Xin Ya looked at Gu You, who was meditating, with an expression as if he were staring at a monster. He had only explained some basic meditation principles, and yet… he had already learned it?
At this moment, Gu You felt incredibly comfortable. Soul power from heaven and earth flowed into his body, continuously nourishing it. Though the growth was slow, he firmly believed that within two years, he would definitely become a Grand Soul Master.
He slowly opened his eyes at dawn and was surprised when he checked the time. His stomach growled loudly in protest.
"Hey, wake up." Gu You poked at Xin Ya, who was sleeping soundly on a medical bed.
"Who?!" Xin Ya was annoyed at being woken up, but upon seeing it was Gu You, he immediately suppressed his irritation.
"Can we go back now? My injuries are healed. I know you're worried, but aren't you following me anyway? We can talk about martial soul knowledge on the way. I got too immersed in cultivating just now and almost forgot about it." Gu You pondered. It was likely that basic knowledge like this wouldn't even be taught at Shrek. Besides, he was curious—getting into the continent's number one academy was extremely difficult, even for a council member, right?
But then he shook his head. No point overthinking it. As long as he benefited, nothing else mattered.
"You're really healed?" Xin Ya scrutinized him. In response, Gu You twisted his body a few times to show he was completely fine.
"Alright then." Xin Ya finally nodded. After having the doctors conduct another round of examinations, he was assured enough to take Gu You away.
"In our world, martial souls come in many types. The main classifications are Tool Martial Souls and Beast Martial Souls, with some being classified as Mutant Martial Souls. Those that manifest as life force are known as Beast Martial Souls, whereas those that do not—"
"Stop… stop for now. My head's spinning." Gu You rubbed his forehead, cutting off Xin Ya's enthusiastic lecture. He understood the basics, but if they delved into all the details, the amount of information would be overwhelming.
Xin Ya was slightly confused. Hadn't he just asked for an explanation? Why was he stopping him now?
By the roadside, Gu You was eating skewers while Xin Ya looked at him helplessly. Just the amount of food Gu You had consumed along the way had cost him his entire month's food allowance. But when he thought about the big figures backing Gu You, he suddenly felt it was all worth it.
"You said I'm an Innate Full Soul Power wielder, so I should be able to absorb my first soul ring now, right?" Gu You asked after finishing a skewer.
"Of course, you can absorb one. But Tianhai's Spirit Pagoda has very few soul spirits available, let alone any suitable for your dragon-type attributes. I suggest you wait until you reach Shrek City and visit the Spirit Pagoda headquarters there. By then, you won't have to worry about money. Talents like you usually receive soul spirits for free. And even if it's not free, the government will cover the cost." Xin Ya explained while hailing a soul car.
Gu You remained silent, acknowledging the logic, before stepping into the car heading to Tianhai Orphanage.
"Grandma, don't worry. Gu You only encountered some minor issues during his martial soul awakening. Besides, Lord Soul Elder is with him," Shen Yue gently reassured the old woman as she carefully combed her hair. The old lady had once been the head of the orphanage, but now that she was older, it was Shen Yue's turn to take on that responsibility.
He's back.
Gu You let out a long breath of relief, but thinking about his imminent departure to the sacred land of soul masters, he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation in his heart.
"What are you thinking about?" Xin Ya asked.
"Nothing. Let's go in. Later, there will be things I won't be able to say, so I'll leave it to you." Gu You's eyes grew serious as he stepped inside.
Inside the orphanage, the children saw the familiar figure return, but instead of cheering, they looked at Gu You with fear in their eyes.
Gu You wanted to explain, but after a moment's thought, he decided against it. What could a bunch of little kids understand?
Back in the home he had lived in for six years, everything felt so ordinary. To be honest, the conditions here were poor. The space was cramped, with multiple beds squeezed together.
Gu You lay down on his own small bed, feeling a rush of excitement. It would be a lie to say he had no ambitions. Who wouldn't want to stand at the pinnacle of the continent? However, when he thought about eventually facing Tang Wulin, the protagonist of this era, a sense of melancholy welled up within him. He was probably the same age as him now. There was a faint sense of fate at work.
"What?! Innate Full Soul Power? Guaranteed admission to Shrek?!" Shen Yue felt dizzy upon hearing the news. Their little orphanage had actually produced such a genius.
"Yes." Xin Ya spoke in a deep voice, as if making a final decision. "You and him… you're not meant to walk the same path."
Shen Yue's eyes turned slightly red, but more than sadness, she felt joy. "I can still see him one last time, right?"
Xin Ya nodded.
The night passed in silence.
Gu You stretched lazily as morning sunlight streamed through the window. He hadn't cultivated the night before but had enjoyed a proper night's rest.
What reassured him most was that the other children hadn't been so frightened that they refused to return to their own home.
Stepping outside, he spotted Xin Ya and greeted him.
"You—" Just as Xin Ya was about to say something, he stopped abruptly.
Two familiar figures appeared in Gu You's vision.
"Gra-Grandma?" Gu You froze in place.
The old woman, seated in a wheelchair, squinted slightly as she looked at him.
"I already know everything…" Shen Yue's voice trembled slightly. Six years of raising him—how could she not have feelings for him?
Gu You was stunned, as if some invisible barrier had formed between them.
"I…" He wanted to say something, but no words came out.
She remained silent.
(End of Chapter)