Second Sign-In (2)

The sun climbed high, and Li Changsheng tossed aside the ordinary spear he had purchased before stepping out of his courtyard.

"It's exceptionally lively today."

Walking through the streets of Spirit Soul City, he found the crowds dense, everyone buzzing with various topics of conversation.

Most of them were adults, each holding the small hand of one or two children, all heading in the same direction.

The bustle was only natural.

After all, today was the annual day of Spirit Awakening in Spirit Soul City.

Ever since Tang San ascended to godhood over ten thousand years ago, the original Holy Soul Village had reached its zenith. Even as the Tang Sect faded into obscurity, Spirit Soul City continued to climb, thriving like a never-ending song.

People believed that the lingering grace of the divine remained; to awaken one's spirit here was to receive the protection of the gods and manifest a powerful martial soul.

However, as Li Changsheng walked among the crowd, he pondered a question.

Martial souls are generally hereditary. If both parents have ordinary spirits, wouldn't it be a bit far-fetched for a child to awaken something extraordinary? A mutation? It's impossible for there to be so many mutations...

At this thought, a faint smile touched Li Changsheng's lips.

He certainly had descendants of his own. Although he possessed no martial soul, his wife was a Spirit Master—a seventh-ring Spirit Saint-level powerhouse—and his direct descendants had all inherited her spirit.

"Sea God Awakening Hall."

Following the flow of the crowd, Li Changsheng soon arrived at the Sea God Awakening Hall, located just outside Spirit Soul Village.

Though called the Sea God Awakening Hall, it was actually just the branch of the Spirit Hall where Tang San had once awakened his own spirit. Originally built from rotting wooden planks, it had since been transformed into a magnificent and opulent palace.

Gold bricks paved the walls, and Blue Silver Grass motifs wound around the pillars. A gentle breeze brushed his face, carrying the clamor of the crowd.

Li Changsheng found a spot and paused to watch for a while.

Those arriving to awaken their spirits included parents and children in commoner's clothing, as well as young nobles in brocade robes, all entering the Sea God Awakening Hall in batches.

Standing beneath a large tree, Li Changsheng found himself next to a commoner father and son who were chatting.

"Papa, what kind of martial soul do you think I'll awaken?"

The young boy, with his plain features, looked up at the father holding his hand and asked, his voice tight with nervousness.

The tall, dark-skinned man lowered his head, a simple, honest smile on his face. He used his calloused palm to gently stroke the boy's head, his voice rumbling like thunder:

"Son, you'll definitely awaken a powerful and impressive martial soul."

The boy's mouth fell open, his simple eyes flashing with deep confusion as he looked at his father and suddenly asked:

"But I heard Da Niu and the others say that the spirit you awaken is the same as your parents'. So, will my spirit be a hoe? Or maybe Mama's sickle?"

The burly man smiled slightly and said to his son:

"Perhaps you'll awaken both a hoe and a sickle. Who knows?"

"Wow, is that the legendary twin martial soul?" The boy jumped up in excitement.

"Mm, that's right. My son is an incredible genius. But even if it's an ordinary spirit, it doesn't matter. With a hoe spirit, you'll be a master at farming!"

Li Changsheng watched the pair with a smile that didn't belong to his age.

It was not a mocking smile, but one of slight envy.

He perhaps harbored a regret—a regret that he hadn't been able to personally hold his own daughter's hand and bring her to such an event.

Alas, who told him to marry a Spirit Master?

His daughter could awaken her spirit at home; why would she ever need to come out here?

Inside the Sea God Awakening Hall, children were entering and exiting in a steady stream.

Those going in wore expressions of nervousness.

As for those coming out, some were incredibly excited, clenching their fists and hopping down the three hundred and sixty steps. Others looked dejected, their footsteps so heavy that they had to take several steps just to commit to placing one foot down.

Li Changsheng took in every scene.

He gauged the time, then headed toward the registration desk.

At the same time, the father and son beside him followed suit; clearly, they were looking to register as well.

After paying the one gold spirit coin registration fee, Li Changsheng entered the waiting area beside the Sea God Awakening Hall.

This was a space reserved only for those who had paid the fee.

His name had already been entered into the queue.

By now, Li Changsheng was surrounded only by children.

These children were all somewhat reserved, each keeping to their own little circle.

Li Changsheng stood at the very front, waiting quietly.

As time passed, the sun grew increasingly dazzling, beating down on the children's faces and leaving many of them struggling to hold on.

Li Changsheng, however, felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze. He circulated his Mysterious Heaven Skill, his faint spirit power connecting through his meridians and expanding the strength that belonged to him alone.

Yet, compared to the Mysterious Heaven Skill's power that had once flowed like a long river, the internal energy now felt as if it were bound by something.

Even without asking the God of Wisdom, Li Changsheng knew that this was likely the barrier of the first level of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Only after awakening a martial soul would he probably be able to break through this threshold.

"Li Changsheng!

Li Zishuo!

Zhao Song!

Qian Dabao!

Leng Letong!

Luo Jianzhang!

Zhuo Yongning!

Pang Hongmao!

Zhu Zhichen!

Wang Dong!"

An old man walked out of the Sea God Awakening Hall, holding a list in his hand. He stood on the steps and called out the names of those scheduled for awakening.

Li Changsheng remained expressionless as he stepped out of the waiting line.

However, after stepping out of the crowd, he glanced not far away at the child named Li Zishuo.

The other children appeared much more excited, their faces flushed red by the sun as they looked up at the old man.

"Qian Dabao is here!"

"Huh?"

Li Changsheng followed the familiar voice and happened to see the child from before; it turned out his name was Qian Dabao...

The fat kid who follows the protagonist around is always named that, Li Changsheng muttered to himself.

Once the group had gathered, Li Changsheng calmly swept his gaze over the nine people beside him.

"Huh?"

This time, Li Changsheng was genuinely puzzled.

His gaze rested on the last person, a child who seemed to be named Wang Dong.

Him? Her?

Li Changsheng hesitated for a moment. It wasn't that his eyes were failing him; it was simply that this child named Wang Dong was too difficult to distinguish.

A brilliant short hair interwoven with blue and pink swayed in the breeze. A pair of exquisite, delicate eyes stared into the air with a hint of arrogance. His fair skin seemed to shimmer with a special luster, and he wore clothing that was form-fitting yet unpretentious.

Li Changsheng's own appearance was clearly not bad, but compared to this Wang Dong, there was truly a gap.

After staring for a bit too long, Wang Dong, who was standing at the end of the line, seemed to notice Li Changsheng's observant gaze. He suddenly glanced over, his piercing stare forcing its way toward him, and he spoke up loudly:

"Is there a flower on this young master's face?"

The other children all turned their gazes toward Wang Dong at the end of the line in unison.

Their little faces showed surprise. He was actually a boy?

"..." Li Changsheng paused for a moment. He naturally knew the other party was talking about him.

He immediately withdrew his gaze, not feeling angry, but merely puzzled:

He seems to be practicing the Mysterious Heaven Skill as well, and like me, he has reached the perfection of the first level.

Could he be the son of the Clear Sky Sect Master? Why is his surname Wang? Still, he's certainly arrogant enough, Li Changsheng thought.

The old man finished reading the names and, without any unnecessary chatter, said with a touch of indifference, "Alright, you ten, follow me."

Led by Li Changsheng, the ten of them followed behind the old man toward the Sea God Awakening Hall.

Just as Li Changsheng stepped onto the first step of the Sea God Awakening Hall:

Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the second sign-in task. Due to flaws in the task, the completion rate is 95%, and the reward is halved. Reward items: Growth-type Spirit Ring *1, a copy of a Level 10 Spirit Tool Master's notes. Special bonus reward: Martial Soul *1.

Note: The growth-type spirit ring can be attached directly and will automatically increase in age based on the host's physical tolerance. The bonus reward martial soul will automatically trigger and awaken during the martial soul awakening process, thereby achieving twin martial souls.

Next sign-in location: Shrek Pre-Academy!

Multiple time-limited tasks triggered:
Win first place in the Shrek Pre-Academy freshman competition.
Become a Spirit Tool Master before the age of twelve, no level limit.
Defeat the Pre-Academy's top genius team before the age of twelve.
Become a three-ring Spirit Elder before the age of twelve, with a total spirit ring age of no less than 10,000 years.
Surpass all others in the graduation exam and become the valedictorian.
Explore the Star Dou Great Forest.
Explore the Sunset Forest.
Explore the Polar Glacier.

"Note: Multiple limited-time quests. Failure carries no penalty; rewards will be granted based on the degree of completion."

"Reward finalized."

"What the hell is this 'reward halved' nonsense?"

Li Changsheng's foot slipped as he stepped onto the stairs. Fortunately, his Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated automatically, and he deployed his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track footwork to steady his frame, avoiding a public embarrassment.

<Notification: Likely because you made use of the Night-Startling Spear...>