Village Chief Old John brought unfortunate news: the Spirit Hall deacon had been conscripted to the warfront, and there would be no Martial Soul Awakening this year.
This was the first upheaval Ma Hongjun had encountered.
He was certain nothing like this had happened in his previous life. Spirit Hall's free awakenings had been as ordinary as eating and drinking for commoners like them.
Spirit Hall was at war? With whom?
Because news traveled poorly, Ma Hongjun could not learn anything more.
Unlike Oscar, he did not leave the village to seek a way out. After all, he was only four years old, and there were still two years until his awakening.
The villagers could only disperse in disappointment.
Several more months passed.
The city lord's officer led soldiers into the countryside and destroyed the Spirit Hall building in the center of the village.
Old John hurried forward to stop them. "Stop! This is the Spirit Hall where the children awaken their Martial Souls. If you do this, the Soul Masters from Spirit Hall will cause trouble for you."
The officer smiled kindly. "Spirit Hall? Old Village Chief, our wise Majesty has ordered the destruction of every Spirit Hall within the Heaven Dou Empire. From now on, Spirit Hall will no longer bully you. You may peacefully bask in the glory of His Holy Majesty of Heaven Dou."
Old John froze...
Not only was Old John stunned, but Ma Hongjun, who had rushed over after hearing the news to find out why Spirit Hall had been destroyed, was dumbfounded as well.
Wait, did I hear that right? How could Spirit Hall be gone?
Ma Hongjun panicked.
If he had already awakened his Martial Soul, then naturally he would not have cared.
In Ma Hongjun's eyes, Spirit Hall was an organization