Since that day, Qian Renxue had become a regular at Yun Chuan's side. Every time Bibi Dong went off to handle official matters, the golden-haired girl would slip into his room to play—and sometimes, to talk.
She'd share her worries, her grievances, and her innermost thoughts with the seemingly clueless child in her lap.
Yun Chuan, of course, stuck to the script, continuing to play the role of a wide-eyed, innocent child. He made the perfect expression of naïveté, gaze blank as she spoke.
But inside?
He was storing everything.
Cataloging every word she said into the vault of his mind—analyzing her psyche, tracking her emotional trajectory, and working out exactly how to win her over step by step. If he was going to "conquer" Qian Renxue, then it certainly wouldn't be by chance.
Sometimes, while playing together, she'd lose track of time—only to be caught by Bibi Dong walking in at just the wrong moment.
That familiar cold expression...
And Qian Renxue would droop her head like a punished child and slip away without a word.
But more often than not, she made her getaway early, avoiding detection.
Or so she thought.
Yun Chuan was absolutely sure—Bibi Dong had noticed her daughter's secret visits.
But for some reason… she said nothing. She turned a blind eye.
Somewhere, buried beneath the trauma and the pain...
She still loved her child.
And if she didn't see it, then maybe—just maybe—she could pretend the hurt never existed.
Time passed.
And just like that, Yun Chuan turned six.
For six years, he'd flawlessly played the part of a child. He laughed, he cried, he pretended to be afraid. He messed around. He made mistakes. He acted like he belonged—and soon enough, he did.
Inside Spirit Hall, no one dared treat him like an outsider.
He wasn't a Holy Son. He wasn't some simple disciple. He wasn't even a noble scion.
He was the Pope's—Bibi Dong's—personal, publicly acknowledged adopted son.
And today...
Everything was about to change.
Today was his Spirit Awakening Day.
On the Douluo Continent, where bloodlines were everything and talent dictated destiny, today was the first—and most important—turning point in one's life.
If your spirit was strong, the road to glory lay ahead.
If it was trash?
Then prepare for a life spent crawling through the mud!
As for a perfect look at what failure meant…
Just ask Yu Xiaogang.
The Spirit Awakening Hall.
A towering, sacred chamber brimming with solemn awe.
It was a place reserved strictly for the Spirit Hall's elite descendants and prodigy children. Majestic murals of angels battling dark beasts sprawled across the walls, vibrant with heavenly light, while statues of divine warriors stood silently in vigil, their expressions proud and eternal.
It wasn't just a building—it was a ceremony in stone.
Yun Chuan's tiny hand was gently held in Bibi Dong's soft, snow-white palm as they stepped across the glowing marble tiles. He was alone today—not due to privilege, but because no other children happened to be scheduled that day.
After all, age six was precise.
Too early, the soul power would be unstable.
Too late, and the opportunity would begin to wane.
Multiple attendants were already inside waiting respectfully.
As soon as they spotted Bibi Dong entering with the child, they bowed instantly.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong's expression was stately and reserved, her eyes calm. She gave no response beyond a subtle nod, then let go of Yun Chuan's hand and gestured for him to enter the central spirit array.
On her elegant, flawless face, a faint smile appeared.
Warm. Encouraging.
'You can do this,' that smile seemed to say.
For once, she wasn't the terrifying Empress of Spirit Hall—she was just a proud mother, watching her son approach destiny.
Six-year-old Yun Chuan had dark, flowing locks like polished obsidian and skin as fair as porcelain—not the sickly pale of weakness, but a radiant glow of vitality. His face was so exquisite it bordered on divine, a blend of childlike innocence and celestial artistry.
He paused, awed by the gravity of the moment.
But when he turned back to see Bibi Dong's gentle smile—
The unease in his eyes was replaced by determination.
Step by step, he walked into the center.
"You're so brave…" she whispered.
She truly did look like some idiot mother doting too hard on her precious treasure.
To be fair, Yun Chuan had spent the last six years grinding that affection bar for all it was worth.
And now it was time to reap the rewards.
Bibi Dong would preside over the awakening ceremony herself.
It wouldn't affect the outcome—martial spirits weren't improved by the strength of the one guiding the ritual.
But some events weren't about practicality.
They needed ritual. Meaning. Impact.
Otherwise, why build an entire Awakening Hall? Why not do it in a courtyard or back room?
"Chuan'er, relax—don't be scared," Bibi Dong said softly.
She raised one hand—
The array beneath Yun Chuan lit up like the dawn of the heavens.
Golden lines ignited across the floor, sweeping into radiant patterns. The murals and statues surrounding the room began to glow as well—not just decorative after all, but part of the sacred ritual.
Yun Chuan's name in this life remained the same. He didn't know why.
Maybe it was his "cheat panel" or Fate itself… but when Bibi Dong named him, she'd subconsciously chosen the exact name from his past life.
Everything was coming full circle.
Inside the glowing array, Yun Chuan shut his eyes.
Warmth wrapped him like soft water.
'This… this is exactly how it felt inside the womb…'
Having awakened in utero in his past life, he could confirm with stunning certainty—yes, this was the same, divine sensation.
BOOM!
Something inside his body cracked open.
Eyes still shut, he instinctively raised his right hand—
And a hammer began to appear.
He didn't summon it.
It emerged—like it was always part of him.
But the very moment his fingers wrapped around it—
CLANG.
It fell from his grip and dropped to the ground.
BOOOOM—!!!
The entire Spirit Awakening Hall… shook.
No—
All of Spirit City shook.
Like a quake had struck the heart of the empire.
And all of that—
From a single, palm-sized hammer… slipping from a child's hand.
Blinking open his eyes, Yun Chuan looked down—
And nearly dropped his jaw.
There it was.
His martial spirit.
A hammer, yes.
But not just any hammer.
The head was a perfect cylinder, cast in lustrous gold like it had been carved from divine ore. Exquisite carvings traced down its polished surface, inlaid with dazzling gemstones that shimmered in dozens of hues.
But the true spectacle—
Was the show.
The hammer pulsed with searing white light. Flames danced hungrily across its surface. Thunder crackled and snapped in arcs of blazing blue. The air around it trembled from the sheer overload of visual effects.
It wasn't just powerful.
It was...
Ridiculously dramatic.
'This is my martial spirit?'
Yun Chuan knelt down and reached for it again—
The stone beneath it was cracked in a spiderweb pattern from when it hit.
As soon as his fingers touched the handle, a wave of understanding surged into his heart.
Yes.
This hammer wasn't separate from him.
It was him.
The fire, the lightning—none of it could touch him. It was like reaching for your own heartbeat.
He gripped the golden handle and pulled—
Nothing.
Not even an inch.
It was like trying to move a mountain.
'What the hell?! This thing is supposed to be part of me!'
Unwilling to give up, he grabbed the handle with both hands and heaved—
Still no movement.
The hammer sat there, unmoving, unyielding—like it had fused with the earth itself, refusing to acknowledge even its master.
'You've got to be kidding me…'
The hammer may have looked divine—
But right now?
It was just a big, golden middle finger.
(End of Chapter)