Chapter 7:

Chapter 7:

…..

Moments later, Itachi patiently listened to Xiao Wu's enthusiastic chatter as they walked toward the village. He had tried to turn down her company multiple times, but it was clear he lacked the ability to counter her relentless enthusiasm.

Despite everything, he had to admit Xiao Wu's energy was… contagious. Her constant excitement and carefree attitude made time pass more quickly, and although Itachi didn't show it, he sometimes found her antics entertaining.

Understanding her situation, Itachi wasn't too concerned about having her around. While it could become an issue if someone else discovered her true nature, he doubted there were any Spirit Masters powerful enough—or with eyes like his—in the nearby area.

And so, they reached the village just a few kilometers away and spent the next few days there together, with Xiao Wu chattering non-stop. Meanwhile, Itachi used the time to gather as much information as possible before heading to the city. He wanted to prepare for every possible scenario. While he was adept at adapting on the fly, it was always better to have multiple plans in mind and anticipate different outcomes.

….

During his research, Itachi revisited the basics of this world. This world was called Douluo Dalu and that the continent was split between two great empires, which functioned more like coalitions. These empires granted vast territories to feudal vassals, and the number of nobles with armed forces was almost uncountable.

The empire they were currently in was the Heaven Dou Empire, while the southern regions were controlled by the Star Luo Empire.

He also expanded his knowledge of Martial Souls, better understanding how they were divided into two main categories: Tool Spirits and Beast Spirits. As the names suggested, spirits resembling tools fell into the first category, while animal-based spirits were classified as Beast Spirits. Tool Spirits encompassed a wider range, and most people with Tool Spirits were unable to cultivate. The ratio of non-cultivators was much lower among those with Beast Spirits.

What caught Itachi's attention most, however, was information about the weapons in this world—or rather, the lack thereof. He was disappointed to discover that there had been almost no progress in conventional weapons, despite the existence of a well-known blacksmith association.

It seemed that Spirit Masters relied entirely on their Martial Souls and abilities, leaving traditional weapons overlooked.

Still, one piece of information stood out: Soul Tools.

Soul Tools were implements that required Spirit Power to function. However, very few Soul Tools had survived from ancient times, and most lacked offensive capabilities. This discovery was somewhat disheartening for Itachi.

As he already knew, Spirit Masters themselves had no "need" for weapons.

Soul Tools were described as relics from a lost era. Their origins and methods of creation had been forgotten long ago.

Itachi recalled the six round, pitch-black stones and the sparkling blue crystal ball used during the Martial Soul awakening ceremony. After further investigation, he discovered that the stones were naturally occurring materials that reacted uniquely to Spirit Power, each with distinct functions.

The blue crystal ball, meanwhile, was a Soul Tool specifically designed to measure innate Spirit Power. Other crystal balls existed to measure a person's Spirit Power as it grew over time.

To Itachi, all of this warranted deeper and more detailed research. These Soul Tools seemed incredibly useful, and if offensive ones could be developed… wel,l that would be even better.

…..

One day, Itachi told Xiao Wu that he had decided to head to the city. Xiao Wu, excited as ever, mentioned that she knew a kind woman who lived in one of the many satellite towns surrounding Nuoding City.

Apparently, Xiao Wu had met this woman by chance in the Star Dou Forest and had helped her through a difficult situation. This woman, Madam Yun, was the second human Xiao Wu had ever spoken to. The first had been long, long ago.

Xiao Wu told Itachi that she had originally planned to visit Madam Yun before meeting him.

Itachi wasn't particularly interested but agreed to pass through the satellite town since it was close to Nuoding City.

Xiao Wu immediately leapt for joy, thrilled by the idea of visiting Madam Yun with him.

Though he agreed to pass through, Itachi hadn't intended to meet the woman. However, Xiao Wu's pouts and teary-eyed pleas ultimately convinced him.

Itachi reasoned that it wouldn't be so bad. He might even gather more information about the city from Madam Yun. Though, truthfully, he already had plenty of intel thanks to his extensive research during their time in the village.

…..

….

A few days later, the two finally reached the small satellite town where Madam Yun was supposed to live.

"Come on, Brother Itachi! Hurry up, we're almost there!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, her voice was filled with excitement as she practically skipped happily ahead of him, her energy endless.

"Xiao Wu, patience. We'll get there soon enough" Itachi replied in his characteristically calm tone, maintaining his steady pace. "Don't be so impatient"

"But I can't wait! It's been so long since I last saw Miss Yun!" She pouted, holding onto his arm dramatically, her eyes sparkling with eagerness. Then grabbing his arm in an attempt to pull him along.

Itachi sighed and shook his head, ignoring her impatience and continuing at his usual pace.

He couldn't help but allow himself a faint smile, barely noticeable. Xiao Wu had the energy of a bunny—both literally and figuratively.

During their time together, Itachi had grown familiar with her behavior. She was lively, talkative, and often childish, but behind that façade lay a peculiar intelligence and curiosity that didn't escape his notice.

Though he didn't match her enthusiasm, their dynamic had found a natural balance.

Xiao Wu was always eager to learn about everything around her and asked endless questions about human society—something she knew almost nothing about.

…

When they finally arrived at the small satellite towns near Nuoding City, Xiao Wu was practically bursting with excitement. She stopped in front of a modest house and called out eagerly:

"Miss Yun! It's me, Xiao Wu!"

The door opened, and a woman in her fifties stepped out to meet them. Her expression was kind but curious, especially as her eyes landed on Itachi and Xiao Wu.

"Child, I think you mean the old lady Yun. She… passed away almost twenty years ago" the woman said gently but directly.

The cheerful glow in Xiao Wu's eyes vanished instantly, her face falling as if someone had snuffed out a candle.

"W-What? No… that can't be…" Her voice was soft, trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked down at the ground, her usual cheerfulness replaced by heartbreak. All her energy and joy drained away, leaving her slumped and on the verge of tears. The news hit her like a bucket of cold water, and her usual liveliness disappeared.

Seeing her reaction, Itachi stepped forward and placed a hand gently on her head, his touch steady and grounding.

'What felt like only a few years for Xiao Wu as a Spirit Beast must have been at least seventy years,' he thought.

"Xiao Wu" Itachi said in a calm, reassuring voice. "I'm sure this Miss Yun lived a full, happy life without regrets"

The woman nodded kindly, her expression softening.

"He's right, dear. My grandmother, the old lady Yun, was loved by everyone. She left us peacefully, without regrets"

Xiao Wu sniffled but she looked up, her eyes still teary, but she managed a weak smile, her eyes still glistening. Though her sadness didn't vanish completely, she seemed a little more at ease.

"I… I guess you're right…"

….

The woman introduced herself as Mei, Old Yun's granddaughter, and invited them into her home. Xiao Wu, still a bit melancholic, accepted quickly, while Itachi simply nodded and followed them inside.

The three spent some time chatting. Mei shared warm stories about the old lady Yun, which seemed to lift Xiao Wu's spirits little by little. She listened attentively, occasionally chiming in with enthusiastic comments. Itachi, however, focused more on gathering information, as always.

For Itachi, the most interesting part of the conversation was learning that Mei was the leader of this satellite town. Apparently, her family had held a position of leadership in the community for generations.

Then, as they discussed Spirit Masters, Mei's interest naturally shifted to the two visitors.

"So, do both of you have spirit power? And plan to become Spirit Masters?" Mei asked with genuine curiosity.

Both nodded and Xiao Wu immediately beamed, her earlier sadness momentarily forgotten.

"Yup! My martial soul is a lovely little white rabbit! And my spirit power is ten!" Xiao Wu said proudly, to prove her words, she summoned her martial soul. Her figure glowed faintly, her aura radiating playful energy. Mei's smile widened in awe.

"How extraordinary! A full level ten? That's remarkable, young lady"

"I know, right? I'm amazing!" Xiao Wu exclaimed with a wide grin, her dimples showing. Her voice was full of pride as she placed her hands on her hips triumphantly.

Turning to Itachi, Mei's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Her attention turned to Itachi. "And you, young man?"

Itachi inclined his head slightly, his expression as composed as ever.

He had already prepared his response. Over the past few days, he had carefully considered how to present himself—a public profile that wouldn't attract too much attention but also wouldn't raise unnecessary questions as he progressed.

"My Martial Soul is the Ice Silk Worm," he said calmly. "My spirit power is… four"

With a fluid motion, he raised his hand, and a faint, cold glow surrounded it as his martial soul emerged. The translucent creature shimmered with pale blue light, its soft, rounded body exuding an almost calming chill.

Gradually, it began to glow brighter until it fully materialized—a chubby, rounded worm with sparkling white and blue eyes. Measuring about 27 centimeters long, its body emitted a faint chill that subtly cooled the room due to its ice attribute and current Spirit Power of level 12.

Seeing the Martial Soul, Mei had no doubts that these two truly possessed Spirit Power. She was stunned to meet two children with spirit power, especially one with such high innate power as Xiao Wu. While Mei had no way of verifying the exact level, the spirit power emanating from Xiao Wu was undeniable.

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with delight as she looked at Itachi's adorable Martial Soul.

"It's so cute!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. She couldn't help but find Itachi's Martial Soul incredibly endearing, something she constantly reminded him of every time she saw it. "Brother Itachi, why don't you show it off more?!"

"Because it's unnecessary" His voice was steady.

What Xiao Wu didn't know was how surprised Itachi had been when he first summoned his Martial Soul and saw it physically manifest once enough Spirit Power was provided.

Since then, he has been continuously evaluating its usefulness. So far, he found it limited, even useless. It lacked offensive capabilities and was slow and weak in every aspect. But he knew that would change with the right Spirit Rings. The decisions he made regarding those rings would determine whether the Ice Silk Worm became an asset or remained a liability.

Quickly, Itachi deactivated his Martial Soul, withdrawing it before wasting more Spirit Power.

"Aww, you never let me admire it for long!" Xiao Wu pouted adorably, clearly upset that she couldn't admire it longer, but she soon followed his lead and deactivated her own Martial Soul.

Mei chuckled at their interaction.

"I'm truly impressed. Both of you have spirit power—what a blessing!" Mei said, a mix of awe and frustration in her voice. "In our small community, unfortunately, no one managed to awaken spirit power this year…"

But here stood two children with Spirit Power before her. Had she not felt it herself, she wouldn't have believed it.

…..

The conversation eventually shifted to the possibility of both attending the Spirit Master Academy in Nuoding City. Both Xiao Wu and Itachi were immediately interested.

For Itachi, the academy represented an opportunity to learn new cultivation techniques native to this world. His journey to the city was primarily a quest for knowledge. If there was a place offering easy access to information unavailable to common folk, he wouldn't pass it up.

Mei explained that each satellite town surrounding the city was allocated one slot annually to send a child with innate spirit power to the academy. However, in her satellite town, none of the children had shown talent this year.

"You should both consider attending the academy in Nuoding City… And Xiao Wu, you could take that spot" Mei said kindly, looking at the girl.

Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Really? I can go?" Xiao Wu asked, her excitement palpable.

"Of course. It would be a waste not to send someone like you," Mei replied with a smile.

But Xiao Wu quickly realized a problem.

"Huh? Wait… um, just me?" Xiao Wu asked timidly.

"Well, I only have one spot available," Mei said, amused by Xiao Wu's childlike behavior.

"But… but I want to go with Brother Itachi!" she protested, crossing her arms.

"Xiao Wu, you should take the opportunity. I can find my own way" Itachi intervened calmly. "I'm sure Old Yun would've wanted you to take this opportunity"

He was trying to convince her. After all, he'd find a way to gather all the information he needed from the academy, one way or another.

However, Xiao Wu refused to listen. She insisted, with pouts and pleading looks, that she wouldn't go unless Itachi accompanied her. She was acting completely like a 9-year-old brat, not the once-powerful Spirit Beast she had been.

"No way! If you don't go, I'm not going either!" Her face immediately fell into an exaggerated pout, her brows furrowing in defiance.

"Don't be stubborn. It's a good chance for you."

He flicked her forehead gently, a gesture she both loved and hated.

"Oww! That's unfair!"

She rubbed her forehead, glaring at him but unable to suppress the faint smile that tugged at her lips.

Mei, observing their exchange, interjected with a thoughtful smile.

Finally, Mei interrupted.

"Perhaps there's a solution" she said with a playful smile, catching both Xiao Wu and Itachi's attention.

The two children looked at her curiously.

"I know the leaders of the other nearby satellite towns. And as I mentioned earlier, some of them also didn't have any children with spirit power this year. I might be able to secure an extra spot"

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together in delight.

"Really?! That would be amazing! Thank you, Miss Mei!" she exclaimed, looking at Mei with bright, hopeful eyes. She was just like an adorable bunny begging for a carrot.

Now that Mei had given her hope, Xiao Wu was determined to ensure Itachi could join her. When she wanted something, she could be incredibly persuasive and resourceful.

Itachi, ever the pragmatist, nodded lightly.

"If you can arrange it, I'll go. But, Xiao Wu…" He turned to her, his gaze firm. "If she can't, you will go alone. Understood?"

"But…" Xiao Wu began to protest, only for Itachi to gently tap her forehead with two fingers—a gesture he'd started using whenever he needed to get through to her.

"No complaints," Itachi said firmly.

Xiao Wu pouted, rubbing her forehead with a mock-angry look.

Xiao Wu hesitated, her lips pressing into a small pout before finally nodding.

"Fine… but you'll see! Miss Mei will make it happen!"

Mei laughed softly, watching their dynamic with amusement.

"You two are quite the pair. I'll do my best."

"Hn. Then we'll wait for your response" Itachi said, inclining his head slightly toward Mei in thanks.

With that, the three of them continued talking while awaiting news about their future at the Nuoding City Spirit Master Academy.

As the evening wore on, Xiao Wu's excitement returned in full force, and Itachi quietly prepared himself for the possibilities that lay ahead… attending the academy.

It would be an interesting opportunity to establish a public profile while learning more about this world's cultivation system and gathering valuable information. If he could get in, he'd make the most of it.

.............................................................................................................................................

Hi!

Well, everybody, if this reaches today at least 100 power stones, then I'll upload an extra chapter.

Oh, and here are some pics of the characters too:

[Itachi]

[Xiao Wu]