"Bang, bang, bang—"
The next morning, just as Tang Luochuan and his family finished breakfast, a steady knocking came from the front door.
"Little brother, it's your Brother Tao, here to deliver a soul!"
Tang Luochuan got up and opened it. Standing outside was Su Haitao, the spiritual master he had met the day before. The man was beaming with an almost exaggerated brightness.
What caught Tang Luochuan's attention, however, wasn't Haitao—it was the old man behind him. The elder's face radiated kindness, his posture calm and unassuming… but his very presence carried a heavy, awe-inspiring aura. Even without releasing pressure, one could sense his might.
"Hmm? Could it be... the Master Spiritual Master?"
Tang Ziran and Lang Yue, who had come over after hearing the noise, exchanged surprised glances, polite smiles stretching across their faces.
But as Ziran looked closer, his heart clenched. That aura… it was suffocating without being intentionally imposed. The sort of presence that could only belong to a peak-level cultivator. A Titled Douluo.
His face stiffened. Even branch tower masters of the Spirit Pagoda rarely achieved this. Could this person standing at their humble doorway be exactly such a figure?
"You're all being too formal," the old man said mildly, as if he could read their thoughts. "Just call me Xiao Tao. Today, the senior from our Spirit Pagoda headquarters has come specifically for the young master, Tang Luochuan."
Su Haitao, expression transformed into the utmost respect, immediately stepped aside. The fact that he surrendered his position wordlessly only further revealed the elder's extraordinary identity.
The old man's gaze landed on Tang Luochuan. His eyes curved at the corners, his features soft with delight.
"You must be Tang Luochuan…" His tone was warm. "Good. Very good. You're quite the child."
He studied the boy closely for a moment more before his voice deepened in approval. "Your martial soul seems to be a mutated dragon. May I… take a closer look?"
There was genuine anticipation in his wrinkles, like a grandfather about to meet a precocious child's talents.
Tang Luochuan nodded calmly, lips curving faintly. "That's no problem."
Golden light flared around his body as he summoned the Golden Dragon King once again. For an instant, the brilliance was so dazzling that even the old man narrowed his eyes to adjust.
Yet those narrowed eyes were not out of surprise—it was respect. Respect tinged with awe.
This dragon aura… even he, a Titled Douluo with nine soul rings, could feel its weight pressing against him?
Ridiculous. The child standing before him wasn't even officially a soul master yet!
But that dragon might was real—undeniable, bone-deep, royal.
"…Incredible." The old man's hand trembled slightly before he said evenly, "Xiao Tao, bring out the soul."
"Yes, Senior."
Su Haitao hurriedly produced a crystal sphere from his soul guide. Within its shimmering surface, a khaki-colored dragon-like figure coiled slowly, emanating a steady aura.
"Little brother Tang Luochuan," Su Haitao declared respectfully, "this is a hundred-year-old Earth Dragon Soul that our Donghai City Spirit Pagoda branch specially sent overnight. It is by far the most suitable soul for your martial spirit in our Spirit Pagoda's archives."
He said it with pride. After all, an Earth Dragon belonged to the draconic sub-species of soul beasts, and finding one—even a lower rank—was rare in coastal regions. It was valuable, cherished, priced well above more common varieties.
Truthfully, when Su Haitao had made his report to the Donghai City branch yesterday, even he hadn't expected such swift acknowledgment. Yet approval had come instantly, and with it, this gift rushed over in record time. Without such direct intervention, a hundred-year dragon-attributed soul would never have appeared in minor Aolai City.
Tang Ziran and Lang Yue both stared at the gift with thinly concealed awe, their breaths caught.
"The Spirit Pagoda is truly… unrivaled," Ziran murmured, voice thick with emotion. "To send a hundred-year-old soul beast spirit as a first soul…"
Countless beginning cultivators had been forced to settle for ten-year souls, or even low-quality hundred-year ones—a rabbit, or perhaps an owl. But this Earth Dragon before them? It was a top-notch treasure.
"Thank you, Senior," Ziran said sincerely.
The elder waved his hand lightly. "Think nothing of it. I merely wonder…" His smile softened as his gaze fell once more on Tang Luochuan. "Would you, little Tang Luochuan, be willing to join our Spirit Pagoda?"
The words were simple, but their weight landed heavily in the room.
Ziran and Lang Yue couldn't bring themselves to look surprised. It was natural, inevitable. With such genius potential, of course the Spirit Pagoda sought to claim him—perhaps they'd even prepared such arrangements long before today.
But a Titled Douluo personally extending the invitation? That much was truly astonishing.
Luochuan, however, stayed calm. He observed the elder quietly, then slowly shook his head.
"Grandpa," he said evenly, "I haven't decided to join any organization yet."
There was not a hint of childish arrogance, only mature clarity in the refusal.
The old man froze for a moment before breaking into hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha, excellent. Very well, very well. I understand." He shook his head with no trace of disappointment, his eyes still twinkling. "In that case, I won't impose. But remember this: the doors of the Spirit Pagoda will always be open for you."
He left the Earth Dragon soul in their care and departed with Su Haitao, not pressing any further.
On the road back, Su Haitao finally voiced what had been gnawing at him. "Old Nan… The boy clearly refused to join, yet we left behind a hundred-year-old soul ring. Was it really worth sacrificing so much?"
The elder known as Old Nan chuckled, his voice calm as still water. "You see only what's on the surface. To train a true genius, what is a mere hundred-year-old soul? It is nothing more than a grain of rice amidst a feast."
He glanced at the horizon with eyes that seemed to peer beyond years. "It would have been ideal if he agreed to join today, yes. But whether he joins now or later is irrelevant. Receiving our gift ensures he will always carry a favorable impression. And with time… opportunities will surely come."
Back at the Tang household, Luochuan stared silently at the Earth Dragon within the crystal sphere. His eyes flickered with indistinguishable thoughts.
"Spirit Pagoda really does live up to its reputation," Ziran muttered, half in awe, half in caution. "They are wealthy and powerful beyond measure."
Lang Yue's eyes followed the faint glow of the dragon soul. The sheer quality radiating from it was enough to make her heart tremble. "Luo Chuan… Have you thought about just joining them outright?" she asked softly.
Her son turned toward her with a hint of amusement. "Don't you want me to hear your and Father's opinions first? I'm still young. There's no need to decide my future allegiance so quickly."
Ziran chuckled wryly. "He's right. Power can wait. For now… let's see about this Earth Dragon."
Luochuan settled cross-legged onto the floor, his eyes locked on the khaki beast sealed within. A small smile tugged at his lips. Let's see how obedient you are…
Beside him, Ziran's thoughts ran deeper. "Normally, dragon spirits are notorious for resisting fusion. If it were anyone else, this attempt might be doomed. But with Luo Chuan's martial spirit…" His voice grew softer, conviction settling in. "There should be no problem."
Time passed slowly. Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Earth Dragon gave only minimal struggle before curling submissively beside Luochuan. Its image sank into him, glowing faintly.
And then—
A ring slowly rose around him, gleaming yellow. A one-ring soul master was born.
But in the very next moment, something impossible occurred. As the Earth Dragon's essence fully merged, that yellow ring shimmered, shifted—then blazed gold.
Brilliant golden light flooded the room.
"This is…" Ziran gasped, face pale with shock. "A golden soul ring?!"
Tang Wulin, eyes round as saucers, nearly shouted, "Why is Brother's soul ring golden?! Even his martial spirit is golden…"
His voice rose to sheer excitement. "Could it really be… the legendary Qi and Blood Soul Ring?"