In broad daylight, waves of snoring came from Tang San's home.
Hearing it, Old Jack's anger flared. On a day as important as Martial Soul Awakening, Tang Hao could actually still sleep.
He raised his hand and pounded on the wooden door of Tang San's home, making it bang as he shouted furiously:
"Tang Hao, Tang Hao, get out here right now!"
Only after quite a while did the snoring inside abruptly stop.
Then came heavy footsteps, drawing closer and closer, until the wooden door opened with a creak.
A tall man stood behind the door, dressed sloppily in clothes covered with patches. His hair was as messy as a bird's nest, beneath which sat a rugged, stubbled face. He spoke irritably:
"Old Jack, what are you banging for? You're going to smash the door! I need to sleep in the morning. If you want farming tools forged, come back in the afternoon."
This tall man was Tang San's father, Tang Hao!
Although he was unkempt, his powerful physique still made a tremendous impression. Ordinary people would lose their imposing air before him.
But as the village chief, Old Jack remained full of authority even before Tang Hao.
Old Jack glared at the unambitious Tang Hao, his beard trembling with anger as he cursed and scolded:
"Tang Hao, how can you sleep? Do you know what day it is? Today is the annual Martial Soul Awakening!"
"It's the village children's once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn their fortunes around! If they can awaken a powerful martial soul and become a noble Spirit Master, they can leave the village behind!"
Hearing Old Jack's words, Tang Hao stretched out his broad hand and carelessly scratched his head, speaking with a hint of mockery:
"Spirit Masters, heh... Spirit Masters, are they so impressive? A good drinking binge is more worthwhile. Little San, what are you still doing outside? Hurry back and cook for me!"
As an inheritor of feudalism, Tang San meekly submitted to figures such as rulers and fathers. Hearing Tang Hao's orders, he obediently went back to cook.
That was simply Tang San's character. When facing rulers and fathers, he never dared offer any resistance.
Once he became a God King and a father, he freely controlled his subordinates and his children, without the slightest regard for anyone else's thoughts.
Only Old Jack stamped his feet in fury at Tang Hao. Their village was called Holy Soul Village because a Soul Sage had once come from it, and this was Old Jack's pride.
Old Jack dreamed of another Soul Sage emerging from the village. Hearing Tang Hao belittle Spirit Masters like this infuriated him.
Old Jack had long since abandoned any hope for Tang Hao, a lump of mud that could not hold up a wall, a piece of rotten wood that could not be carved. But he was still willing to give Tang San a chance.
Old Jack glared at Tang Hao and spoke, spittle flying everywhere:
"Tang Hao, go ahead and spend your whole life as a drunkard, but Little San is still young. He can't become a drunkard like you."
"Little San and Little Chen from our village may only have awakened Blue Silver Grass martial souls, but even the Lord Soul Master responsible for the awakening said they were very talented. They both have innate full soul power."
"The village has one work-study student quota. I've decided to have Little San and Little Chen draw lots to see who gets it."
A strange look flashed through Tang Hao's eyes when he heard this, but he quickly resumed his indifferent manner:
"A trash martial soul like Blue Silver Grass would be scorned even by pigs if you fed it to them. So what if they have innate full soul power? Give that work-study student quota to whoever you want. We don't care for it."
"Besides, Little San has to cook for me. If he goes to school, there'll be no one to cook for me anymore."
With that, Tang Hao slammed the door shut with a bang and paid Old Jack no further attention.
Although Old Jack's fury blazed three feet high, there was nothing he could do. After all, Tang Hao was Tang San's father. He could not make decisions for Tang San in Tang Hao's place.
With that, there was no longer any need to draw lots to decide who would get the work-study student quota.
Old Jack turned toward Lu Chen and his parents. Some anger remained on his face, but his tone had softened:
"Little Chen, since Tang Hao doesn't care for the work-study student quota, our village's quota is yours. Make proper preparations after you go home. When Nuoding Academy in Notting City starts its term, I'll personally take Little Chen to school."
After Old Jack gave Lu Chen the work-study student quota, Lu Chen's father, Lu An, and his mother, Rose, both looked delighted.
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, no longer an ordinary villager.
With a smile on his face, Lu Chen thought with some amusement:
Does this count as snatching Tang San's fortune out from under him? With no way to attend Nuoding Academy, Tang San will just be an ordinary person in the village from now on. This is quite an interesting turn for the story.
After settling who would receive the quota, Old Jack and Lu Chen's family of three left together.
But before they had gone far, the door of Tang San's home creaked open again. Tang Hao brought Tang San out, and father and son strode after them.
Old Jack and Lu Chen's family of three all turned to look in confusion.
After catching up with them, Tang Hao opened his eyes as wide as bronze bells and spoke in a gruff voice:
"Old Jack, you said you would decide who gets Holy Soul Village's work-study student quota 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 didn't care for this work-study student quota!"
"I've already given it to Little Chen, and now you come asking for it? I'm telling you, you're too late."
The quota had already been given to someone else!
Tang Hao immediately frowned!
Earlier, he had thought Tang San had only awakened the trash martial soul Blue Silver Grass, so his interest had waned, and he had not cared for the quota.
Now he knew Tang San had also awakened his Clear Sky Hammer. Twin martial souls and innate full soul power had given Tang Hao hope of revenge, so naturally he wanted to fight for this work-study student quota.
At that thought, Tang Hao turned toward Lu Chen's family of three and glared. A fierce, vicious aura instantly swept out.
Lu An and Rose were ordinary farmers. How could they withstand Tang Hao's imposing aura? Their bodies went limp, and they collapsed to the ground.
Although Lu Chen was somewhat stronger and could barely remain standing, his mind also went blank for a moment, as though his thoughts had stopped.
After all, the man before them was Clear Sky Douluo, whose title was "Clear Sky," and the wielder of Divine Slaughter's Domain. Bullying Lu Chen's family of three ordinary people could not have been easier.
Only after intimidating Lu Chen's family of three did Tang Hao speak in an indifferent tone:
"Old Jack, they haven't said anything. You should reconsider who gets this work-study student quota."