First Meeting with Tang San

The three turned around. Before them stood an old man and a child. The old man looked to be in his sixties, tall and thin, yet vigorous and alert. His clothes were clean and neat, and his hair was combed meticulously. Beside him stood a child of five or six, dressed very plainly but cleanly, with short black hair and healthy wheat-colored skin.

Unlike Shi Quan and the other two, who dressed similarly to ordinary cityfolk, this old man and child could be recognized at a glance as people from a rural village. Though their clothes were clean and tidy, they were clearly far inferior.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for meeting the Child of Destiny. A Destiny Treasure Chest has been triggered and opened for the host. Reward obtained: one copy of the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art."

The instant Shi Quan's gaze landed on the boy around his own age, the system's familiar mechanical voice unexpectedly rang out in his mind again of its own accord.

Hearing the voice in his head, Shi Quan's pupils contracted sharply. His heart shook violently, filled with delight.

On one hand, he had never expected that merely taking a look would trigger the system's treasure chest so easily.

More importantly, this time, the reward was a cultivation art!

Nine Yin and Nine Yang!

In China, yin and yang represented the opposing sides of the world, encompassing all changes in creation. The number nine also carried an extraordinary meaning. Nine was the ultimate number, representing the limit, often implying that all transformations had been exhausted. Nine Yin and Nine Yang also carried the meaning of nine returning to one, suggesting a transcendence beyond all limits.

The name alone utterly crushed Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

Shi Quan had not expected his first meeting with Tang San to happen through such a coincidence.

Other than Tang San, who else could be the current Child of Destiny of Douluo Continent?

Feeling Shi Quan suddenly clench his hand, Li Meili lowered her head and asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Quan?"

Shi Quan tried his best to control the surging emotions in his heart and casually found an excuse. "Nothing, Mom. I was just thinking, they were asking for the academy's location. Could they be going to enroll at the academy just like us?"

That must be Old Jack, the beginner village chief, right? Shi Quan subconsciously glanced at the old man, who was still asking around in a low voice.

"Shi Jian, what do you think? Should we ask them? If they're heading to the same place, we can get acquainted beforehand. Xiao Quan could have a companion too." Li Meili looked at Shi Jian.

"Let's ask." Shi Jian nodded. Judging from Tang San and the old man's attire, they should have come from some relatively poor little village. An old man and a child asking for the location of the Soul Master Academy at this time of day were most likely Work-Study Students like Shi Quan. Having one more Soul Master friend would naturally be a good thing.

Shi Jian led the Carriage toward Old Jack and Tang San, who were preparing to leave, and called out, "Hello, sir."

Old Jack paused and instinctively looked around. He seemed to be the only old man on this street. He looked at Shi Jian uncertainly and asked, "Sir, were you calling me?"

Shi Jian said politely, "Hello, sir. My name is Shi Jian. I heard you say just now that you were going to Notting Academy?"

When Old Jack saw Shi Quan behind Shi Jian, his eyes immediately lit up. "Brother Shi, are you going to Notting Academy too?"

"That's right. I'm here to take my son to enroll. Sir, are you taking your grandson to the Soul Master Academy to enroll?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Old Jack nodded excitedly and explained, "But he isn't my grandson. His name is Tang San, and he's from our Holy Soul Village. My name is Jack, and I'm the chief of Holy Soul Village. His family doesn't handle such matters, so I had no choice but to bring him here myself."

"Chief Jack, hello. We're from Stone Family Village. This is my wife, Li Meili, and this is my son, Shi Quan. We're here to bring him to enroll as well."

"What a coincidence!" Old Jack grinned and gently patted Tang San's hand. "Xiao San, hurry and greet your uncle and auntie."

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie." Tang San obediently stepped forward and greeted Shi Jian and Li Meili, though his eyes discreetly sized up Shi Quan beside them.

"Xiao Quan, why are you spacing out?" Seeing that Shi Quan had said nothing, Li Meili asked in confusion. Under normal circumstances, Shi Quan would have already taken the initiative to greet them politely.

"Hello, Chief Jack." Hearing Li Meili's words, Shi Quan finally returned from the System Space and politely greeted Old Jack.

No one besides Shi Quan could see the system interface.

After looking at Old Jack earlier, Shi Quan had immediately shifted his attention back to the cultivation art reward.

The System Space was still shaped like a storage grid, except it had changed from one slot to two.

An ancient ink-black book stood quietly in the second slot. The book had no special decoration. Faint patterns shimmered across its ink-black cover, where six vigorous white characters were written: Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art.

Like the Spirit Awakening Fluid, when Shi Quan's gaze fell upon the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art, information about it automatically appeared in his mind.

Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art: Originating from a parallel world of Jin Yong, it is the most supreme cultivation art from among countless Jin Yong parallel worlds, the general outline of all martial arts under heaven. It unites yin and yang, which complement each other.

Note: The cultivation art is transmitted through consciousness. Upon extraction, it will be directly imprinted into the host's mind. The art contains a trace of Yin Yang Power. The host is advised to take special care.

How could Shi Quan possibly be unfamiliar with Jin Yong's martial arts worlds? Cultivation arts such as the Nine Yin Manual, Nine Yang Divine Skill, and Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, all of which were household names, came from Jin Yong's martial arts novels.

Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record was also a type of martial arts cultivation art, originating from the Tang Sect.

Martial arts cultivation arts were also divided into different ranks.

In countless novels, the Tang Sect was known for its Hidden Weapons and poisons. Most of its martial arts cultivation arts had likewise been created to work in conjunction with Hidden Weapons and poisons.

The Mysterious Jade Hand in Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record was mainly meant for gathering and refining poisons. Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Purple Demon Eyes, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon were likewise intended to better employ Hidden Weapons.

In Shi Quan's eyes, a clan-style martial sect like the Tang Sect was nothing more than a minor sect. It had only gained a name for itself because it was secretive and sinister.

Even if the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record were considered somewhat formidable, even if it were ranked as a top-tier cultivation art, it would still be among the weakest of the top tier. After all, the original purpose of arts such as Mysterious Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Purple Demon Eyes, and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon was not to kill enemies, but to preserve one's life. The true killing moves in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record were its endlessly varied Hidden Weapon techniques and Hidden Weapons.

Hidden Weapon techniques included Guanyin Tear and Bodhi Blood, while the Hidden Weapons themselves naturally included the Wrath of the Buddha Tang Lotus and Storm Pear Blossom Needle.

Those were the true strongest aspects of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

Of course, aside from the martial art itself, its strength also depended on the user's Inner Force. The stronger the Inner Force, the greater the power it could unleash.

Tang San's Guanyin Tear technique nearly slaying a god made that clear. A Hidden Weapon technique combined with the strength of a Titled Douluo could unleash God-level power.

Setting aside whether that was reasonable or how strong the god had been, this alone showed that the role martial arts cultivation arts played for Soul Masters was something even Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Abilities could not compare to.

A Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record from the Tang Sect alone had helped Tang San achieve such accomplishments. Shi Quan found it difficult to imagine just how powerful the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art would be.

The mere title of general outline of all martial arts under heaven was already beyond comparison with the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record of a tiny Tang Sect.

Not to mention that this Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art was the strongest cultivation art among countless parallel worlds of Jin Yong's martial arts novels.

Even before extracting it, Shi Quan could tell that the two were completely incomparable.

That was why Shi Quan had remained lost in thought for so long. Based on the description alone, he felt that on Douluo Continent, the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art fully deserved to be called a God-level cultivation art.

When his attention returned to Tang San, Shi Quan happened to meet Tang San's gaze.

Their eyes met. Tang San gave a faint smile, and Shi Quan smiled back slightly.

Whatever else could be said, Tang San was neither more handsome nor cuter than him at this stage.

After all, he had a beautiful mother. One could tell from his Spirit Soul that Shi Quan had inherited his mother's good traits from childhood. Though his face still carried some childishness, he already had the makings of a handsome little boy. With the awakening of his Soil Spirit Soul and Spirit Soul, Shi Quan's youthful appearance had gained a touch of steadiness and spirit, making him even more lovable.

After Shi Jian and Old Jack chatted briefly, Shi Jian discussed things with Li Meili. In the end, they decided to head to the academy together, bringing the mother and son's shopping trip to an end.

Shi Jian was naturally much more familiar with Notting City than Old Jack. When they met, the group had already been quite close to Notting Academy.

Under Shi Jian's lead, they soon saw a tall arched gate in the distance. At the center of the archway were four large words: "Notting Academy."

"What are you here for?"

The moment the group reached the gate, they were stopped by a young gatekeeper. His brows furrowed involuntarily, especially when he saw Tang San and Old Jack.

Shi Jian stepped forward with a smile. "Hello, brother. We're all here to bring our children to enroll at the academy. We're from Stone Family Village, and they're from Holy Soul Village."

Old Jack also stepped forward with a smile. "Hello, young brother."

"You're all Work-Study Students?" The gatekeeper frowned and looked at Shi Jian in surprise.

"Yes."

Upon hearing that, the gatekeeper gave a half-smile. "Our academy hasn't had a Work-Study Student in years. You aren't impostors, are you?"

A flash of anger immediately appeared in Old Jack's eyes. Shi Jian instantly understood what was going on. Smiling, he first took out the Spirit Soul Certificate from his robe, then pulled out several dozen Copper Spirit Coins and handed them to the gatekeeper. "Brother, look. This is the certificate Spirit Hall issued for us."

Shi Quan's eyes narrowed at the sight. How could an ordinary gatekeeper dare demand benefits from commoner families like theirs? Those who could enter the academy all had a chance of becoming Soul Masters. Offending a potential future Soul Master for a small gain was simply not worth it no matter how one looked at it.

Of course, there was another possibility. Perhaps someone stood behind this gatekeeper and he had connections, so he did not have to worry about being resented by commoner families like theirs. But if someone truly stood behind him, how could a Grandmaster without any real authority still hold him in check?

But it seems the Grandmaster has the headmaster of Notting Academy behind him? Shi Quan could not be bothered to think through all those complications. His large eyes were curiously observing his surroundings as he waited for someone—the Grandmaster.

Shi Quan was not sure whether their appearance would cause the timeline to deviate. Whether the Grandmaster would appear at all remained uncertain. What concerned him more was whether meeting Tang San had triggered a Destiny Treasure Chest, so would the Grandmaster, as Tang San's teacher, trigger a similar treasure chest as well?

"What is he... looking for?" Tang San curiously observed Shi Quan. Ever since they met, Tang San had felt that Shi Quan seemed somewhat different from other children. Yet he could not explain what exactly was different, so he had been glancing at Shi Quan on and off throughout the journey.

Is that the Grandmaster?

Shi Quan's sweeping gaze paused. He suddenly noticed a figure in the distance walking toward the academy. Shi Quan had never seen the Grandmaster, but when he saw that stiff, expressionless face, he was probably right.

Yet Shi Quan was disappointed. The system did not once again sound the notification that a treasure chest had been triggered.

Following Shi Quan's gaze, Tang San also saw the figure in the distance. When he noticed the disappointed look on Shi Quan's face, he instinctively thought, Is he looking for someone?

"Brother, they're with us."

Meanwhile, as Shi Jian handed the money to the gatekeeper, he hurriedly gestured for Old Jack to take out Tang San's Spirit Soul Certificate as well.

Although Old Jack did not understand the hidden details, he was the chief of a village after all and quickly caught on. Suppressing the anger in his heart, he handed Tang San's Spirit Soul Certificate to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper glanced at Old Jack disdainfully, took the certificate from him, and inspected it. His expression turned strange. "You two are really interesting. Your Spirit Souls are both Blue Silver Grass? One has Innate Level One Soul Power, while the other has Innate Full Soul Power? I've been a gatekeeper at this academy for four years, and this is the first time I've heard of a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul possessing Soul Power. Not only did two appear at once, but one even has full Soul Power?"

At the gatekeeper's words, Old Jack, Shi Jian, and Li Meili exchanged astonished looks.

A certificate from Spirit Hall could not be forged, and no one dared forge one. They all knew that. Innate Full Soul Power was different from Twin Martial Souls. Shi Jian and Li Meili knew what Innate Full Soul Power represented. Compared to Shi Quan, Tang San was the true genius. They simply had not expected that this genius, like their own child, possessed Blue Silver Grass.

Upon hearing the gatekeeper's words, Tang San also looked at Shi Quan in surprise. He wondered whether that strange feeling between them was because their Spirit Souls were the same.

"Follow the main road down the middle until the end, and you'll see the registration area. But the Carriage can't enter. Park it to the side, and you'll have to carry your things in yourselves."

After accepting Shi Jian's payment, the gatekeeper was in a better mood. Seeing Old Jack and Tang San's shabby clothes, he assumed they could not offer him anything. He no longer continued making things difficult for them and chose to let them pass...