Chapter 44: Between Light and Awe
The City of Spirit Hall lay nestled between the two great empires—the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
As one of Spirit Hall's twin sacred lands, it was also home to the Pope's Palace, a place that symbolized immense prestige and authority.
The city's fortifications were built to the standards of an imperial capital, with towering granite walls rising a full eighty meters high.
Those walls, made of fine granite, stood proud and majestic—a sight that could inspire awe even in the coldest of hearts.
Today was the annual Spirit Awakening Day.
And as the sacred ground of Spirit Hall, the city naturally possessed a Spirit Awakening Hall dedicated to this ceremony.
Given the city's importance, the hall was of extraordinary grade—so grand and solemn that one could not help but feel reverence upon entering.
Early that morning, crowds of children and their families lined up before the hall, forming a long queue that stretched far beyond the gates.
Their faces were filled with anticipation and excitement, their small eyes gleaming with hope.
Among that crowd stood a young boy and a little girl—Ji Lin, using his transformation technique, accompanied by Akino, neither having any parents by their side.
Although Ji Lin appeared to be no more than six years old,
his presence drew the eyes of passersby; some of the little girls even found themselves staring at him with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks.
"Haa… this line is way too long. I bet the other halls don't have this many people,Ji Lin muttered softly to Akino, his voice calm yet carrying a tone of maturity far beyond his apparent age.
As time passed, the two finally found themselves inside the Spirit Awakening Hall—their first time setting foot in this sacred domain of Spirit Hall.
The hall was spacious and magnificent, filled with an aura of solemn majesty.
At its center stood a large crystal sphere resting upon a stone pedestal engraved with mysterious symbols.
Beside it stood a middle-aged man dressed in a plain, dark-gray robe.
Behind him sat three bishops in crimson robes.
Their eyes were closed and expressions stern, yet the air of authority surrounding them was enough to silence every whisper in the room.
These three bishops were the very reason so many had come to Spirit Hall City to have their children's spirits awakened.
With officials of such high rank present, any child who possessed a rare or powerful spirit might be chosen to join the Spirit Hall Academy directly.
And if truly gifted… they might even catch the eye of one of Spirit Hall's higher-ranking members—and be taken in as a personal disciple.
"Next!"
The man in the plain robe called out in an official tone, gesturing for Ji Lin to step forward.
"Your name?"
He blinked in mild surprise at the boy's calm demeanor and handsome features, his voice unconsciously softening.
Ji Lin, unshaken and confident, bowed at a perfect ninety degrees and replied respectfully,Greetings, senior brother. My name is Ji Lin, and this is Akino."
"Ji Lin and Akino, is it? Very polite—good. Step forward and place your hand on the crystal sphere."
The examiner nodded approvingly.
This boy was far more well-mannered than most children, and so he spoke to him with a touch of warmth.
Ji Lin obeyed, stepping forward until he stood before the crystal sphere.
Gently, he placed his right hand upon its smooth, transparent surface.
The instant his palm touched the glass, the hexagonal formation beneath his feet began to glow—softly at first, wrapping him in a warm, comforting light.
The radiance grew brighter and brighter, until the crystal sphere itself began to shimmer with dazzling brilliance.
And yet… no spirit appeared.
Still, the light pouring from the formation spread throughout the entire hall, bathing it in a golden, ethereal glow.
The three bishops seated at the back instantly opened their eyes, rising from their seats as their gazes locked onto the boy standing in the center.
"Could it be… the manifestation of a high-level spirit?"
As the light reached its peak, it suddenly dimmed—and in that moment, something astonishingly beautiful emerged.
In Ji Lin's right hand, a Blue Silver Grass spirit unfurled, its silver-blue strands gleaming with a soft, celestial luster.
Delicate golden veins ran along each blade, adding a regal touch, as if the breath of life itself flowed through it.
At that same moment, a second light burst from his body—
the awakening of his Spirit Body!
A reverent silence fell over the hall; even the air seemed to freeze.
The nearby children instinctively stepped back, their hearts gripped by an unspoken fear.
The attendant who conducted the ceremony stumbled two steps backward, his face pale with disbelief.
One of the bishops widened his eyes, his voice trembling: A dominating aura… absolute suppression… and this is before he's even gained a single spirit ring! How can this be possible?!"
But the surprises did not end there.
Another attendant shouted, his voice cracking in disbelief: A dual spirit! But—both are useless! One's just Blue Silver Grass, and the other… a valueless Spirit Body! A wasted spirit!
However, the three bishops exchanged glances—then spoke in unison, their voices shaking despite their effort to remain composed:
"Twin Spirits?! Impossible!"
In that instant, the crystal sphere shattered—disintegrating into fine dust that drifted away into the air.
The formation beneath Ji Lin's feet faded as though nothing had ever happened.
But the hearts of everyone in that hall… would never be the same again.
At that moment, Ji Lin spoke in a calm yet firm voice:
"Hmm… I'm sorry. We cannot go with you at the moment. However, I hope that when we meet again, my Spirit Awakening certificate—and that of my companion—will already be ready."
Ji Lin stepped toward Akino, placing his hand gently on her shoulder, then sent her into the portrait as if she had never existed in this world at all.
The moment Akino vanished, Ji Lin himself disappeared in the same manner, leaving everyone in a state of indescribable shock.
Every heart in the hall seemed to stop for an instant, their minds unable to comprehend what had just happened—how could a child move so swiftly and vanish like that?
The hall, which moments ago had been filled with awe and excitement, fell completely silent, as if time itself had frozen for a fleeting instant.