The morning sun peeked lazily over Holy Spirit Village.
Inside a modest hut, Lin Feng stretched out of his blanket, still smiling from last night's prank on Tang San's "legendary" martial soul.
But just as he picked up his bowl of porridge…
---
[Ding! Plot Opportunity Detected]
Scene: Tang San feeding breakfast to Tang Hao
Canon Event: Touching father-son moment
Interference Option: Replace with "Tang San slaps porridge at Tang Hao"
Cost: 10 Plot Points
Outcome: Unexpected violence ➤ Father reacts violently ➤ Break in familial bond
Interference Difficulty: Low
Proceed?
"Of course. Time to spice up breakfast."
Confirmed
---
A few houses away, Tang Hao was sitting silently as Tang San brought over warm porridge with both hands.
Just as the bowl was lifted...
SPLAT!
The bowl twisted in Tang San's grip and splashed hot porridge right across Tang Hao's face.
Tang Hao's drunken stupor cleared instantly.
"You dare—!"
SMACK!
WHAM!
THUD!
Three blunt blows later, Tang San was sent flying into a pile of wood chips.
---
Inside his room, Lin Feng nearly spit out his own breakfast laughing.
"A classic domestic comedy!"
---
[Ding! Plot Modified]
Event Impact: Low Emotional Disruption
Reward:
➤ +2 Soul Levels (Lv6 ➤ Lv8)
➤ +200 Plot Points
Current Balance: 3340 PP
---
With that out of the way, Lin Feng settled into his daily cultivation. Over the next three months, he trained tirelessly behind the mountain:
Meditated beneath the pine cliff
Practiced footwork and dagger techniques
Absorbed minor spirit energy from natural nodes
Occasionally laughed remembering the Clear Sky Pig
---
System Update: Soul Level Progress
Base: Level 8
Training Boost: +2 Levels
Result: Level 10 Achieved
---
And on the final morning before departure, it was time.
He closed his eyes, summoned his Ghost-Fang Leopard Ring, and let it descend into his soul space.
The purple glow burned into his veins.
Muscles tightened.
Vision sharpened.
Spirit essence surged.
---
[Ding! Soul Ring Successfully Integrated]
Skill: Phantom Dash
Soul Level: 10 ➤ 15
Status: Spirit Master Achieved
---
> "Fifteen. I'm 3 months in and already ahead of canon Tang San."
> "At this point, even Spirit Grandmasters would second-guess me."
---
Departure Day – Holy Spirit Village to Nuoding
The village gathered at the gate.
Grandpa Jack, holding his cane like a banner of honor, stood tall.
Lin Feng and Tang San walked beside him, though Tang San seemed... unusually silent.
Probably still shaken from soul stick and breakfast trauma.
"Poor guy. I'm not even done with you yet."
---
The group left the village, journeying through peaceful countryside roads. Wildflowers swayed as the cart rolled over gravel, and distant trees blurred into green lines.
Nuoding City's walls soon appeared in the distance — old, worn, but noble.
Inside was the Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy, the first step toward the Spirit World.
---
The school looked exactly as in canon — tall wooden gates, lined stone paths, open training fields. Students in uniform passed by with practice swords or fresh spirit beasts in cages.
The towering gates of Nuoding Academy cast a long shadow over the dusty road, where Lin Feng, Tang San, and Old Jack finally arrived after a long journey.
Excitement gleamed in Tang San's eyes, but Lin Feng remained calm—he already knew what was coming.
---
At the gate, a pot-bellied man with squinty eyes and a crooked moustache stood lazily with a brush and ink scroll in hand.
"Stop right there. Name and purpose?" he asked flatly.
Old Jack handed him the introduction letter from Su Yuntao, certified with the Spirit Hall seal.
The man scanned it, then scoffed.
"Holy Spirit Village? Trash place for beggars. You expect me to believe this brat has full innate spirit power?"
He snorted and waved them away. "Get lost. We don't accept jokes."
---
Tang San clenched his fist.
"Gatekeeper or not… you dare mock my martial soul?"
You have choosen the path of deserving death.
He reached for the hidden mechanism in his sleeve—his silent sleeve dart launcher—but just as he was about to raise his arm…
---
BAM!
The gatekeeper was sent flying into the wall.
Lin Feng lowered his fist with a cold smirk. "Oops. My hand slipped."
---
[Ding! Violent Interference Detected]
Event: Gatekeeper Assaulted
Morality Penalty: 0 (justified)
Cooldown for Physical Interference: 10 min
---
The gatekeeper struggled to stand up, nose bleeding. "Y-You dare hit me?! You—!"
But just as Lin Feng stepped forward again, a calm, authoritative voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough."
From inside the academy, a man in green robes with a scroll on his back approached—Yu Xiaogang.
He calmly asked, "Are you from Holy Spirit Village?"
Jack quickly stepped forward and explained the situation, handing over Su Yuntao's official spirit awakening record.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flickered with interest when he saw Tang San: Full Innate Soul Power.
"Everything's in order."
He turned to the gatekeeper.
"One more mistake like this and I'll personally ensure your transfer to latrine duty."
The man shivered, bowed repeatedly, and slinked away.
---
Inside Nuoding Academy
After a short goodbye to Grandpa Jack, Lin Feng, Tang San, and Yu Xiaogang entered the inner academy paths.
Tang San turned toward the scholarly man.
"Thank you for your help, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang didn't smile.
"I am not a teacher," he said with a hollow laugh. "I am just a fool eating the academy's food for free."
He glanced sideways at Tang San.
"Unless… you want me to be your teacher?"
Tang San's eyes lit up.
Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees and kowtowed.
"Please accept me as—"
---
Suddenly, Lin Feng's system glowed again.
[Ding! Minor Dialogue Branch Detected]
Canon: "Please accept me as your disciple."
Modification Cost: 40 Plot Points
Proposed Change: "Please accept me as your son."
Result: Heavy social confusion, increased comedic value, potential blood pressure spike in Yu Xiaogang
Reward Probability: High
Proceed with modification?
YES
---
Tang San, unaware of the change, spoke confidently:
"Please accept me as your son!"
He kowtowed three times in front of a horrified Master.
Silence.
Even the birds in the courtyard paused.
Yu Xiaogang blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Tang San looked confused for a moment.
"Huh?"
Lin Feng? He was on the floor, laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.
"This—this is gold!! Tang San calling Master 'dad'? I live for this!"
Yu Xiaogang held his forehead and sighed.
"I was hoping for a disciple… not a child."
After a deep breath, he looked at Tang San.
"I… I can't accept you as a son. But if you don't mind, how about becoming my godson?"
Tang San's face was redder than his spirit ring.
"Yes, G—Godfather…"
---
[Ding! Plot Modification Complete]
Event: Changed canonical teacher-disciple bond to godfather-godson
Outcome: Stronger trust link formed
Reward:
➤ +2 Soul Levels (Lv15 ➤ Lv17)
➤ 25x Carrot-Flavored Lollipops
➤ 1x Chicken Nugget Cup (System Inventory: Warm & Crispy™)
➤ +2000 Plot Points
Current Balance: 5300 PP
---
Lin Feng's Status
Name: Lin Feng
Level: 17
Martial Soul: Shadow Ember Dagger
Soul Ring: 1x Thousand-Year Ghost-Fang Leopard Ring
Abilities:
Phantom Dash (Phase Movement)
Traits:
Plot Dominator (Lv1)
Fate Echo (Cost -5%)
Items:
25x Carrot Lollipops
1x Chicken Nugget Cup
5300 Plot Points
---
Later, the trio arrived at the Principal's Office. After a quick registration process, both Lin Feng and Tang San were assigned to the same dormitory:
Dormitory No. 7 – The outermost building of the academy, simple and quiet.