Awakening

"Child, step forward."

The old voice echoed through the spacious awakening hall.

Lu Ran stepped forward in his grass sandals, worn nearly to shreds. He took a deep breath and entered the formation. The tap-tap of his footsteps echoed in his ears, yet he still felt somewhat dazed.

He'd experienced the greatest ups and downs of life all in a single day.

It all felt unreal.

Like a fantasy before he fell to his death.

Six years ago, Lu Ran had transmigrated to this world and been adopted by a pair of farmers. His adoptive parents had passed away one after the other, leaving him to make a living gathering herbs. He'd also been saving up for his awakening.

He'd thought that, as a transmigrator, he was bound to have a powerful Martial Soul. Once he awakened it, he'd soar to greatness.

As long as he awakened, everything would get better.

At last, after years of scrimping and saving, his total funds—including his adoptive parents' inheritance—came to...

Five copper coins...

Forget awakening. He could barely afford to eat.

With no other choice, he'd risked venturing into the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest in search of precious herbs, ready to stake everything on one gamble.

But he'd accidentally fallen off a cliff.

He'd thought he'd become the first transmigrator in history to die from a fall.

When he woke up... he discovered that a passing Shrek Inspectorate had rescued him.

His injuries had been treated, too.

When they learned he hadn't awakened his Martial Soul, they'd brought him straight to Shrek City for the awakening.

They'd even said they'd come back to get him afterward. As long as he had at least three levels of Soul Power, he could enter Shrek Academy. If he had no Soul Power, they'd still find him a way to earn a living.

They were practically saints.

Lu Ran felt a swell of gratitude. Life really did go from rock bottom to the heights, then back up again.

He only hoped it wouldn't plunge back down once more.

As the black-robed Soul Master poured Soul Power into the formation, a soft glow rose from it and slowly enveloped Lu Ran.

His heartbeat quickened despite himself. He closed his eyes and felt the warm current stirring within him.

Several breaths later, the light faded.

All that remained was Lu Ran, slowly opening his eyes in bewilderment.

His Martial Soul... was actually—

Small World!

It was currently a space about a hundred zhang across, and it could expand as he grew stronger. Each Soul Ring could form a pact with one Soul Beast, and the Small World would gain a corresponding element.

Once all the elements were complete, it could transform into a true world!

The Soul Beasts bound by pact could keep cultivating, and even their attributes could evolve!

Lu Ran was stunned.

This was my Martial Soul?!

It was this absurdly powerful?!

Wasn't it ten thousand times better than something like the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon or the Golden Dragon King?!

And I'd even braced myself for awakening a Trash Martial Soul.

The boulder weighing on his heart for six years finally fell away, and he felt a wave of relief.

Suppressing his excitement, he slowly exhaled.

It's settled. With a Martial Soul this powerful, how could I not have any Soul Power?

The black-robed Soul Master asked as usual, "What is your Martial Soul?"

"Small World."

"Small World?"

The pen poised to write froze in midair. He looked up, confusion in his dark brown eyes. "What do you mean by 'Small World'?"

He'd never heard of it. What was a Small World Martial Soul?

Could there be a World Martial Soul, too?

But what on earth was a World Martial Soul?

Could a world even become a Martial Soul...

A string of questions left the old Soul Master baffled. Seeing his reaction, Lu Ran rephrased it. "It's a space-type Martial Soul."

"Oh, oh..."

The old Soul Master still didn't understand how the two were related, but he'd read records about space-type Martial Souls, and the explanation gave him a better idea.

A name that sounded so powerful, and a rare space-type Martial Soul to boot. The child before him was likely a genius with at least five levels of Innate Soul Power. His future was boundless.

He nodded, his tone softening without him realizing it.

"Let's test your Soul Power."

Lu Ran walked over to the crystal ball without offering any further explanation.

The concept of a Small World was complicated and even involved planes. It was simpler and more fitting to call it a space-type Martial Soul.

And it really was a space-type Martial Soul.

The instant his fingertip touched the crystal ball, dazzling white light burst from within it, filling the entire awakening hall in a flash and blinding everyone—

It was a brilliance the old Soul Master had never seen in his life!

After a moment, the light slowly faded. The old Soul Master stood frozen in place, and it took him several seconds to react. His voice trembled uncontrollably.

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

He stared at Lu Ran, disbelief filling his eyes. Even though he lived in Shrek City, the most prosperous city around, he'd never seen anyone with more than seven levels of Innate Soul Power in all his decades!

Th-this...

A genius... terrifying beyond belief!

Unlike the old Soul Master, Lu Ran had become completely calm. Years of worry and anxiety vanished in an instant, and the world seemed vast and open.

Even the awakening hall looked brighter.

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

He turned to look.

A gentle-looking woman stood at the hall's entrance, gazing at him in astonishment.

She looked about twenty. Her demeanor was serene, her features exquisite. She stood tall and graceful like an elegant lotus, surrounded by a uniquely gentle and tranquil air that made her unforgettable.

"Sister Lexuan... when did you get here?"

Zhang Lexuan was the leader of the Shrek Inspectorate. She'd found Lu Ran beneath the cliff and treated his injuries. Seeing him all alone, she'd even brought him here for his awakening.

She was practically a saint.

Lu Ran wondered if Zhang Lexuan had once been alone and helpless herself, which was why she'd stepped in to help him.

Zhang Lexuan came back to her senses and spoke softly.

"Just now..."

She'd returned just in time to hear Lu Ran mention a space-type Martial Soul, so she hadn't interrupted him. Who could've known that the very next moment, the crystal ball would burst into such dazzling light?

Innate Full Soul Power...

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

The child she'd casually rescued had such an astonishing talent. It was truly unbelievable.

"Xiao Ran, your Martial Soul... no, come with me to Shrek Academy first."

No matter what kind of space-type Martial Soul it was, it was immensely important to Shrek Academy—especially Shrek as it was now.

In the solemn awakening hall,

the old Soul Master saw a flash of white before his eyes.

He instinctively reached out to catch it. It was a thick, precious pouch, bulging with what was clearly something valuable inside.

When he looked up again, Zhang Lexuan and Lu Ran had vanished.

The old Soul Master wisely tucked the pouch away, planning to open it later. He'd act as if nothing had happened, humming a cheerful little tune as he wiped the crystal ball with a silk cloth.

As for the registration he'd been supposed to complete—so many people awakened every year.

Who'd remember if one person was missing?

Besides, anyone who could leave without a sound right in front of him had to be at least a Soul King. It would be all too easy for them to deal with him in secret.

How could he dare refuse?

Lu Ran was held in soft arms, a faint, delicate fragrance wafting into his nose as the wind roared past his ears.

By rights, it should've been an extremely pleasant experience.

In reality, his body was rigid. He clung tightly to Zhang Lexuan, afraid to let go, and could only keep himself from closing his eyes through sheer force of will.

For some reason,

he had a feeling he was about to fall off a cliff again.

Perhaps it was because he'd just fallen off one.

Zhang Lexuan noticed that something was wrong with Lu Ran. Looking at his tense profile and rigid body, a trace of apology and... motherly tenderness flashed in her beautiful eyes—

After all, Lu Ran was only six.

Realizing she'd been too eager, she landed and slowed down.

Fortunately, Shrek Academy wasn't far.

More than a dozen young men and women in uniform guarded the towering city gate. The walls connected to it stretched out in both directions, vanishing into the distance.

Once they crossed the walls, the clamor immediately disappeared.

They passed over a lake and arrived at a building on an island in its center.

"Xiao Ran, I'll take you to meet the dean."

Lu Ran released his hold and planted his feet on solid ground. He shook his right hand, which had gone cold from poor circulation.

Zhang Lexuan had been even more impatient than he'd expected, as if she were genuinely afraid he'd run off.

He didn't know what year it was, but judging by Zhang Lexuan's age, it might still be several years before the original story's timeline.

He nodded.

"Let's go in, Sister Lexuan."