NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Spirit Awakening port!
Hongshan Academy, the only school in Aolai City.
Jing Ziyuan brought Jing Shaoyu to Hongshan Academy. Today was the annual Awakening Day, so the streets in front of the academy were packed with parents bringing their children to awaken their spirits.
Jing Ziyuan and her son followed the crowd into the academy, flowing toward an open plaza. There, several individuals who appeared to be teachers stood holding lists, calling names one by one. The crowd was quiet, everyone patiently waiting for the teachers to call out their names.
Jing Shaoyu looked around, as if searching for someone.
If his assumptions were correct, he should be in the same generation as Tang Wulin. So, Tang Wulin might be in this plaza as well—would he have the chance to meet the protagonist in advance?
However, he quickly felt disappointed. With so many people and his own small stature, he couldn't see beyond the first few rows. Of course, he could ask Jing Ziyuan to lift him up like some of the other children, but his sense of pride stopped him from doing so, and he abandoned the idea of looking for Tang Wulin.
"Jing Shaoyu!" As noon approached, a teacher finally called his name.
"Here!" Jing Shaoyu's spirits lifted as he grabbed Jing Ziyuan's hand and eagerly ran over. Jing Ziyuan, too, looked relieved and followed.
"Follow me," the teacher said with a detached expression, though he looked at Jing Shaoyu with a hint of surprise, mumbling something under his breath.
Jing Shaoyu heard it, feeling a little pleased. The teacher had commented on his appearance, saying he looked quite handsome.
Following the teacher, Jing Shaoyu soon spotted a round building.
This was the Awakening Room, a structure found in all primary academies, specifically for six-year-olds to awaken their spirits. On Awakening Day, the academy invited a Spirit Spreader from the Spirit Pagoda to conduct the awakening ceremony for incoming students.
The Awakening Day ceremony was completely free, and Jing Shaoyu could guess why the Spirit Pagoda offered this service at no cost. The main reason was probably to sell soul spirits in the future. After all, the Spirit Pagoda's primary business revolved around soul spirits, and the more Spirit Masters there were, the more potential customers they had.
"Parents, please wait here," the teacher said as they approached the building.
Jing Ziyuan had already stopped outside the marked line. As an orphanage director, she was familiar with the basic protocols for Spirit Awakening Day, having escorted children through the process in the past.
"A-Yu, good luck! Mom believes in you!" Jing Ziyuan cheered him on.
"I'll awaken a powerful spirit, Mom!" Jing Shaoyu replied, his voice both encouraging her and boosting his own confidence.
The Awakening Room had seven levels, and Jing Shaoyu was led to the sixth level.
Upon entering, he was immediately drawn to the intricate and mysterious patterns that adorned the Awakening Room, covering every surface from the floor to the walls to the ceiling. The dizzying designs gave the room an almost hypnotic effect.
Inside, a young man wearing an old-fashioned orange robe stood expressionlessly, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance. When he saw Jing Shaoyu, he impatiently gestured him over without waiting for a greeting. "Come here. Don't waste my time."
"Yes, sir." Jing Shaoyu wasn't thrilled with the Spirit Spreader's poor attitude, but needing his help, he obediently stepped forward.
"Focus and calm your mind," instructed the Spirit Spreader.
Jing Shaoyu immediately centered himself.
A soft white light radiated from the Spirit Spreader's hand, floating into the air and scattering like fireworks. The strange patterns on the Awakening Room walls lit up, starting from the ceiling and cascading down the walls, eventually reaching the ground around Jing Shaoyu.
As the light converged around him, a warm, tingling sensation spread from his feet to every part of his body, making him tremble slightly as his vision blurred.
In his mind's eye, he found himself standing in a lush, vibrant forest teeming with life. Surrounding him were countless plants, towering trees, delicate flowers, and animals moving joyfully in the distance, as if they were welcoming him.
In the midst of this scene, he heard a distant, melancholic sigh.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Spreader was staring at him, his previously indifferent face now full of shock and curiosity.
From the Spirit Spreader's perspective, Jing Shaoyu was enveloped in a glow. As the light faded, his appearance changed dramatically—his short black hair turned a vivid emerald green, transforming into long locks that cascaded down his back. A jade-like halo appeared behind his head, his body grew taller, and his ears elongated into a graceful, pointed shape, radiating an aura of elegance and nobility that invited closeness.
What surprised the Spirit Spreader most was the air within the Awakening Room itself—it felt fresher, almost infused with some rare element. Even the fatigue he usually felt from performing so many awakenings was noticeably lessened!
"What kind of spirit is this? It looks like a Beast Spirit…" The Spirit Spreader was both intrigued and pleased. This spirit was clearly unique, and with it, this child would surely possess innate soul power—a rare occurrence that broke his streak of zero-success awakenings!
Jing Shaoyu was lost in the ancient, primeval forest, hoping to learn more, but the light around him flickered, and the vision faded like a mirage.
He sighed in disappointment and slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and energized. Every part of his body seemed to be humming with joy—a sign, he knew, of the connection with his spirit.
"Child, what is your spirit?" The Spirit Spreader's face suddenly appeared inches from Jing Shaoyu, startling him. The man now wore a wide smile, his previous coldness entirely replaced by warmth.
The sudden change in attitude almost made Jing Shaoyu laugh.
"My spirit is called the Primordial Elf," Jing Shaoyu replied. "Spirit Spreader, do you know of this spirit?"
"Ah?" The Spirit Spreader's smile faltered briefly, but he quickly regained his enthusiasm. "Child, do you know? I checked your soul power—you're a rare talent with innate full soul power!"
"Really? That's amazing!" Jing Shaoyu leaped in excitement, his face brimming with joy.
Innate full soul power meant he had a chance to change his future.
"Since you know what innate full soul power means, that's excellent. Child, would you consider joining the Spirit Pagoda?" the Spirit Spreader coaxed. "With your talent, the Spirit Pagoda would focus on cultivating you. You'd have access to the best soul spirits and spirit ascension platforms, and perhaps even a chance to study directly under the top figures at our headquarters."
"Um, I'll have to discuss it with my mom first. Is that okay?" Jing Shaoyu answered, pretending to be a naive child who needed parental approval.
The Spirit Pagoda… Jing Shaoyu didn't deny its power, but as for its leadership… well.
"Alright, if you decide to join, come find me at the Spirit Pagoda. My name is Su Haichao!" The Spirit Spreader introduced himself eagerly.
"Thank you, I'll remember that!" Jing Shaoyu quickly left the Awakening Room, barely holding back a laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Watching him go, Su Haichao's face filled with admiration. He immediately pulled out a communicator and dialed a number he had never used before.
"Hello, is this the Pagoda Master? This is Su Haichao from the Awakening Office. I've awakened a child with innate full soul power!"
"He's at Hongshan Academy. The child's name is Jing Shaoyu, listed as coming from an ordinary family."
"Apologies for my limited knowledge—I couldn't identify his spirit, but it appears to be a Beast Spirit."