After following Old Jack and trailing behind Su Yuntao, Tang San couldn't resist asking, "Master Su, can martial soul awakening only be done at six years old?"
"What, little San wants to awaken his Martial Soul early?" Su Yuntao laughed. "That won't work. Spirit Hall regulations require everyone to be six for awakening. I can't make exceptions. The reason? Well... you know I'm not one for books. And also—" He gave Tang San a pointed look. "You call me 'Master Su' when you need something, but it's back to 'Brother Tao' otherwise, isn't it?"
Tang San widened his eyes in an exaggerated display of innocence. "I thought you must be tired from traveling, Brother Tao. I was just trying to lighten your mood with a joke."
Su Yuntao chuckled. "That excuse is weak... As for your awakening, we'll discuss it next year when you're six. I don't know why six is the age, but if it's been this way since ancient times, there must be a reason."
"Haha, Little San, eager to become a soul master already?" Old Jack patted Tang San's head affectionately. "But Master Su is right—these things can't be rushed. With your cleverness, you'll surely become a great soul master."
Su Yuntao remained silent but sighed inwardly. The path to becoming a soul master was arduous—merely possessing innate soul power eliminated over 90% of the population. Yet he genuinely hoped Tang San would awaken with soul power next year. The boy's insightful advice about soul rings two years ago had granted him a powerful soul skill. With such wisdom, Tang San could surpass him if given the chance.
Their group arrived at the village center's Spirit Hall—a simple stone building managed by the village chief and cleaned periodically. Since Su Yuntao's visit was expected, the hall had been thoroughly cleaned days prior.
Only Su Yuntao and the children could enter for the awakening ceremony. Nine minutes later, he emerged shaking his head. "Blue Silver Grass, sickles, hoes, spatulas... no soul power in any of them."
Old Jack comforted the disappointed families. "No soul power isn't the end. Awakened martial souls still make your work easier."
After brief conversation with Tang San, Su Yuntao departed for neighboring villages. Tang San helped Old Jack home before returning to the blacksmith shop, where he roused the napping Tang Hao.
"What's all the noise?" Tang Hao rubbed his eyes irritably. "Did your Martial Soul awaken early? Let me see it." His question revealed he'd known about Su Yuntao's visit—likely having observed secretly, concerned his identity might be exposed.
Tang San dismissed the worry internally. Su Yuntao, eager to return to Sisi, wouldn't have accepted invitations anyway. Outwardly, he adopted a child's naive tone. "Grandpa Jack's right—you should cheer up. At least fix the house, or no village girl will marry me later."
Tang Hao's eyebrows shot up. "Already thinking about marriage? Since when did you become so precocious?"
"Do you want the Tang line to die out?" Tang San widened his eyes dramatically. "Three generations of poverty means no wife, then no heirs. You're useless, grandfather must've been too—that makes me the third generation."
"What nonsense has that Spirit Hall fool been teaching you?" Tang Hao gritted his teeth, momentarily tempted to chase down Su Yuntao. Instead, he stomped to the forge. "I won't coddle you forever. Learn these forging techniques—earn your own money to fix the house. And stop practicing that bastard's meditation method. Before awakening, it's useless—the Martial Soul is cultivation's foundation."
Tang San hid his surprise. Had the Titled Douluo detected his Mysterious Heaven Skill practice? But pre-awakening, even a Titled Douluo shouldn't sense soul power fluctuations. Perhaps internal force remained undetectable until soul power manifested.
As Tang Hao demonstrated the Chaos Cloak Hammer Method, Tang San memorized each motion through his transmigrator's perfect recall—though he deliberately pretended otherwise.
"Again! I didn't get it!" Tang San insisted, puffing his cheeks.
Tang Hao suppressed his irritation. "My own son... my own son..." After twenty-plus repetitions, when Tang San finally claimed understanding, his attempt revealed another problem—he lacked the strength to properly swing the hammer.
Tang Hao stared blankly.
"I think the tools are the issue," Tang San declared confidently. "Make me a properly sized hammer."
Receiving only a glare before Tang Hao returned to bed, Tang San sighed. "No game in the woods, fish that won't bite... how's a boy to grow strong in these conditions?"
He possessed wealth-making knowledge but couldn't utilize it—both due to his conspicuous age and the risk of exposing Tang Hao. Even Old Jack, while believing in his intelligence, wouldn't follow a child's risky schemes.
"Better focus on internal force cultivation," Tang San resolved. "Improve my physique before awakening, or my innate soul power might be compromised." As Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor's son, he knew he'd possess soul power—but malnutrition might prevent full innate soul power.
The original Tang San from the martial arts world had practiced since when? He didn't know, but that version had hit a bottleneck around six. Starting at five, this Tang San couldn't expect full innate soul power either. Yet with Mysterious Heaven Skill's late-stage benefits, his cultivation speed would accelerate eventually.
And as for future plans...