"Senior, do you recognize this Soul Tool?"
The old man's change of attitude stemmed from the old, worn-out spear that Xiao Yan had taken out.
Therefore, it's not hard to guess that the other party's attitude towards Xiao Yan changed so drastically because of this spear.
Hearing Xiao Yan's question, a look of reminiscence appeared on Golden Zhang Douluo's face. After a sigh, his gaze fell on the spear in Xiao Yan's hand before he slowly spoke:
"Decades ago, in the eastern part of the Heaven Dou Empire, near the Soul Beast Forest, there was a human city."
"However, with the breakthrough of two king-level Soul Beast in the Soul Beast Forest, both sides launched challenges against each other without prior agreement."
"The power of these two Soul Beast is already top-tier in the Soul Beast Realm, comparable to a human Titled Douluo. This battle nearly wiped out the entire Soul Beast Forest."
"The end result was a massive migration of tens of thousands of Soul Beast from the Soul Beast Forest."
Golden Zhang Douluo's gaze swept over Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, his tone tinged with a hint of wistfulness and reminiscence.
Even the Soul Douluo who had brought Xiao Yan to choose treasures showed a hint of surprise on his face, and couldn't help but stand still, listening to the Golden Zhang Douluo's description.
"The riot in the Soul Beast Forest came too suddenly. Even though we immediately sought help from the Spirit Hall, it would still take at least a day for powerful experts to arrive."
"And within that city, there is only one branch of the Spirit Hall, whose strongest member is merely a Soul Douluo."
"Under the overwhelming siege of Soul Beast, the Soul Master of the various families within the city chose to flee immediately, leaving behind only a group of unarmed civilians."
Even just listening to Golden Zhang Douluo's description, Xiao Yan and the others could imagine how desperate the civilians in the city must have felt at that time.
The city was besieged by an overwhelming horde of Soul Beast, but the forces within the city capable of resisting Soul Beast retreated immediately.
For ordinary people, this is a nightmare.
"These scumbags!"
The Soul Douluo, who was listening to the description, showed even more resentment on his face.
"They enjoy the respect of ordinary people in normal times, but when it comes to crucial moments, they are the first to abandon ordinary people. These people are not worthy of being Soul Master."
Soul Douluo's resentful voice made Xiao Yan glance at him in surprise.
However, considering that most ordinary people are able to Martial Soul Awakening today, it is because of the support of the Spirit Hall.
Therefore, Xiao Yan felt it was somewhat natural.
If it weren't for the Spirit Hall establishing branch halls all over the continent and regularly conducting Martial Soul Awakening in various villages,
It is likely that many ordinary people will never have the opportunity to undergo an awakening ceremony in their lifetime.
This is not a fallacy. After all, back when the Spirit Hall was not as renowned as it is now, the major sects would only conduct Martial Soul tests in their affiliated regions.
"Hehe..."
The indignant remarks of the Soul Douluo did not offend the Golden Zhang Douluo; instead, the Golden Tent Douluo gave him an approving look.
"Therefore, not a single Soul Master belonging to the Spirit Hall ever left that city."
As Golden Zhang Douluo spoke, his tone was filled with pride.
"This spear was the weapon of the only Soul Douluo from the Spirit Hall who was there at the time."
The Golden Zhang Douluo looked at the rusty spear and continued speaking:
"This proves that the Soul Douluo was only sixty years old at the time. Within the Spirit Hall, he was the most popular candidate to advance to the Titled Douluo level."
"It's just a pity..."
Golden Zhang Douluo shook his head helplessly, his tone full of sighs.
"He led the Spirit Hall's Soul Master to hold out until the very last moment, and once declared:"
Everyone else can retreat, but the people of my Spirit Hall cannot.
Today, as long as I live, these beasts will not set foot in the city!
"A day later, by the time the Spirit Hall's experts arrived to provide reinforcements, the entire city had already fallen."
"While their ultimate perseverance didn't save all the civilians, it bought precious time, allowing most to reach the next city in the west in time, and hold out until the Spirit Hall's reinforcements arrived."
After finishing his explanation, Golden Zhang Douluo looked at the spear in Xiao Yan's hand and said:
"This spear is the weapon of that Soul Douluo. The one who rushed to provide support was a Titled Douluo from the Elder Hall. It is said that when he arrived..."
"The entire city was awash in blood, thousands of Magical Beast corpses piled up, the thick blood resembling a sea of blood, and this spear stood in the very center of that sea of blood."
"The resentment and rage of the Soul Douluo before his death, nourished by dragon energy, killing intent, and blood, coincidentally merged into this spear."
"This gave the original, ordinary Soul Tool spear a few strange characteristics, and it circulated within the Spirit Hall for a long time before finally being placed in the treasury."
Listening to the description from Golden Zhang Douluo, Xiao Yan looked down again at the spear in his hand.
The gun barrel was covered with thick, layered rust, like an ancient map, recording the wind, rain, and dust of war.
The deep rust resembles congealed blood, while the mottled areas look like moss. Despite its rough texture, one can still vaguely feel the cold, hard skeleton of the metal beneath.
For a moment, Xiao Yan couldn't tell whether it was rust on the spear or the dried blood of the dead Soul Beast.
These rust marks are not lifeless; from certain angles, they gleam with a dim, dark sheen, like that of old bronze.
However, upon closer inspection, Xiao Yan found a completely different scene in the areas where the rust had peeled off or been eroded:
The metal inside was clearly visible, not a dull gray-white, but a kind of deep blue or dark silver luster, like water from a deep pool that had been repeatedly forged and tempered, or like a section of the frozen night sky.
This luster is not ostentatious, but extremely deep and sharp, absorbing the surrounding light and transforming it into a restrained, star-like sharpness.
This interplay of rust and shine creates a powerful visual rhythm—decay and rebirth, slumber and awakening coexist within it.
The mottled rust is like its weathered armor, while every glint of cold light it reveals is like its sharp teeth piercing through the seal of time.
The spear tip is the most concentrated embodiment of the spear's majesty.
Most of the blade was still covered in rust, but the tip of the blade gleamed with a cold light.
It broke through without compromise. The light was pure, sharp enough to cut through everything, and as it passed, it emitted a chilling ray that almost stung the skin.
It is not still; it seems to be continuously and slowly cutting through the air, making the gazer instinctively feel a faint chill in their throat or heart.
The overall posture of the gun exudes a quiet sense of power.
The gun barrel is straight but not stiff, like the trunk of a pine tree; from the fork to the tip, the lines, despite the undulations of the rust, still maintain a kind of poised and ready-to-go fluidity, like a dragon that has hidden its scales and is temporarily resting, while the gleaming parts are its occasionally opened eyes or protruding claws.
It exists silently, seemingly telling a story of protection, of destruction, of an immortal sharpness that still awaits its hum and its piercing force despite the erosion of time.
Xiao Yan looked at the spear in his hand, his eyes filled with increasing satisfaction.
There was both respect for the deceased Soul Douluo and an undisguised fondness for the spear.
"Thank you for informing me, senior. I've made up my mind, I'll choose this one!"
Xiao Yan, holding his spear, respectfully bowed to Golden Zhang Douluo and spoke.
Golden Zhang Douluo nodded slowly, watching Xiao Yan and the others leave, then lay back down in his chair, his eyes filled with sighs.
"Actually, there was one survivor in that city, a... coward..."
Golden Zhang Douluo slowly closed his eyes, reverting to his dejected, aged appearance...