The old man studied the child for a moment before speaking.
"Arthev, huh? A strange yet fine name. Well then, young one, what brings you wandering alone?"
Arthev hesitated for a brief moment, carefully crafting his response. His past life had taught him the importance of choosing his words wisely. Feigning confusion, he lowered his gaze slightly and spoke with an uncertain tone.
"I… I don't really know. I just remember waking up in the forest, lost. I guess I've been walking for a long time and somehow ended up here."
Old Jack's kind eyes softened further as he let out a sigh. Though he was clearly concerned, he didn't press for more details. Instead, he gave a reassuring nod.
"That must have been tough. Well, no need to worry now. Holy Spirit Village is a safe place, and we take care of our own."
Hearing those words, Arthev felt a small sense of relief. Even though he was a reincarnated soul, adjusting to a new world was no easy task. He still needed to figure out his next steps, but for now, securing a stable place to stay was his priority.
He decided to shift the conversation, acting as naturally as possible.
"Grandpa Jack, where were you going just now?"
Old Jack's expression brightened at the question.
"Ah, I was just making my rounds, informing the parents of the six-year-old children about the upcoming Spirit Awakening Ceremony. It will be held in three days."
Arthev's mind immediately sharpened. Spirit Awakening Ceremony? That was one of the most important moments in this world. Every child at the age of six underwent the ceremony to awaken their martial soul, which determined their future in cultivation.
But, of course, he had to act unaware.
Feigning curiosity, he tilted his head slightly.
"Spirit Awakening Ceremony? What's that?"
Old Jack's expression turned serious, his tone carrying the weight of tradition and respect.
"We all have a spirit within us, which is finally awakened at the age of six with the help of the awakening ceremony. Having a spirit can enhance our abilities in a certain field. Even an ordinary spirit can be useful in daily life. But if, by any chance, you gain a remarkable spirit… then there is the possibility of becoming a Spirit Master."
He paused, his voice carrying an almost reverent tone.
"The awakening ceremony is held only once a year. A lord attendant from Nuoding City's Spirit Sub-Hall personally comes to help our village's children awaken. That attendant is considered a Spirit Grandmaster-ranked Spirit Master."
When Old Jack uttered the words "Spirit Grandmaster," there was a clear look of admiration in his eyes.
Arthev silently processed the information. He already knew this from his past life's knowledge of Douluo Dalu, but hearing it in person made it feel more real.
"So in just three days, I'll undergo the ceremony myself."
For a brief moment, a thought crossed his mind. 'Will I awaken my eye as my martial soul? Or will it be something entirely different?'
Old Jack's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"You should stay here in the village for now, young one. When the ceremony happens, you can participate as well. Who knows? Maybe you'll have a powerful martial soul."
Arthev nodded, showing a grateful expression.
After leading him to a small wooden house, Old Jack provided him with a set of clean clothes and a warm meal. The aroma of freshly cooked rice and vegetable stew filled the air as Arthev sat at the wooden table, quietly eating. The warmth of the food spread through his body, calming his nerves.
"This feels quite unreal… but this is really my life now. A new body, a new world… and in three days, I'll awaken my martial soul."
By the time he finished his meal, exhaustion finally caught up to him. His young body had endured a lot—wandering the forest, facing hunger, and adjusting to his new reality. As soon as he laid down on the simple bed, sleep overtook him almost instantly.
---
[Second Day]
The golden light of dawn filtered through the small wooden window, casting warm rays over the bed where Arthev lay. His crimson eyes slowly fluttered open.
The first thing he noticed was… he felt different.
His body, which had been sore and slightly injured the night before, felt completely rejuvenated. He sat up abruptly and instinctively checked himself. His hands ran over his arms and legs.
"Hah… my wounds…? They're almost completely healed?!"
He clenched his fists, flexed his fingers, and stretched his limbs. Not only was the pain gone, but his body felt… stronger.
"This recovery speed is insane… A normal child's body shouldn't heal this fast."
For a moment, he considered the possibility that this was related to his martial soul. But he hadn't even awakened yet.
"Could this be a natural trait of my body? Or is it connected to my Shinragan?"
Whatever the case, it was an advantage.
---
Determined to make use of his time, Arthev decided to explore the village. He needed to get used to his surroundings and test the limits of his new body.
At first, he observed the villagers as they worked—carrying buckets of water, chopping firewood, tending to crops. Then, he decided to help in exchange for some coins.
A middle-aged man, seeing his enthusiasm, chuckled and handed him an axe.
"You sure you can handle this, kid?"
Arthev smiled slightly. "I can try."
With surprising ease, he swung the axe, splitting the wood cleanly in half. The villagers, expecting a struggle, widened their eyes.
"For a young one, you sure are strong!"
Throughout the day, Arthev helped carry water, move supplies, and complete various small tasks. By evening, he had earned a few copper coins. Holding them in his hand, he smirked slightly.
"At least I won't be completely broke in this world."
At night, away from prying eyes, he found a secluded area and activated his Shinragan. His vision sharpened, details of the environment becoming clearer than ever. He focused on controlling its abilities, testing how long he could maintain it.
'If I truly have the power of the Shinragan, then I must learn how to use it properly. Strength alone won't be enough in this world.'
---
Two days passed in a blur. By now, Arthev had fully adjusted to his body and the village. He had seen Tang San a few times, but only from a distance. He had no interest in interacting with the so-called protagonist.
As the sun set, painting the sky in a mix of violet and gold, Arthev stood outside his small house, staring at the horizon.
Tomorrow was the big day.
"Tomorrow… is the day."