After Tang San's successful awakening, Su Yuntao turned his attention to the remaining children in the village. One by one, he guided them through the ritual, but the results proved disappointing. Not a single child displayed even a trace of soul power - not even the petite girl who had also awakened Blue Silver Grass as her martial soul. The initial excitement following Tang San's exceptional result quickly faded, replaced by the sobering reality that among commoners, those blessed with both a martial soul and innate soul power remained as rare as phoenix feathers.
As the last child stepped away from the awakening stones, Su Yuntao methodically gathered his equipment. The six black stones clicked together as he packed them away, their surfaces now dull without the glow of soul power. From his worn leather bag, he produced parchment and ink, carefully inscribing Tang San's certification from the Spirit Hall. The quill scratched against the paper as he wrote, then paused mid-stroke to ask, "Tang San, have you considered joining the Spirit Hall?"
The question hung in the air between them, weightier than its simple phrasing suggested. Tang San's refusal came swift and firm. "Not at this time." His mind raced with unspoken calculations - joining the Spirit Hall now would be like poking a sleeping bear, given his father's history with the organization. Until he could stand toe-to-toe with Tang Hao in a confrontation, such overt allegiance would be tantamount to suicide.
Objectively, he recognized the Spirit Hall as the optimal path for any aspiring soul master. But the prerequisite remained defeating his stubborn father in combat - no small feat for a newly awakened child. As for the ancient feud between the Spirit Hall and Haotian Sect? Tang San felt no obligation to carry that generational grudge. The Haotian Sect had never put food on his table or clothes on his back - why should he fight their battles?
The matter of his mother's death gave him more pause. As a modern soul inhabiting this body, he lacked any personal connection to the Blue Silver Emperor. The abstract concept of avenging a woman he'd never met held little emotional weight, especially when the primary perpetrator, Qian Xunji, already rested in his grave. Some of the transmigrator's late-night reading had even uncovered conspiracy theories suggesting the Blue Silver Emperor's sacrifice might have been... convenient. Whether true or not, the mere possibility made him wary of diving headfirst into these dangerous waters.
"Why the refusal?" Su Yuntao's puzzled voice pulled him from his thoughts. The soul master's brow furrowed. "You've always been so eager to study in our libraries."
Tang San crafted his response carefully. "As an innate sixth-rank, I'd be just another face in the crowd at Spirit Academy - my unconventional ideas dismissed as childish fantasies before they could be properly tested." He met Su Yuntao's gaze earnestly. "At Nuoding Academy, I'll have more freedom to develop theories without being constrained by tradition."
Su Yuntao stroked his chin, considering this. "You're not wrong," he conceded after a moment. "The average Spirit Academy recruit tests at fifth-rank. Still..." He clapped Tang San on the shoulder. "When you come to Nuoding City, seek me out. I'll personally escort you to the academy gates - their porters have a nasty habit of turning away promising commoners without proper introductions."
Warmth bloomed in Tang San's chest at this kindness. "Thank you, Brother Tao." He made a mental note to properly repay both Su Yuntao and Ma Xiunuo for their future assistance with spirit rings. Debts of gratitude were not to be taken lightly.
Outside the simple stone Spirit Hall, Old Jack waited with barely contained excitement. His worn hands twisted together as he spotted them emerging. "Master Su! Any awakenings?"
"Just one standout!" Su Yuntao announced, pushing Tang San forward with theatrical flourish. "Blue Silver Grass martial soul with sixth-rank innate soul power!" He painted a glorious future with his words. "With dedication, this young man could reach Soul Emperor rank - perhaps even Soul Saint! Your Holy Spirit Village may yet live up to its name again!"
Old Jack's reaction was everything they could have hoped for. The elderly man's entire face transformed, wrinkles rearranging themselves into a topography of joy as he practically danced in place. That Tang San's martial soul was commonly considered "waste" mattered not at all - the presence of soul power meant everything. He grabbed Tang San's hand and half-dragged, half-skipped toward the blacksmith shop, determined to share this triumph with the one person who should have been there to witness it.
The scene that followed would stay etched in Tang San's memory - Old Jack's righteous fury as he berated Tang Hao's absence, the way his voice cracked when mentioning the village gossip about Tang San's parentage. Tang Hao's initial indifference gave way to visible shock upon hearing "sixth-rank soul power," his dark eyes widening fractionally before clouding with something resembling... guilt?
The realization struck Tang Hao like a physical blow. Between his own ninth-rank innate soul power and Ah Yin's hundred-thousand-year spirit beast heritage, their son should have manifested at least seventh-rank potential. The disparity forced an uncomfortable truth upon him - his years of neglect had starved Tang San's development. No medicinal baths to strengthen the body, no carefully prepared spirit-meat dishes to nourish growth, just the bare minimum to survive. The weight of this failure settled heavily on his shoulders even as his pride refused to acknowledge it aloud.
"I'm enrolling him at Nuoding Academy," Old Jack declared, drawing himself up to his full, albeit unimpressive height.
Tang Hao's refusal came swift and brutal. "No! That useless grass can't be cultivated! He stays here where he belongs - who else will cook my meals?"
The hypocrisy ignited Old Jack's temper. "You'd shackle him to your miserable existence?" he spat, decades of frustration boiling over. "Even as a low-ranking soul master, he could build a life you can't even imagine!"
Tang San, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke with quiet determination. "I want to become a soul master."
"I don't agree," Tang Hao growled, his presence suddenly oppressive despite not releasing soul power. "Level six soul power, what can it accomplish?"
"What if I insist on going?" Tang San met his father's gaze unflinchingly.
The challenge ignited Tang Hao's temper like a spark to dry tinder. "You!" he roared, face darkening with rage. "How dare you defy me?" In his world, a son opposing his father's will was unthinkable - an affront to the natural order itself. His calloused hand snapped up, muscles coiling to deliver a punishing blow that would teach this ungrateful child his place.
Old Jack moved with surprising speed for his age, throwing himself between them and wrapping protective arms around Tang San. "Hit him over my dead body!" the old man snarled, his voice shaking not with fear but with righteous fury. His wizened frame trembled against Tang San's as he stared down the enraged blacksmith.
Tang Hao's raised hand quivered in midair, his entire body taut with conflicting impulses. The part of him that remembered being Haotian Douluo warred with the broken man he'd become. After a tense silence that seemed to stretch endlessly, his arm slowly lowered.
"Fine," he spat through clenched teeth. "Go to your academy. But remember this - you are not to claim me as your father there. The name Tang Hao dies with me in this village."
Old Jack, still shielding Tang San, released a shuddering breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The boy gently extracted himself from the old man's protective embrace and met his father's stormy gaze with calm acceptance.