The journey from Holy Spirit Village to Nuoding City was not a short one, especially for two six-year-olds and an elderly man whose joints creaked with every step. For Li Wei, however, it was an exercise in pure, unadulterated torture.
His body felt like it had been put through a meat grinder and then loosely stitched back together with electrified wire. Every time his foot hit the dusty path, a jolt of phantom pain traveled up his spine, a reminder of the 101-mph stunt that had nearly turned him into a smear of golden atoms.
Old Jack walked ahead, his wooden staff thumping rhythmically. Tang San walked beside Li Wei, his eyes darting toward his friend every few minutes with a mixture of concern and clinical curiosity.
"You're still pale, Wei-ge," Tang San noted, his voice low.
"I'm fine, San. Just... enjoying the scenery at a very, very leisurely pace," Li Wei managed a smirk, though it lacked its usual Chris Hemsworth-style radiance. He looked at the silver ring on his finger. It was inert. He couldn't feel the "Small Star" space inside it, nor could he feel the comforting warmth of the sun's cosmic radiation. He was effectively a "Muggle" for the next few days.
"That speed... it wasn't a Spirit Ability," Tang San whispered, leaning closer so Old Jack wouldn't hear. "I've seen Spirit Masters move, but you didn't just move. You vanished."
Li Wei sighed, looking up at the sky. "It's called the Speed Force, San. Or at least, that's what my head tells me it is. It's... everything. It's the energy that keeps the world moving. But my body? My body is like a cheap bamboo cup trying to hold the entire ocean. I tried to take a big sip, and the cup cracked."
Tang San nodded slowly, digesting the information. He understood the concept of limits—his own Internal Jade Skill had them—but Li Wei's power seemed fundamentally more volatile.
The Arrival at Nuoding Academy
After days of trekking, the high walls of Nuoding City finally rose from the plains. It was a bustling hub compared to the quiet greenery of the village. For Li Wei, the sensory overload was intense. He could smell the grilled meats from street vendors, the metallic tang of blacksmith forges, and the faint, underlying hum of Soul Power from the various Spirit Masters roaming the streets.
They reached the gates of Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy. The gatekeeper, a man whose face was etched with a permanent sneer of superiority, blocked their path.
"Working students from Holy Spirit Village?" the guard laughed, tossing their certification papers back at Old Jack. "Blue Silver Grass with Full Innate Spirit Power? And a 'Godspeed' suit? Stop wasting my time. These forgeries are insulting."
Old Jack's face reddened with indignation. "These are official documents from Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall! How dare you—"
"I don't care if they're from the Pope himself," the guard spat. "Begone, beggars."
Li Wei felt a spark of his old 15-year-old temper flare. He didn't have his speed, but he still had his height (well, for a six-year-old) and a certain presence. He stepped forward, his silvery hair catching the light. "Hey, buddy. You might want to check those papers again. Unless you want to explain to your superiors why you turned away two students with Full Innate Power because you were having a bad hair day."
The guard's eyes narrowed. He raised a hand to shove Li Wei back.
"That's enough."
A middle-aged man with short, black hair and a melancholic expression stepped out from the shadows of the gate. He had a scholarly air about him, his hands tucked into his sleeves. This was the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.
He took the papers, scanned them, and his eyes widened imperceptibly when he reached Li Wei's section. Godspeed Suit... Lightning attribute... Cosmic Energy cultivation? He looked at the two boys, his gaze lingering on Li Wei's silver ring.
"These papers are real," Grandmaster said calmly. "I will take them in."
Meeting the Grandmaster
Inside the quiet confines of the Academy, the Grandmaster led them toward his study. He walked with a deliberate pace, his mind clearly racing with theories.
"Tang San, you have a second Martial Soul, don't you?" Grandmaster asked suddenly, stopping in his tracks.
Tang San stiffened, his hand instinctively twitching toward his 24-Moonlit Bridges (though he didn't have them yet). Li Wei just whistled. "Straight to the point. I like this guy."
After the revelation of Tang San's Twin Souls, the Grandmaster turned his attention to Li Wei.
"And you, Li Wei. Your papers mention 'Cosmic Energy' instead of Soul Power. And your Martial Soul... it isn't just a suit of armor. It's a manifestation of a physical law. I have studied spirits for decades, and I have never heard of a 'Speed Force' fusion."
Li Wei leaned against a bookshelf, trying to look cool despite his trembling legs. "It's complicated, Grandmaster. Think of it like this: Most people use their Soul Power like a battery. I'm trying to plug myself directly into the sun and the kinetic energy of the universe. The problem is, I'm currently a very low-voltage wire."
"Fascinating," Grandmaster whispered. "Your cultivation doesn't rely on meditation in the traditional sense, but on absorption and synchronization. And your Spirit Rings... the papers say they are 'predetermined'?"
"Yeah," Li Wei said, his expression becoming serious. "I don't get to choose the color based on the age of the beast. If I kill a 100-year-old speed beast, the ring will turn whatever color the Speed Force decides I'm ready for. It's about the quality of the speed, not the years of the soul."
Grandmaster nodded, his eyes gleaming with the fervor of a researcher who had found a new branch of science. "We will test this. But first, you both must settle into your dormitory. Room Seven."
Room Seven and the Arrival of the Rabbit
Room Seven was the dormitory for working students. As soon as Li Wei and Tang San entered, they were greeted by the sight of a dozen boys led by a larger kid named Wang Sheng.
"Newcomers have to show their strength," Wang Sheng challenged, cracking his knuckles. "I'm the boss here."
Tang San stepped forward, but Li Wei held out an arm. "Hold on, San. I've been feeling like a wet noodle for three days. I need to see if I can still throw a punch without falling over."
Li Wei faced Wang Sheng. He didn't have his speed—the "Severe Weakened" status was still in effect—but he had his past life's brawling instincts. As Wang Sheng lunged with his Tiger spirit, Li Wei pivoted, using the boy's momentum against him. It wasn't a speedster move; it was a simple, practiced dodge. He tripped Wang Sheng and gave him a playful shove.
"Nice try, big guy. But you're a bit telegraphed," Li Wei grinned.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
Two young girls stood there. They looked identical, both with long, dark hair braided into scorpion tails, bright pink outfits, and ears that twitched with a life of their own. They were Xiao Wu and her twin sister, Xiao Ling.
The room went silent. Xiao Wu stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who's the boss here?"
Wang Sheng, nursing his pride, pointed at Tang San and Li Wei. "They just arrived."
Xiao Wu challenged Tang San, leading to their classic wrestling match. Meanwhile, Xiao Ling walked up to Li Wei. She was slightly quieter than her sister, her gaze more observant.
"You smell like lightning," Xiao Ling said, tilting her head as she looked at Li Wei's silvery hair.
Li Wei, despite being in the body of a six-year-old, felt a strange hum in his chest—not the Speed Force, but something else. "And you smell like... carrots? And high-grade spirit energy. I'm Li Wei."
"Xiao Ling," she replied, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. "Are you fast, Li Wei?"
"Normally? I'm the fastest thing you'll ever see," Li Wei said, his 20% Hemsworth confidence returning. "Right now? A turtle could give me a run for my money. But give me three days. I'll show you what a real spark looks like."
"I'll hold you to that," Xiao Ling said, hopping over to a bed next to her sister's.
The First Night
As night fell over Nuoding Academy, Li Wei lay on his thin mattress. He looked out the window at the stars. For the first time since the "accident," he felt a tiny, microscopic tug in his cells. The seven-day penalty was ticking down.
He looked over at Tang San, who was already in a meditative trance. Then he looked across the room at Xiao Ling, who was whispering to her sister.
The plot of Soul Land was unfolding, but he was a wild card. He wasn't a tech genius who could build Mechas, and he didn't know the future of this world. He only knew two things:
1. He was going to become the God of Speed.
2. He was going to need a lot more than 1% fusion to protect the people in this room.
Just wait, Li Wei thought, his eyes closing as he finally felt the first trickle of Cosmic Energy begin to repair his damaged nerves. When the lightning comes back... this world won't know what hit it.
Current Status:
• Location: Nuoding Academy, Room 7.
• Fusion: 1% (Status: Repairing... 3 days until Speed Force access restored).
• Cultivation: Cosmic Absorption (Passive).
• Relationships: Tang San (Sworn Brother/Friend), Xiao Ling (Intrigued).