Old Title: "The Nine Nether Demon Chain"
Notting City's morning air carried a faint mist as Chu Tianxiu and Yu Xiaogang approached the Martial Soul Hall branch. Compared to the towering forest he had lived in for a year, the city felt strangely loud and narrow.
Yu Xiaogang rested a hand on Tianxiu's shoulder.
"Stay close. Awakening your martial soul is a very important step."
"I know, Master," Tianxiu replied politely.
At the entrance, two soul masters were chatting—one tall and muscular, the other a young woman in uniform.
"Senior Sister Sisi," the man sighed dramatically, "since you're free today, how about lunch together? My treat!"
The woman—Sisi—gave him a flat look. "What we eat isn't important. What matters is you said you'd be promoted within a year. It's been over a year. Where's the promotion, Yuntao?"
Su Yuntao coughed, embarrassed. "Bishop Matthew is retiring soon… I might become branch bishop after that. Soon. Very soon."
Chu Tianxiu stifled a laugh.
'Brother Tao, you're still exactly how I remember. Optimistic… and perpetually unlucky.'
The two turned toward the newcomers. Sisi brightened immediately.
"Master Yu! Welcome! Oh—who's this little one?"
Before Tianxiu could react, Sisi crouched down and gently patted his head.
"You look so young… Are you nervous?"
Tianxiu shook his head. "A little."
Her expression softened.
"Don't worry. Awakening your martial soul doesn't hurt. If anything feels strange, just say so, alright?"
Su Yuntao stepped forward. "Master Matthew is out on business. I'll handle the awakening today."
They all entered the awakening chamber. The room dimmed as Su Yuntao activated the array. Six stones lit up one by one, forming a circle beneath Tianxiu's feet.
"Stand still," Su Yuntao instructed. "And breathe steadily."
Light gathered.
Energy surged.
Tianxiu felt something deep within his core stir—like a sealed door forcing itself open. A pressure expanded outward, filling the entire chamber.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened.Sisi's breath caught.Su Yuntao stumbled back.
"What… what pressure is this!?"
The air thickened, humming with a rhythmic pulse. Their martial souls activated uncontrollably—an instinctive reaction to overwhelming spiritual force.
A silhouette rose behind Tianxiu.
A tall, hooded figure cloaked in shadow—its features indistinct, except for eyes glowing a deep crimson.
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled with both fear and awe.
"A… a body-type martial soul?"
"But— body-type spirits don't manifest as an entire figure…" Su Yuntao muttered.
Before anyone could ponder further, metallic noise echoed through the chamber.
Clang.
A dark iron chain materialized, coiling around the phantom's frame. Its spear-shaped tip gleamed with sharp brilliance; spike-like links wrapped around the shadow form naturally, as though they had always been one.
The two martial souls merged into a single presence.
Su Yuntao whispered, "Master… what kind of martial soul is this?"
Yu Xiaogang exhaled slowly. "A type I've never seen in my life."
When the pressure finally receded, Tianxiu withdrew his martial soul and steady light filled the chamber again.
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. "Tianxiu… do you know the names of your spirits?"
Tianxiu nodded. "The phantom is my whole-body martial soul. And the chain is called the Nine Nether Demon Chain."
Yu Xiaogang, Su Yuntao, and Sisi froze.
"T-Twin martial souls!?"
Tianxiu gently corrected, "They're one. They activate together."
Su Yuntao's expression twisted. "That's even more impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang steadied himself and asked, "How do your soul rings… stack?"
"I need two rings at each breakthrough," Tianxiu explained. "After I absorb them, the two rings merge. Their ages combine. But even so… I can only have nine final rings."
Yu Xiaogang's heart pounded.
'A twin martial soul that merges rings…? Unreal. Unprecedented. If cultivated correctly—this child's future…'
He forced himself calm.
"In actual combat, you will surpass most twin spirit masters. You don't need to switch between spirits, and your ring ages will always be higher."
"Really? That sounds amazing," Tianxiu replied earnestly.
Next came the soul power test. Sisi handed him a glowing crystal, now smiling brightly in a gentle, encouraging way.
"Here. Just place your hand on it. Don't be afraid."
Tianxiu nodded and pressed his palm against it.
The crystal erupted into brilliant light.
All three adults shouted at once:
"Innate full soul power!?"
Su Yuntao nearly jumped. "Little friend, would you like to join the Spirit Hall?"
Sisi added, "With your talent, the Hall will definitely support your future. You'll receive good training."
Tianxiu bowed politely.
"Please help me register, Sister Sisi."
"Of course," Sisi said warmly. "This way."
And just like that…
Chu Tianxiu formally stepped into the world of spirit masters.
...