Heaven Dou Empire, Southwest, Fasinuo Province.
Holy Spirit Village, Nuoding City.
Knock, knock.
"Uncle Tang Hao, I'm here for Little San."
A clean-looking young boy knocked gently on the door. Without waiting for Tang Hao's response, he pushed it open and poked his head inside.
In the dim room, Tang Hao was lying drunkenly on the bed, clutching a yellowish porcelain bottle. He didn't even acknowledge Xiao Lin entering the room.
"Is Little San not here?"
Xiao Lin looked around for a moment, shook his head, and closed the door.
It seemed Tang San had gone to practice the Mysterious Heaven Skill again.
Xiao Lin knew that the Tang household was destitute; their eating area and bedroom were practically the same space. There was no way Tang San would practice the Mysterious Heaven Skill in front of Tang Hao.
Even though Xiao Lin had known Tang San for three years—providing him with shelter and plenty of food and clothing—Tang San had shown no intention of sharing the Mysterious Heaven Skill with him.
However, Xiao Lin didn't feel that Tang San was being ungrateful.
Tang San was a transmigrator, after all.
That was his greatest secret, one he wouldn't even tell Tang Hao. Why would he give a technique that could seemingly be used until the fourth book of the series to a friend he'd only known for three years?
Or so I think? Xiao Lin wasn't entirely sure.
In his past life, he had heard netizens say that the Douluo Continent was the lowest of the "sewers" among cultivation worlds.
Xiao Lin didn't care if it was a "sewer."
As long as it allowed him to fly, granted him eternal life, or let him become a God, then it was a good place. His reason for helping the pitiful Tang San was simple: he wanted to cling to Tang San's "golden thigh."
As long as his Martial Soul awakened with an Innate Full Soul Power of at least Rank 5, he'd be set. Even if he awakened a "trash" Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass, once he piggybacked off Tang San's Immortal Herbs later, couldn't he eventually reach the rank of Titled Douluo?
Of course, it would be best if he awakened a powerful Martial Soul himself.
But Xiao Lin didn't demand much.
He had been picked up and raised by Old Jack. As an orphan, he didn't expect a powerful lineage. After all, no great clan would dump their child in a tiny village like this.
Soon, Xiao Lin broke into a jog, heading toward the small hill where Tang San always practiced.
At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten, a sliver of white appearing in the east. From the foot of the hill, Xiao Lin could see a thin boy about five or six years old standing at the top.
"Little San, didn't I tell you the Martial Soul awakening is today?" Xiao Lin shouted, sounding exasperated.
"Come down quickly! Don't keep Brother Tao waiting."
"Coming, Brother Lin!" Tang San's voice drifted down from the hilltop.
Xiao Lin frowned slightly and waited.
He watched as Tang San descended the hill with remarkable speed.
He's quite fast.
While Xiao Lin didn't have a specialized cultivation technique like Tang San, he wasn't a fool.
He believed that a slow bird should fly early. He had already traveled to Nuoding City to study knowledge regarding Soul Masters. Right now, he was using the most common Meditation Method on the continent along with a Heart Separation Control.
He had learned both at the Nuoding City Spirit Hall for free.
The Meditation Method went without saying, and the Heart Separation Control was also available to the public across the continent. It wasn't like the version held by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Theirs was specifically designed to complement their Martial Soul, boasting higher intensity and better results. Xiao Lin's version was very average. Even so, relying on his mental capacity as a transmigrator, he had managed to cultivate it to the stage of the Three-Apertured Governing Heart.
"Brother Lin, let's go."
While Xiao Lin was momentarily lost in thought, Tang San had already reached him.
Tang San wore coarse gray clothes; his black hair was short and neat, and his skin was a healthy wheat color. Despite the sprint down the hill, he wasn't panting or even flushed.
Xiao Lin exhaled, trying to look mature.
"You... honestly. I told you today was the day. What will you do if you awaken a trash Martial Soul?"
Xiao Lin grumbled as he led Tang San toward the Spirit Hall in the center of the village.
Calling it a "Spirit Hall" was a stretch; it was just a larger wooden house. On this monumental day of awakening, both Xiao Lin and Tang San felt a stir of excitement.
They jogged the rest of the way and soon arrived outside the building.
"Lone Wolf, Possess!"
Inside the room, following a low shout from Su Yuntao, his body suddenly swelled.
His exposed skin was covered in grayish-green fur, and his eyes turned a shimmering green.
Su Yuntao's sharp claws glinted in the dim room, and two Soul Rings—one white and one yellow—flickered beneath his feet.
"That's the 'Brother Tao' I told you about, a Soul Grandmaster from Nuoding City," Xiao Lin whispered to the stunned Tang San.
"Looks like we arrived just in time."
Tang San didn't even hear Xiao Lin. His eyes were fixed on the werewolf-like form of Su Yuntao.
Are these the rules of this world? I wonder what Martial Soul I will awaken. Tang San was already using his Purple Demon Eye, trying to find a pattern in the awakening process.
Seeing Tang San's unblinking gaze, Xiao Lin knew his words had been ignored.
He rolled his eyes and turned to watch the other village children. He never grew tired of watching the awakening. If his own Martial Soul turned out to be poor, then clinging to Tang San became an absolute necessity.
Without strength, Xiao Lin wouldn't dare seek out Immortal Herbs on his own or try to report Spirit Hall. Cautious by nature and possessing a researcher's mindset, Xiao Lin believed that staying alive was the ultimate truth.
Soon, all the other children had finished their awakenings. Only Xiao Lin and Tang San remained.
"Xiao Lin, do you want to go first?"
Su Yuntao spoke, his voice sounding slightly weary and breathless.
However, seeing only two children left, he chose to push through.
"Hehe, let Little San go first."
Xiao Lin took a side step back, nudging Tang San forward and giving him an encouraging look.
"Little San, don't be afraid if the awakening is bad. Big brother will look after you."
Never missing a chance to build rapport, Xiao Lin poured on the kind words.
A flash of emotion moved through Tang San's eyes before he regained his composure and walked toward Su Yuntao.
Under Su Yuntao's ceremony, Tang San's performance was no different from the original legends. Only Xiao Lin, watching closely from the corner of his eye, noticed a faint light shimmering in Tang San's hidden left hand.
If Xiao Lin hadn't been looking for it, no one would have noticed Tang San's secret in that dim, firelit room.
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. A trash Martial Soul."
A look of helplessness crossed Su Yuntao's face, though he was used to it.
He had hoped Xiao Lin's friend might provide a surprise.
As Su Yuntao beckoned Xiao Lin forward, Tang San scratched his head and asked in a crisp voice, "Um, could you help me test my Soul Power?"
Su Yuntao didn't respond immediately; instead, he looked at Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin nodded, and only then did Su Yuntao speak.
"Fine. It won't take much time anyway."
...
A moment later, the event that shocked Su Yuntao occurred.
Innate Full Soul Power!
"This... this is... Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power! Child, would you like to join Spirit Hall?" Su Yuntao stammered, his hands trembling.
"Alright, Brother Tao, Little San has to ask his father first. Let me awaken mine now."
Xiao Lin stepped forward, providing an excuse for Tang San and looking eager for his own turn.
"Yes, I need to ask my father," Tang San said politely with a bow.
He then stood to the side, quietly waiting for Xiao Lin's awakening.