Spirit Pagoda

Morning sunlight spilled across the Spirit Pagoda's silver-white glass curtain walls in Aolai City, reflecting a dazzling glow.

The entire Spirit Pagoda was so tall that its top could not be seen at a glance. It was the tallest building in Aolai City.

Unlike the low residential buildings and shops around it, it exuded a cold yet refined futuristic feel.

Its streamlined tower body was constructed entirely from specially made energy glass. Sunlight passed through the glass, casting ever-changing patterns of light and shadow onto the ground.

Countless tiny blue points of light were embedded in the tower, twinkling like stars in the night sky. They were the Spirit Pagoda's energy indicators.

There was no ordinary wooden door at the entrance, only a transparent energy barrier.

Guards in matching black uniforms stood expressionlessly on either side of the barrier, faint Soul Power fluctuations radiating from their bodies.

People entering and leaving only needed to scan their identity cards, and the energy barrier would automatically open a gap just large enough for one person to pass through.

"Wow... is this the Spirit Pagoda?"

Tang Wulin stood at the entrance to the Spirit Pagoda, tilting up his little face with his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

His eyes were opened wide, unblinking as he stared at the magnificent building before him, his face full of shock and curiosity.

He had grown up in Aolai City's commoner district, accustomed to weathered bluestone streets, low brick-and-tile houses, and roadside snack stalls belching oily smoke.

He had never been to the Spirit Pagoda, nor had he ever seen such a beautiful, futuristic building.

In his imagination, the Spirit Pagoda should have been an ancient and mysterious place. He had never expected it to look like this.

He stretched out a small hand and cautiously touched the cold metal pillar beside him. The icy sensation traveled from his fingertips, making him shiver.

Tang Ziran walked at the front, holding the three children's identity cards, without a trace of surprise on his face.

He had already visited the Spirit Pagoda several times while asking about the prices of Soul Spirits for Tang Wulin, so he was long used to it.

"Come on, Tangtang. Stop spacing out."

He called back over his shoulder.

"After buying the Soul Spirits, we need to head back early. Otherwise, you'll be late to Teacher Mang Tian's this afternoon."

Huang Feng'er walked in the middle, both hands tucked into her tracksuit pockets, her face entirely expressionless.

She had no mood to admire the scenery around her. Her golden eyes vigilantly swept over everything nearby.

Her gaze quickly passed over the two guards at the entrance, observing their positions and the weapons at their waists.

Then she looked at the densely packed surveillance cameras on the ceiling, memorizing the angle and blind spots of each one.

Next, she swept her eyes across every exit in the hall, silently planning escape routes for an emergency.

She had grown up alone in the forest and had long developed the habit of remaining alert at all times.

Any unfamiliar environment could conceal danger for her.

A place like the Spirit Pagoda, where all kinds of people mingled and powerful individuals abounded, made her even less willing to let down her guard.

Her fingers curled unconsciously. It was her habitual motion when encountering danger, preparing to activate her martial soul.

Tang Wulin walked at the back. While curiously looking around, he kept a close eye on Huang Feng'er ahead of him.

He was afraid that since it was her first time at the Spirit Pagoda, she might get lost or run into trouble.

The two of them had come to the Spirit Pagoda this time to buy their own first Soul Spirits.

The one hundred thousand Federal Coins Tang Wulin had won in the big eater competition were just enough to buy a designated Ten-Year Soul Spirit.

As for Huang Feng'er, she used her fifty-thousand-Federal-Coin second-place prize, along with some savings she had accumulated over the years, to scrape together enough money for a random Soul Spirit.

Huang Feng'er said that she was a month older than Tang Wulin, that her martial soul was the Sacred Flame Phoenix, and that she also possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

[Yeah right.

Jin Qiu floated in the Spirit Sea and rolled his eyes dramatically, utterly unconvinced.

Six years and one month old? Who was she trying to fool?

She was probably just like Na'er claiming she was five and a half. One was better at pretending than the other.

If they went by their actual ages, Na'er was already hundreds of thousands of years old. This one probably wasn't far behind.

Although he said that, Jin Qiu felt that, like Na'er, Huang Feng'er had no related memories, which was why she believed herself to be so young.]

Tang Wulin marveled all the way, his eyes practically unable to take everything in.

He looked at the holographic projection floating in the hall, which was playing a Spirit Pagoda promotional video introducing Soul Spirits of various levels.

He watched Spirit Pagoda staff in uniform hurry back and forth with glowing tablets in their hands.

He watched the vending machines stocked with all sorts of Soul Master supplies he had never seen before.

"Wow... that flying screen is amazing."

"Wow... that robot can actually walk by itself."

"Wow... the Spirit Pagoda's floor is actually transparent! You can see the level below!"

Like a country child entering the city for the first time, he let out exclamations of wonder every so often.

The passersby around him could not help smiling at him.

Tang Ziran helplessly shook his head and reached out to grab his arm, afraid that he would run off and get lost.

"Alright, Tangtang, stop with the wows."

He said with a smile.

"Once you become a Soul Master, you'll have plenty of chances to visit the Spirit Pagoda. Then you can look for as long as you want."

The three of them crossed the bustling hall and passed through an automatic door glowing blue.

The automatic door slowly opened, and a faint, fresh fragrance washed over them.

This was the Spirit Pagoda's area specially designated for selling Soul Spirits.

Unlike the lively hall outside, this place was very quiet, with only the occasional murmur of conversation.

Rows of transparent glass display cases stood in the room, each containing a tiny Soul Spirit floating inside, radiating light of a different color.

There were white Ten-Year Soul Spirits, yellow Hundred-Year Soul Spirits, and a very small number of purple Thousand-Year Soul Spirits placed in the most conspicuous spots.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath, both nervous and excited.

He was about to obtain his very first Soul Spirit and become a true Soul Master.

He lifted his head and looked toward the attendant behind the counter, who was lowering his head as he sorted through documents.

The moment he saw the man's face clearly, the smile on his face froze.

His body jolted, and he instinctively shrank back, nearly bumping into Huang Feng'er behind him.

A familiar, bone-deep terror instantly swept through his entire body.

Today's attendant was the very Spirit Master who had awakened his martial soul last time.

He was a burly man only around one meter sixty tall, with broad shoulders, thick arms, and a faint scar on his face.

At that moment, he wore the Spirit Pagoda's standard black work suit with a tie, his hair combed meticulously. He looked prim and proper, even somewhat stern.

But Tang Wulin would never forget how he had been dressed on the day of the martial soul awakening.

That day, the one-meter-sixty burly man had worn a pink lace-trimmed JK miniskirt, its hem so short that it barely covered the roots of his thighs.

He had worn a pair of snow-white thigh-high socks pulled above his knees.

On his feet were small black leather shoes with three-centimeter heels.

His face had been covered in heavy pink blush, making his cheeks look like two ripe apples.

His lips had been painted with deathly Barbie-pink lipstick, long false eyelashes had been attached over his eyes, and he had even worn blue eyeshadow.

A huge pink bow had been clipped into his hair.

Tang Wulin still remembered that when the pain had nearly made him pass out, the last thing he saw was this burly man in a pink JK uniform and heavy makeup looking at him with concern.

That image had left an indelible shadow upon his young heart.

"Oh, isn't this Tang Wulin?"

The burly Spirit Master also spotted Tang Wulin. He raised his head, flashed a brilliant smile, and waved at him.

Tang Wulin had left far too deep an impression on him. After all, among all the children whose martial souls he had awakened, Tang Wulin was the only one who had been in so much pain from the awakening that he had passed out.

And he had Innate Full Soul Power, too. He was impossible to forget.