The streets of Notting City bustled with life as Chu Tianxiu and Yu Xiaogang made their way toward the Spirit Hall branch. The bright banners hanging above the gate shimmered with faint traces of spirit power, and priests in white robes walked to and fro with quiet dignity.
When they reached the entrance, Chu Tianxiu noticed a tall, burly man chatting animatedly with a voluptuous female Spirit Master.
The man grinned as he scratched his head."Sisi, where do you want to eat later? It's my treat."
The woman, Sisi, rolled her eyes, folding her arms beneath her chest."What we eat doesn't matter, Su Yuntao. What matters is when you're finally getting promoted! You've been bragging about it for over a year already… how can I agree to be your girlfriend like this?"
Su Yuntao's face stiffened, his grin faltering."Oh! Sisi, can't you wait a little longer? Bishop Matthew is retiring soon. When that happens, I'll definitely be promoted to branch bishop!"
Chu Tianxiu couldn't help but chuckle softly.'Brother Tao… still the same simp even in this timeline. You really live up to the title of "Spirit Master" — always fighting alone.'
He shook his head slightly.'That woman's pure green tea. She's keeping you around as a backup, and when she finds someone stronger, she'll dump you without blinking. Poor Brother Tao… still single in every world.'
Just then, both Su Yuntao and Sisi noticed the two figures approaching. Recognizing Yu Xiaogang, they hurriedly bowed."Master!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded curtly."Is Master Matthew here? I've brought this child to awaken his Martial Soul."
Su Yuntao straightened up quickly."Master Matthew isn't here today. I'll perform the awakening for him."
Before they entered, Sisi finally noticed the boy beside Yu Xiaogang — and her eyes immediately softened. She bent down, her smile radiant.
"Oh my, little brother, you're so cute! What's your name? How old are you? Let your sister hug you!"
Before Chu Tianxiu could react, Sisi swooped in and hugged him tightly, pressing his small head into her soft chest. The world instantly went dark for Chu Tianxiu — and not because of spiritual enlightenment.
"S-sister… I… my name's Chu… Tian… Xiu… I'm… six… years old…" he gasped, his muffled voice barely escaping.
Sisi only laughed, hugging him a little tighter before reluctantly letting go."Aww, you're so polite!"
Su Yuntao's face darkened as he watched, his expression contorted between jealousy and heartbreak. Normally, Sisi wouldn't even let him touch her hand — yet this little brat had spent several heavenly seconds buried in that divine valley.
Though the boy was only six… Su Yuntao still couldn't help but feel envious.
"Let's head inside," Su Yuntao said stiffly. "I'll conduct the awakening myself."
The four of them entered the awakening chamber. The room dimmed as Su Yuntao activated the spirit array. Lines of ancient inscriptions glowed beneath Chu Tianxiu's feet, converging into a blinding light that surged upward.
The awakening had begun.
Chu Tianxiu felt a deep pressure welling inside him, as if something ancient and powerful were about to break free. His heartbeat quickened.'This feeling… like my soul is splitting open!'
The light intensified, and suddenly, Yu Xiaogang, Su Yuntao, and Sisi all felt an overwhelming pressure fill the room. Their soul power trembled uncontrollably, drawn toward Chu Tianxiu as if devoured by an invisible vortex.
Su Yuntao shouted, struggling to resist,"What… what is this power?!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in disbelief."This isn't… this isn't a normal Martial Soul awakening!"
For a moment, all sound vanished — and then a dark aura erupted from Chu Tianxiu's body.
A towering phantom appeared behind him. Standing two meters tall, it wore a tattered black cloak that billowed despite the still air. Its face was obscured, features blurred, yet the outline faintly resembled Chu Tianxiu himself.
But its eyes…
Those eyes were not human.
They glowed an eerie violet, like twin abysses staring straight into the soul...