"Here are twenty-six gold soul coins in total. You are the only capable normal person in this village, so I'll entrust these to you."
"One coin per person. If possible, you should all move away from here."
Wang Zhong took out twenty-six gold soul coins from his soul tool and placed them in the man's hand. He gently patted the man's shoulder and turned to leave.
Indeed, in the entire village, the man before him was the only one with some strength. The rest were all elderly, women, and young children, twenty-six people in total.
A single gold soul coin was enough to support a family of three for several months of normal sustenance.
With Wang Zhong's wealth, he could have given more, but sometimes, too many gold soul coins brought not help, but disaster and death.
Mounting his horse, Wang Zhong rode away, leaving the father and daughter with dazed expressions.
When they came back to their senses, the man immediately knelt and bowed three times respectfully in the direction Wang Zhong had left.
Knocking on each tightly closed door, the man distributed the gold soul coins, which represented hope for a better life in the coming period, to each family.
How important was a gold soul coin?
He didn't know!
It held different meanings for different people. For Wang Zhong, it was just a gold soul coin; losing it or using it made no difference.
For Zhu Zhu Yun, it was something that saved her life. And for this group of people struggling through hardship, it was a hope for a better future life.
"He felt so bitter because the little girl, who represented hope, had no possibility of becoming a soul master."
"She wouldn't be able to receive the gold soul coin that would change her destiny and the destiny of the entire village!"
"A subsidy of one gold soul coin, for them, is hope! It's the hope that a child can escape this life and walk towards a beautiful future."
"The Spirit Hall repeats free spirit awakenings year after year, is it not to give a response to that hope?"
Riding his horse, letting it trot forward, Wang Zhong realized for the first time the significance of what his Spirit Hall was doing.
Even if they returned disappointed time and again, as long as children were born in that place, it meant that poverty and a lowly future still held the hope and possibility of change.
A carp leaping over the dragon gate, a pheasant transforming into a phoenix!
This was a distant dream, and yet it was hope!
"Giddy up!"
Wang Zhong urged his horse forward, his gaze becoming tranquil and resolute.
Wang Zhong began to understand why Lu Xiao Shuang demanded so much of himself, to hone himself like the shield of the Spirit Hall, even speaking the wild and unrealistic desire to protect the entire Spirit Hall.
Lu Xiao Shuang must have seen these things, seen a reflection of his past self!
Orphaned, lowly, powerless, and weak, but the spirit was innate, the bloodline was innate, and no one could change it. Yet, bloodlines continued. If your generation couldn't become superior beings, what about the next generation, and the generation after that?
As long as hope existed, possibility existed! The future also existed!
As long as the Spirit Hall stood tall, spirit awakenings would never cease. Light, hope, and the future would forever shine in the dark and uncertain path ahead, guiding people to struggle and survive!
Angel!
Recalling the image of an exceptionally beautiful woman in his mind, the tranquility in Wang Zhong's eyes slowly began to shine.
In the distant Spirit City, within the Hall of Worship, a magnificent and dazzling golden sword vibrated gently, but it was so weak and small that it was almost imperceptible.
After traveling nearly two kilometers, in a dense forest, Wang Zhong's horse suddenly reared up as if startled, its large, round eyes filled with terror and panic.
Pulling the reins tight, Wang Zhong forced the horse to calm down and gently stroked its neck, soothing its fright.
A rustling sound echoed, and one by one, wolves standing on their hind legs emerged, baring their sharp teeth, their eyes filled with ferocity and bloodlust.
They were as tall as an adult, more powerfully built than a grown man, and their sharp claws extended from their fingertips, all proving their identity.
Wolf bandits.
A hybrid of humans and fierce wind wolves, possessing human cunning and the wolf's powerful physique, they were extremely difficult and terrifying opponents.
"One hundred and fifty of them in total."
"This number is indeed astonishing. No wonder they can roam freely here despite the Spirit Hall coming to awaken spirits nearby."
"To completely eradicate them, it would require at least a team of Soul Elders or above, with strength comparable to Yu Fei Xue or Si Qian Yi, and then supplemented by a certain number of regular troops, to achieve even a minimal success."
"Given how remote this place is, the Spirit Hall should only have one branch here. How could there be such strength?"
Wang Zhong analyzed with a hint of helplessness.
"However, since I have arrived."
"It only proves that your good days are over!"
His gaze swept across the wolf bandits slowly closing in around him. Wang Zhong's five spirit rings, one yellow, two purple, one black, and one white-gold, spun rapidly. A terrifying pressure and chilling aura erupted from him like a volcanic eruption, descending upon the surroundings.
"First spirit skill, Pierce!"
His eyes suddenly focused, and a surge of soul power rippled around Wang Zhong. Everywhere his gaze fell, a thick, sharp spike shot out from beneath the ground, its sharp tip instantly piercing the bodies of the wolf bandits, drawing forth bursts of blood.
The thick smell of blood was almost nauseating. Streams of blood flowed down the spikes like water. The wolf bandits stared in disbelief at the spikes piercing their chests, their eyes filled with shock and trembling.
How could it be so fast! So sharp!
Despite their keen senses and agility like wolves, they couldn't even react before meeting their deaths.
One hundred and fifty of them, not a single one survived!
"There's one more over there, likely their leader."
Wang Zhong glanced sideways into the distance at a silver giant wolf, hidden in the shadows with a scar on its wolf face, and said softly.
The leader of the wolf bandits, though distant, possessed far superior eyesight than humans or soul masters due to its wolf heritage.
His wolf cubs had all died in one exchange. The strength displayed by the opponent was by no means that of a mere Soul King.
He would die!
Sensing this, the wolf bandit leader made a swift decision and turned to flee.
But as soon as he turned, Wang Zhong stood before him, hands clasped behind his back, staring coldly at the leader, or rather, at an iron tag on its chest.
It was inscribed with words: Zhang Er Niu!
"Where did you get this tag!"
'If Er Niu were still alive, perhaps Niu Niu and I would have a much better life.' Such a dejected, bleak, and sorrowful statement had just echoed in Wang Zhong's ears not long ago.
Er Niu, this name, Wang Zhong naturally wouldn't forget so quickly.
Roar!
A furious roar erupted from the mouth of the wolf bandit leader, and a powerful surge of soul power spewed forth from its body, its pressure comparable to a ten-thousand-year soul beast.