The faint scent of burning spirit essence lingered in the air.
Ye Wuchen's breathing slowed, chest rising and falling as he lay unconscious on the floor of the Spirit Awakening Hall. But within his mind, a storm raged—a storm born not of fear or pain, but of transformation.
He floated in an endless space. A sky of stars stretched around him, but none shone brighter than the two burning shapes before him:
A dark, sleek wolf with violet eyes and shadowy flames curling off its back…
And a glowing, divine golden lotus, each petal rimmed with burning light.
> [Soul Rebirth System – Booting…]
[Warning: Host soul power near zero. Emergency stabilization engaged.]
[Twin Martial Souls detected.]
> [Welcome, Ye Wuchen.]
He stared at the glowing message in disbelief. "System…?"
> [Affirmative. I am your auxiliary interface. Your spirit awakening has activated a dormant soul lineage.]
> [Your fate has shifted.]
The words didn't sound robotic—they sounded almost... alive.
---
Outside – Spirit Awakening Hall
"Instructor! His vitals are stabilizing," one of the academy healers called out.
Instructor Yan stood nearby, her brow furrowed. "Keep monitoring him. Don't let anyone get close."
The students stood in stunned silence. A few whispered nervously:
> "Did you see those spirits?"
"One was a beast… the other looked like a lotus?"
"That's not normal. That's not even possible…"
A few nobles scowled from the side.
One muttered, "He's from Sector 17. This has to be a fluke. Maybe the pod glitched…"
Instructor Yan didn't speak. Her eyes remained locked on Wuchen's glowing body.
> "Two spirits. One light. One dark. This child is far more than he appears…"
---
Inside the Mindscape
Ye Wuchen stood in awe.
"How do I have two martial souls?" he whispered.
> [You possess a sealed bloodline—descended from two ancient spirit tribes.]
[Shadow Dragon Wolf: Beast-type, devourer class, affiliated with darkness and speed.]
[Celestial Flame Lotus: Plant-type, support/combat hybrid, linked to pure fire and light.]
> [Normally incompatible. Only through rare soul fusion is this possible.]
He stepped forward slowly. "Then… what do I need to do now?"
> [Your path begins here.]
[You must form a soul ring for one of your martial souls within 72 hours.]
[Only then can your spirit energy stabilize.]
Wuchen's heart skipped. "72 hours? But… I'm not even a cultivator yet."
> [Correct. That is why your survival will depend on choosing wisely.]
> [Would you like to review your basic status?]
"…Yes."
---
Status Panel: Ye Wuchen
Name: Ye Wuchen
Age: 16
Martial Souls:
• Shadow Dragon Wolf (Awakened – No Ring)
• Celestial Flame Lotus (Locked)
Soul Power: 0.5
Bloodline Purity: 17% (Suppressed)
Ring Capacity: 1/1 (Beginner)
System Level: Dormant
Condition: Unstable Awakening – Ring Required
---
Wuchen gritted his teeth.
> "Then I have no choice. I have to leave the city… go to a wild zone… and hunt a beast."
> [Affirmative. Ring fusion must occur naturally. Artificial rings will damage your soul structure.]
> [Primary Quest Unlocked: First Hunt]
---
Back in the Real World
Ye Wuchen's eyes slowly opened.
The room was quiet now. The students had been dismissed. Only Instructor Yan and a single healer remained. The projection of his spirits had faded, and the glow had dimmed—but he felt it.
A warmth in his bones. A pulse of breath inside his soul.
A beginning.
He sat up slowly.
Yan stepped forward. "You're awake."
He nodded, saying nothing.
"You should rest. Spirit awakenings that intense can cause permanent—"
"I'm fine," he said quietly.
Her eyes narrowed. "There's something different about you."
He met her gaze. "Maybe that's not a bad thing."
She didn't argue. "Go. But be here tomorrow morning. You'll be re-evaluated."
Wuchen gave a polite nod and walked out, the broken cube still tucked in his coat pocket.
---
As He Walked Home
The sky above Qingye was painted in deep orange. Streetlights flickered on. Hovercars hummed past. No one paid attention to a lone student walking toward the edge of the slums.
But inside, his mind raced.
> "System… is there danger if people learn about me?"
> [Yes.]
[You are no longer 'common.' The Spirit Tower monitors all soul anomalies.]
> [Your awakening created a detection pulse. They will come.]
He stopped walking.
> "Then I don't have time to wait."
His fists clenched.
> "I'll go tonight."
---