Choosing the First Soul Spirit

"Come on, we're even pinky-swearing? We're not kids anymore. Isn't this a little childish?" Gu Chen grumbled, but the adoring look in his eyes had already betrayed his true feelings.

He gently raised a hand and tenderly stroked Na'er's little head.

Though his mouth said no, his actions were utterly honest. Gu Chen slowly held out his right pinky and hooked it tightly with Na'er's slender, delicate little finger.

At once, Na'er's adorable face bloomed with a radiant smile like spring flowers. She happily cried, "Pinky swear—if you break it, you'll hang yourself! It won't change for a million years!" Her voice was crisp and sweet, as though it could pierce the entire night sky.

Hearing that, Gu Chen froze slightly before shaking his head with a wry smile. "Na'er, didn't we agree on a hundred years? Why did you multiply it by so much?"

At Gu Chen's question, a trace of shyness immediately flashed across Na'er's pretty face. She lowered her head slightly, like a child who had done something wrong.

But she quickly raised her head again, her bright, watery eyes staring straight at Gu Chen. Then she suddenly leaned closer and lightly pecked his left cheek.

"Hehe! Brother, will this do?" Na'er asked coquettishly, looking utterly impossible to refuse.

Looking at his playful, adorable little sister, Gu Chen's heart brimmed with affection. He nodded without hesitation. "Of course it will! Why wouldn't it? As long as it's what our Na'er says, anything goes!"

Having received the answer she wanted, Na'er was as happy as a cheerful little bird. Gu Chen smiled faintly, slowly crouched down, and gestured for Na'er to climb onto his back.

Once Na'er was securely settled there, he stood up and carried his sister home, one step at a time.

The dim yellow streetlights stretched their shadows long. Gu Chen's broad, sturdy back was like a warm harbor, making Na'er feel utterly safe.

In the tranquil night, the siblings' voices echoed through the air, making the scene seem especially warm and beautiful.

The Sun Moon Empire unified the Douluo Continent and was later renamed the Sun Moon Federation.

The Spirit Pagoda organization had existed for ten thousand years. Because of its importance to soul masters and its era-defining research into Artificial Soul Spirits, its status had risen dramatically. Its branches spread across the three continents, making it one of the most powerful forces.

Aolai City also had a Spirit Pagoda branch. Located in the city center, it was a three-story tower-shaped building, the lowest grade of Spirit Pagoda branch. Spirit Pagodas in medium-sized cities stood seven stories tall, while those in major cities reached thirteen stories. The Spirit Pagoda headquarters in Shrek City, after years of expansion and renovation, had eighty-one stories and was known as the grandest building on the Douluo Continent.

To Tang Wulin, the three-story Spirit Pagoda before him was already the holy land of his dreams. It was also the largest building in Aolai City. Everyone knew where it was, but very few had ever actually entered it.

By the time they arrived, the Spirit Pagoda's main doors were already open, yet there was hardly anyone around. After all, only soul masters came here, and in a small place like Aolai City, soul masters were few enough to count on one's fingers.

As Gu Chen slowly led Na'er toward the Spirit Pagoda branch, sunlight fell over them and cast their shadows long behind them.

Just as they were about to reach their destination, Gu Chen suddenly caught sight of two extremely familiar figures approaching from ahead.

The moment Na'er's lively eyes saw Tang Wulin, they seemed to be drawn by some invisible force, and she could no longer look away.

She instinctively reached out and lightly tugged at Gu Chen's sleeve. "Brother, that person... I don't know why, but the moment I see him, I feel especially close to him. It's like we've known each other for a long time."

Gu Chen followed the direction of Na'er's finger. The instant his gaze met Tang Wulin's, a surge of irritation rose in his heart. What rotten luck! Even though this is a different time, I still ran into him!

However, he quickly concealed his displeasure. Turning toward the innocent-looking Na'er beside him, he said in a gentle yet firm voice, "Be good, Na'er. That intuition of yours may not be accurate. Listen to Brother—if you see that person again, make sure to stay far away from him. He'll only bring you trouble and misfortune."

Wasn't that the truth? Anyone connected to the protagonist either soared to great heights or became dry bones in a grave.

After Gu Yuena became entangled with Tang Wulin, she ended up frozen for ten thousand years.

After being unfrozen, she became unlike herself.

Meanwhile, Tang Ziran led his son, Tang Wulin, gradually closer to the Spirit Pagoda. Tang Wulin's little head kept turning as his curious gaze swept across everything around him like a searchlight.

This legendary Spirit Pagoda was simply too mysterious and captivating to him. Every detail filled him with incomparable curiosity.

The Spirit Pagoda had a three-story octagonal design, facing four directions and eight sides. Its interior was exceptionally spacious, with marble floors bearing the Spirit Pagoda's emblem and a vast main hall.

A ring of doors whose destinations were unknown surrounded the hall. Directly ahead was a counter-like station, behind which sat a Spirit Transmitter dressed in a gray robe.

Seeing them, the Spirit Transmitter rose to his feet and looked at Tang Ziran. "Hello. What can I do for you?"

Tang Ziran hurriedly replied respectfully, "Hello, sir. I brought my son here to buy a Soul Spirit. His Martial Soul has already reached rank ten."

At that, the warmth on the Spirit Transmitter's face immediately faded somewhat. Clearly, Tang Ziran was not a soul master.

"Did you bring enough money?" he asked indifferently.

Before Tang Ziran could answer, Tang Wulin rushed to say, "We brought enough! We did!"

The Spirit Transmitter said flatly, "What grade of Soul Spirit do you wish to purchase?"

Tang Ziran looked slightly embarrassed. "Sir, we don't know much about this. Could you please explain it to us?"

The Spirit Transmitter said impatiently, "You came without finding out first? In a small place like Aolai City, our Spirit Pagoda only offers three ways to purchase Soul Spirits: ten-year white Soul Spirits, hundred-year yellow Soul Spirits, and randomly drawn Soul Spirits."

"There are seventy-three choices for ten-year white Soul Spirits and eleven choices for hundred-year yellow Soul Spirits. White Soul Spirits cost seventy thousand, while yellow Soul Spirits cost one million. Which one do you want?"

Tang Wulin was instantly stunned by his words and blurted out, "Sir, weren't Soul Spirits thirty thousand? How... how could they be..."

Just as Tang Wulin fell silent, two equally small figures stepped up to the Spirit Transmitter.