Half a year later.
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
A middle-aged man dressed in the robes of a Spirit Pagoda steward waited ahead. He bowed slightly and raised a hand in invitation.
"Please follow me, both of you."
The early spring chill had yet to dissipate entirely, and the lights within the Spirit Pagoda burned constantly.
Dark gold stone paved the floor, gleaming with a cool luster. Tall stone pillars supported the soaring dome, and murals hung along the walls on either side. Their bold, heavy brushwork depicted ancient tides of Soul Beasts and scenes of the Spirit Pagoda's predecessors fighting fiercely. Despite the passage of years, their colors remained vivid.
Half a year had passed since last time, and the boy walking in front was still not yet seven.
His long black hair had grown considerably, with a few stray strands falling over his forehead. His long lashes lowered, casting faint shadows over his eyelids.
Though still a child, he stood nearly a head taller than Tang Wulin beside him. His features were refined and composed, and his outstanding looks already offered a faint glimpse of the handsome young man he would become.
Tang Wulin followed close beside him, his small hand unconsciously clutching the boy's sleeve, unwilling to stray too far away.
He wore a loose, short-sleeved shirt made of thin fabric. Printed across its front was a dragon design rendered in a rough, exaggerated style, its lines playful and abstract. It was the Dragon Picture design now widely circulated, entirely different from traditional, solemn dragon motifs.
His bright eyes brimmed with curiosity, while a measure of apprehension lay hidden in his heart. Along the way, he could not resist asking questions.
"Brother, what kind of Soul Spirit should I choose later?"
The boy's steps paused slightly. He turned his