Tang Hao's Hostility

Su Yuntao left.

He left in a hurry, not even stopping for lunch. After packing up the awakening stones, he rushed out of the village, moving as though ghosts were chasing him.

Lin Chen watched him go, knowing full well that the man had gone to report the news.

Martial Soul Hall held awakening ceremonies in every village for the purpose of scouring them for talented children. Innately full soul power was already the mark of a genius among geniuses. With his innate level thirty soul power, he would probably scare Martial Soul Hall's higher-ups into having heart attacks.

"Xiao Chen..." Old Jack rubbed his hands together, the wrinkles on his face creasing into a chrysanthemum-like smile. "What exactly is that martial soul of yours? And what's the deal with those gods?"

After considering it, Lin Chen decided to tell part of the truth. "Grandpa Jack, my martial soul is called the Creation Mark. I can't say exactly how powerful it is. As for those gods... they're God Kings from the Divine Realm. They said I inherited the legacy of some big shot, so they came down to take a look."

He did not dare say that he was the heir of the Creator God. It was too frightening to say aloud. Old Jack was already advanced in years; he did not want to scare the old man into something happening to him.

"God Kings? Gods?" Old Jack's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. "Good heavens, what kind of person has Holy Soul Village produced...?"

Lin Chen steadied him and smiled. "Grandpa Jack, no matter what kind of person I become, I'll still be the grandson you raised. That won't change."

Old Jack's eyes reddened, and he nodded again and again. "Good, good, good. Good child..."

As the grandfather and grandson spoke, a small, thin figure came running over.

"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!"

Tang San stopped before him, panting heavily with a bright smile on his face. Not far behind him, Tang Hao leaned against the base of a wall with a wine gourd in hand, staring over with a dark expression.

"Brother Chen, your martial soul is incredible!" Tang San's eyes shone. "My dad said that the higher someone's innate soul power, the greater their future achievements. You'll definitely be the most successful person in our village!"

Lin Chen smiled. "Just luck."

"It's not luck at all!" Tang San stepped closer and lowered his voice. "Brother Chen, can you teach me? I want to become as powerful as you."

Lin Chen looked at him without answering immediately.

Tang San appeared warm and sincere on the surface, but he was shrewd to the bone.

He was trying to get close to Lin Chen now only because he had seen Lin Chen's value. Once he realized he could gain no benefits from him, he would turn on him faster than flipping a page.

"Teach you what? I haven't even figured things out myself." Lin Chen laughed it off. "Besides, everyone has their own path to walk. You'll awaken a martial soul of your own too."

"That's true." Tang San nodded, his eyes shifting. "Brother Chen, after the awakening, how about we go to Nuoding City to study together? My dad said there's a special soul master academy there. It's supposed to be great."

"We'll talk about it then."

Lin Chen brushed him off casually, catching sight of Tang Hao walking over from the corner of his eye.

Tang Hao staggered as he walked, as though he had drunk quite a lot. When he reached Tang San, he grabbed his son by the arm, his breath reeking of alcohol. "Come on. We're going home."

"Dad, Brother Chen and I haven't finished talking yet..."

"What's there to talk about?" Tang Hao interrupted impatiently. "He's a genius now. What are you? Do you think you're worthy of speaking to him?"

His words were extremely unpleasant.

The smile on Tang San's face froze, and he lowered his head in silence.

Lin Chen frowned. Tang Hao seemed to be scolding Tang San, but he was actually warning Lin Chen: So what if you're a genius? Stay away from my son.

"Uncle Tang Hao," Lin Chen said evenly, "Tang San and I grew up together. What's wrong with exchanging a few words?"

Tang Hao raised his head, and a glint of cold light flashed through his drunken eyes. "Kid, I don't care what happened to you, and I don't care what those gods gave you. But remember this: stay away from my son."

With that, he dragged Tang San away.

Tang San stumbled as his father pulled him along, but he turned back and shouted at Lin Chen, "Brother Chen! I'll come find you tomorrow!"

Tang Hao abruptly stopped and glared back at Tang San. Tang San shrank his neck in fright and did not dare speak again.

Lin Chen stood where he was, watching the father and son disappear around the end of the alley.

Old Jack sighed. "Tang Hao is no good."

"It's fine, Grandpa Jack." Lin Chen withdrew his gaze. "Let's go home."

He knew perfectly well that Tang Hao's hostility toward him was not only because of Tang San.

More importantly, Lin Chen's performance today had been too eye-catching and had drawn the attention of the gods, making Tang Hao uneasy.

After all, someone harboring secrets feared nothing more than others noticing something amiss.

What a pity, Tang Hao.

The more you guard against me, the closer I'll get to your son.

Let's see what you, a fallen Titled Douluo, can possibly do to me.

After dinner, Lin Chen sat alone in the courtyard, studying his martial soul by moonlight.

He raised his right hand, and a gray mark emerged in his palm as three nine-colored soul rings slowly rose around him. He tried activating the first soul ring, Five Elements Law Control.

A wondrous sensation welled up in his heart.

He could clearly sense all kinds of wandering elements in the surrounding air. Like obedient children, they circled around him, waiting only for his command.

With a thought from Lin Chen, a small flame sprang up at his fingertip.

The flame was tiny, no larger than a fingernail, but its temperature was astonishingly high. The air around it warped from the heat. He quickly extinguished it, afraid of setting Old Jack's courtyard on fire.

"Five Elements Law Control... it really is badass."

He then tried the second soul ring, Yin-Yang Law Control.

This feeling was even more profound. He could vaguely sense the yin-yang balance of everything in the world, including the circulation of his own blood and vitality, the changing temperature around him, and even the rhythm of insects chirping in the distance. Yet this perception was hazy, as though he were looking through frosted glass, and he could not see it clearly.

"Looks like my cultivation is still too low. I can't bring out its full power."

As for the third soul ring, Destruction Law Control—

Lin Chen did not dare try it casually. The God of Kindness had said that while the power of laws was strong, it would backfire if the body could not withstand it. He was only level thirty now. Controlling three soul rings was already his limit. If he rashly used the Law of Destruction, he might destroy himself first.

"I'll take it slow. There's no rush."

He put away his martial soul and was about to return to his room to sleep when he suddenly heard low voices from the neighboring courtyard.

It was Tang Hao's voice, broken and indistinct, difficult to make out clearly.

"...No... can't let him get close to Xiao San..."

"...That kid has a problem... even the gods came down..."

Lin Chen listened with his ears pricked for a while, a cold smile curling at his lips.

Tang Hao, Tang Hao, what are you afraid of?

Are you afraid I'll steal your son's opportunities? Afraid I'll ruin your plans?

Don't worry. I won't do anything excessive.

I just want Tang San to experience what it feels like to be trampled beneath someone's feet.