Twenty thousand years have slipped by since Spirit Hall fell, seven new gods appeared, and Shrek Academy rose from the ashes. It happened fast—one era ended, another began, and a whole new world took shape.
Then, ten thousand years ago, Tang Sect—once legendary—crumbled until only two people remained. Spirit tools changed everything, and the sect nearly vanished for good. But luck had other plans. Thanks to that generation's Shrek Seven Devils, and especially one man who later became a god, Tang Sect managed to climb out of its grave. He stopped a war set off by the Sun Moon Empire, wiped out the Holy Spirit Church, and even took down the Beast God Di Tian. After that, nothing was ever quite the same.
Since then, two things have happened everywhere: technology keeps racing forward, but gods have become nothing but legends. Becoming a god now? People say it's almost impossible. The path vanished when the God Realm disappeared. Still, every spirit master out there dreams of ascending, even if nobody's pulled it off in ages. I mean, who doesn't want that kind of power?
Su Yi snapped his book closed. He was a boy with crimson hair and a face that gave nothing away, no matter what went on inside his head. He set the book on his nightstand and studied it for a while, letting thoughts flicker through his mind without showing a hint of emotion. The room was drowned in history's weight, but quiet enough to hear his heartbeat. In the dormitory's pale light, his scarlet hair stood out—almost glowing—while his eyes stayed cold.
To most, Su Yi was just another orphan in the Silent Winter Orphanage—a quiet kid whose hair looked like embers burning out. Nobody guessed the truth: his soul had lived through three different worlds.
"Martial spirit…" he murmured. Any trace of a child's voice was gone—he sounded older, tired in a way no six-year-old should. He glanced down at his pale hands, feeling the sleeping power somewhere deep inside him, waiting for the right moment to burst free.
He stood up. His movements were smooth, almost rehearsed. Today would decide everything: would he stay invisible, another nobody in the slums, or finally step into the light and freeze the world's attention on him?
Outside in the Winter Orphanage courtyard, the cold air bit at their skin. The director stood in front of the kids—her face full of soft lines earned by kindness and years of hard work.
"You're all six now," she said, keeping her voice gentle but unwavering. "No matter what happens, you'll always have a home here. My only wish is for each of you to find your own path as Spirit Masters and live with dignity."
Most of the kids stared at her, wide-eyed and hopeful. Su Yi didn't. His gaze was far away, focused on something invisible to the rest. He understood the truth—talent wasn't enough anymore. Resources, Spirit Souls —those had become the real tickets to the top.
The director gathered them close, her hand resting on the shoulder of the tiniest girl. "Time to go. We're heading to the Spirit Pagoda for your awakening. Stick together, and don't be scared."
They walked out the gates, heading toward the towering spire of the Pagoda branch. The city buzzed around them—Eastsea teeming with noise and energy. For most of the children, the walk was all nerves and wonder. Su Yi felt something else entirely. For him, it was the first stride back toward reclaiming a throne he'd once lost.
Heading to the Eastsea City branch of the Spirit Pagoda didn't take long. But for the Winter Orphanage kids, the whole trip felt unreal, like they'd crossed into another world. Towering buildings, shiny holograms of famous Spirit Masters—they made the children's threadbare clothes feel even heavier than usual.
"Stick close, everyone," the orphanage director whispered. Her voice shook when they stepped into the polished lobby, all metal and glass.
Inside, you could smell the difference—ozone, expensive soul-conductive materials. The air was cooler than outside, perfectly controlled.
A young Spirit Master walked up in a gray uniform, barely bothering to hide his lack of interest.
"Winter Orphanage? You're five minutes late," he said, tapping away on his tablet. "Come on. Awakening Room 4. We're booked solid today."
Nobody dared stray from the group as they followed him to a room buzzing with machinery. In the center stood a round platform circled by six massive black stones—the Awakening Heaven Stones.
"Who's first?" the Spirit Master asked, eyes locked on his tablet.
A small boy stepped up, trembling so badly he nearly dropped his hands to his sides. The ritual started—light flickered, then fizzled out.
"Spirit: Iron Spatula. No innate spirit power. Next," the Spirit Master said, not even looking at the boy.
He walked off, fighting back tears. One after another, the kids tried. One after another, their spirits got called, but none had any power.
"Spirit: Sparrow. No spirit power."
"Spirit: Needle. No spirit power."
It felt endless. The Spirit Master sighed, finally glancing up. "Last one. Su Yi. Your turn."
Su Yi stepped onto the center of the platform, feeling the pulse of the six Awakening Heaven Stones. Their light was pale and steady, almost hypnotic. Nearby, the Spirit Master in gray checked his tablet, already looking impatient.
"Focus, Su Yi. Let your energy flow out—don't force it," the Spirit Master said.
Su Yi kept his eyes open. The stones hummed, and his mind stayed as calm as ever. He sensed the cold from his past life—there was a trace of it, but it felt distant, smothered by the limits of his younger body.
The energy from the stones washed over him, filling the room with a soft chiming sound. From his palms, little shards of blue ice began to form. Nothing flashy—these were just Ice Crystals, he can controlled.
The temperature dipped. The Spirit Master shivered a bit, but nothing froze over—no walls cracking, no gear breaking. To anyone watching, Su Yi looked like he had a pretty strong Ice-attribute martial soul, but it wasn't anything legendary.
Deep inside, he sensed something huge—a furnace-like power, a jagged Throne blazing in his soul. But it felt locked away, stuck behind a barrier. It wasn't ready to wake up, not until Su Yi got stronger.
"Ice Crystals. Solid quality, but not Ultimate Ice," the Spirit Master said, sounding interested but not amazed. "Let's see your innate power now."
Su Yi touched the testing ball.
Ping.
A clear blue light shone from it. No dramatic effects. Inside the crystal, the number 8 floated, sharp and perfect.
[ Innate Spirit Power: Rank 8 ]
The Spirit Master smiled, his voice suddenly warmer. "Rank 8? That's fantastic! Especially for someone from an orphanage. At Rank 8, you've got a real shot at becoming a high-level Spirit Master—maybe even a Spirit Douluo if you stick with it."
He stared at Su Yi, honestly surprised. "Kid, your spirit power's already way up there, but that ice—there's a heaviness to it I've never seen in a regular awakening."
He watched Su Yi, who stood frozen, calm as a lake. Most kids would be bouncing off the walls after hitting Rank 8 at just six years old. Not Su Yi. If anything, he seemed more interested in sizing up the Spirit Master than celebrating.
The Spirit Master leaned closer, dropping his voice. "Here's the thing. The Spirit Pagoda scouts for Rank 10—what we call 'Innate Full' talents. But your ice control? It's rock solid. I'm going to recommend you, personally."
He pulled out a card trimmed in silver, stamped with the Spirit Pagoda's emblem. "This is your Junior Talent Invitation. It's not a golden ticket or anything, but it does mean the Pagoda will cover your first Spirit Soul—up to a 100-year yellow rank—if you join our 'Seed Program' in Eastsea City. You'll have to keep your grades at the top, but the way forward gets a lot easier."
Su Yi stared at the card. He ran the numbers in his head. If he joined, he'd have access to the Spirit Pagoda's training grounds and Spirit Ascension Platform, plus high-grade Spirit Souls—things an orphan like him could never afford otherwise.
The Spirit Master in the awakening room stared at Su Yi, the silver invitation card still hovering in the air. Most children from the slums would have grabbed it like a lifeline, but Su Yi's eyes remained as calm as a frozen ice.
"I will think about it," Su Yi said, his voice steady.
"You'll think about it?" The Spirit Master chuckled, pulling the card back but placing it carefully on the table. "Interesting. Usually, I'd tell a kid to get lost for such talk. But your Ice Crystals... they didn't just lower the temperature; they felt 'pure.' Like they were waiting for a king to command them."
He put back card, giving Su Yi one last lingering look. "Don't take too long, Su Yi. The world is changing,
Su Yi stepped out of the awakening room. The heavy metallic door hissed shut behind him, cutting off the shivering Spirit Master's confused gaze.
In the hallway, the Director was pacing back and forth, her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles were white. When she saw Su Yi, she rushed forward, her eyes searching his face for any sign of a miracle—or a disaster.
"Su Yi! Are you okay? What happened? I heard a sound like... like ice cracking," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Su Yi looked at her. For a moment, his cold, analytical mind softened. This woman had fed him when he had nothing in this life. "I am fine, Grandma. I awakened a spirit."
"And?" She held her breath.
"Ice Crystals. Innate spirit power Rank 8," Su Yi replied simply.
The Director staggered back, a hand flying to her mouth. "Rank 8... Oh, thank the Heavens! Rank 8 is enough to get you into a good intermediate academy!
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