As Xiao Yan and Tang San appeared, a smile spread across Old Jack's face.
"All right, children, let's go. I'll take you to meet the gentleman from the Spirit Hall now."
Xiao Yan had long since learned from Old Jack that the person conducting their Martial Soul Awakening was a deacon from the Spirit Hall Branch.
Old Jack had been full of praise for the Spirit Hall. After learning that it awakened Martial Souls for commoners across the entire continent free of charge, and that every Soul Master registered with the Spirit Hall could even collect a sum of soul coins each month, Xiao Yan had developed a slight favorable impression of it.
Whatever the organization's purpose, awakening Martial Souls for all commoners free of charge gave many people a chance to change their destinies.
The eyes of the ten six-year-old children sparkled with excitement as they followed Old Jack to the hall where the Martial Soul Awakening would take place.
When they arrived, a strikingly handsome young man who looked to be no more than twenty-something was already waiting in the hall. He wore a white fitted outfit and a black cloak, and at the very center of his chest was a fist-sized character for "soul," the official mark of someone belonging to the Spirit Hall.
"Hello, esteemed Battle Soul Master. Sorry to trouble you again."
Old Jack was exceedingly respectful toward the young man, bowing to him.
"Mm, I don't have much time. I still have to hurry to the next village, so let's begin now."
The young man nodded arrogantly, then gave a perfunctory nod in return.
"All right, children, this is a Battle Soul Master from Nuoding City. Do as he tells you, and make sure you cooperate with the master during your Martial Soul Awakening. Grandpa hopes that one of you will become a Soul Master!"
"All right, you say the same thing every time I come. How could becoming a Soul Master be so easy? I've already been to six villages, and there hasn't been a single suitable one."
The young man impatiently interrupted Old Jack, then gestured for him to wait outside the hall.
Rebuked by the young man, Old Jack's eyes dimmed for a moment. He gave Xiao Yan and the others an encouraging look, then went outside to wait.
After Old Jack left, the young man's manner toward Xiao Yan and the other children became much gentler:
"Children, my name is Su Yuntao, a rank twenty-six Soul Grandmaster. I'll be your guide. Now, I'll awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember, no matter what happens, don't be afraid."
With that, Su Yuntao took two things from the bag he carried: six pitch-black round stones and a sparkling blue crystal ball.
Su Yuntao arranged the six black stones in a hexagon on the ground, then looked at the ten children standing before him and spoke to the one on the far left:
"Come stand in the middle."
The child on the far left was a thin, frail boy. Hearing Su Yuntao, he obediently stood in the center of the hexagonal formation.
"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel carefully."
Once the boy was in position, Su Yuntao spoke softly. Then his eyes gradually lit up, and a faint green light shone from between his brows. As the green light appeared, his long black hair gradually grew longer and turned gray. Hair of the same color sprouted from his exposed skin, his whole body became considerably more muscular, and sharp claws emitting an eerie glow emerged from his ten fingertips.
"Ah!"
The child standing in the center of the formation saw Su Yuntao's transformation and let out an instinctive cry. He was about to flee when Su Yuntao calmed him down.
"Don't move. This is my Martial Soul. If any of you become Soul Masters in the future, you'll have the same ability."
Xiao Yan watched the signs of Su Yuntao's beast transformation, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
So this is what a Soul Master in this world is like...
Of the ten children, Xiao Yan was not frightened, and Tang San, standing beside him, was also extremely calm. The two noticed that the other was different, exchanged a glance and nodded lightly, then continued observing Su Yuntao.
In the center of the hall, Su Yuntao swiftly sent six streaks of green light from his hands onto the black stones on the ground. A faint golden light spread from the formation, enveloping the boy in the middle.
As the golden light enveloped him, the boy involuntarily held out his right hand, and an illusory sickle appeared in it.
"A sickle, a Tool Martial Soul..."
Su Yuntao frowned slightly as he looked at the sickle Martial Soul in the boy's hand. A Martial Soul like this had limited killing power, but if the boy had Soul Power, he could still become a Soul Master.
"Come, hold out your right hand and feel carefully."
Su Yuntao held the blue stone in front of the boy. Following his instructions, the boy held out his hand and placed his right palm on the blue stone.
But there was no change whatsoever in the blue stone, and a trace of regret appeared on Su Yuntao's face.
"No Soul Power. It seems you can't become a Soul Master. Step aside for now."
Hearing Su Yuntao's words, the boy showed unconcealable disappointment and walked off to the side alone. With the first person having demonstrated, the process went much faster afterward.
One child after another entered the formation under Su Yuntao's guidance to awaken their Martial Souls, but unfortunately...
Most of the Martial Souls were sickles, hoes, mallets, Blue Silver Grass, or other Martial Souls that were basically useless. As for Soul Power, not one of them had any.
Soon, it was the turn of Tang San, who stood beside Xiao Yan. By now, however, Su Yuntao's expression had grown calm.
"Looks like this village doesn't have any children with good talent either..."
As Tang San stepped into the formation, Su Yuntao deftly sent out the green light. Soon, a small blue blade of grass appeared in Tang San's right hand. It was Blue Silver Grass.
Seeing the small blue blade of grass appear in Tang San's palm, Su Yuntao looked even more disappointed.
Tang San's initial composure and outstanding looks had given him quite a favorable impression, and he had thought the boy would give him a pleasant surprise. He had never expected that the Martial Soul Tang San ultimately awakened would be nothing more than Blue Silver Grass.
"Alas, another Trash Martial Soul."
Su Yuntao sighed and had Tang San test his Soul Power as usual.
But this time, the blue stone, which had shown no response all along, burst into dazzling blue light in Tang San's palm.
Looking at the brilliant blue light, Su Yuntao stared at the stone in his hand in surprise and exclaimed, "In... Innate Full Soul Power!"
"Uncle, what is Innate Full Soul Power?"
Hearing Su Yuntao's surprise, Tang San asked curiously. Xiao Yan, standing to the side, also pricked up his ears to listen to Su Yuntao's explanation.
"When everyone undergoes Martial Soul Awakening, they're also tested to see whether they have Innate Soul Power. Only those with Innate Soul Power can become Soul Masters and cultivate. The higher their Innate Soul Power, the faster their cultivation will be in the future. Innate Full Soul Power is the highest level of Soul Power a person can possess innately."
Su Yuntao looked at Tang San as he spoke slowly. While speaking, his gaze fell on the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hand, and his face immediately fell. He couldn't help saying:
"What a pity. How could your Martial Soul be Blue Silver Grass? Why did it have to be Blue Silver Grass?!"
"Even if it were a sickle, I would... alas."
Su Yuntao's face was full of regret, but Tang San, standing nearby, was not overly worried. He held his left hand clenched in a fist behind his back and remained silent.
"Come, it's your turn."