"Alright, come over and line up to get ready to go home."
The Light Curtain faded, signifying the true end of Awakening Day. There was nothing left to watch, so Principal Wang clapped his hands and gave the order.
At Jiangxin First Middle School, more than 500 boys and girls who had become Demon Spirit Masters held their heads high and stood at the front of the line, displaying their own sense of pride.
Even though their Soul Power was nearly exhausted, the teens still did their best to squeeze out more, struggling to maintain their Demon Possession, savoring every moment of glory that belonged to them.
All along the way, classmates gathered at their sides, chattering with flattery and envy, and the boys and girls sometimes responded briefly, enjoying the jealous stares from everyone else.
Relationships that were once between equals now showed clear divisions in this moment.
"Is all that really necessary?"
At the back of the crowd, Gao Hai looked at those who became Demon Spirit Masters and shook his head disdainfully, as if he thought their behavior was a bit childish.
At this moment, Gao Hai and Lin Feng walked together at the end of the line. Even though Gao Hai had become a Demon Spirit Master, he'd withdrawn his Soul Power and didn't show off his Demon Possession at all.
"Heh, you might only get this chance once in your life. Wouldn't you want to enjoy it?"
Lin Feng looked at Gao Hai with a grin.
What teenager doesn't love attention or crave a little vanity? Of course Gao Hai was no exception.
From what Lin Feng knew of Gao Hai, he actually couldn't wait to be the first in line. But to take care of him, Lin Feng stuck with him at the back, cracking a few jokes to lighten the mood so Gao Hai wouldn't feel down.
It was funny—yet somehow, Lin Feng felt really touched, too.
You don't know how to cherish something until you've lost it.
In his last life, Lin Feng was somewhat withdrawn. He didn't have many friends, and real brothers were even rarer.
Even among teammates who'd faced life-and-death with him, there were more than a few who stabbed him in the back over Treasures of Heaven and Earth. He'd witnessed so much betrayal—aside from family, the only one he truly trusted was probably Gao Hai.
Having a brother like this was something to treasure.
As for Ya Ge, she wasn't with the group right now. Lin Feng didn't ask where she was, and she didn't say.
"What's the big deal, anyway? Just a bunch of kids playing house."
Gao Hai shook his head, putting on a show of being mature. But before long, when he spotted his parents waiting outside the crowd, he jumped up and cheered, "Mom, we're over here!"
Following Gao Hai's gaze, Lin Feng paused for a moment. By Gao Hai's parents, a young woman in a gray work uniform was looking at him. She was about twenty, her face full of gentle warmth, her whole presence captivating.
Just then, a trace of worry flickered across her delicate features—making her beauty even more moving, like she could inspire both protectiveness and affection. When she saw Lin Feng looking over, the worry faded instantly, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Sis..."
This young woman was his own elder sister, Lin Kerou.
After being reborn, seeing his family again after so long—even Lin Feng, who was used to witnessing life and death—couldn't help but feel a bit shaken inside.
This year, he was sixteen. His eldest sister was twenty-four.
Lin Feng knew his big sister had been troubled recently—she wasn't as happy as she seemed on the surface.
These days, his sister had been dating her boyfriend Chen Hao for four years, to the point where they were talking about marriage. But Chen Hao's parents looked down on their poorer family and not only opposed the match, but threatened to cut all ties with Chen Hao if he insisted. Under family pressure, the two finally broke up without resolution.
Two years later, his sister married a man she didn't really like and lived a plain, tough life.
Not long after his sister married, Chen Hao also took a wife. He often kept in touch with Lin Feng, wanting to know how his sister was doing.
Lin Feng knew his sister wanted him to become a Demon Spirit Master.
If today he could refine a Seventh Grade or higher Demon Spirit, it would be a leap from rags to riches—the whole family's life would change, and some problems would be easily solved.
Just like in his past life, when she learned that he failed, even though she was deeply disappointed—maybe even losing hope—she never showed a trace of sadness. She just didn't want to put any pressure on him at all.
"Sis."
"Xiaofeng, are you hungry? Let's go home for dinner." Lin Kerou smiled and rubbed Lin Feng's face, not asking anything else.
Nearby, Gao Hai's father had grabbed him excitedly—after all, their family finally had a Demon Spirit Master.
Even if what he refined was merely a Second Grade Strong Demon Bull, Demon Spirit Masters were always rare, and to a poor family like them, it mattered even more.
Gao Hai had always been chubby and pretty average in talent—just sixteen, only in his third year of high school, but already Gao Hai's parents had started worrying about whether he could find a wife in the future.
Now that Gao Hai had become a Demon Spirit Master—a class above Martial Artists—would they still have to worry about that?
Maybe they wouldn't even need to pay a dowry anymore.
Though both delighted and excited, and full of things to say, Gao Hai's parents restrained themselves out of respect for Lin Feng's feelings. The smiles tugging at their lips betrayed their good mood all the same.
Lin Feng and Gao Hai both lived in the Outer City, more than thirty kilometers from downtown. Their way home was by maglev train, but today, with Awakening Day, city transportation was almost paralyzed—they waited in line for a whole hour.
An hour and a half later, everyone stepped out of the station and began walking home.
They passed through bustling, lively streets. As they got closer, a dense, impenetrable cluster of buildings loomed ahead.
This was Jiang City's famous "Shore District."
It was called a district, but over a million people lived here—like a miniature city.
Thousands of high-rise buildings stood row upon row, each a hundred meters tall—identical in shape, height, and appearance. The floors were barely a meter apart. No one seemed to care about any sensible design.
On the streets here, it was always dim even in daytime. Sometimes, simply catching a ray of sunlight was a luxury.
This place was stifling and dull—utterly opposite to the city's glittering downtown.
This was the Outer City, and Shore District was its very edge.
Not far—within a hundred meters—lay the limits of the Blue Moon Energy Shield, the most rundown zone of Jiang City. If Demon Beasts ever attacked, this would be hit first. It was truly the most dangerous place to live.
Here, looking through the blue shield, you could clearly see the ground littered with Demon Beast corpses. The stench of blood filled the air; now and then, figures in black work uniforms darted around, spraying disinfectant.
This was Jiang City's slum—only the poor lived here.
And this was Lin Feng's home!
A place that, in his last life, he'd dreamed of escaping every single day.
Crack—bang bang!
Not even at Shore District yet, Lin Feng could already hear the thunder of firecrackers. Then he saw a thick cloud of gray smoke shooting into the sky.
He wasn't surprised. He knew it was a Shore District tradition.
Back then, whenever Lin Feng and Gao Hai heard firecrackers, they'd always feel a pang of envy—because it meant a Shore District kid had become a Demon Spirit Master.
Today was like a festival for Shore District. People came and went—whoever was home came outside, looking off in one direction with envy and jealousy alight in their eyes.
"Ya Ge refined an Eighth Grade Demon Spirit—an Enchanting Butterfly, no less—and she's joining Juxing Club. They're moving away!"
This news swept through Shore District in an instant.
No need for much publicity—anyone who'd watched her on TV could recognize the young woman who was both pure and alluring: the very same Ya Ge they'd watched grow up.
Ya Ge had refined the Eighth Grade Enchanting Butterfly. This year, she was one of the top ten genius girls on the Light Curtain. By signing with Ju Xing, her signing fee alone was enough to buy a three-bedroom apartment in the Inner City—a ticket out of Shore District.
For people who'd lived here their whole lives, moving into the Inner City was the start of meteoric change.
It was a lifelong dream, the greatest hope of every parent for their child. For everyone in Shore District, it was proof of making it into the upper class for real.
People here were nobodies—no assets, no connections, just dirt poor. Cultivation took both talent and resources, so only a handful of Shore District kids became Demon Spirit Masters every year.
So, whenever someone moved into the Inner City, the whole district celebrated.
And not all Demon Spirit Masters were equal—Ya Ge, who refined the Enchanting Butterfly, was hands down the most successful.
"Lin Feng's here!"
"He's here, he's here. Hey, all you gossips, that's enough out of you."
"What a pity—they grew up right alongside us. I'm afraid…"
People murmured in the crowd, casting Lin Feng sidelong glances—making Lin Kerou, trying to keep calm, suddenly tense up.
Lin Feng knew exactly what those looks meant.
Once, he'd always glanced down, embarrassment and even shame prickling under those pitying and mocking eyes. But today, he faced them all without flinching.
Everyone was gathered outside Building 34—the building where Ya Ge lived.
At that moment, Ya Ge's whole family was moving out. They didn't have much—just some simple clothes. For Ya Ge, about to join Ju Xing Club, everything else was disposable.
When Lin Feng arrived, the gathered neighbors all turned to look at him. Following their eyes, Ya Ge's family also noticed him.
In the past, whenever he appeared, Ya Ge's parents would greet him warmly. After all, he had grown up with Ya Ge—childhood friends and equals, both from Shore District, families of the same level.
At sixteen, already Body Cultivation Seventh Rank, Lin Feng's talent was outstanding for Shore District, and with his good looks, he matched Ya Ge well in both talent and appearance.
But now, Father Ya, who'd been chatting with neighbors, suddenly stopped smiling, nodded to Lin Feng with barely any expression—just the briefest greeting. Ya Ge's mother glanced at Lin Feng, immediately looked away, and quietly packed up, exchanging a few forced words with neighbors. Some of Ya Ge's other relatives stared at Lin Feng with eyes full of disdain and criticism.
As for Ya Ge herself, she wasn't there—probably busy handling her contract with Ju Xing Club.
"Brother Feng…"
Gao Hai started to say something—maybe to comfort Lin Feng—but stopped mid-sentence.
"What kind of people are they!"
Gao Hai's father was a little angry. Ya Ge's family's attitude made their intentions clear to everyone.
Lin Kerou glanced at Lin Feng in concern—because Lin Feng just seemed so calm.
It was an unsettling kind of calm—enough to make people worry.
"Sis, it's fine."
Seeing Lin Kerou's worried look, Lin Feng smiled gently.
He really didn't care about Ya Ge's family's attitude. He'd seen it all once before anyway.
If they were too warm, he wouldn't know how to react. This way was better.
From now on, they'd walk their own paths, and keep out of each other's business.