That scorching radiance could only have been emitted by powerful Martial Souls.
Just the stimulation of that light made Deacon Liu feel as though his body had been thrown into a raging inferno.
The others in the room had it even worse. They had long since been unable to keep their eyes open.
A good while later, only after Han Xing completed his awakening, did the dazzling light finally disappear.
"Could this be... the top-tier Beast Spirit, the Golden Crow?"
Deacon Liu looked at the divine golden bird in Han Xing's hand, surprise showing in his eyes.
"No, that's not right. This isn't an ordinary Golden Crow."
"An ordinary Golden Crow shouldn't cause such a terrifying phenomenon."
Deacon Liu scrutinized it again and again, finally noticing what made the Golden Crow in Han Xing's hand different.
"Three claws... could this be the Three-Legged Golden Crow?"
Deacon Liu's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow and the Golden Crow differed by only two words.
Yet those two words made all the difference.
The Three-Legged Golden Crow was an Ancient Divine Beast, while the Golden Crow was merely a variant with the bloodline of the Three-Legged Golden Crow.
Even with only a portion of that bloodline, however, the Golden Crow was still a top-tier Beast Spirit on this continent.
"Child, quick, come over and awaken your Soul Power."
"With such a powerful Martial Soul, your Innate Soul Power is sure to be impressive."
Deacon Liu hurriedly pulled Han Xing over and led him to the Soul Power awakening crystal ball.
As Han Xing reached out and touched the crystal ball, dazzling white light suddenly filled the entire room.
This was unmistakably a sign of Innate Full Soul Power.
Han Xing, however, seemed quite calm.
It wasn't that he was unfazed. He had already anticipated what his Martial Soul and Soul Power would be.
"Child, you're the legendary one-in-ten-thousand talent with Innate Full Soul Power, and you also have a top-tier Beast Spirit."
In a coaxing tone, Deacon Liu said, "Come with me. We'll go see the Grand Steward, and then we'll get you your First Soul Ring."
Han Xing felt somewhat helpless, but followed him anyway.
The two soon arrived at Deacon Hall. An old man who looked to be over seventy was standing inside, studying a map in his hands.
Hearing them, the old man looked up in their direction.
"Yun Xiao, you're a grown man. Why are you still rushing around so carelessly?" The old man frowned.
"Have the children from the orphanage finished their awakenings? This child looks like he's awakened Soul Power."
"What's his Innate Soul Power level? What's his Martial Soul?"
At the old man's questions, Deacon Liu hurriedly replied, "Grand Steward, this is Han Xing. His Martial Soul is the Three-Legged Golden Crow, and he has Innate Full Soul Power."
"He's one of the children from the orphanage in Nuoding City. I thought his talent was exceptional, so I brought him to meet you."
"A top-tier Beast Spirit, and Innate Full Soul Power?" A gleam appeared in the old man's eyes.
"Child, quickly, release your Martial Soul so I can have a look."
Han Xing did as he was asked and summoned his Martial Soul.
When the old man got a clear look at the Three-Legged Golden Crow, delight immediately spread across his face.
"It really is the Three-Legged Golden Crow! Yun Xiao, you've done a great service."
"I wouldn't dare take credit, Grand Steward. It's all thanks to your guidance, and, more importantly, to the care he received at the orphanage." Liu Yunxiao shook his head.
"Mm. Humble and level-headed. Very good." The old man nodded in approval.
"The orphanage has done a great service this time. Double their supplies from now on."
With that, the old man looked at Han Xing again, his smile kind and gentle.
"Child, my name is He Yuan. Just call me Grandpa He. There's no need to be nervous."
"You grew up in our Spirit Hall. Would you like to visit Spirit City?"
"If you want to, we can send you to the most prosperous city, Spirit City. There, you'll receive the best instruction."
Han Xing shook his head. "I don't want to leave Nuoding City."
"Is that so..."
At Han Xing's response, He Yuan couldn't help frowning.
For an ordinary genius, it would be simple enough to take him straight to Spirit City.
But with a top-tier genius like this, doing anything that might make him resent Spirit Hall would be a grave mistake.
This was especially true of the children from the orphanage. They had grown up without parental affection, so they couldn't be forced.
"How about we have you study at Notting Academy first, then go to Spirit Academy after you graduate?" He Yuan suggested, changing tack.
During the early stages of a Soul Master's growth, the outside environment had little effect on them.
At this stage, even Spirit Academy mainly taught knowledge about Soul Masters and Soul Beasts.
"That works." Han Xing nodded.
His goal was to stay in Nuoding City for now, make a brief appearance in the story, and build up some popularity.
He Yuan's suggestion suited his needs perfectly.
"Very good. In that case, I'll arrange a place for you at Notting Academy right away," the old man said with a smile.
"But before you go to the academy, there's something even more important we need to take care of."
At Han Xing's puzzled look, He Yuan soon explained.
"Tomorrow, the Bishop and I will take you to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain your first Soul Ring."
"Only after getting your First Soul Ring can you become a true Soul Master."
Han Xing's eyes lit up.
Although Douluo Continent was only a low-fantasy world, for someone who had spent more than a decade living in an ordinary world—
Whether low fantasy or high fantasy, anything related to the supernatural was irresistibly fascinating.
With He Yuan's arrangements, Han Xing soon moved out of the orphanage and into a dormitory of his own at Spirit Hall.
With Liu Yunxiao's help, Han Xing quickly finished tidying up his room.
Early the next morning.
He Yuan brought along a Purple-Robed Bishop, the head of Nuoding City's Spirit Branch Hall, and woke Han Xing.
"Child, your Martial Soul is the Ancient Divine Beast, the Three-Legged Golden Crow."
"The Bishop and I have discussed it. The Soul Beasts best suited to you are fire-type or light-type Soul Beasts."
"On the way to the Soul Hunting Forest, remember to stay close to us. Don't wander off, understand?"
Along the way, He Yuan kept instructing Han Xing.
"All right, I understand, Grandpa He."
Han Xing nodded and listened attentively to their instructions.
With a Purple-Robed Bishop and a Yellow-Robed Grand Steward accompanying him,
Obtaining Han Xing's First Soul Ring was naturally easy. Nothing unexpected happened at all.
After all, no matter how dangerous the Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest were, they were at most a little over a thousand years old.
Spirit Hall required a Yellow-Robed Grand Steward to have at least Level 40 Soul Power, so driving off a Soul Beast a little over a thousand years old was a simple matter.
After spending two days there, Han Xing soon obtained his First Soul Ring.
It came from a very rare Soul Beast, the Crimson Dawn Fire-Feather Sparrow, a little over four hundred years old.
This Soul Beast had a wingspan of about a meter. Its entire body was covered in golden-red feathers that shimmered faintly, and its tail feathers bore four flame patterns.
Each additional pattern represented another hundred years.
Han Xing's Soul Skill was called: Dawn Light Fire Feather
It could form a ring of light-and-fire wings around him, then shoot out a large spread of Light Fire Plumes for long-range attacks.
Alternatively, he could keep the wings in place to protect himself, scorching nearby enemies while blocking their attacks.
It was a powerful Soul Skill, capable of both offense and defense.