Perhaps seeing that Tang Wulin was interested, the Spirit Pagoda Master felt like chatting and shared a great deal about the legends of the first Pagoda Master and the Spirit Pagoda, which also served to fulfill his routine duty of enhancing its prestige.
As for taking a few jabs at the Sea God, the Shrek Seven Devils, and the like in the process... their first Pagoda Master wasn't from Shrek Academy anyway, so what if he disparaged them!
If you people from Shrek can boast about your ancestors and step on our Spirit Pagoda, why can't we do the same? That wouldn't be fair, now would it?
Besides, there was no one from Shrek Academy in a place like Aolai City; here, the Spirit Pagoda had the final say!
As for the Sea God...
He probably couldn't hear this, right? And even if He did, He wouldn't bring divine retribution down on him over such a trivial matter, would He? After all, everything he said was the truth.
Tang San's divine sense, which had heard every single word:
"..."
He... would endure!
Choosing the lesser of two evils, even though this man had already courted death, for the sake of his ten-thousand-year plan, it was unwise to lose his temper right now and squander his Godking power.
Yet subordinates followed their superiors' lead. From this Spirit Pagoda Master alone, it was evident that the entire Spirit Pagoda had not an ounce of reverence for the gods. They even spread wicked doctrines and poisoned Wulin's mind—every last one of them had courted death!
Once the future war against the Abyss concluded, none of these guilty souls would be granted resurrection!
Thinking this, Godking Tang's divine sense couldn't help but furrow his brow.
Usually, he did not pay close attention to Wulin's daily life and remained in slumber. Recently, however, he had sensed a shift in Douluo's fortune. Wulin, who was supposed to become the protagonist of this era under his arrangement, was actually losing his fortune!
"Who stole the fortune? Who is meddling with my ten-thousand-year plan? What short-sighted fool would do this—do you want Douluo Star to be swallowed by the Abyss?!"
Godking Tang's eyes turned dark and gloomy.
Meanwhile, Tang Wulin listened with rapt interest to the stories he had never heard before. By the time the Spirit Pagoda Master finished speaking, the group had arrived at the area where soul spirits were kept.
The surrounding walls were made of a special soul tool material, emitting a faint blue glow that bathed the entire chamber in a mysterious, tranquil atmosphere.
The interior resembled a miniature ecosystem, featuring a small lake, a forest, and mountainous terrain, with soul spirits scattered about, waiting for someone fated to arrive.
Quite a few families of modest means had already brought their children here in search of soul spirits. From time to time, someone gained the recognition of a soul spirit, sparking bursts of elated cheers.
"Go ahead. You have half an hour. It's best to look for a Ten-Year Soul Spirit. Hundred-Year Soul Spirits have higher intellect and their own pride; without sufficient strength and talent, you won't win their approval."
Though he said this, the Spirit Pagoda Master knew Tang Wulin would certainly try his luck and seek out a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit first.
After all, since anyone who came here had only this one opportunity, no one would be content without going after the very best.
Yet in the Spirit Pagoda Master's experience, very few could earn the recognition of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit; almost everyone ended up with a Ten-Year Soul Spirit. In those cases, he simply had to handle things by the book.
However, when someone actually won the recognition of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit—as was happening right before his eyes—that was another story entirely.
Seeing Tang Wulin gain the approval of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit, Tang Ziran wore a complicated expression tinged with wild joy, while the Spirit Pagoda Master, after a moment of quiet astonishment, regained his composure.
"This soul spirit is a Grey Sea Snake, a relatively rare Sea Soul Beast in the Spirit Pagoda. Are you sure you want it?"
Ten thousand years had passed, and some Sea Soul Beast clans had also wised up, taking the initiative to reach out to the Star Dou Great Forest, the Extreme North, or the Mermaid Clan—who also had contracts with the Spirit Pagoda—to join the grand family of soul spirits. Naturally, the Spirit Pagoda welcomed all newcomers.
"Yes!" Tang Wulin nodded earnestly.
This soul spirit had been the first to choose him. Even if he could find a better one, he would not let it down!
A slight smile appeared at the corners of the Spirit Pagoda Master's mouth. "Very well. I'll take you to review the terms. If you agree to sign, I'll take you to carry out the Soul Spirit Contract."
With that, he led the way out, taking advantage of a moment when the two weren't paying attention to pull out his communicator and report to his superior:
"Tang Wulin, nine years old, Martial Soul Bluesilver Grass, suspected to possess a special bloodline. Obtained the recognition of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit, currently maintains a friendly attitude toward the Spirit Pagoda... Recommend investigating background information, providing certain accommodations, and keeping under observation."
With soul spirits assisting in the screening, they could often pick up hidden gems among soul masters of commoner origin.
Through years of observation, the Spirit Pagoda had found that soul spirits—especially those created from soul beasts—were far more sensitive to bloodlines than humans. The fact that Tang Wulin could gain the recognition of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit meant he possessed an extraordinary bloodline and talent!
Afterward, aside from the processing fee, the Spirit Pagoda Master waived all other charges, leaving Tang Wulin with a deeply favorable impression. He seized the opportunity to draw closer and learned quite a bit of interesting information from the boy.
Different from ordinary people since childhood, possessing immense strength, eating ravenously, earning thirty thousand over three years through blacksmithing, all while continuing his cultivation and studies as a child...
It seemed the boy possessed extraordinary talent in blacksmithing! He almost certainly carried some special bloodline...
At this thought, the Spirit Pagoda Master hesitated for a moment, then painedly took off his own bracelet, which bore a pagoda-shaped emblem, and handed it to Tang Wulin.
"This is a spatial storage soul tool with nearly one cubic meter of storage space. It is only given to soul masters of great potential. With this, you can collect basic stipends at other Spirit Pagoda branches."
A spatial storage soul tool bearing the Spirit Pagoda's emblem was by no means easy to come by, especially in a small place like Aolai City; he had only managed to acquire it through connections.
Yet the Spirit Pagoda Master had a hunch that by handing it over to Tang Wulin and branding the boy with the Spirit Pagoda's seal, his own promotion wouldn't be far off!
This was his personal investment. Just like Miss An Ya, who had earned a promotion, if one wanted to climb the ranks, one had to learn to seize opportunities—this was the teaching of the first Pagoda Master!
Tang Wulin gave a start. "No! My talent isn't strong at all. This is far too valuable."
His parents had always taught him to repay kindness. This esteemed Spirit Pagoda Master had already helped him so much; he couldn't take the man's belongings.
Soul tools were extremely expensive, let alone spatial storage soul tools. If one were sold, it would probably fetch enough to cover the cost of a soul spirit...
"Take it. Since you gained the approval of a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit, I have high hopes for you." The Spirit Pagoda Master thrust it firmly into Tang Wulin's hands. "If you feel indebted, then put on your best performance and show me that I haven't judged you wrongly!"
"This..." Tang Wulin looked hesitatingly toward Tang Ziran.
Seeing this, Tang Ziran roughly understood what the Spirit Pagoda Master was thinking. However, in his view, if Tang Wulin could join a major power like the Spirit Pagoda, it would bring the boy many benefits, and he wouldn't be implicated by his own secrets. Thus, he smiled and nodded.
"Wulin, accept it. I believe that with a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit, you will go very far and be able to repay this kindness."
Hearing this, Tang Wulin stared blankly at the bracelet for a moment before turning a resolute gaze back to the Spirit Pagoda Master.
"Master Spirit Pagoda, in the future, I'll give you the very best spatial storage soul tool!"
Tang San's divine sense: "..."
Just how many schemes and routines does your Spirit Pagoda have? So many plays in your playbook?
If Spirit Hall had been like this back then...
A trace of wariness and irritation flashed in the eyes of Tang San's divine sense.
Huo Yuhao was indeed the Child of Fortune from ten thousand years ago; the faction he left behind had actually developed to such an extent.
Back then, he should have instructed Da Ming and Er Ming to curb their growth; otherwise, he wouldn't have been left in such a passive position.
Now, there was even a villain stealing fortune. With so many variables, what was a mere wisp of divine sense supposed to do?
Meanwhile, once Tang Wulin completed the contract and left the Spirit Pagoda, he stood before his blacksmithing teacher, Mang Tian. The latter fell into silence as he stared at the storage soul tool bearing the Spirit Pagoda's emblem.
How did you go on a single trip to the Spirit Pagoda only to get bought off by them, brat?
How am I supposed to give you my gift of a storage soul tool with a mere one-seventh of a cubic meter now?
What a tragedy for my lineage!
Mang Tian looked at Tang Wulin, hesitating to speak, opening his mouth only to shut it again.
In the end, all he could do was sigh.
Whatever, it was a good thing that Wulin was able to obtain a Hundred-Year Soul Spirit.
Yet the more he thought about it, the more wronged he felt. The disciple he had nurtured had somehow ended up claimed by someone else out of nowhere.
His own circumstances back in the day had been better than Wulin's, so he truly had no idea that the Spirit Pagoda had an entirely different playbook aimed at commoner soul masters...
Whoever invented this routine, I am irreconcilable with you!
Chapter 20