Martial Soul Awakening

"A-Yu! Hongjun! Time to eat!"

The kindly old man walked with steady steps, carrying a large bowl in each hand as he called toward the door.

"Okay, Grandpa!"

Two clear young voices answered him.

Then, two delicate-looking little boys came in through the doorway.

The boy running in front was named Ma Hongjun. He had a head of fiery red short hair and looked full of energy.

The black-haired boy following behind at an unhurried pace was Ming Lunyu. Though still young, his features already suggested that he would grow into a dashing and elegant young gentleman.

Once the two gathered, they obediently helped Grandpa carry the bowls and set out the chopsticks.

Although Grandpa always said, "You're still little. You don't need to do this. Go wait over there."

The two little ones never listened, insisting on doing their part to lessen Grandpa's burden.

This left Grandpa Hu Dasheng both pleased and helpless.

Before Hu Dasheng had become the village chief of Grass Chicken Village, he had already been renowned throughout the area for his cooking. Even as he grew older, his culinary skills had not diminished in the slightest.

The two little ones ate with great relish.

Affection and heartache filled Hu Dasheng's cloudy eyes. His rough hand gently stroked Ming Lunyu's little head, while his thoughts drifted far away.

These two children were both pitiful little things.

Ming Lunyu's mother had died in childbirth, and only a few years later, his father had fallen gravely ill and passed away as well.

Ma Hongjun had suffered much the same fate. Not long after he was born, both of his parents had died for unknown reasons.

Out of compassion, and out of responsibility as the village chief, Hu Dasheng had resolutely adopted the two children despite his own poor finances. For years, he had treated them as his own.

What comforted him was that the two little ones were exceptionally sensible. Though only five or six years old, they were very filial toward Hu Dasheng and often clamored to help him share the household chores.

"Grandpa, you should eat too."

Ma Hongjun's clear childish voice interrupted Hu Dasheng's thoughts.

Looking at the little piece of meat offered before him, Hu Dasheng laughed heartily. "Grandpa doesn't like this. You eat it, Hongjun. Eat more and grow taller!"

Ma Hongjun blinked, then stubbornly shook his head. "Grandpa is lying. Brother Yu said Grandpa definitely likes it, but our family is too poor, so Grandpa saves it for us to eat."

Hearing that, Hu Dasheng looked at Ming Lunyu beside him in surprise. Ming Lunyu's clear black eyes were also fixed on him, full of expectation and stubbornness.

Hu Dasheng felt as if his heart had skipped a beat, and for a moment, he could not help choking up.

"Good children, good children... Grandpa will eat it. Grandpa will eat anything you give him..."

Hu Dasheng felt that everything in his life had been worth it. With two such obedient and sensible grandsons, what more could he ask for?

If he had to wish for something, it would be for them both to become powerful Lord Soul Masters, make names for themselves, and live lives above ordinary people.

After lunch, Hu Dasheng stopped the two of them.

"Lunyu, Hongjun, Grandpa has something to tell you."

As though he had thought of something, Ming Lunyu's eyes lit up.

"Could it be Martial Soul Awakening?"

Hu Dasheng nodded approvingly. "That's right. In the blink of an eye, you're both six years old. It's time for you to awaken your Martial Souls."

Hearing this, the two little ones exchanged a glance, unable to hide the excitement and anticipation in their eyes.

Everyone possessed a Martial Soul. This was common knowledge on the Douluo Continent.

A Martial Soul was a wondrous power people were born with, and everyone could awaken their own Martial Soul at the age of six.

Martial Souls came in every imaginable form. They could be common wildflowers and weeds, or swords, spears, blades, halberds, birds, and beasts.

Those born with Innate Soul Power could cultivate it to become Soul Masters and wield strength far beyond that of ordinary people.

There were also differences among Soul Masters. Soul Masters ranged from level one to level one hundred, with every ten levels forming a major rank.

Anyone with Soul Power could be called a Soul Warrior. Breaking through level ten made one a Soul Master, followed in turn by Soul Grandmaster, Soul Elder, Soul Ancestor, Soul King, Soul Emperor, Soul Saint, Soul Douluo, and Titled Douluo!

"Tomorrow morning, people from Spirit Hall will come to the village to awaken the Martial Souls of all children of the proper age. You two are among them. When the time comes, you must not forget your manners..." Hu Dasheng instructed earnestly.

The two listened seriously, committing Grandpa's words to heart.

That night, the two squeezed together on a small wooden bed.

Ma Hongjun was too excited to fall asleep.

"Brother Yu, what kind of Martial Soul do you think you'll awaken?"

Ming Lunyu thought about it seriously. "If I can, I want a sword Martial Soul."

Ma Hongjun's eyes were full of admiration. "If it's Brother Yu, you'll definitely get one!"

"What about you?" Ming Lunyu turned onto his side, propping up his head as he met Ma Hongjun's gaze.

A determined expression appeared on Ma Hongjun's little face.

"I want to awaken a super powerful Martial Soul! I'll become the strongest Soul Master and protect Brother Yu and Grandpa!"

Ming Lunyu chuckled and flicked Ma Hongjun on the forehead.

"Ow, that hurts!" Ma Hongjun clutched his forehead.

"Why would I need your protection? If anyone's protecting someone, it'll be me looking after you!" Ming Lunyu said confidently, his bright black eyes filled with affection.

To him, Grandpa and his little brother were the most important people in the world. He would give everything he had to protect them.

"A-Yu, Hongjun, go to sleep! You need to get up early tomorrow!"

Grandpa's hoarse yet gentle voice sounded from outside the room.

"Okay~"

After answering, the two fell silent and tried their best to sleep.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, Ming Lunyu woke naturally. He quietly got out of bed and washed up before returning to the bedroom to wake Ma Hongjun, who was still sleeping soundly.

"Brother Yu... what is it?"

Ma Hongjun sat up with sleepy eyes, yawning.

"Did you forget? Today is Martial Soul Awakening. Get up and get ready!"

The instant he heard "Martial Soul Awakening," Ma Hongjun became fully alert and sprang out of bed.

"Okay! I'm definitely going to awaken an awesome Martial Soul!"

An hour later, the two followed behind Hu Dasheng toward the Spirit Hall branch in the village.

The village Spirit Hall was called a "hall," but it was really just a somewhat larger wooden house.

It was usually empty, with no one inside. Only on Awakening Day would Soul Masters from nearby towns come over.

After all, Soul Masters were scarce across the entire continent. It was impossible for every village Spirit Hall to have resident Soul Masters. Even Spirit Hall, wealthy as it was, could not afford that kind of expense.

After waiting for a while, about half an hour, all the other children of the proper age in the village had arrived, fifteen in total.

After Hu Dasheng counted everyone, he stepped forward and respectfully knocked on the door.

With a creak, the door opened, and a man who looked to be around thirty walked out.

"Master Chu, all the children are here. We'll have to trouble you."

Hu Dasheng spoke respectfully, his expression even carrying a trace of obsequiousness.

Ming Lunyu noticed this, lowered his eyes, and thought, Soul Masters really do have high status.

Chu Luo waved a hand indifferently. "I know. Your village has always been efficient."

As he said this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

After all, the earlier he arrived, the earlier he could finish. That way, he could hurry to the next village and save time.

Hu Dasheng quietly observed the Lord Soul Master's expression and felt much more at ease.

He did not know much about Martial Soul Awakening, but he knew that maintaining a good relationship with a Lord Soul Master could never be wrong. Perhaps if the lord was in a good mood, he might give the children a few extra pointers.

"Come in."

Chu Luo's tone toward the children was clearly much gentler.

Ming Lunyu took the lead, Ma Hongjun followed close behind, and only then did the other children enter.

This was because of Ming Lunyu's prestige among the children. He had always been steadier than children his age and had the best ideas whenever trouble arose, making it easy for the other children to rally around him.