Spirit City-
Behind a mansion, in a spacious courtyard filled with trimmed hedges and flowering plants, a young boy is wielding a wooden sword.
His small body moved with surprising strength as he practiced his swings under the warm afternoon sun.
The boy had short white hair framing a face that seemed cute.
The golden hue of his eyes glimmered like sunlight reflected on a calm lake.
Any young woman who caught a glimpse would undoubtedly be tempted to scoop him up and smother him with affection... some might even consider kidnapping him for his cuteness.
If this boy grew older, it was certain he would be a devastatingly handsome young man.
But for now, he was just a diligent little swordsman, counting each swing as he practiced.
"One hundred ninety-eight," he muttered and his voice was steady but tinged with fatigue.
Huff
"One hundred ninety-nine,"
Huff
"Two hundred!" He let out a deep exhale and lowered his sword, his arms trembling slightly from exertion.
"Haah, at this rate, I will lose all of my hair and turn into Saitama."
Sweat glistened on his forehead, and his breathing became heavy as he made his way to a shady spot under a nearby tree.
Sitting down, he leaned against the sturdy trunk, closing his eyes briefly to catch his breath.
'It's been two years since I came to this world...'
'Tomorrow, I'll turn six years old, and the system will finally unlock. Plus, I'll have to attend the Martial Spirit Awakening Ceremony.'
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he tilted his head back, gazing at the leaves above that swayed gently in the breeze.
'I can't believe I am here... but I made it, to my fanfiction. I mean, just look at me. This face…' He trailed off, his fingers brushing his cheek absentmindedly.
'And my adoptive parents...'
Before he could continue, a graceful woman walked into the courtyard with a little girl by her side.
Her long, dark hair fell in waves down her back.
The little girl, on the other hand, had short black hair that bounced faintly as she skipped along beside the woman.
Her bright green eyes sparkled with playfulness, and her chubby cheeks added an extra layer of cuteness to her already adorable appearance.
The moment the girl saw him, she squealed in delight and dashed toward him, throwing herself into his arms.
"Big Brother!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly.
Xuan Yan blinked and shifted slightly. "Yin'er, get up. I'm soaked with sweat. It's dirty."
The little girl, Xue Yin, buried her face in his shoulder and shook her head stubbornly. "No, Big Brother! It's okay." she said with an innocent smile.
'This girl…' Xuan Yan thought, shaking his head slightly.
Behind them, the woman chuckled softly. "You two are so close. You've completely forgotten about me, haven't you? Hmph," she said, playfully pouting her lips.
Xuan Yan turned his attention to her and showed a smile that could melt even the coldest heart. "Mom, what are you saying? How could we forget you?"
His adoptive mother, Xue Ling, clasped her hands together "Aw, you're just too cute." she said, leaning down to pinch his cheeks.
"Mom, not the cheeks…" he protested half-heartedly, though he allowed her to continue for a moment before she finally let go.
Rubbing his sore cheeks, he sighed softly.
"Mom, where's Father? I thought he was coming today."
"Oh, he is still on his business. He hasn't returned yet."
That's right, Xuan Yan thought.
'My adoptive parents aren't soul masters; they're just ordinary people. But thanks to their trading business, we're not poor. In fact, we're quite well-off.'
Xue Ling clapped her hands together. "Alright, that's enough practice for today. Go clean up and get ready for lunch. Tomorrow is a big day for you."
Xuan Yan nodded "Yeah, Mom. Yin'er, let's go. Get up," he said, gently nudging the girl still clinging to him.
The little girl huffed, but she eventually stood up.
As a gesture of comfort, Xuan Yan reached out and patted her head gently.
Her annoyance vanished instantly and she closed her eyes with a blissful smile spreading across her face. "Hehe, Big brother..."
Afterward, Xuan Yan went inside to clean himself up.
The cool water washed away the sweat and fatigue from his training, leaving him refreshed.
Once he was done, he joined his family at the dinner table, where a warm and hearty meal awaited.
...
The next day arrived with a clear sky and a gentle breeze.
Inside a modest yet comfortable room, Xuan Yan rose early and prepared himself.
His eyes glimmered with anticipation as he donned a white robe.
"This is it," he thought, glancing at his reflection in the mirror.
"Today is the day I awaken my martial spirit. Though I already know what it is, seeing it with my own eyes will make it real."
Xue Ling who was waiting for him at the door had a proud smile as she adjusted his robe one last time. "You look perfect, Yan'er."
"Let's go."
Hand in hand, the two made their way through the lively streets toward the main branch of the Spirit Hall in Spirit City.
Children of varying ages, accompanied by their families, had gathered in the hall, their hearts racing with nervousness and excitement.
As Xuan Yan entered the hall, his presence attracted some attention.
Xuan Yan ignored the stares and led his mother to a seat before quietly excusing himself to sit near the front.
His eyes glanced around at the room, and his attention landed on a girl sitting to his left.
The girl appeared to be around his age.
She had shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in simple clothing, but her natural beauty and innocence were undeniable.
Sensing his gaze, the girl turned her head, and their eyes met for a brief moment before she quickly looked away.
Xuan Yan leaned slightly toward her and spoke with a soft yet confident tone "Hi. What's your name?"
The girl hesitated, glancing at him nervously. "M-My name is Mo Xie."
"Mo Xie," he repeated with a faint smile. "That's a lovely name. My name is Xuan Yan."
Mo Xie fidgeted slightly, her fingers clutching the hem of her sleeve. "It's nice to meet you, Xuan Yan."
Xuan Yan smiled inwardly. 'So, this is Mo Xie, the character I created. The girl with the strongest auxiliary martial spirit, second only to the Nine-Hearted Begonia. It's surreal seeing her in real life.'
Looking at her, he asked "Are you nervous?"
She slowly nodded her head "Mhm."
Keeping his smile, he spoke "Don't worry, you will certainly awaken a great martial spirit and I am sure of it."
Upon hearing his soothing words, she smiled slightly "Thank you, I hope the same for you too."
One by one, children were called to the podium to awaken their martial spirits.
Some left the stage in tears because of their weak spirits or unsuitable spirits for cultivation.
Others walked away with pride, with their talents praised by the bishop conducting the ceremony.
Eventually, it was Mo Xie's turn.
The timid girl stood up, her hands trembling slightly as she made her way to the center of the hall.
The bishop, a middle-aged man, activated his martial spirit, and a gentle glow surrounded his hands as he poured soul energy into Mo Xie.
Moments later, a delicate blue flower bloomed in Mo Xie's hand, its petals radiating a faint light.
Gasps echoed through the hall "Oh, it's a flower..."
"Auxiliary martial spirit?"
The bishop frowned slightly, "I've never seen a martial spirit like this before. It looks like an auxiliary-type spirit, possibly a mutation."
Mo Xie's grip tightened around the flower as her heart raced in fear and hope 'Let it be a good spirit.'
'Let it be a good spirit.'
'Let it be a good spirit.'
'Please, please, please...'
"Let's test your spirit power," the bishop said, handing her a crystalline blue orb.
Mo Xie placed her hand on the orb, and moments later, it glowed brightly.
"Level 8 spirit power." the bishop announced in surprise.
"Excellent talent for a first awakening. Girl, would you be willing to join the Spirit Academy?"
Without hesitation, Mo Xie nodded. "Yes! I would like to join,"
The crowd murmured in approval as Mo Xie stepped down from the podium.
Sighing in relief, she walked back to her place 'Finally, my mother and i can live peacefully as long as I work hard...'
Then, the bishop called the next name.
"Xuan Yan."
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!
Some of you might be thinking "I have read a similar fic before" That's me. I am rewriting this fic.
Also, this week taregt 150 powerstones for bonus chapter!