Heita came from the slums, having lost both her father and mother in early childhood, and had lived entirely alone for all these years. After accidentally watching a blacksmithing session, she developed a deep and lasting interest in the craft, often gathering discarded scrap metal to practice on her own.
Though she possessed extraordinary talent, she had never displayed it to anyone else until the day she met Muchen, who brought this Saint Craftsman's future prodigy home with him.
This was the story Yuan Bao'er gathered from Heita. Hearing of such a pitiful child instantly triggered an overwhelming wave of maternal love in Yuan Bao'er, who was a mother herself.
"I've decided! From now on, little Heita is my daughter! Does anyone have a problem with that?"
"Mama Bao'er is right!"
Looking at the two figures standing proudly with hands on their hips—one tall, one small—Muchen and Muxi fell simultaneously silent, a deep and inexpressible confusion washing over them.
How long had it even been? How on earth had their relationship grown so close, so fast? Yet no one dared to voice any objections; after all, Yuan Bao'er was indisputably the supreme authority in the household.
As for Muchen, he was simply henpecked—he would consider himself lucky if he didn't end up kneeling on a washboard.
And Muxi? How could a little girl ever hope to outmaneuver her own mother?
Besides not daring to object, they had no reason to refuse anyway. Muxi's passion was blacksmithing, and the fact that Heita had caught her father's eye proved she possessed genuine talent, meaning the two girls would undoubtedly have no shortage of things to talk about.
Muchen had originally intended to take on an apprentice, but Yuan Bao'er had successfully upgraded that to adopting a daughter, taking things a step further. How could he possibly say no? And just like that, Heita integrated seamlessly into Muchen's family, becoming a valued member of the Saint Craftsman's household as a younger sister who was just a few days younger than Muxi.
***
Several days later.
"So you were already a Spirit Master, Heita..." Muxi listened with deep envy as Heita recounted some of her past blacksmithing achievements. Though Muxi practiced the craft herself, she was merely at the very beginning, having barely scraped together a modest level of success.
Yet even that modest success was not yet enough to truly call her a blacksmith; Muxi could only manage Hundred-Forging with the constant assistance of her father.
"Mm-hm. But my Spirit Power is still too low. Until I can raise it, I'm afraid I won't be able to make any further breakthroughs."
After several days of interaction, Muxi and Heita's relationship had clearly progressed by leaps and bounds. Sharing the same passion, the two had become fast friends after exchanging just a few words on blacksmithing.
Compared to Muxi, however, another person in the household was clearly having a slightly different experience.
"Xiaoxi, Heita, let me know your Martial Souls and Spirit Power levels later. It's about time you both started school."
Muxi was already nine years old, and Heita was around the same age. Muchen had already been in contact with Eastsea Academy, and getting the two children enrolled would be no trouble at all.
"Got it, Dad."
"Hmph, I know, big uncle!"
Compared to Muxi, Heita's attitude toward Muchen could hardly be described as warm. Even though Yuan Bao'er's intervention stopped her from calling him a scoundrel to his face, the tone in her voice made it clear there wasn't much difference.
"Heita, don't be like that. Dad is only doing this for our own good, after all."
Muxi had already spoken privately with Yuan Bao'er and understood that Heita likely still carried some lingering psychological shadows regarding Muchen, meaning she needed extra care and patience. Muxi was diligently following her mother's advice, showering her new younger sister with affection and concern over these past few days.
"Sigh!"
Watching the two little girls chat happily together, Muchen could only release a helpless sigh. He simply couldn't understand children these days!
Why did his own home suddenly feel so unfamiliar to him? Clearly, he was the head of the household, so how had things reached a point where he felt entirely excluded from his own family? With a quiet resignation, Muchen stood up from his chair, intending to head to the study to catch up on some work. Seeing Muchen walk away, Heita turned to Muxi and said, "Sister Muxi, I'm going to go give my Spirit Power reading to the big uncle. We can talk more about blacksmithing later!"
With that, Heita sprang up from the sofa and hurried off after Muchen's retreating figure.
"Hmm? Is something the matter, Heita?" Muchen had barely stepped into the study and hadn't even closed the door when he noticed the petite purple-haired figure trailing right behind him.
"Nothing much, just came to tell you my Spirit Power level." Her attitude remained as grating as ever, though Heita knew better than to neglect important business. "My Martial Soul is named Nous, and my Spirit Power is at Level 25. Memorize it, big uncle!"
"Oh, Nous, Level 25..."
It was roughly what he had sensed earlier. Being able to achieve Spirit Forging with that level of Spirit Power was a testament to Heita's extraordinary talent.
"My daughter's Martial Soul is the same as mine, and when we tested it a few days ago, she was only at level thirteen... Wait!"
At first, Muchen hadn't found anything particularly strange about it, but the moment he placed Muxi and Heita side by side for comparison, he caught onto the hidden implications.
Muxi: Nine years old, Level 13 Spirit Power.
Heita: Nine years old, Level 25 Spirit Power?
How could her Spirit Power possibly be this high? Without a second thought, Muchen reached out, grasped Heita's small hand, and pulled her straight into the study.
"Heita, tell your uncle honestly: what was your innate Spirit Power?"
To possess such terrifyingly high Spirit Power at this age—surely this child must have been born with innate full Spirit Power?
"Innate full Spirit Power, Level 20."
"Haha, I knew it was innate full Spir—"
"What? Innate Level 20? What kind of Martial Soul is that?!"
The first few syllables had validated Muchen's initial guess, instantly bringing a broad smile to his face, but the moment the words "Level 20" registered in his mind, Muchen felt his entire brain shudder.
Innate full Spirit Power was supposed to be Level 10. How could anyone possibly have Level 20?
Wait!
As if suddenly recalling something, Muchen's expression underwent a drastic shift.
He remembered reading in ancient historical texts that on the Douluo Continent two millennia ago, there had indeed once been a Spirit Master born with innate Level 20 Spirit Power!
That person was none other than the arch-rival of Shrek Academy's ancestor Tang San—the Saintess of the Spirit Hall, bearer of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, Qian Renxue! While everyone else's innate full Spirit Power maxed out at Level 10, the lineage of the god-level Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul broke through that ceiling entirely, reaching innate Level 20. This meant she had stood at the absolute pinnacle the moment she was born, blessed with an incalculable future.
During the final conflict between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Empire, Qian Renxue had successfully broken through to Level 99 Spirit Power, ascending to become the Angel God.
At this thought, Muchen lowered his head and stared fixedly at the calm little girl standing before him. She claimed to possess innate Level 20 Spirit Power as well? Did that mean...
She possessed a god-level Martial Soul on par with the Six-Winged Angel?
"Quick! Release your Martial Soul and let me see it!"
Muchen's voice was tinged with urgency. He had already concluded that Heita was a genius equipped with a top-tier Martial Soul, but never in his wildest dreams had he imagined it could be a god-level one. Heita simply waved a dismissive hand, her casual attitude leaving Muchen utterly speechless. Did she have any idea what a god-level Martial Soul actually represented?
That represented infinite potential for the future, and an overwhelming probability of achieving godhood!