All rights reserved to the respective authors.
"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.
'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.
[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.
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Right at this moment, Yu Xiaogang continued, "Xiao San, tomorrow is the opening ceremony, and the official classes of the academy will only begin the day after tomorrow. However, attending mundane things like the opening ceremony is a waste of time for you. Right now, your top priority is to obtain a Spirit Ring as soon as possible, so that your Martial Soul can continue to be cultivated. Therefore, I have decided to take you to the Spirit Forest tomorrow to obtain your first spirit ring."
"As for the academy, you don't need to worry. I'll go to the faculty office later and ask for a leave of absence for you." Speaking of this, he smiled. "After acquiring your first spirit ring and going to the Spirit Hall to certify it, you'll be able to officially become a Soul Master. At that time, you will also be able to receive a monthly Soul Master subsidy from the Spirit Hall, and with that money, you won't have to continue being a work-study student."
'The Soul Master subsidy that Old Jack was talking about?' Tang San thought inwardly. The Martial Spirit Hall would give monthly subsidies to every civilian Soul Master. This wasn't the first time he had heard of it, but he didn't know the specifics of how and how much.
Raising his head, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, what is the Soul Master Subsidy?"
"The Soul Master subsidy, to put it simply, is the money that the Spirit Hall gives out to Soul Masters every month, mainly for civilian Soul Masters who lack money, to help them improve their livelihoods and get through the initial period. The payout standard is 1 Gold Soul Coin per month for Soul Masters, 10 for Spirit Grand Masters, and 100 for Spirit Elders. When we reach the Spirit Ancestor level, the subsidy stops, and Soul Masters must begin to be self-sufficient," Yu Xiaogang explained.
"In that case, the Spirit Hall is pretty good," Tang San said, surprised. One gold soul coin is enough for an ordinary three-member family to eat for several months. Ten or one hundred gold soul coins can still be collected every month. So, how much money does the Martial Spirit Hall have to give out every year?
"It's just a means of attracting people's hearts," Yu Xiaogang laughed coldly. "And this money is also partly funded by the two great Empires from the past, and distributed on their behalf by the Spirit Hall. Xiao San, think about how many years it's been since a child in your village awakened their spirit power. The number of Soul Masters on the continent is already small, and most of them have their own inheritances. The number of civilian families that can awaken a Martial Soul with Spirit Power is very, very small, and the distribution is extremely uneven. If the Empire had to shoulder all of these things, it would require a lot of financial, human, and material resources."
"Therefore, in the early days, the two great Empires were very happy to hand over such a task to the Spirit Hall. And when these Soul Masters grew up, it would be a matter of who could rope them in."
"However, judging by the final result, in this invisible war for influence, the Spirit Hall undoubtedly reaped a huge harvest. After all, most of the money was sent out from their hands, which brought the best influence. And precisely because of this, the two Empires, who recognized the great threat a long time ago, have been gradually cutting down on this allocation for various reasons since the last Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall took office."
"And thirty years ago, this allocation was already cut by fifty percent. As for now, it's unknown."
"Cut off by so much!" Tang San gaped slightly. "Then how is it that the Spirit Hall still continues to issue it?"
"This is the root of their original foothold and growth; naturally, they can't stop it at will. Otherwise, it's just like moving water losing its source—eventually, it will surely fall into decline." A hint of complexity flashed across Yu Xiaogang's face as if recalling something. "Because of the funding issue, this matter originally brought no small amount of trouble to the Spirit Hall. However, since the current Supreme Pontiff took office, the Spirit Hall has begun to use its previously accumulated capital to vigorously develop industries all over the continent. From that time onwards, the nature of the Spirit Hall has greatly transformed."
"What kind of transformation?" Tang San, who had been listening with great interest, eagerly pursued the question.
"Xiao San, you're still too young to understand this. There's no need to know just yet." Yu Xiaogang turned back and solemnly continued, "The reason I'm telling you all this is to remind you that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Aside from your loved ones and a few close friends, no one will show you kindness without a reason."
"In the future, when faced with favors from various forces, you should not lean toward any of them. After all, they are only doing it for their own interests. This is also true for the subsidies issued by the Spirit Hall. What you need to do now is to make good use of them and grow stronger as quickly as possible. That's the right thing to do."
"Yes, Master." Tang San nodded solemnly. After learning about the existence of the Titled Douluo, he understood that this is a world where strength is everything. The constraints of his previous life no longer applied here. The only way to gain power and respect was to become strong himself.
'White-eyed Wolf Raising lesson?' Tenshin mentally clicked his tongue.
[Truly, only a White-eyed Wolf could raise another. Yu Xiaogang has been living off the Soul Master subsidy he receives every month without fail, along with his family name, yet now he's telling Tang San that it's just a way for the Spirit Hall to expand their influence. He even advises Tang San to take the subsidy but avoid aligning with the Spirit Hall.]
[Honestly, I don't understand why the Spirit Hall hasn't revoked Yu Xiaogang's Soul Master subsidy or his honorary elder status. Could it be because of Bibi Dong? Probably.]
[It's because of things like this that people from my past life used to call the Douluo Continent the "Love Brain Continent"—and not without reason. Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, Xiao Wu, Hu Liena, Gu Yuena, and Liu Erlong... they're all "love brains."]
[But back to Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's conversation. Seriously, I'm almost certain now that the reason the original Tang San was so selfish and hypocritical is closely tied to Yu Xiaogang's teachings over the years.]
[After all, in his previous life, Tang San never left the sect. Even if he was influenced by the Tang Sect's teachings, it should have been limited to loyalty to the sect, respecting hierarchy, attacking from the shadows rather than confronting head-on, showing no mercy, and being decisive in killing. Even if he was naturally prone to double standards, that would be just human nature, but it wouldn't be so extreme as it was in the original story.]
[This means most of his 'good' qualities must have been taught by this master, and then he probably expanded on them himself, using them as a foundation. In doing so, he surpassed the master who first taught him the basics and showed him the path.]
Even the heroines aligned with factions opposed to the Spirit Hall found themselves unable to ignore Yu Xiaogang's blatant hypocrisy. Despite their allegiances, his double standards were too glaring to justify, sparking criticism that transcended their usual biases.
Spirit City
At this time, in the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong stared at the diary's contents, her expression unreadable. A wave of complex emotions surged within her as she processed this perspective on her former lover. She had always known that Yu Xiaogang continued to receive his monthly Soul Master subsidy. Because of this, she had convinced herself that perhaps, despite everything, he still held some lingering attachment to the Spirit Hall.
Standing nearby, Hu Liena hesitated before speaking, her voice cautious yet firm, "Teacher, shouldn't we revoke his position and subsidy? Just as Tenshin suggested?"
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, her gaze still fixed on the diary. "Nana, we'll let him keep it... for now." Her lips curled into a cold, calculating smile. "Then, we'll take it away—publicly. It will sting far more when the world sees his fall from grace. His reputation is his greatest weakness."
Hu Liena's eyes widened slightly, admiration flickering across her face. She nodded, a determined smile forming on her lips as she replied, "Understood, Teacher."
Moments later, as they returned their attention to the diary...
"What does he mean by 'Love Brain'?! I'll show him who the real Love Brain is! I'll make him eat those words—him and his entire family!"
The enraged shout reverberated through the Pope's chambers.
Heaven Dou Palace
In one of the palace's luxurious rooms, a young woman stood by the window. Her snow-white skin contrasted sharply with her cold, dignified expression. With slightly slender phoenix eyes and an aura of authority, she radiated an intimidating beauty.
This was Qian Renxue, another holder of the diary. As she read the latest entry, her face remained composed, but a closer look would reveal her tightly clenched jaw and fingers pressing into the diary's cover.
'Love Brain... Love Brain...' The words echoed in her mind, grating against her pride. Her eyes narrowed, a chill emanating from her as her grip tightened. A cold, almost mocking smile curved her lips.
"So, that's how you see me... Tenshin." Her voice was low, dripping with icy disdain. "I'll make you regret those words. I'll make you swallow them."
With that, she stood up, her elegant figure exuding an aura of determination and power. She walked toward a concealed door leading to her private training room.
"I'll be training alone. No one is to disturb me," she commanded coldly.
From the shadows, Snake Spear Douluo and Porcupine Douluo immediately lowered their heads in obedience, not daring to defy her.
Nuoding Academy
Meanwhile, back at Nuoding Academy...
"Hmm." Yu Xiaogang picked up the kettle from the table, poured himself a cup of water, and took a sip. "Xiao San, that's it for today. Head back and rest. I'll come to your dormitory early tomorrow morning."
"Alright, goodbye, Master." Tang San stood up, bowed respectfully, and turned to leave.
After the conversation ended, Tenshin retraced his steps and returned to the dormitory. Heading straight to the bathroom, he intended to wash off the sweat from the afternoon's iron beating. Since he had been busy eavesdropping on Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's conversation, he hadn't had the chance to clean up until now.
Not long after, Tenshin opened the bathroom door and stepped out, only to find himself locking eyes with Tang San, who was just coming downstairs to return to the dormitory.
"Good afternoon," Tenshin greeted with a smile, as if nothing had happened.
Tang San gave a slight nod with a blank expression, maintaining his cold and aloof demeanor. Without saying a word, he walked straight to his bed, lay down, and closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
'The transformation was really fast,' Tenshin mused, his eyes flickering with intrigue. He then walked to his own bed and lay down as well.
In the morning, he traveled for half a day. In the afternoon, he went shopping and pounded iron. Then, just moments earlier, he had exerted significant effort to suppress his presence. By now, he was indeed feeling a bit sleepy.
About half an hour later, his dutiful biological clock mercilessly pried open Tenshin's eyes—it was time for dinner.
Looking around, he noticed that Tang San had already gone to bed, and the other dormitory members hadn't returned yet. The light outside the window was dim and orange, signaling that evening was fast approaching.
After tidying up his bed a bit, Tenshin walked straight out of the dormitory. When he reached the canteen, he headed directly to the first floor without hesitation.
He wanted to eat some meat.
"Huh, Boss Xiao, that kid seems to be a work-study student who lives in the seventh dormitory with Wang Sheng."
In the corner of the first floor on the right side by the window, a slightly sleazy-looking eleven or twelve-year-old kid leaned towards the long table in front of him, squinting his eyes as he followed Tenshin's movements. "I saw this kid in the morning. He was brought into the school by Yu Xiaogang, along with that new-faced skinny kid beside Wang Sheng."
Upon hearing this, the boy sitting across the long table, known as Boss Xiao, immediately raised his eyebrows and turned his head to look over. A second later, he shouted loudly in a mocking tone, "Yo, isn't that the poor kid who lives in the seventh dormitory with Wang Sheng and the others?"
"Kid, why are you coming up to the first floor? Can you even afford to pay?"
"???" Tenshin stopped abruptly and turned his head to look at them.
'Xiao Chenyu?' He glanced up and down for a moment. The boy looked quite handsome, but his mouth was a bit foul.
He shook his head indifferently, as if nothing had happened, and continued walking.
As soon as he took a step, he suddenly stopped again.
He bent down and scratched his heel, as if he was itching, then resumed walking.
When he extended his palm and looked down, he found a Silver Soul Coin there. The dinner money had just appeared.
'The city really is different. So many rich people. A cheerful smile spread across Tenshin's face as he trotted over to the window and ordered Fresh Fried Rabbit Meat.
'Smiling? I scolded him, and he smiled at me. This child is probably a fool.'
Xiao Chenyu looked momentarily stunned. Beside him, one of his underlings muttered in confusion, "Boss Xiao, why does this kid look so stupid? He completely ignored us."
"It's fine," Xiao Chenyu sneered, his eyes narrowing. "That idiot just enrolled today. He didn't come to eat with Wang Sheng at noon, so he probably doesn't know the rules around here. Perfect. He's alone now. After dinner, we'll wait for him outside. I'll personally explain the rules to him... and while we're at it, give the seventh dormitory another lesson."
The corners of his mouth curled into a cold smirk.
"Boss Xiao is smart!" The lackeys around him immediately showered him with praise.
Satisfied, Xiao Chenyu's face lit up with a smug grin as he pulled out his money bag. Opening it, he looked at his loyal yes-man by his side.
"That idiot will probably be eating for a while. You take this and buy some snacks. We'll wait for him outside after that." He reached into his money bag but suddenly paused.
Huh? A silver soul coin is missing?
Although he was the son of the city lord, his monthly pocket money was limited.
'Whatever. One silver soul coin is just one silver soul coin.' Xiao Chenyu shrugged it off and pulled out another silver soul coin, handing it to his underling.
"Got it, Boss!" The lackey took the coin happily and trotted off towards the food window.
On the other side, Tenshin picked up his plate from the windowsill. It wasn't like in his previous life, where school canteen workers were experts at skimping on portions. Here, even a simple stir-fried dish was generously served.
Silently, he walked to an empty spot at the long table, sat down, and began eating, his head lowered as he focused on his meal.
Not long after, Tenshin brought his empty plate and food scraps to the designated area before slowly making his way down the stairs.
Just as he stepped out of the canteen, a sharp shout echoed from the side.
'Looks like there's no way to avoid this today,' Tenshin thought, his eyes narrowing as he sensed Xiao Chenyu lying in wait, flanked by his lackeys. He had already noticed them long before they revealed themselves, their crude attempt at ambush painfully obvious. Even after purposely changing his path to a quieter area, they still managed to corner him.
He slowly turned around and scratched his head, "Senior, is there something wrong?"
"Nothing much. Just here to teach you the rules of our academy." Xiao Chenyu laughed slyly as he led his goons to surround Tenshin.
"Hmph, so you're just trying to bully me." Tenshin pretended to think for a moment, then looked at Xiao Chenyu with an annoyed expression. "If you're really a man, you should fight one-on-one. What kind of man gangs up on one person? If word gets out, people will just laugh at you for being a coward."
'Hey, is this stupid kid really challenging our boss to a one-on-one fight?' The little brothers immediately turned their heads to look at Xiao Chenyu.
'Is he an idiot? A freshman who just awakened his martial soul, daring to fight me, a one-ringed spirit master, one-on-one? Civilians really are clueless, and their words are so crude.' Xiao Chenyu narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts laced with disdain.
"Fine then, let's fight one-on-one," Xiao Chenyu agreed, a wicked grin forming on his face. "However, if you lose, you'll have to bark like a dog on the spot. And from now on, whenever you see me, you'll have to call yourself my pet dog."
He raised his eyebrows arrogantly and added, "Don't worry, I won't bully you. I won't use my Martial Soul. We'll fight fairly."
'Fair? Yeah, right. He thinks I'm just some clueless civilian.' Tenshin scoffed inwardly. He knew well that absorbing a spirit ring enhanced physical abilities, which was very different from not having one.
"Fine, but that seems pretty one-sided. What if you lose?" Tenshin asked, crossing his arms.
After a moment of pretending to consider, he looked back at Xiao Chenyu with a confident stance. "How about this? If you lose, you'll be responsible for all the afternoon cleaning duties for the work-study students from now on."
"Deal," Xiao Chenyu agreed without hesitation.
"A man's word is his bond. No backing out," Tenshin challenged, feigning disbelief.
Xiao Chenyu noticed the crowd of onlookers gathering and puffed out his chest, his pride on full display. "Of course. If I back out, then I'm the dog!"
"Good, then let's go to the playground," Tenshin nodded, his eyes sharp with determination.
Xiao Chenyu gave a nod to his little brothers, who quickly moved to form a protective circle around Tenshin, ensuring he couldn't escape on the way to the playground.
As they walked, whispers spread through the gathering crowd:
"That new work-study student is in for it. Xiao Chenyu will probably take him down without breaking a sweat. Still, he's got guts. Knowing he couldn't escape, he actually challenged Xiao Chenyu to a one-on-one fight." One of the onlookers sighed in admiration.
"Yeah, let's go watch. Free entertainment doesn't come by every day."
The crowd soon arrived at the playground.
The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The air was crisp and refreshing, and small groups of students were scattered across the playground, enjoying the evening.
When they saw Academy Celebrity Xiao Chenyu leading his group and surrounding a lone student at the center, followed by curious students from different grades, they immediately sensed something was about to go down.
The onlookers hurried over, forming a tight circle around the two, eager to see the fight unfold.