Douluo Dalu - Volume 02 - The First Spirit Ring

by Tang Jia San Shao

  “May I ask, who is your teacher?”

  Tang San said:

  “Everyone calls him Grandmaster.”

  “Grandmaster? Is it that Grandmaster who once published the spirit ten great core competencies, and afterwards was expelled from Spirit Hall? He’s unexpectedly in Nuoding city?”

  Hearing Ma Xiu-Nuo’s words, Tang San only now learned that Grandmaster unexpectedly had come from Spirit Hall, for a moment did not know how he should reply.

  Ma Xiu-Nuo’s expression suddenly became serious,

  “Tang San, would you be willing to join Spirit Hall.”

  Tang San was dumbfounded for a moment,

  “Grandpa Ma Xiu-Nuo, am I not already registered in Spirit Hall?”

  Ma Xiu-Nuo shook his head, saying:

  “No, this is different. Registering at Spirit Hall, is a matter the overwhelming majority of spirit masters will do. Thus obtaining the national stipend. But joining Spirit Hall, means becoming Spirit Hall’s exclusive spirit master. Spirit master cultivation is also carried out by directly entering a Spirit Hall special institution.”

  Tang San shook his head, saying:

  “That probably is impossible, I have already started studying at Nuoding primary spirit master academy.”

  Ma Xiu-Nuo sighed, saying:

  “Indeed it is a step late, considering our Spirit Hall without justification can’t force people away from the academy. Forget about it. This is all to blame on that kid Su Yuntao, he originally should have taken you directly to Spirit Hall. Perhaps Grandmaster also would not consent you joining Spirit Hall, after all……”

  Tang San smiled slightly, and said:

  “Do not speak like this, if I had to come to Spirit Hall, maybe I could not obtain such a good spirit ring. What do you say, grandpa Ma Xiu-Nuo.”

  Ma Xiu-Nuo was dumbfounded for a moment, smiling said:

  “What you say is true. Well, your advancement review survey is concluded. Starting from now, you are a Heaven Dou Empire honoured spirit master. Be well received in the ranks of spirit masters. Hereafter you every month can rely on the badge issued you in a moment to draw a stipend at Spirit Hall, a spirit master’s stipend is every month one gold spirit coin. When you reach spirit grandmaster level, the stipend will become ten gold spirit coins. Regarding the matter with an animal spirit ring used on a plant spirit, I will as quickly as possible report to a higher authority.”

  “Thank you.”

  When Tang San left Spirit Hall, within his Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges he already had a Spirit Hall specially forged badge. The badge was round, on the back was carved his name, and on the front was carved two intertwined brambles, symbolizing spirit master level. Even Tang San who was descended from a blacksmith couldn’t at all see what metal had been used to forge the badge.

  After Spirit Hall, Tang San quickly ran in the direction of Nuoding academy, following Ma Xiu-Nuo’s directions, and this time taking a shortcut, he could cut down on the time by at least half.

  When he in a moment would reach the academy, suddenly, Tang San heard a familiar sound. His pace subconsciously coming to a stop.

  Dingdang, dingdang, dingdang……

  A hammer symbol, a large somewhat rough building, from inside a rhythmic beating was heard, this was precisely a smithy

  From looking at the outside, this extent of this smithy was much bigger than Tang San’s home, having not a few visitors coming and going.

  The smithy, Tang San could not help but recall his father’s words: Tang Hao once said to him, to later let him find work at a smithy to pay for his livelihood.

  Only, right now having to do working student’s work, did he still have time to come here to work?

  From growing up in a smithy, concerning the occupation of blacksmith, Tang San could be considered as having some attachment, keenly looking at the smithy, then running off towards the academy.

  For Grandmaster’s body to quickly recover, Tang San used the money Grandmaster gave him to buy some food from the dining hall and bring it back, accompanying Grandmaster and eating together. Grandmaster right now could already walk, and told him he need not look after him. Sending him for these days first to regular classes. Moreover to take a look at that book Grandmaster gave him.

  Leaving Grandmaster’s room, Tang San returned to the working students’ dormitory. This time room seven wasn’t again deserted, the working students were basically all there, speaking about something with dancing eyebrows and radiant faces.

  “Little San, you’re back.”

  Xiao Wu was sitting leaning back in bed. Of course, her back was leaning on Tang San and her currently common quilt.

  “Xiao Wu, bring me to the place we should sweep. I’ll keep my promise, starting from today, give the sweeping assignment to me.”

  Abiding by promises was the foundation of manners. This bit Tang San all along did very well.

  Xiao Wu darted a look at him, saying:

  “Still sweeping something, ah, how cheap for you, hereafter all need not sweep.”

  Tang San was taken aback, and said:

  “Why?”

  Xiao Wu a little smugly said:

  “Do you think I this Xiao Wu Jie does something for no reason? That fellow Xiao Chen-Yu is arranging for people to do our working student work. Afterwards we need not do it, but still as before take the pay. You count for a lot of strength, this time you come cheap.”

  Although Tang San stood by his promises, he also absolutely was not an inflexible person, chuckling, he said:

  “This turned out pretty good. Hereafter you are the entire Nuoding academy’s Xiao Wu Jie.”

  Xiao Wu sat upright, hugging her knees, little face flushed pink and curiously looking at Tang San, saying:

  “What was the result like of your going for Spirit Hall appraisal?”

  Tang San said:

  “Done. I’m right now already a spirit master.”

  Part 4

  The other working students around revealed an envious light in their eyes. Of course, it was only envy, nothing more. The scene today of Tang San’s strength when defeating Xiao Chen-Yu was deeply branded in their minds, especially Wang Sheng, who admired him endlessly. Reaching the conclusion that even after obtaining a spirit ring he still might not be able to win.

  Xiao Wu full of curiosity asked:

  “What good is becoming a spirit master? It can’t be just getting some empty title.”

  Tang San chuckled, saying:

  “There are still some benefits, at least in the future I can eat some good things. Spirit masters get a one gold spirit coin stipend every month.”

  “One gold spirit coin? This much.”

  Xiao Wu by now also understood the importance of money, even though Xiao Chen-Yu already said in the future the working students food expenses were all on him, having money in her hand was always better than other people.

  While speaking, Xiao Wu leapt up off the bed, excitedly running out.

  “Xiao Wu, where on earth are you going?”

  “I’m going to register at Spirit Hall, one gold coin can buy so many delicious things, ah.”

  “Then there’s no need to hurry like this.”

  “How can I not hurry, have you forgotten today is the end of the month? Going now, including next month, maybe I can get two gold spirit coins.”

  “But, you could at least put on shoes before going.”

  “Eh……”

  Xiao Wu eventually still left energetically for Spirit Hall, Tang San was secretly laughing in his heart, perhaps that grandpa Ma Xiu-Nuo would return from shock. After all, Xiao Wu would be a genuine animal spirit battle spirit master. Comparing innate qualifications, this must be much better than his bogus full spirit power.

  Not needing to do working student work again, Tang San‘s mind immediately returned to thoughts of that clear and melodious beating sound. Village elder Jack once said, later on the intermediate spirit master academy would have a not small fee, he should a
lso trade for very many things for home, and so having many little ways to earn money would naturally be good. And also, this was father’s requirement. Still more importantly, only at smithy would he have the chance to increase his armaments. As a result of forging the sleeve dart with his own hands, Tang San discovered, when a hidden weapon was completely made by himself personally, the sense of familiarity regarding the hidden weapons would become even more powerful.

  “Tang San, I apologize for the matter that day, you won’t still take offence right.”

  Just in the middle of Tang San’s pondering, Wang Sheng came up to his side, speaking with a sincere expression.

  Seeing Wang Sheng with a simple and honest smile, Tang San shook his head, saying with a slight smile:

  “Offence to what, I’ve long since forgotten. Wang Sheng dage, I must go out a while, I’ll probably come back in the evening.”

  Wang Sheng nodded, and said:

  “You go. Right, congratulations on becoming spirit master.”

  Tang San said with a slight smile:

  “It won’t be long, and you’ll also make a breakthrough.”

  Once again leaving Nuoding academy, Tang San felt a little tired. After today returning with Grandmaster, still without a proper rest, he also fought some with Xiao Chen-Yu’s group. Even though his Mysterious Heaven skill already entered the second tier, a tired feeling still appeared.

  However, going to the smithy was still an important matter, at worst he would just start work from tomorrow again. What feared the most Tang San right now, was everyone not accepting him this little blacksmith.

  Arriving at the smith, Tang San walked inside straight away. Entering, the heat blew in his face; any smithy was like that, of course, but at Tang San’s home that shabby smithy the temperature was much lower than here.

  Entering, was a wide hall, on the right side of the hall hung a variety of well forged iron tools, here were not only farming implements, but further all kinds of armor and weapons. After all, in this world spirit masters were only a small minority. And the price of the weapons naturally had to be much higher than farming tools.

  Seeing these weapons, Tang San couldn’t help but recall the work he did in his previous life. At that time, Tang sect manufactured mechanism type hidden weapons could be said to be Tang sect’s pillar of income. Tang sect had a lot of rules, even though they traded mechanism type hidden weapons outside, they also only sold non-poisonous and some ordinary goods. Genuinely secret lore was impossible to take out. Even though it was like that, Tang Sect produced hidden weapons were still in short supply in Jianghu.

  If he in this world also started a hidden weapon manufacturing mill, what kind of income could it bring?

  “Little friend, whyever have you come here, for buying things call over your family’s adults. Quickly get out, here is dangerous.”

  Right in the middle of Tang San’s deep thoughts, a loud and clear voice interrupted his pondering.

  Looking up at a bare chested burly fellow looking straight at him, swarthy skin over bulging lumps of muscle, looking extremely solid, in his hand holding a large sized forging hammer, his forehead completely covered by sweat.

  “Uncle, greetings. I thought to come inquire whether or not here needs apprentices.”

  Tang San’s young, clear and melodious voice, even though the smithy was extremely noisy with beating steel and iron, still was clearly heard by everyone.

  The majority of smiths stopped work with hands raised, looking at Tang San revealing somewhat good intentioned smiles. Blacksmith could be considered the humblest vocation, all were people with impoverished backgrounds, relying on physical strength and craftsmanship to eat, although they appeared rough, the majority were extremely good and honest.

  The big fellow who spoke before measured Tang San up and down a few times, and said:

  “Little friend, don’t go in for it. Quickly leave. Here isn’t safe. Is your style of dress like a blacksmith’s appearance? Moreover, our place also doesn’t take in apprentices this small. You would probably be unable to raise the forging hammer. Ha-ha.”

  Tang San realized that he still wore his neat and tidy school uniform, yeah, how could he be regarded as a blacksmith wearing this.

  “Excuse me, uncle, I’ll be back in a moment.”

  Finished speaking, he turned and ran outside.

  The smithy was very close to Nuoding academy, when Tang San once again returned, he had already changed into his original clothes, all over big patches covering small patches, this style of dress, even if eating hundreds of meals there was no need for make-up.

  Entering, Tang San did not look for someone else, again looking for that previous uncle,

  “Uncle, do you see that I like this can be regarded as an apprentice?”

  The big fellow looked at Tang San all over wearing a hundred stitches, and was immediately stunned a moment,

  “Little friend, you aren’t making fun of me, right.”

  Tang San honestly said:

  “Of course not. Uncle, it’s like this. I’m a Nuoding academy working student, every day I have spare time in the afternoon, my father was a village blacksmith. From little I studied forging with father, and thought to come to you here to earn my meals.”

  Part 5

  Hearing Tang San’s words, the big fellow’s expression immediately softened. They all came from poor families, so in their hearts they immediately felt great sympathy; moreover, this child still attended Nuoding academy. The big fellow simply said:

  “Very well. If you want to come, then come. There are some odd jobs to do for us, you can always carry tea and hand out water. However, wages won’t be too high, but food can be guaranteed. How’s that?”

  “That’s alright, no problem.”

  Tang San rejoiced, and hurriedly replied.

  The blacksmiths all smiled good-naturedly towards Tang San, the big fellow glared at the bunch, saying:

  “What are you looking at, don’t you need to work. Hurry up, tonight I’ll invite everyone to drink ale.”

  Hearing the big fellow’s words, the blacksmiths’ enthusiasm immediately greatly increased, each and every one swung their hammers and continued their work.

  The big fellow lifted the forging hammer in his hand, forging pig iron before him to one side, saying to Tang San:

  “I’m called Shi San, Shi of rock, you can call me uncle San. This smithy is my inheritance. Hereafter you come to work for me here, I’ll guarantee every day’s midday meal and supper, and give you ten copper spirit coins, that’s also a silver spirit coin. If you’re efficient, I’ll give you a bit more. Oh, that’s right, what’s your name?”

  “Uncle San, I’m called Tang San.”

  “Tang San? Ha-ha, good, both our names have a “San”, seems this truly is predestined. What village did you come from?”

  Tang San said:

  “I’m from Holy Spirit village.”

  Shi San said:

  “You just now said you studied forging with your father from childhood. You are this small, what could your father have taught you?”

  Tang San said:

  “Of course forging. Uncle San, you must not see me as small, but I have the strength, forging pig iron is no problem.”

  Shi San laughed loudly,

  “Brothers, our new little assistant says he also can forge. You believe it?”

  The blacksmiths immediately roared with laughter. Tang San looked like a six or seven year old, this was even after obtaining the first spirit ring when his stature grew somewhat. From looking at his outward appearance, who could believe he could forge?

  Being looked down on by people always felt bad, Tang San said:

  “Uncle San, I really can forge, if you don’t believe it, you let me have a go.”

  Shi San stopped his work at hand, leaning the forging hammer on the ground,

  “Like this then, if you can pick up my hammer, I’ll believe you.”

  As he spoke, he passed the h
ammer handle to Tang San. Because the hammer head was in contact with the ground, he did not fear Tang San would be unable to hold it up and be smashed.

  “Uncle San, you are ridding this piece of pig iron of impurities. I’ll help you accomplish it well.”

  Tang San took the forging hammer handle from Shi San.

  With Shi San’s inborn extraordinary strength, this forging hammer he used was clearly bigger compared to other peoples’. Compared to Tang San’s height it was taller by half a chi or so. Right now, he again had become the focus of the entire smithy, the blacksmiths watching him all appeared to have laughing expressions. But, they very quickly stopped smiling, because, Tang San already lifted that forging hammer, and also was smoothly raising it before him.

  Compared to ordinary forging hammers its weight it was thirty percent more, Tang San judged as the forging hammer parted from the ground. Although somewhat heavy, considering him before he obtained a spirit ring, he still could use it with an effort, let alone right now.

  Seeing Tang San slowly lift the forging hammer, Shi San was also staring wide eyed, gasping in admiration,

  “Good strength, worthy of the son of a blacksmith.”

  Tang San with eyes brilliant stared fixedly at the pig iron in the furnace, breathed out loudly, and fiercely swung Shi San’s forging hammer.

  “Hei.”

  Soles firmly gripping the ground, lower legs abruptly generating force, strength passing up, Tang San’s body half turning, and the huge forging hammer swung completely around obliquely, heavily striking on that chunk of pig iron.

  The great clanging sound, already made the blacksmiths’ smiling expressions become stunned. Immediately following, in pace with the iron hammer’s rebound, Tang San quickly made a turn, the iron hammer in his hands once again swung, again making a loud sound, the iron hammer compared to before falling even more heavily on the red hot pig iron.

  “Uncle San, I’ll trouble you to help me draw the bellows. The temperature is not enough.”

  Tang San said quickly, his third blow again already swinging up. This time, the forging hammer’s power was even more violent, bringing a wuwu wind sound.

  Shi San was still an old blacksmith, and naturally understood the consequence of insufficient temperature, and hurriedly squatted to one side, pulling up the bellows.