Chapter 9: Another Twin Martial Soul

When Old Jack and the young man both turned to look at Tang Xi, they saw her standing beside Tang San, gently bending over to smooth his somewhat disheveled hair, her voice soft and comforting:

“Xiao San, it’s alright if you don’t have soul power yet. Remember to catch a chicken in the mountains tonight and stew it for soup—I’m craving it.”

Old Jack covered his forehead with one hand.

What a curse—there wasn’t a single normal person in this family.

Yet Su Yuntao sensed something different. He immediately confirmed, “Eight years old and already cultivated to level ten?”

Old Jack nodded. “Yes, she’s currently studying at Notting Academy. Tang Xi’s talent is the best I’ve ever seen. What do you think?”

Su Yuntao pondered for a moment, then nodded. “I reached level twenty-one only at twenty-eight years old. Compared to that, her talent is better than an average soul master’s, but hardly top-tier genius.”

After a pause, he added, “Remember the princess who was wanted a year ago? She reached level seventeen at the age of seven, breaking all cultivation records on the continent. Now, she’s the true prodigy.”

Tang Xi, who was tidying Tang San’s collar, slowed her movements upon hearing this, pride shining in her eyes.

Among the gathered parents, a burly man casually asked, “Sir, I thought that princess’s cultivation was faked, even her martial soul was fake.”

Su Yuntao glanced at him and nodded approvingly. “That’s true. But a forged genius is nothing compared to the genuine talents of our Martial Soul Hall.”

Tang San looked up at Tang Xi’s gradually darkening expression and softly called, “Sister.”

Tang Xi smiled and shook her head, patting his shoulder reassuringly. “I’m fine. You’d better go.”

Watching the children follow Su Yuntao into the testing hall, Tang Xi slowly stepped back, hiding behind the crowd to wait for the results of the soul testing along with everyone else.

In less than ten minutes, a group of children emerged alongside Su Yuntao.

Old Jack and the other parents eagerly asked, “Master, how is it? Is there any chance for the children in our village to become soul masters this year?”

Su Yuntao sighed and said, “There is one, but it’s a pity.”

Jack’s eyes showed a mix of surprise and doubt as he cautiously inquired, “Master, who is it exactly...?”

Su Yuntao pointed at Tang San. “Among these eight children, only one possesses soul power—and he has innate full soul power. Unfortunately, his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. Do you understand now?”

“Ah…”

Old Jack clearly understood the implications of that martial soul. He looked regretfully at Tang San, who was walking toward Tang Xi, and asked, “Blue Silver Grass? Isn’t that a useless martial soul? Can he still cultivate?”

Su Yuntao shook his head slightly and sighed. “It’s not that he can’t cultivate at all, but tell me, what do you think Blue Silver Grass will evolve into as the martial soul strengthens? A useless soul remains useless. It’s a real shame he has innate full soul power. You should go comfort their family…”

Before he could finish, Tang Xi’s excited voice rang out from beside them:

“Amazing! There are fewer than ten people with innate full soul power in the entire Tendo City! That’s my brother for you!”

They exchanged a glance.

They had worried prematurely—she was clearly thrilled.

Tang Xi was naturally happy. She grabbed Tang San’s hand and jogged back to their shabby home, bursting through the door and calling out:

“Dad! We’re back!”

“Back is back, no need to shout,” Tang Hao, who was forging iron at the time, said without turning his head. “What’s your martial soul?”

Tang San glanced at Tang Xi quietly, then said, “Dad, it’s Blue Silver Grass.”

“Blue Silver Grass?” For some reason, when Tang Hao heard those words, his usually indifferent body trembled slightly.

Tang Xi was naturally overjoyed. Since Tang San’s martial soul wasn’t the Hao Tian Hammer, he wouldn’t have to hide his identity and could train alongside her outside.

She looked at Tang Hao hopefully and tentatively said, “Dad, even though it’s Blue Silver Grass, this means Xiao San can go to Notting Academy to cultivate with me, right?”

“Blue Silver Grass, Blue Silver Grass…” Tang Hao murmured to himself, then suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining with a determination Tang San had never seen before. In a deep voice, he said, “No.”

Tang Xi was momentarily stunned, as if she couldn’t believe the answer, and added, “Xiao San has innate full soul power. It’s rare to find even ten people like that in Tendo City. The nearby villages will surely give him an enrollment spot, and maybe we won’t even have to worry about tuition fees. If necessary, I can work to pay for his schooling.”

Tang Hao shook his head and said softly, “It has nothing to do with that.”

“Dad, even if Xiao San absorbs the worst ten-year soul ring, it’s enough to protect himself in this chaotic world…” Tang Xi began.

But before she could finish, she unknowingly struck a nerve. Tang Hao suddenly turned around, his voice icy cold:

“Don’t try to drag him into your revenge scheme!”

Tang Xi was startled by the sudden sharp tone and immediately fell silent. The small home grew quiet, enveloped in a strange, awkward silence.

Tang San sensed the unspoken tension between the elder and the younger and stepped forward, tugging at Tang Xi’s sleeve, whispering comfortingly: “Sister, it’s okay. I don’t have to go to school if I don’t want to.”

Tang Hao still had his eyes closed, speaking lightly: “You must be very disappointed that you can’t become a soul master like her, right?”

Tang San hesitated briefly, then said earnestly, “It’s fine, Dad. Being a blacksmith is good too. We can still live well. It’s just… I think I might have another martial soul.”

After speaking, Tang San slowly raised his left hand. A faint black light surged from his palm, coalescing instantly into a strange object resting there.

It was a small, ancient-looking hammer, entirely jet black, with a handle about half a foot long. The hammerhead was cylindrical, and its dark surface shimmered with a special glow, wrapped by a faintly patterned ring.

Tang Xi’s eyes were immediately drawn to the humble little hammer.

The Hao Tian Hammer!

“This is…” Tang Hao almost leapt forward, grabbing Tang San’s hand holding the hammer and bringing it before him, confirming repeatedly before mumbling:

“A twin martial soul…”

Tang San looked between his father and sister’s unusual expressions and asked, “Is it very rare?”

Tang Xi nodded, explaining, “There are only three known twin martial souls on the entire continent. One of them is…”

“Enough.” Tang Hao cut her off coldly for the second time. He gripped Tang San’s shoulder firmly and solemnly said:

“Remember, in the future, use the hammer in your left hand to protect the grass in your right hand! Understand?”

After receiving his son’s assured nod, Tang Hao finally relaxed and stood up. His voice grew serious again:

“Tang Xi, come with me.”