The Astonished Tang Hao

Old Jack said sternly, "I have to go out today. I won't be back until the morning of the third day."

Ye Yu guessed, "Are you going to contact the Soul Master in charge of Martial Soul Awakening at the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City?"

Old Jack did not say anything more and left straight away. Though Ye Yu had only just turned six, his way of thinking was nothing like that of other children his age.

Before leaving the village, Old Jack went to the Blacksmith Shop and told Tang San he would come pick him up on the morning of the third day to go awaken his martial soul.

Tang San knew very little about martial souls and Soul Masters. After asking many questions, he gained some understanding and felt a bit interested, his heart filling with anticipation.

At dawn on the third day, the sky had only just begun to brighten.

Tang San had already returned from training. He came to the stove, skillfully stepped onto a stool, and lifted the lid of the large iron pot. Immediately, the fragrance of rice wafted out. The porridge in the pot had been cooked until thick and glossy.

Before the sun had risen, Tang San got up, first setting the porridge to boil, then heading up the mountain to train. By the time he returned, the porridge was just ready.

"Looks like I came at just the right time."

At that moment, Ye Yu walked into the Blacksmith Shop. Smelling the aroma of rice in the porridge, he quickly moved closer.

Tang San had already served three bowls of porridge. He knew Ye Yu would come.

Before dawn this morning, Ye Yu had come over, bringing a bag of rice.

Originally, Tang San did not want to accept it, but Ye Yu said it was not being given for free; once the porridge was cooked, he would drink some too. Only then did Tang San accept it.

The reason Ye Yu came was that he had already eaten through the grain stores at home, leaving only this small bag of rice. Ye Yu could make porridge too, but he often burned it, so he brought it over for Tang San to cook.

At first, Ye Yu had thought the food Old Jack prepared was enough, but then he discovered his appetite had grown even larger. It was already three times that of an adult.

Ye Yu ate in big mouthfuls and said to Tang San, "Eat more this time. Look how skinny you are. You don't usually eat well, do you? You're still growing right now. You need enough nutrition."

Tang San looked himself over. He was indeed a little thin. In the past, with the porridge he drank, one could count every grain of rice in the bowl at a glance. After eating two bowls in a row, Tang San was full.

However, surprise appeared in Tang San's eyes, because after Ye Yu had finished three bowls, he started on a fourth, a fifth, a sixth...

Tang San was somewhat stunned. Though Ye Yu was a bit sturdier, he was not a big fellow; his body was simply trained to be very healthy, and he was only three centimeters taller than Tang San.

Tang San thought, With such a small six-year-old body, how can he eat so much? Is his stomach a bottomless pit?

When only one bowl remained, Ye Yu did not continue. This bowl was left for Tang San's father.

At that moment, the curtain of a nearby room was lifted.

A middle-aged uncle walked out. He had a burly build, bronze-colored skin, and regular features, but his hair was as messy as a bird's nest, and his entire person looked extremely slovenly.

After he came out, a strong smell of alcohol immediately spread over. Ye Yu knew he was Tang San's father, Tang Hao. He also knew that Tang Hao was not what he appeared to be on the surface. This was the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent.

Tang Hao walked over and grabbed the bowl on the table, ready to drink, but then he noticed there were many grains of rice in the porridge.

Tang Hao looked at Tang San and asked, "Xiao San, did you put all the rice into my bowl?"

Tang San shook his head and explained, "No. Brother Yu brought over a bag of rice this morning. Brother Yu and I have already eaten."

Because Ye Yu was two months older than Tang San, Tang San called Ye Yu Brother Yu, while Ye Yu called Tang San Xiao San.

When Tang San called Ye Yu that, he felt a little awkward. After all, his mental age was already over twenty.

Tang Hao said nothing more. He tilted his head back and gulped the porridge down in large mouthfuls.

After Tang Hao finished eating and was about to go back inside, Tang San pointed at the corner of the wall and asked, "Dad, can I use that piece of iron?"

Tang Hao's lazy gaze glanced over, and his eyes brightened slightly.

"Oh? There's Iron Essence inside this piece of pig iron."

Tang Hao asked, "You want to become a blacksmith?"

"I think that when I grow up, I can help Dad with some things."

Tang Hao nodded. "Mm. If you want to help me now, you first have to see whether you can lift the Iron Hammer."

Hearing this, Tang San dragged over the Iron Hammer Tang Hao usually used. This Iron Hammer was even a little taller than he was. A five- or six-year-old child could not drag it at all, and even an ordinary grown man would struggle to swing it.

However, Tang San circulated his Profound Technique and barely managed to lift and swing it.

A trace of surprise appeared on Tang Hao's face as he watched. He murmured as if in a daze, "His strength is already this great? Innate Divine Strength?"

Watching all this, Ye Yu naturally knew Tang San's real reason for wanting to learn: to make Hidden Weapons.

After Tang San swung it three times, he let out a long breath and asked Ye Yu.

"Brother Yu, you should be able to swing it too, right?"

Ye Yu stood up. "I'll try."

Tang Hao was surprised again. Ye Yu, who was the same age as Xiao San, could swing it too?

Ye Yu stepped forward, and Tang San held up the Iron Hammer with both hands to pass it to Ye Yu.

However, Ye Yu only reached out with his left hand.

Tang San was taken aback and reminded him, "Brother Yu, this hammer is very heavy. You have to use both hands."

"One is enough."

As Ye Yu spoke, his left hand gripped the hammer shaft. "Xiao San, let go with both hands."

"All right." Tang San let go with both hands, surprise covering his face.

Because after Ye Yu gripped Iron Hammer with his left hand, neither his hand nor his arm shook in the slightest. He just held it up with one hand.

Tang Hao, standing to the side, was even more surprised. "Are kids these days all born with Innate Divine Strength?"

Ye Yu grabbed the very end of the hammer handle, then tossed it upward. Iron Hammer spun several times through the air as it fell, and with a bang, Ye Yu caught it easily in his left hand.

Tang San and Tang Hao looked a little stunned...

If a grown man had done that, it would not have been surprising. But Ye Yu was only six years old. It was one thing for him to lift such a heavy Iron Hammer with one hand, but he had actually thrown it up and then caught it with ease.

Tang Hao asked, "Xiao Yu, are you left-handed?"

Ye Yu shook his head. "No."

Tang Hao: "..."

Tang San: "..."

Ignoring the two stunned men, Ye Yu lost interest and set Iron Hammer on the ground.

"It's too light. It won't serve as training. I'd better go lift the boulder by the pool outside the village."

Ye Yu walked to the threshold, turned back, smiled, and waved. "Xiao San, Uncle, bye-bye."

Watching Ye Yu leave, Tang San finally recovered from his shock and sighed softly. "What a monster."

He could lift Iron Hammer because his Profound Technique circulated through his whole body and increased his strength. But Ye Yu was relying entirely on his own strength. He was different from others, so Tang San could only classify him as a monster.

Even Tang Hao thought the same. He had never seen a child with such freakish strength. His martial soul had not even awakened yet, but his strength was already so great.

Ye Yu reached the pool and began carrying the boulder as he walked. The boulder was very heavy, weighing around three tons. With Ye Yu's current body and strength, even he found it extremely strenuous, taking each step with difficulty.

However, only the harder it was could it better temper him.

After carrying the boulder a hundred meters, it took him an hour. Ye Yu let out a long breath and wiped the beads of sweat from his face. His arms were not sore at all.

"Grandpa Jack should be back by now." Ye Yu went home.

At the same time, Old Jack had indeed returned and first went to find Tang San. He had originally planned to take Tang San to the Spirit Hall Branch in the center of the village, but he wanted to go see Ye Yu. More importantly, he wanted to keep an eye on Ye Yu and stop him from coming.

"Xiao San, you go by yourself first. I'll go home and check on Xiao Yu."

"All right, Grandpa Jack." Tang San nodded.

Old Jack hurried toward the house, completely unaware that Ye Yu was already waiting with Hemp Rope in hand.