He told Han Qiu he could come by to work the forge every day.
Part of the reason was that he cherished talent and wanted to use the rigors of smithing to nurture this rare promising talent a little.
But more than that, he wanted to keep watch on him.
Keeping such a genius under his nose was a hundred times safer than letting him grow in secret outside, with no one knowing his background.
Given enough time, he could always get to the bottom of his origins, his purpose, and the secrets he was hiding.
If Han Qiu was pure of heart, he could offer him guidance as he saw fit someday and make him a helper for his own son. If Han Qiu harbored ulterior motives, he could kill him at any time while he was under his nose, nipping the threat in the bud.
That was what Tang Hao was really thinking.
Over the next stretch of time, Han Qiu broke through his own limits once again through smithing.
That day, Grandpa Jack brought Han Qiu, Tang San, and seven other children from the village to the Spirit Hall in Holy Soul Village: the dilapidated little wooden hut from which countless fanfiction powerhouses had emerged.
"All right, follow me inside. When you see the Battle Soul Master in a moment, there's no need to be afraid, but don't speak out of turn or make him unhappy." After giving the children his instructions, Jack led them into the Spirit Hall.
A moment later, the group entered the hall.
A young man stood in the very center of the Spirit Hall's main hall.
Hearing their footsteps, the young man slowly turned around and looked at the children.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, with swordlike brows, starry eyes, and handsome features.
His fitted white clothes set off his upright figure, and a black cloak hung behind him. A fist-sized character for "soul" was embroidered in the center of his chest.
"This is Su Yuntao, the Battle Soul Master who came from Nuoding City."
It's him, it's him, it's really him! The legendary tool man, Blind Douluo Su Yuntao, is here.
"I am Su Yuntao, a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster." Su Yuntao gazed impassively at the group. "I'll be awakening your Martial Souls."
Old Jack turned to the children and instructed them, "Children, Master Su Yuntao will awaken your Martial Souls. Make sure you cooperate with him. Grandpa hopes that one of you will become a Soul Master someday."
The young man waved a hand, a trace of impatience on his face. "All right, haven't you said the same thing every time these past few years? Becoming a Soul Master isn't that easy. I've already been to six villages, and not one person had Soul Power."
With that, he said no more. He took out six pitch-black round stones and waved his hand, sending them to the ground, where they instantly formed a hexagonal array.
Then he took out a crystal ball and pointed at the hexagonal array on the ground. "Enter the array one at a time, in order from left to right."
As his words fell, a faint halo of light slowly rippled out from the hexagonal array.
The first child stepped into the array.
Su Yuntao gave a low shout. "Lone Wolf!"
Two Soul Rings, one white and one yellow, rose around him. His body swelled, and a sense of immense power surged through him.
The children stared, dumbstruck, and instinctively stepped half a pace back. Fear and alarm mingled in their eyes, along with admiration and curiosity.
Su Yuntao strode toward the hexagonal stone array and sent several streaks of jade-green light flying from his hands in quick succession. Specks of golden light flashed, enveloping all the children.
"Hold out your right hand," Su Yuntao commanded in a deep voice.
The child hurriedly raised his right hand, and a small sickle appeared in his palm. He reached out and touched the crystal ball, but it showed no reaction at all.
Su Yuntao shook his head lightly.
The child's face fell, and he walked out of the array in disappointment.
The remaining children entered the array one by one in order.
The further they went, the deeper the disappointment on Su Yuntao's face grew.
When Tang San's turn finally came, the golden light that burst from the array was far more dazzling than it had been for the previous children.
Well, well, that's protagonist treatment for you-a golden legend!
Han Qiu muttered under his breath, his gaze fixed on Tang San's left hand. He was certain that the Clear Sky Hammer was hidden in his left palm.
Tang San clenched his left hand tightly and opened only his right. A slender stalk of Blue Silver Grass slowly appeared.
Looking at the Blue Silver Grass in his palm, Tang San's face darkened instantly.
That Han Qiu and his jinxed mouth! He was speechless.
Awakening Blue Silver Grass alone would not have been much of a problem, but Han Qiu had already declared that his Martial Soul would be Blue Silver Grass, leaving Tang San utterly helpless.
He naturally did not really believe Han Qiu could decide his Martial Soul with a single remark, but that mouth of his was just too poisonous.
"Blue Silver Grass again." Su Yuntao shook his head, paying it no mind.
But in the next instant, his eyes flew wide. Tang San placed his hand on the crystal ball, and a brilliant azure light burst forth, filling the entire hall in an instant.
"Innate Full Soul Power!" Su Yuntao cried out.
It took him a long moment to recover from the enormous shock. He looked at Tang San, his gaze a mixture of astonishment and regret.
Han Qiu kept his eyes fixed on the crystal ball, pondering to himself, If I poured all the power in my body into it, would the crystal ball burst apart on the spot?
Su Yuntao's expression was complicated.
Innate Full Soul Power was an extraordinary talent rarely seen in a century, yet his Martial Soul was the most unremarkable Blue Silver Grass.
"Mm." Tang San nodded lightly.
"Innate Soul Power represents a Soul Master's foundation. The higher the Soul Power, the more astonishing their cultivation speed will be in the future." Su Yuntao looked at Tang San and continued regretfully, "Innate Full Soul Power is extremely rare across the entire continent. In all my years of traveling, you're the first I've seen with my own eyes, and I'm afraid you may be the last. I doubt I'll meet another person with such talent in my lifetime. It's just a pity that your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
Very good. That's so Yuntao. With those words, Douluo is in the bag.
[Congratulations, host. Your Martial Soul is about to awaken. Choice System activated.] [Option one: loudly ask Su Yuntao, "Do you believe in light?" Receive the Martial Soul Tiga Version Spark Lens.] [Option two: loudly ask Su Yuntao, "Do you also want to dance?" Receive the Martial Soul Lord Madara Version Rinnegan.] [Option three: loudly tell Su Yuntao, "Only kids make choices. I want them all." Receive the advanced version of a top-tier Twin Martial Soul: Martial Soul of Light and Heavenly Eye Martial Soul.]
Very good. Cringey, but powerful.
Social death it is, then.
Even one second of hesitation would be disrespectful to a top-tier Twin Martial Soul.
"I choose three."
"Next."
Han Qiu walked straight to the center of the hexagon.
"Master, I want to tell you, only kids make choices. I want them all!" Han Qiu suddenly shouted for no apparent reason.
Su Yuntao jumped in fright and nearly interrupted the awakening ceremony.
"What?"
The hall fell dead silent!
Su Yuntao, who had still been immersed in the shock and regret of "Innate Full Soul Power but a Trash Martial Soul," stared in bewilderment at the boy who had stepped into the center of the array, his ears ringing.
Only kids make choices. I want them all?
What kind of bizarre statement was that?!