Chapter 6: More Dead Than Popular

Tang San was so engrossed in crafting hidden weapons that he even skipped breakfast. It's surprising that Old Jack hasn't shown up yet.

As the sun gradually climbed higher in the sky, more than five hours of intense forging and casting came to an end, marked by a cheerful voice emanating from the iron shop.

In Tang San's hand, he held a set of hidden weapons that resembled a quiver. Despite being only three in number, they were exquisitely crafted. Each quiver boasted three blood grooves, and the arrowhead tapered to a fine point, giving it a formidable appearance.

"Brother Feng, I've made two, and one of them is for you," Tang San, drenched in sweat, handed another set to Qin Feng.

Tang San's emotional intelligence was commendable. Instead of showering Qin Feng with direct praise, he expressed his appreciation through this gesture. This not only strengthened their bond but also indirectly showcased Tang San's remarkable skills.

While he might not be on the same level as Tang Hao or even Qin Feng, who in the world could craft two quivers in just five or six hours?

Not to mention, even if you gave someone a day or two, they probably couldn't create such finely detailed weapon.

It was a mystery how Tang San, seemingly out of nowhere, had managed to complete this substantial project in such a short time.

"Thank you, Xiaosan," Qin Feng accepted the quiver and couldn't help but wonder if he had somehow pushed Tang San to excel.

He remembered that it took Tang San three whole months to create his first hidden weapon. And now, in just five or six hours, this transformation was almost unbelievable. Crafting a concealed weapon involved multiple intricate steps, from forging pig iron to casting molds, meticulous grinding, and annealing or controlled cooling. Although Tang San had opted for a water-based cooling method instead of the traditional annealing process, these five or six hours still seemed extraordinary.

Qin Feng carefully examined the quiver in his hand. He couldn't help but wonder if any shortcuts had been taken in this remarkable creation.

"Brother Feng, I'll go take a shower first. Grandpa Jack should be here soon."

Tang San, drenched in sweat from his secret weapon crafting, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction after six hours of toil.

"Hmm," Qin Feng nodded in agreement.

"This is incredible. How did you manage to make it both so fast and so exquisite?" Qin Feng couldn't help but ponder after Tang San retreated to the back room.

He watched as Tang San picked up the hammer and began tapping gently. Strangely, the more he struck, the more invigorated he seemed, as if he'd been injected with a burst of energy. The image of the secret weapon Tang San had just created kept replaying in his mind.

Hoooo! Qin Feng's perspiration mixed with the heat of the blacksmith shop, and sparks flew.

+1000 +1000 ...

Qin Feng's soul power continued to surge, but he paid it no heed. At this moment, he was completely engrossed. He took the leftover scrap iron from Tang San, which Tang San had already forged, and further honed his casting skills.

His hands seemed to move of their own accord, replicating Tang San's masterpiece from memory. Time slipped by, half an hour passing swiftly.

Then came a rumbling sound from the nearby bucket, and fiery red transformed into silver and gray.

"Xiao San, Grandpa's here to pick you up," Old Jack's voice echoed outside after ten minutes.

Tang San, refreshed from his bath, felt a sense of contentment. He had no desire to compete with Qin Feng; he simply aimed to restore the honor of a Tangmen descendant, and he had achieved that.

"Brother Feng, what's going on with you?" a puzzled Tang San asked Qin Feng, who had just finished his shower.

"Grandpa Jack's here. I'll take a quick shower, and I'll be out in two minutes," Qin Feng replied as he grabbed his clothes.

He never imagined that the system possessed this capability.

"What's bothering you, Brother Feng?" Tang San, still full of questions, approached the spot where Qin Feng had been hammering.

Then he noticed something amiss—the leftover iron from the previous batch was gone.

Could it be that Brother Feng was secretly crafting something? Tang San vaguely remembered hearing the sounds of forging while he was bathing.

"This!" Suddenly, Tang San froze in place, his eyes filled with astonishment, his face drained of color.

It was a Falling Leaf Eagle Hook Arrow!

With a conical tip and a curved hook at the tail, it promised both speed and balance.

"Brother Feng, did you create this?" Tang San asked in amazement as Qin Feng emerged from the back room, freshly showered.

Old Jack was about to enter the house, so Qin Feng moved quickly.

"Hmm, I just made one when I got bored, and I made some improvements," Qin Feng replied as he put on his clothes.

"Amazing," Tang San's mouth twitched upon hearing Qin Feng's response.

The Fallen Leaf Eagle Hook Arrow, one of Tangmen's standard hidden weapons, was twice as challenging as what Tang San had just accomplished. Qin Feng had managed to craft one in just over half an hour, which was nothing short of astounding. It was even more impressive considering that he had never learned this skill.

If the elders of Tang Men ever met him, they would probably want to bring him back to be revered by their ancestors! This was way beyond being just a simple traveler; Tang San felt a mix of awe and disbelief.

"Xiao San, Xiao Feng, Grandpa's here to pick you up," Old Jack announced as he entered.

"Good afternoon, Grandpa Jack," Qin Feng and Tang San greeted warmly.

Old Jack was delighted by their sensible behavior and asked, "Have you both packed up?"

"We're all set," Tang San replied. Tang Hao had instructed them to pack in the morning, so there was no delay.

"Tang Hao! I'm taking these two kids with me," Old Jack called out to Tang Hao from inside, but there was no response except for some grumbling.

Old Jack shook his head in disappointment; it seemed he had little idea about how Tang San had spent these years.

So, Qin Feng and Tang San, laden with luggage, made their way to the village entrance.

"If it's too heavy, let Grandpa help you carry some," Old Jack offered, seeing their loaded bags.

"Thank you, Grandpa Jack, but we've got this," Qin Feng replied as he took the lead, indicating that the baggage wasn't a burden.

As they walked, something unusual started happening:

+10

+100

+100

...

Suddenly, with each step, Qin Feng's breathing grew heavier, and a voice he hadn't heard in a long time echoed in his mind.

Qin Feng froze, and in front of him, a data column appeared:

Host: Qin Feng

Gender: Male

Age: 6 years old

Level: Ninth-level Soul Warrior

First Martial Soul: Tiangang Hammer

Second Martial Soul: None

Soul Power: 100/90000

"Child, what's happening to you?" Old Jack watched Qin Feng, who had stopped suddenly, with growing concern. The treasure of their Holy Soul Village had never malfunctioned before. For many years, they hadn't seen a soul cultivator, especially a young one like Xiaofeng, who was already a second-level Soul Warrior, let alone someone experiencing such an unusual upgrade.

Old Jack approached Qin Feng, who remained like a statue, and suddenly, a burst of blinding light shot out, nearly knocking him down. The powerful soul power was overwhelming.

"Deep yellow light?! Ninth-level Soul Warrior!!" Old Jack's eyes widened, his breath short, his hands trembling, and he looked as if he might have a seizure.

In the process of advancing to the Soul Warrior stage, different colors of light appeared during promotions. Deep yellow was the symbol of the ninth level. It was unprecedented for someone to go from a second-level Soul Warrior to a ninth-level Soul Warrior in such a short time!

"Grandpa Jack, what's wrong with you?" Tang San rushed over to help.

Old Jack, his face flushed and his neck veins bulging, eventually calmed down, but he still held his chest tightly.

"What happened, Grandpa Jack?" Qin Feng returned, feeling somewhat disoriented after the sudden upgrade.

"Children, it's nothing, Grandpa is just so happy," Old Jack said, gripping Qin Feng's hand tightly. His bony fingers hurt Qin Feng.

"Boy, are you really a ninth-level Soul Warrior?" Old Jack's previously dim eyes now shone brightly.

"Yes," Qin Feng nodded.

Old Jack let out a long breath, his expression almost incredulous.

"Just yesterday, you were a second-level Soul Warrior. And now, in one night, you've advanced to the ninth level?!" Old Jack couldn't help but exclaim, bewildered by Qin Feng's extraordinary growth.

Old Jack felt like he might have a heart attack from the shock. If Qin Feng hadn't appeared before him, he would have thought he was dreaming.

"Xiaofeng, did you really advance from the second level to the ninth level in one day?" Old Jack asked again.

"Yes, Grandpa Jack," Qin Feng affirmed, hiding nothing.

"Incredible, we have a genius in the Holy Soul Village!" Old Jack's trembling hand held Qin Feng tightly. He couldn't contain his excitement. He had lived in the Holy Soul Village since he was a child and had never seen anyone progress so rapidly, especially from the second level to the ninth level.

"Now, with a natural-born abundance of soul power, a little monster with accelerated growth, could it be that the days of Holy Soul Village is finally coming?" Old Jack wondered aloud.

"Thank you, Lord Soul Saint, for blessing us!" Old Jack knelt at the village entrance, expressing his gratitude to the Holy Soul Village's plaque repeatedly.

Tang San and Qin Feng exchanged glances. They might not understand the significance of the Soul Saint, but they were inwardly thankful to Old Jack.

Soon, they all boarded a carriage.

"You two are even more capable than my own grandkids, and I don't know what good deeds Tang Hao did in his past life," Old Jack remarked.

As they rode, the previous excitement gradually turned into silence.

"Well, Xiaosan, are you a bit sad? Missing your father and his drinks?" Old Jack asked, breaking the silence.

"A little," Tang San nodded. Despite being a traveler, Tang Hao was still his biological father. They had lived together in the village for years; there was an undeniable bond.

"Don't worry too much; you'll make plenty of friends in the college and gain knowledge. It'll be much more exciting than life in the village," Old Jack reassured Tang San.

Old Jack then took the time to introduce Tang San to some aspects of the outside world, while Qin Feng slowly reclined and eventually fell asleep as his eyelids grew heavy. In terms of familiarity with the Douluo Continent, Old Jack was like a book, but Qin Feng was an entire library. After all, he had been a Douluo fan.

"We're in Notting City," Old Jack said as they approached their destination. Notting City wasn't large, but it was well-guarded due to its proximity to the Tiandou Empire's border. After a brief inspection, the three entered the city.

"Xiao San, Xiao Feng, after I send you both to the college, I'll head back. Be good and study hard at the Notting Junior Soul Master Academy. You'll make us proud when you become Soul Masters of the Holy Soul Village. It'll be worth all the hardship," Old Jack said as he left them near the college.

Qin Feng watched as the carriage carrying Old Jack disappeared into the distance. "Grandpa Jack left in a hurry. The carriage has already left. Shouldn't we stay at a hotel until tomorrow?"

"Boy, the city's hotels are too expensive for folks like us. It's fine even if the carriage has left; Grandpa will walk back slowly. Just remember to study hard at the academy. When you become Soul Masters in the Holy Soul Village, all this hardship will be worthwhile," Old Jack had said with a smile earlier.

The three continued their journey through the city, headed toward Notting Junior Soul Master College, which was located in the western part of Notting City.

After navigating through several winding streets, they eventually arrived at the precise location of the college.

In the distance, they spotted a towering arch made entirely of robust, finely-carved granite. Below the arch, two black iron gates stood, surprisingly crafted from high-quality iron.

"Notting College," the four golden characters in the center of the splendid granite arch shone brightly.

It was remarkable that even though this was just a junior college, its opulence hinted at the significance of the Soul Master profession in the Douluo Continent.

As they approached, they were about to inquire about their next steps when a young custodian suddenly approached and scolded them.

"Hey, you folks from the countryside, don't stand around here!"

[Ding, mission activation]

At that very moment, Qin Feng's mind was flooded with the voice of the mechanical woman, prompting him with a new mission.