In Zhangyang Village, on the open ground at the entrance of the village, a group of children were playing. Under the large trees at the edge of the open ground, several old people, looking weary, sat on the ground, chatting together.
When Zhu Ziyang and his group appeared at the village entrance, they immediately caught the attention of these old people. They all stood up, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and vigilance, because Zhu Ziyang and his group were all dressed splendidly, exuding an air of nobility, clearly not people ordinary folk like them could afford to offend.
The old people were all uneasy, not understanding what these distinguished guests were planning to do in their remote mountain village. The children also hid behind the elders, their young eyes filled with both fear and curiosity.
"Sirs, may I ask what brings you here?" an old man with sparse hair and few remaining teeth stepped forward and asked respectfully.
"Elder, I am here to fulfill a promise," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile to the old man, then his gaze swept over the group of old people behind him. His eyes lit up, and he walked towards one of the old women, "Granny Yang, do you still remember me?"
This Granny Yang was the old woman who had hosted Zhu Zi and Yang a year ago. Zhu Ziyang had a deep impression of her, so he could still recognize her upon meeting again. However, the old woman was, after all, old. Her face showed a hint of unease and confusion as she looked at Zhu Ziyang; she had almost forgotten the events of a year ago.
After all, why would ordinary people be worthy of a Spirit Master's promise?
"Granny, it's the big brother and big sister from last year!" It was the little girl hiding behind her who exclaimed happily.
"You… you really came!" Granny Yang finally remembered, her body trembling slightly, her face filled with a complex expression of disbelief and overwhelming excitement.
"Yes, old woman, we have come," Jiang Nannan also stepped forward, her smile as gentle as moonlight, causing all the old people and children present to stare in a daze.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier exchanged glances, sighing inwardly. Then, Xian Lin'er stepped forward and said, "Elders, we are here to help the children in the village awaken their Spirits. Are these all the children in the village?"
"What? Awaken Spirits?"
"Are they people sent by the lord?"
"Are they really here to awaken the children's Spirits?"
"..."
Xian Lin'er's words immediately excited all the old people. Whether they believed it or not, they all started talking, while the children watched everything with innocent eyes.
"Everyone, this is true! It is true!" Granny Yang said loudly, her voice overriding the discussions of others. "Do you remember what I, an old woman, told you last year? These are the two young Spirit Masters from back then! They truly came to awaken the children's Spirits!"
After Granny Yang finished speaking, she immediately pulled her little granddaughter and knelt before Zhu Ziyang and the three others, shouting gratefully, "Thank you, Spirit Masters! Long live the Spirit Masters!"
With Granny Yang leading the way, the other old people followed suit, all kneeling and thanking Zhu Ziyang and the three others.
This scene left Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan at a loss, but Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier calmly accepted their bows of gratitude. Both women were older than any of the elders present and had naturally seen many injustices in the world, having long grown accustomed to them. Their inner strength was such that they would not be affected by this.
"You may rise first," Cai Meier said, then with a flick of her sleeve, she helped all the old people and children to their feet. "You don't need to thank us. Now, go and gather all the children."
"Yes, yes, yes!" The old people were all shocked by Cai Meier's move. Their eyes, as they looked at Cai Meier, were like those looking at a deity. They deeply believed her words and immediately sprang into action. Several old people split up to return to the village, while the children were left in place.
There were currently nine children present, the oldest already eight years old, while the youngest was only five.
"Nuan Nuan, do you still remember me?" Jiang Nannan bent down, reached out, and gently pinched the little girl Nuan Nuan's cheek, saying.
"Mm-hmm! Nuan Nuan remembers, Big Sister is also called Nuan Nuan, right?" The little girl had a good memory, her dirty little face beaming with a smile as she replied.
"Mm-hmm!" Jiang Nannan smiled happily.
Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier watched this scene, couldn't help but sigh, and then said to Zhu Ziyang, "Ziyang, do you feel a sense of injustice in your heart?"
"Mm-hmm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded calmly and said, "A little."
"Hehe~ You don't need to hide it from Meier and me. She and I were once just like you," Xian Lin'er said with a smile. "This world has reached a point where it must change. We have high hopes for you."
"That's right, Ziyang!" Cai Meier also nodded in agreement. "To allow all commoners to equally enjoy the right to awaken their Spirits—this is the common wish of all Spirit Masters who come from commoner backgrounds!"
"Senior Sister, Junior Sister, you don't need to say more, I understand," Zhu Ziyang replied with a calm expression.
Seeing this, Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier said nothing more, stating, "Alright then, let's prepare to help these children awaken their Spirits."
"Okay!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, then took out the Spirit Awakening Stones he had specially purchased from the Jubao Pavilion in Shrek City from his star flame ring. This set of Spirit Awakening Stones was free for nobles, but Zhu Ziyang had spent one million gold coins for it, and that was already at a 90% discount. Its original price exceeded ten million gold coins, and the purchasing conditions were extremely strict, the purpose being to prevent ordinary Spirit Masters from having extravagant desires.
The extent to which this resource, which can be called the cornerstone of the Spirit Master's world, was monopolized was terrifying. At least on the original Douluo Continent, the Spirit Awakening Stone raw ore veins were firmly controlled by the royal families and great nobles of various Empires. Their production and distribution were strictly controlled. Even Shrek Academy, before it controlled a raw ore vein, could only obtain five sets annually from the Three Great Empires!
In the Spirit Hall era, the Spirit Awakening Stones, which were as cheap as cabbage, have now become treasures even more precious than Spirit Bones. It truly is ironic.
After they finished setting up, about another quarter of an hour passed. Elders gradually arrived with children, and soon, all the children in the entire village were gathered together. Also gathered were their grandparents; only a few children's parents remained in the village.
After screening and arrangement by the four, it was found that there were a total of thirty-one children in the village. Among them, only seventeen children met the natural spirit power awakening threshold. The remaining fourteen children were all under six years old; without external aid or secret methods, they would only be able to awaken their Spirits after they reached six years of age.
These children were arranged to one side. Their families were very anxious, pleading with Zhu Ziyang and the three others to let their children stay. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan looked at these parents, whose faces were full of sorrow and despair, and these children, who were innocently bewildered. The two of them ultimately softened their hearts and promised that they would definitely return next year.
Thus, the families of the fourteen children under six years old were appeased.
After this, they truly got to the main point and began to awaken the Spirits for the seventeen children. They divided these children into two groups. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan acted simultaneously. Both of them were very familiar with the Spirit Awakening ceremony, as they had helped people awaken their Spirits for a whole month straight back then.
"Big Sister, my name is Yang Zhenzhen," the little girl whose nickname was Nuan Nuan stood in front of Jiang Nannan and happily stated her full name, and then Jiang Nannan smilingly led her into the arranged Spirit Awakening formation.
"Okay, Yang Zhenzhen, listen to Big Sister, close your eyes, imagine you are sleeping, and then stretch out your hand!" Jiang Nannan's tone was gentle, as if coaxing her to sleep.
The little girl was very obedient and immediately did as Jiang Nannan said. Jiang Nannan smiled slightly, then released a stream of spirit power into the Spirit Awakening Stone. The little girl Yang Zhenzhen's body immediately emitted the light of Spirit awakening. In a moment, traces of a Spirit appeared on the little girl's body.
A pair of blue-purple butterfly wings appeared behind her, with faint currents of electricity swirling around them. This was Spirit possession, which only occurs during Beast Spirit awakening. The little girl actually had a Beast Spirit, and from the looks of it, it seemed to be a flying Beast Spirit with lightning attributes.
"Is this… a Thunder Ray Moth?" Xian Lin'er, standing behind Jiang Nannan, looked at the little girl's Spirit and called out its name, her tone showing some surprise.
She truly had not expected that a person with the potential to be a Spirit Master could actually appear in this remote mountain village. Although this Thunder Ray Moth was just an ordinary Beast Spirit, the possibility of it having innate spirit power was very high.