"Probably a bit of both," Tang San replied.
Old Jack smiled slightly and said, "Compared to my useless grandsons, you two are far more sensible. If only you were my grandsons. That drunkard Tang Hao is really lucky.
Don't think too much about it. The outside world is vast. Once you enter the academy, you'll make many friends and learn a lot of knowledge.
When you obtain the title of Spirit Master, there will be many benefits. By then, your lives will be much better."
After that, Tang San asked Old Jack about the Spirit Master Academy. Old Jack patiently told them everything he knew. When he heard that Tang Hao had arranged for the two of them to work at the blacksmith's shop, he didn't quite agree—after all, they were still too young—but he didn't say anything. He understood that if they wanted to attend an intermediate Spirit Master academy in the future, money would be necessary.
Later, Tang San asked more about Spirit Masters. Although Long Cheng already knew the answers to Tang San's questions, he couldn't say anything.
Along the way, Tang San asked, Old Jack answered, and Long Cheng listened quietly. The two boys gradually gained a basic understanding of how Spirit Masters were taught in Douluo Continent.
Holy Spirit Village wasn't very far from Notting City. After about half a day of walking, by afternoon they could already see the distant city walls.
Because it was close to the border of the Heaven Dou Empire, although Notting City wasn't large, its walls were thick and sturdy. After passing inspection, the three of them entered the city.
"Xiao San, Xiao Cheng, I'll take you to register at the academy and then head back. The inns here aren't for poor people like us. You two must listen to your teachers and study hard. When the term ends, Grandpa will come pick you up. It'll be almost New Year by then."
Though reluctant, the two boys agreed.
After asking for directions several times, they finally arrived at Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy.
From a distance, they saw the academy's grand arched gate. It was twenty meters wide and over ten meters tall, built from solid rock. The two iron-bar gates below were forged from refined iron. At the center of the arch were four large characters: "Notting Academy."
From this alone, one could see how much importance Douluo Continent placed on Spirit Masters—and this was only a junior academy.
As they were nearing the academy, Long Cheng remembered that he didn't have his work-study student certificate, so he asked the other two to go ahead while he went to the Spirit Hall.
As the most famous Spirit Master organization on the continent, Spirit Hall had branch halls almost everywhere. After asking a few passersby, Long Cheng quickly found it.
With the certificate given by Su Yuntao, he easily obtained a work-study student certificate. For Spirit Hall, this was a trivial matter.
Because of the Master's earlier instructions, the gatekeeper did not make things difficult for Long Cheng. After checking his certificate, he let him in.
With the Spirit Hall certificate in hand, Long Cheng registered at the academy, collected his bedding, and headed toward the work-study dormitory—Dorm Seven.
When he reached the door, he heard Tang San and Xiao Wu talking inside. He didn't interrupt them. After their conversation ended, Long Cheng pushed the door open and walked in.
After greeting Tang San and Xiao Wu, Long Cheng's gaze was drawn to a figure.
A trace of longing appeared in his eyes.
She was wearing a black dress, her ink-like hair falling behind her back, sitting quietly on the bed.
As if sensing something, she looked up. Their eyes met. In her calm eyes flickered a trace of joy.
She was the person Long Cheng had missed for six years—Ophis.
[TL note: let's just pretend they knew each other for a long time before separating]
Ignoring the others, Long Cheng walked step by step to Ophis. Seeing how she appeared even more petite than he remembered due to rebirth, he smiled faintly.
"Long time no see, Ophis. I've missed you these six years."
"Mm. Ophis missed Long Cheng too."
"We won't be separated again."
"Mm."
"Feifei, you know him? Is he the one you were talking about?" the lively Xiao Wu asked as she came over.
Ophis quietly nodded without saying more.
Tang San was curious as well, but because of his personality, if Long Cheng didn't explain, he wouldn't ask.
When it came time to assign beds, seeing Long Cheng and Ophis together, Xiao Wu decided to share a bed with Tang San. She hadn't brought bedding, and aside from Ophis, she felt the most comfortable around Tang San.
Tang San didn't refuse. In his eyes, it was merely innocent closeness between children.
[TL note: is this the fanfic I had been dreaming about!?!? Where tang San becomes a good guy🥺]
That night, Long Cheng quietly lay on the bed holding Ophis. Neither of them was good at expressing emotions, but they could both feel each other's feelings.
Before long, they fell asleep. It was the most peaceful sleep Long Cheng had had since coming to this new world.
The next day, Long Cheng followed Tang San to the room of Tang San's teacher and foster father in the original story—the man known as the Master, Yu Xiaogang.
After learning the previous day that Tang San possessed twin martial souls, one of which was the Clear Sky Hammer, and warning him not to reveal it, he gained Tang San's trust and accepted him as a disciple. When he later learned that Tang San's brother, Long Cheng, also possessed twin martial souls, he asked Tang San to bring him over to take a look.
Thus, early in the morning, Tang San woke Long Cheng and dragged him over while he was still half-asleep. On the way, Long Cheng gradually woke up.
Tang San knocked twice on the door. "Teacher, we're here."
"Come in," a hoarse voice replied.
They pushed the door open and entered. It was Long Cheng's first time seeing the Master.
He was of average height, somewhat thin, about forty or fifty years old. His black hair was parted to one side. His appearance was ordinary, but he exuded a unique presence.
After letting them sit, the Master gave them a stiff smile. Looking at Tang San, his eyes held a trace of kindness. Then he turned to Long Cheng.
"You're Long Cheng, right? I'm Tang San's teacher, Yu Xiaogang. You may call me Master. Yesterday, Xiao San mentioned you and said you also have twin martial souls. I'm very interested. May I see your martial souls?"
Long Cheng agreed without hesitation. He summoned his first martial soul—the Boosted Gear.
Although Yu Xiaogang had never seen such a martial soul before, his years of research allowed him to sense its extraordinariness.
Then Long Cheng summoned the Twilight Holy Spear. When he saw the spear radiating an extremely holy aura, even he was greatly shocked. He warned Long Cheng not to use it before gaining sufficient strength.
The Master then expressed his intention to accept Long Cheng as a disciple.
Long Cheng did not refuse and bowed to Yu Xiaogang as his teacher. He wasn't some invincible protagonist—he was just an ordinary person. Although he had obtained powerful martial souls and talent, having a good teacher was necessary, and the Master was undoubtedly the best choice. In terms of martial soul knowledge, few could compare. Having read the original story, Long Cheng trusted him as well.
After receiving his agreement, the Master was pleased and told the two of them that he would take them to hunt spirit rings the next day.
"Yes, Teacher," Tang San responded without objection.
"Teacher, you can just take Xiao San. My martial souls are special. I don't need to hunt spirit beasts to obtain spirit rings. Bringing me along would only increase your burden."
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San looked puzzled and continued listening.
"Actually, Teacher, when my martial soul awakened, I received information from it.
My first martial soul is called the Boosted Gear, and the second is called the Twilight Holy Spear."
[TL note: why reveal that bro]