I watched as the young girl's eyes darted nervously around, her small frame trembling slightly. It was clear she didn't trust me yet, and why should she? The world had been cruel to her, and I was just another stranger in a long line of faces she'd seen at the auction hall.
"I am the same person who took you out of the auction hall," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "That was my disguise. You don't have to worry about being treated like a slave as long as you are with me."
Her silver eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and hope flickering across her features. I could see the gears turning in her mind, weighing her options, wondering if she could trust my words.
"And don't think that running away will help you," I continued, my tone gentle but firm. "If you try, you will be caught again and resold. It's a cruel world, but I won't let you fall into the wrong hands again."
The girl's shoulders slumped slightly, whether from relief or resignation, I couldn't tell. Her gaze fell to the floor, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her dress. The sight tugged at something deep within me, a protective instinct I didn't know I possessed.
I reached for a glass of water on the nearby table, the clear liquid catching the dim light as I moved. "First, drink some water and finish your food," I said, extending the glass towards her. "Then, I want to hear everything about you."
Her eyes snapped up to mine, wariness evident in her gaze. She hesitated for a moment, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the glass. Then, as if a dam had broken, she grabbed it and gulped down the water in one go. The desperation in her actions spoke volumes about what she had endured.
Next, she lunged for the food, ready to devour it all in one bite. My hand shot out, gently but firmly grasping her wrist to stop her.
"Eat in small bites while chewing properly," I instructed, my voice soft but authoritative. "That way, you won't choke or upset your stomach."
She blinked at me, confusion evident in her expression. It was clear that such care was foreign to her. Slowly, she nodded, and I released her wrist. As she began to eat, I found myself unconsciously leaning forward, watching to ensure she followed my instructions.
Time seemed to slow as I observed her. Her initial wariness began to melt away, replaced by a cautious trust. Before I knew it, I had taken the plate from her trembling hands and was feeding her bit by bit. It was a strangely intimate moment, one that seemed to forge a connection between us.
The girl's silver eyes never left my face as I fed her, studying me with an intensity that belied her young age. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, trying to understand this unexpected kindness. As for me, I was surprised by my own actions. I had never considered myself particularly paternal or nurturing, yet here I was, carefully ensuring this child was properly fed.
It was satisfying in a way I hadn't anticipated, watching her regain strength with each bite. Yet, it was also exhausting. The emotional labor of caring for another being, especially one so vulnerable, was not something I was accustomed to. This, I realized, was why I typically avoided dealing with children. They required a level of care and attention that I had never been prepared to give.
By the time she finished eating, the equivalent of one or two incense sticks had burned away. I led her to a small basin in the corner of the room, helping her wash her mouth and hands properly. These simple acts of care seemed to further solidify the fragile trust building between us.
Once she was clean and settled, I sat her down again, my gaze meeting hers. "Now that you're full, what's your name?"
Her brow furrowed, a look of concentration crossing her face. "I... I-I don't remember," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, stuttering slightly.
I nodded, not pushing the issue. "Do you remember anything about your parents?"
At this, her eyes welled up with tears. "They died… killed by bad people," she said, her voice breaking. The pain in her words was palpable, filling the room with a heavy sorrow.
I could tell she wasn't lying, but there was more to her story than she was letting on. Her intelligence shone through her guarded responses. She was protecting herself, revealing only what she felt was safe. I decided not to push her any further. There would be time for the full truth later, when she felt more secure.
"I think we should first fix your martial soul," I said, changing the subject. "Due to the lack of proper soul power or a fault during awakening, there tends to be a partial awakening in martial souls. That's why you need a complete awakening."
Her eyes widened at this, a mix of curiosity and apprehension evident in her gaze.
"And remember this," I continued, my voice taking on a more serious tone, "only strength speaks in the soul master world. You can't blame anyone for being weak. That's why I suggest that you follow me until I completely teach you everything about being a soul master. Just think of me as your teacher."
She tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What is a teacher?" she asked, her voice small but curious.
I couldn't help but smile at her question. It was a reminder of how much she had missed out on, how much she had yet to learn. "Well, teachers are almost like second parents," I explained patiently. "They show you what you need to know and help build your foundation. Whatever is left is up to you to understand."
I paused, considering my next words carefully. "There can be many teachers, but only one master. In this continent, you can only acknowledge one master. So, I just want to let you understand everything you need to know. The rest is up to you to decide."
She listened intently, her silver eyes shining in the dim candlelight. I could see the wheels turning in her mind, processing this new information. There was an eagerness there, a thirst for knowledge that had likely been suppressed for far too long.
Without further ado, I pulled out six black stones from a pouch at my waist. These weren't ordinary stones; they were imbued with my power, created using my Herrscher's Eye of Truth. Having witnessed countless martial soul awakenings, I understood the core principles of the process intimately.
I arranged the stones in a star pattern on the floor, each one placed with precision. "Sit in the center," I instructed gently.
She obeyed without hesitation, her trust in me growing with each passing moment. As she settled into position, I began to channel my soul power into the stones. They absorbed the energy eagerly, starting to glow with a faint, otherworldly light.
The air in the room seemed to thicken as the awakening process began. I watched intently as the defects in her fox-like tail and ears slowly began to disappear. But as the process continued, I realized my initial assessment had been wrong. Behind her, an elegant fox soul beast began to take form.
The fox was a magnificent creature, its fur a pure, pristine white that seemed to glow from within. Intricate crystalline patterns shimmered across its body, catching and refracting the dim light of the room. There was no doubt in my mind – this was an ultimate martial soul.
As the awakening completed, a chill settled over the room. Frost began to form on nearby surfaces, creeping across the floor and up the walls. I looked down at my hand, noticing the thin layer of ice that had formed around it.
"As expected, your martial soul isn't ordinary," I said, unable to keep the awe from my voice. "It's an ultimate ice martial soul. See my hand? Frost has formed around it just from your presence. Because I'm at a higher level than you, it doesn't affect me. But for anyone at the same level as you, your ultimate ice would be an overwhelming advantage unless they also possess an ultimate ice or fire attribute."
The girl's eyes were wide with wonder as she looked at her transformed self, then back at me. I could see the questions forming in her mind, the desire to understand what had just happened.
"There's still bad news for you," I continued, my tone becoming more serious. "Your growth will be slower than others until you reach level 70. Ultimate attributes are harder to cultivate. If you don't reach level 60 before the age of 18, you might not have any hope of becoming the strongest in your generation."
She remained silent, absorbing everything I had said. I could see the determination forming in her eyes, the resolve to overcome this challenge. It was admirable, but I knew the road ahead would be difficult.
"You can take your time to decide what you want to do," I said softly. "Haste makes waste. I'll be in the room next door. Don't be startled if you hear any weird noises. If necessary, just knock on the door."
With those parting words, I left her to her thoughts and retreated to the adjacent room. I had my own matters to attend to, namely the examination of my recent acquisition – the Whale Glue.
As I entered the room, I pulled out the crystalline substance. It was hard and translucent, catching the light in intriguing ways. I had barely begun my examination when Xiao Wu materialized from my spirit ring, her curiosity piqued.
"Qingxue, what are you doing with that piece of crystal?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "I don't think it'll benefit you in any way. At most, it's only useful for guys."
I couldn't help but smile at her assumption. "Well, I read that Whale Glue—or the brain of a whale—is a great tonic," I explained. "It strengthens muscles and bones, making me stronger. It'll also help me absorb my next soul ring faster. And I think I should take my time finding another soul ring for both me and that girl."
Xiao Wu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't tell me you forgot to ask her name?"
I shook my head. "Nah, she just doesn't remember."
"Then shouldn't you come up with a name for her?" Xiao Wu pressed, her tone suggesting she thought I was being negligent.
"She still hasn't fully accepted me," I replied, my voice soft. "She's basically a stranger right now, so it's not necessary."
Xiao Wu seemed to accept this, though I could tell she wasn't entirely satisfied. Her gaze returned to the Whale Glue. "Anyway, how are you gonna consume that thing?"
I smirked slightly. "That's my problem to worry about."
In truth, I did have a slight issue – I didn't possess a fire attribute. But that was a minor obstacle, one easily overcome with a bit of ingenuity. Without wasting any time, I set about creating a solution.
Using my knowledge of soul tool array techniques, I crafted a closed kettle with a bottom layer consisting of coiled copper wires. This device could convert soul power into electrical energy, effectively creating heat. As a finishing touch, I added an insulator to prevent anyone from burning their hands while using it.
[Gold rank achievement: Make A Spirt Tool from Scraps|| Claim: level 1 and 2 all soul tool blueprint.]
With my makeshift heating device complete, I got another unexpected reward. I suppose making a soul tool is a most difficult thing in this era which got me gold rank achievement, and with it all the knowledge was much precious, with this I can enhance my ordinary cold and hot weapon to become more stronger by converting them to spirit tool.
Leaving that aside, I placed the Whale Glue inside and began the process of liquefying it. The room filled with a faint, oceanic scent as the substance slowly melted. Once it had become a liquid, I carefully poured it into a steel glass I had created.
I waited patiently for it to reach the perfect temperature – not too hot to consume, but still in liquid form. Then, steeling myself, I downed it all in one go.
For the first five minutes, I felt nothing. The room was silent, save for the soft sound of my breathing. Then, suddenly, it hit me. A wave of intense heat surged through my body, starting from my core and radiating outwards. My skin flushed, turning a deep red as if I had been sunburned. It felt as though my very blood was on fire.
I gasped, struggling to regulate my breathing as the effects intensified. Every muscle in my body began to tremble, and I could feel a strange sensation in my bones, as if they were stretching and strengthening. The intensity of the sensation overwhelmed me, and I collapsed onto the bed, my body wracked with tremors.
As I lay there, enduring the side effects, a thought struck me – meditation might help. With great effort, I forced myself into a meditative state, using my spiritual energy to try and stabilize my condition. Time seemed to lose all meaning as I focused inward, riding out the waves of heat and transformation.
When I finally regained full consciousness, sunlight was streaming through the window. I found myself lying on the bed, my clothes and the sheets beneath me completely soaked with sweat. It was a somewhat embarrassing situation, but the discomfort was quickly forgotten as I realized the changes that had occurred.
As I rose and began to dress, I noticed something strange – my clothes felt tighter, more constricting than before. Curious, I moved to examine my reflection. What I saw took me by surprise. I had grown little taller overnight, and my features had matured slightly, giving me a more adult appearance. But the changes weren't just superficial. As I moved, I could feel a new strength coursing through my body. I felt lighter, more powerful, as if I could take on the world.
This transformation was more than I had anticipated. My physique had taken a significant leap forward, bringing me closer to my ultimate goal.