Xia Liang

Douluo Continent.

Heaven Dou Empire, Fasinuo Province.

Guowan Village.

This village was about ten li away from Holy Soul Village in the original story.

When Xia Liang had physically transmigrated to Douluo Continent, he had gone from twenty-five years old to a six-year-old child and had been taken in by Old Jack, the village chief of Holy Soul Village.

At first, he could not understand the local language of Douluo Continent. It took him five months of studying before he could finally communicate normally with Old Jack's family.

Only then did Xia Liang learn that the village he was in was called Holy Soul Village.

That alcoholic, good-for-nothing blacksmith in the village was actually Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo who had once beaten Pope Qian Xunji senseless.

And that exceptionally sensible four-year-old child was Tang San, the original protagonist.

Tang Hao and Tang San—one was a God of Slaughter who had walked out of Slaughter City, while the other came from an assassin organization like the Tang Sect.

The danger posed by this father and son spoke for itself. If he became a thorn in their sides, bloodshed would be unavoidable in the future.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xia Liang immediately bid Old Jack farewell and left Holy Soul Village.

He traveled five li along the Official Road, stopping and starting along the way, until he finally reached the Spirit Hall wooden hut outside Guowan Village's entrance, where the Old Village Chief who was cleaning there took him back to the village.

Thinking back on yesterday's events, Xia Liang sat before the village entrance and looked up at the sky.

The morning sun shone bright and clear.

Today was the day of Martial Soul Awakening in Guowan Village. Any child who had reached the age of six could take part.

Though he was not from the village, the Old Village Chief still allowed Xia Liang to join the local children in their Martial Soul Awakening.

After all, Spirit Hall did not charge for sending someone to awaken Martial Souls. One more child meant one more hope for the village.

Sitting on the ground, Xia Liang vigorously kneaded his calf muscles. After walking five li yesterday, his legs were still in excruciating pain.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

He had clearly died on Blue Star. Logically, if he transmigrated, it should have been a soul transmigration, followed by rebirth as a baby like Tang San.

But why had he retained his original body? Even stranger, his original body had inexplicably become that of a six-year-old, with even its physical functions and bone age reduced to six.

He did not know whether it was because his body had shrunk or for some other reason.

Xia Liang always felt that every bone in his body had become harder.

Especially the Rib Portion. It was as though his original twenty-five-year-old skeleton had been compressed into that of a six-year-old, strengthening every single rib.

Leaning against the stone monument at the village entrance, Xia Liang gazed at the clear sky, confusion once again appearing in his eyes.

Aside from the changes to his bones, he had another question. As someone from Blue Star who had physically transmigrated, he did not possess a Martial Soul Bloodline.

Could someone in his situation awaken a Martial Soul?

If he could, what would his Martial Soul look like?

"Ding."

Xia Liang suddenly cried out strangely, imitating the noise made when a system appeared.

Unfortunately, it seemed that no system was bound to him, nor had one granted him a Martial Soul Bloodline. Did that mean he really had to undergo Martial Soul Awakening as a Blue Star native? "A Liang, I thought you'd run off somewhere. So you were already waiting here so early." An aged voice came from inside the village entrance.

Xia Liang stood and looked over, discovering that the speaker was the Old Village Chief, a man over sixty.

Seven children followed beside the Old Village Chief. They were all locals of Guowan Village, chatting and laughing among themselves, while two of them were even playfully fighting. Their words and actions were exactly as childish as they should have been.

Xia Liang hurried over to support the Old Village Chief, and together they arrived at the wooden hut outside the village entrance.

Ten minutes later.

The Old Village Chief's aged voice rang out. "Children, this is Battle Spirit Master Su Yuntao from Nuoding City, Master Su. Next, he will guide you in awakening your Martial Souls. You must cooperate with Master Su during the Martial Soul Awakening. Grandpa hopes that one of you will be able to become a Soul Master."

"Enough. You're just like Old Jack from Holy Soul Village, saying the same thing every year." Su Yuntao said impatiently, "Is becoming a Soul Master really that easy? I've already visited six villages, and not a single person had Soul Power or a suitable Martial Soul."

A trace of gloom appeared in the Old Village Chief's eyes. He shook his head and sighed. "Alas, yes. Only the heirs of major sects can become Soul Masters easily. For ordinary people like us, it's simply too difficult."

"But no matter what, today is the day that decides your destinies. Children, Grandpa believes every year that Guowan Village will one day produce a Soul Master. Go in. A Liang, you too."

As he spoke, the Old Village Chief ushered the eight children who had just turned six into the wooden hut ahead.

Su Yuntao followed closely behind.

Inside the hut.

Su Yuntao had the eight children who had entered stand in a line, then said solemnly, "Let me introduce myself again. My name is Su Yuntao, a level-twenty-four Two-Ring Great Soul Master, and I will be your guide. Now, I will awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember, no matter what happens, do not be afraid. I will not hurt you."

At the mention of Martial Soul Awakening, Xia Liang, standing among the children, was filled with apprehension.

Others only had to worry about whether they possessed Innate Soul Power, but he also had to worry about whether he even had a Martial Soul.

"Child, your Martial Soul is a White Porcelain Bowl. It looks quite exquisite. Unfortunately, Martial Souls cannot be bought or sold. There is no light from the crystal ball, which means you have no Soul Power and cannot cultivate. It seems your White Porcelain Bowl Martial Soul can only serve as a bowl. Go back first. Next."

When Su Yuntao finished speaking, the child who had awakened the White Porcelain Bowl Martial Soul had already returned to the line. The child standing to his right stepped into the center of the Black Stone Awakening Array ahead.

"An Iron Pot Martial Soul? It seems rather good. An Iron Pot has a certain degree of offensive and defensive capability."

"But unfortunately, you have no Soul Power and cannot cultivate. Child, go back first. Next."

"Spoon Martial Soul. No Soul Power. Cannot cultivate."

"Strap Martial Soul. No Soul Power. Cannot cultivate."

"Apron Martial Soul. No Soul Power. What a pity, you cannot cultivate either."

Watching the children leave the line excitedly one after another, only to return disappointed, Xia Liang felt not only apprehension but also a growing tension and anticipation.

Surely fate had not brought such a great responsibility upon him for nothing. He had inexplicably physically transmigrated to Douluo Continent after dying—this could not really have been an accident, could it? Even if he had no Soul Power, a Staff Martial Soul from his body would do. At least it would be useful.

"Child, child, are you all right?" Su Yuntao pinched Xia Liang's cheek.

Xia Liang immediately snapped out of his thoughts and asked in confusion, "Master, is it my turn?"

"Yes. Stand in the Stone Array." As he spoke, Su Yuntao walked up to the Stone Array and possessed the Lone Wolf Martial Soul.

Xia Liang stepped into the center of the Six Black Stone Awakening Array ahead and smiled. "I'm ready."

Hearing this, Su Yuntao quickly struck out with both hands, sending six faint green lights into the six black stones on the ground.

At once, a hazy golden radiance flowed from the six stones, forming a pale golden barrier that enveloped Xia Liang completely.

"Child, don't be afraid. Stretch out your right hand."

Following Su Yuntao's instructions, Xia Liang extended his right hand, but no Martial Soul form appeared.

"Now stretch out your left hand."

Xia Liang did as instructed, yet no Martial Soul appeared in his palm either.

"How strange." Su Yuntao stared at Xia Liang in confusion.

Xia Liang also wore a puzzled expression. No Martial Soul had awakened on his body, and no system voice had sounded in his mind. It seemed his transmigration truly had been an accident.

At that moment, something strange suddenly happened.

Although no object related to a Martial Soul appeared in Xia Liang's outstretched hands, a Black-Purple glow gradually lit up across the skin of his entire body.

In that instant, Xia Liang seemed able to see things ordinary people could not see and hear sounds ordinary people could not hear.

The sounds were somewhat mournful, and the things making them were insubstantial Ghost Fire.

Ghosts?

Xia Liang clearly saw several clusters of Black-Purple Ghost Fire drifting aimlessly through the air behind Su Yuntao.