Awakening

"Child, step forward."

The aged voice echoed throughout the vast Awakening Hall.

Lu Ran stepped into the magic circle, his worn-out straw sandals scuffing against the floor. The rhythmic clack-clack of his footsteps resonated in his ears, yet he still felt somewhat dazed.

He had experienced the greatest highs and lows of life all within a single day.

It felt surreal.

It was almost like a hallucination before dying from a fall.

Lu Ran had transmigrated into this world six years ago and was adopted by a farming couple. After his foster parents passed away one after another, he lived by gathering herbs alone, all the while saving money for his awakening.

He thought that as a transmigrator, he must possess a powerful Martial Soul; as long as he could awaken it, he would surely soar to the heavens.

As long as he could awaken it, everything would be alright.

Finally, through years of frugality, combined with his foster parents' inheritance, he had saved a total of—

Five copper coins...

Forget awakening; even eating was a struggle.

In desperation, he risked entering the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest to search for precious herbs, intending to gamble his life.

As a result, he accidentally fell off a cliff.

He had assumed he would become the first transmigrator in history to die from a fall.

Upon waking, he discovered... he had actually been saved by a passing Shrek Inspectorate.

His injuries were treated, and upon learning he hadn't awakened his Martial Soul, they brought him directly to Shrek City for the ceremony.

They promised to return for him after the awakening; if he had at least level three soul power, he could enter Shrek Academy, and even without soul power, they would provide him with a livelihood.

They were truly benevolent people.

A wave of emotion washed over Lu Ran; life was truly a series of ups and downs, followed by another up.

He only prayed there wouldn't be another down.

As the black-robed old Soul Master injected soul power, a soft light rose from the magic circle, slowly enveloping Lu Ran.

His heart rate accelerated involuntarily as he closed his eyes, feeling the surge of warmth within his body.

A few breaths later, the light faded.

It left behind only Lu Ran, who slowly opened his eyes with a look of utter astonishment on his face.

His Martial Soul... was actually—

A Small World!

Currently, it was a space of about a hundred zhang, capable of expanding as he grew stronger. Each soul ring could contract one soul beast, and the Small World would gain a corresponding element.

If all elements were completed, it could evolve into a true world!

The contracted soul beasts could continue to cultivate, and their attributes could even evolve!

Lu Ran was struck with shock.

This is my Martial Soul?!

This is so heaven-defying?!

Isn't this ten thousand times better than some Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon or Golden Dragon King?!

And here I was, mentally prepared to awaken a trash Martial Soul.

The boulder that had pressed down on his heart for six years finally fell away, and he felt an immediate sense of relief.

Suppressing his inner excitement, he slowly exhaled.

It's settled; with such a powerful Martial Soul, how could he possibly lack soul power?

The black-robed old Soul Master asked as per routine: "What is your Martial Soul?"

"A Small World."

"A Small World?"

The pen about to touch the paper froze in mid-air. He looked up, his dark brown eyes filled with confusion: "What do you mean by a Small World?"

He had never heard of it; what kind of Martial Soul was a Small World?

Could there really be a world-type Martial Soul?

But what even was a world-type Martial Soul?

How could a world become a Martial Soul...

A series of questions left the old Soul Master bewildered. Seeing this, Lu Ran changed his phrasing: "It's a space-type Martial Soul."

"Oh, I see..."

The old soul master still didn't quite grasp the relationship between the two, but having read records regarding space-type martial souls, he felt a bit more enlightened.

It was a name that sounded powerful, and being a rare space-type martial soul, the child before him was likely a genius with Innate Soul Power of level five or higher, with an immeasurable future.

He nodded, his tone softening unconsciously:

"Come, let's test your soul power."

Lu Ran walked over to the crystal ball without offering too much explanation.

The concept of a Small World was complex and involved planes; it was easier to simply call it a space-type martial soul—simple, convenient, and fitting.

It was, after all, a space-type martial soul.

The moment his fingertips touched the crystal ball, a dazzling white light erupted from within, instantly filling the entire awakening hall and stinging everyone's eyes—

It was a radiance the old soul master had never seen in his entire life!

A moment later, the light gradually faded. The old soul master stood frozen in place, taking several seconds to react, his voice trembling uncontrollably:

"...Innate... Full Soul Power?!"

He stared at Lu Ran in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief. Even in the bustling Shrek City, he had never seen anyone with Innate Soul Power higher than level seven in all his decades of work!

This, this, this...

A genius... terrifyingly gifted!

Unlike the old soul master, Lu Ran felt completely calm. Years of worry and anxiety dissipated in an instant, and he felt as if the world had suddenly opened up.

Even the awakening hall seemed a little brighter.

Just then, he caught a glimpse of a graceful figure out of the corner of his eye.

He turned his head to look.

A gentle woman stood at the entrance of the hall, staring at him with a face full of astonishment.

The woman was about twenty years old, with a serene temperament and exquisite features. She stood tall and elegant like a refined lotus, surrounded by a unique, gentle, and quiet aura that made her unforgettable.

"Sister Lexuan... when did you arrive?"

Zhang Lexuan was the leader of the Shrek Inspectorate. She had found Lu Ran beneath a cliff, healed him, and seeing that he was all alone, had brought him here for his awakening.

She was truly a kind soul.

Lu Ran mused that perhaps Zhang Lexuan had once been alone and helpless herself, which was why she had reached out to help him.

Zhang Lexuan snapped back to reality and said softly:

"Just now..."

She had returned just in time to hear Lu Ran mention a space-type martial soul and hadn't wanted to interrupt, only for the crystal ball to erupt with that blinding light the very next second.

Innate Full Soul Power...

One in a hundred thousand across the entire continent... Innate Full Soul Power!

The child she had saved on a whim possessed such heaven-defying talent; it was truly incredible.

"Xiao Ran, your martial soul... no, come back to Shrek Academy with me first."

Regardless of the nature of his space-type martial soul, it was of utmost importance to Shrek Academy, especially the Shrek of today.

Inside the solemn awakening hall, The old soul master felt a flash of white light pass before his eyes.

He instinctively reached out to catch something; it was a thick, precious pouch, bulging and clearly filled with something valuable.

By the time he looked up, there was no longer any sign of Zhang Lexuan or Lu Ran.

The old soul master tactfully tucked the pouch away, intending to open it only after returning home, and pretended that nothing had happened. Humming a light tune, he began to wipe the crystal ball with a silk cloth.

As for the registration that was supposed to take place—with so many people awakening every year, who would remember if one was missing?

Besides, to be able to leave right in front of him without a sound, she had to be at least a Soul King-level powerhouse; it would be far too easy for her to deal with him in the shadows.

How could he dare to disobey?

Lu Ran was held by soft arms, a faint, delicate fragrance drifting into his nostrils as the wind whistled past his ears.

Logically, this should have been quite pleasant.

In reality, it was the opposite; his body was rigid, and he clung tightly to Zhang Lexuan, not daring to let go, bracing himself just to keep his eyes open.

For some reason, he had the constant feeling that he was about to fall off a cliff.

Perhaps it was because he had just fallen off one.

Zhang Lexuan noticed Lu Ran's strangeness. Looking at his tense profile and stiff body, a trace of apology and... maternal tenderness flashed in her beautiful eyes—

After all, Lu Ran was only a six-year-old child.

Realizing she had been too impatient, she slowed her pace upon landing.

Fortunately, Shrek Academy was not far away.

Over a dozen young men and women in uniforms stood guard at the towering city gate, while the walls connected to the gate stretched out to both sides, disappearing into the distance.

Crossing over the wall, the clamor of the outside world immediately vanished.

Passing by the lake, they arrived in front of a building on the island at its center.

"Little Ran, I am taking you to see the Dean."

Lu Ran released his hold and stepped onto the solid ground, shaking his right hand, which had grown slightly cold due to poor circulation.

Zhang Lexuan was even more anxious than he had imagined; she truly seemed afraid he might run away.

He had no idea what time it was now, but judging by Zhang Lexuan's age, it was quite possible that they were still several years away from the original timeline.

He nodded:

"Sister Lexuan, let's go up."