight for the Work-Study Student slot.

At that thought, Tang Hao turned to Lu Chen's family of three. His eyes widened, and a fierce aura immediately swept out.

Lu An and Rose were both ordinary farmers. How could they withstand Tang Hao's aura? Their bodies went limp, and they collapsed to the ground.

Although Lu Chen was physically stronger and could barely remain standing, his mind went blank for an instant, as though even his thoughts had stopped.

After all, his opponent was the Clear Sky Douluo, titled "Clear Sky," and the possessor of Divine Slaughter's Domain. Bullying Lu Chen's family of three, who were ordinary people, could not have been easier.

Only after intimidating Lu Chen's family of three did Tang Hao speak blandly:

"Old Jack, they haven't said anything. You should reconsider who gets this Work-Study Student slot."

The Suppressed Fury

"Tang Hao! You... you..."

Old Jack was so angry that he could barely speak.

Tang Hao had not cared about the Work-Study Student slot just moments ago, yet now he was trying to seize it by force. He changed his face at the drop of a hat and would not even allow others to refuse him. He was outrageously overbearing.

Old Jack was beside himself with rage. He was stubborn by nature, and now he craned his neck, refusing to give the slot to Tang San no matter what.

Tang Hao's brows furrowed even more. This Old Jack was being far too ungrateful.

With his status, asking for a mere Work-Study Student slot was already doing them an honor.

In the past, how could he possibly have cared about such a trivial Work-Study Student slot?

It was only because he had fallen into hardship now. The Clear Sky Sect had gone into seclusion, and he himself was unwilling to leave the back mountain of Holy Soul Village, for Ah Yin was hidden there.

If not for giving Tang San a place to receive Spirit Master education, he would not have bothered wasting words on Old Jack. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to go home, drink, and sleep?

At this moment, Lu Chen, whose mind had gone blank from Tang Hao's aura, gradually recovered.

His awareness cleared, and he panted heavily, cold sweat continuously streaming down his forehead.

In that instant just now, he had felt as though he were facing death itself.

Perhaps Lu Chen possessed extraordinary talent, and as long as he did not die, he would surely become a powerhouse in the future.

But that had one prerequisite: he could not die!

Right now, he was still far too weak. Faced with Tang Hao's threat, he had no means of resisting at all.

He slowly turned his head and looked at his parents.

Lu Chen's father, Lu An, was an honest farmer who had lived his entire life properly and dutifully. Now he lay weakly on the ground, his face flushed red and veins bulging from his forehead.

Lu An felt humiliated!

Tang Hao was trying to steal his son's Work-Study Student slot, yet he had been frightened so badly that he could not even stand. It filled him with intense shame.

Lu Chen's mother, Rose, was a warm and generous village woman. She treated others peacefully and was friendly with her neighbors. She had never blushed with anger or quarreled with anyone.

When Tang Hao had first brought Tang San to Holy Soul Village, she had seen how pitiful it was for a grown man to raise an infant alone and had given them quite a bit of food.

Now, kindness had been repaid with hostility. Rose trembled all over in fear, her eyes red as tears ran down her cheeks. Her mental state seemed somewhat unstable.

In an instant, an indescribable fury ignited in Lu Chen's heart. It surged through his chest and rushed straight to his head, filling his eyes with a savage hatred that wished to slice someone into a thousand pieces and tear them apart.

Right now, he was like a powder keg with a lit fuse, ready to explode at any moment.

Yet in the next instant, the cruel reality of Tang Hao's terrifying strength poured a bucket of cold water over Lu Chen, extinguishing that fuse completely.

If he clashed with Tang Hao, it would be no different from smashing an egg against a rock.

He had to stay calm!

Calm!

Lu Chen kept telling himself this inwardly, but he also swore in his heart:

Tang Hao, you can act so arrogantly now only because you are a Titled Douluo. Just wait. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. With my talent to grow stronger simply by breathing, I'll soon catch up to you and even surpass you!

When that time comes, I'll cripple your Martial Soul, break both your legs, and make you kneel before my parents to atone for what you did today!

Before your eyes, I'll cut off your son's head and stomp it beneath my feet until it is crushed to pulp. I'll make you experience what true regret feels like!

Then, in your endless regret, I'll slice you into a thousand pieces and tear your corpse apart!

After making that vow in his heart, Lu Chen took a deep breath and suppressed all his emotions and fury deep inside.

In the end, only carefully feigned fear remained on Lu Chen's face.

Like an ordinary child who had suffered a terrible fright, Lu Chen spoke in a trembling voice:

"Grandpa Village Chief, I don't want this Work-Study Student slot anymore. Let's think of another way."

After saying that, Lu Chen turned around somewhat stiffly and went to help his parents up. Supporting Lu An and Rose on either side, the family of three staggered away in an extremely miserable state.