Chapter 4: Eternal Life, 9 Heart Begonia

"Hiss!"

Even Tang Hao, known for his composure, couldn't help but catch his breath. He hadn't anticipated that one of Qin Feng's two hammers was the Nine-Hearted Begonia!

The Nine-Hearted Begonia was no less potent than one of the three legendary Nine-Hearted Glazed Pagoda, and it possessed even greater healing abilities. If the three ancestral Nine-Hearted Glazed Pagoda were considered immortal, then Qin Feng's Nine-Hearted Begonia could only be described as bestowing eternal life!

"Xiaofeng, revert the two hammers to their original state before the mutation. Don't reveal them until you're fully capable of protecting yourself," Tang Hao advised Qin Feng, his tone laden with concern.

"Original state before the mutation?" Qin Feng looked puzzled.

Tang Hao issued this warning as a Titled Douluo, and Qin Feng certainly wouldn't dismiss it. But even Tang Hao's caution left him puzzled. After all, how cautious did one need to be with a pair of hammers?

Yet, this was the man who dared to challenge the Martial Soul Hall and the father of the most fearsome individual in the Douluo Continent.

"Just concentrate your thoughts and then mobilize the soul seal," Tang Hao explained patiently, sensing Qin Feng's confusion.

Tang San, watching the exchange, was taken aback. He had never seen his father speak so much in a single day. Who exactly was Brother Feng?

"Uncle Tang, is that really necessary?" Qin Feng inquired. With a flick of his wrist, the hammers instantly reverted to their original form: curved horns, a thick hammerhead, and an altogether unsightly appearance.

"You mutated through this hammer?" Tang Hao's worldviews were crumbling. Could children these days be so extraordinary? Even if the Haotian Hammer had a 1 in 10,000 chance of mutating into the Two-Yitian Gang Hammers, Qin Feng had actually succeeded in mutating an ordinary claw hammer!

Had he been living under a rock for the past six years? Tang Hao couldn't help but wonder if he'd fallen out of touch with the times. How else could he explain finding such an extraordinary child by chance?

"Hmm," Qin Feng nodded.

"Dad, is Brother Feng strong?" Tang San, his big eyes filled with curiosity, looked at Tang Hao. It was the first time he had seen his father display such a complex and intriguing expression.

"Tang Hao! Tang Hao!"

At that moment, an elderly voice echoed from outside.

"It's Grandpa Jack!" Tang San recognized the voice and rushed out to greet him. Grandpa Jack was one of the few people in the village who had been kind to him. During their family's toughest times, Grandpa Jack had provided them with rice for an extended period.

Indeed, an elderly man with a cane entered, and Tang San warmly greeted him with a smile.

"Really a lazy fellow, the only reason I step into your iron shop is for Xiao San and Xiao Feng!" Grandpa Jack exclaimed with some annoyance, noting Tang Hao's dismissive attitude.

"Well, then don't come," Tang Hao replied, finishing his meal and heading towards the back room without taking another sip of wine.

"You!!" Old Jack pointed at Tang Hao, nearly boiling with anger.

"If it weren't for these two children, do you think I'd willingly come here?" Old Jack shouted towards Tang Hao, who had already gone to the bedroom.

"Fine, do as you wish," Tang Hao's voice, tinged with decadence, emanated from the back room.

"Boy, could you be a bit less generous with him in the future? Grandpa will pick you up tomorrow morning, and then you'll be on your way to Notting Junior Soul Teacher's College for your studies. I'm afraid you've picked up some bad habits here, so it's best to leave quickly," Old Jack said with a touch of irony before departing the iron shop on his crutches.

That night remained calm, with the usual snores echoing in the iron shop. However, there was one notable difference—there was now an extra person sleeping beside Tang San's bed.

The two of them had an unspoken understanding and slept peacefully through the night.

The next morning, before dawn had even broken, the sound of hammer striking iron echoed in the iron shop.

"What an exquisite hammer!" Both Tang San and Qin Feng arose from their beds and quietly gathered behind the curtain to take a look.

"Random Cloak Hammer?!" Qin Feng mumbled to himself.

This Random Cloak Hammer was an exclusive Haotian sect hammer technique. Tang Hao had painstakingly hardened his resolve to master this hammer method, using it to forge the legendary Haotian Hammer, a weapon feared by the Martial Soul Hall.

"Brother Feng, do you know this hammer technique?" Tang San asked, his surprise evident even though Qin Feng had spoken quietly.

"Since you two are awake, come over here," Tang Hao instructed, turning towards them.

"Daddy."

"Uncle Tang."

Both greeted Tang Hao, who continued, "Tang San, you've always wanted to learn the art of forging. Today, I'll teach you, and Xiaofeng can follow along."

Tang Hao fell silent, and Tang San sensed something unusual in his father's expression. It struck him that his father rarely woke up so early. In his memory, Tang Hao typically rose late, worked in the afternoon, and enjoyed his drinks in the evening. This sudden change was quite unexpected.

Though Tang San couldn't comprehend the reason behind it, Qin Feng understood it clearly. Despite Tang Hao's apparent apathy, he cared deeply for Tang San. Furthermore, Tang Hao had chosen to personally teach Tang San the Random Cloak Hammer method. As an outsider, Qin Feng could sense this and understood that paternal love can be silent, not as overt as maternal love, but always present. Sometimes, it's easy to overlook, but a father's love is quietly constant.

Yet, Tang Hao's decision to teach the Random Cloak Hammer method himself was indeed surprising.

"Use your calf to generate force and unite your entire body to maximize your strength," Tang Hao explained. His forging hammer danced in his hand, striking the red-hot pig iron with the swiftness of a tiger. The impact was harsh, and the piece of red-hot iron was swiftly transformed.

With another resounding blow, sparks flew as Tang Hao's hammer struck the pig iron. The originally brick-like piece crumbled under his powerful blows.

Beside him, Qin Feng could feel the surge of power emanating from Tang Hao's muscles, like a tidal wave crashing towards him. This kind of tangible force was truly astonishing and could only be fully appreciated through personal experience.