Tang San: "From now on, you're my real brother!"

Ye Yun first tried out his soul ring simulation.

In the blink of an eye, a bright yellow hundred-year soul ring was circling around him.

Seriously impressive. Then what's the deal with Path energy? And how am I supposed to unlock my abilities?

Ding. The host can obtain the corresponding Path energy by following the ideals of the corresponding Path.

Once enough energy is accumulated, your soul power level will increase. Each increase of one soul power level will grant one ability, and every ten soul power levels will unlock the next Path.

In addition, the host can implant a Path totem into a designated object. When the implanted object carries out the corresponding ideals, it will also increase the host's Path energy.

Each Path grants one totem implantation opportunity every ten levels.

Oh~ Now he understood.

Then how was [Harmony] supposed to be improved?

He remembered it was the collective over the individual: smoothing away selfish desires, eliminating differences, merging into the whole; the individual was unimportant, and the harmony of the whole was the ultimate goal.

In other words, he had to keep adding new members to himself like a family??

Then he really had to think carefully about who his family members would be...

The next morning.

As usual, Ye Yun went to the back mountain to dig up wild vegetables to eat.

By the time he arrived, Tang San was already there early, holding a small hoe in his hand.

"Morning, Brother Yun."

"Morning. What are you doing?"

"I wanted to see if there were any sweet potatoes or things like that in the mountains. Dad said he's gotten tired of eating wild vegetables and wants a change of taste."

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Tang Hammer really was something else, using his own son like a dog.

Hiss... wait. If his guess was right, he should get the [Hunt] Path later on.

That Path mainly focused on revenge and fighting against injustice, but he did not have any enemies to target.

If, in the future, he revealed what happened with Tang San's mother to him in the way modern netizens would explain it, and let him see Tang Hao's true colors...

Would he end up hating Tang Hammer? Then wouldn't he have [Hunt] energy!

Even if the netizens' speculation was wrong, there was still Spirit Hall as a target, right? Either way, it was no loss.

"Ahem. Little San, I'll go with you. I can look for some lunch ingredients while I'm at it."

"Mm."

And so the two searched through the mountains while chatting.

After hesitating for quite a while, Tang San finally spoke.

"Brother Yun, there's something I want to tell you. You have to promise not to tell anyone else."

Seeing him like this, Ye Yun already knew the answer in his heart, but nothing showed on his face. He simply nodded calmly.

"All right. Tell me."

Tang San slowly stretched out both hands, revealing his two martial souls.

A strand of Blue Silver Grass and a Clear Sky Hammer.

"Brother Yun, I actually have two martial souls. I'm not sure whether this is a blessing or a curse. When Father saw them yesterday, he became especially emotional and repeatedly warned me that I absolutely must not spread this matter around."

Ye Yun put on a very shocked expression.

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because I feel like Brother Yun understands a lot. Even though you usually like talking about big principles, you're truly good to me. I've always seen you as family."

"Other than Father, the person I trust most is you."

Tang San's eyes were filled with sincerity, and his tone was extremely solemn.

Ye Yun froze for a moment. Was he really that good to him?

It seemed like every day, he lectured him with grand principles to correct his extreme thinking so he would not backstab him.

Then, whenever he had nothing to do all day, he would go chat with him.

That counted as being good to him? Just how starved for love was this kid?

He was almost catching up to that giant man-child, Homelander.

Ye Yun patted Tang San on the shoulder.

"Good brother. From now on, you're my little brother, and I'm your big brother! If you run into trouble, come find your brother!"

"Brother Yun..."

Tang San felt warm inside. This was the familial affection he had never experienced before. So it was this warm!

Ding. Tang San has developed a sense of happiness toward family. [Harmony] energy +20.

The corners of Ye Yun's mouth lifted. It seemed his thinking had been right—as long as he strengthened the family, he could increase the energy of [Harmony].

A few months later, it was time to enroll.

Old Jack and Ye Yun stood at the village entrance.

When Ye Yun saw Tang San standing there like a stone waiting for his father, he could not help stepping forward to comfort him.

"Little San, stop looking. There'll be plenty of time to come back."

"Mm, Brother Yun... I just feel a little awful. Why wouldn't Dad come to see me off?"

Tang San stood there blankly, his face full of disappointment and confusion.

"Why bother with him! He won't even see his own son off to school—what kind of father is that? Let's go!"

Old Jack gave a cold snort, then walked ahead to lead the way.

For the entire journey, Tang San was depressed and downcast, keeping his head lowered without saying a word, his whole body shrouded in a gloomy, low-pressure air.

Seeing this, Ye Yun silently followed beside him and began to gently guide him with calm, steady words.

"Your father doesn't not care about you. He's just used to hiding his thoughts in his heart and isn't good at expressing them.

Go to the academy, cultivate properly, grow stronger, mature, and stay safe. That will be the best way to repay him."

Those warm, patient words kept entering Tang San's ears, gradually smoothing away the grievance and disappointment in his heart.

They also made him rely on and trust this older brother beside him—someone who considered him in every way—even more.

Old Jack watched the two of them with a gratified expression.

"Little San, your Brother Yun treats you this well. You have to remember it, all right? You mustn't forget your roots."

"I won't, Grandpa Jack. From now on, Brother Yun is my real brother."

Tang San looked gratefully at Ye Yun. When he had been at his lowest, it had been Brother Yun who stayed by his side and comforted him the whole time.

If only it could always be like this.

"Ding. Tang San has developed gratitude toward the family head. [Harmony] energy +30."

After walking for several hours, the three of them finally arrived at Nuoding City.

Ye Yun curiously looked around. He had not expected this place to be fairly large, almost like a small county town, only with a somewhat more Westernized style.

When they arrived before the gates of Nuoding Primary Academy, Ye Yun immediately spotted that shifty-eyed gatekeeper.

"Hey, what are you lot doing? Trying to steal something?"

"Young man, these two are geniuses from our Holy Soul Village. They're here to register at the academy."

As Old Jack spoke, he handed over the two soul master certificates.

The gatekeeper glanced at them twice, then gave a disdainful laugh and casually threw the soul master certificates onto the ground.

"Innate full soul power? And two of them? You've got to be kidding me. You forged these, didn't you? Get lost, get lost. You think a golden phoenix can fly out of a straw nest? Delusional."

Those utterly humiliating words made Old Jack's face turn livid, his whole body trembling with anger.

Beside him, Ye Yun's gaze instantly turned cold.

When you could not endure it any longer, there was no need to endure!

What he hated most was trash like this, bullying others by relying on their position and looking down on people like a snob!

"I'll hit you!!"

With a low shout, Ye Yun gathered his strength and kicked out, landing a precise, vicious blow on the gatekeeper's lower abdomen!

Bang!

A muffled impact suddenly rang out!

The gatekeeper's entire body slammed hard into the iron gate behind him.

With a loud clang, the iron gate shuddered nonstop.

The gatekeeper's face went deathly pale from the pain, and he clutched his stomach with a grimace.

Despite Ye Yun's young age, he was a genuine rank-ten soul master with innate full soul power!

The difference in physique between an ordinary person and a soul master was like heaven and earth, more than enough to erase the gap in age and size.

"You stinking beggar! You actually dare hit me?!"

The gatekeeper spat out a mouthful of sour fluid, his eyes filled with fury, and abruptly straightened up.

He raised his hand and slapped viciously toward Ye Yun's face.

Just as that slap was about to come down.

A slender yet immensely powerful little hand shot out, locking his wrist firmly in midair! It did not budge an inch!

It was Tang San!

At that moment, his usually gentle eyes were stained with anger, a cold chill surging in their depths.

His nature was forbearing. If others mocked him or humiliated him, he could endure it.

But!

Anyone who dared lay a hand on Brother Yun was absolutely unacceptable!

That was his bottom line!

Crack!

A faint sound of joints shifting out of place rang out.

Tang San's wrist gave a light flick, and his precise technique for redirecting and exerting force erupted instantly, forcibly dislocating the gatekeeper's arm joint!

The gatekeeper screamed, his whole body spasming from the pain.

Before he could react, Tang San turned sideways and delivered a clean, decisive spinning kick!

Bang!

The gatekeeper's massive body was sent flying once more, crashing heavily to the ground and rolling several times before clutching his stomach and howling in agony.

"Well done, Little San."

Ye Yun gave him a thumbs-up. Tang San's heart filled with delight, and he scratched the back of his head with a shy smile.

[Harmony] Energy +20

Old Jack behind them was frantic. They had not even enrolled yet, and they had already beaten up the gatekeeper. Wouldn't this offend people?!

Then life would be hard for the two little fellows from now on.

"Little San, Little Yun, you two were too impulsive. What are we going to do now?!"

"Grandpa Jack, don't worry. Brother Yun taught me that evil can never defeat justice. Besides, we're both innately full soul power. The dean won't give up on us because of him."

Just then, a man with a crew cut walked over. It was the master, Yu Xiaogang.

He frowned and reached down to pick up the two soul master certificates from the ground.

When he clearly saw the words on them, Yu Xiaogang's pupils suddenly contracted, and even his breathing abruptly stopped!

He clutched the two certificates tightly, his hands trembling faintly, and an extreme fervor and ecstasy burst out in his eyes.

His burning gaze locked tightly onto Ye Yun and Tang San in the field.

He muttered softly to himself, his voice full of excitement and emotion:

"Two innate full soul powers... Could this be the heavens making up for half a life of hardship, granting me a tremendous opportunity?!"