[Host: Tang Luochuan]
[Martial Soul: Golden Dragon King]
[Cultivation: Level 28]
[Soul Rings: Yellow, Yellow]
[Secondary Occupation: Blacksmith, Level 5 Master]
[Secondary Occupation: Mecha Designer, Level 5 Master]
[Secondary Occupation: Mecha Builder, Level 5 Master]
[Secondary Occupation: Mecha Repairer, Level 5 Master]
That night, after returning to his room, Tang Luochuan opened his data panel. The numbers and titles that glimmered there reflected three years of relentless effort. He was far stronger than he had been back then.
Not only had he grown into a Great Soul Master, but all of his secondary occupations had advanced impressively as well. His blacksmithing level alone had already reached Level Five, and the rest of his side skills—designing, building, and repairing mechas—had followed closely behind.
These were not just empty titles, but master-level proficiency that had been honed through countless hours of work and learning. His mind retained every scrap of knowledge he had consumed, sealing it away permanently as if burned into steel.
If only his soul power were a little stronger right now, he would already be crafting a mecha—or even battle armor—for himself. But that was something for the future. There would be time.
He thought briefly of his younger brother. Wu Lin was not far behind. Just the day before, he had completed his thousandth forging, an extraordinary milestone for any blacksmith. The result: recognition as a fourth-level blacksmith.
"When I have the chance later…" Tang Luochuan murmured. "I'll tell Father and Mother."
He sighed. Even now, many of the metals he had forged were hidden away in secret, never shown to his parents. To them, he had only admitted being a fourth-level blacksmith. His other identities—mecha designer, builder, and repairer—remained unspoken. It simply wasn't time to reveal such things yet. Better to wait until he was older.
Shaking his head, he closed the panel. There was no point getting stuck on this; what mattered now was what came next.
Because of his interference with the original timeline, his parents still behaved as if nothing had changed, still acting like humble ordinary people. But unlike before, they had avoided drifting farther into obscurity. Instead, they were preparing to settle in Eastsea City—changing the family's trajectory away from the continent-crossing struggles that once awaited them.
And in Eastsea City, he knew exactly who he would cross paths with: Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan… and Gu Yue.
"Before that," Tang Luochuan muttered, "I need to improve my strength."
He released the Golden Dragon King martial soul. Two yellow rings glowed beneath him, circles of soul energy giving off a faint hum. A smile curved his lips.
"At the very least," he chuckled softly, "these two should be upgraded to five-thousand-year soul rings."
Wu Lin's First Soul Skill
The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, Tang Wulin was already bouncing with excitement. Today he could finally claim his own spirit soul.
The Spirit Pagoda didn't disappoint. It happened that very day there was a hundred-year Mandragora Snake soul available. With its help, Wu Lin successfully broke through to the rank of Soul Master, leaping to level twelve cultivation.
Tang Luochuan couldn't help being pleased.
This wasn't like the original tale, where Wu Lin had bonded with a lowly ten-year spirit soul, some incomplete little grass snake. No, this was a full turnaround—an entire overhaul, in fact!
Truthfully, Tang Luochuan had originally hoped his brother would obtain a healing-type soul. But that had proven impossible. The Blue Silver Emperor was a life martial soul not because of luck, but because the being itself possessed that quality. Right now, Wu Lin's Blue Silver Grass, nurtured by the ancient golden tree, simply didn't hold even a sliver of healing ability.
Still, even if it lacked healing, the outcome wasn't bad at all. Tang Luochuan reassured himself of that—until his brother dramatically revealed his new skill.
"Brother, look at my first soul skill!" Wu Lin's eyes sparkled. "Blue Silver Entanglement!"
The vines lashed out with child-like enthusiasm.
Tang Luochuan stood silently for a long moment. At last, he forced a smile, betraying his conscience. "Yes… it's very powerful. With that, it'll be very difficult for anyone to escape!"
Then, as a big brother should, he quickly shifted to advice. "Wu Lin, maybe you should try sharpening your Blue Silver Grass. A vine-type martial soul like that should be able to condense into weapons, theoretically."
"Huh?!" Wu Lin's eyes lit up. "Then let me try to condense a hammer!"
Of course—always the hammer. He had no interest in swords or lances. For Wu Lin, it had always been the hammer.
Concentrating hard, Wu Lin directed his soul power into the blue silver grass. Slowly, painstakingly, the vines twisted and compacted until they morphed into the shape of a hammer.
"…Interesting," Tang Luochuan mused as he watched. "Of course it works, but honestly, compared to a Blue Silver Grass Hammer, your Thousand-Forge Silver Hammer will have far greater destructive force."
Wu Lin blinked, then frowned thoughtfully. With a grunt, he pulled out his large forging hammer. "I suppose you're right. Nothing beats the real one."
Tang Luochuan burst out laughing. "Hahahahahaha! That's what I like to hear. Wu Lin, you really do have the heart of a warrior."
Naer's Request
"Brother."
The soft voice drifted between them. Naer had approached silently, her silver hair catching the soft morning light. She rarely wore any expression other than her usual smile, but this time—just for an instant—her face flickered with an emotion Tang Luochuan had never seen before.
It was gone just as quickly, but he caught it.
"I want to go to the beach," she said quietly. "Come with me."
Tang Luochuan's heart jolted. Her words felt heavier than they should. He took in her pursed lips, the softness in her whisper, before finally nodding. "Alright."
So, it had come to this. The day of parting he had dreaded was finally here.
Though Aolai City was the weakest city along the coastline, its scenery was still enchanting, especially the boundless sea stretching out before them. Tang Luochuan and Naer sat side by side, listening to waves crash gently against the shore.
"Brother," Naer said suddenly, her eyes fixed on the horizon. "Tell me… If one day I left, and went somewhere very, very far away… would you miss me?"
Tang Luochuan didn't hesitate. He smiled gently, his tone steady. "Of course. You'll always be family to me. Nothing can change that."
Naer lowered her head. A shadow passed over her expression.
"But what if," she whispered, voice trembling, "what if you never see me again?"
Tang Luochuan froze, then answered with the same quiet conviction as ever. "Then I'll search the whole world to find you."
Naer's lips trembled. Then she smiled, soft and sweet, the kind of smile she had always shown him. Slowly, she leaned lightly against his shoulder.
"What if one day," she whispered again, "I disappear for real?"
Her hand tightened on his sleeve.
"Please… don't forget me."