While Tang San remained dejected, the long-awaited system notification rang in Qin Chao's ears. "Congratulations, host, on successfully seizing the protagonist's luck. You have gained five Luck Value points..."
Ahhhhh! Qin Chao screamed wildly in his mind. Finally! Finally!
If the system had stayed silent any longer, Qin Chao would have begun to wonder whether it had all been a hallucination when he first transmigrated...
Just as he was about to summon the system shop and check which draws he could enter, Su Yuntao took his little hand.
"Child, would you like to join our Spirit Hall? With your talent, you'll certainly receive the best cultivation resources there..."
Su Yuntao's eyes burned brightly, brimming with excitement.
If he could bring Qin Chao back to Spirit Hall, his position would surely rise like a boat on a swelling tide. He might even be transferred to the Spirit Hall Main Hall, where the cultivation resources were worlds apart from those in this tiny mountain village.
"Right now?" Qin Chao hesitated.
The best way to compete for Tang San's fortune was to retrace his path.
From Notting Junior Academy to Shrek Academy, then later to Slaughter City and Sea God Island-but that was Tang San's life, after all.
He had read plenty of fanfiction, too. Ultimately, everyone who transmigrated to the Douluo Continent had only one goal: to grow stronger.
Compared with joining Nuoding Academy and becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple, Spirit Hall's abundant cultivation resources and superior environment were undoubtedly the better choice.
Most importantly, Spirit Hall had beautiful women.
Who could read Douluo without fantasizing about its beauties? Whether it was the regal Bibi Dong, the bewitching Hu Liena, or the icy Qian Renxue, Qin Chao didn't want to miss a single one.
Only children chose. He wanted them all!
Seeing Qin Chao lost in thought, Su Yuntao felt his heart leap into his throat.
The cooked duck was already at his lips. Surely he couldn't let it fly away!
"Do you have any concerns? Your family? Or the terms? Don't worry, all of that is negotiable..." Su Yuntao hurriedly spoke, terrified that Qin Chao would refuse.
"It's like this, Uncle. I'm an orphan, and Grandpa raised me. Now that I'm leaving, I'm a little reluctant to part with him. Could you give me a few more days so I can say a proper goodbye...?"
Qin Chao scratched his head a little sheepishly, putting on the air of a shy child.
"Oh, so that's it!" Su Yuntao breathed a sigh of relief. "That's a small matter. I need to speak with your family anyway..."
As he spoke, he opened the door.
Seeing the door open, a nervous Old Jack hurried forward. "Master, how did it go? Do any of this year's children have the potential to become Soul Masters?"
Su Yuntao looked at Old Jack's eager expression and sighed softly.
Holy Soul Village had taken its name from the Soul Saint it had produced many years ago. That was Old Jack's greatest source of pride, and now Qin Chao's emergence had fulfilled the old man's dream.
"Old Jack, your village has produced a genius this year..."
"A genius?" Old Jack was stunned. A moment later, he spotted Qin Chao, whose hand Su Yuntao was holding.
"Qin Chao... the genius the master mentioned... could that be you?" Old Jack clutched his chest, his face filled with disbelief.
Seeing Old Jack clutch his chest, Qin Chao feared that overwhelming joy might harm his health. He hurried forward to support him, remembering to introduce him to Su Yuntao as he did.
"This is my grandpa..."
At Qin Chao's introduction, a fawning smile immediately appeared on Su Yuntao's face.
"I knew it! Such an outstanding child must have been raised well!"
Qin Chao was still young, so the final decision rested with his guardian. Flattering Old Jack could hardly go wrong.
Sensing the change in Su Yuntao's attitude, Old Jack straightened his back considerably. After an exchange of pleasantries, Qin Chao's enrollment in Spirit Hall was settled.
After packing his things, Su Yuntao left Holy Soul Village in high spirits. He could hardly wait to report Qin Chao's situation to the Spirit Hall Main Hall.
Watching him leave, Old Jack could no longer contain himself and pulled Qin Chao into his arms.
"Good boy, good boy! You've truly brought honor to our Holy Soul Village!" His voice trembled, and warm drops fell onto Qin Chao's head.
The affectionate scene between grandfather and grandson was heartwarming, yet to Tang San, it was painfully glaring.
To be fair, Old Jack was a very good man. Tang Hao was a good-for-nothing who did nothing but drink and sleep, and Old Jack had often looked after Tang San. Though he hadn't treated him quite as well as Qin Chao, he had still cared for him like a child of his own family. Yet now, Old Jack seemed to have eyes for Qin Chao alone.
Jealousy grew wildly in his heart, utterly beyond his control.
Tang San stared fixedly at Qin Chao, a faint trace of killing intent even creeping into his eyes.
Memories of Qin Chao bullying him flooded his mind like a surging tide. Things he could once have laughed off as childish horseplay now felt like a blood-deep vendetta, etched into his bones and heart.
Qin Chao had always been perceptive. Sensing someone watching him, he immediately looked back. When he saw Tang San's dark gaze, he froze for an instant.
The hatred in those eyes was far too clear for Qin Chao to ignore.
He raised his eyes and glared fiercely back.
You hate me? I hate you even more!
Why do you get to be the protagonist? I damn well refuse to accept it!
If that's your destiny, then I'll defy heaven and rewrite it!
If you can be the protagonist, so can I!
Their gazes clashed, and sparks seemed to fly through the air. Perhaps the savage aura of Taotie had not entirely dissipated, for Tang San was the first to give way.
He lowered his head, avoiding Qin Chao's gaze. When he looked up again, he had returned to his previous calm, harmless demeanor.
"Grandpa Village Chief, during the martial soul awakening, golden specks of light appeared around me too. They just weren't as dense as Qin Chao's. I wanted to ask whether there are any other opportunities to study..."
Old Jack frowned slightly at his words. "It's not that there aren't any opportunities. It's just..."
Every year, the village received one work-study place. Children with soul power could attend the Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy while working to support their studies. Now that Qin Chao was going to Spirit Hall, he wouldn't need that place, so there was no reason not to give it to Tang San...
"Just what?" Tang San pressed urgently, his tone growing somewhat stiff.
Already resentful of Old Jack's "favoritism" toward Qin Chao, he immediately lost his composure upon seeing the old man's troubled expression. His words even carried a hint of coercion.
Old Jack's brow furrowed further, and he looked at Tang San with growing suspicion.
He had watched Little San grow up. The boy was not only sensible but also gentle and courteous to others. Apart from Qin Chao, he was the child Old Jack doted on most. But what had gotten into him today?
Although displeased with Tang San's tone, Old Jack still spoke slowly. "Little San, our village has a work-study place. You can attend the junior Soul Master Academy while working to support your studies. What worries me is your father..."
Tang San abruptly came to his senses. His intense interest in martial souls had made him lose control for a moment. Only after hearing Old Jack's words did he regain his composure.
Right, there's still Dad. Will he agree to let me leave to study?
After thinking for a moment, Tang San spoke again, his eyes full of resolve.
"Grandpa Jack, I'll do everything I can to persuade Dad. Don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll remember your kindness..."
Hearing Tang San's words, Qin Chao frowned slightly. Having read the novel thoroughly, he naturally knew that as long as Tang San revealed his twin martial souls, Tang Hao would certainly agree to let him study at Nuoding Academy.
The protagonist's halo was powerful indeed. Even without his innate full soul power being detected, Tang San would still go to Nuoding Academy. The gears of fate had begun to turn, and Qin Chao was the sole variable among them.
Late that night, Qin Chao lay in bed, thinking over the day's events.
For Qin Chao, Tang San going to school was not a bad thing. The story's general course still matched the novel, which was undoubtedly the best news for someone who knew the plot so well.
Knowing his target's movements would make it much easier to meddle along the way.
Summoning the system shop in his mind, Qin Chao quickly found the draw interface.
The Qi Fortune Seizure System had four prize pools: bronze, silver, gold, and diamond. Each pool required a different number of Luck Value points and offered different rewards.
From million-year soul bones and soul rings down to soul power and medicinal herbs, countless rewards of every kind dazzled Qin Chao's eyes.
Five Luck Value points were neither a lot nor a little—just enough for one draw from the bronze prize pool.
Qin Chao got out of bed specifically to wash his hands, then reverently kowtowed three times toward the east before instructing the system to begin the draw.
The wheel spun rapidly before finally coming to a stop. Seeing the reward before him, Qin Chao was overjoyed.
A Growth-Type Soul Ring!!
Qin Chao knelt and kowtowed, thanking whichever deity or heavenly official had bestowed this favor upon him.
Growth-Type Soul Ring (Flame Tiger): Its age can increase as the host's strength grows, up to a limit of 100,000 years. Adds the fire attribute.
The soul ring looked utterly ordinary. It was even the lowest-grade white ten-year soul ring. But how could a soul ring produced by the system be poor?
He guided the soul ring toward his body with his soul power. The instant it touched him, a powerful, scorching aura erupted. Qin Chao felt searing heat surge through his body, as though magma flowed in his blood. Even his breaths carried a faint burnt smell.
Enduring the burning pain in his meridians, Qin Chao focused his attention on the Golden Little Tower in his right hand. As the soul ring drew closer, the tower's temperature gradually rose.
As the saying went, true gold feared no trial by fire. Under the scorching heat, the little golden pagoda shone ever more brilliantly, dazzling to behold. Yet Qin Chao's attention was not on the pagoda at that moment, but on the white soul ring.
As his soul power surged, the white hue of the soul ring gradually deepened, filling Qin Chao with delight.
Its age really does increase!
Seeing this, Qin Chao circulated the soul power within his body even harder.
Ten years, twenty years, thirty years...
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