Chapter 6: A Strategic Retreat, Deep Brotherly Bond
"It really is... exactly the same!"
Tang Hao chewed the rabbit meat in shock.
He could even feel a faint warm current spreading as he ate the food; it was the effect of the Spirit power contained in the Spirit beast meat replenishing his Spirit.
Although extremely faint, it was not difficult for him to perceive.
Tang San also took a small bite, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Last week, his father brought home a roasted rabbit, but his father only gave him a small piece of meat. It was gone before he could even taste it. Meanwhile, the rabbit leg that his brother made from Blue Silver Grass was obviously more fragrant and delicious.
And after eating it.
He was surprised to find that much of the Mysterious Heaven Art internal energy he had consumed when summoning the hammer Spirit had been recovered.
I don't know if this is the power of my brother's Spirit skill, or if the roasted rabbit leg is an inherent effect.
Seeing their reactions, Tang Chuan also picked up a rabbit leg and took a bite.
Savor it carefully.
The texture, flavor, and even the feel of the meat when chewing it were exactly the same as the roasted rabbit leg he remembered.
"Really!"
Tang Chuan chewed on a roasted rabbit leg, feeling the subtle increase in his Spirit power and the faint yellow halo emanating from the edge of the white Spirit ring beneath him. A look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
One bite!
The age of the ten-year Spirit ring had actually increased to almost a hundred-year Spirit ring. The effect of absorbing the recorded ingredients was even better than he expected!
A thought suddenly struck him.
If he could devour those Immortal Herbs recorded in the Yin-Yang Eye of Ice and Fire, such as the Eight-Cornered Profound Ice Grass, the Blazing Apricot Blossom, the Chrysanthemum, and the Beautiful Silk Tulip... the age of his first Spirit ring could probably reach ten thousand or even one hundred thousand years!
The progress of the first of the God of Cookery's nine tests would also be greatly accelerated!
"The age limit for Spirit rings has increased?!"
Tang Hao's gaze fell on the Spirit ring beneath Tang Chuan, which had already begun to glow with a pale yellow light. Although it had not yet completely turned yellow, it was clearly close to a hundred years old.
This growth-oriented Spirit ring is terrifying!
"It's... it's really going up!"
"Just one bite of a roasted rabbit leg, and the lifespan of his Spirit ring increased from ten years to nearly a hundred years?"
"Xiao Chuan, your Spirit skill is practically tailor-made for you by the God of Food!"
Tang Hao was thrilled, his eyes filled with ecstasy, as if he could already see the hundred-thousand-year Spirit ring beckoning to his son.
"Xiao Chuan, you wait at home!"
"Daddy will go to the Spirit Hunting Forest right now and get you some meat from higher-level Spirit beasts!"
He became more and more excited as he thought about it, and after pacing a couple of steps in the cramped blacksmith shop, he said with great excitement.
Before the words were even finished, the person had already vanished.
He left only one sentence: "I'll talk to Old Jack. You can use the work-study spot, and your brother can stay home and work as a blacksmith to support your schooling."
Before Tang San could speak, the old door of the blacksmith shop was slammed shut with a bang.
Tang San, who was clutching the hem of his clothes, moved his lips as if to say, "Dad, I also have innate full Spirit power, could you help me find a Spirit ring too...?"
But watching his father's hurried departure, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.
He silently lowered his hand, looking down in disappointment. Tang Hao's differential treatment made him feel bitter and his eyes welled up with tears.
It's also Blue Silver Grass.
Both possess innate full Spirit power.
The older brother received a divinely bestowed Spirit ring, and the father was overjoyed, eager to help his brother find more high-grade ingredients.
Despite possessing twin Spirits, he couldn't receive a single word of praise from his father...
Silence fell over the blacksmith's shop for a moment.
Tang Hao didn't go far before he arrived at Old Jack's house.
At this moment, Old Jack was still struggling with the quota for work-study students. When he saw Tang Hao arrive, he quickly came out to greet him.
"Tang Hao, has the work-study student spot been decided?"
"Um."
Tang Hao nodded and said decisively, "Give it to Xiao Chuan."
"Xiao San will stay in the village to inherit the blacksmith shop, and then he'll be all alone at home. Old Jack, please take good care of Xiao San."
"And what about you?"
Old Jack paused for a moment, then pressed for an answer.
"I have my own things to do."
Tang Hao didn't say anything more, turned around and walked towards the Spirit Hunting Forest, leaving Old Jack standing there in a daze.
Only Tang Chuan and Tang San remained in the blacksmith shop.
Tang San lowered his head, his fingers repeatedly rubbing the hem of his clothes. The words that had just reached his lips seemed stuck in his throat, neither coming out nor going down.
His heart ached with a bitter taste.
He knew his older brother was capable and was happy for him, but he also wanted his father's attention, even just a little bit.
Tang Chuan took in Tang San's expression and understood.
This is exactly the effect he wanted.
He stepped forward and gently patted Tang San's shoulder, his tone carrying just the right amount of gentleness and sincerity:
"Don't be sad, brother."
"Dad was just too happy for a moment."
"Regarding that work-study student spot, after thinking about it, I think you should take it!"
Tang San looked up at his brother in surprise.
Tang Chuan continued with a smile, "Look, you have two Spirits, and you're born with full Spirit power. Going to Notting Academy will allow you to learn more about Spirit Masters, so your talent won't be wasted."
"I'm different."
"I have to take the God of Cookery exam, which requires me to go out and find ingredients. Going to the academy might actually restrict me from studying."
"Besides, our dad is home alone and he's always drinking. I'm worried about him not being able to take care of himself..."
Tang Chuan spoke with heartfelt sincerity, appearing to be the kind older brother who cared deeply for his younger brother.
"No!"
Before he could finish speaking, Tang San hurriedly interrupted him: "Brother, that's absolutely not allowed!"
Tang San gripped Tang Chuan's hand, his eyes utterly serious: "You are the successor of the God of Food, and you've even received a divinely bestowed Spirit ring. You need to study at the academy even more than I do!"
"And your Spirit is food-type."
"Compared to me, having teachers to protect you at the academy makes it safer for you to complete the God of Cookery assessment."
"I can learn blacksmithing from my dad at home, and then I can go to the Academy when I've saved enough money."
Tang San's eyes were full of sincerity, but Tang Chuan had his own ulterior motives.
In fact, the only benefits he would gain from going to Notting Academy, given his possession of the Nine Trials of the God of Food, were Xiao Wu and some knowledge of Spirit beasts, but these were not essential.
The core of the food-type Blue Silver Grass is devouring and recording.
Moreover, Tang Chuan had clearly expressed his desire to go to school. Given Tang Hao's doting and attention toward him, there was absolutely no way he would let him stay in the village and jeopardize his future.
Even if Tang San got the work-study spot, Tang Chuan believed that Tang Hao would definitely get him a spot to attend school.
His move was a strategic retreat.
It's just a routine act of brotherly affection, a way of manipulating Tang San.
"It's settled then."
Seeing that his brother was about to say something, Tang San said decisively, "Brother, you just go to school. Leave everything at home to me."
As he spoke, Tang San walked into the inner room and pulled a small booklet out from under the quilt.
"Brother."
"Your Spirit is food-type, it has no combat ability."
"Last time I taught you how to forge poison needles, you said you didn't like learning it, but I still wanted to teach you a little more, so I wrote it down."
Tang San handed the booklet to Tang Chuan: "Brother, you can learn a lot at the academy. If anyone bullies you, these hidden weapons can protect you..."
[end of the chapter]