blogombal Chapter 2 begins!
Chapter 2 begins!
Two hours after his martial spirit awakened, Chen Yingwu sat alone on the edge of his bed in the dormitory.
The room wasn't big, but it was quiet. After awakening his past life memories at the age of five, he found an excuse to apply for a move to this single room.
The conditions at the orphanage were indeed quite good; the walls were painted a light blue, the windows were bright, and it was equipped with a simple desk and wardrobe. Sunlight streamed in from the windows, cutting neat patches of light across the floor.
Chen Yingwu looked down at his right hand.
His martial spirit had already returned to his body, but the feeling lingered—as if he were holding a warm, cool light in his palm. The Mirror of Morality. A martial spirit name he had never heard of in his previous life, and with no equivalent in this world.
"Omniscient..." he murmured the characteristic to himself.
A knocking sounded suddenly.
"Yingwu, are you there?"
It was Teacher Lin's voice.
Chen Yingwu stood up and went to open the door. Teacher Lin stood outside the door, looking at him with a more solemn expression than usual, yet also with undisguised joy.
"The dean wants to see you in his office," said Teacher Lin. "Go now."
"it is good."
Chen Yingwu didn't ask any more questions, closed the door, and followed Teacher Lin out.
The corridor was quiet; the other children were probably still in their respective activity rooms. As he passed the lobby on the first floor, he saw Li Sanping squatting in a corner, holding his patterned stick and staring blankly, his expression unreadable, neither happy nor disappointed.
With innate soul power at level two, he could only be considered mediocre among soul masters. As for that patterned staff… Chen Yingwu recalled the spirit master’s tone at the time, it wasn’t exactly a great martial soul.
Having innate soul power is already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune; at least he still has the hope of becoming a soul master, while 99% of people on the continent do not have this hope.
The director's office was on the second floor of the main building of the orphanage. Teacher Lin saw him to the door, gently patted his shoulder, and whispered, "Go in, the director is waiting for you."
Chen Yingwu knocked on the door.
"Please come in."
Pushing open the door, he found the office to be simpler than he had imagined. There was an old-fashioned wooden table, a few chairs, and two bookshelves crammed with folders against the wall. A potted green ivy sat on the windowsill, its vines cascading down, shimmering green in the afternoon light.
The dean was sitting behind the table; he was an elderly man with gray hair and thin-rimmed glasses. He looked up and saw Chen Yingwu, a gentle smile appearing on his face, and gestured for the chair opposite him.
"Sit down, child."
Chen Yingwu sat down, his back ramrod straight.
The dean didn't rush to speak. He first picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked him over through his glasses. His gaze was gentle, as if he were looking at a younger family member, carrying a reassuring kindness.
"Innate full soul power." The director put down his teacup and sighed softly. "I've been the director of Mingdu Orphanage for over twenty years. I've seen at least eight or ten thousand children, if not ten thousand. But I've only ever seen one person with innate full soul power, and that's you."
Chen Yingwu listened quietly.
He respected the old dean from the bottom of his heart.
It wasn't for any other reason than that the old dean was very, very kind to them all.
The dean took a document from his drawer and pushed it in front of Chen Yingwu. The document was topped with the emblem of the Federal Education Commission, and below it were densely packed clauses.
"I called you here to discuss a few things with you." The dean's tone became serious. "First, regarding your upcoming studies. You should have heard of Mingdu's First Junior Soul Master Academy, right?"
Chen Yingwu nodded. Even within the orphanage, the reputation of this academy was frequently mentioned. It was the best junior soul master academy in the entire Mingdu, with extremely high entrance requirements; almost everyone who could get in was a genius.
"According to federal regulations, only those with innate soul power of level four or above are eligible to apply to this academy." The dean pointed to the document with his finger. "But in reality, many who actually get in are at level five or above. And you—you have innate full soul power, level ten."
He paused, then looked at Chen Yingwu with gentle eyes.
"Mingdu First Junior Soul Master Academy has received your awakening file. Their academic director called me personally an hour ago," the dean said. "Tuition and fees are waived, and you'll be placed in the best class upon enrollment. These are their terms."
Chen Yingwu paused for a moment, then asked, "Is it mandatory to go?"
"Not necessarily," the dean shook his head. "But you should go. Child, to be honest, the resources the orphanage can give you are limited. With your talent, staying here would be a waste. Mingdu's First Junior Soul Master Academy has the best teachers, the most systematic training system, and the richest meditation resources—things the orphanage can't provide."
Chen Yingwu sensed the sincerity in the dean's words. He wasn't trying to get rid of him, but rather to guide him.
"The second thing," the dean said, taking out a silver card and placing it next to the documents, "is the Federation's subsidy for those with innate full soul power. One hundred thousand Federal Credits per year will be deposited directly into this card, starting from the day you enroll and continuing until you graduate from the junior academy. How you use this money is up to you."
One hundred thousand Federal Credits. Chen Yingwu had a general idea of the prices in this world—an average family of five would spend between thirty and fifty thousand Federal Credits a year. This subsidy was indeed quite substantial.
"There's a third item." The dean pushed over a yellow metal card with the Spirit Pagoda's logo printed on it: "The Federation and the Spirit Pagoda have an agreement. Those with innate full soul power can obtain a hundred-year soul spirit for free during their studies, with the cost borne by the Federation. This special card can only be used through the Spirit Pagoda's official channels to purchase ordinary hundred-year soul spirits; it is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash."
A century of souls.
Chen Yingwu's gaze lingered on the yellow card for a moment.
He was familiar with the Soul Spirit system of Douluo Continent—for Soul Masters, the choice of their first Soul Ring is crucial. A Hundred-Year Soul Spirit corresponds to a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, which is already a pretty good starting point for most novice Soul Masters.
But for his Moral Mirror Martial Soul, is it really appropriate to randomly choose an ordinary hundred-year-old soul spirit? Is it really enough?
Chen Yingwu didn't voice his question, because this was already quite good. He carefully put away the three items one by one, his movements as steady as a six-year-old child.
The dean looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. Relief, mixed with a touch of melancholy.
"The important business is over."
The dean took off his glasses and gently wiped the lenses with a soft cloth. "Yingwu, would you like to chat with this old man for a few minutes?"
Chen Yingwu nodded.
"How many years have you been in the orphanage?"
"I've been here since I can remember," Chen Yingwu replied. "I think... I was sent here before I was even a year old."
The dean paused for a moment, then put his glasses back on.
"Over the years, I've seen many children." He spoke softly, "Some were of average talent and ended up going to ordinary schools, learning a trade, and living ordinary lives. Others were quite talented and went out full of ambition, but later... some did well, while others suffered setbacks."
Chen Yingwu did not respond.
"Yingwu, do you know why I'm telling you all this?"
The dean looked at him: "Because having innate full soul power is both a tremendous good thing and a considerable trouble. The Spirit Pagoda wants to win you over today, right?"
Chen Yingwu nodded slightly. After the awakening ended, the spirit master's attitude was indeed quite enthusiastic, and his words implied that he hoped Chen Yingwu would join the Spirit Pagoda.
"There will be more in the future," the dean said. "The Federation, sects, families, academies... all will extend olive branches to you. It sounds glamorous, but every choice you make will affect the path you take in the future."
The old man stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the playground of the nursing home. Several young children were chasing and playing there, their laughter faintly audible.
"I don't have any grand principles to teach you." The dean's figure appeared somewhat frail in the afternoon light. "Just one sentence—if you're tired, come back for a meal and chat with this old man for a bit."
Chen Yingwu watched the old man's retreating figure, a slight feeling stirring within him.
He could sense that the director's words were not out of self-interest, nor to make him remember the kindness of the orphanage; they were simply out of love.
"I will remember that," Chen Yingwu said.
The dean turned around, a smile returning to his face, and waved his hand.
"Alright, enough nagging. The Mingdu First Junior Soul Master Academy will start soon. You should go back and get some rest."
Chen Yingwu stood up, bowed slightly, and turned to walk towards the door.
"Yes, I will."
He stopped and turned around.
The dean stood by the window, his silhouette backlit, edged with a soft glow. The old man's voice was gentle yet solemn:
"Maintain a righteous and peaceful mind."
Chen Yingwu paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I will."
……
The dormitory lights were turned off at night.
Chen Yingwu lay in bed, the moonlight filtering through the thin curtains and casting hazy shadows on the ceiling. The room was quiet, with only the occasional soft hum of water pipes coming from the walls.
He didn't sleep.
The dean's words from earlier that day were still echoing in his mind, but at this moment he was thinking about something else.
A moral mirror. Four characteristics.
In the Awakening Room today, he only mentioned that the Mirror Light can attack and sense enemies.
Caution is something he must adhere to now.
Now that we're all alone, it's the perfect time to give it a try.
Chen Yingwu took a deep breath, and with a slight thought, a faint, shimmering white light appeared on his right palm. The light was not dazzling, but rather like moonlight solidified, slowly flowing in his palm.
A small mirror, about the size of a palm, appeared.
The mirror surface is as clear as water, set in a stone-like and jade-like body, emitting wisps of platinum-gold energy.
Chen Yingwu gripped the mirror handle, feeling its connection to his own soul power. The feeling was strange—as if the mirror was a part of his body, connected by blood and breath.
He concentrated and silently asked himself the question.
Moral Mirror, did that spirit medium I encounter today turn against me?
The moment he asked the question, a clear message appeared in his mind—not a sound, not words, but a direct "knowledge"—
This question took twenty minutes.
Based on his understanding, that spirit master should be at the level of a Great Soul Master.
He had previously tried asking, and Li Sanping and Chen An, who had awakened at the same time as him, could give him an answer in just one second.
As for those at the Soul Master level, he chose to question several Soul Masters in the nursing home, each of whom took about a minute to answer.
When he went to see the dean before, he casually asked a small question about the dean, and the omniscient person told him that it would take five hours.
If it's something that involves the dean, wouldn't it take a whole day?
Even turning him into a dried-up corpse wouldn't provide that much soul power.
He thought about it and realized that it was indeed that many. The Dean was a Soul Master, and ten thousand years ago, a Soul Master was a qualitative leap, because once a Soul Master reached the level of a Soul Master, they would basically have the ability and the right to possess a thousand-year Soul Ring.
Although the cultivation method has changed and the dean's soul ring ratio is only three yellow, his spiritual power is a genuine Spiritual Connection Realm expert.
He knew this because, according to the cultivation system of Dou San, the Spirit Realm was a prerequisite for becoming a Soul Venerable.
If that's the case, he can use omniscience directly in actual combat if he's at the same level or one level higher, but it would be difficult to use it directly if he's two or more levels higher.
Unless you acquire a Soul Core later in the game, which allows for prolonged battles, you won't be able to use Omniscience directly in battles that span several major levels.
Chen Yingwu roughly estimated his total soul power. He was born with a full soul power level of ten, which was much more abundant than that of ordinary soul warriors of the same level. However, since he had not yet obtained his first soul ring, he was still essentially a soul warrior.
Is 20 minutes of omniscient deduction enough?
"Discarding ninety percent of soul power should be about right."
Having made up his mind, Chen Yingwu decided to ask.
In any case, the price to pay for this question is nothing more than some soul power.
Moreover, it can be interrupted if the soul power is insufficient.
It can not only enhance one's familiarity with martial spirits, but also dispel doubts.
During the day, he refused the Spirit Pagoda's offer. Although the spirit master didn't reveal anything on the surface, and his innate full soul power wasn't as rare as before, you can't judge a book by its cover. If the other party really had any improper intentions, he could take precautions early.
After all, the Spirit Pagoda was in cahoots with the Holy Spirit Cult a hundred years ago. We don't know if it is now, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
You agree, right, Phoenix Saintess Ma Xiaotao?
Chen Yingwu no longer hesitated and focused his mind.
Start.
The mirror of morality in his palm glowed slightly, and something seemed to be flowing deep within its surface, like a stone being thrown into a bottomless pool, causing ripples to spread silently.
At the same time, the soul power within his body began to be drawn out at a steady and firm pace, continuously flowing into the mirror.
Time passed by, second by second.
Three minutes. Nearly 30% of my soul power has been consumed.
Eight minutes later, the amount of soul power in his body dropped to less than half, and he felt a faint emptiness in his meridians, as if blood had been drained away.
Twelve minutes. His soul power was nearly exhausted, and the last few strands were greedily devoured by the mirror. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chen Yingwu's forehead, and his fingers trembled slightly, but his hand holding the mirror handle never loosened.
Fifteen minutes.
Sixteen minutes.
At the very last moment of the first thousand seconds, the mirror suddenly became clear.
A complete stream of information flooded into Chen Yingwu's sea of consciousness, as clear as if he were witnessing it firsthand—
[Spirit Master Zhao Duo, Great Soul Master, Soul Power Level 23. Martial Soul: Azure Mane Wolf. Belongs to the Awakening Affairs Department of the Mingdu Branch of the Spirit Transmission Tower.]
I have no ill intentions towards you today.
After being rejected, your emotions were "regret" and "slight resentment," without any hatred or malice. Your awakening file has been submitted to the Mingdu branch of the Spirit Pagoda for registration, and the process was compliant and unmanipulated.
Your file will be archived and monitored by the Spirit Tower as a potential recruit, but no coercive measures will be taken.
Finished.
Chen Yingwu breathed a sigh of relief, and the light of the Morality Mirror instantly faded, turning into specks of light that disappeared into his palm. All the soul power in his body was drained away, and his meridians felt empty, like a towel that had been wrung out.
He lay paralyzed on the bed, panting heavily, his pillow soaked with sweat.
There was no malicious intent.
This is enough.
As for being registered and noticed by the Spirit Pagoda, that was to be expected. With innate full soul power and a suspected top-tier martial soul, it would be abnormal if the Spirit Pagoda didn't pay attention.
If it's just recruitment, then that's fine.
Chen Yingwu closed his eyes and let his breathing gradually calm down.
Seventeen minutes of deduction brought a sense of peace and familiarity with the martial spirit.
The moonlight moved silently outside the window. He lay quietly in the darkness, feeling his soul power gradually recovering within his body. His depleted meridians were like a dried-up riverbed, awaiting the infusion of new water.
Mingdu's First Junior Soul Master Academy. Federal subsidy. Hundred-year-old soul spirit. Attention from the Spirit Pagoda.
And then there's this quiet, floating mirror of morality deep within his consciousness—omniscient, the Tao cuts through a single line, all things bear traces, morality resides within me.
Of the four characteristics, he had only scratched the surface of the first one.
Chen Yingwu turned over and buried his face in the pillow.
There's still a lot to do tomorrow.
But for now, I'll take a nap.
The six-year-old's body could no longer withstand the exhaustion from the depletion of his soul power, and his consciousness gradually sank into darkness. His last thought before falling asleep was the image of the headmaster standing by the window, and those earnest words.
"I hope so."