The marble floor of the Spirit Hall orphanage gleamed beneath the soft morning light. Candles flickered gently in their sconces, casting warm halos along the high-vaulted walls. Today was Awakening Day.
Ruì Zé stood at the end of the line, the last of the orphans to be tested. While the other children whispered and fidgeted, Ruì Zé waited in silence, a worn book clutched in his arms.
"Number twenty-three," the officiating priest called.
He stepped forward.
The Spirit Hall elder barely looked up. "Name?"
"Ruì Zé."
"Place your hand on the crystal."
Ruì Zé complied.
At first, nothing happened.
Then—light.
The spirit crystal pulsed with a golden radiance, far brighter than with any child before him. A gentle hum filled the chamber.
Above his hand, a glowing book manifested—its pages fluttering in the still air. Words shifted and flowed across the open leaves in a language no one could read.
Gasps rippled through the room.
"A book-type weapon spirit?"
"Looks like a spiritual tool... but it's not sacred text or scripture."
One of the priests frowned. "Strange aura. Neutral, calm. No hostility, but no divine resonance either."
The elder stepped closer, now fully alert. "Curious. I've never seen a spirit like this."
Ruì Zé remained silent, his expression calm.
Then the elder gestured toward the second crystal. "Innate soul power test."
Ruì Zé pressed his palm to it.
The crystal lit up—once, twice, then surged with energy. Seven rings flickered in sequence around its base before stabilizing in full brightness.
The elder froze.
"…Innate full soul power."
Now the room exploded with whispers. Surprise. Excitement.
"Innate full?"
"Even with a strange spirit like that?"
"Spirit Hall hasn't had one in years!"
The elder's expression turned thoughtful. "His spirit is unknown… but his potential is undeniable."
The priest beside him nodded. "We should monitor him closely. Nurture him carefully. If this Book of Wisdom proves useful, he may be of great value."
Ruì Zé gave a polite bow and stepped back.
Internally, he wasn't shaken. He already knew what the result would be. His past life's knowledge hadn't given him talent—but it had given him foresight.
Innate full soul power. They'll be watching now. I'll need to walk carefully.
Still, this was fine.
He didn't plan to blaze his path with strength alone.
He would win through clarity. Through strategy.
Through wisdom.