After noon.
Xiao Feng strolled along the mountain path in a black tank top, colorful knee-length shorts, and flip-flops. Although his outfit truly screamed "low-key Guangdong rent collector," it still could not conceal looks so handsome that even Yu Yan and Yan Zu would feel ashamed. Even the flowers blooming by the roadside could not withstand such beauty and closed their buds.
"Oh, this damned handsome face of mine~~"
With the corners of his lips slightly raised, Xiao Feng left behind a figure the scenery would never forget for the rest of its life.
At the center of Holy Soul Village.
In front of the Spirit Hall Branch, seven or eight children were chattering about something. Off to one side stood a plainly dressed figure who was entirely out of place among the other children. This person was Tang San, the famed sleepwalker from the original story!
Tang San was somewhat excited. After coming to this world for six years, this was the first time he had heard of the profession known as a Spirit Master. The stirring in his bones made him restless. What he could not understand was why his father would not allow him to become a Spirit Master. Fortunately, under Old Jack's mandatory demand, he had been able to come here.
Then a sudden shout snapped Tang San out of his thoughts.
"Little San, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Tang San turned around and immediately revealed a helpless smile. "Brother Xiao Feng, can you stop calling me Little San? It always sounds kind of strange."
That was right, the one calling Tang San was Xiao Feng.
Speaking of which, Xiao Feng and Tang San were fairly compatible friends. By all rights, the two should not have had much to talk about. However, after Tang San sweated through his clothes while training his body each day, he would go to the lakeside to bathe. At Tang San's initiative, they gradually became familiar with one another. After all, one did not strike a smiling face.
Although Xiao Feng had slipped through the cracks of twelve years of compulsory education, he still possessed the proper manners. When Tang San discovered that Xiao Feng's way of thinking was even more mature than his own as an adult, he willingly began calling him Brother Xiao Feng. After all, aside from his father and Old Jack, Xiao Feng was the first person Tang San had acknowledged since arriving in this world.
"Of course not. Little San suits your temperament so well."
Tang San had no way to deal with Xiao Feng's teasing. He could not possibly pin him to the ground and beat him while saying, "Will you change it or not?" Besides, Tang San could not beat Xiao Feng anyway. Over the years, under the system's care, Xiao Feng's physical fitness had become absurd. Not to mention anything else, a single punch from him could make a five-hundred-pound pig die on the spot.
Calling him naturally gifted with divine strength or saying his physical abilities were off the charts would not be an exaggeration.
After resigning himself to it, Tang San looked at Xiao Feng's outfit and asked curiously, "Brother Xiao Feng, why does your outfit give off such an indescribable kind of aura?"
"Hehe, you're the one with good taste. This is called being low-key without losing substance! Unlike those little brats over there, who don't have an ounce of artistic sense."
Another word he had never heard before. Still, Tang San had grown used to it, and this was also what he admired about Xiao Feng: different from everyone else, mature, unique, and ridiculously handsome. It was difficult not to be conquered by that invisible charm.
Just as Tang San smiled and prepared to say something, an ordinary-looking man dressed in a fitted silver outfit arrived before them under Old Jack's lead.
"Children, let me introduce you. This is an official from Spirit Hall in Nuoding City. Next, he will guide you in awakening your own Martial Souls. You must cooperate properly during the Martial Soul awakening. Grandpa hopes that among you, there will be someone capable of becoming a Spirit Master."
Upon hearing Old Jack's words, all the children except Xiao Feng revealed excited expressions. Even Tang San's eyes held a trace of anticipation. However, the man did not feel the same way. He impatiently waved his hand and said, "Alright, you said the same thing last year. Do you really think becoming a Spirit Master is that easy? I've already passed through six villages, and not a single child had the potential to become a Spirit Master."
That was right, this man was the famous Blind God King—Su Yuntao. This time, however, he would finally be able to prove himself! (Su Yuntao: I'm not blind, damn it. My knowledge is just a little limited.)
After speaking, Su Yuntao pushed open the door to the Spirit Hall Branch and walked inside.
"Go in, children. Grandpa will wait for your good news."
Then the children entered the Spirit Hall Branch as well. Walking at the very end, Xiao Feng patted Old Jack on the shoulder and said, "Old man, don't worry. Before long, Holy Soul Village will be renamed Title Village!"
Amid Old Jack's astonishment and gratification, Xiao Feng closed the doors of the Spirit Hall Branch.
Inside the hall.
"My name is Su Yuntao. I am a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster and the guide for your Spirit Master journeys. Of course, that is only if you possess the potential to become Spirit Masters. Now, I will awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember, no matter what happens, do not be afraid."
As he spoke, Su Yuntao opened the bag he carried with him and took out two items: six pitch-black, gleaming pieces of Obsidian and a translucent blue Crystal Ball. He placed the six pieces of Obsidian on the ground in a hexagonal shape, then gestured for the first child on the right to stand inside.
"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel carefully."
The next second, Su Yuntao's eyes suddenly lit up. Under the horrified gazes of the inexperienced little brats, he shouted in a low voice, "Lone Wolf, Martial Soul Possession!"
A faint green light appeared at the center of his brow. His black hair instantly turned gray and rapidly grew longer. At the same time, his body seemed to swell considerably, becoming full of muscle. Even his pair of pupils became much more "intelligent."
As the little brat inside the Obsidian Hexagram Array cried out in fear, a completely opposite sound of laughter rang out.
"Pfft!"
Xiao Feng burst out laughing at Su Yuntao after his Martial Soul Possession. He thought, Holy shit, isn't this a Husky? Lone Wolf, my ass? Look at those eyes brimming with wisdom. Now I finally understand how he got the Blind God King title. Truly—twenty-four-inch titanium alloy dog eyes!
Xiao Feng's laughter immediately drew everyone's attention. Even Su Yuntao and the frightened little brat were stunned.
Kid: I'm scared half to death, and you're actually laughing?
Su Yuntao: *???*
However, Su Yuntao quickly recovered and said, "This is my Martial Soul, Lone Wolf. If you have the chance to become Spirit Masters, you will also possess abilities like mine."
Su Yuntao scanned the crowd as he spoke, but when his gaze landed on Xiao Feng, he felt something strange. It was as though he were an idiot being mercilessly mocked.
"Strange. What is this kid's background?"
While remembering Xiao Feng, he also took note of Tang San beside him, who showed no fear in his eyes and was equally calm.
"Could Holy Soul Village really produce one or two children with the potential to become Spirit Masters this year?"
With a trace of expectation, Su Yuntao continued his work. However, amid repeated declarations of "useless Martial Soul, no Soul Power," Su Yuntao fixed his gaze on the final two, Xiao Feng and Tang San.
"I must be crazy to think a tiny village like this could produce a Spirit Master."
Yet he did not know that what happened next would give him something to boast about for a thousand years—"Back then, I was the man who awakened Martial Souls for gods!" Of course, that was assuming he could make it past the age of one hundred and avoid getting taken out halfway through.
Before you continue