Soul Forging Village

Biodata

Background / History

Soul Forging Village is a small settlement beneath the Cangqiu Mountains. By late autumn, cooking smoke rises from its households at dusk, while the village becomes quiet by nightfall. 2

The village has a large, century-old tree at its entrance. Its trunk is wide enough that five people are needed to encircle it, and its spreading branches form a roughly two-square-meter space within the crown. Xiao Yan uses this tree as a secluded place to cultivate at night. 2

As a remote mountain hamlet, the village has few children eligible for annual Spirit Awakening. Only seven children, including Xiao Yan, undergo the ceremony that year. 3

Notable Locations

• Village entrance — Marked by a century-old tree; Xiao Yan climbs into its canopy to cultivate the Burning Art in secret. 2
• Martial Soul Hall — Located in the village center and used for the annual Spirit Awakening ceremony. 3

Residents and Associations

• Xiao Yan — Resident who lives with Xiao Zun, Qin Yu, and Xiao Ling; he secretly cultivates at the village-entrance tree. 2
• Xiao Zun — Xiao Yan's father; brings him to the Martial Soul Hall for Spirit Awakening. 3
• Qin Yu — Xiao Yan's mother; cares for him during his fever. 2
• Xiao Ling — Xiao Yan's younger sister, who shares the family home and is strongly attached to him. 2
• Village Chief — Organizes the Spirit Awakening gathering and receives the visiting Soul Master. 3
• Visiting Soul Master — Conducts the village children's Spirit Awakening ceremony. 3

Story Role / Major Events

• Xiao Yan awakens from a fevered dream and leaves his home after midnight, traveling to the village entrance to cultivate beneath the old tree. 2
• At age six, Xiao Yan joins six other children at the Martial Soul Hall for the village's annual Spirit Awakening. 3