Looking at Yun Xian, both Ya Li and Yun Ming's eyes flickered with a trace of astonishment, but they quickly concealed it.
"Seems like the Angel of Hope has mutated… and reverted to its ancestral form — the Seraphim Martial Soul," Cai Yue'er said thoughtfully.
"Indeed," Zhou Shi nodded. "According to Shrek Academy's historical records, every Seraphim user awakens with innate full soul power — at Level 20 — breaking the natural restriction of Level 10."
"That's precisely why it's known as a God-given Martial Soul," Feng Wuyu added, his tone filled with admiration.
When Feng Wuyu spoke the last sentence, everyone in the room instinctively turned their gaze toward Yun Ming. The reason was simple — he was the only person in this era closest to becoming a god, yet even he had failed to break through the barrier of Rank 99 and reach the God level.
Yun Ming noticed their gazes but remained silent. The Martial Soul Awakening was still ongoing, and this wasn't the time to speak. However, he couldn't hide the confusion in his heart. The Seraphim Martial Soul has already formed, so why hasn't the awakening process ended yet?
Could it be… a Dual Martial Soul? Yun Ming's eyes narrowed slightly. If that's the case, then he truly is someone chosen by fate. Though that thought lingered in his mind, he didn't voice it aloud.
Just then, Yun Xian — still floating in midair — slowly opened his left palm.
Everyone in the hall held their breath, a single impossible thought flashing across their minds.
"Another Martial Soul…?" someone whispered in disbelief.
The surrounding soul power surged and gathered into Yun Xian's open palm, condensing into a magnificent flower.
It was breathtakingly large, bathed in an ethereal, almost divine light. Its broad petals shimmered with a deep, electric purple hue laced with golden veins, while a soft lavender glow traced their edges. At its heart, radiant white and golden stamens pulsed with vitality, as if they were the very source of life's essence. The entire flower exuded an aura of endless life and divine energy.
"Nine Heart Begonia?" Feng Wuyu's voice trembled slightly, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "But if he truly has a second Martial Soul, shouldn't it be…?"
He stopped mid-sentence — the words caught in his throat.
A hush fell over the chamber.
Yun Ming's eyes flickered with sudden clarity. "So that's it…" he murmured, almost to himself.
Feng Wuyu turned toward him sharply. "What do you mean?"
Ya Li and the others leaned in instinctively, their expressions tense, hearts pounding with curiosity.
Yun Ming's gaze deepened as memories surfaced. "Have you all forgotten… what happened the day Xiao Xian was born?"
The moment he said that, silence swallowed the room.
Each of them fell still — faces darkening as the memory resurfaced like an old wound.
That day… grief had smothered the air.
But along with it — a light.
A sacrifice that burned sorrow away.
Cai Yue'er's voice quivered as she pieced it together. "You mean to say…"
Yun Ming slowly nodded. "Elder Ye's final words — 'Sacrifice itself, in its purest form, is nurturing.' It wasn't mere poetry." His tone deepened, filled with reverence. "It was the Ultimate Nurturing. The essence of life itself offered up for another."
He looked toward Yun Xian, still glowing in the center of the awakening chamber.
"When Xiao Xian received that nurturing, his Martial Soul transformed — the Angel of Hope evolved into the Seraphim. And the Nine Heart Begonia…" Yun Ming paused, his gaze softening. "That is the living proof of Elder Ye's sacrifice — her soul, her life, her love… reborn within him."
The room fell silent once more. Only the soft hum of the radiant flower filled the space — a sound that was neither wind nor energy, but something deeper.
A resonance of life and remembrance.
After Yun Ming's explanation, silence reigned once more — but this time, it was different.
The cloud of doubt that had weighed on their hearts slowly lifted, replaced by quiet understanding. Every pair of eyes turned toward the boy suspended in midair — Yun Xian, the child born of sacrifice.
He still floated gently in the air, eyes closed, a serene expression on his face. The divine glow surrounding him began to fade, soft beams of gold and violet dissolving into motes of light.
Then, without warning, the two spirits — the Seraphim and the Nine Heart Begonia — shimmered briefly before merging back into his body.
The air rippled once.
And Yun Xian's small frame began to descend.
"Xiao Xian!" Ya Li gasped, stepping forward.
Before she could reach him, Yun Ming moved. In a flash, he was beneath the boy, catching him gently in his arms. The sacred light dimmed completely, leaving only the faint rise and fall of Yun Xian's chest.
Ya Li's hands trembled. "What happened, Yun Ming?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.
Even the three elders stood frozen, eyes wide — awe replaced by concern.
Yun Ming checked the boy's pulse, his expression calm but eyes soft with relief. "There's no need to worry," he said reassuringly. "Awakening two Martial Souls has taken a heavy toll on his body. He's simply exhausted."
A faint smile touched his lips as he looked down at the sleeping child. "He'll be fine… he just needs rest."
Ya Li exhaled slowly, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes as the tension melted away. Around them, the last fragments of divine light floated through the air — like blessings lingering after a miracle.
...
...
...
Soft light filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm afternoon glow.
Yun Xian stirred beneath the sheets, his brows twitching as his consciousness slowly surfaced from deep slumber. His lashes fluttered once — then his eyes opened, hazy and unfocused.
"...Where am I?" he murmured hoarsely, his voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, he just lay there, staring blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling above him. The faint scent of medicinal herbs lingered in the air, and the distant chirping of birds drifted through the open window.
Didn't we go to awaken my Martial Soul?
His thoughts spun sluggishly. What happened after that…?
As he struggled to recall, a sharp pain suddenly pierced through his mind — like a flash of lightning.
"Ah—!" he gasped, clutching his head.
Images flooded in — blinding light, divine wings, a radiant flower blooming in his palm. The echo of voices calling his name. The warmth of something vast and sacred merging into him.
The pain subsided as quickly as it came, leaving him breathing heavily, drenched in sweat.
And then… memory returned.
He froze, wide-eyed. "Right… the awakening… the Seraphim… and… the flower…" he whispered under his breath.
Slowly, fragments aligned within his mind — and realization dawned.
He wasn't dreaming.
Everything that happened… was real.
"So… I have two Martial Souls," Yun Xian murmured softly, his gaze distant yet shining. "Which means… I'm another holder of a Twin Martial Spirit."
The words lingered in the still air.
A faint smile crept onto his lips — quiet, genuine, tinged with awe. It was the joy of someone who had touched destiny itself.
And yet, beneath that joy, a shadow of unease stirred in his heart.
Could I truly bear the weight of this blessing?
The thought lingered only for a heartbeat before his eyes hardened with resolve.
I will. Because that's why I came into this world.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Soft footsteps approached, and the gentle scent of herbs filled the room. Ya Li entered, holding a bowl of steaming medicinal soup. When she saw Yun Xian sitting upright, her eyes widened — and then softened with joy.
"Xiao Xian!" she exclaimed softly, her tone full of warmth. She hurried over, placing the bowl on the bedside table before sitting down beside him. "You woke up much sooner than we expected. How do you feel? Any discomfort?"
Her concern was tender, her gaze filled with both relief and love.
Yun Xian closed his eyes briefly, focusing inward. A wave of vitality surged through his body — not weakness, but strength. Energy pulsed beneath his skin, harmonious and alive.
"I… actually feel fine," he said slowly. "Better than fine, even. My body feels… full of energy."
He hesitated, then added, "When I close my eyes, I can see… tiny glowing particles — white, green, and bright yellow — floating all around me."
Ya Li blinked in surprise, then her face broke into a radiant smile. "So that's it…" she whispered.
Looking at him with motherly pride, she said, "It seems that after awakening your Martial Souls, your body gained a special physique — one blessed by Life and Light themselves. As for the white particles… those are soul power."
After hearing his mother's explanation, Yun Xian finally understood. Everything made sense now — the lights, the energy, the strange vitality coursing through him.
And then—
Grrr—
A loud rumble echoed from his stomach, breaking the silence.
Yun Xian froze, face instantly flushing red. "U-uh…"
Ya Li blinked, then let out a soft laugh — warm and musical. "Hehe, looks like someone's hungry." She smiled, her eyes sparkling with affection. "Here, drink this soup first. Once you're done, I'll take you to eat something proper."
Embarrassed but smiling shyly, Yun Xian nodded and took the bowl from her hands. The herbal aroma was soothing, and as he drank, warmth spread from his throat to every corner of his body.
Within minutes, he emptied the bowl, setting it aside with a satisfied sigh. A gentle heat lingered inside him — not uncomfortable, but invigorating, like a quiet current of life flowing through his veins.
"Mom," he said softly, "I'm done. Should we go home now?"
Ya Li chuckled, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "What's the hurry, sweetie? You haven't even tested your soul power or spiritual power yet."
Yun Xian blinked in surprise, eyes widening. "Ah! Right… I completely forgot!"
Her laughter filled the room again — light and loving. "It's alright," she said, standing and ruffling his hair gently. "Come on, let's go. Your father's already waiting."
Yun Xian smiled sheepishly, the embarrassment fading into excitement.