strokinit Chapter 8 Tang 3's Path to Becoming an Ungrateful Wolf
Chapter 8 Tang 3's Path to Becoming an Ungrateful Wolf
Chapter 8 Tang San's Path to Becoming an Ungrateful Wolf
"It is a basic soul power meditation book that I have summarized based on many years of theory. Although it cannot compare with some advanced meditation secrets, it is enough for a beginner soul master like you."
Tang San took the book, crossed his arms over his chest, and nodded solemnly:
"I will cultivate diligently, teacher. Thank you."
The master nodded slightly, paused for a moment, and said, "By the way, after you've rested for a while, go to the Spirit Hall in Notting City when you have time."
Tang San was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Teacher, haven't I already awakened my martial soul? What am I going to the Spirit Hall for now?"
The master looked at him, a serious look in his eyes: "You have awakened your martial soul and obtained your first soul ring, which already meets the basic requirements of a soul master."
"Going to the Spirit Hall is for a formal Spirit Master assessment, to register your Spirit Power level, and to become a registered, formal Spirit Master."
He paused again, then continued:
"More importantly..."
"You can receive a monthly stipend of gold soul coins from the Spirit Hall."
"Although it's not much, it's enough for your daily expenses. Most importantly, with this money, you won't need to work as a part-time student anymore."
"You can spend more time and energy on cultivating your soul power."
Tang San was taken aback upon hearing this, and a feeling of gratitude welled up in his heart, his eyes filled with a touch of emotion.
"So the Spirit Hall actually gives Spirit Masters a subsidy of gold spirit coins. These past few years in Holy Spirit Village, sometimes I haven't even had a proper meal..."
"It seems that the Spirit Hall... treats ordinary people quite well."
These words are the most genuine feelings of a boy from a poor background.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the master's face, which had been closed, suddenly wrinkled.
Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes, a hint of coldness and disdain in them, and his tone immediately became sharp: "Not bad? You're too naive, mistress."
"On the mainland, are there any powerful figures who truly care about ordinary people?"
"The small amount of gold soul coins issued by the Spirit Hall may seem like support for commoner soul masters, but in reality, it's just a pretext to win people's hearts under the guise of helping the common people."
Tang San was slightly taken aback and asked in confusion, "Didn't you say that the money came from the Spirit Hall? As the saying goes, a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions. Even if it's to win people's hearts, as long as the money is distributed, it's a good thing."
The master snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes:
"You think they paid for it?"
"Innocent."
"Those so-called subsidies were actually funded by the Heavenly Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire."
"The Spirit Hall is simply overstepping its bounds, preemptively distributing the money to the two great empires and then labeling it as a gift from the Spirit Hall."
"Over the years, many low-level Soul Masters have been grateful to the Spirit Hall, but they never knew that what they were receiving was actually the country's money."
"The Soul Master system on the mainland should have been maintained by the royal families of the two countries and the various academies, but the Spirit Hall insisted on taking control of it, binding all the grassroots Soul Masters to its banner."
As he said this, his tone suddenly became heavy:
"What's the difference between the Spirit Hall's actions and rebellion?"
After listening to Grandmaster's calm yet incisive explanation, Tang San's goodwill towards the Spirit Hall plummeted. After a long silence, he couldn't help but ask:
"Teacher... since this money originally came from the two great empires..."
"Then why don't they distribute them themselves? Why let the Spirit Hall do it for them? Isn't that tantamount to handing over the hearts and minds of the people?"
Upon hearing this, the master opened his eyes, his gaze slightly lowered, and he said in a deep voice:
"Do you think the two great empires are unaware of what the Spirit Hall is doing? On the contrary, they know it better than anyone else."
He slowly sat up straight, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"The reason why the two great empires do not stop it, and even tacitly allow the Spirit Hall to distribute subsidies, is not because they are incompetent, but because... they also need the Spirit Hall."
Tang San was taken aback: "Need it?"
The master nodded, his tone low but resolute:
"The grassroots structure of mainland Soul Masters is mostly concentrated in rural areas and towns. These places have complex customs and weak control, making it difficult for the decrees of the two royal families to penetrate deeply."
"The Spirit Hall—starting from the village-level Soul Master awakening point—has established the most complete and direct organizational network. They possess a vast religious system, a deacon system, a patrol system, and even a transmission efficiency faster than royal orders."
"Think about it, if the two great empires were to send people to distribute subsidies themselves, how many local officials, armed guards, and account auditors would they need to mobilize? It would be costly and labor-intensive."
"Let the Spirit Hall do it. All we need to do is sign an order to allocate funds, and everything else will be taken care of. This saves costs and also earns the Spirit Hall a superficial loyalty to the Empire."
Tang San was somewhat stunned:
"So... the two great empires are actually using the Spirit Hall as well?"
The master snorted coldly: "Exactly."
Tang San was silent for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion and doubt:
"But... even so, aren't both empires still at a disadvantage?"
"They provided the money, but the Spirit Hall stole the reputation. If this continues, the soul masters on the continent will eventually become people who only listen to the Spirit Hall."
Upon hearing this, the master gave a soft, cold laugh, a meaningful glint in his eyes. He slowly said, "Do you really think that the two great empires are completely powerless?"
Sitting up straight, the master's tone carried a deep-seated coldness and clarity:
As the saying goes, "A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment."
Upon hearing this, Tang San was taken aback, not understanding what it meant.
The master continued, "This means that if you offer a little help when someone is in trouble, they will be grateful. If you continue to give and make them dependent, then the day you stop, it won't be a break in the relationship, but rather a deep-seated hatred."
"That's human nature."
He paused, his gaze fixed on Tang San's eyes, and said, word by word:
"The two great empires are well aware of the Spirit Hall's wolfish ambitions."
"So in recent years, while the government has continued to allocate funds on the surface, it has actually been secretly reducing the amount of subsidies. The purpose is to make grassroots Soul Masters gradually realize the problem, thereby creating a gap between the Spirit Hall and ordinary Soul Masters."
"If someone who should have received ten gold soul coins receives only eight or seven, some people will become dissatisfied. Once there are many doubts, trust will naturally be shaken."
Tang San's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "So that's how it is. In other words, when the two great empires initially allocated this sum of money, they were setting a trap for the Spirit Hall. What has the Spirit Hall's reaction been lately?"
The master's expression darkened slightly, and he slowly shook his head:
"Unfortunately, the Spirit Hall saw through this long ago."
"Their resources are far deeper than you can imagine. Even when the two great empires cut subsidies, they gritted their teeth and paid out of their own pockets to make up for the shortfall."
"Why would the Spirit Hall do this? It's simply to win people's hearts and minds."
"Little sister, the teacher is telling you all this so that you'll remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch, and no one will be nice to you for no reason."
"You possess twin martial souls and are born with full soul power, so you are destined to become famous throughout the continent. When that time comes, you need not feel grateful to any of the various forces that try to curry favor with you. They are only doing so to win you over and use you."
"All you have to do is make good use of them."
(End of this chapter)