In front of the branch hall of the Spirit Hall in Notting City, hundreds of children—each around six years old—had gathered, waiting for the awakening of their martial spirits.
Some wore fine clothes, clearly from wealthy families. Others were dressed plainly, their backgrounds far more modest.
Despite these differences, every child shared the same expression:
Excitement. Anticipation.
Because this moment would determine their future.
---
Yet fate had always been cruel.
Not everyone was destined to become a Spirit Master.
Most would awaken useless martial spirits.
---
"I just hope mine isn't useless… I'm not Tang San."
Cheng Xiao took a deep breath as he stepped into the hall under the guidance of a Spirit Hall deacon.
He understood this world all too well.
A useless martial spirit meant a dead end.
In his previous life, after watching Douluo Dalu, he had come to one conclusion:
This world was the perfect example of fate being decided at birth.
As for Yu Xiaogang's famous claim—
"There are no useless martial spirits, only useless Spirit Masters"—
That was complete nonsense.
If that were true, then what did that make Yu Xiaogang himself?
Tang San's so-called "Blue Silver Grass" was actually the Blue Silver Emperor, paired with a second martial spirit.
Using that as proof that a "useless" spirit could rise to the top?
It was a joke.
---
"Sickle, tool-type martial spirit…"
"Cloth… tool-type martial spirit…"
"Blue Silver Grass…"
"Rope… tool-type martial spirit…"
"Gray Wolf… beast-type martial spirit…"
---
The deacons' indifferent voices echoed through the hall, each announcement quietly deciding a child's fate.
Most awakened ordinary—or outright useless—spirits.
Many children left the hall in tears.
But the deacons offered no comfort.
They had seen this countless times before.
They were numb to it.
---
Finally, it was Cheng Xiao's turn.
Standing at the crossroads of fate, even with two lifetimes of experience, he couldn't suppress his nervousness.
He stepped into the center of the formation.
Under the deacon's control, a strange power stirred within his body.
But when Cheng Xiao looked down at his hands—
There was nothing.
Instead, that power surged upward… toward his eyes.
"Hm? A mutated martial spirit?"
The deacon's voice carried a hint of surprise as Cheng Xiao's pupils turned pitch black.
"Interesting. Test his spirit power."
A flicker of expectation appeared in the deacon's eyes.
If the child had decent innate spirit power, combined with a mutation…
He might even be sent to Spirit City.
---
"Level one…"
The next moment, disappointment replaced expectation.
Level one innate spirit power.
Even reaching the rank of a Spirit Grandmaster would be difficult.
What a waste.
"Next!"
---
Before Cheng Xiao could process anything, he was pushed aside by the eager child behind him and forced out of the formation.
He stood there, stunned.
To others, it looked like he couldn't handle the blow.
No one paid him any attention.
---
But inside—
His mind was in chaos.
Because within his consciousness—
There were two martial spirits.
And not just any two—
They were unmistakable.
The Shadow Monarch from Solo Leveling—Ashborn.
And the Dragon Emperor of Destruction—Antares.
---
But something was wrong.
Inside his body, the two martial spirits were violently repelling each other.
The shadow power had formed a sphere, sealing the raging dragon spirit within.
Inside that darkness, the colossal dragon roared endlessly, its power shaking the shadow barrier with each furious surge.
The ripples alone were enough to send chills down Cheng Xiao's spine.
He had no doubt—
If the dragon ever broke free, its destructive force would tear him apart instantly.
This was not a power he could control.
---
Fortunately, the Shadow Monarch suppressed it.
Otherwise, he would have already been destroyed by his own martial spirit.
Still, the conflict between the two severely limited him.
He could only access a fraction of the Shadow Monarch's power.
In a sense, this was a malignant mutation—
And the reason his innate spirit power was so low.
---
But—
If he could resolve the conflict between the two spirits…
If he could strengthen his body enough to withstand that destructive force…
Then one day—
He could fully unleash both the Shadow Monarch and the Dragon Emperor.
---
"The Shadow Monarch… so that's what it is…"
A spark of excitement ignited in his eyes.
"Does that mean I can build a Shadow Army in the future?"
"The stronger Tang San's enemies are… the larger my army becomes."
---
With that thought, Cheng Xiao lifted his head and walked out of the Spirit Hall.
There was no trace of disappointment on his face—
Only excitement.
---
Those who saw him couldn't help but feel surprised.
He looked so confident, so energized—
Surely he had awakened something extraordinary?
But when they learned he only had level one innate spirit power, they burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Just level one?"
"I thought he had full innate spirit power from the way he looked!"
---
Cheng Xiao didn't hear them.
And even if he did—
He wouldn't care.
---
That very day, he created a training plan for himself:
"100 push-ups.
200 sit-ups.
100 squats.
And a 10-kilometer run."
---
Although he didn't possess Sung Jin-Woo's leveling system—
He would be just as ruthless with himself.
Only by strengthening his body could he accelerate the awakening of his twin martial spirits.
---
But he was still just a child.
This level of training pushed him to his absolute limit.
By sunset, he was barely dragging himself across the finish line.
---
The next day—
He couldn't even stand.
His entire body ached.
Without a healing Spirit Master, maintaining such intense training would be incredibly difficult.
---
"I still need to find a proper academy…"
Cheng Xiao sighed.
"Luckily, enrollment at the Junior Spirit Master Academy opens in a few days."
---
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up and continued training—this time focusing on other muscle groups.
---
A few days later—
With a strained grin and trembling steps, Cheng Xiao arrived at Notting Junior Spirit Master Academy to register.
There was only one such academy in Notting City.
He had no other choice.
---
"What are you doing?"
Before he could enter, the gate guard stopped him with a frown.
"I'm here to register. This is my martial spirit certificate."
Cheng Xiao handed it over.
---
"Mutated spirit… Black Eyes? Level one spirit power?"
The guard sneered.
"And you still want to become a Spirit Master?"
---
Though disdainful, the guard didn't stop him.
After all, this was a paying student—not a work-study applicant.
Returning the certificate, he waved impatiently.
"Go on. Get inside."
---
Cheng Xiao gave him a calm glance but said nothing.
This kind of behavior was only human.
People respected strength and looked down on weakness.
---
He wasn't Tang San.
He had no interest in making grand declarations about "thirty years of hardship."
---
As he walked forward, putting the certificate back into his bag—
A shadow suddenly fell over him.
---
Thud!
He collided with someone.
Already exhausted from days of intense training, he lost his balance and fell to the ground.
---
"Are you alright?"
A tall man extended his hand.
---
"Ah… I'm fine. Thank you, teacher."
Cheng Xiao forced a smile as he accepted the help and stood up.
---
"Teacher?"
The man shook his head.
"I'm not a teacher here."
"There is only one teacher in your life. Only when you truly accept someone as your master can you call them that."
"Others call me 'Master.' You should do the same."
---
Cheng Xiao froze.
Yu Xiaogang?
This man looked completely different from what he remembered.
So the animated version really wasn't reliable…
---
"Are you here to register? I'll take you—"
Yu Xiaogang picked up the certificate Cheng Xiao had dropped.
He glanced at it.
Then, without missing a beat, he changed his sentence:
"The registration office is over there. Don't go the wrong way."
---
As he spoke, he slipped the certificate back into Cheng Xiao's bag, dusted it off, and handed it over—
Perfectly calm.
Not even a flicker of embarrassment.
---
Cheng Xiao blinked.
Wait… what?
He was sure he heard it.
"I'll take you…"
Wasn't he about to say—
"I'll take you there?"
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