This Time... There Shouldn't Be Any Problems, Right?

After writing the final character, Salas blew the ink dry and solemnly stamped it with his Elder's seal.

He looked at the letter of recommendation, filled with praise and expectation, and let out a long breath, as though a weight had been lifted from his heart.

"Kid, the road has been paved for you. How far you can go from here depends on yourself... Just don't get yourself killed halfway down the road..."

Salas gazed out the window, his tone carrying expectation and a trace of worry that even he had not noticed.

Meanwhile, on the country road leading to the next village, Lin Xia knew nothing of this.

Bulbasaur was still asleep in his arms. Lin Xia held it carefully, making every step exceptionally steady.

After several days of unhurried travel and circulating Life Poison to regulate his breathing, the soreness in his body had eased considerably. He had changed out of his damaged deacon's robe and into a spare, though his face still bore a trace of weariness. There was, however, an added calmness in his eyes.

Beneath blue skies and white clouds, a breeze swept through the golden waves of wheat beside the road, producing a soft rustling sound.

Farmers could occasionally be seen working in the fields on either side, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

What should have been a pleasant sight inexplicably made Lin Xia's heart tighten.

The events at Skyhorn Village kept replaying uncontrollably in his mind.

The sudden attack by the Earth Crystal Snake, the Skyhorn Snake's frenzied pursuit, the eerie puppet-like gazes of the entire village, the Illusion Demon Spider's bottomless, terrifying maw, and the endless torment inside its sticky stomach sac...

Every recollection made his fingertips turn slightly cold.

"This time... there shouldn't be any problems, right?"

Lin Xia muttered under his breath, as if comforting himself, yet also as if offering a devout prayer.

"It's just an ordinary awakening ceremony... Please, please don't let anything go wrong again! Don't let me run into any strange Soul Beasts again... And don't let me get dragged into any goddamn conspiracy either..."

He repeated it in his heart over and over, almost neurotically. His mind was taut with concentration, and he extended his senses to their limits, catching every hint of movement around him.

As he passed a small pond, a ripple spread across the still surface.

Lin Xia stopped instantly. His pupils contracted, and his hand instinctively pressed against the corner of the crystal ball hidden in his pack!

He stared fixedly at the water, as if something terrifying would burst through the surface the next moment!

A few breaths later, a fat carp flicked its tail, leaped from the water, and fell back in.

"...Whew..."

Only then did Lin Xia relax. The knuckles of the hand pressing against the crystal ball had gone somewhat white from how tightly he had clenched it. Embarrassed, he wiped at the cold sweat that was not actually there and muttered a curse at himself.

"Paranoid."

A glossy-feathered crow flapped up from the wheat field, letting out a harsh caw as it flew into the distance.

Lin Xia's heart skipped another beat. His gaze snapped after it, and only after confirming that it was just an ordinary bird did he slowly look away.

"Dear heavens, give me a break..."

He wailed inwardly. He had truly been scared senseless by all this!

That disaster aura, where everything collapsed wherever he went, seemed carved into his soul. He felt an unprecedented distrust toward environments that appeared calm on the surface.

He even began to miss the days of peacefully absorbing toxins in Yue Hongsheng's courtyard. At least back then... the danger had been plainly visible!

Following the map's directions, the outline of the next village had appeared at the edge of his vision. A few wisps of cooking smoke curled upward, making it look quiet and ordinary.

Lin Xia gazed at the village from afar, his expression incomparably complicated—full of hope that everything would be peaceful, yet faintly tinged with a sense of impending doom.

He subconsciously hugged Bulbasaur tighter, as though it were his only support.

"Bulbasaur... we're just going to go through the motions. We absolutely won't look around or ask questions... This time, we definitely won't investigate anything unusual, okay?"

Upon hearing Lin Xia's words, Bulbasaur could not help recalling everything since it had begun following him—fleeing for their lives, obtaining Soul Rings, awakening missions... Every single time!

Every operation that had seemed ordinary at first had ultimately turned into a heart-pounding brush with death!

From being hunted by a Soul Saint, to stumbling into a chain of traps set by savage Soul Beasts, to nearly being completely devoured by the Illusion Demon Spider this time...

The danger had grown more terrifying each time!

Misfortune—or rather, the pull of calamity—seemed to be wrapped tightly around its trainer.

At that thought, Bulbasaur extended a Vine Whip and hurriedly covered Lin Xia's mouth.

"Bulba!!"

In the faint morning light, Lin Xia was methodically presiding over the Martial Soul awakening ceremony inside a dilapidated ancestral hall.

Compared with Skyhorn Village, the people here were simpler and poorer. The air carried only the fresh scent of earth and vegetation, without the nauseatingly sweet stench of Rotting Flesh Poison.

Lin Xia's movements were much more practiced now, and there was a trace of relaxation between his brows that even he had not noticed.

The journey over the past few days had been unbelievably peaceful, allowing his tightly wound nerves a brief respite.

Bulbasaur had long since awakened and was now lying quietly at his feet. The bulb on its back gleamed with a gentle luster, while its red eyes calmly swept over the somewhat nervous children.

The crystal ball lit up again and again. Most of the Martial Souls were hoes, sickles, or small fish commonly found in streams.

Their Soul Power was almost always zero.

"Next."

A little boy with dark skin, callused hands, and exceptionally bright eyes stepped forward nervously.

When his small hand touched the crystal ball, a faint glow appeared.

A hint of surprise flashed through Lin Xia's eyes.

"Martial Soul: Greenstone Beetle. Soul Power... level three."

For such an impoverished village, this was already an exceptionally promising seedling!

The old village chief was so excited that he nearly cried out. The surrounding villagers also erupted into commotion, their gazes toward the boy filled with envy and disbelief.

Before their excitement could settle, the next little girl's hand had barely touched the crystal ball when it burst forth with an even brighter light!

"Martial Soul: Stream Spirit Grass. Soul Power... level five!"

Clear approval rang in Lin Xia's voice.

"Gasp—!"

A collective gasp sounded through the ancestral hall.

The old village chief's lips trembled. His wrinkled face flushed red with overwhelming joy as he staggered forward, looking from the boy to the girl. He was so excited that he did not know what to do with his hands and feet, nearly dropping to his knees to kowtow to Lin Xia on the spot!

"Lord Deacon... Is... is this true? Our Stone Creek Village... has produced Soul Masters! Two of them, even!"

The old village chief's voice was choked with tears.

Lin Xia hurriedly reached out to stop him. A rare, gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Old sir, it's true. This is their own talent, and it is also the village's blessing."

He looked at the two children, who had both frozen in stunned delight. Their eyes shone like morning stars.

"What are your names? Are you willing to join Spirit Hall to study? They will help you cultivate better there."

"My name is Shi Lei!"

The boy puffed out his chest, his voice loud and clear.

"I... I'm Shui Ling'er."

The girl was somewhat shy, but her gaze was just as resolute.

"We're willing!"

The two spoke in unison, their voices full of longing for the future.

"Good."

Lin Xia nodded with satisfaction and efficiently prepared Martial Soul certificates for them, clearly listing their Martial Soul types, Innate Soul Power levels, and their intention to join Spirit Hall.

"Remember, keep these certificates safe. With them, you can report to the Spirit Hall in any city, where a dedicated deacon will guide you to a suitable place to study."

"Once your Soul Power breaks through level ten, make sure to register promptly. That way, you can receive a monthly allowance."

Lin Xia carefully explained every detail.