As Sheng Jun found himself awake under the moonlit sky, the weight of his thoughts pressed heavily upon him. Over the past two months, his life had undergone a whirlwind of change. From a simple village boy to a Spirit Master, the journey had been nothing short of extraordinary.
With a heavy sigh, he decided to take a stroll outside, seeking solace in the tranquility of the night. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the whispers of the world around him. Lost in his thoughts, Sheng Jun found himself reflecting on the memories that had flooded his mind in recent days, memories of a life long forgotten yet strangely familiar.
Ever since his reincarnation, Sheng Jun had been plagued by fragmented memories and glimpses of a past life. Though he had no recollection of the person he once was, the martial arts experiences and emotions he had inherited remained etched in his soul. It was these faint echoes of the past that had guided him to take Ma Hongjun under his wings.
But now, with the sudden influx of information about techniques and abilities he had never known, such as Mysterious Jade Hands, Purple Demon Eyes, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Controlling Crane Catching Dragon Sheng Jun couldn't help but wonder about the true nature of his past. Could it be that Tang San is just like him? The person from another world? The thought lingered in his mind, a possibility that left him yearning for answers.
Sheng Jun's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sounds of heavy breathing up ahead. Curiosity piqued, he quickened his pace, drawn towards the source of the commotion.
As he approached, Sheng Jun's eyes widened in surprise, his face flushing with embarrassment at the scene before him. Xiao Wu sat astride Tang San, their breaths mingling in the cool night air as they gazed at each other with flushed cheeks.
Noticing him, Tang San and Xiao Wu scrambled to their feet, their faces flushed with embarrassment, they exchanged glances. Before Tang San could utter a single word of explanation, Sheng Jun's swift response cut through the air like a blade.
"Don't worry, Xiao San, I understand" Sheng Jun assured them, his voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and understanding. Without another word, he turned on his heel and dashed off towards his room, his face burning with embarrassment 'Outside? Kids these days are too vulgar!' he complained silently.
Left standing in the wake of Sheng Jun's sudden departure, Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged sheepish looks, their cheeks still tinged with crimson. With a nervous laugh, Tang San attempted to break the awkward silence, his words stumbling over each other in his haste to explain.
"Brother Jun wait, you see, it's not what you think..." Tang San began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words to convey their innocence. But before he could continue, Sheng Jun's retreating form disappeared from view, leaving Tang San and Xiao Wu alone in the moonlit night.
As they stood in the quiet stillness of the night, a sense of unease settled over them, the memory of Sheng Jun's sudden departure weighing heavily on their minds. Though they knew their intentions had been misunderstood, the lingering embarrassment lingered like a shadow.
…
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the group as they made their way towards the grand Spirit Hall, their footsteps echoing in the quiet streets. Sheng Jun, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and Xiao Wu walked side by side, their expressions filled with anticipation.
Xiao Wu had decided to join them on their journey to the Spirit Hall after learning about the benefits of registration.
As they walked, Tang San couldn't help but feel the weight of fatigue bearing down on him. His eyes were slightly baggy from the lack of sleep, a testament to the restless night he had endured. Despite his exhaustion, he knew he had to address the misunderstanding from the previous night.
"Brother Jun, please listen to my explanation about last night" Tang San began, his voice tinged with apprehension as he braced himself for Sheng Jun's reaction. But before he could finish his sentence, Sheng Jun cut him off with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Xiao San, I understand fully" Sheng Jun replied, his tone calm and understanding. "Even though we are still young, as Spirit Masters, our bodies mature more quickly due to soul power. It's normal for boys your age to have such desires"
The words hung in the air, enveloping Tang San in a blanket of embarrassment. Despite Sheng Jun's attempt to offer reassurance, Tang San couldn't shake the feeling of mortification that washed over him. With a heavy heart, he cast his gaze downward, unable to meet Sheng Jun's ''understanding'' eyes.
Beside him, Xiao Wu twitched slightly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks as she struggled to suppress a giggle. Sensing her amusement, Tang San shot her a pleading look, silently begging for her support in this moment of embarrassment.
But before Xiao Wu could explain, their journey came to an abrupt halt as they arrived in front of the grand Spirit Hall. The imposing structure loomed before them, its grandeur a testament to the power and prestige of the Spirit Hall.
As they stepped into the grand halls of the Spirit Hall, their eyes scanned the vast expanse of the room, taking in the grandeur of their surroundings. Among the bustling crowd, they noticed familiar figures standing off to the side. It was Su Yuntao, the one who had helped them in the awakening of their martial soul, accompanied by an elderly man whom they presumed to be a higher-ranking official of the Spirit Hall.
Su Yuntao caught sight of them and offered a nod of recognition before excusing himself and leaving them in the company of the elderly man. With a courteous smile, the old man gestured for them to follow him, leading them toward a designated area for testing their soul power.
As they walked, the old man began to explain the structure of the Spirit Hall. He detailed the five different levels of the Spirit Hall, each with its significance and purpose.
"The Spirit Hall is divided into 5 different levels" the old man began, his tone informative. "The first is the Branch Spirit Hall, which serves as this city's Spirit Hall and can be found in even the smallest towns"
"Next is the Child Spirit Hall, a direct branch of the Lord Spirit Hall, also known as the Main Hall. These are located in every major city"
"Following that is the Saint Spirit Hall, a prestigious institution found only in the imperial cities of Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire"
"The Papal Spirit Hall comes next, where Her Holiness the Pope resides. It is the heart of the Spirit Hall organization and holds immense power and authority"
"And finally, there is the Douluo Consecration Hall, accessible only to those of Spirit Douluo rank and above. It is a place of reverence, reserved for the highest echelons of Spirit Masters"
As the old man spoke, his eyes shone with a yearning gaze, reflecting his deep reverence for the institution he served. His words painted a vivid picture of the hierarchy and structure of the Spirit Hall, instilling a sense of awe and respect in those who listened.
But before they could dwell further on his words, Ma Hongjun's voice cut through the air, breaking the reverie. "Old Man, can we start the registration now?" he asked eagerly, his impatience palpable.
The old man let out a sigh of exasperation, shaking his head at the impatience of youth. With a resigned expression, he gestured towards the crystal ball in front of him, indicating that one of them should step forward for testing.
"I will go first" Ma Hongjun declared confidently, striding forward with purpose. As he touched the crystal ball, a phoenix shriek echoed through the hall, followed by a blinding flash of light as the ball shone brightly.
"Level 12?! Top-tier beast-type martial soul Fire Phoenix?" the old man exclaimed in disbelief, his shock evident in his voice. But his astonishment didn't end there. As each of them stepped forward for testing, the old man's incredulity only grew.
...
"I can't believe such a seemingly useless martial soul as Blue Silver Grass can be cultivated to such a level" he muttered, his voice tinged with awe and disbelief. "And to think it even absorbed beast-type spirit beasts as its spirit ring. Boy, can you tell me who your master is?"
Tang San replied calmly "I don't know much about my master, but everyone calls him Grandmaster"
"Grandmaster?" the old man repeated, his eyes widening in realization. "No wonder, no wonder" If it was the Grandmaster who had cultivated Tang San, then it all made sense.
Turning his gaze to the four individuals before him, the old man, as a representative of the Spirit Hall, felt a sense of responsibility to recruit talented individuals into their ranks. With a hopeful expression, he posed the question "Are the four of you willing to join the Spirit Hall?"
However, to his disappointment, all four of them politely declined. Tang San and Xiao Wu cited their commitments to Nuoding Academy, while Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun expressed their loyalty to Shrek Academy, where they were going to be the future leaders of.
With a heavy heart, the old man could only hand them their badges, a silent acknowledgment of their decision despite his disappointment.
As the four figures vanished into the distance, the old man sighed heavily, a sense of resignation settling over him. With a heavy heart, he turned and made his way back to his office, the weight of disappointment bearing down on his shoulders.
Seated at his desk, he took up his quill and parchment, carefully crafting a letter with each stroke of ink. Once the letter was complete, he rolled it up and tied it securely to the leg of a bird specially nurtured by the Spirit Hall for delivering messages.
"Send this letter to the Papal Spirit Hall" he commanded the bird, watching as it took flight with purpose.
...
In the grand hall of the Papal Spirit Hall, the atmosphere was one of solemnity and grace. The beautiful woman seated upon the throne exuded an aura of ethereal beauty, her presence commanding the attention of all who beheld her.
As she sat in quiet contemplation, a letter was brought before her, carried by a bird with wings of pure white. With a gentle hand, she took the letter and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the contents with interest.
"A disciple? Xiaogang... you haven't given up yet" she murmured softly to herself, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Despite her fierce demeanor, there was a hint of warmth and fondness in her voice as she considered the contents of the letter.
The time skips are coming. After that, we will follow Ma Hongjun's POV for a while.