“Eh……”
Everyone said girls were more precocious compared to boys, but this girl before his eyes was only six years old.
Tang San’s choked words did not come out. The other students watched them, enviously, having a good show, everyone with cheeky smiles, but nobody spoke.
“‘Eh’ what ‘eh’, hurry up, pull the bed over. Don’t you have outstanding strength?”
Xiao Wu urged rather impatiently.
Tang San subconsciously pushed his bed next to Xiao Wu’s. Xiao Wu took the bedding from his arms, first spreading the mattress on the beds. This bedding was for an adult person, and indeed very large, although unable to fully spread across two beds, it could still cover more than seventy percent.
Xiao Wu spread her cloth bundle on the seam where the two beds were put together,
“You also put your cloth bundle here, hereafter this is the boundary. If you overstep the boundary, don’t find it strange if I’m blunt, oh.”
Looking at Xiao Wu arranging the border, Tang San was instead relieved, hurriedly nodded, and put down his bundle. Xiao Wu covered the beds with the quilt, both beds simply taking one shape. Of course, there was a line of demarcation.
Wang Sheng said:
“We should eat lunch, Xiao Wu jie, Tang San, let’s leave.”
Hearing about food, Xiao Wu immediately leapt up, and excitedly said:
“Great. What’s good to eat?”
Wang Sheng and the other working students looked at each other in dismay, and said with a forced smile:
“What good can we working students get to eat? At the dining hall you can just buy any cheap meal gathered there.”
Tang San shook his head, saying:
“You leave, I won’t go.”
Home rattling with poverty, Tang Hao’s money was all exchanged for alcohol, so in order not to starve he had specially brought rations, his homemade coarse flat cakes. To simply fill his stomach was no problem. The day after tomorrow he started working for wages.
Looking at the patches on Tang San’s body, Wang Sheng faintly understood his meaning, and would not force him,
“Xiao Wu jie, then let’s go.”
The rising excitement on Xiao Wu’s face abruptly solidified at once,
“Must you spend money to eat? Just how much spirit money is that?”
If not because of her not inconsiderable strength, perhaps Wang Sheng would curse, needless to say eating cost money? Who could be given free lunch? Only he naturally saw that this newly appointed boss was probably the same as Tang San, also embarrassingly short of money.
Wang Sheng heroically said:
“No matter, like this, for these two days consider your food expenses on me. Tang San, hereafter everyone together are dormitory companions, so let’s go. In the worst case until you have money just ask me again.”
For a moment Tang San hesitated a little, but still agreed. He all along did not have a concept of money, Wang Sheng was very happy with his appetite, Xiao Wu even more was immediately all smiles, looking meaningfully at Wang Sheng. However recalling of her Soft Skill, Wang Sheng kept his distance from her, before when she threw Tang San, on face also gave off a smiling expression. Who knew when she would get excited, and effortlessly come at him all of a sudden.
Including Tang San and Xiao Wu, a party of eleven people left room seven, heading to the dining hall under Wang Sheng’s lead. The dining hall was in the school building, having to cross the whole sports ground.
Right now, the sports ground it was already bustling, one could see no few academy uniform wearing students going in the direction of the school building, clearly all were going to eat.
Nuoding primary spirit master academy’s dining hall was very large, enough to hold six grades in addition to teachers, altogether more than three hundred diners. Right now, there was already a crowd lined up by the dining hall serving window. The dining hall was altogether divided into two floors, and the first floor hall alone had three hundred seats.
Part 4
“Isn’t this that group of poverty apparitions of Wang Sheng’s?”
Just as they entered the dining hall, a discordant voice reached them.
Tang San looked questioningly in the direction the voice came from, only seeing a group of senior students standing in the staircase between first and second floor, looking down at them from their higher position.
The speaker was a handsome and spirited, probably eleven or twelve years old male student, his eyes revealing a concentrated disdain, wagging a finger in the direction of Wang Sheng,
“Poverty apparitions are just poverty apparitions, probably always unable to eat on the second floor.”
On the way to the dining hall, Wang Sheng already told Xiao Wu how the room seven boss and working students must act in public, and Xiao Wu readily agreed. Right now meeting someone provoking, immediately her temper rushed up,
“What creatures are you, how is the second floor so terrific?”
A working student by Xiao Wu’s side advised her in a low voice:
“The second floor is a place where you can independently order dishes. Very expensive, we really can’t go up to eat.”
Xiao Wu’s stature was about the same as Tang San, and before Wang Sheng sheltered them behind him. When he now walked away, those students on the staircase naturally caught sight of her appearance, and the speaking student’s eyes immediately brightened,
“A beautiful little loli, ah, it’s a pity she’s a working student. Wang Sheng, I your father will go eat now, so I’ll let you off this time.”
Speaking, he was followed by a crowd of people up the stairs to the second floor.
Xiao Wu lifted her foot, about to chase them up, but was grabbed and held back by Tang San,
“Forget about it, we’ve come to eat.”
Xiao Wu looked at Tang San with some scorn,
“Are you so timid?”
Tang San without explanation, left and went over to the end of the line for buying food.
Tang sect regulations: All Tang sect disciples, must not be easily provoked into bringing trouble on themselves, but if offenders take the initiative, promise to return with thunder.
From an adult person’s point of view, this academy’s students, regardless of temperament, were all just a group of children, nothing more. To him, an adult mentally, a rivalry with a little more than ten year old child, could not hold much interest to Tang San.
However, Xiao Wu’s display of temperament caused Wang Sheng to admire her even more.
Just then, Tang San saw a familiar person, and hurriedly walked up,
“Teacher, you have also come to eat.”
It was exactly Grandmaster who arrived. Nodding in his direction, he said:
“Are the things you got about right?”
Tang San respectfully nodded and said:
“Thank you Teacher for the bedding.”
Grandmaster clapped his shoulder, saying:
“Come with me to the second floor to eat. Afterward I’ll bring you to show what is recognized as my place here.”
Tang San shook his head, saying:
“No, Teacher, I will eat with my dormitory roommates.”
He all along did not want to act as an unconventional person.
Grandmaster did not persist, nodded and said:
“Ok, you act as you find correct. Go. When you have finished eating wait for me at the dining hall gate.”
So said, he went up to the second floor.
Though he did not know why, Tang San felt that Grandmaster and his father were a little similar. Although his father spoke very little, and Grandmaster spoke comparatively more, their dispositions gave off a kind of particular feeling. Especially Grandmaster expressed this aspect even more distinctly. Even when he smiled, he still had a solemn feeling.
Wang Sheng came up beside Tang San,
“You know Grandmaster?”
Tang San nodded, saying:
“He’s
my Teacher.”
Wang Sheng said with a strange air:
“Can’t be. You recognized Grandmaster as master? His actual strength is not up to much. At our academy, Grandmaster is only a visiting official type of personage. They say it’s because of good connections with the chairman that he can stay at the academy. Saying it not so nicely, just a freeloader. I heard, Grandmaster is soon fifty years old but has still not broken through the spirit grandmaster boundary, and his spirit only has twenty nine ranks. Probably in all his life he still will not be able to break through.”
Tang San lifted his head, looking seriously at Wang Sheng,
“If you do not want to exchange pointers with me once again, I request that you will not make such presumptuous evaluations of my Teacher. This is the first time, I expect it is also the last time. Thank you for your kindness, but I think you still need not treat me.”
Finished speaking, he turned about and left for the outside of the dining hall.
Wang Sheng had not thought that Tang San’s reaction could have been this big, he stood there momentarily dazed. To one side Xiao Wu and the other students also did not understand why he was like this.
‘A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime’, from Tang San’s point of view, were absolutely not just lip service. Since recognizing Grandmaster as master, his regard of Grandmaster had evolved to heartfelt esteem. If just now it hadn’t been Wang Shang speaking of his incorrect impression of Grandmaster living off others, but rather another person, perhaps he immediately would have struck.
Wang Sheng somewhat annoyed said:
“Can’t make heads or tails of it. This kid has some defect.”
Xiao Wu looked at Tang San’s departing back. Even though the clothing he wore was full of patches, unconsciously, the thin and small figure felt seemingly much larger.
To be near water after eating the rations, Tang San very quickly returned to the dining hall. This time he did not enter, standing by the dining hall gate quietly waiting. Of the passing students not a few threw him a curious look, but he as if he had not seen them let his eyelids droop, without even looking at them.
After waiting as much as an hour, Grandmaster finally came out of the dining hall, and with him came a similarly middle aged person.
The middle aged person was dressed in a chang pao, his features eminently intelligent, chin slightly protruding, on his face a mild smile.
“Let’s go, little San.”
Grandmaster called in the direction of where Tang San stood by the dining hall gate.
The middle aged person at Grandmaster’s side said smiling:
“This is your newly accepted disciple?”
Grandmaster nodded.
The middle aged person clapped Grandmaster’s shoulder,
“Well then, I wish you success. I will leave first.”
Having said so, he gave Tang San a glance, and went in another direction.
Grandmaster’s residence was a room on the corner of the dormitory building’s top floor, the room wasn’t large, only thirty square meters or so. The things inside were also very simple, only two bookshelves to one wall covered with books attracted Tang San’s gaze.
Part 5
Grandmaster fumbled a bundle of paper from his arms and passed it to Tang San,
“First eat, right. Even if I’ve carried it for a long time, the food is still good.”
Tang San was dumbfounded for a moment, then unfolded the paper bundle, seeing inside two chicken legs and a steamed bun. Still lukewarm.
“Teacher……”
“Go on, eat it quickly, when you’ve finished I still have things to speak to you about. The time of youth cannot be wasted.”
Grandmaster’s expression was calm and serious, his speech cool.
It was not easy to eat one’s fill on the coarse flat cake alone, and Tang San’s appetite also was not bad. Very quickly he grabbed the food Grandmaster gave him and wolfed it all down.
Grandmaster poured him a cup of water, then sat down behind the desk.
“This year you are six years old, with innate full spirit power, and twin spirits. Release your other spirit, and let me have a look.”
Tang San nodded, Grandmaster already knew he had twin spirits, so he had no reason to hide it. Lifting his left hand, black light surged out, once again coalescing into that not large hammer.
Because between last time and coming to school he had been training, his physical strength had no small progress, right now he could with an effort hold the hammer and not feel overwhelming strain.
Seeing the hammer in Tang San’s hand, Grandmaster suddenly shot up from his seat to his feet, his eyes exuding an extremely agitated light. Unwaveringly staring at the hammer, murmuring:
“Tang San, Tang San, surname Tang… ok, you can put away the spirit. You must not lightly reveal it in front of other people. Without my permission, hereafter you definitely must not give that spirit additional spirit rings. This part you have to remember well.”
Tang San rather surprised looked at Grandmaster,
“Dad also told me this. Why can’t I add spirit rings to this spirit?”
The agitated light in Grandmaster’s eyes gradually dulled,
“What does your father do?”
Tang San said:
“He’s a village blacksmith.”
“Blacksmith?”
Grandmaster’s gaze was rather strange, heaving a sigh he shook his head,
“Blacksmith, hammer, unexpectedly it’s a perfect match.”
“Now is not yet the time to tell you, you just need to remember: right now you are not to use this spirit and add spirit rings, only for the sake of you future plan. You must properly keep this firmly in mind.”
Since father said so, and Grandmaster also said so, made Tang San’s confidence in Grandmaster increase,
“I understand.”
Grandmaster said:
“Tomorrow is the opening ceremony, the day after tomorrow the regular classes will start. However, this from your point of view, is only a delay, nothing more. Right now the most pressing matter, is to make your spirit able to continue cultivation. In the morning you act only after I’ve carefully thought about it. Early tomorrow morning you will follow me from the academy and I will bring you to go look for a suitable spirit ring, to let you advance up to spirit master title.”
Tang San rejoiced in what was said. Only after having obtained a spirit ring could he confirm whether it was because of lacking a spirit ring that his Mysterious Heaven Skill was restrained. Grandmaster’s method was what he wanted, and hurriedly he very happily agreed.
Grandmaster continued speaking:
“For the academy side I can help you explain, you need not worry. On the way back I can instruct you in spirit lore. Tang San, regarding your blue silver grass spirit, what is your view?”
Tang San said:
“Everyone says it’s a useless spirit, however, I feel that everything has some purpose, even the most ordinary blue silver grass should also be that way.”
Grandmaster nodded pleased, and said:
“Not bad, every spirit has its characteristics, in my research, inferior spirits constitute a very large portion. I’ve always maintained that there are no trash spirits, only trash people. Tomorrow I’ll bring you to look for a spirit ring, so right now you must on your own decide the direction of your spirit’s growth.”
Tang San was somewhat dumbfounded,
“Direction of a spirit’s growth? Teacher, what does this mean?”
Grandmaster said:
“For this we must speak about spirit classification itself. To broadly distinguish them, spirits only have two large categories: beast spirits and tool spirits. Plant type spirits are also included within tool spirits, so both your spirits are counted as tool spirits. The biggest difference between tool spirits and beast spirits is in their manifestation.”
“When beast spirits are employed, the beast’s power is added to your own, and w
ill also add its effect to the body. Relying on the human body with beast spirit integration to enhance its strength, achieving human-spirit unity to launch an attack is the goal. But tool spirits are completely different - the tool spirits possess effects that can be used independent of the body. Consequently, tool spirits assisting nature is greater than beast spirits. Raising a simple example, if your spirit was our most common food the oldest sword rice, like that, your spirit could be treated as food. Furthermore because it is given form by spirit power, the effect can be much better when compared to ordinary rice.”
Tang San said, amazed:
“Can spirits also be eaten?”
Grandmaster gave a confirming nod and said:
“Food category spirits can all be eaten. Therefore, talented higher ranked food system spirit masters are always eagerly desired by the army. A single food system spirit master over rank thirty can supply enough food to feed a hundred soldiers. Greatly reducing the depletion of resources by the army.”
Tang San dully said:
“I still don’t understand.”
Grandmaster patiently said:
“The principle is actually very simple. Food for any living organisms, is all treated as replenishing energy. And spirit power is also a kind of energy. Just as spirit power can change to be able to be absorbed by humans as energy, like that, it is from our point of view certainly no different from genuine food. The same as the energy the human body requires.”
Tang San listened and only faintly understood a bit, but he understood the general idea,
“So to say, tool spirits are for the most part used to give assistance, right.”
Grandmaster said:
“Nothing is definite, some tool spirits can become battle spirits. For instance, if your tool spirit was a sword, it could be regarded as a weapon, like that, you could also become a battle spirit master, like what is outside spoken of as magic weapons, is actually just tool spirit battle spirit masters with their spirit cultivated to the pinnacle, this can be known as magic weapons. Although tool spirit masters and battle spirit masters are different, there are some connections between them. Every spirit master has a growth direction: food system, detection system, battle system, healing system, controlling system and so on and so forth. Right now, before obtaining a spirit ring, you must first quickly decide on your spirit’s future growth direction. A spirit master’s spirit cultivation, must have a direction in which to develop.”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 11