As they entered the quiet testing chamber, the soft hum of spiritual instruments filled the air. The golden afternoon light filtering through the crystal windows gave the room a serene glow.
"Where are the others?" Yun Xian asked curiously, glancing around the empty hall. "Did they go back?"
Yun Ming smiled gently. "Yes. They have their duties to attend to, so they left right after your awakening ended."
"Oh…" Yun Xian nodded slightly, a faint hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Yun Ming chuckled softly and patted his shoulder. "Don't look so down. There will be plenty of time to meet them again." His tone shifted, calm yet expectant. "Now then, let's see what your soul power looks like."
He gestured toward a device placed in the corner of the room — a transparent crystal sphere attached to a sleek, rune-etched console. "Place your hand on that machine," Yun Ming said. "It will measure your innate soul power level."
"Alright."
Yun Xian took a deep breath and stepped forward. The room seemed to quiet as he reached out, his small hand pressing gently against the smooth surface of the crystal.
For a heartbeat — nothing happened.
Then, with a faint hum, the sphere lit up. Threads of light spiralled around his palm, converging at the centre before shooting upward in a dazzling flare. Numbers and symbols flickered rapidly across the console's display.
Ya Li watched with bated breath. Yun Ming's expression remained calm — but his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
The lights finally stabilized, and a clear sequence of letters and digits appeared on the screen.
Innate Soul Power — Level 20.
A stunned silence filled the room.
Ya Li gasped softly, her hand rising to her lips. Even Yun Ming's composed expression faltered, eyes widening in disbelief.
Yun Xian blinked at the display, confusion and awe mixing in his gaze. "Level… twenty?" he whispered.
For a moment, all he could hear was the faint hum of the machine — and the sound of his own heartbeat, echoing like thunder.
"W–Wow…" Yun Xian breathed, eyes wide with disbelief.
He stared at the glowing screen, the number 20 etched in light before him. Even though he had heard legends that the Seraphim Martial Soul possessed innate soul power beyond normal limits, actually seeing it… feeling the energy flowing through his veins… was something entirely different.
The realization struck him like a wave. This was real — the Seraphim truly lived within him.
"As expected," Yun Ming said with a calm smile, hands clasped behind his back.
Ya Li's lips curved softly as she watched her son's expression — the shock, the wonder, the flicker of pride. "You truly inherited something extraordinary, Xiao Xian," she said gently.
Yun Ming stepped forward, his gaze warm yet probing. "Tell me, do you know why your innate soul power surpasses the limit of ten and reaches level twenty?"
Yun Xian blinked, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh… I… don't know," he replied with an embarrassed chuckle.
His tone was honest, yet a flicker of hesitation lingered in his eyes.
In truth, he did know. He had read about it long ago — in an era buried twenty thousand years in the past, when the Seraphim shone brightest under the heavens. But after Sea God Tang San shattered the Godhood of the Angel God, no Seraphim had ever awakened again. The world had forgotten its meaning — and perhaps, it was better that way.
So, he smiled faintly, feigning ignorance.
Ya Li tilted her head, amused by his awkwardness, while Yun Ming chuckled softly.
"It's alright," Yun Ming said, walking closer. "Then let me explain it to you…"
"Your Martial Soul is the Seraphim, also known as the Six-Winged Angel," Yun Ming said, while Yun Xian listened patiently.
"But it's not as simple as merely possessing six wings. It's a God-given Martial Soul. Twenty thousand years ago, there existed an organization called the Martial Soul Hall, which was ruled by the Qian family. The main bloodline of that family were descendants of the Angel God, and the Seraphim Martial Soul was inherited by them. That's why it is called a God-given Martial Soul."
"But after the battle between two gods, Tang San emerged victorious, shattering the divine throne of the Angel Goddess, Qian Renxue," Yun Ming's voice echoed with a solemn reverence. "From that day onward, the Seraphim Martial Soul vanished from the world.
Though the Angel bloodline endured, its sacred divinity faded with time. What remains now is the Holy Angel Clan, bearers of the Holy Angel Martial Soul—a mere shadow of the once-glorious Seraphim.
The Seraphim did not only command the power of Holy Light; its spiritual force was among the greatest ever known. And when one advanced beyond the Soul Sage realm, the Seraphim awakened a divine flame—the True Sun Flame, a power of pure celestial fire.
But the Holy Angels of today," Yun Ming's gaze darkened slightly, "can wield only the light… never the flame."
Yun Ming let out a deep sigh as memories of that ancient era resurfaced—records long preserved within the library of Shrek Academy. His gaze grew distant, filled with reverence and yearning. How magnificent must the true Seraphim Martial Soul have been... The thought alone stirred awe within him.
He turned his eyes back toward Yun Xian, his expression solemn.
"Do you understand now?" Yun Ming's voice carried a quiet gravity. "This Martial Soul holds boundless power—enough to command the heavens themselves. Yet, with such power comes an equally great trial. The Seraphim does not merely bless; it tempts. Its radiance breeds pride, and that pride... becomes the sharpest blade against its bearer."
His tone deepened, carrying a trace of sorrow.
"If you can overcome that pride, then the Seraphim's endless light will truly become yours. But if you cannot—then you will share the same fate as the previous Angel God, Qian Renxue… destroyed beyond salvation."
Hearing this, Yun Xian swallowed hard, a nervous gulp escaping his throat. The weight of Yun Ming's words pressed upon him like a mountain, stirring the memory of that mysterious voice—the same voice that had bestowed him this power and left him with its cryptic warning.
"Okay, okay! Why are you trying to frighten him like that?" Ya Li snapped, stepping forward with a hint of anger in her tone. Her eyes softened as she glanced at Yun Xian's uneasy expression before turning sharply toward Yun Ming. "Xiao Xian is still just a child. There's plenty of time before he needs to face any so-called trial."
Her voice carried both warmth and reprimand, like a mother shielding her child from a harsh truth.
"Ah, haha…" Hearing Ya Li's complaint, Yun Ming let out an awkward laugh. He truly hadn't meant to frighten the boy—he was merely stating the truth. Yet, seeing Ya Li's angry glare, he realized too late how his words had sounded.
"Sorry for scaring you," Yun Ming said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But what I told you isn't mere nonsense—it's the truth. A truth you will have to face one day."
Ya Li huffed softly, her expression still stern. "Alright, that's enough for now. We're done with your soul power test. It's time to test your spiritual power."
Without waiting for Yun Ming's reply, she gently took Yun Xian's hand and led him toward another part of the awakening chamber.
There, in the corner, stood a sleek pod-like machine—its surface shimmering with faint blue light. It looked futuristic and out of place amidst the ancient symbols engraved on the chamber walls. In truth, it was a Spiritual Power Testing Pod, a device developed by the Spirit Pagoda.
Yun Xian's eyes widened in awe as he took in its intricate design. Incredible… he thought. The technology of this world was far beyond what he had imagined. Yet, a flicker of nostalgia crossed his gaze. If it were my previous world, perhaps we would have reached this level someday too.
"Xiao Xian," Ya Li said softly, pointing toward the pod, "this is a spiritual power tester. You just need to lie down inside and put on this helmet."
She then added with a small smile, "This device doesn't just measure your spiritual power—it also evaluates your physical strength. With that data, we can determine which type of Spirit Soul will be most compatible with you."
"Okay," Yun Xian replied softly, then stepped forward and lay down inside the pod. The interior was cool and smooth to the touch, faintly humming with energy. He carefully positioned the helmet-like device over his head, feeling it adjusts automatically to fit.
"There will be a slight stinging sensation once the test begins," Yun Ming reminded him gently. "It's completely harmless, so don't panic. Just stay calm and keep your mind steady."
Yun Xian nodded faintly. As the machine powered on, a low hum filled the chamber, and streams of faint light began to dance across the pod's surface. Moments later, he felt a light pricking sensation at the center of his forehead—sharp but fleeting, like static electricity brushing his mind.
He didn't flinch. His parents had already told him what to expect, and his heart remained steady.
After a few seconds, the light from the machine dimmed, and the humming gradually faded. The pod released a soft hiss as it opened.
Yun Xian sat up, removing the helmet and taking a quiet breath of relief. The test was over.
"Did you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Ya Li asked gently, stepping closer with concern in her eyes.
"No, Mom. I'm perfectly fine," Yun Xian replied with a small smile, his voice steady.
Just then, a soft beep echoed from the pod, followed by a flicker of light as a translucent glass-like screen lit up on its side. Lines of glowing data began to scroll across it, displaying the test results in neat, luminous text.
Spiritual Power: 250 Points
Physical Strength: Level 29
Ya Li's eyes widened slightly as she read the numbers, while Yun Ming's expression turned thoughtful, the reflection of the screen dancing across his calm yet astonished gaze.
"Just as I thought," Yun Ming said, his expression thoughtful. As a Peak Titled Douluo, his spiritual perception was unmatched—he could sense the cultivation and spiritual fluctuations of others with ease. From the moment Yun Xian awakened his Martial Soul, he had already suspected this result.
"Looks like the Seraphim Martial Soul has given him more than just an innate rank-twenty soul power," Ya Li added, her tone filled with a mix of pride and awe.
"What do you mean, Mom?" Yun Xian asked, puzzled. He had read about spiritual power in books, but hearing them speak like this made him realize there was more to it than he understood.
Yun Ming turned to him and smiled faintly. "Didn't I tell you earlier? The Seraphim Martial Soul possesses both Holy Light and Spiritual attributes. This is what I meant."
He clasped his hands behind his back and began explaining patiently, his voice carrying a teacher's calm authority.
"In this era, soul masters no longer need to hunt soul beasts for rings. Instead, they can form contracts with Spirit Souls. However, this method has one flaw—you must possess sufficient spiritual power to form and maintain a stable contract. The strength of your spiritual power determines not only how many spirit souls you can sustain, but also the maximum age of the spirit soul you can bond with."
Yun Xian listened attentively, his eyes widening with interest.
"Spiritual Power," Yun Ming continued, "is divided into six major realms: Spirit Origin Realm, Spirit Connection Realm, Spirit Sea Realm, Spirit Abyss Realm, Spirit Domain Realm, and finally, the Divine Origin Realm."
He paused, then looked at Yun Xian with a faint smile.
"You are currently in the Spirit Connection Realm. That means you can safely contract either one thousand-year purple Spirit Soul, or two hundred-year yellow ones. More importantly, you can already use your spiritual power to communicate directly with your Spirit Soul—sharing thoughts and intent."
Hearing all the details from his father, Yun Xian stood there in awe, his eyes wide with amazement. The vastness of what he had just learned left him speechless. Seeing his expression, both Yun Ming and Ya Li couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Alright, since the tests are done, let's head home," Ya Li said with a gentle smile. "Xiao Xian must be hungry by now."
"Oh? So I'm not important anymore?" Yun Ming said with a teasing grin, his tone playful.
Ya Li's cheeks turned slightly red as she glared at him. "W–What are you saying? Xiao Xian is still here!" she mumbled, her voice flustered.
Yun Ming only smiled wider, the amusement in his eyes impossible to hide. "Alright then, let's go home and have something to eat."
Before either of them could react, he moved—his hand slipping around Ya Li's slender waist, while his other hand gently grasped Yun Xian's.
A faint golden light enveloped them.
And in the next instant, the three of them vanished from the awakening chamber, leaving behind only the lingering shimmer of divine energy.