Three days later, at Tang Hao's home, Tang San was forging components for the Silent Sleeve Arrow while Tang Xuan sat cross-legged nearby, seemingly meditating. Neither spoke to the other. Tang Hao was sleeping in his room as the clang of forging echoed through the house. Whether he was truly asleep or merely pretending not to hear was anyone's guess.
Sitting cross-legged, Tang Xuan was cultivating the Nine-Turn God-Slaying Art. He had lingered at the late stage of its first level for a long time, never managing to reach perfection. He knew this was because he lacked a Soul Ring, but he continued cultivating day after day, hoping his steady accumulation would burst forth once he obtained one.
"Is Tang Hao home?" A knock sounded at the door, accompanied by an elderly voice. Tang Xuan ended his meditation and told Tang San, "Little San, go open the door. It's Village Chief Jack." Tang San quickly put away the hidden weapon components and ran to answer it. Village Chief Jack must be here about the Martial Soul Awakening, Tang Xuan thought. The timing should be about right. I wonder what my Martial Soul will be-the Blue Silver Emperor or the Clear Sky Hammer? Or could I have twin Martial Souls?
An old man in his sixties tottered in through the doorway. He was Old Jack, the village chief of Holy Soul Village. "Little Xuan, Little San, are you two home alone? Where has your father gone?"
Tang Xuan put a hand over his mouth, signaling for Old Jack to keep his voice down. "Dad's still sleeping! Grandpa Jack, please be a little quieter. Dad doesn't like people disturbing his sleep." Tang Xuan even deliberately lowered his voice.
Beside him, Tang San thought, Brother, is this your idea of being a filial son? You're blatantly throwing Dad into a pit! You know perfectly well Village Chief Jack can't stand him.
"What? At this hour, he's still sleeping!" Old Jack's voice abruptly rose at Tang Xuan's words. His face, brimming with affection a moment earlier, instantly filled with anger. The speed of that transformation and the seamless transition between the two expressions were textbook acting. Awarding him the title of national first-class actor would have been entirely justified.
"Who's making all that racket out here? Are you going to let a man sleep or not?" In the end, Old Jack woke Tang Hao, who stormed out of his room.
The sight of Tang Hao only made Old Jack more displeased, and he immediately unleashed a scolding that rained down on him. "Tang Hao, I hate to say it, but how old are you now? It's bad enough that you spend every day neglecting your responsibilities. All you ever do is drink, and you even need your two sons to take care of your daily needs. You might as well laze yourself to death! You're a parent just like everyone else. Look at them, then look at yourself! You..." Old Jack's mouth was like a machine gun, spraying Tang Hao with a barrage of words. It was a wonder Tang Hao managed to keep himself from striking him.
Watching Old Jack chatter on without pause, Tang Xuan thought, Old Jack must be the only person who dares speak to Tang Hao like that. He actually dares to scold a Titled Douluo whose might shakes the continent. And he'll escort Tang San, the future God King, to school. An ordinary person wouldn't dare dream of experiences like those in several lifetimes. As he marveled, Tang Xuan quietly covered his ears. That voice certainly carried.
"Old Jack, what do you want? Just say it. Stop rambling." After listening for so long, Tang Hao had grown impatient. "Hmph! In three days, someone from Spirit Hall will come to awaken the Martial Souls of the village's children who are old enough. Little Xuan and Little San are already six, so I want them both to take part. They're the cleverest children in the village. They're sure to awaken fine Martial Souls." Tang Hao replied, "Then let them take part! Stop bothering me." With that, he turned and went back into his room, completely ignoring the furious Old Jack behind him. "Tang Hao, you..."
"Grandpa Jack, what's a Martial Soul?" Before Old Jack could finish, Tang San interrupted him with a somewhat innocent question. Old Jack was still very affectionate toward the brothers. "Little San, you don't know about Martial Soul Awakening yet? Then let Grandpa explain it to you," he said gently. The Old Jack of that moment seemed like an entirely different person from the irritable Old Jack of moments before.
"When everyone turns six, they awaken their own Martial Soul. If they have Soul Power, they can become a Soul Master. Being a Soul Master is the noblest profession on the continent. Soul Masters have nine ranks in all: Soul Scholar, Soul Grandmaster, Soul Elder, Soul Ancestor, Soul King, Soul Emperor, Soul Saint, Soul Douluo, and Titled Douluo. Becoming a Soul Master alone places you above ordinary people. The higher a Soul Master's rank, the greater their status and the more people revere them. Especially a ninth-rank Titled Douluo-they stand at the very pinnacle of the continent!" Old Jack could hardly conceal the admiration in his voice. Then he continued proudly, "A hundred years ago, our village produced a seventh-rank Soul Saint! Holy Soul Village was named after that great Soul Saint, and our village prospered because of him. But it's been so many years since our village last produced a Soul Master. I hope a few children will have Soul Power this time!" As Old Jack spoke, his tone grew more wistful.
Old Jack sighed. "Ah, the older you get, the more you talk. Why am I telling you all this? Little Xuan, Little San, make sure you prepare over the next few days. Grandpa will come pick you up in three days. I'm off." After finishing what he had to say, Old Jack waved to Tang Xuan and Tang San, then tottered away again. "Goodbye, Grandpa Jack," Tang Xuan and Tang San said.
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