Decisions and Tang San Leaves!

(Tang Hao POV)

I replied, "No, you'll attend the academy with Tang San. It's too dangerous for a boy without a Spirit Ring to even attempt to go alone to forests of which even Spirit Masters are wary of."

"However, Father, If I am to get a Spirit Ring, then would they not doubt me. After all, the Spirit Hall issued certificate states that I have an Iron Staff as martial Spirit and Innate Spirit Power Level 5?", my son asked raising an eyebrow.

'Oh!', I realized, 'he is going to be using his Beast Martial Spirit.'

"That is not enough of a reason for you to go to train alone.", I said. However, he cannot go to Nuoding Academy, if he gathers attention it might be difficult to keep all his secrets to himself from prying eyes.

'If I am to separate both of them, I will only be able to follow and protect one. However, he can't get resources for cultivation if he doesn't go to the academy.', I contemplated.

"Father, how about I stay in the village and train. You can accompany me to hunt Spirit Beasts for my Spirit Rings.", my son said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"How will you get the resources for your cultivation, then?", I asked with an 'are you dumb?' look on my face.

He merely raised an eyebrow gesturing to me. 'What is he going on about?', I thought. This stare continued for a few seconds before we broke it off. Well, I broke it off as I realized what he was insinuating.

'Right, I was a Titled Douluo and from the Clear Sky Clan. Although I have been in exile and lost my touch, how could I forget that I would obviously have enough resources for a rank 20 Spirit Master? He must think that I was a strong Spirit Master of my generation and had something in store. However, I am ashamed that I have no such collection left.', I thought averting my eyes from his face.

He seemed to have realized this from my actions as he had a dumbfounded look on his face.

"Hmm, then I won't cultivate for some time.", he said shrugging nonchalantly.

This time it was my turn to be dumbfounded. How could he tell this so casually?

As if understanding my thoughts, he replied, "There are other things than only cultivation father. I can hone my skills, and although my cultivation speed might be slow due to the lack of resources, I am already rank 20. Hence, when I am to show my rings in the future, I would also be chalked off as another genius, but not to the point of a never-seen-before prodigy."

'Hmm, what he said has it's merits. If we can't conceal his rings in the future, it would be best to develop other facets of a Spirit Master's strength. He would then be mostly unbeatable by those under the same rank. ', I thought humming to myself.

"Fine, we will follow your plan. Go inform Old Jack and Tang San that you will stay in the village and Xiao San will attend the academy from our village quota.", I said nodding my head in approval of his plan.

Tang Yin nodded his head and went out, most likely to talk to Xiao San, although he will have a lot of convincing to do.

(MC POV)

"Xiao San!", I shouted to get my brother's attention. He was most likely forging a hidden weapon.

"What is the matter, Brother Yin?", asked Xiao San looking up from the half-finished weapon.

"You will be going with Grandpa Jack to Nuoding Academy. I will be staying here with father.", I told him. He immediately started sulking.

"Brother Yin, I cannot leave you here while I go to the academy.", replied Tang San aggrieved.

"It's fine, Xiao San. You need resources to catch up to me. I will be training in the village, I already have a headstart over you. Also, you need to grow stronger so that you can protect yourself too, right? Also, with my skills I will be able to get a suitable Spirit Ring for myself.", I replied, already half-expecting his response.

"But--", my brother tried persuading me, but one stern look was enough to make him stop. After he reluctantly nodded his head, I went back near the cliff and sat down meditating.

Along with my mental shields, I had also started creating my mindscape. Although at the moment I had only created a single book. It contained my recordings and the theories I was currently working on.

I couldn't keep a physical copy, as it was far too dangerous. My studies might allow me to understand many things. However, these could also start a war, or be used as tools in one. I am not fond of accelerating the killings which already occur in this world.

The book currently contained the following:

Theory 1 - Those Spirit Beasts desperate to live, or those having extreme fear of death have higher chances of dropping Spirit Bones. It has been told that those Spirit Beasts who are extremely resentful before their death have a higher possibility of dropping spirit bones. However, I believe that it is their emotions related to death that evoke bloodline inheritances or buried memories to prevent their impending death that form these bones.

It is similar to when a human experiences a flashback of his life, which is nothing but a reflex mechanism to come up with a method to prevent their death.

If this theory proves to be valid, then I can infer that there were or are Spirit Beasts capable of using some sort of Fuinjutsu to achieve desired effects using Spirit Power.

Also, this would mean that spirit tools or spirit guidance devices might have been a result of the spirit beasts who knew these arts and had been reborn as humans, or spirit beasts who had humanoid physical shapes.

For confirmation of this theory, studies on spirit bones are required.

Theory 2 - Spirit Bones or Spirit Skills are equivalent to the hand seals and Fuinjutsu used in Naruto. If so, Spirit Power displays attributes similar to Chakra, and Spirit Bones can be the equivalent of Fuinjutsu in Naruto, and Spirit Rings the equivalent of hand seals.

This theory might prove that spirit power can be molded in certain ways using external stimuli to achieve desired effects. However, there has to be a known limit as a person is capable of having only 9 spirit rings on each martial spirit and 6 spirit bones.

------Timeskip - 1 Week------

(Tang San POV)

Today's the day I go to Nuoding Academy. Although I feel that this is unfair to my brother as he is stronger than me and he should be going, I cannot deny the fact that he is stronger than me, far stonger, in fact.

I will have to work hard and catch up to my brother, so that I can avoid situations like this in the future.

"Are you ready, Xiao San?", I heard the topic of my thoughts say.

"Mm", I nodded my head.

"Father told goodbye.", he said looking at the room where father sleeps.

"Mm", I nodded again.

"Take care.", he said, ending the conversation.

"Mm, Goodbye Brother.", I hugged my brother and headed towards the village gates where Grandpa Jack was waiting for me with determination in my eyes, a determination which is needed to become stronger in both the worlds I have lived in.

I was going to truly start my journey in this new world of cultivation.