The Holy Spirit Village was a small settlement of three hundred households hidden in the remote corners of Fasinuo Province. It was surrounded by a vast expanse of farmland, from which grains and vegetables were produced and sent to Nuoding City.
A hundred years ago, a Spirit Saint appeared among the residents of this village, and thus, the village's name was changed in honour of that person. The residents of Holy Spirit Village also took great pride in this.
Under the morning sun's rays, a six-year-old boy was seen exercising on a nearby hill, accompanied by another boy of the same age who was meditating silently.
Tang San took a deep breath and stabilized his internal qi before opening his eyes.
'It has been six years since I came to this world, but I have been unable to achieve a breakthrough in my Mysterious Heaven Technique.' He sighed softly before thinking of what day it was. 'Maybe awakening my Martial Spirit would help me achieve a breakthrough?'
As he pondered the issue that had troubled him for the last few years, his gaze landed on the other boy beside him.
The boy had long black hair and wore black robes. His silver eyes were focused as he completed one push-up after another. Tang San was not surprised by the boy's ability to do such a thing but by how many he had done so far.
'While I prefer to meditate and practice internal arts, Brother Xie prefers to train his body.'
As he silently observed the black haired boy, he could faintly hear the whispers that escaped his mouth.
"...Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety seven..."
"...Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety eight..."
"...Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety nine..."
His arms trembled a little, but he did not stop. He paused, adjusting his breathing and then continued. He was exhausted, and his entire body was aching in pain, but was he going to give up?
With a final burst of energy, Xie Wuqing gritted his teeth through the pain of his aching muscles and completed the last repetition.
"Ten thousand!"
When he was finished, Xie Wuqing lost control over his arms and dropped down. His breathing was ragged as he tried to take in as much oxygen as possible.
"Why do you push yourself so much?" Tang San could not help but shake his head as he stood up, ready to leave. He had prepared breakfast for himself and his father before completing other chores around the house. Moreover, he could not be late today; after all, it was the day of the awakening ceremony.
Xie Wuqing controlled his breathing and looked at the boy with dark blue hair, his mouth curling up into a grin.
"Did you not hear what that Soul Master said three years ago?" He wiped the sweat off his forehead and then sat up. "If you train your body, there is a higher chance of awakening Martial Soul with Innate Spirit Power."
[A/N: 'Soul Master' will be used to identify the practitioners of Martial Soul, a broad term, while Spirit Master will be used for the Rank 11-20, Spirit Grandmaster for Rank 21-30 and so on]
"True, but isn't this too much?" Tang San frowned. It would be one thing if the black-haired boy exercised, but what he did was pure torture.
1,000 push ups; 1,000 sit ups; 1,000 pullups; and a 10km run.
Moreover, he outdid himself today and completed ten thousand pushups instead of the usual thousand.
Xie Wuqing shook his head and stood up. His breathing was already under control. His silver eyes landed on Tang San before he focused on the distant mountains and his fists clenched tightly. A memory he was never able to forget once again surfaced in his mind; it was as clear as the day he had witnessed the horrors of this world.
His mother passed away the day he was born due to excessive blood loss. When he was three years old, the village he lived in was attacked by a beast group led by a 1000-year-old spirit beast.
It was only thanks to a Soul Master from Spirit Hall who had come to awaken the Martial Souls of his village's children that some of the villagers had managed to live.
After all, how could a single Soul Master fight against the beasts and protect them at the same time...at least that man had done his best to minimize the casualties and pave a path for a group of villagers to run away and call for back-up from the nearest Spirit Hall branch.
However, by the time the requested reinforcements had arrived, the damage was done.
Xie Wuqing still remembered the feeling of the corpse of his father, dangling in his arms. If only he were strong enough to carry him to the nearest Soul Master for treatment...
When the Soul Master found him crying over the corpse, they could not help but pity him. To ensure he had a decent life, they arranged for him to live in a village near a larger city, where beast attacks were less frequent. But they also knew the boy found it to be his fault for his father's death.
How could anyone blame a three-year-old child? But how could the Soul Master explain to a heartbroken child that he couldn't carry a full-grown adult? That it wasn't his fault, that his father died?
He was only three, and no one blamed him.
"But I did," Xie Wuqing muttered under his breath.
Tang San was momentarily taken aback by the dark look on the otherwise cheerful boy. But maybe the smile he had always seen on his face was but a mask to hide his genuine emotions.
And just as Tang San had guessed, Xie Wuqing took a deep breath to calm himself before the carefree smile that always adorned his face returned.
"Let's go, lest we get late for the ceremony." The black-haired boy passed by Tang San, who stood rooted in his place.
"Y-Yes."
The duo returned to the village and separated before walking toward their respective houses.
Xie Wuqing lived in a modest house made of wood chopped from the local trees.
"I am home." He said out of habit.
Taking off his sweat-drenched clothing, he jumped into the tub of water he had prepared before leaving for training. Since it was early morning, the water was cold, but Xie Wuqing did not mind. Instead, he liked the feeling of cold water on his skin.
Once he had wiped all the sweat off his body, he got out, put on a new set of clothes—the best ones he had—and ate the leftovers from last night.
It was not long after he was done eating that he heard footsteps approaching his house.
*Knock*
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Wuqing, are you ready?" The village leader's voice sounded from the other side, and Xie Wuqing immediately opened the door.
"Grandpa Jack!" The black-haired boy greeted the old man with a smile. The old man had taken good care of him over the last three years, and thus, the boy greatly respected him.
The old man smiled softly as he ruffled Xie Wuqing's hair. "It's almost time for the awakening ceremony; Grandpa is here to pick you up."
Nodding his head, Xie Wuqing followed after the old man and learned that Tang San had already arrived at the ceremony hall.
The hall was located at the centre of the village, and when they arrived, they could see quite a few children gathered before the closed doors of Martial Awakening Hall.
"The great Soul Master should be arriving anytime now." Old man Jack spoke, and as if on cue, wind rustled from the nearby trees as a young man in his early twenties appeared in front of the group.
His sudden appearance startled everyone except Tang San and Xie Wuqing, who stood at the front of the group with the village leader.
"Respected Soul Master, Su Yuntao." The old man greeted respectfully. The status of Soul Masters is exceptionally high within the Douluo Continent, especially compared to the common populace.
Su Yuntao nodded, not greeting back, a sense of pride evident in his eyes. "I don't have much time; let's begin immediately."
He waved his sleeves and turned around, opening the doors of the ceremony hall and walking inside, followed by the others.
Once inside, the village leader addressed the children: "Master Su Yuntao will help you awaken your martial soul. You must cooperate with him and follow his directions." Then, with a tinge of hope, he added, "I look forward to seeing a Soul Master emerge from you all."
Su Yuntao knew how hard it was to be a Soul Master, but did not dampen the mood before introducing himself. "I am Su Yuntao, level 26 Spirit Grandmaster. My martial spirit is Lone Wolf. Don't be afraid."
The next moment, the spirit energy within his body surged as he grew taller, his black hair turned grey, and his eyes flickered coldly. Two rings, one white and the other yellow, revolved around him, illuminating the ceremony hall under their radiance.
"AH~"
Except for Xie Wuqing and Tang San, who stood before the transformed Spirit Grandmaster, every other child was terrified.
As if expecting such a reaction, Su Yuntao spoke softly, despite the menacing aura of a wolf surrounding him.
"Don't be afraid." He said. "Lone Wolf is a beast-type martial spirit...who knows, maybe one of you will awaken such an ability?"
Once everyone calmed down, Su Yuntao asked the children to form a line and then randomly called a boy out.
"You, come forward."
Despite being scared, the child walked forward.
Under the curious gaze of other children, Su Yuntao spread six black orbs in a circular pattern and asked the boy to stand in the centre.
"Extend your hand."
The boy did as he was told, and as Su Yuntao channelled his Spirit Energy, a small sickle appeared on top of the boy's right hand. Next, using a translucent orb, he checked the boy's spirit power, only to be met with a result he had expected.
"No talent; next."
The boy became dispirited, and Su Yuntao started calling the others individually. Soon it was the turn of the boy with dark blue hair...Tang San.
When the boy awakened Blue Silver Grass, Su Yuntao knew there was no hope; however, he felt his world turn upside down the next moment.
The spirit measuring crystal was shining as bright as the moon in the night sky.
"Innately Full Spirit Power!" He exclaimed. "How is that possible?" But then, he calmed down and let out a sigh of disappointment. "The martial spirit is still Blue Silver Grass."
After a few more encouraging words to Tang San, he called for the last boy who had yet to awaken his martial spirit.
Xie Wuqing walked forward without being asked, stood at the centre of the stone circle and raised his right hand. Su Yuntao smiled at the boy's intelligence and calm disposition.
However, as soon as the Spirit Grandmaster channelled his Spirit Energy, a shocking scene unfolded before everyone watching.
The moderately lit hall was suddenly plunged into darkness, and the only thing Su Yuntao saw for a moment was a pair of green eyes looking deep into his soul.
"Huh?"
The change was so quick that everyone, including Tang San, who had the highest spiritual power among everyone present, was confused whether what they experienced was nothing but an illusion.
All that was left before Su Yuntao's eyes was Xie Wuqing with his eyes glowing in green flames.
"Spirit Eyes?" The Spirit Grandmaster wondered before he shook his head and handed over a crystal ball to the boy. "Hold it."
Xie Wuqing, now sporting a deep frown, confusedly grabbed the crystal ball.
'Spirit Eyes?' He thought to himself as the light in the crystal ball became radiant before it disappeared, as if it flickered out of existence. 'Wasn't this supposed to keep glowing as long as I kept it in my hands?'
Not understanding what was going on, Xie Wuqing handed over the crystal ball to Su Yuntao, who nodded. "That maximum that light reached means your spirit power is at Rank 4." He patted the shoulder of the black-haired boy. "Congratulations, you are now a Soul Master."
Su Yuntao printed the Spirit Hall certificates and handed them to the two boys whose awakening ceremony was successful.
"With this, you can attend Nuoding City's academy to learn more about being a Soul Master."
"Thank you."
Children who were unable to become Soul Masters looked at the duo with envy in their eyes and followed the Spirit Grandmaster out of the ceremony hall.
Grandpa Jack, who had been pacing back and forth before the doors, hurried over when he saw that the ceremony was completed.
"Congratulations, your village has finally given birth to two new Soul Masters." Su Yuntao said with a soft smile.
"Really?" Grandpa Jack's village widened in surprise. "By the grace of Angel God!" The old man joined his hands and prayed to the God that most commoners believed in. "My village finally has a Soul Master."
Su Yuntao could understand the old man's emotions and pointed at the two who had successfully awakened; the other children had already begun to scatter, with their heads hanging low.
"This one has innate full spirit power with Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. He can become a Spirit Master as soon as he gets his first Spirit Ring. And this boy," he pointed at the black-haired youth, before adding. "His Martial Soul is Spirit Eyes. It's a body type martial soul...though rare, it is considered weak. But even then, his innate spirit power is Rank 4, which means his achievements in the future will not be few."
Su Yuntao turned to Xie Wuqing. "Due to the spiritual nature of Spirit Eyes, if you can reach rank 10, you can come to the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City and join us. Martial Souls with a spiritual attribute are always highly regarded."
"Thank you, sir." The black-haired boy bowed politely at the offer.
The old man walked forward happily and hugged the two boys as Su Yuntao disappeared; he still had to attend three more awakening ceremonies.
Once the old man was done praising them, he stepped back, and Tang San immediately asked the question in his mind.
"Village Chief, what is a Spirit Ring?"
Xie Wuqing raised an eyebrow as he looked at Tang San. 'Really?' While he himself was not well informed about Soul Masters, who in this world did not know what a Spirit Ring was?
The old man was left stunned for a moment as well before he gave a short explanation.
"Whenever you kill a spirit beast, they will release a Spirit Ring that you need to absorb to break through to the next level." He explained. "I don't know too much about how you absorb...But I believe you can learn a lot more from the Spirit Academy in Nuoding City. So tell me, would you two like to attend?"
"Isn't there a single quota per village?" Xie Wuqing asked.
"There is, but some other villages might not be as lucky as we are this time. So we can borrow theirs for this year; we have been helping other villages quite a few times with this before as well."
"Then I would like to attend." The black-haired boy nodded.
Tang San, who still had many questions about Spirit Rings and Martial Souls, just shook his head. "I have to ask my father first."
Village Chief Jack sighed before nodding. "Alright, but let me know as soon as you can. We have three months before registrations close, and it would take us at least a week to get there without any accidents. While a lot of the time, it is better to decide on these things as early as possible."
The two boys waved goodbye to the old man before they parted ways; Tang San ran toward the only blacksmith shop in the village, and Xie Wuqing toward the forest.
Once he was deep enough to reach a cave in the side of a small hill, Xie Wuqing entered it and then sat down. He knew this area was safe, as no strong spirit beasts lived in the vicinity of Holy Spirit Village.
He had found this cave during one of his runs around the village while exercising, and since then, it had been his 'secret' hiding spot.
As he sat down cross-legged, a deep frown reappeared on his face, which he had hidden from the village chief.
'Spirit Eyes?' He thought to himself. 'But that is not my Martial Soul.'
Xie Wuqing closed his eyes and focused before the whole cave was covered in pitch black darkness. Despite that, he was still able to see everything, and then it appeared...
A tall figure, at least a few meters tall, covered in clothes as dark as the moonless night. In its hands was a curved weapon...a scythe...as dark as the ink. The figure's eyes gleamed in green light, similar to what Su Yuntao had seen of Xie Wuqing.
"This is my Martial Soul." Xie Wuqing raised his right hand, and the darkness gathered around his fingers. It danced according to his will before settling down when he lowered his hand.
He stood up and once again raised his hand forward.
A pitch black portal appeared in front of him from which emerged a scythe, similar to the giant figure looming over his head. Its pole was nine feet long, and it had a large curved blade attached to its end.
Xie Wuqing held the scythe in his right hand before swinging it around a few times. It was real...not a figure born out of his imagination, nor as corporeal as darkness. But it was heavy, much heavier than he expected.
With his current strength, he would find it impossible to swing it even once, let alone fight with it.
"So this is my Martial Soul?" Once he was done inspecting the scythe, it disappeared from his hands before he turned around to take a better look at the figure before him. "You are not Spirit Eyes...you are Soul Reaper."
The Martial Soul, as if acknowledging the name Xie Wuqing had chosen for it, dipped its head.
Xie Wuqing bathed himself in the darkness a little longer before dismissing his Martial Soul, lest someone saw it.
While he knew his Martial Soul was not evil, it was everything one would imagine death to be. Everyone was afraid of death, considering it evil, despite it being the most natural thing in the world. He did not want others to brand him as an evil spirit master, despite not being one — at least not yet.
Next, he felt the newfound energy coursing through his body.
Su Yuntao had said his innate spirit rank was 4; however, the Soul Master could not be further from the truth.
The crystal ball had tried to glow brightly in Xie Wuqing's hands. Still, his spirit power was so radiant that a small, low-level spirit crystal could never measure his full potential. It thus had flickered out of light, making the Spirit Grandmaster believe he only had Rank 4...the brightest the crystal had been before it was overwhelmed.
As for his real innate spirit power?
Every Soul Master inherently knew some information about their Martial Souls, while they could accurately determine the Rank of their spirit power. Now that Xie Wuqing was a Soul Master himself, he knew much about his unique Martial Soul as well as his current spirit rank.
He closed his eyes and felt the spirit power surging in his body.
Innate spirit power — Level 30.
Xie Wuqing placed a hand on his face before a small laugh escaped his mouth...which soon turned into a full-blown laughter, ending only when he was out of breath.
"This is insane." He did not know what he should feel at the moment.
On one hand, he was excited and proud; on the other hand, he was calm and cautious.
Never had he heard of anyone with a talent as great as his, but he also knew if others found out, he would not be praised, but either killed or kidnapped to be experimented on.
Xie Wuqing did not consider himself the most intelligent man in the world, but he did not believe himself to be stupid.
'No one can know.'
As long as one does not absorb their first Spirit Ring, their aura would stay trapped within their bodies unless probed by physical touch by another Soul Master.
Tang San might not know what a Spirit Ring was, but Xie Wuqing had learned quite a bit from the Soul Master from Spirit Hall that helped him settle in Holy Spirit Village.
'I should keep a low profile.'
It would not be long before everyone would learn of his Martial Soul and maybe of his insane talent as well. But Xie Wuqing wanted to delay it for now...as much as he could.
Once he was done contemplating, he started checking the changes brought to him by Martial Soul awakening.
'Is my Martial Soul a beast-type?'
If so, then his physical strength should have improved, but when Xie Wuqing tested himself, he found it was not the case.
"While my physical strength has improved, it is not a lot...only a little." He closed his eyes and sensed his surroundings. "On the other hand, my perception has increased so much."
With a short radius around him, he could feel everything.
"If I want answers to all my questions, the public and private library of Nouding Academy would be very useful."
Once he had those answers, he would train, get stronger, and then return to the village where he was born. Xie Wuqing knew the Soul Masters had not killed that beast since it had run away before reinforcements could have arrived.
"I will find you and then I will kill you."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Word count: 3636 (excluding the section below)
[Author's note]:
Please read the author's thought section, as I will not be posting my own thoughts within the chapters starting with the next chapter. Only in the author's thoughts section will you find me writing my thoughts, unless I am trying to create a Poll.
Read the rest of the author's thoughts below.