Half a month later, in Holy Soul Village near Notting City.
Inside the Spirit Hall Branch at the center of the village.
"Martial Soul: hoe. Innate Soul Power: none. Next."
"Martial Soul: shovel. Innate Soul Power: none. Next."
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Trash Martial Soul. Innate Soul Power: none. Next."
"Martial Soul: steamed bun. Innate Soul Power: none. Next."
"Martial Soul: broom. Innate Soul Power: none. Next."
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Another Trash Martial Soul. Innate Soul Power... level five! A shame it's still useless. Looks like I've gained nothing from this trip to Holy Soul Village. What a waste of time."
The next two children had suspenders and straw sandals as their Martial Souls. Neither had any Soul Power.
Disappointment filled Su Yuntao's green eyes. He released his Lone Wolf Martial Soul Possession and packed away the six black stones used for the awakening ceremony and the blue crystal ball used to test Soul Power.
He was about to leave.
"Wait, sir. I actually..."
A sallow, scrawny little boy stopped Su Yuntao. Simply calling out sent the boy's heart racing. He tried to steady his young voice, but it still trembled with fear.
The boy was tiny, swallowed by a patched black linen robe that was plainly too large for him. His exposed head looked like a skull draped in human skin, his hair like withered weeds. His protruding eyes were full of wariness and terror, as though anything in the world might become a weapon used to hurt him.
He was the only one of the eight children who possessed Soul Power. Unfortunately, his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, a thoroughly useless Trash Martial Soul.
There was clearly something wrong with the boy.
Su Yuntao asked, puzzled, "What is it?