NABC Chapter 27 Awakening Day
Chapter 27 Awakening Day
Half a year has passed quietly, and the mornings at Tianhai Orphanage are always accompanied by the faint fragrance of grass and trees.
"I'm at level seventeen, and the speed at which my soul power is increasing is much slower than I expected."
Lu Xingchen slowly opened his eyes, a hint of helplessness flashing across his dark pupils. He got up from the "3-001 Silver Trash Can," stretched his limbs, and felt the flow of soul power within his body.
Over the past six months, with the help of the trash can, he has been working hard day and night, and his soul power has advanced from level twelve to level seventeen, although the speed has slowed down a bit compared to before.
If his words were to get out, he would probably be criticized by many people.
He advanced five levels in half a year without using any soul power potions or rare treasures, relying solely on his own cultivation and the help of the trash can. Such speed has already surpassed the understanding of most soul masters.
Even geniuses who are born with full soul power may not be able to reach this level of progress when they reach the Soul Master stage.
At the age of six, Lu Xingchen's soul power had already reached level seventeen. Such talent was enough to be considered a template for a "super genius".
"Forget it, today is an important day, let's not worry about cultivation speed for now."
Lu Xingchen composed himself and strode towards the washroom. The cold water splashed on his face, making him even more alert.
When he finished tidying his clothes and came out of the room, two small figures were already waiting at the door—it was the sisters Rosalia and Lilia.
"Brother Xingchen! Hurry, hurry, we'll miss it if we're any later!"
Rosalia, dressed in a pink dress, beamed with excitement. She grabbed Lu Xingchen's hand, her voice brimming with undisguised anticipation, "Today is my day to shine! I'm sure I'll awaken an incredibly powerful martial soul!"
Lilia, standing to the side in a blue dress, remained as composed as ever. She gently tugged at Rosalia's sleeve and said in a flat yet slightly sarcastic tone:
"You idiot Rosalia, we don't even know if you can awaken your martial soul yet, so don't talk big. Let's wait until we test your innate soul power."
"Hmph, what's there to be afraid of!"
Rosalia pouted but didn't argue. She just gripped Lu Xingchen's hand tighter. "With our strength, we'll definitely awaken a powerful martial soul. Then we can become powerful soul masters just like Brother Xingchen!"
Watching the two sisters sing and dance in harmony, Lu Xingchen's eyes softened with a gentle smile. She let them lead her by the hand and walk towards the back of the orphanage.
……
Deep within the Tianhai Orphanage, a round white building stands quietly, its exterior walls adorned with ancient patterns, exuding a sense of solemnity and mystery.
This is the "Awakening Room," specially designed for children to awaken their martial spirit. Every year on this day, the most nervous and expectant group of people from the orphanage gather here.
When Lu Xingchen was pulled into the awakening room by the twin sisters, there were already more than a dozen children dressed in neat clothes standing in the center of the room. They were all orphans from Tianhai Orphanage who were participating in the martial soul awakening this time.
Although Tianhai Orphanage has only been established for a little over ten years, it has already taken in hundreds of orphans. The oldest is fifteen years old, and the youngest is Lu Xingchen and the twin sisters, who are just six years old.
In other words, this group of children was the youngest in the entire orphanage.
Around the room, seven or eight adults stood, their eyes fixed on the children, and the air was filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
Cocolia stood at the front of the crowd, a rare hint of nervousness showing on her usually gentle face.
For everyone in the Douluo Continent, the awakening of their Martial Soul is a crucial juncture that determines the future course of their lives.
If a child can awaken a martial soul and possess innate soul power, they will have the opportunity to embark on the path of a soul master. In the future, whether they enter an academy for further study or join a force to make a living, their path will be much smoother than that of ordinary people.
Even if a child cannot become a powerful Soul Master, a child with a Martial Soul is more likely to be adopted—many families without offspring are willing to take in a child who has the potential to become a Soul Master, even if it is only the lowest level of Weapon Martial Soul or Beast Martial Soul.
Therefore, today is both the annual Martial Spirit Awakening Day and a "survey day" for potential adoptive families for the orphanage.
This scene plays out every year. Most of the adults standing around are families who have no children for various reasons and hope to adopt a child from the orphanage.
At this moment, their gazes were not only focused on the results of the children's martial spirit awakening, but also on silently selecting children who suited their preferences.
If any child can awaken a martial soul with potential, they will undoubtedly become the focus of their competition.
Logically speaking, Lu Xingchen, who had already awakened his martial soul and become a formal soul master, should not have needed to be present today.
But Rosalia and Lilia insisted that he stay by their side, so he complied with their wishes and stood at the edge of the crowd, quietly watching the children in the center.
"Your Excellency Spirit Master, the children have all arrived. Thank you for your help."
Cocolia took a deep breath, suppressing her nervousness, and nodded respectfully to the middle-aged man on the side of the room.
The man, dressed in a grey Spirit Master's robe, had a gentle face. He nodded slightly upon hearing this and said humbly, "Ms. Cocolia, you needn't be so polite. It is my duty as a Spirit Master to awaken the Martial Soul for children of the right age."
For ordinary families, the awakening of a six-year-old child's martial spirit requires going to the gate of a junior soul master academy and waiting in line. However, the Tianhai Orphanage is an exception, as it allows a spirit master to come to the door to awaken the spirit.
(PS: As mentioned in the original work, one must go to the Soul Master Academy to awaken their Martial Soul.)
Behind this special case lies the unique background of the Tianhai Orphanage—the orphanage was established by a lieutenant officer serving in the federal government.
Although lieutenant is not a high-ranking officer, the Spirit Pagoda of Tianhai City is still willing to give him some face.
Each year, only one low-level spirit medium needs to be sent, which can both do the other party a favor and allow them to get in touch with the children in the orphanage in advance.
If there are truly outstanding talents, the Spirit Pagoda can take advantage of its proximity and prioritize recruiting them for training. This "deal" is entirely beneficial to the Spirit Pagoda.
Of course, this also involves the complicated historical issues left over from the Tianhai Orphanage, but these are secrets that need not be told to others.
The spirit master walked slowly to the center of the room, his gaze sweeping over the children before him, and announced loudly, "Then, the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony shall officially begin. First child, come up."
As soon as she finished speaking, a slightly thin little boy hesitated for a moment, and with a bit of nervousness and trepidation in Cocolia's encouraging gaze, he walked step by step to the center of the room.
The middle-aged spirit master said no more. He lightly stomped his feet, and two yellow hundred-year soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet. Then, a pure white soul power light emerged from the palms of his hands.
He gently pointed his right hand into the air, and the ball of white light shot up to the dome like an arrow, before bursting into bloom.
As white light burst forth, the ancient patterns engraved on the walls and ceiling of the Awakening Room suddenly lit up. As if they came to life, those patterns slowly extended downwards along the walls, eventually converging at the feet of the little boy standing in the center of the room.
The moment the golden light completely enveloped the little boy, the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony officially began.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the boy's figure. A small black shadow slowly emerged behind him. The shadow was insect-shaped, tiny, and ordinary-looking.