Lang Yue hummed to herself as she watches her husband hugging and swinging their son around, as she was making dinner for the family.
She laughed at the image in front of her. Her husband had a huge smile while her son had a calm look when it should be the other way around.
Even when he was younger, her baby boy loved to be calm and stoic, rarely showing his emotion.
That didn't stop her from showering him with love and affection as it seems the only way to get a reaction out of him.
She couldn't count how many times he seems uncomfortable when she hugs or kisses him on the face.
'He was too cute,' Lang Yue screams internally. 'I only wish he could stay this cute and young forever.' Thought Lang Yue with a sigh.
She couldn't help but dread when he grows up to become a man and stop being her cute little Tang Tang.
"That my son, being an Innate Full Soul Power and already close to becoming a spirit master." Said Tang Ziran as he kept on swinging around his son in joy.
"Close? I thought I already became one when I gain my martial spirit?" Tang Wulin raised a brow.
Tang Ziran paused with Tang Wulin still in his hand and blinking after hearing his son's question.
"I thought the spirit master- oh I see," mutters Tang Ziran before his eyes widen. "Let me guess. You walk away before he could explain to you the spirit ranks and benefit of being an Innate Full Soul Power."
Tang Ziran chuckled at the blank look his son gave. He knew his son's temperament and the little patience he had for things he deemed unimportant.
Tang Wulin's eyes narrowed as he taps his foot impatiently in the air while waiting for an explanation.
"Alright, Dad won't keep you waiting. The Spirit Rank is broken up into Spirit Scholar, Spirit Master, Spirit Grandmaster, Spirit Elder, Spirit Ancestor, Spirit King, Spirit Emperor, Spirit Sage, Spirit Douluo, and pinnacle Title Douluo." Said Tang Ziran with a light laugh before he continued.
"A person born with an Innate Full Spirit Power are those who are already with the highest soul power. One of the greatest benefits is it gives them a huge headstart above others and with their cultivation being faster than others." Instructed Tang Ziran as he gazes at his son with joy.
"So which stage would I be in?"Asked Tang Wulin.
"A Spirit scholar ranges for rank 1-10 since you're an Innate Full Spirit Power you automatically start at rank 10, making you a peak spirit scholar." Said Tang Ziran with pride in his voice causing Lang Yue to giggle in the background.
Tang Wulin simply nods his head as he starts to mull over the things he learned. Tang Ziran smiled and took a notebook out of his pants pocket and passes it to Tang Wulin.
"When you go to the academy, they will give you an in-depth explanation of a spirit master. But you can use this book to study the ranks and how they are separated from each other." Said Tang Ziran causing Tang Wulin to nod his head as he grasps the notebook.
"Dinner is almost ready" Said Lang Yue as she moved to smother her son while he was busy staring at the notebook.
Tang Wulin's instinct went off as he felt Lang Yue closing in. Knowing what will happen if he stays around when she was this happy, he quickly opened his mouth.
"I am going to go to take a nap; you guys eat dinner without me" Said Tang Wulin, as he walks up towards his room to escape his mother's "doting."
"I wonder why though," mutters Lang Yue with a pout while blinking her eyes. Tang Ziran could only smile wryly at his wife's ignorance.
...
In Tang Wulin Room.
As Wulin lay on his bed flipping through the notebook, he starts to feel the Golden Marks from earlier in the day begin to appear on his body and raise his temperature.
"Just what are you," comments Wulin as he raises his arm to get a better view of the phenomenon.
In times like this, he misses that annoying black magician. He could figure out what was exactly happening to him in hopes of using it to kill him.
He couldn't help but chuckle about how often Zeref would use various methods to try and kill him. Although Zeref did come to learn better than most mages that controlling him was a useless endeavor.
He couldn't help but think back to what that Fire Dragon Slayer said.
'There no way you can fit everything in your hand alone.'
'That's why you gotta treasure the things you do have.'
Acnologia didn't understand what exactly Fire Dragon Slayer meant about holding everything in his hand alone but he did know that he 'treasures' his parents.
Even after living for over 400 years, the loss of his family was a scar that ran deep within him. The powerlessness he felt as he saw his family being eaten alive and those animals laughing while they did it.
'I can't lose my family again, not like last time.' Thought Tang Wulin with a frown
To do this, he knows he has to become the strongest existence again, which means he had to become a spirit master.
He knew that without strength, one can only be stepped on or used and that truth hasn't changed even in this world.
The awakening ceremony unexpectedly was able to give him an answer as to why he could never access his Dragon Slayer magic.
He knew his Dragon Slayer characteristics transferred over from his abnormal strength and senses being higher than the average human.
It seems after his martial soul was awakened, his Dragonslayer abilities awakened with the proof being those blue markings and ominous aura showing up.
Tang Wulin couldn't help but sigh at the fact that he may require the help of other people, no matter how much it disgusts him.
He didn't even ask that black magician for help when it came to becoming strong and only relied on himself.
He slew every dragon in the Dragon Festival by himself. But sadly this world seems more reliant on people helping each other.
Another thing he needs to get to the bottom of is how those weak Dragon Slayers defeated him in the end.
They kept on getting up again and even pulled out a win even after he completely crushed them. He recalled the words they were muttering.
'The voice of the people who are waiting for us to come home.'
'They gave us strength.'
That is something he will have to research in the future, he doesn't need that happening again. He discontinues his thoughts when he saw his temperature lowering and the golden marks disappearing.
'Well, it dosen't matter too much. As long as this world and its people can keep me entertained on my way to the top.' Thought Tang Wulin with a grin as he laid back down and closed his eyes to allow sleep to take him.
#
The next day, Tang Wulin was coming out of the shower after waking up in oily and sticky substances.
As he came downstairs, he was rammed into by his mother as she began to violate him with her hugs, face rubbing, pinches, and kisses again.
Already used to it, he took it in a stride as she started to compliment him.
"Such smooth skin and bouncy skin, your making mom jealous." Lang Yue complain as she drags him downstairs to the table where breakfast was served, while still rubbing her face on his.
His father seeing this smiled for a while and decided to help out his son finally.
"Wulin, since you already are at rank 10. Meditating would be useless until you get yourself your first Spirit Ring. Sadly even with you being an Innate Full Spirit Power with the Blue Silver grass, the Spirit Pagado wouldn't consider you a genius." Said Tang Ziran who had a face of regret, wishing his son gain any other martial soul.
Tang Wulin nodded, after his mom finally let him free, so he can eat breakfast. Long Yue and Tang Ziran sat there in a daze as they watch their son devour the whole pile of food on the table.
Even after seeing this scene a lot of times it still causes them shock. Long Yue notices her son's appetite has gotten even bigger from yesterday as he devours more than usual. Tang Ziran knew if there was a competition for eating, the announcer wouldn't need to look anywhere else.
"The little Taotie strikes again" Said Tang Ziran as he laugh before he tilts his head as a spoon flew by. He laughs louder, ignoring the look of annoyance on his son face
After putting away the dishes, Tang Wulin went to the Red Mountain Academy's Soul Master class by himself. He already told Tang Ziran he would be fine and left the task of calming down Lang Yue to him.
Lang Yue only calm down after realizing the academy was close by, albiet reluctantly. Her only wish was him to be careful and get home quickly after classes were done. Tang Wulin agreeded before heading towards the place he would be staying for nine years.
According to the regulations set by the Sun Moon Federation, elementary and intermediate academies had free tuition and were compulsory. The elementary academy was three years while the intermediate academy was six years long.
There were several ways to enter an advanced academy: outstanding achievements, paying exceedingly expensive tuition, or entering an academy of science and specializing in a field of study.
Walking into the classroom he saw around 15 students, some were chatting with each other and the rest was sitting waiting for the teacher.
"Hey, what's your martial soul?" A chubby boy who wasn't too tall asked, happening to be beside Tang Wulin as he walks in.
Tang Wulin didn't even acknowledge him and just trek towards his seat ignoring everyone before laying down on the desks.
"Hey, did you not hear me?!" hollered the youth, as he saw the youth ignore him to go rest his head on the desk.
Yet Tang Wulin didn't raise his head, feeling super vexed and embarrassed from being ignored the youth scoffed while sneering.
"I bet you don't want to say what your martial spirit soul is to avoid embarrassment. Well look at mine it is a knife martial soul. I have rank 5 innate soul power and If I'm able to cultivate to the rank of Title Douluo, then I'll be the Knife God Douluo." Boast the youth as he looks at Tang Wulin with disdain.
The other kids started to say their martial spirits to not lose out to the youth.
"Hello everyone. I'm your homeroom teacher, Lin Ximeng. I'll be teaching you the basic knowledge required for Soul Masters over the next three years"
Lin Ximeng had more to say, but Tang Wulin didn't care to listen and only remember bits of it. As the teacher with thorough the introduction, the lessons begin quickly.