"Damn… I must've eaten something bad on the road and ended up delayed by two days. Hopefully nothing's gone wrong."
Carrying his pack, Su Yuntao sprinted toward Holy Soul Village, his pace swift and steady.
Even without summoning his Lone Wolf Martial Soul, the boost from his Spirit Power allowed him to run far faster than an ordinary person—covering seven to eight meters per second with ease. It didn't look particularly explosive, more like a relaxed jog, but for him, this wasn't even close to his limit. If he wished, he could maintain this speed for an entire hour.
By the standards of Chen Ming's previous life, that was roughly twenty-five kilometers per hour—already faster than some electric scooters.
As the village entrance came into view, along with the two figures waiting for him, Su Yuntao slowed his steps. He quickly straightened his clothes, tidied his appearance, and then strode forward to meet Chen Ming and Old Jack.
"Honored Spirit Master, have you come to help our village with the Martial Soul awakening?"
There weren't many Spirit Masters in the region around Nuoding City, and Su Yuntao's visits were nothing new, but Old Jack still asked with utmost respect.
"That's right. By order of the Spirit Hall's main temple, branch halls within the Heaven Dou Empire have dispatched Spirit Masters to awaken Martial Souls for villagers in their jurisdiction. I am this year's assigned awakening master—Su Yuntao."
He lifted his chin slightly as he spoke, his tone carrying a trace of pride.
The so-called Spirit Hall's "main temples" referred to the highest-ranking institutions located in the capitals of the two great empires, each overseen by a Platinum Bishop with the strength of a Spirit Douluo. These authorities managed the distribution of duties among branch halls, as well as countless other affairs—maintenance of hunting forests, allocation of subsidies, advancement of Spirit Master ranks, and more.
Each year, orders would be issued from above, passed down through the temple system, and assigned accordingly. Around this time, the temples would also collect funds from nobles and the imperial family, redistributing them as subsidies for the Spirit Masters responsible for awakening ceremonies.
After all, traveling across mountains and rivers to reach remote villages was no easy task. Without compensation, it would be unreasonable to expect such efforts—especially since ordinary villagers had little wealth to offer. Naturally, the burden fell upon those who could afford it.
"Hello, Spirit Master. Please, have some sweet stalk."
Chen Ming's eyes flickered as he stepped forward, handing over several untouched pieces of corn stalk he'd been holding. "You must be thirsty after traveling so far. Have a rest—I'll fetch you some water."
"Good boy."
Su Yuntao accepted the stalks without ceremony, chewing on them as he casually patted Chen Ming's head.
He, too, had once been a child from a farming family, awakened by a Spirit Hall master. Though he now served within the organization, he still felt no disdain for such simple offerings.
After resting for a short while—chewing the stalks and drinking some water—Su Yuntao gradually regained his energy.
To prepare for the awakening ceremony, he borrowed a room from Old Jack and carefully retrieved his neatly folded Spirit Hall uniform from his pack. Such attire, symbolizing his status, was not something he would casually wear while traveling. He only put it on for formal occasions like this, removing it immediately afterward before continuing his journey.
While he prepared, Old Jack went door to door, gathering the village's children. Before long, they assembled outside the village's Spirit Hall, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
The so-called Spirit Hall of Holy Soul Village was, in truth, nothing more than a small stone house. It was cramped, undecorated, and devoid of even the most basic ornamentation—there wasn't even a statue of the Angel God inside. Only a simple sign bore the name "Spirit Hall."
And yet, as long as such a place existed, it guaranteed that each year, a Spirit Master would make the arduous journey to awaken the Martial Souls of the village children—for free.
Thanks to having waited at the entrance since early morning, Chen Ming naturally took the first spot in line.
Holy Soul Village lay within Fasinuo Province, one of the empire's key grain-producing regions. The villagers lived relatively well by rural standards, and the children were noticeably sturdier and taller than those from poorer areas.
Most boys stood just over 1.1 meters tall, while the girls, who matured slightly faster, were a bit taller still.
Chen Ming, however, stood out like a crane among chickens.
Though only six years old, he was already over 1.3 meters tall. And unlike the thin, stick-like frames of other children, his body was solid and well-built. Years of constant physical activity had given him thick limbs, and the muscles on his exposed forearms were clearly defined—even at a glance.
Over the past few years, aside from relying on coarse grains as his staple food, Chen Ming had supplemented his diet with everything he could gather or raise in the mountains. He foraged wild fruits, cultivated wood ear mushrooms and other fungi, kept hens for a steady supply of eggs, and hunted rabbits or caught river fish to make up for his protein needs.
With a well-balanced diet and consistent, high-intensity training, he had gradually built a physique that made other children his age stare in envy, practically drooling with admiration.
And in Chen Ming's mind, this body of his was one of the key reasons he believed he could awaken Spirit Power.
To him, even if he were granted only a single level—or even half a level—of innate Spirit Power, he was confident he could eventually claw his way to the very top.
...
After a while, the last child of the village finally arrived at the Spirit Hall—Tang San.
The other children didn't particularly like him. It wasn't out of snobbery or prejudice, but rather because Tang San himself was withdrawn and carried an air of aloof arrogance. There had been those who tried to approach him, to play together, but more often than not, they ended up leaving in frustration.
Standing at the very end of the line, Tang San glanced at the children who kept their distance from him, a trace of disdain flickering in his eyes.
Dressed in his formal Spirit Hall uniform, Su Yuntao looked over the gathered children without a hint of impatience. Instead, he spoke calmly:
"I am Su Yuntao, a Level 26 Spirit Grand Master of the Spirit Hall, and your guide. I will now awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember—no matter what happens, do not be afraid."
He placed the awakening stones on the ground, arranging them into a six-pointed star formation. Then, he summoned his Martial Soul, transforming into a wolf-like form.
The sudden change startled the surrounding children, causing several of them to flinch in fear. Chen Ming, however, showed no such reaction. If anything, his excitement only grew stronger.
At Su Yuntao's signal, Chen Ming stepped into the formation.
As Spirit Power flowed into the awakening stones, faint golden light began to seep out, gathering into countless firefly-like motes that drifted through the air before slowly sinking into Chen Ming's body.
In that moment, Chen Ming felt an overwhelming sense of relaxation. The golden light seemed to seep deep into his bones and flesh, merging with him completely, circulating gently with every breath he took.
Then—
something broke.
A hidden threshold within him shattered.
"Roar—!"
Lowering his head, Chen Ming let out a deep, muffled growl, something akin to the roar of a dragon beast. His body began to expand rapidly.
Earthen-yellow scales surged across his skin, condensing into a solid, armor-like layer. His hands grew larger, bathed in a yellow glow before transforming into sharp, draconic claws.
With a tearing sound, a massive tail burst from his spine, crashing heavily onto the ground with a dull thud.
Small dragon horns pushed out from the top of his head, while the same earthen light gathered and solidified into a structure resembling a helmet that encased his skull.
As the awakening formation gradually faded, what stood before everyone was no longer an ordinary child—but a half-human, half-dragon figure, as though clad in a full suit of living armor.
Even the children, who understood nothing of such matters, instinctively felt fear at the sight. Their legs trembled uncontrollably, yet not a single one could muster the courage to make a sound.
As for Su Yuntao—his eyes lit up instantly.
After a brief moment of thought, recognition dawned on him.
"A dragon… a dragon-type Martial Soul!" he exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement. "Though it differs somewhat from the records, this should be the high-tier soul beast known for its immense defensive power—the Armored Earth Dragon!"