Under Old Jack's lead, the three of them entered the heart of the village, walking toward the Spirit Sub-Hall located in the center.
Although the name "Spirit Sub-Hall" sounded grand and magnificent, in reality, it was just a slightly larger wooden cabin. Holy Spirit Village was, after all, just a village; the villagers lived on meager means and had little surplus to build a palatial hall, despite its symbolic importance.
By the time they arrived, most of the children of eligible age were already there, playing and frolicking in front of the building. However, at the sight of Old Jack, they immediately stopped their games and lined up on the grass.
"Grandpa, it looks like Tang San isn't here yet," Lin Ye whispered, his eyes scanning the group.
"Xiao San is a good boy. I told him about today. If nothing went wrong, he wouldn't be late—it must be that deadbeat Tang Hao sleeping in again!" Old Jack grunted, planting his cane firmly into the ground.
Lin Ye knew of Tang Hao. He was Tang San's father and the village's only blacksmith. Unlike most fathers in the village, Tang Hao was utterly irresponsible. He spent his days drinking, rarely worked, and spent nearly every coin on alcohol. Between the drinking and the lack of farming, Tang San often went hungry, sometimes without even a bowl of porridge to drink. If not for the help of neighbors, Tang San might have starved long ago.
Lin Ye held a deep disdain for Tang Hao; in his eyes, the man was an insult to the word "father."
"Grandpa, should I go get him?" Lin Ye asked.
"You stay here. I'll go," Old Jack shook his head. "Tang Hao doesn't amount to much, but he has a nasty temper. It's better if I deal with him."
Old Jack then turned to the young Soul Master. "Respected Battle Soul Master, there is one more child who hasn't arrived. May I go fetch him?"
"Go ahead, but be quick," the young man replied. He had already overheard their conversation.
"I'll be right back then. If you need anything, you can ask my grandson, Lin Ye," Old Jack said before hurrying off.
With Old Jack gone, the young man and Lin Ye stood before the hall. Lin Ye joined the line of children while the young man stood by the door, hands behind his back, looking calmly into the distance.
Ten minutes later, Old Jack finally returned, panting slightly, with Tang San in tow.
"Respected Battle Soul Master, sorry to keep you waiting," Old Jack bowed.
"It's fine," the young man said indifferently. "Since everyone is here, follow me inside." He pushed open the doors and led the way.
"Tang San, my grandpa told you about today days ago. Why were you still late?" Lin Ye asked with a slight frown before they entered.
"Sorry. My dad got drunk last night, so he woke up late today," Tang San scratched his head apologetically.
Lin Ye could only shake his head. He felt Tang San was truly unlucky to have such a father. Tang Hao did nothing but smithing; Tang San handled all the household chores and even did the cooking, despite being barely taller than the stove.
Inside the Spirit Sub-Hall, the young Soul Master walked to a table at the front. He unpacked a bundle, revealing a translucent blue crystal ball and six round black stones, which he arranged on the floor in the shape of a hexagram.
"Alright, everyone line up from left to right according to height," the young man commanded, clapping his hands.
The nine children scrambled into position. Lin Ye, being the tallest, stood at the far right, with Tang San right next to him as the second tallest.
Satisfied, the young man smiled and spoke gently: "Very good! First, let me introduce myself. My name is Su Yuntao, a Level 26 Grand Soul Master. My Martial Soul is the Lone Wolf. I will be guiding your awakening today. Pay attention: no matter what you see later, do not be afraid. Understood?"
"Understood!" the children shouted in unison, though most didn't take it seriously. It was just an awakening; what could be scary about that?
Lin Ye, however, felt a sense of gravity. He had observed Su Yuntao on the way there; the man was stern with Old Jack but gentle with the children. This meant his warnings weren't baseless. Was something truly frightening about to happen?
Just as Lin Ye was wondering, Su Yuntao suddenly shouted: "Lone Wolf, Possess!"
A terrifying aura erupted from Su Yuntao's body. Accompanied by a faint wolf's howl, a dark purple wolf shadow emerged from him and then instantly merged back into his body.
Su Yuntao's physical form transformed instantly. His muscles swelled, his height shot up, and thick, dark purple fur sprouted from the backs of his hands. Sharp claws popped from his fingertips, and his eyes turned a ghostly, glowing green.
"Roar—!"
Following the transformation, Su Yuntao let out a fierce growl. Along with the sound came a strange, oppressive power that swept over the room.
Faced with this monstrous sight and the impact of that mysterious energy, every child—except Lin Ye and Tang San—collapsed to the ground in terror. They scrambled backward, wailing and crying.
"A monster! Don't eat me!"
"Wah! I want my mommy!"
"Stay back! Get away from me!"
Lin Ye was also startled by the sudden outburst and the wave of energy. However, his mental fortitude was exceptional. His hair stood on end, and the Nine Yang True Qi inside him began to circulate rapidly of its own accord, neutralizing the strange energy's impact.
Once he regained his composure, Lin Ye noticed that Tang San hadn't been knocked down either. Tang San stood tense, his body coiled like a spring.
Is it mental strength, or something else? Lin Ye wondered. Ordinary mental strength shouldn't be enough to block that pressure. I have the Nine Yang Divine Art protecting me... does Tang San have a similar technique? I've never heard of one.
On the other side, Su Yuntao was secretly shocked. His roar wasn't just for show; it contained a Soul Power shockwave. Under that pressure, even adults would find it hard to remain calm. Six-year-olds usually collapse unless they have a powerful Martial Soul protecting them. This was one of the methods Spirit Hall used to scout for talented candidates.
"To think two of them weren't intimidated..." Su Yuntao thought, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "Perhaps this trip won't be a waste after all."
Would you like to see what Martial Souls Lin Ye and Tang San awaken? I can translate the next chapter for you!