soul land:My martial spirit is hogoromo

Lin Ming stared in disbelief at the old man standing before him—the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki. The dim, dream-like space felt heavy, yet the figure before him radiated an undeniable presence.

"You… How could someone like you even exist here?" Lin Ming asked, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.

Hagoromo's ancient eyes glimmered as he examined Lin Ming. "I see you recognize me."

Lin Ming took a cautious step back, his mind racing. "Are you the real Hagoromo? How did you end up inside my body?"

Hagoromo's expression turned solemn. "To answer that, let me start with the basics."

He raised his hand, and a glowing orb of light formed above his palm, gently pulsing with power.

"I am not here as a ghost or a fragment of memory. I am your second martial soul, bound to your very being."

Lin Ming's breath hitched. "You're… my martial soul?"

Hagoromo nodded. "Yes. I exist as a manifestation of your soul's potential, but my consciousness remains intact. This is no ordinary bond, Lin Ming."

Lin Ming's eyes darted down to his hands as he tried to process the information.

"Why? How did this happen?"

Hagoromo let out a slow breath. "After I entrusted my final powers to my sons' reincarnations, my soul began to fade away. I was prepared to vanish completely… until I was approached by a godly being."

Lin Ming's eyes narrowed. "A godly being?"

Hagoromo nodded. "I still do not know who—or what—it was. But it gave me an offer."

Lin Ming held his breath, feeling an inexplicable weight settle in his chest.

"This being promised me the chance to assist someone… to help them rise to godhood. In return, I would gain an immortal body—free from the chains of time and death."

Lin Ming's eyes widened. "So you agreed?"

Hagoromo's smile was faint. "I had nothing to lose."

Lin Ming's heart pounded in his chest. The Sage of Six Paths—one of the most powerful figures in fiction—had somehow become his martial soul. It sounded too far-fetched, yet here Hagoromo stood, speaking to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But as Lin Ming processed everything, Hagoromo's gaze darkened slightly.

What Lin Ming didn't know, however, was that Hagoromo hadn't accepted the deal blindly.

Hagoromo had made one thing clear to the mysterious being—if the person he was bound to turned out to be a ruthless, irredeemable killer, he would not hesitate to sabotage him. Though Hagoromo couldn't kill Lin Ming directly as his martial spirit, he could mislead him with false guidance, slowly ensuring his downfall.

Yet, after glimpsing Lin Ming's memories—his lonely past life, his determination, and the hardships he faced—Hagoromo's doubts had faded. Instead, he saw a pitiful yet resolute soul, one that deserved a chance to carve his destiny.

Back in the dream, Lin Ming's eyes remained locked on Hagoromo.

"Can you describe this godly being?" he finally asked, his voice quieter this time.

Hagoromo's face turned grim. "Even I could not look upon its full form. Its strength was unfathomable… My soul trembled merely in its presence."

Lin Ming froze. "You're saying even you couldn't look at it?"

Hagoromo nodded

Lin Ming's mind buzzed as he tried to comprehend what kind of entity could make even the Sage of Six Paths feel powerless.

Hagoromo's gaze lingered on Lin Ming, evaluating him once again.

"Lin Ming," he finally spoke, "why do you desire strength?"

Lin Ming's eyes flickered, the question catching him off guard. But after a brief pause, he clenched his fists, his voice steady.

"Without strength… I'll just be another unremarkable person—someone who can be killed as easily as an ant."

He raised his head, his eyes burning with conviction.

"I don't want to be weak. I don't want to be trampled like I was in my past life. In that life, I was just an orphan. The orphanage I lived in was full of corrupt officials who stole funds meant for us. They let us starve."

His voice grew sharper, his words laced with bitterness.

"I don't want to feel that helplessness again. I want to stand at the top… where no one can trample over me ever again!"

Hagoromo remained silent, his ancient eyes observing Lin Ming carefully.

Relief flickered in his heart as he saw the boy's determination, but at the same time, sadness clouded his features.

'This boy is not like Asura,' Hagoromo thought. 'He doesn't have the same compassion that my second son once carried… Instead, he has the fierce resolve of someone who has known suffering.'

After a long pause, Hagoromo let out a sigh. His gaze hardened as he looked directly into Lin Ming's eyes.

"Very well, Lin Ming," he said. "I will help you. But only if you vow to never harm innocents in pursuit of your goals."

Lin Ming's eyes flashed, and after a moment of hesitation, he gave a firm nod.

"I vow it. I'll never kill anyone unless they try to harm me or the people I care about."

Hagoromo studied him one last time before giving a faint smile.

"Then we shall walk this path together."

Hagoromo's expression turned serious as he studied Lin Ming.

"For now, I need more information about this world," he said. "The godly being that brought me here only gave me basic knowledge—how this world operates and how I became your second martial soul. But without proper details, I can't guide you effectively."

Lin Ming nodded. "I'll work on gathering information."

Yet, a sudden doubt flickered in his mind, and he asked, "Senior Hagoromo, your martial spirit should be a god-level soul from what I remember of your abilities. Then why is my soul power only at level 8?"

Hagoromo's calm gaze met his. "The answer is simple. The energy provided by that mysterious gear was insufficient to fully awaken my powers. It only had enough to awaken my consciousness. Other than speaking to you and transmitting some information, my abilities are currently sealed."

Lin Ming's brows furrowed. "Then how can we awaken your full power?"

"There are two ways," Hagoromo explained. "One is finding a massive energy catalyst strong enough to trigger the awakening. The other is for you to cultivate naturally to a level where your body can handle my martial soul's awakening. But I can't predict exactly how high your cultivation needs to be. That's why gathering more information is crucial."

Lin Ming nodded, his doubts cleared. But another thought struck him, and he asked, "Senior, is it possible to use techniques like in Naruto here?"

Hagoromo considered the question carefully. "In your current state, only non-elemental techniques that rely on pure energy can be performed. Some metal-based techniques are also possible, as they align with your chain martial soul. However, elemental abilities like fire or water are impossible for now."

He paused before adding, "If you manage to awaken my martial soul fully, it's a different story. I'm attuned to all attributes, so you may gain access to multiple elements then."

Lin Ming's excitement grew at this revelation.

Hagoromo continued, "Speaking of your first martial soul—the chains—I sense its element is primarily metal, with traces of spatial energy. It has hidden potential. Had I not interfered during your awakening, you could have become an innate full soul power genius like the black-haired boy."

Lin Ming's eyes gleamed. "Does that mean my talent isn't any weaker than someone born with innate full soul power?"

"Exactly," Hagoromo confirmed.

Lin Ming clenched his fists in excitement. Finally, there was hope that he wouldn't remain ordinary.

"Senior, do you know any space or metal-based jutsus?" Lin Ming asked eagerly.

Hagoromo laughed. "Kid, you don't have to worry about that. My son created ninjutsu, and I've spent centuries observing the Shinobi world. Not only can I teach you those tricks, but I can also show you how to perform them without the need for troublesome hand seals."

Lin Ming's excitement reached its peak.

"But first," Hagoromo said firmly, "we need to focus on the basics. Energy control must be your top priority. Everything else comes second."

Lin Ming nodded eagerly, ready to begin his training.

Lin Ming suddenly remembered something and asked, "Senior, can you use your Rinnegan to examine the energy pathways inside someone's body?"

Hagoromo rubbed his chin. "I can, but only for a limited time. My energy is too weak right now."

Lin Ming's eyes shone with cunning. "Then, senior, there's someone I know in this world—the protagonist, Tang San."

Hagoromo looked puzzled. "Protagonist?"

Lin Ming quickly explained how this world was based on a novel he had read, where Tang San was destined to become incredibly powerful.

"He has a very good cultivation technique," Lin Ming said. "I want you to copy it by observing his energy pathways."

Hagoromo looked conflicted. "You're asking me to steal someone else's technique?"

Lin Ming immediately reassured him. "Elder, as gratitude for taking his technique, I'll repay him in the future. You know my potential. As long as I'm careful and survive, I'll make sure to return this favor one day."

Hagoromo studied Lin Ming's determined expression and sighed. "Very well. But consider this a warning—I won't help you do something like this again."

Lin Ming bowed respectfully. "Thank you, senior."

The next day, Lin Ming quietly followed Tang San to the hill where he trained his Purple Demon Eyes each morning. Hiding in the shadows, Lin Ming signaled to Hagoromo.

Hagoromo's Rinnegan activated briefly, scanning Tang San's energy pathways. Within seconds, he memorized the structure of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.

Lin Ming quickly retreated, careful not to draw attention.

Meanwhile, Tang San, still meditating, suddenly opened his eyes and looked in Lin Ming's direction.

'Suspicious… What's that kid doing here?' Tang San thought but shrugged it off. 'He's always been weird. Avoids me like a plague. Probably just dislikes me.'

Shaking his head, Tang San resumed his training.

Training Begins

Over the next two months, Lin Ming trained relentlessly under Hagoromo's guidance.

In the mornings, he practiced tree-walking exercises to improve energy control, focusing on precise chakra-like manipulation.

In the afternoons, he trained his body using methods similar to Guy's taijutsu training—though not to the extreme, as his body couldn't handle it yet.

In the evenings, he sparred with Hagoromo inside his mental realm, where he was repeatedly beaten down, his confidence crushed.

There were moments when Lin Ming doubted all the effort he had put into training over the past four years.

But despite the mental toll, he persisted, gritting his teeth and pushing forward.

At night, he focused entirely on cultivating his soul power, slowly but steadily strengthening his foundation.

Two Months Later

Lin Ming stood at the entrance of nouding city with grandpa jack and tang san beside him.

He clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.

"This is just the beginning."

Behind him, Hagoromo's voice echoed in his mind. "so this is nouding city it looks really interesting "

Lin Ming nodded and looked forward to the future.

His journey to Nuoding Academy had begun.

--------

End chapter 2