"Alright, line up and get ready to go home."
The end of the light curtain marked the true end of the Awakening Day, and there was nothing else worth seeing, so Principal Wang clapped his hands and gave the order.
At Jiangxin First Middle School, more than 500 young boys and girls who had become Demon Spirit Masters stood proudly at the front of the line, showcasing their demeanor.
Even though their soul power was nearly exhausted, the youngsters strained to maintain their Demon Possession state, savoring this moment of glory that belonged to them.
Along the way, all the classmates crowded around them, discussing with flattery and envy. The young boys and girls occasionally responded, basking in the envious and jealous gazes.
Originally an equal relationship among classmates, in this moment had a clear distinction.
"Is it necessary to be so exaggerated?"
At the back of the crowd, Gao Hai looked at the boys who had become Demon Spirit Masters, shaking his head dismissively, as if thinking they were somewhat childish.
At this moment, Gao Hai and Lin Feng walked at the end of the line. Although Gao Hai had become a Demon Spirit Master, he retracted his soul power and did not display the Demon Possession state.
"Hehe, maybe it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why not enjoy it?"
Lin Feng looked at Gao Hai with amusement.
During adolescence, who isn't vain or doesn't love showing off? Gao Hai was naturally no exception.
From Lin Feng's understanding of Gao Hai, he would most likely want to be at the front of the line. However, to take care of his emotions, he stayed with him, occasionally cracking jokes to lighten the mood, preventing him from feeling dejected.
This made Lin Feng both amused and touched.
You only know to cherish when you've lost it.
In his past life, Lin Feng had a somewhat solitary nature, with few friends and rare brothers.
Even among teammates who faced life and death together, betrayals over Treasures of Heaven and Earth were not uncommon. He had seen too many betrayals, and aside from family, Gao Hai was probably the only one he truly trusted.
Having such a brother was worth cherishing.
And Song of Solomon, at this moment, was not in the line. As for where she went, she didn't say, and Lin Feng didn't ask.
"What's the big deal? It's just child's play."
Gao Hai shook his head, pretending to be mature, but not long after, when he saw his parents in the crowd, he suddenly jumped up and cheered, "Mom, we're over here."
Following Gao Hai's line of sight, Lin Feng was slightly taken aback. Next to Gao Hai's parents stood a young girl in a gray work uniform, approximately twenty years old, looking at him with a face full of gentleness and captivating charm.
At this moment, a slight worry traced her delicate face, giving her originally beautiful appearance an added tender and endearing allure. When she saw Lin Feng looking at her, the worry instantly dissipated, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Sister..."
This young girl was his own sister, Lin Kerou.
Since his rebirth, seeing his long-lost family again, even Lin Feng, who was accustomed to partings and reunions of life and death, couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
This year he was 16, and his elder sister was 24.
Lin Feng knew that his elder sister was worried recently; she wasn't as happy as she appeared on the surface.
Currently, his elder sister and her boyfriend Chen Hao had been dating for four years, reaching the stage of discussing marriage. However, the boy's parents looked down on their small household, not only blocking the relationship but even threatening to cut ties with Chen Hao if they married. Pressured by his parents' threats, their relationship ended unresolved.
Two years later, his sister married someone she didn't particularly like, and her life was dull and hard.
Shortly after his sister got married, Chen Hao also married a woman, often contacting Lin Feng to inquire about how his sister was doing.
Lin Feng knew that his sister hoped he could become a Demon Spirit Master.
If today, he could refine a Seventh Grade or higher demon spirit, he could leap the dragon's gate, completely transforming his family's life, solving some problems effortlessly.
Just like in the previous life, upon seeing his failure, even though she was disappointed, perhaps even a bit despairing, she didn't show any sadness, unwilling to give him any pressure.
"Big sister."
"Xiaofeng, are you hungry? Let's go home and eat." Lin Kerou smiled and rubbed Lin Feng's little face, without asking anything else.
Beside them, Gao Hai's father pulled Gao Hai, his expression somewhat excited. Their family finally had a Demon Spirit Master.
Even though it was only the Second Grade demon spirit Strong Demon Bull, Demon Spirit Masters were precious, especially for families like theirs struggling with poverty.
Gao Hai had been chubby since childhood, and his talent was average. Although he was only a senior in high school, just sixteen, Father and Mom Gao were already worrying about whether he could find a wife in the future.
Now that Gao Hai was a Demon Spirit Master, a profession superior to a Martial Artist, with this status, was there any fear he couldn't find a bride?
Perhaps they wouldn't even need to pay a bride price.
Although happy and excited, with a lot to ask, to take care of Lin Feng's mood, Father and Mom Gao didn't say much, but the smiles on their faces showed they were in a good mood.
Lin Feng and Gao Hai both lived in the Outer City. Outer City was over thirty kilometers from the city center, and their transport home was the levitating train. However, today, due to the Awakening Day, the city's transportation was almost paralyzed, and it took an hour just to line up.
After an hour and a half, they walked out of the train station, heading towards their homes on foot.
Passing through the bustling and lively streets, as they got closer, a dense cluster of buildings appeared before their eyes.
This was the famous "Shore District" of Jiang City.
Though called a district, it housed over a million people, like a small city.
Thousands of high-rise buildings stand side by side, each a hundred meters tall, all identical in shape, height, and appearance, with floor spaces scarcely a meter apart, completely dismissing any notion of thoughtful design.
On these streets, it remains dim even during the day, and sometimes basking in sunlight is nothing short of a luxury.
This place is exceedingly dull and uninteresting, a stark contrast to the bustling urban districts.
This is the outskirts, the outermost region of the outer city.
Not far from here, less than a hundred meters away, lies the furthest reaches covered by the Blue Moon's energy shield, an area known to be the worst environment in Jiang City; if a Demon Beast attack occurred, this would be the first place hit, making it undoubtedly the most dangerous area.
At the moment, one could clearly see, through the blue protective shield, the ground littered with Demon Beast corpses and a pungent stench of blood wafting through the air, with occasional figures in black uniforms moving about, spraying disinfectant.
This place is referred to as the slums of Jiang City, where only the poor reside.
This is precisely where Lin Feng's home is!
A place his past self always wanted to escape from.
Crackling and popping!
Before even reaching the Shore District, Lin Feng's ears were met with the thunderous sound of fireworks, followed by plumes of grey smoke rising skyward.
This scene was no surprise to Lin Feng; he knew it was a tradition of the Shore District.
In the past, whenever they heard the sound of fireworks, both Lin Feng and Gao Hai would feel envious, for it was the way the Shore District celebrated its youth becoming Demon Spirit Masters.
Today was a festive day for the Shore District, with people coming and going, and as long as they were at home, they stepped outside, fixing their gaze in a particular direction, their eyes filled with envy and jealousy.
"Song of Solomon refined an Eighth Grade Demon Spirit, a rare Enchanting Butterfly, and was going to join the Juxing Club. They're moving."
The news spread instantly throughout the Shore District.
There was no need for much advertisement as the residents, watching the live broadcast on TV, could immediately recognize the innocent yet enticing girl whom they had watched grow up from childhood, Song of Solomon.
Song of Solomon refined an Eighth Grade Enchanting Butterfly, one of this year's top ten talented young ladies appearing on the light curtain, and she signed with the Juxing Club, the signing fee alone enough for her to buy a three-bedroom, one-living-room house in the city, moving away from the Shore District.
For the people who lived their entire lives in the Shore District, moving into the Inner City signified the beginning of a prosperous ascent.
It was a lifelong dream and the greatest hope of every parent for their child, a true proof of stepping into the upper class for the people of the Shore District.
The people residing in the Shore District were impoverished, without status, assets, or backing, and the path of cultivation not only required talent but also resources, leading to the Shore District's youth becoming Demon Spirit Masters being a rare occurrence each year.
Therefore, whenever someone moved into the Inner City, it was a momentous occasion for the Shore District.
Furthermore, becoming a Demon Spirit Master had different levels; Song of Solomon, having refined the Enchanting Butterfly, was undoubtedly the most successful one.
"Lin Feng is here!"
"He's here, he's here, you gossips should stop talking."
"It's a pity; I watched them grow up together from childhood, I'm afraid to..."
The crowd murmured softly, casting peculiar glances at Lin Feng, causing Lin Kerou, who had been feigning calmness on the side, to slightly change her expression.
Lin Feng knew well what these peculiar glances were for.
In the past, faced with these strange looks, he would lower his head slightly, feeling a bit awkward, even inferior, not daring to meet everyone's mocking and pitying eyes, but now he faced it calmly.
The crowd gathered below Building 34, where Song of Solomon resided.
The family was moving out just then, albeit there wasn't much to carry, just some simple clothes; all else was redundant for Song of Solomon, who was about to join the Juxing Club.
As Lin Feng arrived, the onlookers' gaze naturally fell upon him, and following their gaze, Song of Solomon's family evidently noticed his arrival as well.
In the past, as soon as he appeared, Song of Solomon's parents would warmly greet him, after all, he and Song of Solomon grew up together, childhood friends, knowing each other well, both residing in the Shore District with similar living standards, quite a fitting match.
At sixteen, reaching the Body Cultivator's Seventh Rank, Lin Feng's talent in the Shore District was considered excellent, with a handsome appearance, both talent and looks matched Song of Solomon.
But now, Father Ya's smile of politeness with the neighbors abruptly vanished, nodding at him with a somewhat embarrassed expression, passing as a greeting, while Song of Solomon's mother glanced at Lin Feng before quickly averting her eyes, focusing on packing, occasionally exchanging courteous words with the neighbors. Some of Song of Solomon's relatives looked over at Lin Feng with an air of criticism and disdain.
Song of Solomon, the center of this event, was not present, probably busy dealing with matters post-signing with the Juxing Club.
"Brother Feng..."
Gao Hai wanted to say something, perhaps words of comfort for Lin Feng, but ultimately left them unsaid.
"What are these people!"
Gao Hai's father seemed somewhat indignant, as if Song of Solomon's family's behavior was communicating a certain truth to everyone.
Lin Kerou looked at Lin Feng with concern because he appeared so composed.
This calmness was unsettling, making one concerned.
"Sister, it's fine."
Seeing Lin Kerou's worried expression, Lin Feng smiled gently.
He didn't mind Song of Solomon's family's attitude because this had happened once before.
If they were too enthusiastic, he wouldn't know how to handle it. This way, it was just right.
In the future, they would go their separate ways, and remain uninvolved with one another.