Soul Spirit

"Since you've made your choice, let's not waste any more time."

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter glanced at the little dark-gold ant in Tang Wulin's palm, then turned and headed deeper into the hall.

"Come with me to the fusion chamber."

Tang Wulin immediately nodded, carefully cradling the Little Jun Ant in his palm as he followed. Tang Ziran hurried after them too. Even now, the string that had been drawn taut in his heart had yet to truly slacken.

Finding a suitable soul spirit was only the first step.

Whether the fusion would succeed was what mattered most now.

The fusion chamber was not large.

Unlike the testing area outside, which brimmed with the aura of soul guidance technology, this room was so quiet it almost felt empty. There was only a circular platform at its center, inscribed with an intricate Soul Guidance Array. Pale white crystals were set around its edges, giving off a soft, steady glow.

"Stand in the center," the gray-robed Spirit Transmitter said.

Tang Wulin stepped onto the platform as instructed. He looked down at the Little Jun Ant in his palm, then unconsciously tightened his grip on the Star-Sinking Hammer in his other hand.

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter looked at him and said, "There's no need to be nervous about your first soul spirit fusion. Your spiritual power and martial soul foundation are both excellent. Since it chose you of its own accord, the chances of a successful fusion are very high."

"Next, there's only one thing you need to do."

"Don't resist it. Let your martial soul and it draw close to each other."

Tang Wulin nodded earnestly.

"Yes."

Tang Ziran stood outside the array, watching his son at its center. Without realizing it, he had clenched the hem of his clothes. Even though the Spirit Transmitter had said the chances of success were very high, he was not a soul master, after all, and knew little about such things. That only made his worry harder to control.

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter said nothing more. With a gentle wave of his right hand, the soul guidance crystals around the platform lit up.

A ring of soft white light rose from the floor, slowly enveloping Tang Wulin.

"Now, release your martial soul."

Dark light flashed.

The Star-Sinking Hammer appeared silently in Tang Wulin's hand.

The moment it appeared, the Little Jun Ant in his palm seemed to sense something. Its six legs stirred gently, and it slowly crawled along Tang Wulin's hand toward the hammer.

Tang Wulin held his breath, not daring to move a muscle.

He could clearly feel that the Little Jun Ant's steps were extremely light, yet utterly steady. The instant it touched the head of the Star-Sinking Hammer, a tremor both familiar and strange suddenly spread through the handle and surged throughout his body.

Hum.

The Star-Sinking Hammer quivered gently.

This time, it was no longer the faint resonance of the previous chapter, but a response in the truest sense.

Deep within the hammer, the barely visible dark-gold patterns seemed to light up for an instant. Though it was only the faintest flash, the entire hammer's aura grew a little heavier.

The next moment, the Little Jun Ant raised its forelegs slightly and sank straight into the Star-Sinking Hammer without the slightest hesitation.

Tang Wulin's whole body jolted.

In that instant, everything before his eyes vanished.

In its place was an expanse of immense darkness.

This darkness was not cold. Instead, it carried a pressure of ultimate weight and depth, like an endless night sky, or ancient layers of rock compressed into the deepest reaches of the earth. Tang Wulin stood within it, still holding the Star-Sinking Hammer. Not far ahead, the little dark-gold Little Jun Ant hovered quietly.

It was small.

So small that it was almost unremarkable.

Yet within this darkness, its presence was inexplicably distinct. It did not roar or unleash any terrifying aura. It simply stood there quietly, carrying a resilience that seemed to say, "Even with a tiny body, I can still bear everything."

Then, deeper within Tang Wulin's body, the burning heat he had known so intimately since his awakening quietly began to surge.

Gold.

Gold again.

But this time, that gold was not as violent as it had been at first, threatening to tear his body apart. Something heavy held it down. In the deepest darkness, an unseen great beast seemed to be slowly opening its eyes. The savage nature of a dragon revealed only the slightest edge before the hammer's shadow, the root patterns, and the deeper seals pressed it back down.

Tang Wulin's body trembled slightly, and sweat beaded at his temples.

Strangely, though, he felt no pain.

Instead, he felt as though he had finally found a place where he should have fitted long ago.

The Little Jun Ant slowly approached.

One step, then another.

Very slowly, but very steadily.

With each step it took, Tang Wulin felt the Star-Sinking Hammer grow a little "heavier." It was not an increase in weight. Rather, it felt as though the first cornerstone of an essence that had always belonged to the hammer had finally been laid.

Weight.

Stability.

Pressure.

Endurance.

In that moment, Tang Wulin suddenly understood why he had felt such a powerful sense of kinship with it at first sight.

Because this soul spirit was not splendid, not fierce, not dazzling.

It was so much like him throughout the journey he had taken.

Both were unremarkable.

Neither was valued at first glance.

Yet they could bear the burden, refused to retreat, and kept moving forward, one step at a time.

At that thought, the last trace of tension in Tang Wulin's heart vanished completely.

He lifted the Star-Sinking Hammer and gently extended it.

At that same moment, the Little Jun Ant quickened its pace just a little and plunged straight into the hammer's shadow.

Boom.

Outside, the white light over the circular array suddenly blazed.

Tang Ziran instinctively took half a step forward, nearly entering the array, only for the gray-robed Spirit Transmitter to raise a hand and stop him.

"Don't go over," he said quietly. "The fusion has begun."

At the center of the platform, Tang Wulin was completely enveloped in white light. The Star-Sinking Hammer in his hand shone with dense, dark light, while exceedingly faint dark-gold patterns flowed over its surface. The glow was not ostentatious, yet it carried a pressure that could not be ignored.

The next instant, a pure white Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.

White.

Distinct and steady.

Its appearance was not thunderous, yet it was extraordinarily solid, like a ring that had finally been forged into being and quietly fitted around the foundation of the Star-Sinking Hammer.

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter's gaze shifted slightly, and he let out a soft breath.

"It worked."

Hearing those words, Tang Ziran felt as though all his strength had drained away at once. His taut shoulders finally began to relax.

It worked.

His son had truly become a One-Ring Soul Master.

At the center of the platform, Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes a few breaths later.

The moment he opened them, even he was stunned.

Because he could clearly feel that he was different.

It was not as simple as merely "having one more Soul Ring." The soul power that had remained at the threshold of level ten within him had finally taken a genuine step forward. The Star-Sinking Hammer had become steadier and heavier than before, and felt more like a martial soul truly belonging to a strength-type soul master.

More importantly, his connection with the Little Jun Ant was no longer one of "seeing" and "choosing."

It was now inside him.

As though it had become part of the Star-Sinking Hammer, and part of him as well.

Tang Wulin lowered his head and looked at the pure white Soul Ring beneath his feet, feeling almost dazed.

Three years.

From his awakening at six to truly becoming a One-Ring Soul Master today, three full years had passed.

Over those three years, he had hammered countless pieces of metal. Even he could no longer remember how many times he had worn the skin off his hands, how much sweat he had shed, or how many nights he had forced himself to keep meditating.

But now, all of it had finally borne fruit.

"Dad..." He instinctively lifted his head and looked toward Tang Ziran outside the array.

Tang Ziran looked at him, his eyes even reddening slightly, but still made an effort to smile and nod.

"Good." His voice was very soft, but a little hoarse. "Good. This is wonderful."

Tang Wulin opened his mouth, then suddenly realized he did not know what to say either.

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter had now approached. He carefully examined the white Soul Ring beneath Tang Wulin's feet, then sensed the aura the Star-Sinking Hammer was giving off. A trace of genuine surprise entered his eyes.

"The fusion went very well," he said. "And... the compatibility is even higher than I expected."

He looked at Tang Wulin, his tone taking on a rare note of earnest caution.

"When you get home, don't rush to show your Soul Ring off everywhere. Get a good rest tonight, then try to sense your first Soul Skill. This soul spirit already leans toward strength and heavy strikes, so its Soul Skill will most likely follow that direction too. All the more reason to understand it thoroughly first."

Tang Wulin nodded at once.

"Yes, honored Spirit Transmitter."

The gray-robed Spirit Transmitter nodded slightly, then added:

"From today onward, you are a true One-Ring Soul Master."

As those words left his mouth, a sudden heat surged in Tang Wulin's chest.

A true One-Ring Soul Master.

He had heard those words countless times since childhood, and thought about them countless times as well. Only now had they finally, truly applied to him.

He lowered his head, looked at that pure white Soul Ring, and could not help gently clenching his fist.

This time, it was no longer merely a dream, no longer some distant day in the future.

It was now.

He really had made it this far.