--- Chapter 17 ---
Huo Yuhao entered the temple, looking around with an astonished gaze. He hasn't seen the architecture of this world much because his daily routine was training and training for the last three weeks.
'Oh.' His blue eyes wandered around the temple.
The nun giggled when seeing Huo Yuhao's antics and said, "It's always nice to see a child being enthusiastic. I can't blame him because today was the Spirit Awakening Ceremony."
"Are you his mother?" She added while moving her gaze to Huo Yun'er. Under that cloak, she could see a beautiful woman with a peerless appearance.
"Yes." Huo Yun'er replied with a smile.
The nun couldn't help but smile and commented, "You have such an adorable son, ma'am. I have to refrain myself from patting him, you know."
Huo Yun'er frowned inside because her fight and flight instinct just jumped for a moment. She would never let an unknown individual touch her beloved Hao'er. They would get their bodies burned by her foxfire first.
"Ma'am??" The nun waved her hand before Huo Yun'er. "Are you okay? You seemed to blank out for a moment."
"Ah, people say that a lot to my son." Huo Yun'er answered with a giggle. "And yes, I'm fine."
As the three delved more into the temple, some parents and children were waiting for the nun to start the Spirit Awakening Ceremony. They are so excited to see what kind of Martial souls their children awakened today. And The children are full of expectations because this event will decide their path to becoming Spirit Master.
Huo Yuhao shook his head because Douluo Dalu's world is unfair for people with no bloodlines and inborn talent. Not saying you can't become more powerful, but your starting point and future path would be several times harder.
"Hey, are you new here?" A young girl asked while approaching Huo Yuhao. She's no more than 6 with short black hair and wearing a simple dress. The most noticeable part about her is those bright green eyes.
"Why are you wearing a cloak? It's going to be hot, you know."
"I'm fine." Huo Yuhao replied while lowering his hood. He didn't want to attract their attention and stood to the side, waiting for the Spirit Awakening Ceremony to start. The girl became more curious and decided to stand in the same spot as him.
"What's your name?"
"Your age?"
"Woah, your skin is so smooth."
"Your eyes too! How could they become so shiny like a gem!?"
Huo Yuhao looked away and reduced the girl's question to white noises. He used Kenbunshoku Haki a little bit and checked the whole temple, assuring himself that no one from the White Tiger Mansion was following them.
He sighed in relief and saw the nun walking into the middle of the room, bringing a blue crystal ball. She gently smiled at everyone and explained a few things about the Spirit Awakening Ceremony. And the ritual finally started.
The nun called over a young boy with dark brown hair and told him to stand before her. She activated her martial soul and summoned a beautiful rose, having two yellow spirit rings around her body.
"Spirit Grandmaster." Huo Yuhao commented naturally.
Everyone noticed the spirit rings expanded around the kid's body and released intense yellow lights. "Spirit Awaken." The nun whispered while pressing her hand gently on the child's head.
"Martial Soul, Toad." She added while placing the blue crystal near the brown-haired kid. "Touch this crystal, child."
"Mhm." The brown-haired kid grinned and grasped the blue crystal, making it glow dimly with white light. His parents were excited because he could become a Spirit Master.
The nun patted his head and stated, "Not bad. Your spirit rank is level 2."
After a brief congratulation, the nun continues to awaken the children's martial souls in the temple. Some are lucky, but the rest literally were struck with being level 0 and didn't get a chance to become Spirit Master. It's saddening to see their bright expression turned into a hopeless mess, but this is a regular occurrence in this world.
Huo Yuhao noticed the young girl beside him becoming more nervous than before. Her enthusiastic antics stopped minutes ago when a child awakened blue silver grass with level 0 spirit power.
"It's boring." He yawned slightly. "The Spirit Awakening Ceremony is more lackluster than I expected."
The girl was shocked and softly rebuked, "Hey, don't say that... Spirit Awakening Ceremony is a tradition passed along for ten thousand years in the Douluo Continent. Have a little respect for the nun for doing this ceremony voluntarily, please."
"Well, you're correct and wrong simultaneously. At least you're not nervous anymore." Huo Yuhao leaned on the wall, watching the girl tilting her head in confusion. Kids were easily distracted.
The nun tenderly called over the girl because it was her turn and awakened her martial soul. A bright green light exploded in the temple, and a dark cauldron was manifested in the air, releasing pressure in the area.
"T-This." A gasp escaped the nun's mouth.
Huo Yuhao recognized this martial soul and mumbled in disbelief, "No way... She's here?"
"Black Cauldron? It looks strong!" A kid in the crowd suddenly shouted with a surprised tone.
The nun hurriedly told the girl to touch the blue crystal, and bright blue illuminated the temple, giving off a mysterious atmosphere to everyone. Even the nun was too stunned to speak because this girl has legendary talent.
"Innate Full Spirit Power." The nun said while staring at the girl solemnly. "Child, you have one in one hundred years aptitude. Your spirit rank is level 10."
"Hmm?" The girl looked around nervously, wondering if this was real or not. She lowered her head in embarrassment because everyone stared at her like she was a rare creature.
"You must be shocked." The nun calmed her. "Take a breather and hold on to this, honey."
A petal dropped from the rose and covered the girl with a gentle yellow light. She became less nervous and walked back to her position with a blush.
"Congratulations." Huo Yuhao complimented her naturally. He would never have thought to find one of his prospective teammates here.
"Thank you. I haven't told you my name, don't I?" She nodded like a chick, blushing even more. "Um, nice to meet you again... My name is Xiao Xiao."
Huo Yuhao smiled under his hood because he already knew her name beforehand. "Nice to meet you, Xiao." He returned while thinking about her future.
Xiao Xiao was one of the "strongest." members in terms of natural potential, having two martial souls. Due to her poor development, She only became the title douluo and couldn't reach the Divine Realm with her loved ones.
'Looks like Xiao Xiao hasn't found out about her other martial soul.' Huo Yuhao thought to himself.
"What about yours?" Xiao Xiao asked while trying to peek into his hood. "You've been ignoring me from the start."
He let out a small chuckle and replied, "Ah, my name is Yun Long."
Huo Yuhao could have told Xiao Xiao his real name, but the White Tiger Clan could have searched this area later, and having this interaction with her was risky enough. He came out with Yun Long's name because Naga used that in the past.
(An: if you know, you know)
"Child, it's your turn." The nun looked at Huo Yuhao, waving her hand at him.
Huo Yuhao walked to the nun, noticing a wind movement behind his back. Huo Yun'er seamlessly approached Xiao Xiao and started to interrogate her.
"What do you want from my Hao'er, Girl?" She asked with a frown. "You have to pass through me first."
"Eh??"
...
...
Huo Yuhao stood before the nun and felt her curious gaze all over his body. The charm of young High Human is terrifyingly effective against women. And she isn't an exception.
"Don't fight back, okay~?" She said while pushing her spirit energy into him.
Huo Yuhao regulated his breathing and perceived two orbs of lights inside his soul. The first one rose to his eyes, and the other stayed around his chest.
"How relaxing." A relieved sigh escaped Huo Yuhao's mouth.
[You have awakened your martial souls, Host] Evo announced with a dull tone.
[The Eyes of the Lord]
[Chains of Heaven]
A beautiful-looking black chain with a golden mark appeared out of thin air, hovering around Huo Yuhao like part of his body. It released an ethereal golden light, making him look like an otherworldly being.
"Haa..."
When everyone was captivated by the Chains of Heaven's appearance, the nun looked down and saw the most beautiful blue eyes she ever sees. Those eyes reminded her of the blue sky that reigned over the world.
Huo Yuhao deactivated his martial soul and said, "Thank you, sister. I owe you a favor."
"Then, let me pat your head later." The nun replied immediately, leaving Huo Yuhao speechless for a moment. He glanced at his mother and hesitantly nodded his head in agreement. "Now touch this crystal."
Huo Yuhao grasped over the crystal's clear surface and felt his spirit energy getting sucked out. He hovered his hand over the crystal and stopped his power from leaking. It caused a similar phenomenon as Xiao Xiao before.
"Another one. W-What kind of world is I actually living in??" A frustrated groan in the temple. "Are you sure this talent is rare?"
[You have awakened Supreme Innate Full Spirit]