Old Jack watched as Master Su Yuntao's figure gradually faded into the distance.
He only slowly turned around once the man had vanished at the end of his line of sight.
His gaze fell upon Tang San and Duan Yuanchen, gentle yet firm.
"Children, you... you possess an enviable talent, but unfortunately, you failed to inherit those desirable Spirits."
His voice carried a hint of regret, but it was mostly filled with encouragement.
He took a deep breath, his eyes shimmering with a light of expectation.
"However, there is always a way. Are you willing to step onto that path full of challenges..."
"To go to a specialized school, learn the cultivation methods of a Spirit Master, and pursue the power that belongs to you?"
Hearing this, a look of determination flashed in Duan Yuanchen's eyes without the slightest hesitation.
He rushed to answer, "I am willing! No matter how difficult the road ahead is, I am willing to try and fight for it!"
Tang San, however, lowered his head slightly. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.
"Grandpa Jack, I understand what you mean. But..."
"This is a major matter; I still need to go back and ask for my father's opinion."
His tone revealed his caution and respect regarding an unknown future.
Old Jack was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then suddenly came to his senses.
He lightly patted his forehead and said with a smile.
"Look at my memory, how could I forget about that."
"Tang San, you really should go back and ask your father."
"He is your only relative; it wouldn't do not to consult him."
Old Jack's mood remained quite low, and thinking of Tang Hao made it even worse.
"If only both of you could go to that school to study together, how wonderful that would be!"
"In our Saint Spirit Village, for so many years, we haven't been able to produce a single true Spirit Master."
"If you two succeed, then as the Village Chief, I would truly be bringing honor to our ancestors!"
As he spoke, Old Jack's eyes sparkled with excitement.
It was as if he could see a brilliant future for Saint Spirit Village because of these children.
He patted both of their shoulders and said earnestly, "Children, let's go! I'll talk to Tang Hao..."
Duan Yuanchen and Tang San walked side by side, their steps feeling somewhat heavy.
They silently followed behind Old Jack.
Passing through familiar alleys, they drew closer to Tang San's home step by step.
An indescribable sense of tension permeated the air, as if even the wind was holding its breath.
When the three of them entered the blacksmith shop and stopped outside the door curtain.
Old Jack began to call out, "Tang Hao! Tang Hao! Come out quickly!"
Tang Hao, who had been sleeping in, got out of bed and pushed aside the curtain.
That face covered in stubble appeared before everyone, his gaze exceptionally cold.
His attitude was like a winter wind, making people shiver without being cold.
After a brief conversation, the atmosphere quickly dropped to freezing point.
Sparks flew between their words, and in the end, only unfinished reproaches and dissatisfaction remained echoing in the air.
Old Jack could only shake his head and sigh, taking Duan Yuanchen with him as he left.
Tang San politely saw them out and closed the door.
Tang Hao sat lazily at the dining table and picked up a bowl: "Little San, bring the wine!"
Sensing his son's mood, he asked if he was disappointed.
Tang San could only say some polite words: "How could I be? Being a blacksmith is also quite good!"
Hearing this, Tang Hao turned his head: "Release your Spirit and let me see!"
Tang San slowly opened his right hand.
With his palm facing upward, a faint blue light suddenly lit up, like the gentlest star in the night sky.
With a thought, the blue light gradually converged into a shape, quickly transforming into a rope woven from small Blue Silver Grass leaves.
It floated gently above his palm, radiating an indescribable vitality.
Tang Hao's gaze was instantly attracted by this strange sight.
His eyes widened as he looked the Grass rope up and down, his face full of disbelief.
"This... what kind of thing is this? I've lived most of my life, and this is the first time I've seen such a Spirit."
His tone contained both surprise and doubt; he was clearly caught off guard by this sudden Mutated Spirit.
A bitter smile played at the corners of Tang San's mouth, realizing his father's lack of familiarity and understanding of the Spirit Master World.
He tried his best to explain in simple and clear language.
"The Grandmasters of the Spirit Hall said this is a Mutated Spirit. Although the probability is relatively low..."
"During awakening, anyone might experience a mutation, producing forms and abilities different from the norm."
His words carried a hint of helplessness, as he seemingly already viewed Tang Hao as an 'outsider' who needed educating.
"A Blue Silver Grass mutation? Isn't it still a Trash Spirit?"
But Tang Hao suddenly stood up, his bench instantly falling to the ground, and walked back into the inner room: "I want to sleep! Don't disturb me!"
Tang San stood by the dining table with mixed emotions, summoning the courage to ask.
"Dad, I have a question I want to ask you. Everyone can only possess one Spirit."
"But I... I feel like there are two inside my body. What's going on?"
The door curtain was suddenly flung open by a burst of force.
Tang Hao strode out across the threshold.
His face was filled with uncontrollable excitement, and his eyes shimmered with an unprecedented light.
"Where is your second Spirit?"
Tang Hao took a step forward, his gaze full of expectation and curiosity: "Come, let me see..."
Listening to his father, Tang San slowly opened his left hand, palm upward.
A jet-black light suddenly erupted like the fall of night, dyeing the entire room with a layer of mysterious color.
Tang Hao's gaze was instantly drawn to this familiar and powerful force.
His body shook slightly, and a complex smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
"The aura of the Clear Sky Hammer! As expected... this is the Bloodline inheritance of my Tang Clan!"
Tang Hao whispered to himself, his eyes flashing with a light of determination and expectation.
However, before the heroic words in his heart could fully take shape, he was interrupted by the scene before him.
He stared wide-eyed, fixedly watching Tang San's left hand.
He discovered that it wasn't the complete Clear Sky Hammer he had imagined.
It was merely a solitary metal Hammer handle floating in the air, looking exceptionally abrupt.
Tang Hao was stunned!
He then rubbed his eyes, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He looked closely again and confirmed he wasn't seeing things.
That metal Hammer handle truly existed, and it was closely connected to Tang San, emitting a faint jet-black light.
"This... what exactly is going on?"
Tang Hao's voice trembled slightly, his tone filled with shock and confusion.
He took a few steps forward, reaching out as if to touch the metal Hammer handle.
But he stopped at the last moment, fearing his actions might disturb something.
Tang San had never seen his father's face so expressive.
It was as if a silent drama was playing out on his face in turns.
Shock, doubt, confusion, deep thought...
All sorts of complex emotions intertwined, making Tang Hao's expression extraordinarily vivid.
Duan Yuanchen, who lived nearby and happened to be reading, saw this event unfold.
[Tang Hao excitedly opened his powerful arms and pulled Tang San into a tight embrace.]
A playful smile curled on his lips as he muttered to himself, "Embrace? Does expressing excitement have to be so gentle? Wouldn't it be more exciting to change the way it's done?"
After a bit of thought, Duan Yuanchen performed his unique "polishing" on this plot point.
[Tang Hao excitedly opened his powerful arms and fiercely pulled Tang San into his embrace.]
After the rewrite was finished, Tang Hao quickly opened his hands.
He was originally supposed to embrace his son gently.
Now, he used so much force it was as if he were trying to squeeze the life out of Tang San!
The sudden turn of events left Tang San instantly stunned.
His eyes widened, his face written with disbelief and alarm.
"Dad! What kind of act is this? I'm going to be crushed to death by you!"
Tang San cried out, his body instinctively struggling, but he couldn't break free.
A complex light shimmered in Tang Hao's eyes.
He mumbled, "I... I... I'm just too excited! Too excited! My son... is actually a genius with twin spirits!"
His words were somewhat chaotic; clearly, even he couldn't understand this sudden action.
Tang San's brow furrowed as he asked through the pain, "Excited? Does being excited mean you have to crush me? Let go quickly! My bones are about to..."
Just then, there seemed to be a wave of invisible power in the air.
Tang Hao suddenly froze, his movements coming to an abrupt halt.
It was as if he had been snapped awake by something.
Coming back to his senses abruptly and seeing Tang San's pained expression, a surge of guilt welled up in his heart.
"Little San, I... I didn't mean to..."
Tang Hao's voice was low and self-reproachful.
He hurriedly released his hands, wanting to check Tang San's injuries but afraid of touching him again.
"Dad, calm down."
Tang San gasped from the pain, "How can you not know your own strength?"
The two of them just stared at each other quietly, time seeming to freeze at this moment.
A moment later.
The emotions on Tang Hao's face gradually subsided.
Only then did he speak slowly, his voice low and firm.
"Remember, in your future, use the Hammer handle in your left hand to protect the Grass rope in your right hand."