As the ceremony concluded, children began to leave, some excitedly chatting about their results, while others walked away in silence, disappointed with their martial souls. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the village square as Arthev stood near the Spirit Hall representative, lost in thought.
Just then, a calm yet curious voice reached his ears.
"Your martial soul is quite unique."
Arthev turned to see a boy about his age standing a few steps away. His unassuming demeanor, steady gaze, and composed posture immediately set him apart from the other village children. Unlike the excited or dejected expressions worn by most of the others, his face remained calm and analytical.
It was Tang San.
Arthev regarded him for a brief moment. He knew exactly who this boy was—the protagonist of this world. Yet, he had no intention of acting overly familiar or drawing unnecessary attention to himself.
"You think so?" Arthev asked, his voice even.
Tang San nodded slightly, his sharp eyes studying Arthev's martial soul.
"Most plant-type martial souls don't receive spirit power, yet yours did. That's rare."
Arthev remained silent for a moment. He wasn't surprised by Tang San's observation. The boy was sharp, as expected. But Arthev had no intention of revealing too much about himself.
"I guess I got lucky."
Tang San observed him for a moment longer, then smiled faintly.
"Maybe. But luck alone doesn't determine strength."
Arthev didn't respond immediately, but inwardly, he agreed. He knew talent was only one part of the equation—effort, knowledge, and wisdom mattered just as much, if not more.
Tang San, sensing that Arthev was not someone who spoke about himself easily, changed the topic slightly.
"Are you planning to become a Soul Master?"
Arthev glanced at Tang San, weighing his answer.
"I haven't decided yet."
Tang San tilted his head slightly but did not press further. Instead, he extended his hand.
"I'm Tang San. Nice to meet you."
Arthev looked at Tang San's hand for a brief moment before shaking it.
"Arthev."
The handshake was brief, but both boys silently gauged each other.
Tang San sensed that Arthev was calm and level-headed, someone who didn't waste words. Meanwhile, Arthev noted that Tang San was observant—perhaps even more than his quiet demeanor suggested.
------
"Old jack"
"Grandmaster," Old Jack called out, his voice laced with concern.
"Do you think any of the children from our village have the potential to become Spirit Masters?"
Su Yuntao exhaled slightly, crossing his arms.
"There are two who do."
Hearing this, a complex expression crossed Old Jack's face. His heart was filled with both pride and concern for the children.
"This year's awakening had some unexpected results," Su Yuntao continued. "Two children with spirit power, and one of them with Level 10 Innate Spirit Power. That's rare in a small village like this."
Old Jack sighed, a mix of emotions swirling in his heart.
"Yes, that child, Tang San…" His voice trailed off for a moment before he continued, "Innate full spirit power with Blue Silver Grass… That's unheard of."
Su Yuntao's expression darkened slightly.
"Yes. Blue Silver Grass is supposed to be the most ordinary martial soul. For it to appear alongside Innate Full Spirit Power… It's truly strange."
Old Jack's face became even more serious. He had been the village chief for many years and knew the weight of such a revelation.
"Grandmaster, is Blue Silver Grass truly a hopeless martial soul?" He asked, his voice carrying a hint of expectation.
Su Yuntao, understanding Old Jack's concern, softened his usual arrogant demeanor slightly and patted the old man's shoulder.
"It's not completely impossible to cultivate," he admitted. "But compared to other martial souls, its growth potential is incredibly limited. In the end, useless spirits remain useless spirits. Even if he becomes a Soul Master, he'll likely be an ordinary one."
A silence settled between them for a moment. Then, Su Yuntao brought up another name.
"And then there's Arthev."
Old Jack blinked, his thoughts shifting.
"Yes… That boy."
Su Yuntao folded his arms, frowning slightly.
"His martial soul… just a tree. It didn't show any offensive abilities, yet he has Level 5 Spirit Power. That's unusual."
Old Jack stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"I was surprised as well. He only recently arrived in our village, but he carries himself well. He has no family, no past that he speaks of, but he's a hardworking and polite child."
Su Yuntao's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A mysterious one, then. A tree martial soul with no clear abilities… It's difficult to say whether it has potential or not."
Old Jack sighed.
"But one thing is certain—he rejected Spirit Hall's offer without hesitation."
Su Yuntao raised an eyebrow at that.
"That was unexpected. Most children would dream of joining Spirit Hall for the resources and training."
Old Jack smiled slightly.
"Perhaps he just wants to find his own path. Not every child seeks power through an organization."
Su Yuntao remained silent for a moment, then shook his head lightly.
"Regardless, if either of these two—Tang San or Arthev—shows potential in the future, Spirit Hall will take notice."
Old Jack nodded, a hint of worry in his expression.
"I only hope they grow up well. Whether they follow Spirit Hall or another path, their future is their own."
Su Yuntao checked the sky outside and straightened his robes.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. I still have to visit another village."
Just as he turned to go, a small voice interrupted him.
"Jack Grandpa."
Both men turned to see Tang San standing nearby, his face calm but curious.
"What is a spirit ring? And how can one obtain it?"
Old Jack, still absorbed in thought over Su Yuntao's words, subconsciously answered.
"I don't know much about spirit rings myself. But from what I've heard, in order to obtain one, a Soul Master must hunt spirit beasts. It's an incredibly dangerous task that only trained Spirit Masters are capable of."
Tang San's eyes flickered with deep thought, his mind already processing this new information.