[Douluo Continent 3: Legend of the Dragon King] [Author: Tang Jia San Shao] [Ongoing]

Prologue

The towering trees were so dense that even sunlight couldn't penetrate, leaving only darkness in this vast forest.

Deep within the forest lay a small lake, its waters crystal clear, as pure as azure crystal. However, its water level was far from the shore, and it seemed poised to dry up at any moment.

A sense of life rippled in the lake, but it was weak, even feeble.

Standing by the lake was a man.

He wore a long black robe, appeared to be in his forties, handsome and resolute, with a strand of golden hair falling to one side of his face.

He stood there, his eyes seemingly vacant, and an air of despondency emanating from him.

Not far from him stood several other people, of varying heights, builds, and shapes. But the eyes of each of them were utterly dim.

"Beast God," a woman in a long emerald green dress quietly approached the man in black and spoke respectfully.

The black-clad man, known as the Beast God, trembled, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Beast God? These are probably all the soul beasts left now. Whose god am I to be?"

The woman in the green dress paused, then whispered, "Ten thousand years. From the time Huo Yuhao founded the Spirit Pagoda organization until now, a full ten thousand years have passed. The Spirit Pagoda organization still exists, but are we finally heading towards extinction?"

The Beast God said bitterly, "Human strength has become unbearable for us. The Star Dou Great Forest is now just this last piece of pure land."

"Yes..." The woman in the green dress was about to say something more

when the man known as the Beast God suddenly raised his head, two beams of golden light shooting from his eyes. The terrifying aura that erupted instantly seemed to make the entire world tremble.

"Buzz..." The ground beneath their feet trembled slightly, and then the lake in front of them seemed to boil, bubbling up. These bubbles rose rapidly, and then the frequency of the earth's tremors increased violently.

"What's going on? Humans are here?" the woman in the green dress exclaimed.

"Fight them!" a burly man roared, transforming into a giant bear over thirty meters tall, its body radiating a dark golden glow.

"Bear Lord, calm down. They're not human," the Beast God shouted, a look of indescribable elation appearing on his previously dull face.

"It's over, it's over, it's over..." A deep voice echoed through the forest without warning. The voice seemed to come from all directions, so deep that it was impossible to tell if it was male or female.

"Boom—" The earth cracked, and the entire forest trembled violently. The little water remaining in the small lake overflowed, instantly exposing the lakebed.

"Bang—" A burst of silver light suddenly surged from the crack in the earth, then slammed heavily onto the shore.

It was a gigantic claw, entirely silver, covered with hexagonal silver scales. Each scale reflected a strange light, and the enormous slamming sound carried an unparalleled, oppressive force, compelling all living beings to kneel in worship.

The Beast God's eyes gleamed with even greater ecstasy. He stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and respectfully said, "Welcome, Master."

The earth instantly exploded, the powerful aura even sending the thirty-meter-tall giant bear flying. A colossal figure, over a hundred feet long, suddenly soared into the air, then crashed heavily to the ground.

Giant trees rose from the ground, and the humans who had stood nearby transformed into colossal beasts. But faced with the silver behemoth, they could only prostrate themselves on the ground.

"It's dead, but I'm still alive." A deep voice seemed to roar, yet it also carried a profound sorrow. "Despicable humans, are they going to exterminate us? Now that I've awakened, their day of destruction has arrived."

A dazzling silver light shone so brightly that all the massive soul beasts dared not look directly at it. They could only humbly prostrate themselves there, trembling with ecstatic joy.

The Beast God said urgently, "My lord, humans are now far too powerful. Even I cannot withstand much of their top-tier soul-guided mechs. Humans have already used their technological power to make us unable to contend with them."

The enormous silver body slowly lowered its head, its deep voice echoing in the no longer vast forest: "To destroy them, we must first understand them. You, follow me. The world we live in is about to be completely destroyed by them, so we must conquer their world."

The enormous figure slowly took a step, walking towards the edge of the forest. Under the cover of the massive tree canopy, in the dim light, its massive body slowly shrank, shrinking smaller and smaller. As it gradually disappeared into the distance, it had already transformed into 　　human 　　form 　　…

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... Meanwhile, your favorite martial soul will also return. But everything will be different. 　　Want to know how our little Wu Lin will solve the problems of the eighteen seals on his body and the essence of the Golden Dragon King? Want to know what the new generation of Shrek Seven Devils will be like? Want to know who the final female lead is? Then, please follow Xiao Tang into the world of Douluo III. 　　The new book has just started, I'm registering first, and Tianhuo Avenue is entering its final week. During this week, our Legend of the Dragon King will be updated occasionally, so you can check it out from time to time. Please bookmark and recommend it first. Next Monday at midnight, which is January 18th, we will officially start uploading, and it will still be seamless! The twelfth year of Tang Sect is about to end, and the thirteenth year is about to begin! I deeply love each and every one of you, and I look forward to you following me back to Douluo, to relive the world that haunts our dreams. I love you, I love Douluo! The story is about to begin! 　　 Chapter 1 Awakening Day 　　Aolai City is a small coastal city on the east coast of the Sun Moon Federation, adjacent to the sea. 　　The city is exceptionally lively today; the annual Awakening Day has arrived. 　　The people of Douluo Continent all possess something called a Martial Soul. A Martial Soul is a part of their body and can be any animal, plant, or object. At the age of six, through an awakening ceremony, they can awaken their Martial Soul. The annual Awakening Day is the day to awaken the Martial Soul. 　　If the Martial Soul is a hoe, then that person's ability to cultivate the land will be better than others. If the Martial Soul is an animal, then perhaps that person can possess some of that animal's basic abilities. Therefore, the Martial Soul has long been an important force that changes people's lives.

More importantly, people eagerly anticipate the emergence of Soul Power. Soul Power is an energy that nourishes and enhances Martial Souls. Everyone possesses a Martial Soul, but even among a thousand people, perhaps only one will develop Soul Power alongside their Martial Soul. Soul

Power is synonymous with the future, synonymous with power. When Soul Power arises alongside a Martial Soul, one can cultivate it to enhance their Martial Soul, thus becoming a Soul Master, a noble profession that has existed on the Douluo Continent for thousands of years.

Therefore, even ordinary people hope that their children will develop Soul Power simultaneously with their Martial Soul awakening on their sixth-year awakening day. This could potentially change the child's life and even benefit the entire family.

The streets in front of Red Mountain Academy were already crowded early this morning, filled with parents bringing their children to participate in the awakening ceremony.

"Dad, what do you think my Martial Soul will be?" The little boy, just turned six, looked at his father with excitement. He loved hearing his father's stories about Soul Masters. His beautiful eyes were full of longing.

The little boy had short black hair and was slightly taller than other children his age. His most striking feature was his eyes—large, clear, and bright, with long eyelashes that even many girls couldn't match. Although his clothes were ordinary, his striking appearance easily drew attention.

His father was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man of average height and build; everything about him seemed so ordinary.

"Dad doesn't know either, it depends on luck," the father sighed inwardly. Awakening Day was indeed a dividing day, a day that divided lives. Whether or not one possessed soul power would undoubtedly determine their life trajectory. Fortunately, in this era, even without becoming a soul master, a good future was still possible.

"I'll definitely have soul power, right?" the handsome little boy asked, his eyes filled with hope.

His father patted his head and smiled, "Whether you have soul power or not, Dad loves you."

Inside the academy, parents continued to bring their children out, most of them looking dejected or sighing. Occasionally, someone would leap with joy; without a doubt, it was because their martial soul's innate soul power had manifested, immediately attracting the attention of everyone around, filled with envy and jealousy.

As time passed, the sunlight grew stronger, and the pretty little boy's excitement waned considerably.

"Tang Wulin!" A teacher emerged from Red Mountain Academy, calling out a name while looking at a form in his hand.

"I'm here!" The pretty little boy's eyes widened instantly, and he jumped up excitedly.

Tang Ziran also perked up, looking at her excited son, and took his little hand, leading him over.

"Come with me." Perhaps due to too much work on Awakening Day, the teacher seemed somewhat indifferent, turning and walking ahead. Tang Ziran quickly followed, leading Tang Wulin.

Walking along the academy's path, Tang Wulin excitedly looked at everything around him; to him, everything was so new and exciting. Hongshan Academy is a primary comprehensive academy that can accommodate two thousand students. The academy's architecture is simple and ancient, with white roofs and red walls. The campus is very clean. On Awakening Day, before the start of school, the academy is exceptionally quiet compared to the hustle and bustle outside. Even Tang Wulin's excited heart seems to have calmed down with the environment.

The teacher led them to a circular teaching building and said to Tang Ziran, "Parents, please wait here."

Tang Ziran nodded and looked at her son, saying, "Follow the teacher's instructions. Good luck, son! Dad will be waiting for you here."

Tang Wulin nodded vigorously, "Dad, I will have a powerful martial soul."

Watching her son follow the teacher into the circular building, a trace of melancholy and reminiscence appeared in Tang Ziran's eyes. This kind of circular building exists in any primary academy; it's also called an Awakening Room, specifically used to help six-year-old children awaken their martial souls. On Awakening Day, the academy invites a spirit master from the Spirit Pagoda to conduct the awakening ceremony. Decades ago, she herself had entered the Awakening Room full of hope.

The Awakening Chamber wasn't just a single place for awakening one's Martial Soul; it had seven floors, each with its own Awakening Chamber. Tang Wulin was led to the third-floor Awakening Chamber.

Upon entering, Tang Wulin felt dazzled. The floor, walls, and even the ceiling were engraved with wondrous and beautiful patterns. A strange feeling stirred within him, as if something was stirring within his body.

Inside the Awakening Chamber stood a middle-aged man in an ancient orange robe embroidered with dark patterns in the form of Soul Beasts.

Tang Wulin had loved listening to his father's stories since childhood, stories that featured Spirit Masters. These Spirit Masters from the Spirit Pagoda were mysterious and powerful beings, a very special group of Soul Masters holding a very high status on the continent. But this was the first time he had actually seen one.

"Hello," Tang Wulin said timidly.

The Spirit Master smiled gently. "Come, little one, stand in the middle."

Tang Wulin blinked, obediently walked over and stood still, then couldn't help but ask, "Spirit Master, what kind of martial soul will I have?"

The Spirit Master smiled and said, "I don't know either! You'll naturally see when you awaken. However, your eyes are so beautiful; if your martial soul is related to your eyes, that would be perfect."

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. "Spirit Eyes? I've heard of them. That was the first Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda..."

The Spirit Master interrupted him, "Concentrate, I'm about to begin."

Chapter Two: Martial Soul Awakening

Standing in the center of the awakening room, Tang Wulin was a little nervous, glancing around from time to time. After all, he was only six years old, without his parents' company. How could he remain calm in this unfamiliar and novel environment?

Just then, the soft white light emanating from the Spirit Master's hand caught his attention.

Was that soft white light the legendary soul power? The powerful energy possessed only by Soul Masters?

As he watched in astonishment, the Spirit Master pointed his right hand into the air. The white light that had been on his hands suddenly erupted, shooting into the sky like exploding fireworks, bringing dazzling brilliance to the awakening room. Beautiful

patterns lit up, starting from the ceiling and extending down the four walls, as if revitalized or possessed life, spreading towards Tang Wulin's feet. All the light ultimately converged where he stood.

A warm, slightly tingling power surged from the soles of his feet into his body, causing Tang Wulin's small body to tremble slightly. Then, he felt his entire body tremble slightly as if electrocuted.

Everything before his eyes blurred, images flashing through his mind. He tried to see clearly, but could only sense the flow of light and shadow; he seemed to see, yet could not remember anything.

In the Spirit Master's eyes, he was already enveloped in a white halo, radiating a faint glow. Under the influence of this ancient and traditional ritual, his martial spirit was about to awaken.

"Ah—" Tang Wulin suddenly screamed, startling the Spirit Master. Normally, children don't experience much when awakening their Martial Soul, but a very small number of people are unable to withstand the energy impact due to their fragile bodies and may experience danger.

The Spirit Master flashed to Tang Wulin's side. If he found anything amiss, he would immediately stop the ritual to ensure Tang Wulin's safety.

As he drew closer, he was astonished to see a golden pattern flash briefly on Tang Wulin's forehead, then spread out in a net-like pattern towards his limbs.

What kind of martial soul was this? This spirit master was extremely experienced; he had awakened thousands of children, but this was the first time he had ever seen anything like it on Tang Wulin.

A faint energy fluctuation emanated from Tang Wulin's body in the next moment, originating from his lower abdomen—the most normal place for soul power to be generated. The energy fluctuation wasn't strong, but it was undeniably present.

This greatly surprised the spirit master; this was clearly a martial soul possessing soul power. Often, even after a full day of rituals, one might not encounter a child with soul power. Today's luck seemed to be good. But what exactly was his martial soul?

The net-like golden pattern had vanished without a trace, as if it had never appeared at all. Tang Wulin's eyes were tightly closed, as if he were enduring intense pain, but his right hand was slowly rising.

With his palm facing upwards, a pale blue halo emanated from it. Then, several small, pale blue blades of grass quietly sprouted, spreading and swaying gently, emitting very faint energy fluctuations.

"Blue Silver Grass?" The Spirit Master's voice was filled with disappointment. But this was quickly replaced by surprise. He had seen many Blue Silver Grass spirits; it was a standard useless spirit! Blue Silver Grass was the most common spirit in the entire Douluo Continent, even in the Star Luo Continent and the Heaven Dou Continent, and could be found everywhere on the lawns of Red Mountain Academy. But how could such a useless spirit generate spirit power along with it?

It hurts! Tang Wulin felt as if his body was being torn apart.

When the warm energy was first injected into his body, he only felt a tingling numbness, even a slight comfort. But soon, a strong heat surged from his limbs and bones, raging wildly within him, quickly giving him a feeling of fullness, a feeling of being about to burst, making it painfully difficult to breathe.

A tearing sensation shot through his body—bones, muscles, skin—everywhere aches.

It felt like an eternity before the pain subsided, and a warm sensation returned to his palm. He opened his eyes.

Pale blue grass swayed lushly in his palm. Blue Silver Grass?

Although young, Tang Wulin clearly remembered what he was doing, and immediately realized, "Blue Silver Grass? My martial soul?"

While he hadn't truly studied martial souls, he had basic knowledge. He knew, of course, that Blue Silver Grass was a useless martial soul, the worst kind at that.

"Yes, that's your martial soul," the Spirit Master said with a smile, but his eyes held a hint of regret.

Having soul power was certainly a good thing, but a martial soul like Blue Silver Grass…

Tang Wulin's lips trembled slightly, a deep sadness filling his young heart. He had longed for this for so long, only to end up with a useless martial soul.

"Child, don't be sad, you have innate soul power." The Spirit Master quickly said.

"I... I have soul power?" Tang Wulin looked at him in surprise.

The Spirit Master nodded, "I just did a simple test for you. Your innate soul power is level three. Although it's not very good, it's still soul power. As long as you work hard, you can also become a Soul Master!"

Tang Wulin was stunned, "But... but my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass..."

The Spirit Master smiled and said, "Have you heard the story of the Tang Sect? The main martial soul of the founder of the Tang Sect was Blue Silver Grass! Twenty thousand years ago, he relied on this martial soul, which is completely useless in the eyes of ordinary people, to dominate the continent and defeat the evil Spirit Hall."

Tang Wulin blinked. How could he not have heard the story of the founder of the Tang Sect? The story of that legendary powerful figure and the first tower master of the Spirit Pagoda is the most widely circulated and popular legend on the continent.

"But wasn't the founding ancestor of the Tang Sect's martial soul the Blue Silver Emperor?" Tang Wulin asked seriously.

"Uh..." The Spirit Master was slightly embarrassed. This little guy was obviously not so easy to fool. "The Blue Silver Emperor also evolved from Blue Silver Grass. If you want to become a Soul Master, then work hard."

Tang Wulin bit his lip. "Thank you, Spirit Master."

Chapter 3 Little Wulin's Home

Even after leaving the Red Mountain Academy, Tang Wulin was still somewhat dazed.

As a freshman at Red Mountain Academy this year, his awakened martial soul, accompanied by the appearance of soul power, led to his placement in the Soul Master class. In any elementary academy, the Soul Master class is undoubtedly a key class.

His head was a little throbbing, and his body felt hot, as if the power that had almost burst him apart earlier had not completely dissipated. Tang Wulin felt dizzy.

"Son, you are one in a million!" Tang Ziran's gentle voice woke Tang Wulin from his daze.

He looked up at his father, seeing only his father's gentle and doting gaze. "Dad, isn't Blue Silver Grass a useless martial soul?"

Tang Ziran said seriously, "So what if it's a useless martial soul? You need to know that having soul power is already one in a thousand, and for someone with a useless martial soul to still have soul power is one in ten thousand! Therefore, my son is unique. Have you heard the story of Tang San, the founder of the Tang Sect? He had the Blue Silver Grass martial soul..."

Tang Wulin's home was in the commoner district of Aolai City. His father, Tang Ziran, was a mecha repairman, specializing in repairing simple soul-guided mecha parts, but because his skills were average, he could only earn a meager salary to support the family.

His mother, Lang Yue, was a housewife who raised Tang Wulin single-handedly and was skilled at cooking delicious meals.

A living room of a dozen square meters, a small kitchen and bathroom, and two rooms of less than ten square meters each—that was the entirety of their home.

"Son, you're back! Are you hungry? Mom has made you dinner." Lang Yue wasn't exceptionally beautiful, but she possessed a captivating charm. She knelt down and smiled as she hugged little Wu Lin.

"Mom, I'm not hungry. I'm a little sleepy. I want to go to sleep for a while." Tang Wu Lin also hugged his mother's neck and quickly ran to his room.

Watching his small figure disappear, Lang Yue looked at her husband and sighed softly, "This child has wanted to be a Soul Master since he was little, but becoming a Soul Master isn't that easy! Let's comfort him a bit."

Tang Ziran walked to the small square dining table in the living room and sat down. Lunch consisted of stir-fried vegetables, stewed ribs, a cold dish, and a bowl of vegetable soup—three dishes and a soup, which was considered quite a feast in the Tang family.

"This child has innate Soul Power, but I'd rather he didn't," Tang Ziran sighed.

Lang Yue sat down beside her husband in surprise. "What do you mean? Wu Lin has soul power? Doesn't that mean he might actually become a Soul Master?"

Tang Ziran smiled wryly. "It's not that easy. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, and he only has level three innate soul power. Becoming a Soul Master is no easy feat. And having soul power means he'll be assigned to the Soul Master class. I'm afraid the pressure on him will be too much."

Lang Yue paused, but quickly understood what her husband meant. "Then Wu Lin..."

Tang Ziran said, "He seemed quite devastated. He didn't say much on the way back. But our little man will always encounter setbacks as he grows up. Let him have some peace and quiet."

Lang Yue glanced worriedly at her son's room, sighed softly, and served her husband a bowl of rice. "Let's eat first, and try to coax him a bit. Wu Lin has always been obedient. If it doesn't work, we can transfer him to a regular class."

"Okay."

What Tang Ziran and his wife didn't know was that Tang Wu Lin wasn't skipping lunch because he was upset; he was genuinely sleepy.

Back in his room, he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep immediately.

Not long after, Tang Wu Lin's body began to writhe on the bed, his skin slightly red. If Tang Ziran and his wife were closer, they would have noticed his body temperature rising at an alarming rate.

His red skin gradually became translucent, revealing the veins beneath, and even the flow of blood was faintly visible. His blood circulation was extremely fast, at least three times faster than normal.

On his forehead, the golden patterns that had appeared in the awakening room reappeared, still in a grid-like pattern extending from his head to his feet, then slowly rising again.

After this happened three times, the golden patterns quietly disappeared into his body again. Tang Wulin's bones creaked slightly, but after a moment, everything returned to calm, his body temperature gradually subsided, and he slept even more soundly.

In his dream, Tang Wulin found himself in a vast grassland full of blue silver grass, but the sky was golden. It seemed as if a colossal creature was descending from the sky. He only had time to make out what appeared to be a giant golden mouth before he was swallowed up into an endless golden world.

"Ah—" he cried out in surprise, sitting up abruptly. Only then did Tang Wulin realize that his entire body was sticky and sweaty, making him feel indescribably uncomfortable.

His impoverished family background had made him more mature than other children his age. He didn't disturb his parents but instead took off his clothes and ran to the bathroom to wash himself. He was surprised to find that although he was sweaty, he had a faint fragrance on his body. However, after showering, the fragrance disappeared.

"Hey, where's Linlin?" Just then, Lang Yue's voice rang out from outside.

"Mommy, I'm here, I'm taking a shower." Tang Wulin ran out of the bathroom wearing only his underwear.

Lang Yue scolded, "Go put on some clothes, don't catch a cold." She pinched her son's pink cheek and pushed him into the room.

After closing the door, Lang Yue murmured to herself, "The little guy's skin seems even more tender and elastic, Mommy is getting jealous."

Tang Wulin changed his clothes and came out, only then realizing that it was already dark outside, and he had slept all afternoon.

Tang Ziran had taken the day off and was at home. He beckoned to Tang Wulin, "Come here, son."

Tang Wulin sat down next to his father. Tang Ziran was about to say something when he heard Tang Wulin's stomach rumble, and he and Lang Yue both laughed.

Tang Wulin grinned and said, "Mommy, can I eat now? I'm so hungry."

"Eat." Lang Yue served him a bowl of rice, then glared at her husband, indicating that he should finish his meal first.

When Tang Wulin raised his rice bowl for the fourth time, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were shocked. Even if he hadn't eaten lunch, he shouldn't have eaten so much!

"Mom, it's delicious, I want more..."

Chapter Four: Enrollment

Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were far from full; almost all the food on the table was devoured by their son. Even so, Tang Wulin still seemed unsatisfied.

"Son, is this the legendary 'turning grief into appetite'?" Tang Ziran couldn't help but ask after Tang Wulin had eaten the last bit of food and Lang Yue had sternly stopped him from eating anything else.

Tang Wulin looked at his father in confusion, "Why should I be so upset, Dad?"

Tang Ziran said, "Son, Dad was just about to ask you, are you planning to enter the Soul Master class, or should Dad help you transfer to a regular class?"

Tang Wulin said, "Of course I want to enter the Soul Master class! I want to become a Soul Master!"

Tang Ziran said seriously, "Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. Although there are legends about the founding ancestors of the Tang Sect, Blue Silver Grass is a very common martial soul, so cultivating it will definitely be very difficult. You will encounter many difficulties. Do you really want to continue on this path?"

"Yes! I want to become a Soul Master. When I become a Soul Master, I can earn a lot of money and buy lots of delicious things for Mom and Dad." Tang Wulin's childlike words brought tears to Lang Yue's eyes. This child had always been exceptionally well-behaved and sensible.

"Okay." Tang Ziran nodded. "Since you've made up your mind, your father and mother will support you. And even if you regret it later, just tell your father, and he can help you transfer to another class. Son, remember, your father and mother have never thought about making you a dragon or a phoenix. As long as you're happy and joyful, we're satisfied. In our hearts, nothing is more important than this, do you understand?"

Tang Wulin chuckled, "I'm very happy now!"

Besides eating more, Tang Wulin also seemed to be sleeping more than before, going to bed early.

He'd go home and see if there was anything good to eat. Tang Wulin's eyes lit up at the thought of food.

As he walked, a small figure by the roadside suddenly caught his attention.

Although the afternoon sun wasn't as strong as at noon, the weather was very nice today, so the sunlight still brought some warmth. What attracted Tang Wulin was a silvery glint in the sunlight.

A little girl squatted by the roadside, looking even younger than him, but she had short, silver hair that reflected the sunlight naturally.

As if drawn together by some unseen force, the little girl looked up at him. Her face was dirty, and her somewhat tattered clothes made her look like a little beggar. However, besides her silver hair, she had a pair of extraordinary eyes.

Her eyes were large, with pupils like two clear amethysts. Even from a distance, Tang Wulin seemed to see his own reflection in her eyes. Her long eyelashes curled upwards naturally.

Tang Wulin himself had beautiful eyes, and he naturally felt a fondness for peers with large eyes. He subconsciously stopped. Their eyes met, and the little girl didn't avoid his gaze; her beautiful eyes held only a hint of surprise.

"Little girl, where are your parents?" Just then, several shady-looking young men were also drawn to the silver hair and approached the little girl.

The little girl ignored them and lowered her head again.

The young men exchanged glances, and one of them said, "That silver hair is really rare! Maybe she's from another continent, a different race. The black market would probably love someone like her, and her eyes are purple."

The other young men's eyes immediately gleamed with greed, and they nodded to each other.

The young man who had spoken earlier squatted down. "Hey, little sister. Where are your family?"

The little girl lowered her head, shook it, and didn't speak.

The young man smiled and said, "Are you hungry? Brother will take you to eat something delicious, how about it?"

The little girl shook her head again, this time even more forcefully.

The young man winked at his companions, then reached out and grabbed the little girl's arm, pulling her up from the ground. The others stood around, blocking the view.

Amidst the little girl's gasp, the young man had already hoisted her onto his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Just then, a childish, angry shout rang out, startling the young men.

When they turned around, they couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry. The one who had stood up for them was a tiny little boy, barely taller than their waists, but quite handsome.

A sinister glint appeared in one of the young men's eyes. He raised his foot and kicked Tang Wulin, "Little brat, daring to meddle?"

Tang Wulin was kicked and tumbled more than two meters, landing hard and covered in dirt.

"You bad guys!" He rolled on the ground, immediately got up, and rushed towards the young men, blocking their path.

The young man carrying the little girl had a fierce look on his face. The commotion had already attracted the attention of some passersby, after all, they were on a main street.

With a flick of his wrist, a gleaming dagger appeared in his palm, and he brandished it at Tang Wulin, "Get out of here if you don't want to die!"

Tang Wulin looked at him stubbornly and said angrily, "Bad people never have a good ending. I'm a Soul Master, I'm not afraid of you. Let her go!"

As he spoke, he raised his right hand, a pale blue halo flashing, and Blue Silver Grass had already sprouted from his palm, emanating a faint energy fluctuation.

What can level three Soul Power do? It's nothing more than being a little stronger than peers. Without the support of Soul Spirit and Soul Rings, Martial Soul is far from being able to play a combat role. This is why one must cultivate to level ten Soul Power to advance from the lowest level of Soul Warrior to the Soul Master realm. The

young man was stunned for a moment, and his companion tugged at him.

If it were just an ordinary child, even if they did something, as long as they were properly covered up, they might not be in any danger. However, a child with soul power is different. These children are officially recorded, even registered at the Spirit Pagoda. If something happens to such a child, the Federal Government will definitely investigate the cause with great effort, which would be a huge problem. Besides, they have already been seen by many people here.

"Damn it!" The young man in the lead snorted angrily, put down the little girl on his shoulder, and quickly ran away with his companions.

The little girl stumbled and fell to the ground with a thud. Tang Wulin quickly ran over and squatted down beside her. "Don't be afraid, I'm a man, I will protect you!" The

little girl looked up at him. Up close, her big purple eyes looked even more beautiful, and there seemed to be a layer of mist on her pupils.

"Don't cry, don't cry. I've chased the bad guys away. My name is Tang Wulin, what's your name?"

The little girl hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke for the first time, "My name is Na'er."

Chapter Six: Taking Her Home

"Na'er? That's a very nice name, and your voice is very nice too." Tang Wulin helped her up.

Na'er lowered her head and remained silent.

"Where are your dad and mom? Where do you live?" Tang Wulin asked.

Na'er shook her head.

"Gurgle!" A strange sound suddenly rang out incongruously.

Tang Wulin quickly looked down at his stomach, but he soon realized that the sound wasn't from him. Although Na'er's face was covered in dust, a faint blush could still be seen.

"Are you hungry? If you can't find your dad and mom, I'll take you home. My mom's cooking is delicious!" Tang Wulin said, grabbing Na'er's hand and walking towards his home.

Na'er looked up at him; from her angle, she could only see his profile. His face was rosy, flushed from the argument with the young men, and his large, dark eyes with long eyelashes and a certain gaze made her momentarily lost in thought.

"Mom, I'm home!" Tang Wulin called out from outside before she even entered the house.

"You silly child, keep your voice down, don't disturb the neighbors," Lang Yue said with a hint of reproach, as the door opened.

"How was school today? Huh, why are you all dirty?" Lang Yue frowned at her dusty son, then noticed Na'er being led by the hand by Tang Wulin.

"Mom, I ran into bad people," Tang Wulin recounted his ordeal vividly.

Hearing this, Lang Yue's expression changed drastically. She pulled him inside, and Na'er, also being pulled along, followed.

"You silly child! Do you know how dangerous that was? How could you..." Lang Yue's breathing quickened; she knew all too well what those young men in the working-class neighborhood were capable of.

Tang Wulin protested, "But Daddy said that a man should be brave and fight against bad people."

"You..." Lang Yue looked at the stubbornness in her son's big eyes and couldn't bring herself to scold him anymore. Was he wrong? Of course not. He did the right thing, but as a mother, she was more worried about her child's safety!

Tang Wulin grinned and stepped forward, hugging his mother's leg, "Mom, don't be angry. Na'er is hungry, and I'm hungry too. Can you make us something delicious?"

Lang Yue really had no temper with this cute and obedient son. She shook her head helplessly, squatted down, and looked at Na'er, who hadn't spoken a word, "Little friend, your name is Na'er, right? Where are your mom and dad?"

As before, Na'er just shook her head and didn't say anything.

Only a kind-hearted mother can raise a kind-hearted son. Lang Yue said, "Alright then, you two are all dirty. Let me wash you up and change your clothes."

Five- or six-year-old children naturally don't distinguish between boys and girls. Lang Yue led the two little mud-covered children to the bathroom and washed them.

When Tang Wulin asked his mother why Na'er was different from him, Lang Yue just smiled and didn't answer, but Na'er shyly hid behind Lang Yue.

"Wow, Na'er, you're so beautiful!" Sitting at the dining table, Tang Wulin rested his chin on his hands, looking at Na'er sitting beside him, wearing his clothes.

Tang Wulin was half a head taller than Na'er, and his clothes looked a little loose on her. But this didn't detract from Na'er's beauty.

Her skin was even whiter than Tang Wulin's, so delicate it seemed like you could squeeze water out of it. Because she had just bathed, she exuded a fresh, faint fragrance, looking like a porcelain doll.

Na'er looked up at him but remained silent, seemingly disliking conversation.

It wasn't dinner time yet, so Lang Yue brought out two plates of cookies and two glasses of milk for the two hungry children.

Despite her quiet nature, Na'er ate quickly and efficiently, finishing her cookies and milk in no time.

Tang Wulin was also hungry, but his curiosity about Na'er clearly outweighed his hunger. When Na'er's gaze unconsciously fell on his cookies, he realized she had already finished hers.

"Here you go," Tang Wulin generously pushed his cookies towards Na'er.

Na'er looked at him but shook her head.

"It's okay, you eat. I ate a lot at noon," Tang Wulin said with a smile.

Na'er hesitated for a moment, but it was obvious that the temptation of the cookies was quite strong for her, and she finally started eating again.

Lang Yue also sat down. "Na'er, do you know where you're from? Or where you live?"

Na'er shook her head.

Lang Yue asked again, "Do you know your family's contact information? Anything is fine."

Na'er still shook her head.

Lang Yue said, "How old are you?"

Na'er finally spoke this time, "Five and a half years old."

"Wow, then I'm the older brother. I'm older than you, I'm six years old." Tang Wulin said excitedly.

Lang Yue glared at him, annoyed. "Later, Mom will take Na'er to the administrator to check and see if we can find her family. You stay home obediently, understand?"

"Okay." Tang Wulin nodded obediently, but looking at Na'er, he didn't know why, but he felt a little reluctant. Perhaps it was because she was too beautiful.

Lang Yue took Na'er out. Na'er remained largely silent, simply following her.

Tang Wulin returned to his room, recalling what the teacher had taught him in class that day, and decided to try meditation.

He sat cross-legged, focusing his mind. Meditation begins with quiet, feeling oneself, feeling nature. This is the first step.

Tang Wulin's mind was already free of distractions, and he quickly calmed down. His consciousness silently sensed his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, feeling the not-so-strong but undeniably present soul power. For initial meditation, this step was sufficient. First, sense one's martial soul and soul power, maintaining a close connection between one's spirit and them. Only after this step was accomplished could true meditation continue.

In his mind, the Blue Silver Grass swayed gently, and Tang Wulin suddenly felt as if he sensed something from the world of the Blue Silver Grass.

It was fragile, yet resilient, withering and flourishing year after year, only to be reborn with the spring breeze.

Chapter Seven: Stay and Be My Sister

Immersed in the world of the Blue Silver Grass, Tang Wulin seemed to hear many sounds, subtle and faint, yet omnipresent.

The gentle blue silver grass possesses a tenacious vitality; it is the most abundant plant on the continent, having existed resiliently for millions of years.

Even powerful soul beasts are on the verge of extinction, yet the blue silver grass still covers the earth as it did tens of thousands of years ago.

A faint enlightenment allowed Tang Wulin to vaguely sense tiny entities in the air silently flowing into his body, merging into his still very weak soul power. This fusion was slow and in small quantities. But he could feel his soul power gradually increasing during this fusion. Even if it was only a tiny increase, it was very stable and continuous.

He didn't know how much time had passed when Tang Wulin naturally woke up from his meditative state, feeling refreshed all over, as if he were enveloped by countless blue silver grasses.

However, he was quickly startled because he immediately saw his father sitting not far in front of him.

"Dad, why are you back so early?" Tang Wulin looked at Tang Ziran in surprise.

Tang Ziran smiled and said, "It's getting late, it's already dark. You've already learned meditation? It seems the teaching at Red Mountain Academy is quite good!"

Tang Wulin excitedly replied, "Yes! I think I've learned it. Dad, I just felt something tiny entering my body, and then my soul power was increasing. Does that mean I've learned meditation?"

Tang Ziran was startled. He'd mastered meditation in just one day? The state his son described was exactly the correct feeling for meditation! This wasn't just a matter of good teaching; back then, he himself…

"Yes, you've learned it. It seems my son has excellent comprehension!" Tang Ziran never hesitated to praise his son. In his view, a child's growth should be accompanied by praise. For a child, confidence is far more important than anything else.

Tang Wulin couldn't help but feel a little proud of his father's praise, but before he could say anything more, Tang Ziran's expression turned serious.

"Son, I have something to ask you."

Tang Wulin rarely saw his father so serious, and immediately became more composed. "What is it, Dad? I didn't do anything wrong! You said a real man should be brave and fight against bad guys. Besides, at school today, they all laughed at my Blue Silver Grass, but I didn't fight them. I was very good."

Tang Ziran said, "Bravery is good, but bravery needs to go hand in hand with wisdom. When you knew it was impossible to safely rescue people from those people, you should have sought help instead of rushing in yourself. If you hadn't shown your martial spirit and scared them away, you would have been in danger yourself. That's not bravery, that's recklessness."

Tang Wulin thought about it seriously, then lowered his head and said, "Dad, I was wrong."

Tang Ziran smiled again. As long as his son was willing to admit his mistake, he truly realized it.

"A real man doesn't make the same mistake twice."

"Yes." Tang Wulin nodded.

Tang Ziran smiled and said, "Okay, let's move on to the next question."

Tang Wulin asked in surprise, "There's another question?"

Tang Ziran snorted, "Of course. You're only six years old, and you're already bringing girls home. What will you be like when you grow up? And you haven't even played the hero. You're something else!"

Tang Wulin then remembered Na'er and quickly said, "Dad, has Na'er found a home? She's so pretty."

Tang Ziran shook his head and said, "Your mother took her to the administrative office to inquire, but they couldn't find her registration."

Tang Wulin said: "What should we do then?"

Tang Ziran asked. "Tell Dad what we should do."

Tang Wulin thought for a moment and said, "Dad, how about we let her stay at our house?"

Tang Ziran looked at him with a half-smile. "At our house? Dad and Mom can't take care of two children!"

Tang Wulin quickly said, "I can take care of her. I can take care of her after school."

Tang Ziran smiled and said, "Alright, let's eat first."

When they arrived in the living room, Tang Wulin was pleasantly surprised to see that Na'er was already sitting at the dining table, still with her head bowed and meek.

"Na'er!" Tang Wulin called out, skipping over to her and naturally taking her small, white hand.

Lang Yue said, "We can't find any records for this child. We can only send her to an orphanage."

"No! Mom. Let Na'er stay." Tang Wulin spread his arms, blocking Na'er's way. "Don't send her to an orphanage. Let her stay, okay? At worst, I'll eat less from now on."

Na'er looked up, staring blankly at Tang Wulin in front of her. His small frame wasn't very tall, but seeing how he protected her, Na'er's eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

Lang Yue said, "Linlin, you can't just make decisions for her. You have to ask Na'er if she wants to stay with us or go to the orphanage!"

Tang Wulin immediately turned around and looked at Na'er. "Na'er, stay at my house. My mom cooks really well, and my dad is really nice too. You can live with me. I'll protect you. I've always wanted a little sister, so stay and be my little sister, okay?"

"Okay." This time, Na'er actually nodded willingly.

"Yay, that's great! I have a little sister!" Tang Wulin jumped up happily.

As it turns out, children's appetites are not something you can control. Although Lang Yue had cooked extra food today, it still wasn't enough to satisfy the two big eaters. Yes, both of them. Not only did Tang Wulin's appetite increase dramatically, but Na'er's seemingly petite body also seemed like a bottomless pit, and her appetite was not much less than Tang Wulin's. The two of them even ate the lunch that Lang Yue had prepared for Tang Ziran for work the next day, and they still looked a little hungry.

There were only two rooms in the house, so if Na'er stayed, she would naturally have to live with Tang Wulin. Tang Ziran and Tang Wulin, father and son, built another bed in the room using wooden planks.

Na'er seemed very tired and fell asleep quickly.

"Dad, I'm going to meditate." Tang Wulin was very satisfied with the feeling brought by meditation and couldn't wait to return to that feeling. He wanted to become a Soul Master and become stronger, and now he had another reason: to protect his sister.

Chapter Eight: Learning Forging?

"Wait a minute." Tang Ziran called out to Tang Wulin.

"What is it, Dad?"

Tang Ziran patted the chair next to him. "Come, sit down. Dad has something to discuss with you."

"Oh." Tang Wulin sat down next to his father, looking at his face with some confusion.

Tang Ziran said, "Son, I support your choice to become a Soul Master. But as I've said, you'll face many difficulties, not just in your studies, but also in our family." "

Every time a Soul Master reaches a level ten, they need a Soul Ring to break through. In the past, Soul Rings could be obtained by hunting Soul Beasts. But after tens of thousands of years of research, it has been discovered that Soul Spirits are more advantageous than Soul Rings. High-level Soul Spirits can even grow and can be artificially created to a certain extent. Soul Spirits are like the spiritual existence of Soul Beasts. Different levels of Soul Spirits can grant a Soul Master one or more Soul Rings. For ordinary people like us, there's only one way to obtain Soul Spirits: to buy them from the Spirit Pagoda." "

I don't have much skill, and my salary is meager. It's enough to support our family, but now with Na'er, as you've seen, both of you have big appetites. So, when your Soul Power reaches level ten, it will be difficult for me to save up enough money to buy even the lowest-level random Soul Spirit."

“There are two ways to obtain a Soul Spirit from the Spirit Pagoda. One is for students with exceptionally outstanding Martial Souls and fast cultivation speed; they can obtain their first Soul Spirit for free. But clearly, your Blue Silver Grass doesn't have that free opportunity. So, the only option is to buy it.”

Tang Wulin listened to his father's words, momentarily stunned. He had never really thought about this before. Yes! Soul Masters need Soul Rings, which can be obtained directly from Soul Beasts or by fusing with Soul Spirits. Now, Soul Beasts are extremely rare, making them very difficult to obtain. So, the only option is to buy a Soul Spirit.

A six-year-old child has a very weak concept of money. But the reality is already before him.

“Dad, what should I do?”

Tang Ziran smiled bitterly, “This is all Dad can do. I’ve worked hard these past few years to try and raise some money for you. But you also need to work hard yourself. Do you remember your Uncle Mangtian?”

“Yes, I remember! Didn’t he come to our house before?” Tang Wulin’s mind conjured up an image of a somewhat fierce-looking, tall middle-aged man.

Tang Ziran said, "Your Uncle Mangtian is an excellent blacksmith. Dad told him about our family's situation, and he said he could give you an apprenticeship opportunity. Two hours a day, the first three months are for learning, and after three months, if you can forge some simple things, you can earn some money."

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up, "I'm willing, Dad, when can we start?"

Tang Ziran looked at him meaningfully and said, "Forging is a very hard job, are you really okay with it?"

Tang Wulin nodded and said, "I can! I'll save up money to buy Soul Spirits myself."

Tang Ziran smiled, "Okay, then go and try it. If you feel you can't handle it, we won't go."

"Okay. Dad, I'm going to meditate now."

Tang Wulin went back to his room, but a drop of liquid fell on Tang Ziran's shoulder. Tang Ziran turned around and saw his wife with teary eyes behind him.

“Wu Lin is still so young, why are you doing this? If we save money, we should be able to help him earn enough for a Soul Spirit.” Lang Yue’s voice was choked with sobs, but she never went against her husband’s wishes. This time…

Tang Ziran sighed softly, “It’s incredibly difficult for someone with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to become a Soul Master. Forging is a craft. Lin Lin may be young, but he has a strong character. Forging isn’t just about forging metal; it’s also a process of tempering him. If he can truly persevere, he’ll not only have a means of making a living when he grows up, but he’ll also develop his character. It will be entirely beneficial for him. You know our situation. I’m just afraid that one day… Of course, if Lin Lin can gain Mang Tian’s approval, that would be even better. His professional level is higher than mine was back then.”

The next morning, after saying goodbye to his mother and Na’er, Tang Wu Lin went to school happily.

A night of meditation made him feel increasingly close to his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, to the point that he had a special affinity for it.

The Soul Master class doesn't teach Soul Master knowledge every day; instead, it's one day of Soul Master knowledge and one day of academic classes. Today was the academic class.

Tang Wulin was very smart and listened attentively, even receiving praise from the teacher.

"Mom, why did you come to pick me up? Where's Na'er?" As soon as he stepped out of the school gate after school, Tang Wulin saw Lang Yue.

A hint of heartache flashed in Lang Yue's eyes as she quickly went over and picked up her son.

"Mom, put me down quickly! I'm a big kid now, it'll be so embarrassing if my classmates see us!"

Lang Yue chuckled. "No matter how old you are, you're still my son. Mom is taking you to Uncle Mangtian's place. Do you really want to learn forging?"

Tang Wulin nodded and said, "Yes! Dad said a man should be self-reliant, I want to earn money to buy my own Soul Spirit."

Lang Yue put her son down and squatted in front of him, saying, "Son, if you can't hold on, don't force yourself. If it really doesn't work out, Mom will find a job and help you save money to buy your Soul Spirit."

"No, I want to save money myself," Tang Wulin said firmly.

Lang Yue forced back her tears, kissing her son's face repeatedly. "Okay, let's go then."

Aolai City wasn't large, and there was no need for any transportation. Lang Yue led Tang Wulin for over twenty minutes, arriving at a small storefront.

The storefront looked somewhat dilapidated, with a sign that read "Mangtian Studio. "

Even before reaching the door, a metallic smell wafted over.

Lang Yue rang the doorbell, and after a short while, the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man.

The man was tall, dark-skinned, and had a thick beard that gave him a somewhat fierce appearance.

"Sister-in-law is here." His voice was deep and resonant, making Tang Wulin's ears ring.

"Uncle Mangtian." He politely bowed to this uncle he had met a few times before.

"Hmm." Mangtian nodded expressionlessly, then said to Lang Yue, "Sister-in-law, go back first. I'll pick him up in two hours."

"Brother Mangtian, thank you for your trouble." Lang Yue was reluctant to look at her son, wanting to say something, but ultimately gritted her teeth and held back.

Chapter Nine: Gifted Talent

"Come in." Mangtian said to Tang Wulin.

"Oh."

Following Mangtian into the workshop, the hall was messy, with various metal parts scattered everywhere. Tang Wulin could only barely recognize that many of these parts should belong to the Soul Guidance Mechs.

Mangtian didn't stop and continued walking inside, so he quickly followed.

The storefront wasn't large, but the interior space was quite spacious. After passing through a corridor, Mangtian led Tang Wulin into a room.

There was a workbench in the room, too short for Tang Wulin to reach.

Mang Tian stopped, turned to Tang Wulin, and asked, "Do you know what forging is?"

Tang Wulin shook his head blankly. Mang

Tian said calmly, "Actually, I didn't want to take you on. You're too young and not suitable for forging. But your father insisted you try. If you try and find it unsuitable, leave, but don't cry here, understand?" "

I won't cry, Uncle Mang Tian," Tang Wulin retorted.

Mang Tian said, "This is your task for today." He pointed to the side.

On the ground beside him was a metal platform about half a meter high, with a circular metal block on top. Below it was a soul-guiding screen.

Mang Tian picked up two small metal hammers from the side and handed them to Tang Wulin. “See that round metal block? Strike it a thousand times with these hammers, five hundred times on each side. The counter will only start counting if you hit it with enough force. That's roughly the force you need to swing the hammer and then bring it down. Once you're done, I'll explain forging to you. If you don't, you don't need to come tomorrow.”

With that, he shoved the hammers into Tang Wulin's hands and turned to leave.

The hammer handles were about a foot long, and the hammerheads were cylindrical, half a foot long, with a cross-sectional diameter of about ten centimeters. Each hammer weighed about ten kilograms. This was quite a heavy weight for a six-year-old child, let alone swinging it to strike.

Tang Wulin frowned when he saw the hammers, but when he received them from Mang Tian, he was surprised to find that they weren't as heavy as he had imagined.

Were they hollow? Uncle Mang Tian looked quite fierce, but he was actually a very kind person.

A knowing smile appeared on Tang Wulin's face. He swung his hammer down on the circular metal object with his right hand.

"Bang!" The metallic clang startled him. The soul-guiding screen below seemed to come alive, lighting up and displaying the number one.

He swung the hammer with his left hand and brought it down, "Bang!"

Two.

Not too difficult after all! Tang Wulin swung the hammer with both arms and began to strike.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!" The continuous strikes made the numbers on the screen jump around. The hammers didn't seem too heavy; at least Tang Wulin didn't feel much strain. The two hammers continued to strike, and the numbers below kept increasing.

When he had struck a hundred times, he started sweating. It wasn't until he had struck three hundred times that his arms began to ache. "

Keep going," his father said. "Persistence is victory!"

Enduring the soreness, Tang Wulin continued to swing the hammers.

Five hundred strikes later, the soreness finally turned into aching pain, but he still persevered, refusing to stop.

The pain intensified, and Tang Wulin's arms began to turn slightly red, but he gritted his teeth and continued.

He kept telling himself, "I must study forging diligently to earn money to buy a Soul Spirit. To make my parents happy, and to protect Na'er."

Seven hundred strikes later, his arms felt like they could barely lift, and the speed at which he swung the hammer noticeably decreased.

But he still gritted his teeth and persevered, sweat pouring down his face, his school uniform clinging to his body, dripping with sweat. But just then, Tang Wulin suddenly felt a numbness in his tailbone, and his whole body trembled as if electrocuted. The soreness lessened somewhat. The hammer, which had felt incredibly heavy in his hands, suddenly felt lighter again.

"Bang, bang, bang!" He continued hammering, and the next three hundred strikes seemed less arduous.

"One thousand!" The number finally jumped to the position required by Mang Tian. Tang Wulin finally put down his hammers, panting heavily. He could feel the indescribable pain in his palms and the aching, almost unrecognizable sores in his arms. Besides these, there was a strange sense of exhilaration; a tingling numbness emanating from his tailbone spread up to his cervical spine, a back-and-forth, indescribable feeling of tightness.

Unbeknownst to him, faint golden lines were also swirling along his spine along with the tingling sensation. It took

him a full five minutes to catch his breath.

"Uncle Mangtian, I'm done." Tang Wulin searched for a long time before finally finding Mangtian sitting in a room, fiddling with a component.

Mangtian paused, glancing at his watch. Only half an hour had passed since he handed the task to Tang Wulin.

"You're finished?"

"Yes!" Tang Wulin nodded.

Seeing his sweat-soaked appearance, Mangtian didn't question him further; he always preferred to let the facts speak for themselves. He stood up and led Tang Wulin to the previous room.

A thousand—the large number was displayed before them. The instrument was set up by Mang Tian himself; a six-year-old child couldn't possibly cheat. Yet, it was still unbelievable.

The two iron hammers, while not heavy for him, were certainly not hollow; each weighed a solid ten pounds. A normal adult male, swinging such hammers a thousand times, would likely find his arms sore and unable to lift, and would struggle to complete the task in half an hour. Let alone a six-year-old child.

Mang Tian's test was essentially a polite way of refusing. He had a good relationship with Tang Ziran and couldn't refuse directly, but he really didn't want to teach a six-year-old child who, in his opinion, had no chance of mastering forging.

But what he saw before him…

“Show me how you hammer again. Don't stop until I tell you to,” Mang Tian said in a deep voice.

“Okay.” Tang Wulin picked up the hammer again. After resting for a while, the soreness in his arms had lessened somewhat.

“Bang, bang, bang…” Each hammer blow fell, without any technique, without any leverage, just simple, direct strikes against the metal block.

Based on Mangtian's forging experience, he only needed a few glances to determine that the child's strength was sufficient to wield the hammers and complete the strikes.

(Chapter Ten: I'll Protect You)

The term "innate superhuman strength" applies differently to people of different ages, and the numerical values used to measure it naturally vary.

A six-year-old child, capable of swinging a pair of iron hammers a thousand times, absolutely deserves this description.

However, Mang Tian didn't call a halt, but silently watched Tang Wulin continue hammering.

His movements were direct and powerful, but he lacked any techniques for deflecting or neutralizing force; the recoil from the hammer blows undoubtedly borne the brunt of his impact on his arms.

Fifty times, eighty times, one hundred times.

Sweat poured out again, the soreness even more intense than before, his arms burning hot, and his scalp even began to throb from the excessive force. But Tang Wulin gritted his teeth and continued hammering. One

hundred and fifty blows later, his body began to sway, his arms aching as if they weren't his own, and his vision blurred, but he still persevered.

I can endure it, I can pass the test. I am a man, perseverance is victory.

When Mang Tian called for a stop, Tang Wulin had lost count of how many times he'd swung the hammer. If Mang Tian hadn't caught him, he would have collapsed.

Taking the hammer from his hand, Mang Tian clearly saw that Tang Wulin's palms were raw and chafed from the impact of the hammer handles, and his arms were swollen.

The fierce-looking blacksmith was finally moved, not only by Tang Wulin's innate strength, but also by his perseverance.

Strength could be trained, but such unwavering character in a six-year-old child was truly remarkable.

"You've raised a good child. I'll take him in. Come at this time every day from now on. Apply ointment to his arms when you get back." When Lang Yue came to pick up Tang Wulin, she saw Mang Tian with a much gentler expression, and he handed her a bottle of ointment.

Tang Wulin rested for the next hour, and now his energy had returned, though his arms were still so sore he could barely lift them.

Mang Tian's explanation of forging still echoed in his mind.

"What is forging? Forging is completely different from casting. Casting only requires a mold, using machinery to press the metal into the required shape according to the mold. Forging, however, requires a forger to hammer it by hand, stroke by stroke. Of course, forging can also be done by machine, but metal is also alive, and machine forging can never truly grasp the texture of the metal. Therefore, the most top-tier mecha parts are all forged by hand by forgers. A good forger is a true craftsman, possessing a status no less than that of a Soul Master."

Soul Master, Mecha Master—these were all the boy's dreams.

"Ouch." Tang Wulin cried out in pain because Lang Yue grabbed his hand.

Only then did Lang Yue notice the wound on her son's palm.

"Oh my god! What... what did he do to you?" Tears welled up in her eyes almost instantly. She never imagined that in just two hours, her son had suffered so much.

Tang Wulin shook his head and said, "It's nothing! Uncle Mangtian said he tested me, and I passed! Mom, aren't I great? Don't cry! It doesn't hurt."

"Let's go home." Lang Yue wiped away her tears, her eyes full of pity.

"Mom, I'm really okay. I'm so happy! I passed Uncle Mangtian's test. Aren't you happy for me? This is what Dad meant by a sense of accomplishment."

"Happy, Mom is happy." Lang Yue patted her son's head, her eyes glistening with tears again.

Back home, Tang Wulin saw Na'er sitting at the table as soon as he entered and immediately skipped over to her. Lang Yue went into the kitchen to make dinner.

"Na'er, do you know? Today I passed Uncle Mangtian's test, and I can start learning forging from him. When your brother earns money through forging, he can save up to buy a Soul Spirit, and he can also buy you delicious food..." With his childlike heart, he had completely forgotten the pain in his arm and was telling Na'er about his particularly fulfilling achievement.

Na'er listened attentively, though a hint of confusion occasionally flashed in her eyes.

"Na'er, do you really not remember where your home is at all?" Tang Wulin asked instinctively after finishing explaining the test.

Na'er shook her head. "I really don't remember. I only remember my name is Na'er, everything else is blurry. Brother Lin, am I stupid?"

Tang Wulin quickly replied, "No, of course Na'er isn't stupid. It's okay if you don't remember. From now on, this is your home, my mom and dad are yours, and you're my little sister."

Na'er looked at him, a sweet smile gradually spreading across her face—the first time she had smiled since arriving here.

Tang Ziran paused, looked at her son with a questioning gaze, and Tang Wulin shrugged, indicating that he didn't know what was wrong with his mother either.

Tang Ziran quickly followed Lang Yue into the house, and Lang Yue closed the door.

"Na'er, let's eat first. Are you hungry?" Given the appetites of these two little gluttons, Lang Yue had prepared extra food today.

Na'er clearly had no resistance to food, and upon hearing this, she immediately nodded and began to eat heartily.

She had only been eating for a while when she noticed that Tang Wulin, sitting next to her, wasn't eating as much as he had yesterday. When she looked up at him, she saw him writhing in pain, his face contorted with distress.

"What's wrong, brother?" Na'er asked in a clear voice.

"My arm hurts so much after the test, I can't lift it up very well." Tang Wulin had been particularly hungry lately, not to mention the strenuous work after school, so his craving for food was understandable.

Na'er blinked and said, "Then I'll feed you."

"Okay! Okay!" Tang Wulin was overjoyed.

Na'er's movements were a little awkward, even clumsy, as she alternated between feeding Tang Wulin a spoonful of rice and a spoonful of vegetables.

The two children, one six years old and the other five and a half, exuded a tender warmth amidst their innocence, making even the lamplight in their small home seem softer.

"Na'er, you're so kind."
(This post was edited by sbilnbko on 2016-01-29 20:37)
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[Douluo Continent 3: Legend of the Dragon King] [Author: Tang Jia San Shao] [Ongoing]

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