"The handbook did not record anything wrong, because I was born with full spirit power!"
A hint of a disdainful smile appeared on Tang San's lips as he declared this. He was born with full spirit power, a rare phenomenon that destined him for greatness. He was only thirteen years old now, yet he had already reached Level 30 spirit power, a feat most could only dream of.
Watching the surprise gradually dawn on the Blacksmith Shop Owner's face, Tang San immediately adopted a condescending expression. Scared silly, aren't you? Old man? You clearly haven't seen a true genius before.
He shook his head lightly, looking as if he felt sorry for the Blacksmith Shop Owner's limited worldview.
"Born with full spirit power?" Liu Neng muttered, greatly astonished. His gaze towards Tang San immediately shifted from suspicion to awe. Regardless of what his Spirit was—even if it was the lowly Blue Silver Grass—the mere phrase "born with full spirit power" carried immense weight.
Among the Spirit Masters Liu Neng knew and associated with, there wasn't a single one who possessed such innate talent. It explained everything. No wonder he became a Spirit Master at such a young age; why hadn't Liu Neng thought of it?
A Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master born with full spirit power—this was contradictory, almost impossible, yet the proof was right there in the metal book.
He looked eagerly at the third line of the Spirit Master's Handbook, needing more confirmation.
Twenty-level Spirit Grandmaster. Registration time: Douluo Calendar 2639. Registered at the Nuoding City Spirit branch hall.
The Spirit Master's Handbook would not record the specific spirit ring levels and Spirit Abilities obtained by Spirit Masters. After all, those were a Spirit Master's personal secrets, vital for survival in combat. Even in Spirit Hall's own private archives, at most there would only be spirit ring ages. As for the specific effects of Spirit Abilities, those were things Spirit Masters would not easily reveal to anyone but their closest allies.
Year 37... Year 39... in just two years, Liu Neng calculated mentally. He had already become a Spirit Grandmaster?
He looked at the boy sitting across from him. He didn't look older than fifteen now, and this year was 2643. That meant he had broken through Level 20 four years ago, at the age of... nine?
At this realization, Liu Neng was completely stunned. Excluding the fact that this child's Blue Silver Grass was traditionally considered a waste Spirit, just looking at his spirit power progression, he was definitely a genius. A genius even more outstanding than his own two sons, of whom he was so proud.
"Blacksmith Shop Owner, are you done looking?" Tang San asked with a frown, breaking the man's stupor. He was already starting to feel impatient with the Blacksmith Shop Owner's slow reaction.
Liu Neng silently handed the Spirit Master's Handbook back to Tang San with both hands, a gesture of respect. He had already memorized the serial number and could check it at any time, but his gut told him it was real.
"Spirit Grandmaster Tang San, I apologize for my earlier presumptuousness," Liu Neng said solemnly, bowing his head slightly.
Tang San's lips curved, revealing a hint of a hidden smirk. Spirit Grandmaster? If only you knew. I am now a Spirit Elder with over Level 30 spirit power!
It was just that he hadn't had time—or the inclination, given his current fugitive status—to go to Spirit Hall to update his Spirit Master's Handbook. Otherwise, this Blacksmith Shop Owner would probably faint from shock. A thirteen-year-old Spirit Elder was something this man had likely never seen in his entire life.
Now he knows to apologize? Indeed, no matter where you are, strength is always the standard for speaking.
Since the Blacksmith Shop Owner had already humbled himself, there was no need for Tang San to be difficult. He decided to play the part of the gracious prodigy.
"It's nothing, I understand it's not easy for you to do business," Tang San said with a magnanimous smile. "If it were me in your shoes, I might be even more suspicious. After all, I am quite young for this line of work."
Just then, unable to contain his curiosity, Liu Neng couldn't help but ask, "Spirit Grandmaster Tang San, can you tell me exactly how old you are this year?"
Tang San smiled slightly, choosing not to conceal it. After all, he really enjoyed this feeling of shocking others with his achievements.
"If I remember correctly, I should have just turned thirteen."
Liu Neng gasped audibly. "Just turned thirteen?!"
In other words, he was only thirteen years old now. And based on the handbook, five years ago, when he was only eight or nine, he had already become a Spirit Grandmaster.
Is this true? Could this be true? Such a feat sounded impossible.
"Spirit Grandmaster Tang San, I have one last request," Liu Neng said, his voice trembling slightly. "Can you let me see your spirit rings? Just to... confirm."
A thirteen-year-old Spirit Grandmaster was an incredible existence to Liu Neng. He needed to see it to believe it fully. When Liu Neng said this, he also felt he was being a bit excessive, seemingly too suspicious, but his curiosity won out.
Tang San's brows immediately furrowed. Such a request was indeed pushing the boundaries of politeness between strangers. Did the Blacksmith Shop Owner still not believe him?
However, Tang San quickly calculated the pros and cons. If he were to display his spirit rings, then his true identity as a Spirit Elder would be revealed.
Thinking of this, the smile on Tang San's face grew wider instead of fading. What he needed was a long-term, stable cooperative relationship with this blacksmith shop. Gaining the other party's absolute trust and awe was crucial for future negotiations.
Liu Neng's words and actions gave off a steady, honest feeling. Coupled with the impressive scale of this blacksmith shop, Tang San was very satisfied with this potential partner. Most importantly, this was a very good opportunity to show off his strength and cement his dominance in this transaction. Tang San would not easily give up such a chance.
He smiled and nodded confidently. "Okay, no problem!"
Tang San slowly raised his left hand, and a blue light quietly surged from his palm.
Liu Neng watched Tang San intently, holding his breath, waiting for the spirit rings to appear simultaneously with his Spirit. Perhaps the Spirit Master's Handbook could be faked by a skilled forger, but a spirit ring could absolutely not be faked; that was the true, undeniable symbol of a Spirit Master's rank.
The next second, the Blue Silver Grass, glowing with a brilliant blue-purple hue, surged out from Tang San's palm. It instantly spread like living vines, and after reaching the ground, it quickly covered the room's floor, turning the office into a small garden of shimmering grass.
At the same time, three spirit rings of different colors simultaneously rose from beneath his feet, hovering around his body.
One white, one yellow, one purple.
Three spirit rings clearly pulsed rhythmically around his body, humming with power.
At this moment, the air in the room seemed to have solidified. Everything became surreal.
Liu Neng's mouth hung open, staring intently at the spirit rings on Tang San's body. His hands trembled involuntarily on the desk.
"You... you..." he stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
Although Tang San's first spirit ring was white—a ten-year ring—the presence of the third purple thousand-year ring was undeniable. That, combined with his age, was enough to shock this small Blacksmith Shop Owner speechless.
"Aren't you a Spirit Grandmaster?" Liu Neng finally managed to whisper.
Tang San shook his head seemingly casually, enjoying the reaction. "I just obtained my third spirit ring recently and haven't had time to register it at Spirit Hall. So the Spirit Master's Handbook doesn't have a record of me becoming a Spirit Elder yet."
Three... was that really three?
Liu Neng's heart trembled violently. Thirteen years old. Spirit Elder. Over Level 30. Blue Silver Grass. These words constantly swirled in his mind like a hurricane. His brain was blank, and an unspeakable feeling of pressure permeated his chest.
From Tang San, Liu Neng felt a distinct pressure. That was the unique suppression high-level Spirit Masters exerted on low-level Spirit Masters. Even though his spirit was just Blue Silver Grass, the level gap was real.
"Are you really only thirteen years old?" Liu Neng asked with some difficulty, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Just then, the door to the office was suddenly pushed open with a bang.
Immediately after, a tall, muscular figure walked in from outside, bringing the noise of the workshop with him.
"Dad, I heard the clerk upfront say there's a big business deal? Who is..."
However, the next second, the tall figure suddenly froze in the doorway.
Under the passive pressure radiating from the Blue Silver Grass filling the room, his own Spirit reacted instinctively. It was forced to release to resist the pressure.
A low growl echoed as his muscles swelled, and immediately after, two yellow hundred-year spirit rings rose from beneath his feet.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse