A Level 1 Fan and a Level 7 Chicken

Under Chu Luo's arrangements, all the children lined up in a row.

Chu Luo stood on the platform and began his introduction.

"As you can see, there's a circle of stones and a crystal ball in front of you. You'll come up one at a time. First, stand inside the circle to awaken your martial soul, then place your hand on the crystal ball to test your Soul Power. Understand?"

Ming Lunyu nodded. "Understood."

Chu Luo gave the handsome boy an appraising look and nodded kindly.

"What about the rest of you?" He looked at the remaining children.

"Understood."

"Got it!"

The responses were scattered and uneven.

But Chu Luo did not mind. As long as they understood the process, that was enough.

"Come on."

Chu Luo beckoned to Ming Lunyu.

Ming Lunyu stepped into the circle.

Is it finally happening? My martial soul! He was inwardly excited and nervous.

Before he had time to think further, Chu Luo's palm began to glow as he poured in Soul Power!

The stones beneath his feet lit up as well, rising into the air and circling Ming Lunyu.

Blue specks of light drifted into Ming Lunyu's body.

Ming Lunyu widened his eyes at the miraculous sight.

"Relax. Be natural. Follow the call of your body and mind," Chu Luo guided him softly.

"Hoo..." Ming Lunyu closed his eyes. "Relax, relax."

Warm energy flowed through his entire body before finally gathering in his palm.

Ming Lunyu instinctively clenched his hand!

"Congratulations. Your martial soul has awakened successfully."

Hearing that, Ming Lunyu slowly opened his eyes.

A Folding Fan with black ribs and a white face had appeared out of thin air in his previously empty hand.

"This is... my martial soul?"

As he looked at the Folding Fan, a sense of familiarity welled up within him, as though it were part of his own body.

"A Folding Fan martial soul? That's rather rare," Chu Luo commented.

After all, most children from these villages awakened martial souls like hoes and sickles, or chickens, ducks, and geese. This Folding Fan made him seem like a young nobleman among a crowd of mud-legged peasants.

"Put your hand on it and see whether you have the aptitude to become a Soul Master."

At his words, Ming Lunyu stretched out his small hand and gently pressed it against the crystal ball.

Crack!

Along with a faint cracking sound, the crystal ball instantly shone like the sun.

Could it be?! Chu Luo was shocked, wondering whether this might be a peerless genius.

The next moment, however, the crystal ball's light suddenly dimmed, barely stabilizing at Level 1 Soul Power.

Ming Lunyu looked at Chu Luo in confusion, waiting for an explanation.

Little did he know that Chu Luo himself had only just recovered from his surprise.

Meeting Ming Lunyu's expectant gaze, Chu Luo awkwardly scratched his cheek. "Y-you, wait a moment."

Then he gave the crystal ball a thorough inspection.

"Hiss... It isn't broken? Then what was that just now...?"

After muttering in puzzlement for a while, Chu Luo raised his head. "How about this? Try again."

Ming Lunyu placed his hand on it once more, and this time it displayed Level 1 Soul Power.

"Your Innate Soul Power is Level 1. Although it's very low, you do have the qualifications to become a Soul Master. Congratulations."

Afraid that Ming Lunyu would be upset, he added, "It's all right. Even Level 1 is impressive. You should know that ninety percent of people don't even have Level 1 Soul Power. And don't laugh at me, but my Innate Soul Power was only Level 2. Haven't I become quite formidable now?"

Ming Lunyu emerged from his thoughts and gave him an adorable smile. "Mm, thank you, Brother Chu."

That "Brother Chu" put Chu Luo in high spirits, and he immediately extended an invitation.

"What's your name? Would you be willing to join Spirit Hall? I can recommend you to Spirit Hall's Pearl City Branch."

Ming Lunyu answered, "My name is Ming Lunyu. Ming as in bright, Lun as in the Lun of 'feather fan and silk headdress,' and Yu as in the Yu of 'feather fan and silk headdress.'"

He then lowered his head to think for a few seconds before adding, "Thank you, Brother Chu. Although I would really like to accept, one should not accept favors without merit. I can't take your kindness for nothing, so I'm sorry."

"Heh! Interesting little fellow. Quite cultured, too! Where did you study? But if you don't want to, forget it. Your Grandpa can send you to another academy later. It'll be the same." Chu Luo did not force the matter.

"Grandpa has books at home. I read them often."

After casually replying, Ming Lunyu stepped aside and gave Ma Hongjun, who was second in line, an encouraging gesture.

Ma Hongjun nodded excitedly.

What happened next was beyond everyone's expectations.

Ma Hongjun's martial soul was, unsurprisingly, a bird resembling a grass chicken. Yet it did not quite seem like a chicken, and it was even wreathed in flames. Even Chu Luo could not tell what the thing was, so in the end, he simply recorded it as a Fire Turkey.

Then came something even more surprising.

Before Ma Hongjun even had time to mourn the loss of his handsome martial soul, he was told that he was a great genius with Innate Level 7 Soul Power!

He was instantly left dizzy with excitement.

Not just Ma Hongjun—even Chu Luo was dizzy.

Innate Level 7 Soul Power! That already counted as genius-level talent! Who would have thought it would appear in such a small village!

Unfortunately, when asked whether he was willing to join Spirit Hall, Ma Hongjun refused. His reason was that he did not want to be separated from Grandpa and Brother Yu.

Well...

After all, personal wishes came first. Besides, Spirit Hall was not so desperate that it would place enormous importance on someone with Innate Level 7 Soul Power.

There was nothing much to say about the awakenings that followed. Out of the fifteen children, only Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun possessed Soul Power.

When Hu Dasheng learned of this, he felt regret for the other children, but he was even more delighted for his own two boys.

So what if Lord Soul Master said A-Yu's talent was not very good? So what if he said Hongjun's martial soul was strange? Hu Dasheng only knew that with Soul Power, they could become Soul Masters.

As long as they became Soul Masters, they could become people above others on the Douluo Continent. They could live good lives and would not have to struggle alongside him like they did now...

Hu Dasheng was sincerely happy for the two children.

That evening, the dining table was filled with a festive atmosphere.

To reward his two promising grandsons, Hu Dasheng specially slaughtered a chicken and prepared a table full of delicious dishes, pleasing to the eye, nose, and palate.

The family of three enjoyed a warm and happy meal together.

"How wonderful, how wonderful!"

Hu Dasheng kept wiping at the corners of his eyes. His eyes were full of earnest hope as he gazed tenderly at the two little ones wolfing down their food.

Ming Lunyu set down his bowl and chopsticks and gave Hu Dasheng a radiant smile.

"Grandpa, Xiao Jun and I are Soul Masters now. We'll take care of you from now on. We'll definitely earn lots and lots of money so you can eat and drink well!"

Hu Dasheng's face was full of gratification. "Grandpa doesn't need you to earn lots of money, and I don't need to eat and drink well. As long as you live safe and healthy lives, that's enough! I'll have no other wishes in this life."

Even Ma Hongjun, who had been devouring his food, could not help stopping. His eyes reddened as he looked at Hu Dasheng. The gray at his temples stabbed at the usually carefree Ma Hongjun's heart, and he silently resolved to work hard alongside Brother Yu, make something of himself, and let Grandpa live a good life.

But Hu Dasheng suddenly laughed heartily. "All right, all right, that's enough! You two little children are far too sentimental for your age. Grandpa has something to tell you."

"Now that you're both Soul Masters, you'll definitely need to study at a Soul Master Academy. Grandpa still has some savings, enough to cover both of your tuition. The day after tomorrow, Grandpa will take you to enroll at the Junior Soul Master Academy in Pearl City. Get yourselves ready beforehand."

The two nodded and said nothing more.

Grandpa's kindness could never be repaid anyway. There was no point dwelling on the tuition now. They might as well study hard at the academy, grow stronger, make something of themselves, and repay Grandpa in the end.