Tang San's Path to Becoming an Ungrateful Wolf

"It is the Basic Soul Power Meditation Book I compiled from years of theoretical research. Although it cannot compare to some advanced meditation techniques, it is more than enough for a beginner Soul Master like you."

Tang San accepted the book, held it against his chest with both hands, and nodded solemnly:

"I'll cultivate diligently, Teacher. Thank you."

Master gave a slight nod, then paused before saying, "By the way, after you've rested, go to the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City when you have time."

Tang San froze, puzzled. "Teacher, haven't I already awakened my Martial Soul? What am I going to the Spirit Hall for now?"

Master looked at him, a trace of seriousness appearing in his eyes. "You've awakened your Martial Soul and obtained your first Soul Ring. You already meet the basic requirements of a Soul Master."

"Go to the Spirit Hall for an official Soul Master assessment, register your Soul Power Level, and become an officially registered Soul Master."

He paused again before continuing:

"More importantly..."

"You can receive a monthly Gold Soul Coin allowance from the Spirit Hall."

"It isn't much, but it's enough for your daily expenses. Most importantly, with this money, you won't need to remain a Work-Study Student anymore."

"You'll be able to devote more of your time and energy to cultivating Soul Power."

Tang San was stunned when he heard this, and gratitude immediately welled up in his heart. A hint of emotion appeared in his eyes.

"So the Spirit Hall also gives Soul Masters Gold Soul Coin allowances? These past few years in Holy Spirit Village, there were times when I couldn't even afford a meal..."

"From the looks of it, the Spirit Hall... is actually quite good to commoners."

Those words were the most genuine feelings of a boy who had come from the bottom of society.

However, the moment his voice fell, Master's originally closed-eyed face suddenly tightened.

Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes. A trace of coldness and disdain appeared in his gaze, and his tone instantly sharpened. "Good? Xiao San, you're too naive."

"On this continent, which powerful noble has ever truly been good to commoners?"

"The few Gold Soul Coins distributed by the Spirit Hall may appear to be support for commoner Soul Masters, but in reality, they're merely using the guise of helping commoners to win people's hearts."

Tang San was slightly stunned and asked doubtfully, "Wasn't it said that the Spirit Hall provided that money? As the saying goes, a gentleman is judged by his actions, not his intentions. Even if they're trying to win people over, as long as the money is distributed, it's still a good thing."

Master snorted coldly, a flash of icy light appearing in his eyes:

"You think they provided that money?"

"Naive."

"Those so-called allowances were actually funded by the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire."

"The Spirit Hall merely overstepped its authority, distributing the money ahead of the Two Great Empires, then presenting it as a gift from the Spirit Hall."

"All these years, many low-level Soul Masters have been grateful to the Spirit Hall without ever knowing that what they received was actually the nation's money."

"The continent's Soul Master system should have been jointly maintained by the royal families of the two Empires and the various Academies. Yet the Spirit Hall forcibly took control of it, binding all grassroots Soul Masters beneath its own banner."

At this point, his tone suddenly grew heavy:

"How is what the Spirit Hall is doing any different from rebellion?"

After hearing Master's calm yet sharp explanation, Tang San's favorable impression of the Spirit Hall plummeted. After a long while, he still couldn't help asking:

"Teacher... since this money was originally provided by the Two Great Empires..."

"Why didn't they distribute it themselves? Why have the Spirit Hall do it in their place? Wouldn't that be the same as handing over the people's loyalty?"

Upon hearing this, Master opened his eyes, his gaze narrowing slightly as he said in a low voice:

"You think the Two Great Empires don't know what the Spirit Hall is doing? On the contrary, they know better than anyone."

He slowly straightened his body, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes:

"The reason the Two Great Empires don't stop it, and even tacitly allow the Spirit Hall to distribute the allowances, isn't because they're incapable. It's because... they need the Spirit Hall as well."

Tang San froze. "Need it?"

Master nodded, his tone low yet firm:

"Most of the continent's low-level Soul Masters are concentrated in villages and towns. The local customs in these places are complicated, and control is weak. The decrees of the royal families of the two Empires often have difficulty reaching them."

"But the Spirit Hall has established the most complete and direct organizational network, beginning with village-level Martial Soul awakening sites. It possesses a vast religious system, a Deacon System, patrol regulations, and even a communication efficiency faster than royal orders."

"Think about it. If the Two Great Empires sent people to distribute the allowances themselves, how many local officials, armed guards, and financial inspectors would they need to mobilize? How much manpower, money, and effort would it consume?"

"Having the Spirit Hall do it only requires signing a single funding order. Someone else will handle everything afterward. It saves costs while also earning the Spirit Hall's apparent loyalty to the Empires."

Tang San looked somewhat dazed as he listened:

"So... the Two Great Empires are actually using the Spirit Hall as well?"

Master snorted coldly. "Exactly."

Tang San was silent for a moment before raising his head, confusion and puzzlement in his eyes:

"But... even so, the Two Great Empires are still suffering losses, aren't they?"

"They provide the money, but the Spirit Hall takes the credit. If they continue allowing this, sooner or later, all the Soul Masters on the continent will listen only to the Spirit Hall."

Upon hearing this, Master gave a soft, cold laugh, a meaningful look showing in his eyes. He slowly said, "You think the Two Great Empires truly have no way to deal with it?"

Straightening his body, Master spoke with a deep-seated coldness and clarity:

"As the saying goes—a bowl of rice earns gratitude, but a bushel of rice breeds resentment."

Tang San was startled when he heard this, not understanding what it meant.

Master continued, "It means that when someone is in trouble, if you offer them a little assistance, they'll be grateful to you. If you keep giving and make them dependent on you, then the day you stop, it won't simply be the end of your kindness. It will become a deep-seated hatred."

"That is human nature."

He paused, fixing his gaze on Tang San's eyes as he spoke word by word:

"Of course, the Two Great Empires know about the Spirit Hall's wolfish ambitions."

"So over these past few years, although they continued providing funds on the surface, they had already begun secretly reducing the allowances. Their purpose was to make the grassroots Soul Masters gradually notice the problem and create a rift between the Spirit Hall and ordinary Soul Masters."

"Someone who should have received ten Gold Soul Coins would receive eight, then seven. Resentment would naturally arise. Once enough doubts were voiced, trust would naturally begin to waver."

Tang San's gaze shifted slightly. "So that's how it was. In other words, the Two Great Empires were digging a pit for the Spirit Hall when they first began providing this funding. How has the Spirit Hall reacted recently?"

Master's expression darkened slightly as he slowly shook his head:

"Unfortunately, the Spirit Hall saw through this long ago."

"Their foundations run far deeper than you can imagine. Even after the Two Great Empires reduced the allowances, they gritted their teeth and paid out of their own pockets to make up the difference."

"Why would the Spirit Hall do this? For nothing more than winning people's loyalty."

"Xiao San, the reason I'm telling you all this is so you'll remember that pies don't fall from the sky. No one will treat you well for no reason."

"You possess Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. In the future, you're certain to make a name for yourself across the entire continent. When the various Powers show you goodwill, you don't need to feel grateful toward them. They're doing it merely to win you over and make use of you."

"What you need to do is make good use of them."