Led by Lao Jie Ke, Tang San followed him to the Spirit Hall at the center of the village. Of course, this so-called Spirit Hall was really nothing more than a slightly larger wooden cabin.
Since everyone possessed a Martial Soul, children underwent their Martial Soul Awakening every year. Thus, Spirit Halls could be found in every corner of Soul Land. Naturally, these were all merely branch halls — different tiers for different levels.
This year, there were eight children in Sacred Soul Village set to undergo their Martial Soul Awakening, and Tang San, brought by Lao Jie Ke, was the last to arrive.
The village children didn't think much of Tang San. Snobbery wasn't limited to the nobility — among commoners it was often even more blatant. As for Tang San, having already lived two lives, his true age was well past thirty, and he had no interest in socializing with these children. In his view, any spare time was better spent on cultivation. As a result, he had no childhood playmates.
Aside from Village Chief Jie Ke and the eight children who had gathered, there was one other person in the Spirit Hall — a young man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with sharp, sword-like brows, bright eyes, and strikingly handsome features. He wore a white fitted uniform with a black cape behind him, and right in the center of his chest was a fist-sized character reading "Soul." This was the standard attire for direct personnel of Spirit Hall.
On his left breast was a badge engraved with a longsword — three swords interlocked. Someone like Jie Ke, who was familiar with Soul Masters, knew that three blades signified the third rank of Soul Master, the Great Soul Master rank, and the longsword indicated that this Spirit Hall Deacon was a Battle Soul Master.
"Hello, respected Battle Soul Master. Thank you for your trouble this time." Lao Jie Ke bowed respectfully to the young man.
A faint hint of pride flickered across the young man's brow. He gave a perfunctory half-bow in return and said coolly, "I don't have much time. Let's get started."
Lao Jie Ke said, "Of course. Children, this is a Battle Soul Master from Nuoding City. He will now guide you through your Martial Soul Awakenings. You must cooperate fully with the Master. Grandpa hopes that among you, there will be those who can become Soul Masters."
The young man said with some impatience, "Alright, you said the same thing last year. Do you think becoming a Soul Master is really that easy? I've already visited six villages, and not a single person had Soul Power. Not a single suitable Martial Soul, either."
A trace of sorrow crossed Lao Jie Ke's eyes. He sighed and said, "Indeed! Only those who inherit the legacies of the great clans have the easiest path to becoming Soul Masters. For us ordinary folk, it's far too difficult." Shaking his head, he stepped out of the Spirit Hall.
The young man's gaze fell on the eight children before him. As a Spirit Hall patrol Deacon, helping commoners with their Martial Soul Awakenings was simply part of the job — he was long since used to it. "Children, stand in a line." His attitude toward them was considerably gentler.
The eight children lined up in front of the young man. Tang San stood at the far left. Compared to others his age, he was noticeably smaller and thinner.
The young man smiled and said, "My name is Su Yun Tao. I'm a level 26 Great Soul Master, and I'll be your guide. Now, I will perform a Martial Soul Awakening on each of you one by one. Remember — no matter what happens, don't be afraid."
As he spoke, Su Yun Tao opened a bundle on the table beside him and took out two items: six dark, round stones and a gleaming blue crystal ball.
Su Yun Tao arranged the six black stones into a hexagon on the ground, then gestured for the first child on the right to stand inside the formation.
"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and focus on what you feel." As he spoke, Su Yun Tao's eyes suddenly blazed to light. In the terrified gaze of the children, he called out in a low voice, "Lone Wolf — Possess!"
A faint wisp of cyan light first emerged from the center of his brow, traveling upward along his forehead and disappearing into his hairline.
Su Yun Tao's hair had been black, but the moment the cyan light infused it, it instantly turned gray and rapidly lengthened. Coarse fur of the same color sprouted across his exposed hands, and his body seemed to swell noticeably, his muscles becoming far more pronounced.
The Spirit Hall's specialized uniform was highly elastic and didn't tear as his frame expanded. Su Yun Tao's eyes had become an eerie, glowing green, and sharp claws protruded from the tips of his ten fingers, glinting with a faint, cold light. Two rings of light blazed to life at his feet, cycling continuously from his feet up to the top of his head and back down again. One was white, and the other yellow — an eerie sight indeed.
The boy who had been called into the stone formation watched Su Yun Tao's transformation with wide eyes and let out a piercing shriek, "Ah—" He was so frightened he tried to run.
Su Yun Tao's glowing green gaze was truly menacing. He grabbed the boy firmly. "Stay still. I told you not to be afraid — this is my Martial Soul, the Lone Wolf. If any of you grow up to become Soul Masters, you'll use this same ability."
The only one who wasn't particularly frightened was Tang San, though even he immediately circulated his energy throughout his body the moment he saw the change come over Su Yun Tao.
More than shock, what Tang San felt was curiosity. Gray fur, green eyes — these were indeed wolf-like traits. Did that mean after Martial Soul Possession, a person literally became a wolf? No, that couldn't be right — it was more like gaining the wolf's abilities. So the profession of Soul Master was really about making better use of the powers of one's Martial Soul.
For the first time, Tang San found himself genuinely interested in the profession of Soul Master. He was already growing eager to discover what his own Martial Soul was.
Su Yun Tao's hands moved in rapid succession, and six streams of faint green light shot into the six black stones on the ground. Immediately, a layer of golden luminescence erupted from the stones, forming a pale golden dome of light that enveloped the child standing within.
(End of Chapter)