A small cicada appeared in Xia Tian's left hand, only about the size of an adult's thumb.
However, the condition of this cicada did not look very promising.
A thick aura of desolate silence radiated from it. Its torso lacked any luster, appearing rough and dim, like dead wood. Its wings were a withered yellow, resembling leaves about to fall in autumn. Moreover, the tips of the wings were slightly curled and tattered, just like the edges of a fallen leaf.
"This is..."
"It is a cicada, but it seems to be a mutated Martial Soul," the deacon said while looking at the Martial Soul, his gaze toward Xia Tian containing a hint of pity.
It was common knowledge that most mutated Martial Souls were malignant mutations, and the results were rarely good.
Looking at the miserable appearance of the cicada in the boy's hand, the deacon was absolutely certain that something had gone wrong with the mutation.
What kind of decent person has a Martial Soul that looks half-dead?
Tian tilted his head, blinked, and looked at the cicada in his hand.
He felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
Moreover, the moment the cicada appeared, the talent for Prophecy engraved on his soul activated.
His eyes gradually lost focus, and in a split second, he received a prophecy.
The mutation of this cicada was influenced by my transmigration? Although its condition is poor, it has obtained a seed of time-space power?
Interesting.
At this moment, the deacon signaled for him to test his Innate Soul Power.
Tian walked out of the awakening array, arrived in front of the crystal ball used for testing, and placed his hand on it.
A moment later, a faint light emerged from the crystal ball.
"There is Soul Power, but with this brightness, it is probably only half a rank," the deacon said plainly.
The deacon was now completely convinced. The boy's Martial Soul had mutated, and it was a malignant mutation.
Tian did not mind. The half-rank of Innate Soul Power was not due to his lack of potential, but because of this Martial Soul.
He was a genius with Twin Martial Souls!
It was just that the mutation of this Martial Soul had swallowed nine and a half ranks of his Innate Soul Power in one breath, yet it still failed to mutate completely.
However, the mutation did not affect his cultivation talent.
He had already used his mental power to inspect his body; his meridians were not blocked in the slightest and were extremely healthy.
Besides, if his talent wasn't enough, he just had to think about those with high talent... he would have opportunities sooner or later.
After thanking the deacon, Tian returned to the orphanage group.
The matron leading the team smiled and rubbed his head.
"Little Tian, don't be sad. It is good enough to have Soul Power. You can still become a glorious Spirit Master in the future."
"Matron, I know. I'm not sad," Tian raised his handsome little head and smiled at her. "When I become a Spirit Master and make money, I will definitely make sure everyone is well-fed and warmly dressed!"
The matron's eyes turned red, and she couldn't help but hug him, murmuring, "Good child... but it is enough if you can take care of yourself. The orphanage has us matrons."
The adults in the orphanage today were all old matrons who believed in the Angel God. They were all kind-hearted ordinary people.
In the past, the matrons could use the money they earned to subsidize the orphanage.
But ever since Bibi Dong took power, the lives of those who believed in the Angel God had gradually become difficult.
The subsidies the matrons could provide to the orphanage were forced to decrease.
When Tian was younger, he heard that Bibi Dong also came from an orphanage. The matrons used to use this fact to motivate the young children.
But in recent years, the matrons rarely mentioned Bibi Dong anymore, and their address for her had changed to a distant and respectful "Supreme Pontiff."
The orphanage had taken care of him for so many years. Even if the living conditions were poor, he could not forget this kindness.
The education he had received did not allow him to be ungrateful.
...
A total of seven children from the orphanage participated in the Spirit Awakening this time. Among them, two awakened Innate Soul Power.
The ratio was actually quite high.
But this situation was a minority.
One of the two children was Xia Tian, possessing Rank 0.5 Innate Soul Power and the Cicada Martial Soul.
The other was a little boy named Xiang Ming, possessing Rank 3 Innate Soul Power and the Puppet Martial Soul.
However, Tian keenly sensed that something was wrong with Xiang Ming's Puppet Martial Soul; there was an evil aura hidden within it.
An evil attribute Puppet Martial Soul?
Tian made a judgment but kept his mouth shut.
Although Spirit Hall would hunt down the Fallen across the continent, they would not kill people without cause just because their Martial Soul was evil. At least, that was the rule on paper.
Evil was just an attribute; it did not represent a person's nature.
Under the matrons' guidance, Xiang Ming was not only a good child but also a firm believer in the Angel God.
Besides, the current Supreme Pontiff, Bibi Dong, also had evil attributes in her Martial Souls. Who could say she was a Fallen One?
Tian knew about Xiang Ming's background.
He was brought back by a Spirit Hall enforcer after a mission to suppress Fallen Spirit Masters.
In fact, Xiang Ming was the child of a Fallen One.
The matrons named him Xiang Ming (Facing Brightness) in the hope that he would walk towards the light and not repeat his parents' path.
Why did Tian know this?
Because when the matrons received Xiang Ming, one was holding Tian, and he heard everything.
...
After returning to the orphanage, to celebrate that some children had awakened Innate Soul Power and to comfort those who hadn't, the matrons specially added two pieces of meat to every child's bowl during dinner.
There wasn't much meat, but it smelled so good that the children almost licked their bowls clean.
There were more than fifty children in the orphanage. Life was tight, and they could only eat meat a few times a year.
Although some children who had left the orphanage would send money back regularly, the amount was limited. It had to be calculated carefully for emergencies.
Xiang Ming was moved to tears. After eating, he wiped his mouth, stood up, and swore loudly.
"When I become a Spirit Master and have money, I will definitely make sure everyone has meat for every meal!"
The children cheered and surrounded him.
The matrons also showed gratified smiles.
Every year, children would say this, but those who truly had the ability to improve the orphanage's environment... there was only one back then. Unfortunately... it was better not to mention it.
Tian liked the atmosphere at this moment very much. He suddenly had an idea.
In the future, he could open the largest orphanage on the continent!
As for where the orphans would come from, and where the children's parents went... well, don't worry about that.
...
Night fell.
The matrons and children were all asleep.
Tian went into the bathroom alone, locked the door, and examined his two Martial Souls.
The first Martial Soul was the Cicada that had dragged his Soul Power down to half a rank.
"I have decided to name you Yao Lao," Tian laughed.
As for the second Martial Soul, only now did it reveal its true appearance.
It was a Magic Wand!
14 inches long, appearing as if it were pieced together from segments of bone. The surface was outlined with silver veins, the handle was treated for grip, and the bottom bore the mark of infinity.
This was the wand Tian had personally crafted in his past life, and it was also the pinnacle of his alchemy!