One week later…
At last, the long-awaited day had arrived. It was the day when everyone who had turned six would undergo their Spirit Awakening.
Families and children had all gathered at the centre of the village. The number of children undergoing Spirit Awakening this year was greater than it had been the previous year.
There was a strange tension in the air. After all, everyone's entire future would be decided based on today's results. This inevitably reminded Wu Tian of the university entrance exam from his previous life.
Of course, there was a major difference here. Anyone who worked hard could still enter a good or bad university; however, becoming a Spirit Master required luck. This was especially true for places like Holy Spirit Village.
After all, there was a 99% chance that a child would inherit the spirits of their parents. Naturally, the villagers' innate talent was extremely low, leaving most of them struggling at the bottom. The children's only hope lay in their spirits undergoing a favourable mutation.
At that very moment, Grandpa Jack stepped onto the scene.
Striking his cane against the ground to draw everyone's attention, he began to speak:
"A Spirit Master from the Spirit Hall has arrived. Please remain quiet and show proper respect."
After this announcement, a Spirit Master stepped onto the scene—his striking brows, bright eyes, and lively, handsome features making him appear to be in his early twenties.
Naturally, this was none other than Su Yuntao, the renowned Spirit Master who had awakened the spirits of the Holy Spirit Village children the year before.
Su Yuntao stepped forward and spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice:
"I am Su Yuntao from the Spirit Hall. I am here today to conduct the Spirit Awakening ceremony for children who have reached the age of six.
Spirit Awakening is the first step in shaping your destiny. The level and nature of your spirit will determine the path you may walk in the future. However, remember this—having a powerful spirit does not mean everything, and possessing a weak spirit does not mean the end."
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the children.
"Now, when your name is called, step forward one by one. Families, please remain quietly behind."
Su Yuntao called out loudly:
"Lu San, come forward."
Lu San was a slightly chubby boy. His father was a woodcutter, and his mother was a housewife.
Lu San stepped forward and, following Su Yuntao's guidance, stood at the centre of the awakening circle.
As the light of the Spirit Awakening rose, a shape slowly formed in Lu San's hand.
A woodcutter's axe.
It was neither large nor impressive—just an ordinary, heavy tool used by villagers. Still, it was real and solid.
After a brief glance, Su Yuntao spoke calmly:
"Woodcutter's Axe spirit. A low-tier tool-type spirit. Suitable for work relying on physical strength."
A quiet murmur spread through the crowd. On Lu San's family's faces, disappointment and acceptance mixed together.
Now it was time to test the child's spirit power.
Su Yuntao extended his hand and pointed towards the spirit power measuring orb before him:
"Summon your spirit and touch the orb."
Lu San took a deep breath. As the woodcutter's axe spirit trembled in his hand, he placed his palm on the orb. It glowed faintly, releasing a weak light.
After a brief observation, Su Yuntao spoke:
"Spirit power… level one. Not suitable to become a Spirit Master."
A heavy silence spread through the crowd. For no one present, this result came as a surprise.
After that, several more children stepped forward one by one.
One awakened a sickle, another a shovel, and yet another an old hammer. Spirits awakened, palms touched the orb, and the results were announced swiftly.
"Spirit power… level one."
"Spirit power… level zero."
"Spirit power… too weak."
The voice of Su Yuntao remained calm each time, yet the expressions of the crowd grew darker with every announcement. Families who had arrived with hope lowered their heads, while the children—though not fully understanding—felt an instinctive sense of disappointment.
For Holy Spirit Village, such results were… regrettably, normal.
Unable to hide his disappointment after seeing these results, Su Yuntao couldn't help but recall last year. At the very least, there had been someone who awakened with the Blue Silver Grass spirit and full innate spirit power—Tang San.
Su Yuntao called out another name:
"Wang Feng."
Wang Feng stepped forward. He only had his father and possessed a fairly ordinary appearance. His father was the village hunter.
Wang Feng took a deep breath and stepped into the centre of the awakening circle.
As the light rose, a beast spirit appeared in his hand.
A wolf—but not an ordinary one.
Its fur was darker, its eyes sharper, and a faint current of wind flowed around its body.
This was a wolf spirit that had undergone a positive mutation.
The eyes of Su Yuntao flickered slightly as he gestured towards the orb:
"Summon your spirit and touch it."
Wang Feng placed his hand on the measuring orb. This time, it shone more brightly than before.
"Spirit power… level three," Su Yuntao announced.
"A mutated beast spirit. He has the potential to become a Spirit Master."
A stir passed through the crowd. For the first time in a while, a family lifted their heads with hope. Wang Feng's father clenched his fists, pride shining in his eyes.
For Holy Spirit Village…
this result was a small, yet precious miracle.
Su Yuntao looked at the child with visible emotion.
This was not merely the awakening of a useful spirit—it was also a spirit related to his own battle spirit.
Because of that, his gaze carried more than professional judgement; it held a quiet sense of affinity and approval.
Su Yuntao asked with genuine curiosity:
"Little Wang, what is the name of your spirit?"
At that moment, all the arrogance he held as a Spirit Master had vanished. His voice carried nothing but pure curiosity and anticipation.
Wang Feng hesitated for a moment. He looked at the wolf spirit in his hand, then raised his head and said:
"Wind Wolf."
The instant the name was spoken, the air around the spirit rippled slightly, a faint breeze forming around it. This proved that the name was not chosen at random—it matched the spirit's true nature.
A brief flash of surprise appeared in Su Yuntao's eyes.
"So it truly is a positively mutated spirit…" he murmured.
Under the jealous gazes of the surrounding people, Wang Feng stepped down from the stage with excitement and hurried over to his father.
At that moment, Su Yuntao turned his attention to the final child—Wu Tian. He was ready to finish his duty here.
Wu Tian!