A Guide to Surviving the Early Game Without Combat Power

"But, Grandpa..."

"Xiaode, let it go. It's not like Grandpa got hurt from the fall, right?"

Old Jack made it sound light, but Jiede knew full well that if an elderly person suddenly took a fall and fractured a bone, they could practically lose half their life.

Old people's bones were extremely difficult to heal. Within less than two years, they could end up bedridden and die a miserable death.

Old Jack was simply too kind. True kindness needed an edge; blindly being kind and expecting nothing in return would only invite others to trample all over you!

Jiede could not put such reasoning into words.

Forget it. Grandpa was already old, and changing his nature was practically impossible. What else could he do but indulge him? After all, he was his grandfather—his real grandfather.

"Ah!" Jiede sighed softly, a trace of hatred flashing through his eyes.

Tang Hao, I will repay today's grudge tenfold someday!

Far away outside, Tang Hao curled his lip, withdrew his spiritual power, and strode away.

To him, the conversation between grandfather and grandson was nothing more than a joke.

By his usual temperament, once a grudge formed between soul masters, the best choice was to eliminate the other party. But he wanted to leave Jiede for Tang San as a whetstone.

Both of them possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Only comparison revealed the gap.

In his eyes, Jiede's Stinking Pellet Martial Soul could never compare to Tang San's Twin Martial Souls.

Tang Hao returned home. "Xiaosan, the matter of the work-study student slot has been settled. It's yours now."

"That's great."

Tang San thought of something and asked, "Dad, what about Jiede's?"

"I'm teaching you your first lesson now. The road of a soul master is destined to be rugged and difficult. You must remember one word: 'fight'!"

"Fight?"

Tang San froze for a moment. He already understood that Tang Hao had snatched this slot away, but his father's words were the truth to him!

After struggling inwardly for a few seconds, he nodded heavily. "I'll remember it, Dad."

"That's enough. Old Jack agreed to help borrow a slot from another village, so you don't need to worry about it anymore." Tang Hao waved a hand.

Tang San said excitedly, "Grandpa Jack really is such a good person!"

Tang Hao glanced sideways at him without responding. "Xiaosan, come here. Today, I'll teach you a hammer technique."

Tang San nodded, suppressing the urge to tell Tang Hao about Blue Silver Grass's first soul ring.

For one thing, he had obtained a first soul ring immediately after awakening his martial soul, and there was no way he could explain that.

Secondly, he knew that after he had stolen the brittle bamboo that day, Jiede had been harshly scolded by Old Jack for quite a while.

If he revealed a Ten-Year Soul Ring within the next few days, it would likely arouse Jiede and Old Jack's suspicions. After all, Old Jack had supported his family before, and Tang San still cared about saving face.

Otherwise, before he had transmigrated, when the Tang Sect caught him stealing the inner sect's secret manuals, he would not have immediately leaped off a cliff to kill himself.

More importantly, Tang San wanted to give Tang Hao a huge surprise in the days ahead.

Inside Old Jack's home.

Jiede lay in a rocking chair in the courtyard, resting with his eyes closed.

Neither of his two martial souls had any direct offensive means. How was he supposed to get by in the early stages?

The Mystic Pellet had already been exposed to the world, so the Beast-Taming Orb definitely had to be kept in reserve.

He was merely a child from an ordinary family. How to obtain soul rings of the optimal age limit was a huge problem.

"With Innate Full Soul Power, should I join Spirit Hall?

No, that wouldn't be appropriate, at least not right now.

Once Tang Hao noticed what I was doing, I'd definitely die. He would never allow a soul master with Innate Full Soul Power to join Spirit Hall.

Even if Tang Hao wasn't watching me right now and I successfully joined Spirit Hall.

What would happen later? Spirit Hall was Bibi Dong's territory, and that crazy woman was in charge.

It's better to rely on myself than beg others. I still need to think of a way myself."

Just then, Old Jack entered the latrine in the corner of the courtyard to relieve himself.

Jiede's gaze fell upon the white residue on the latrine's earthen wall, and an idea stirred in his heart.

"The soul master system of Douluo Continent is pretty bizarre. Some low-level soul masters can even be killed by Tang San's mechanical hidden weapons. It's absurd, practically magical.

Why shouldn't I try making some black-tech weapons?

One part sulfur, two parts saltpeter, three parts charcoal. Let's make some art too!

I wouldn't dare claim I could make much, but making some black powder, crude bombs, explosive packs, and the like should be easy enough, shouldn't it?

As long as I can safely get through this awkward early period without combat power, obtaining soul rings later will become much easier."

In another week, Jiede would have to set out for Nuoding City Academy to register. Time was tight, and saltpeter powder was easiest to find in the countryside.

Jiede got up, went beside the latrine, crouched down, and began collecting it.

Old Jack came out just then. When he saw his grandson sticking up his butt and picking grime off the latrine, his face instantly darkened.

"Xiaode, what are you doing? You're already such a big child—how can you play with shit?

Hurry up and wash your hands!"

"Grandpa, don't worry about it. Have you ever seen anyone shit white?"

Jiede did not even look at Old Jack.

"If you've got nothing to do, help me collect some. In a few days, I'll be going to the city for school, and I won't have time."

"Hehe..."

No matter what, Old Jack was the dignified chief of a village. How could he possibly help collect such bizarre things?

Jiede would be leaving for school soon anyway, so Old Jack let him mess around as he pleased.

Old Jack turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

"Tch! Fine, don't help..."

Jiede curled his lip disdainfully and quickened his movements.

Half an hour later, Jiede had only collected a small bowlful.

"It seems successfully replicating black tech will be a long and arduous task."

Jiede frowned.

"If my own home doesn't have enough, then I'll get it from other people's homes."

But Jiede could not exactly imitate Tang San and steal it, could he? What kind of thing would it be to squat outside other people's latrines every night?

That could not stump him.

Jiede immediately found the children in the village and offered them rewards. He promised each of them a piece of dried meat for collecting one bowlful.

The village children all came from poor families. The moment they heard there was dried meat to eat, their eyes lit up. Who cared whether Jiede was collecting feces? They all eagerly agreed.

Early the next morning, the children arrived as promised, carrying large bowls and small bowls alike.

Jiede was overjoyed. He received a huge sackful, then handed out the dried meat.

One child happily chewed on dried meat and asked curiously, "Brother Jiede, why are you collecting white shit?"

"What the hell do you mean, white shit?"

Jiede's mouth twitched. "It's a secret!"

After finishing the dried meat, the children still wanted more. One of them swallowed and said,

"How much do you need? We've collected almost all of it in our village. If it's not enough, we can go check out other villages..."

"I'll take as much as you can collect. My grandpa is the village chief, so there's plenty of dried meat!"

Jiede said, "I'll be leaving for the soul master academy in five days, so you only have five days..."

The children immediately erupted with excitement. They scattered in every direction, heading to neighboring villages in search of latrines.

Only then did Old Jack dare come out of the house. With a dark face, he asked,

"What exactly are you trying to do? You're collecting all this white shit, and now the entire village knows about it. Where am I supposed to put this old face of mine?"

"Grandpa, I'll tell you the truth. This stuff is very important to me. It concerns my future path as a soul master. I'll be relying on it to obtain soul rings in the future."

Jiede looked at Old Jack with a serious expression.

Hearing that it concerned Jiede's future as a soul master, Old Jack did not dare take it lightly. He hurriedly asked, "Then is there anything else you need now? Grandpa will do his best to provide it."

"Grandpa, just help me make more dried meat and snacks or something."

Jiede said, "Also, I need to requisition the family's big pot to purify the saltpeter powder..."

Over the next five days, all of Holy Soul Village was thrown into an uproar.

The smell of Jiede boiling saltpeter permeated all of Holy Soul Village. Within a radius of ten miles, people could smell the pungent, strange odor.

The villagers could do nothing about it, since the source of the smell was the village chief's home.

Five days later, all the villagers unanimously saw Jiede off from Holy Soul Village!

"This little demon pellet is finally leaving!"