Primal Forest Village (Part 1)

Several days later. Aiden.

It's been the third night already. Aiden escaped without a mishap but still was shaken by what had transpired during their assault. They fought like a suicide squad with the ferocity of true beasts. That made the hearts of the enemies grew cold with terror.

They killed the party but didn't survive. Perhaps it can be considered a liberation for them.

Speaking of all that transpired, he got careless. It was a grave mistake to underestimate the influence and information network Spirit Hall has in Balak. It was originally a country of nobles, most of which were in Spirit Hall's pocket.

They have eyes and ears everywhere, and finding him was not an issue at all. Especially after three months. He really drew too much attention to himself, but then again, if he will hide all the time, he can as well stop training and live a peaceful life.

'It's a shame that if I want to survive, I need to become strong faster. I would gladly enjoy the life without fighting and danger, but the world around won't wait for me to be strong. And demons won't leave me alone too. They won't leave anyone alone.'

From the very beginning, it was not a question whether the Spirit Hall would notice him, but how much importance they will see in him after doing so. For now, it's nothing much. Otherwise, he will have a Titled Douluo dragging him to their HQ.

Aiden sighed while eating roasted duck by the riverbank.

= Are you sure about what you planned out?

"Nexus. You saw it yourself. What can I do alone? Or even with several clans backing me up? In Suotuo city they knew my every step. I always found it strange in the novel. How come with influence and power Spirit Hall has they can't take care of little Shrek academy and its students? How come they never had information about them? Nexus, organization of this size is akin to a country. What country won't have something like the FBI or CIA? Leaders of Spirit Hall can't be stupid to the extent that they disregard the importance of intelligence and knowledge. Zealot Divisions are just the tip of an iceberg. There should be more to their hidden force. Spirit Hall is a colossal beast and its influence lies not in the number of top-level experts, but its top-level master are groomed because of a certain level of influence they have in gathering talents and resources. If we want to survive this, I feel like I need a goddamn army, you know." - said Aiden. - "I need very talented people and my own information network. Shrek people are just part of them, but they are far from enough."

= Ultimately, it is your choice. Do you already have thoughts about how to achieve it?

"Yes, but for now, let's keep it low and travel through rarely visited routes. I don't want to bump onto another bunch of zealots from Spirit Hall. I need connections and several trustworthy people at the top as a backing. And I have a couple of thoughts about whom to choose."

Aiden finished eating and continued on his path.

"It shouldn't be long until the settlement shows up." - he sighed, looking ahead.

He was nearing his next destination. It is a little settlement of normal people, Primal Forest Village. Surprisingly, one of the Spirit Hall guys was sent here to conduct an awakening ceremony for kids six years old.

What Aiden wanted is to find talents. And unlike usual choice, he is looking mainly for the ones who had zero spirit energy, because if his theory is right, these people would be the ones with the strongest martial spirit and he can help them grow it and train properly.

In his mind, their potential is the most frightening.

The last thing he wanted is for Spirit Hall to gain even more talents in their Zealot Divisions.

The village was indeed small, barely a hundred households, and currently six children were standing near the main plaza with an old man who was kindly encouraging them. They all were filled with earning and motivation, after all, who never wanted to become powerful spirit masters? No matter boys or girls, the excitement was clearly written all over their faces.

When they saw a young man no older than fifteen came to them for spirit awakening, their eyes shone even more, especially the two girls. They never saw a youth so handsome before, he was like a prince.

"Elder." – Aiden bowed slightly overwhelming village chief with favor, after all the later can tell that youth is not ordinary at all.

"Haha, Lord Spirit Master is too kind, too kind. This old one doesn't dare to receive the courtesy." – old chief waved his hands but was very satisfied inside.

"These are the children for awakening?"

"Yes, what do you think about them?" – they moved inside a building, albeit it was just a little church with no one to look after it.

"No matter the martial spirit or spirit power, only one's hard work what really influences spirit master's future. There are no trash martial spirits, only trash spirit masters." – said Aiden with a warm smile. This was new for the old man. A very profound way of thinking, if one thought about it deeply.

"If you say so, Lord Spirit Master." – the chief said politely. Aiden didn't mind his dismissive attitude in the heart.

"What if we make a bet?" – he asked, smiling.

"What bet?" – the old man felt intrigued by the spirit master that was sent for the awakening ceremony this time. Young, polite, with innovative ideas. He seemed like a breath of fresh air, a very interesting person.

"If there is someone with zero innate spirit power, I will take that person with me to become powerful! In five years, we will come back here, and if I succeed, you will owe us a good fest!"

"Eee, haha, that goes without saying, let's do that. And what if you lose?"

"I will stay in the village to guide and help people for three years."

"Good! I accept!" – the old man clapped his hands in glee.

"Okay, let's start."

Aiden unleashed his three purple rings and a dragon spirit, which made all people feel stunned. So much power! For convenience, he used an array that was arranged for awakening purposes in every church. It can help guide his power easier and prevent minor damage that a large influx of spirit power can cause normal humans. One by one kid came to him, all having three to five spirit power and tool spirits for farming and so on.

Finally, it was the fourth one who awakened a beast martial spirit – Three Eyed Poisonous Frog with seven points in spirit power. The old man rejoiced. That was a decent talent that will earn them recognition. A boy cried and screamed like a kid, he is having such a formidable martial spirit.

Aiden smiled and gave him instructions to enter Nuoding Academy. Also, he talked a bit about the possible specialization of his spirit and gave several suggestions about the first spirit ring.

The fifth girl awakened a mirror-like martial spirit. It was best as a control type one as it has spirit power with illusive property, garnering powers of illusion and her innate power reached six, she received the same recommendations.

Well, the one that interested him came the last. It was a girl with wavy navy-blue hair and sparkling lazurite eyes. She was very cute and lovely, yet nervous. Naturally, she didn't interest him by the looks, but because Nexus told him she has a tinge of archaic aura around her and that meant a unique martial spirit.

"Don't be nervous, remember what I said." – Aiden smiled at her and noticed an absent look in girls' eyes coupled with an extremely red face. She just nodded and said something completely inaudible. Well, a shy one. That's fine, he can work with that.

= Scan showed martial spirit with unique properties.

Nexus gave a report the moment awakening started. Aiden used Horont to inject shell power inside her martial spirit, but that wasn't enough. He was forced to help with the growth using Tree of Life and his own spiritual force. The power of his tree spirit could integrate with any other martial spirit, that was a marvel to behold.

Because normally it was impossible, even with martial spirits that can perform fusion skill.

He helped her martial spirit to awaken fully grown despite premature activation, and any spirit master in her situation will understand what happened. Pale-faced, Aiden smiled at her weakly and winked, putting a finger across his lips. The girl nodded with a mesmerized look.

"Martial spirit – flute, innate spirit power – zero." – after evaluation, everyone sighed in disappointment.

"Okay, the ceremony is over, if any of you have questions feel free to ask." – Aiden sat down cross-legged to recuperate, while village chief smoothened things and provide him some breathing time.

After about an hour kids were back to their respective families, some were celebrating, others comforted.

Aiden asked the address of the girl and walked to the outskirts of the village and arrived at a small but lovely house that was kept in excellent condition. One can see that family that resided here was in love with the place and took great care of it.

He just entered the courtyard when a pair of mother and daughter showed up in his vision. They were sitting near the little pond and feeding fishes while talking in inaudible voices. From the tear-stricken face of a girl and the comforting smile of a woman, Aiden could tell what is going on.

But he found no words to interrupt the image of care and love woman had for her child. Sour feeling drilled itself inside his heart. He watched quietly their interactions and became nervous.

'So… that is a mother, huh…'

'Oh, come now, Aiden. You are a grown-up man, what's with that longing, for goodness sake. Or perhaps you think a woman that threw away her own child to freeze to death is worthy of your feelings? Cut the crap and man up! You have many other serious things to deal with and enemies to take care of.'

'You have a war to win.'

He breathed out and tranquility found its way inside his gaze again. Even so, the pain never went away fully, it was only buried deep within his heart waiting for another chance to resurface. Some things can't be cured and forgotten just like that, they keep lingering inside and needed real long-term efforts to take care of.

Or a closure.

An abrupt and ruthless one.

"Sorry to disturb you." – he knocked at the wooden pillar to pique their attention.

"Who are you?" – beautiful woman vigilantly hid a girl behind her.

"I'm a spirit master who performed today's awakening ceremony." – with that woman grew pale as a sheet of paper.

"Please… don't do that to my daughter… she is still very young."

"Don't do what?" – perhaps Aiden was so puzzled that it showed on his face, or maybe it is about his young age, but the woman suddenly froze in place and looked at him closely.

"I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. Esteemed spirit master, we are just a mother and child, we have nothing of interest here for you. May I know why you blessed us with your presence?" – she gracefully bowed and asked, not daring enough to lift her eyes. She heard rumors about spirit masters abusing children to the point of rape, and although it sounded like a thing only animals will do, she didn't have the luxury to brush it off. After all, it is her daughter they are talking about.

"You misunderstood. I'm here to fulfill my part of a promise to the little girl and take her to train as a spirit master."

"T-Take her away? No! Absolutely not! Over my dead body!" – the woman screamed at Aiden with all her might that already attracted neighbors. They came flying in with all kinds of farming tools at hand and what they saw gave them a fright of their lives. It seems this pair provoked a spirit master!

"Lady… I don't mean any harm. Can we talk peacefully?" – he raised his hands and smiled.

"I… than speak here, with all these people present." – she said calming down a bit.