C 2: Soul Awakening
The next morning, before dawn broke, Wang Li rose from bed, lit the cooking fire, and boiled a pot of white porridge. After hurriedly eating a small bowl, he stepped outside into the soft morning mist.
He didn't want to miss a single moment.
Today was the Spirit Awakening Ceremony.
He had waited years for this.
Wang Li was genuinely excited for what was about to happen. After all, this was the Douluo Continent—a land where Spirit Masters stood at the apex of society, a world constructed with systems that rivaled any fantastical video game. Here, spirit rings, spirit beasts, and Martial Spirits defined power. The legends of Tang San, the God King, and the mysteries of twin spirits, hidden weapons, and divine inheritance had once been stories in his past life. But now, they were part of his present reality.
What kind of Spirit he would awaken—this was the biggest suspense and attraction.
Wang Li hastened his pace and soon arrived at the so-called Spirit Hall at the village center. In truth, it was just an unused wooden house slightly sturdier than most. It was maintained regularly by the village chief specifically for this annual event.
Every year, Spirit Hall dispatched Spirit Masters to remote villages like Wang Family Village to awaken the spirits of children who had just turned six. On that single day, the fate of many children could shift drastically.
Several children had already gathered outside the Spirit Hall, standing nervously beside their parents. Most were barefoot, faces scrubbed clean for the special occasion. Wang Li approached with his usual sincere smile and quietly joined them.
Soon after, Village Chief Wang Ping arrived. With furrowed brows and a serious tone, he counted heads to ensure that all age-appropriate children had arrived. Satisfied, he looked at the small crowd and raised his voice:
"Everyone is here. Now listen carefully,don't wander around. The Spirit Master from Spirit Hall may arrive at any moment. If you miss your Spirit Awakening because of carelessness, you will bear the consequences yourselves."
The parents and children all nodded with visible tension.
After all, for families in a remote place like this, this was possibly the only chance in a lifetime for a child to rise above poverty and obscurity.
An hour crawled by under the sun, and finally, under everyone's anxious gazes, a lone figure appeared in the distance.
The Spirit Master from Spirit Hall had arrived.
He walked with purpose, wearing the white-gold close-fitting robes of Spirit Hall, a long black cloak fluttering behind him. Embroidered on his chest was the Spirit Hall insignia, and over his heart were three small swords—the mark of a Spirit Grandmaster-level Battle Spirit Master. He was tall, handsome, and carried an air of authority, though his expression seemed indifferent.
As the Spirit Master approached, Wang Ping hurried forward and greeted him respectfully, even though the man was far younger.
"Honorable Spirit Master, thank you for your arrival. All children of awakening age in our village are gathered and ready."
The Spirit Master gave a small nod in acknowledgment and looked toward the children. His stern gaze softened slightly.
"Alright, children, enter the hall. I still have several villages to visit, so let's not delay."
A total of six children, including Wang Li, obediently entered the wooden building.
Under the watchful eyes of the villagers, the Spirit Master followed them in. Despite his calm demeanor, he too felt a flicker of anticipation:
Perhaps… this time, I'll encounter a truly talented child.
Inside the building, the Spirit Master opened a leather pouch and pulled out six pitch-black stones—Spirit Guidance Devices used in the awakening process. He arranged them in the shape of a six-pointed star on the floor.
Turning to the children, his voice became gentler:
"Let me introduce myself. I am Su Yuntao, a Level 26 Battle Spirit Master from Spirit Hall. I will awaken your Spirits today. No matter what you see, do not panic."
The moment the name "Su Yuntao" was spoken, Wang Li's eyes lit up with recognition and excitement.
It's him! Su Yuntao! This is canon! This is the real deal! That means… my awakening should be stable! I've got this
"Lone Wolf, possess!"
A deep, commanding voice pulled Wang Li out of his thoughts.
He watched in awe as a swirl of green light surrounded Su Yuntao. The Spirit Master's body began to expand, muscles bulging beneath his robes. His hair turned a grayish-brown, and thick fur sprouted along his exposed arms and cheeks. His eyes became sharper, canine, wild. Fingernails turned into claws, and his entire presence radiated beastly ferocity.
Despite the transformation, the Spirit Hall uniform remained intact,a testament to its enchantment. Most eye-catching of all were the two rings beneath Su Yuntao's feet: a white ring (10-year) and a yellow ring (100-year)—representing his two spirit rings, essential to every Spirit Master's growth.
The younger children screamed and backed away in fright.
Su Yuntao sighed internally and forced a calm tone:
"Don't be afraid. This is a Beast Spirit transformation. If any of you awaken a beast-type Martial Spirit, you'll experience a similar change. Now then—who wants to go first? Stand in the center of the array."
The other children hesitated.
But not Wang Li.
He stepped forward immediately, brimming with anticipation.
"Grandmaster Su Yuntao, please help me awaken my Spirit!"
Wang Li stepped forward without hesitation, his tone respectful yet confident.
Seeing someone step out voluntarily, Su Yuntao was mildly surprised but also pleased—cooperative children made the job smoother. He decided to let Wang Li go first to serve as an example for the others. Without delay, he extended his right arm, now transformed into a wolf-like claw, and placed it before Wang Li. Spirit power surged from his palm as he instructed:
"Focus. Sense the energy flowing within you. Don't resist it—just feel the changes happening inside your body."
Wang Li was already immersed in concentration. As soon as Su Yuntao released his spirit power, Wang Li felt as though he had been plunged into a bath of warm water. A comforting heat spread from his chest, flowing through his limbs like a steady stream. The current of warmth finally gathered in his right hand, building and surging.
In the next moment, a bright white glow burst from his palm, startling the onlookers. Amid the radiance, a slender plant emerged out of thin air, twisting gently with a soft rustle.
Su Yuntao's expression shifted as he observed it. He furrowed his brow and stared closely, then muttered aloud with hesitation:
"Blue Silver Grass? It looks like it… but it's taller and has a stronger glow than usual. Did… did some sort of mutation occur?"
He didn't know whether to be excited or disappointed. The brilliance during the awakening had given him false hope—it wasn't common for trash spirits to shine so brightly. Yet here it was—Blue Silver Grass, the most infamous waste spirit in all of Spirit Hall's records.
Suppressing his mixed emotions, Su Yuntao reached into his belt pouch and took out a crystal ball—a special tool used to test innate spirit power. He extended it toward Wang Li.
"Child, you can withdraw your Spirit now. Then place your hand on this crystal ball so I can check your innate spirit power level."
Wang Li gave a small nod. With a silent thought, the Blue Silver Grass flickered and vanished, withdrawing back into his body.
Blue Silver Grass, huh…
He repeated the words in his heart, emotionless on the surface, while placing his hand on the cool, glassy surface of the crystal sphere.
Instantly, the warm current inside him reacted. A faint suction sensation pulled the energy into the crystal. The orb began to glow—at first dimly, then steadily brighter. Though not blinding, the radiance it gave off was far more intense than expected for someone with a so-called trash spirit.
Su Yuntao blinked and stared at the crystal ball. His reaction was delayed. Then, with a rather conflicted expression, he finally muttered:
"Blue Silver Grass… and yet, spirit power Level 3? This is really… unexpected. I only had Level 2 back when I awakened!"
Wang Li heard every word clearly. He was surprised as well—not disappointed, but thoughtful.
In his heart, he quickly summarized the situation:
Blue Silver Grass Spirit. Spirit Power: Level 3.
Standard waste template… or is it?
No. In the context of Douluo Continent, Level 3 innate spirit power wasn't trash. It wasn't top-tier like Level 9 or 10, but it was above average, especially for a child from a poor village. Most children either had no spirit power or levels as low as one or two.
With Level 3 as a starting point, and if he could obtain a spirit ring and cultivate diligently, there was a real possibility of reaching Spirit Elder (Level 30).
And Wang Li understood that even Tang San, in the original story, had started with Blue Silver Grass. It was never about the Spirit itself—it was about what he would do with it.