The town changed after the awakening ceremony.
Not immediately.
At first, the differences were subtle enough that ordinary people would not notice them.
Shopkeepers smiled more warmly when speaking to Lin Yuan.
Neighbors who once ignored him now greeted him enthusiastically whenever he passed through the streets.
Even the children who used to avoid him had begun watching him with admiration.
A spirit master genius.
Innate full spirit power.
Those words spread through the town faster than winter wind.
But alongside admiration came something else.
Greed.
Lin Yuan noticed it on the third night after his awakening.
The blacksmith workshop had already closed for the evening.
Snow fell quietly outside while the furnace fire slowly dimmed inside the building.
Old Chen sat near the entrance drinking cheap ale while muttering complaints about rising iron prices.
Lin Yuan remained seated near the furnace with his eyes closed.
Pressure surrounded his body silently.
Not enough to damage the environment anymore.
Only enough to temper himself continuously.
After awakening his martial soul, his control over spirit power had improved rapidly.
The invisible pressure no longer erupted uncontrollably like before.
Instead, it flowed steadily through his muscles and bones like a second heartbeat.
Pain remained constant.
But Lin Yuan had long since adapted to enduring pain.
Crack.
A faint sound echoed from inside his body.
Another microfracture.
His muscles trembled slightly.
Then slowly stabilized again.
Old Chen clicked his tongue nearby.
“You really cultivate like a lunatic.” Lin Yuan opened his eyes calmly.
“Progress is becoming slower.” The old man nearly choked on his drink.
“Slower?” He pointed toward the cracked stone floor around Lin Yuan.
“Three days ago you couldn’t even control that weird pressure properly.
Now you’re crushing rocks without touching them.” Lin Yuan lowered his gaze quietly.
Old Chen was correct.
His growth speed after awakening had become terrifyingly fast.
The Asura Prison martial soul seemed perfectly compatible with his pressure refinement ability.
Every cultivation session strengthened both his body and spirit power simultaneously.
Even his Mental Battle Space had begun changing.
The opponents inside no longer attacked randomly.
They were adapting.
Learning.
Growing stronger alongside him.
Lin Yuan could already vaguely sense where this path would eventually lead.
A terrifying thought.
And perhaps— A terrifying future version of himself.
Knock.
Knock.
Suddenly, heavy knocking echoed from outside the workshop.
Old Chen frowned immediately.
“It’s late.” The knocking continued.
Slow.
Forceful.
Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Something felt wrong.
Old Chen stood slowly and moved toward the entrance while muttering under his breath.
“Probably drunk idiots again.” The old man opened the door.
Three figures stood outside beneath the snowfall.
All spirit masters.
Lin Yuan recognized the leader instantly.
Wang Lie.
A Spirit Elder from a nearby town.
Level twenty-six.
Cruel reputation.
Greedy.
The man’s sharp eyes immediately landed on Lin Yuan inside the workshop.
A smile appeared on his scarred face.
“So the rumors were true.” Old Chen’s expression darkened.
“What do you want?” Wang Lie ignored him completely and stepped inside.
The other two spirit masters followed behind him silently.
Spirit power pressure spread faintly through the room.
Not overwhelming.
But enough to intimidate ordinary civilians.
Unfortunately for them— Lin Yuan was no ordinary child.
Wang Lie observed him carefully.
“Innate full spirit power,” he said slowly.
“Quite impressive for a brat from a backwater town.” Lin Yuan met his gaze calmly without speaking.
Wang Lie’s smile widened slightly.
“I’ll keep this simple.
Come with me.” Old Chen immediately stepped forward.
“He already received an invitation from Spirit Hall.” Wang Lie laughed coldly.
“And?” The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
“We’re giving him a better opportunity.” Lin Yuan finally spoke.
“What opportunity?” Wang Lie’s eyes gleamed faintly.
“My clan serves a Spirit Ancestor in North River City.
Talents like yours shouldn’t rot in places like this.” His tone sounded reasonable.
Almost kind.
But Lin Yuan immediately understood the truth.
They wanted control before Spirit Hall acted first.
A civilian genius without background was extremely valuable.
Easy to manipulate.
Easy to own.
Old Chen clearly realized this as well.
“He’s not going anywhere tonight.” Wang Lie’s expression gradually cooled.
“I wasn’t asking your permission.” Spirit power pressure filled the workshop more heavily.
The furnace flames flickered violently.
Old Chen’s face turned pale instantly.
He was only an ordinary civilian.
Against spirit masters, resistance meant nothing.
Lin Yuan slowly stood up.
His expression remained calm.
But deep within his eyes— Coldness appeared.
This was Soul Land.
The true Soul Land.
Talent without strength only attracted predators.
Wang Lie looked toward him again.
“Smart children usually live longer.” Lin Yuan asked quietly: “And foolish adults?” The room suddenly became silent.
Wang Lie’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“You’ve got courage.” “No,” Lin Yuan answered calmly.
“Just clarity.” Boom.
Invisible pressure exploded outward instantly.
The entire workshop trembled violently.
Crack.
The wooden floor beneath Lin Yuan shattered.
Dark crimson halos appeared behind him while distorted black chains flickered through the air once more.
An overwhelming heaviness descended upon everyone inside the room.
Wang Lie’s expression changed immediately.
“What—?!” The two spirit masters behind him stumbled slightly as fear surged instinctively through their minds.
Suppression.
Not rank suppression.
Something colder.
Something psychological.
Lin Yuan stepped forward slowly.
The pressure intensified.
Wang Lie gritted his teeth and released his martial soul instantly.
A gray wolf phantom appeared behind him while spirit rings rose around his body.
One white.
One yellow.
Spirit Elder rank pressure burst outward violently.
Yet despite the difference in cultivation— The heaviness filling the room did not disappear.
Lin Yuan’s gaze remained calm.
Too calm.
And that calmness disturbed Wang Lie more than anything else.
Because those eyes contained no fear whatsoever.
Only observation.
Like a predator quietly measuring prey.
The thought itself horrified him.
How could a child produce such pressure?
Lin Yuan raised his hand slowly.
The invisible gravity around Wang Lie suddenly increased.
Boom.
The man’s knees bent slightly from the force.
His expression changed completely.
Gravity control?
No— Pressure manipulation.
The surrounding air felt like iron.
Breathing became difficult.
Even spirit power circulation slowed slightly.
Lin Yuan’s voice remained soft.
“You should leave.” For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Wang Lie suddenly laughed harshly.
But the laughter sounded forced.
“You think this little trick changes anything?” Lin Yuan said nothing.
The pressure increased again.
Crack.
One of the workshop pillars fractured visibly.
Cold sweat appeared on Wang Lie’s forehead.
Instinct screamed danger continuously inside his mind.
This child was abnormal.
Completely abnormal.
And for the first time since entering the workshop— Regret appeared inside his heart.
Eventually, Wang Lie slowly stepped backward.
Then another step.
The pressure eased slightly.
His expression darkened further.
“You’ll regret offending me.” Lin Yuan’s answer remained simple.
“Then become stronger first.” Wang Lie’s face twisted briefly.
But in the end— He left.
The other two spirit masters hurried after him immediately.
Only after the door closed did the pressure inside the workshop finally disappear completely.
Silence returned.
Old Chen stared at Lin Yuan blankly.
“You…” The old man swallowed heavily.
“You just scared away a Spirit Elder.” Lin Yuan looked toward the closed door quietly.
“No.” His gaze gradually darkened.
“I only delayed trouble.” Because he already understood something clearly.
From today onward— The weak little town could no longer protect him.
And soon enough— He would have to step into the real world beyond it.