"Alright, let's finish your matter first. Tell me all the traits of your martial spirit, so I can prepare a proper cultivation plan for you."
The Grandmaster wanted to understand Qian Jue's spirit as quickly as possible so he could design training tailored to it. For the first time in years, he felt… busy again.
But instead of answering, Qian Jue leaned forward on the desk, smiling.
"Teacher, why don't you show me your martial spirit first? I heard yours is a mutated beast spirit—one that can exist outside your body, like a tool spirit!"
The Grandmaster frowned. If anyone else had said this, he would have taken it as mockery. But coming from Qian Jue, he sensed there was another reason behind it.
"Very well. I'll let you see my martial spirit."
He pressed his palms together at his chest, then drew them apart with practiced ease.
"Come out, Luo Sanpao!"
*Poof!*
A puff of faint violet soul power burst forth. Qian Jue felt a pulse of energy ripple from the Grandmaster, and in the next instant, a strange creature appeared before him.
It looked somewhat like a dog, yet its body was bulky like a pig's. Over a meter and a half long, its girth nearly the same. Covered in pale purple fur, it had drooping little ears, a round lump on its forehead, and two large, deep-blue eyes blinking curiously back at Qian Jue.
The Grandmaster's mutated spirit—Luo Sanpao.
At the same time, two yellow Hundred rings rose beneath the Grandmaster's feet, slowly revolving.
"Xiao Jue, this is my martial spirit. You may call it Luo Sanpao, or simply Sanpao. He is indeed unusual—both a beast spirit and, in some ways, like a tool spirit. In all my years of research, I have yet to discover another spirit like him."
"Then it seems Teacher and I are fated indeed," Qian Jue said with a grin, releasing his own Kindred Spirit and entering Lamb Spirit possession.
"Teacher, in truth… my martial spirit isn't a mask. It's not a tool spirit—it's a beast spirit. This mask is only a manifestation when I possess it."
As he spoke, the Qian Jue Mask faded from his face, revealing his smile once again.
The Grandmaster blinked, puzzled. Before he could ask, Luo Sanpao suddenly stumbled with a pained grunt.
Yes—it was Qian Jue's Wolf Spirit. He had deliberately nudged Luo Sanpao with it. Normally, Sanpao would only feel a push, not pain. But this time, the Wolf Spirit's strike made him feel as though he had been kicked hard. The sensation reflected onto the Grandmaster himself, who clutched his waist with a sharp intake of breath.
Seeing his reaction, Qian Jue rushed forward apologetically.
"Sorry, Teacher! I didn't mean it. I'm not yet skilled with my spirit."
But the Grandmaster did not blame him. He waved it off, steadying himself, and stared intently at the boy.
"What did you mean just now? You said your martial spirit is a beast spirit… and what struck Sanpao just now was your spirit as well? Yet I saw nothing. Is this another of its traits?"
Qian Jue scratched his cheek, embarrassed. He had only wanted the Grandmaster to notice the Wolf Spirit's existence, so he'd directed it to collide with Sanpao. He hadn't expected it to cause real pain.
"Yes, Teacher. My martial spirit is called Kindred. Like your Luo Sanpao, it is a special kind of beast spirit."
He released the Wolf Spirit from its concealment, allowing its shadowy form to appear beside him. The Lamb Spirit's phantom lingered as well, faintly glowing.
The Grandmaster froze. The "mask" he had thought to be the martial spirit itself… was only half of it. No, not even half—merely an accessory.
The Wolf Spirit floated silently, wearing a similar mask, though white in color.
"This… this is your true martial spirit?" The Grandmaster stepped forward, eyes wide as he examined the Lamb Spirit.
A lithe figure covered in white fur, long ears drooping gracefully, etched with glowing runes. In its hand rested a strange bow, black-edged with jagged protrusions along its limbs and grip—but no string. To ordinary eyes, it would look like an impossible weapon, but the Grandmaster knew: if it appeared as part of a martial spirit, then it bore true significance.
Then his gaze turned to the Wolf Spirit. Cold dread prickled his skin. Ancient mask, ghostly flames burning in its sockets, fangs bared, body a misty vapor drifting silently in the air.
"Just now—you used 'this' to attack me? But… why didn't I notice its strike? Wait… don't tell me—your martial spirit can turn invisible?!"
The Grandmaster's deduction was swift and sharp.
Qian Jue nodded.
"Yes, Teacher. My Kindred Spirit is divided into Lamb and Wolf. Invisibility is the Wolf Spirit's gift, called Kindred's Concealment. And from the Lamb Spirit, I gain Kindred's Mark. Together with their shared traits—one reduces pain, the other magnifies it."
He revealed everything, no longer hiding anything from his master.
The Grandmaster listened in silence, then closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression was grave, almost reverent.
"Xiao Jue… in a past life, you must have saved the world itself. Only then could heaven grant you such favor in this one. I take back what I said before. That companion of yours may be extraordinary, but compared to you… his talent does not measure up.
Qian Jue. An infinitely growing martial spirit. To think such a spirit exists in this world… truly, the world is filled with wonders."
He exhaled deeply.
"Xiao Jue, do you realize? I've never seen a martial spirit like yours—one with limitless growth. And from what you've shown me, you already possess four distinct traits: strengthening, invisibility, pain reduction, and pain amplification. Any one of these, alone, would mark a top-tier martial spirit."
"Teacher, I understand the first two, but the last two don't seem that useful. More like extras."
The Grandmaster chuckled softly.
"It seems you've yet to experience your own spirit fully. Wait here."
He left the room and returned with a rabbit. Handing Qian Jue a dagger, he said,
"Try it. Attack it."
Qian Jue understood what his teacher intended. He pierced the rabbit's leg—not too lightly, not too deep. Blood stained its fur, yet the rabbit merely twitched and hopped aside, showing almost no sign of pain.
"Do you see? Even though it is injured, it feels almost nothing. Now imagine if your attacks landed on an enemy, especially where they couldn't see. He would believe he hadn't been hurt at all."
Qian Jue's eyes lit up.
"He'd keep fighting carelessly… until it was too late."
"Exactly. And consider—what if your weapon carried poison? He might never realize he was poisoned until…" The Grandmaster left the rest unsaid. Qian Jue could already imagine the outcome.
"And the Wolf Spirit's pain amplification?"
"Test it."
Qian Jue directed the Wolf Spirit to bite the rabbit's other leg.
This time, the rabbit shrieked in agony, its body convulsing violently. It collapsed, frothing at the mouth, trembling until it finally went still.
Both teacher and student stared, stunned. They had expected pain, but not this overwhelming reaction.
The Grandmaster inspected the rabbit carefully, relieved to find it had only fainted. He bandaged its wounds.
"When it wakes, we'll observe whether there are lingering effects."
Qian Jue nodded.
"Now, do you see the true strength of your spirit's traits?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"There are countless ways to use them. That will be your task—to explore, to develop, to think constantly about how best to wield them."
"I understand."
The Grandmaster's expression turned solemn.
"Xiao Jue, your martial spirit is a miracle. I am certain—it is the strongest spirit of this era. This is your gift, an incomparable gift. But remember this well: no matter how powerful a spirit, if its wielder lacks the heart of a true strong one, it will be wasted. From now on, your first task is to master your spirit and gain control of your power. When you achieve that, I will teach you how to advance further."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Good. Now, didn't you say you still had family to visit? I'll go with you. Then we'll return to your village to find the companion you spoke of."
Qian Jue's eyes shone with anticipation.
"Alright!"
…