After leaving, Yang Chang’an quickly arrived at a small pavilion on a hill within Spirit Hall City.
Before he even got close, he heard a clear and bright voice calling out.
“Little guy, over here!” Yang Chang’an looked up and saw that someone was already waiting by the stone table inside the pavilion.
The man was not particularly tall, with snow-white hair meticulously combed without a trace of disorder.
His lips were red and his teeth white, his appearance refined and youthful, almost like a handsome young man, yet within those lively eyes, there occasionally flickered a trace of profound vicissitudes.
“Fifth Uncle, you’re way too fast.
I’ve only just left home for half an incense stick’s time, and you’re already waiting here.” Yang Chang’an quickly walked over to the stone table and sat down, a wry smile appearing on his face, though his tone carried familiarity.
He had met this Fifth Uncle by chance on the street three years ago.
That day, he had finally managed to leave home and happened to run into this “Fifth Uncle” out looking for amusement.
Later, he discovered that this man had the temperament of a complete child at heart, especially fond of novel and interesting things.
Relying on his memories from his previous life, Yang Chang’an had created things like playing cards, Chinese checkers, and the Nine Linked Rings.
Every time, they managed to capture Fifth Uncle’s interest.
Over time, the two of them formed an unlikely friendship across generations.
At first, Fifth Uncle had insisted that Yang Chang’an call him Fifth Brother, saying it made him feel younger.
Later, for some unknown reason, he changed his mind and insisted on being called Fifth Uncle instead.
In any case, Yang Chang’an was happy to go along with it.
He had never asked about Fifth Uncle’s origins, and Fifth Uncle had never mentioned them either.
But Yang Chang’an understood clearly in his heart that this Fifth Uncle was absolutely no ordinary person.
The occasional traces of deep-seated vicissitudes in his demeanor were not something a young man could possess; his true age was certainly not small.
More importantly, Fifth Uncle’s aura was extremely unique.
Every movement he made carried a kind of calm ease that came only from long-standing authority and status, something that could never belong to an ordinary person.
Even in Spirit Hall City.
“Of course.
Your Fifth Uncle doesn’t have many skills, but when it comes to running legs, I’m still quite sharp.” Fifth Uncle waved his hand with a smile, resting his elbow on the stone table and leaning slightly forward.
His eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“So, kid, what new interesting thing did you bring this time?
That Nine Linked Rings last time—I solved it in half an incense stick.
Even that Huarong Dao wasn’t challenging at all.
Don’t try to fool me with child’s play again.” Hearing this, Yang Chang’an curled his lips into a smile and did not keep him in suspense.
He reached up and untied a small cyan cloth pouch from his waist, then with a flick of his fingers took out a square-shaped object from inside.
It was a Rubik’s Cube, something he had created by combining his memories from his previous life.
“This is called a Rubik’s Cube.
Originally it only had three layers, but I figured Fifth Uncle is very smart, so ordinary ones probably wouldn’t interest you.
So I specifically modified it into nine layers.” Yang Chang’an handed the Rubik’s Cube to Fifth Uncle.
Seeing his eager expression, he added: “The rules are simple: you just need to rotate the scrambled colored blocks back into order so that each face becomes a single color.
However, a nine-layer one is several times more difficult than a three-layer one.” Fifth Uncle took the Rubik’s Cube.
It felt slightly cool in his hand.
He turned it with his fingers, producing soft “clicking” sounds as the small blocks moved.
At first, he casually twisted it a few times, scrambling the originally neat colors, and then his fingers began moving with increasing agility as his expression turned completely focused.
This Fifth Uncle possessed extraordinary talent, especially in puzzles and intellectual toys, with an insight far beyond ordinary people.
What Yang Chang’an did not expect was that in less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Fifth Uncle’s finger movements had already grown faster and faster.
The chaotic colors gradually began to return to their correct positions in his hands, the originally disordered cube slowly becoming orderly again.
A short while later, Fifth Uncle suddenly stopped, placing the Rubik’s Cube on the stone table with a satisfied expression.
“Done.” Yang Chang’an lowered his head to look.
Each face of the nine-layer Rubik’s Cube was already a single solid color, all six sides clearly separated without the slightest disorder.
This speed, even in his previous world, would have been considered quite impressive.
Fifth Uncle clearly was not yet satisfied.
He raised his hand and scrambled the Rubik’s Cube again, but this time he changed the way he played.
It was no longer simple restoration; instead, he twisted the colored blocks into all kinds of strange and intricate patterns.
The agility of his fingertips was so dazzling that it left Yang Chang’an’s eyes struggling to keep up.
Even though he had seen various Rubik’s Cube techniques in his previous life, he still could not help but be amazed by Fifth Uncle’s astonishing talent in this regard.
If this man had been born in his previous world, he would undoubtedly have become a top-tier expert in this field.
“Not bad, kid.
This thing is interesting—way more fun than the stuff in Spirit Hall City.” Fifth Uncle played to his heart’s content, constantly praising it as he did so.
“Later, teach me how to make this.
I’ll go back and make a few to give those old fellows to pass the time.” “No problem.” After a while, Fifth Uncle suddenly stopped moving his hands and looked up at him, the smile on his face fading slightly.
“If I remember correctly, you’re about to awaken your Martial Soul, right?” Hearing this, Yang Chang’an froze for a moment, then nodded.
“Mm.
In a few days it will be my sixth birthday, and at that time my grandfather will help me awaken my Martial Soul.” On the Douluo Continent, Martial Souls were supreme.
Every child would undergo Martial Soul awakening at the age of six and step onto the path of cultivation.
The Yang family was a direct lineage of the Breaking Clan, and under normal circumstances, Yang Chang’an’s Martial Soul would be the clan’s inherited Martial Soul, the Soul Breaking Spear.
The Soul Breaking Spear was already famous in his previous life, and many even believed it was not inferior to the Clear Sky Hammer, known as the “strongest weapon Martial Soul under heaven.” After hearing his words, Fifth Uncle lightly tapped his fingers on the stone table, as though deep in thought.
After a brief silence, he slowly spoke.
“If your talent turns out to be decent, your Fifth Uncle here will recommend you to a good place.” “A good place?” Yang Chang’an was slightly startled, his eyes filled with confusion as he quickly asked, “Fifth Uncle, what kind of good place is it?” He was extremely curious.
This Fifth Uncle clearly had an extraordinary background, and anything he would describe as a “good place” definitely could not be ordinary.
However, Fifth Uncle clearly had no intention of elaborating.
He waved his hand, his expression returning to its usual carefree and roguish demeanor.
“Don’t think too much about it.
The prerequisite is that your talent is good enough.
If your innate soul power is too low, even I can’t do anything about it.” After speaking, he glanced at the sky outside.
“Alright, it’s getting late.
If you don’t head back soon, the old folks in your family are probably going to start worrying.” Seeing Fifth Uncle’s attitude, Yang Chang’an did not press further.
Though his heart was still full of curiosity, he nodded.
“Then I’ll head back first.
Fifth Uncle, enjoy your game.” “Go on, go on.” Fifth Uncle waved his hand, his gaze already returning to the Rubik’s Cube in his hand, clearly once again absorbed in it.
Watching Yang Chang’an’s departing figure, Fifth Uncle toyed with the Rubik’s Cube in his hands, the carefree expression on his face gradually fading as a trace of amusement flashed in his eyes.
“Not a bad kid.
Sharp mind, quick-witted, and even able to come up with such novel ideas.
If his innate soul power isn’t too low, it wouldn’t hurt to give him a push.” As he spoke, his gaze dimmed slightly, as though recalling something, and he let out a soft sigh.
“What a pity, Yang Wushuang.” …
Yang Chang’an walked along the road back home, lowering his head as he kicked small stones by the roadside, his thoughts churning endlessly.
He knew that Fifth Uncle was no ordinary person.
Over these years, he had deliberately catered to his interests, using various games from his previous life to build a good relationship with him—not merely out of affinity, but more so because he had his eyes on Fifth Uncle’s influence and power.
And the results were exactly as expected.
Ever since he became familiar with Fifth Uncle, life in the Yang family had improved significantly.
The occasional troublemakers from Spirit Hall no longer came to cause problems, and even the city’s residents had become noticeably more respectful toward the Yang family.
Yang Chang’an was very clear that all of this was because of Fifth Uncle.
From his clothing, speech, and the attitude of Spirit Hall members toward him, it was obvious that his status within Spirit Hall was extraordinary.
After all, this was Spirit Hall City itself—any random person here would be a prominent figure outside.
To achieve this level of influence, combined with the Yang family’s special background, this Fifth Uncle was at the very least an elder-level figure within Spirit Hall.
An elder of Spirit Hall—according to Yang Chang’an’s memories, aside from Ning Fengzhi and Yu Xiaogang, every Spirit Hall elder was a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse.
Just as he was deep in thought, a deep voice suddenly came from ahead, carrying a familiar tone of indulgent affection.
“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Hearing that voice, Yang Chang’an’s thoughts instantly scattered.
A bright smile bloomed on his face as he looked up, only to see a tall, sturdy man standing at the intersection ahead.
Yang Chang’an quickly walked up to him and, tilting his head upward, called out.
“Grandfather.”